Goddess's Yuri harem: Chosing the Empress is hard-Chapter 80: Whispers in the City- Part 2

Carol exhaled softly but said nothing more, knowing it was pointless to argue when Auriel had already made up her mind.

Auriel stepped toward a small street stall that sold trinkets and jewelry.

The merchant, an older woman with wary eyes, barely looked up at first. Her hands moved methodically, arranging her wares—delicate rings, polished stones, and small pendants of various designs.

Auriel’s fingers brushed over a locket that stood out among the items. It was an intricate silver piece, slightly worn with age but undeniably beautiful.

Something about it called to her, though she could not say why. Her instincts wanted her to talk to this lady and Auriel complied.

The shopkeeper immediately noticed her interest and straightened up, her expression shifting from weary to eager.

"That’s a fine piece, miss. A rare find. Are you interested in buying it?"

She said, her voice carefully measured. The meaning of her words was clear -put it down if you are not going to buy it.

Auriel lifted the locket, examining its craftsmanship.

"Perhaps, I will. It looks like a fine piece that can be used at various occasions."

She replied smoothly before turning the conversion around to what she wanted to talk about.

"Though, I can’t help but notice the air of unease in this city. It feels... different."

The shopkeeper’s fingers trembled slightly as she reached to adjust a few trinkets. Her eyes darted around the street before she bit her lip, as if debating whether to speak.

Auriel could tell she was holding something back. She leaned in slightly and lowered her voice.

"Is something wrong?"

The shopkeeper hesitated for a long moment before finally whispering,

"There’s a new religious allegiance forming. People are excited about it—too excited. I don’t know what to think of it myself. But I heard that you can get whatever you want if you follow it."

Auriel narrowed her eyes.

"A new religious allegiance?"

She repeated, her curiosity deepening. This was not a new occurrence, but something about this religion’s emergence made Auriel feel...uneasy.

The woman nodded, glancing over her shoulder as if expecting someone to be listening.

"They call it a path of true salvation. They say it will bring the kingdom into a new era, but—"

She suddenly stopped, her expression shifting into one of fear. She shook her head and quickly began rearranging the items on her stall, no longer making eye contact.

"But what?"

Auriel pressed gently.

The shopkeeper swallowed hard and shook her head again.

"I’ve said too much already. I don’t want to get in trouble."

Auriel could tell she was genuinely afraid. This wasn’t just gossip—something deeper was at play.

Carol, sensing the shift in the conversation, stepped closer and placed a hand on Auriel’s arm.

"We should go."

She urged softly.

Auriel reluctantly nodded and placed a few coins on the table.

"For the locket."

She said, taking it with her.

The shopkeeper barely acknowledged the payment, her hands trembling as she quickly tucked the money away.

Auriel tightened her grip on the locket as a sense of unease settled deep in her chest. If something was threatening the people’s faith, it was her responsibility to find out what it was.

And she had a feeling this was only the beginning.

This new religion did not seem as nice as it first appeared to be and Auriel wanted to know more about it.

The more Auriel and Carol walked through the city, the clearer it became that something strange was happening.

Every time they approached a stall or a shop to inquire about the so-called "new religious allegiance," they were met with hesitance, nervous glances, and quick dismissals.

"I’m sorry, I don’t discuss such things."

"I have nothing to say about that."

"I think it would be best if you left."

Auriel accepted these responses with quiet contemplation, but Carol grew increasingly frustrated. Each rejection felt like an insult to her.

These people didn’t know who they were turning away! If only they realized they were dismissing a goddess, they would be the ones begging for answers instead of the other way around.

Finally, after yet another refusal from a merchant who barely looked them in the eye before turning them away, Carol couldn’t hold back anymore.

"This is ridiculous! The sheer audacity of these people! If only they knew who they were speaking to—"

She huffed, crossing her arms.

"They don’t, which is a good thing. That means our disguises are working."

Auriel interrupted calmly. She also had mixed feelings about what was happening. But unlike Carol, she could control her emotions just fine and did not want to cause trouble.

Carol frowned, her unhappiness showing clearly on her face. Her pout was also clear for all to see, but it made people keep their distance from her even more.

"That’s not the point. We shouldn’t have to be turned away like this."

Auriel smiled faintly.

"But it’s good that we are. If they suspected anything, we’d be in real trouble. Their reaction means we’re blending in. Besides, isn’t this what you wanted? For us to stay out of unnecessary trouble?"

She glanced at Carol with amusement. She already knew what Carol was going to do next.

Carol huffed but didn’t argue. She knew that she had been beaten this time, so there was no point in trying to get out of this.

Seeing that Carol was still visibly annoyed, Auriel patted her on the shoulder.

"Why don’t you wait here? I’ll buy something to eat. Maybe some warm food will make this day a little less frustrating."

Carol sighed but nodded.

"Fine. But don’t go far, alright?"

Auriel smiled in reassurance before stepping away, weaving through the busy market. There was too much to look at and buy, making Auriel feel conflicted.

Finally, she found a small food stall that sold warm pastries and bought one, appreciating the comforting scent of baked goods mixed with the crisp evening air.

Just as she was about to turn back to Carol, a soft voice called out to her.

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