Goddess's Yuri harem: Chosing the Empress is hard-Chapter 72: Timely interference - Part 3

Before giving anything to the Goddess, it was necessary to make sure it was safe. That was what Carol decided to do.

Carol dipped the spoon into the soup and chanted a low spell. A faint blue glow surrounded the liquid before fading harmlessly. Carol frowned.

"It’s clean."

Lilith still looked unsure, but Auriel smiled and picked up her spoon.

"Then let’s eat."

Everyone else hesitated before reluctantly following suit.

To their surprise, the food was... good. Delicious, even.

As they ate, Nana chatted happily, talking about how cooking felt so natural to her, even if she couldn’t remember much else.

Auriel watched her closely.

This girl was lying about something.

Her amnesia, her intentions, everything felt too orchestrated. And yet, she was too convincing.

______

Nana White watched as the group finished their meal, chatting amongst themselves without a care in the world. The warm glow of satisfaction settled in their faces, and she almost felt guilty. Almost.

She kept her pleasant smile as she cleared the dishes, carefully watching their reactions.

The dark magic she had laced in their food was subtle—undetectable to most, even with simple magic purity tests. It wouldn’t harm them, just lull them into a deep slumber.

A part of her feared that Goddess Auriel might resist it, but even she would eventually succumb....hopefully.

Divine beings could resist dark magic to an extent, but not indefinitely—not when it was ingested in such a diluted form.

’I just need them asleep. Once they’re out, I’ll retrieve the magic-sucking tree and leave before they wake up’

Nana reassured herself.

She feigned a tired yawn, stretching her arms dramatically.

"It’s been such a long day. I think I’ll turn in for the night."

Lilith nodded absentmindedly, rubbing her temples.

"That’s not a bad idea. I feel oddly exhausted myself."

Evelyn sighed, standing up.

"I still don’t trust you, but I can’t stay awake any longer. Let’s talk again in the morning."

Carol yawned and agreed, while Auriel merely watched with an unreadable expression.

"Good night, everyone."

Nana said sweetly.

She stood by the doorway, watching them all head to their rooms. The moment the last door shut, her expression changed. Relief flooded her body, and she exhaled, pressing her back against the wall.

’It worked.’

Now, she just needed to wait.

As the night deepened, Nana moved cautiously through the quiet halls of the magic tower. The torches flickered dimly, casting long shadows across the walls.

She stepped lightly, careful not to make any noise as she made her way toward the sealed tree. Auriel’s divine barrier still surrounded it, pulsing gently in the moonlight.

Nana’s heart pounded as she approached. The tree’s eerie, twisted branches trembled slightly, reacting to her presence. Its fruit, glowing faintly with absorbed magic, hung heavily on its limbs.

She reached into her pocket and pulled out a small enchanted dagger. Whispering an incantation, she pressed the blade against the barrier. It sizzled upon contact, but after a few moments, a small opening appeared. Just enough for her to reach through.

’Almost there...’

Her fingers wrapped around the fruit. It was warm, pulsating with stolen magic. She grinned in triumph and carefully plucked it from the tree.

But just as she was about to retreat—

A hand grabbed her wrist.

A powerful force yanked her backward, and before she could react, divine magic coiled around her like chains, locking her in place.

She gasped.

"W-What—?!"

A familiar voice murmured in her ear.

"Going somewhere?"

Nana’s blood turned to ice.

Goddess Auriel.

She twisted in place, trying to break free, but Auriel’s grip was unyielding. The goddess had trapped her effortlessly, and no amount of struggling would change that.

Nana’s heartbeat thundered in her ears as she realized the truth.

The others should be asleep. Her spell should have worked.

So why—?

Auriel, sensing her thoughts, chuckled softly.

"Did you really think I’d fall for something as weak as that? Why do people forget that I am a goddess? These silly pranks have no effect on me."

Nana bit her lip. She should have known. Auriel wasn’t just some ordinary being. She was a goddess.

Swallowing her fear, she looked up at Auriel with wide, desperate eyes

"P-Please... don’t hurt me..."

Auriel tilted her head, observing her with mild amusement.

"I have no intention of harming you. I just need some answers."

Nana shivered. There was something terrifying about the way Auriel spoke—calm, patient, and completely in control.

Nana had spent her whole life tricking others, always staying two steps ahead. But now, she was the one caught in the trap.

Auriel tightened her grip slightly.

"Now then, Nana White... Tell me, what exactly were you planning to do with this fruit?"

Nana trembled in Auriel’s grasp, her breaths coming in short, panicked gasps. The pressure of divine magic around her felt suffocating, making her limbs heavy.

"I—I’ll tell you everything! Just don’t hurt me!"

She blurted out, desperation lacing her voice.

Auriel watched her carefully, her golden eyes unreadable.

"Then start talking."

Nana swallowed, her fingers still clutching the stolen fruit. Her lips parted, ready to reveal the truth—

But the moment she tried to speak, something burned inside her.

A sharp pain shot through her chest, and suddenly, unfamiliar symbols glowed along her arms. A deep, crimson light pulsed from her skin, growing brighter by the second.

Auriel’s eyes widened.

"A seal—?!"

Before she could react, the magic surged forward, engulfing Nana’s entire body. A chilling wind swept through the air, and with a sharp, agonizing cry—

Nana vanished.

The fruit disappeared along with her.

Auriel’s hand snapped closed around empty air. For the first time in centuries, she found herself caught off guard.

The divine magic she had wrapped around Nana should have prevented any teleportation or interference, but whatever seal had been placed on the girl was powerful—too powerful to be ordinary magic.

Auriel stared at the space where Nana had been mere moments ago. The air still crackled with residual energy.

Someone had planned this.

And whoever they were, they had just stolen something extremely dangerous right from under a goddess’s nose.

The source of this c𝐨ntent is freewe(b)nov𝒆l