Goddess's Yuri harem: Chosing the Empress is hard-Chapter 95: Darkness in the imperial Castle- Part 2

As soon as Auriel, Priestess Lilith, and Carol returned to the temple, they wasted no time in gathering for a private meeting. The atmosphere was tense, and Carol, still visibly frustrated from earlier, was the first to break the silence.

"That woman is definitely hiding something. And we weren’t even allowed to see half the palace! There’s no way that was just a coincidence. I don’t think we should send the goddess there under such circumstances."

She said, crossing her arms.

Priestess Lilith nodded in agreement.

"I suspected as much the moment Countess Lola stepped in to personally guide us. That alone was strange. But I didn’t want to risk pushing too hard and causing unnecessary conflict."

Auriel, who had been deep in thought, finally spoke.

"There is no doubt in my mind that dark magic is present in the imperial palace."

Both Lilith and Carol stiffened at her words, their expressions shifting from frustration to genuine concern.

Carol’s voice was sharp.

"Are you certain, Goddess?"

Auriel nodded.

"I could feel it. It was being deliberately concealed, but I still sensed traces of it. The moment I tried to follow the trail, Countess Lola changed direction. It happened more than once. She was leading us away."

Priestess Lilith frowned.

"Then this is even worse than we thought. If dark magic has infiltrated the palace, that means the empire itself is compromised. What do you intend to do, Goddess?"

Auriel exhaled.

"For now, nothing."

Carol looked at her in disbelief.

"Nothing? But—"

Auriel raised a hand, silencing her.

"I cannot accuse the imperial family without undeniable proof. If I act too soon, we may lose any chance of uncovering the true source of the corruption. Instead, we wait. Tomorrow, I will attend the ball as planned. That will be my official entry into the palace, and from there, I will have the opportunity to investigate further."

Priestess Lilith’s expression darkened.

"It’s too dangerous, Goddess. If dark magic has taken root in the palace, then they could be planning something against you."

Auriel’s golden eyes met Lilith’s, unwavering.

"That is exactly why I must go. It is my duty as the Goddess to root out such corruption. If I do not act, who will?"

Lilith clenched her fists but said nothing. She knew there was no arguing against Auriel’s sense of responsibility.

After a moment, she sighed.

"Very well. But at least allow us to prepare some countermeasures in case something goes wrong."

Auriel nodded.

"I will allow that much."

With the matter decided, Auriel took up a pen and parchment to write an official letter to Princess Evelyn, confirming her attendance at the ball. The message was short and formal, but it was enough to set things in motion.

______

Meanwhile, at the Imperial Palace...

Princess Evelyn sat in her personal chamber, rereading the invitation letter she had given to the Goddess earlier. She still wasn’t sure if hosting a ball had been the right decision.

Her doubts only grew when Countess Lola entered the room.

"How did the tour go?"

Evelyn asked, setting the letter aside.

The older woman gave a reassuring smile. "Everything went as planned. The temple envoys were given a proper tour, and they found no issues."

Evelyn narrowed her eyes.

"No issues? That’s hard to believe. When I arrived, the tension in the dining hall was obvious. Lilith and Carol did not look pleased."

Countess Lola chuckled softly, as if amused by the princess’s concern.

"Your Highness, you mustn’t worry so much. The temple envoys were simply acting cautious. They are naturally wary of the imperial family. However, once the Goddess arrives tomorrow and sees the sincerity of our welcome, I am confident we will win her favor."

Evelyn wasn’t convinced.

"Are you certain?"

Countess Lola bowed slightly.

"I swear it, Your Highness. We are more than ready to receive the Goddess."

The princess hesitated for a moment but eventually sighed.

"I hope you’re right. The last thing we need is conflict between the palace and the temple."

Countess Lola’s smile deepened.

"Trust me, Your Highness. Everything is under control."

Evelyn nodded, but deep down, unease still lingered in her heart.

Princess Evelyn took Countess Lola’s words to heart and decided to leave everything in her caretaker’s hands. There was no point in stressing over the preparations when the countess had assured her that everything was under control.

However, she still felt uneasy about the temple envoys’ expressions the previous day. Something about their visit hadn’t gone smoothly, but Countess Lola had brushed it off as normal caution from the temple.

Trying to clear her mind, Evelyn decided to take a walk around the imperial castle to evaluate the atmosphere before the ball. However, Countess Lola insisted on accompanying her.

"A walk will be good for your nerves, Your Highness. You must present your best self to the Goddess tomorrow."

The countess said gently.

Evelyn hesitated but eventually nodded. It was true that she needed to be at ease before the event. So, the pair began strolling through the vast halls of the castle.

As they walked, Evelyn started to notice something odd.

There were unfamiliar faces among the staff. New guards stood at attention in corridors, servants she had never seen before scurried about their duties, and there was an air of secrecy surrounding their movements.

"Countess, who are all these people? I don’t recognize them"

Evelyn said, her voice sharp.

Countess Lola didn’t miss a beat, her expression remaining calm.

"New hires, Your Highness. With the Goddess visiting, we needed to ensure her safety. I personally saw to the selection process."

Evelyn frowned.

"And you didn’t think to inform me?"

The countess offered a warm smile, placing a reassuring hand on Evelyn’s shoulder.

"You have many responsibilities, Princess. I did not wish to burden you with minor details. Trust me, everything is being handled."

Evelyn wanted to argue, but she knew that Countess Lola had always looked out for her best interests. With a sigh, she decided to let the matter go.

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