Goddess's Yuri harem: Chosing the Empress is hard-Chapter 132: Fear is a hard thing to concquer- Part 1

Auriel awoke to the soft sound of footsteps approaching her resting place.

She kept her eyes closed for a moment, gathering her thoughts, before finally opening them to see Priestess Lilith standing nearby.

The priestess had a calm expression, her hands clasped in front of her, as if nothing unusual had happened the night before.

Auriel waited, expecting Lilith to mention something—perhaps about her weakened state or the dark magic she had absorbed—but the priestess said nothing about it.

She did not even bring up the sex-thing...which likely meant that Carol had not told anyone about what happened.

Instead, she simply bowed her head in greeting.

"Good morning, Goddess Auriel."

Lilith said, her voice as composed as ever.

Auriel hesitated. Was the priestess ignoring the obvious, or had she simply chosen not to bring it up? Either way, Auriel appreciated the lack of concern. She wasn’t in the mood for pity or judgment.

"What is the plan for today?"

Lilith asked, tilting her head slightly.

Auriel sighed and sat up, stretching her sore limbs.

"I don’t have anything planned at the moment. But I want to see the aftermath of the darkness. I need to know how much damage was truly done."

She admitted.

Lilith gave a small nod, waiting for Auriel to continue.

"There’s also something else I need to do. I need to speak with Lila. I want to understand what happened—why she was pushed this far."

Auriel added after a pause.

At her words, Lilith stiffened. The priestess bit her lip, her hands tightening into fists for a brief moment before she finally spoke.

"Goddess Auriel... Lila passed away last night."

The words struck Auriel harder than she expected.

She blinked, her breath catching in her throat.

"She... passed away?"

Lilith nodded solemnly.

"Her body was weak after everything she had endured. The dark magic that had been sustaining her power vanished once Minerva was sealed. Without it, her body gave out."

Auriel remained silent, processing the priestess’s words. She had captured Lila, chained her magic, and planned to interrogate her, yet now, all of that had become meaningless.

Lila was gone.

She would never answer Auriel’s questions. She would never explain why she had fallen so far, who had manipulated her, or why she had been willing to corrupt herself for Minerva’s sake.

Auriel clenched her fists. This wasn’t the outcome she had wanted.

"No one deserves such an ending. May her soul rest in peace."

Auriel muttered, her voice heavy with unspoken frustration.

Lilith lowered her head.

"Perhaps. But whatever her reasons, she made her choice."

Auriel exhaled slowly, trying to push away the regret settling in her chest. There was no changing the past now.

"Prepare the rites. Lila should be laid to rest properly."

Auriel finally said.

Lilith nodded.

"Of course, Goddess Auriel. I will see to it."

As the priestess turned to leave, Auriel remained seated, staring at the floor, wondering how many more lives would be lost before all of this was over.

Auriel could tell that Priestess Lilith was holding something back.

The way the priestess avoided her gaze, the way her hands fidgeted slightly—small details, but noticeable enough for Auriel to recognize the hesitation.

However, she didn’t press Lilith for answers. If the priestess wanted to tell her something, she would do so on her own.

Instead, Auriel focused on the atmosphere around the temple as they walked through its halls.

The air felt heavy, thick with unspoken words and hidden emotions. People moved about their duties, but their movements were stiff and cautious.

It wasn’t long before Auriel noticed something else—no one was meeting her eyes.

Normally, whenever she passed by, the temple attendants and priests would bow respectfully, offering her warm greetings.

Today, however, their heads remained lowered for a different reason. They avoided looking directly at her, their shoulders tense as she walked past.

Auriel slowed her steps, glancing at the faces around her. Some turned away entirely. Others hesitated as if unsure whether they should acknowledge her presence at all.

It was clear—these people no longer trusted her to keep them safe.

The realization settled in her chest, heavy and suffocating. She had expected some doubt after what had happened, but seeing it so plainly on their faces was something else entirely.

Priestess Lilith must have noticed as well, because she suddenly stopped walking and lowered her head.

"...I am sorry, Goddess Auriel."

Auriel blinked, caught off guard by the sudden apology.

"For what?"

She asked.

Lilith kept her gaze down.

"For their doubt. For their fear. They—"

She hesitated, her hands balling into fists.

"They are afraid because of what happened. Even though you fought for them, even though you protected them, the darkness still reached this place. And now, after everything, they are uncertain. They do not know whether to see you as their protector or as someone who has been tainted by that same darkness."

Auriel listened in silence, her expression unreadable.

"I know that this must hurt you. You have done nothing but fight for them, and yet..."

Lilith continued. She took a deep breath.

"Still, I ask for your forgiveness, Goddess Auriel."

For a brief moment, Auriel said nothing. She looked at Lilith, then at the others in the temple, all of them avoiding her gaze, all of them filled with doubt.

Finally, she exhaled softly and shook her head.

"There is nothing for you to apologize for. You have done nothing wrong."

She said.

Lilith lifted her head, surprised.

"But—"

"I expected this. Fear is a powerful thing. After seeing the darkness consume someone as strong as Minerva, it is natural for them to question whether I might fall the same way."

Auriel interrupted gently.

She looked around once more, her golden eyes calm but firm.

"I will not blame them for their fear."

Lilith bit her lip, looking as if she wanted to say more, but in the end, she simply nodded.

Auriel sighed and resumed walking, her steps steady despite the weight on her shoulders. She had much to do, and earning back their trust would have to wait.

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