Goddess's Yuri harem: Chosing the Empress is hard-Chapter 99: Follow the Darkness- Part 3

The princess clenched her jaw, her fingers tightening around the hilt of the sword at her waist.

Carol had struck a nerve, but what made it worse was the truth in her words.

The nobles were growing restless, and Evelyn knew that if she didn’t act soon, their displeasure could become a greater problem.

But then Carol leaned in slightly, lowering her voice to a whisper only Evelyn could hear.

"Besides, what imperial family? You and I both know your title is just for show. There is no ’current imperial family’ anymore. You hold no real power."

She mused.

That was it.

Evelyn knew the truth of her words.

The empire was in shambles, held together only by the illusion of stability. Her title as princess meant nothing if she couldn’t prove herself capable of ruling

But to hear it spoken so bluntly, to have it thrown in her face by a temple envoy no less, made her blood boil.

Before she even realized it, her hand was gripping the hilt of her sword, her instincts screaming at her to strike.

But just as she moved, a figure swiftly stepped in front of her.

Countess Lola.

The older woman moved with practiced ease, blocking Evelyn’s line of sight to Carol and pressing a firm hand against the princess’s arm.

"Your Highness, This is not the time, nor the place."

Lola murmured, her voice calm but commanding.

Evelyn blinked, her breathing shallow as the haze of her anger slowly faded. She had almost drawn her weapon in front of the entire court. That would have been disastrous.

Lola turned her attention to Carol and Priestess Lilith, bowing her head slightly.

"Forgive the princess. The stress of the evening has been quite overwhelming. I will ensure she rests before things escalate further."

She said smoothly.

Carol merely smirked, clearly enjoying herself, but Lilith nodded in understanding.

Without waiting for a response, Lola turned and gently guided Evelyn away, keeping a firm grip on her arm to prevent any further outbursts.

As they exited the ballroom, Evelyn gritted her teeth.

"I let her get to me."

She muttered.

"You did. And it nearly cost you. You must be more careful, Your Highness. There are too many eyes watching your every move."

Lola agreed without hesitation.

Evelyn exhaled sharply, frustration evident on her face. But she didn’t argue. She knew Lola was right.

______

Meanwhile, far from the tension of the ball, Auriel and Sophia moved deeper into the imperial castle, following the lingering traces of dark magic.

Sophia held a small crystal in her palm, watching as it flickered with faint purple light, reacting to the energy in the air.

"The concentration is getting stronger. We’re close."

She murmured, eyes gleaming with curiosity.

Auriel said nothing, her focus entirely on the oppressive aura that thickened with every step they took. It was vile, tainted with a presence that made her divine senses prickle in warning.

They turned down a long, dimly lit corridor, the walls lined with old tapestries depicting the empire’s glorious past.

But the further they went, the more those once-grand images seemed to twist in the flickering candlelight, as if the darkness itself was distorting them.

Then, suddenly, Sophia stopped.

Auriel turned to her in question, but before she could ask anything, Sophia raised a hand and pointed to the ground.

At first glance, it looked like an ordinary stretch of stone floor. But when Auriel focused, she saw it—a faint, almost invisible mark etched into the surface.

It pulsed with dark energy, its shape resembling an ancient rune.

"Someone’s been performing dark magic here,and it’s fresh."

Sophia whispered, crouching down to get a closer look.

Auriel frowned, kneeling beside her.

"Can you decipher it?"

Sophia studied the rune, tracing a gloved finger over its faint outline. After a moment, her brows furrowed.

"It’s a containment spell. "But not just any containment spell. This one’s designed to keep something bound inside rather than out."

She muttered.

Auriel’s eyes darkened.

"Meaning whatever they’re trying to contain is still within these walls."

Sophia grinned.

"Exactly. And I’d bet my entire research lab that it’s something they don’t want us to find."

Auriel rose to her feet, her gaze sweeping the corridor. The darkness here was not natural—it was festering, spreading like an infection.

If they followed this path, it would lead them straight to the heart of whatever was hiding within the imperial palace.

"Then let’s not waste any more time."

She said.

Sophia stood as well, her excitement barely contained.

"Now you’re speaking my language, Goddess Auriel."

Without another word, the two of them pressed forward, deeper into the shadows of the palace.

Auriel and Sophia continued down the dimly lit corridor, their steps careful and silent. The oppressive energy of dark magic grew stronger, confirming they were heading in the right direction.

But just as they rounded a corner, the sound of approaching footsteps made them stop abruptly.

A unit of imperial soldiers was patrolling the hallway.

Without hesitation, Auriel grabbed Sophia’s wrist and pulled her into the shadows of a nearby alcove. They pressed against the cold stone wall, holding their breath as the soldiers passed by.

"This area is supposed to be off-limits, so why are we patrolling here?"

One of the soldiers muttered.

"Orders from above. Apparently, something strange has been happening in this part of the castle. A few servants claimed to have seen shadows moving on their own."

Another replied.

"Superstitions. But whatever. As long as we get paid, I don’t care what we’re guarding."

A third scoffed.

The unit walked past without noticing the hidden pair, their voices fading into the distance.

Sophia glanced at Auriel and whispered.

"Unusual for soldiers to be patrolling here at this hour, don’t you think?"

Auriel nodded, eyes narrowing.

"Yes. Which means we’re getting closer to something they don’t want us to find. Shall we go ahead and check what is being held here now? I feel rather curious to see it."

Visit freewe𝑏n(o)v𝒆l.𝑐𝘰𝑚 for the best novel reading experience