Goddess's Yuri harem: Chosing the Empress is hard-Chapter 98: Follow the Darkness- Part 2

"Fear? What is fear in the face of discovery?"

Sophia exclaimed, her voice rising in passion.

"Research is the best thing in this world! Fear only gets in the way of progress! You see, Goddess Auriel, the true pursuit of knowledge requires abandoning all hesitation! If I let fear dictate my actions, I would have never—"

Auriel sighed and tuned her out. She had encountered enough scholars and researchers in her long existence to know that once they got started, there was no stopping them.

Sophia’s voice grew increasingly animated as she rambled on about research, magical theory, and the supposed genius of her own experiments.

Ten minutes passed, but that speech did not stop. It seemed as if Sophia had no intention of stopping to speak and she continued to speak passionately about what she wanted.

Auriel, now thoroughly bored, let out a soft sigh before lifting a hand. Without warning, she placed a single finger against Sophia’s forehead and gave her a gentle push.

The action startled the mage enough to make her stumble a step back, effectively cutting off her endless monologue.

"That’s enough. You were about to show me the trail of dark magic, weren’t you?"

Auriel said, giving her a pointed look.

Sophia blinked before realization dawned on her. A faint blush colored her cheeks as she cleared her throat. "

Right. Yes. I got carried away. Come on, it’s this way. I will track it down for us."

She admitted, looking mildly embarrassed.

With that, she turned and began leading Auriel away from the party, toward the traces of dark magic she had discovered earlier.

_______

Meanwhile, Back at the Ball...

Carol and Priestess Lilith stood near the center of the ballroom, watching the nobles with measured expressions. For a moment, everything had seemed peaceful.

The music played, nobles danced, and the shimmering lights of the grand chandeliers reflected off their extravagant outfits.

That moment of peace, however, was short-lived.

A nobleman, finely dressed in emerald and gold, approached them with an air of barely concealed impatience.

"Priestess Lilith, Lady Carol. Where is the goddess? We have waited long enough. Surely, it would not be too much to request an audience with her."

He began, his tone polite but laced with irritation.

Carol exchanged a glance with Lilith before responding.

"The goddess is currently occupied and cannot entertain guests at this time."

Another noble, a woman dressed in deep violet, scoffed.

"Occupied? With what, exactly? This ball was held in her honor, was it not?"

"We simply wish to offer our respects. Surely, the temple is not playing favorites? You will respect us nobles just as much as you do your commoners."

A third noble added, his voice carrying an edge of indignation.

Carol frowned.

"It is not a matter of favoritism. The goddess is not required to engage in every conversation presented to her. She has already made her presence known at the ball"

she said evenly.

Her words did little to calm the growing discontent. Murmurs of disapproval spread among the nobles, their expressions turning increasingly displeased.

"So, that is how it is? The temple believes itself above the empire, then? Denying us the right to speak with the goddess while entertaining their own people as they please?"

The noblewoman in violet crossed her arms.

More voices joined in.

"The temple should remember its place."

"This is disrespectful to the nobility!"

"We demand an audience with the goddess!"

The tension in the air thickened, and Carol and Lilith braced themselves. They had dealt with difficult nobles before, but the situation was escalating faster than expected.

Before things could spiral out of control, a clear, authoritative voice cut through the noise.

"That is quite enough."

Princess Evelyn stepped forward, her presence immediately drawing the nobles’ attention. Her expression was calm, but the sharpness in her gaze warned them against pushing further.

"The goddess is not your puppet to summon at will. This ball is meant to honor her, not serve as a platform for selfish demands."

She stated firmly.

The nobles hesitated. Some looked displeased, others outright annoyed, but none dared to openly challenge the princess.

"However, I understand your frustration. If you wish to express your respect to the goddess, you may do so through written messages. I will personally see that they are delivered."

Evelyn continued.

It was a compromise—one that gave the nobles an outlet while ensuring Auriel remained undisturbed.

A tense silence followed before the nobleman in emerald and gold finally inclined his head.

"As you wish, Your Highness."

With that, the nobles begrudgingly backed down, though their dissatisfaction still lingered in the air.

Once they dispersed, Carol let out a quiet breath.

"That could have gone worse."

Lilith, however, looked toward the ballroom’s exit, her brows furrowing slightly.

"But where is the goddess?"

Princess Evelyn’s gaze followed hers, and a flicker of unease crossed her expression.

She had not seen Auriel in some time.

Unbeknownst to them, at that very moment, Auriel and Sophia had already left the party, slipping into the depths of the palace in search of the dark magic lurking within.

The grand ballroom, once filled with music and conversation, now simmered with unease.

The agitation of the nobles only grew with each passing second, their whispers turning into open grumbles.

The refusal to grant them an audience with the goddess had struck a nerve, and their discontent was boiling over.

Carol, watching the growing tension, turned to Princess Evelyn with a sharp smile.

"Your Highness, if you truly wish to be taken seriously as the future empress, I suggest you get control over your people before things spiral further. After all, you are in a serious position."

Evelyn’s golden eyes narrowed dangerously.

"Are you threatening me, Lady Carol?"

She asked, her voice low and threatening.

Carol tilted her head slightly, amusement dancing in her gaze.

"Not at all. I’m simply stating the obvious. If you can’t maintain order in your own court, how do you expect to rule an empire?

Updat𝓮d from freew𝒆bnovel(.)com