Goddess's Yuri harem: Chosing the Empress is hard-Chapter 91: The invitation- Part 1

The message to the three empress candidates was sent soon, and before Auriel knew it, it was time for them all to gather and discuss what was going on.

Princess Evelyn was the first to arrive, her eyes harsh as she looked around before taking the seat nearest to the exit. She was ready to react in case of an emergency, and having such a person nearby helped ease Auriel’s worries.

The next to arrive was Duchess Amara.

She was dressed from head to toe in wealth, but her eyes held a firmness that Auriel found to her liking.

But it was the last person who made Auriel feel the most relieved.

Sophia had regained her health, and her magic shined bright when she stepped through the door. She met Auriel’s eyes and gave her a small nod of gratitude before she took her seat.

For the first time, there were no flirty notes or speeches when they all met. It was a serious atmosphere that commanded everyone’s attention.

Cough

"I am delighted to see that you all decided to hear me out and come to the temple’s aid when we asked for it. I promise that the reason I called you here is just as important. Please, take a look at this."

Priestess Lilith slammed a report onto the table, and the candidate trio froze once they noticed it.

It was evidence of what was going on, as well as the rise of dark magic. The map showed the areas of the empire where dark magic had gained a strong foothold.

Auriel tried not to flinch, but even she felt her heart sink when she noticed the massive black spots all over the map, indicating that they had lost a lot of land to corruption.

"Tsk, those pests sure have infested us hard. I, as the princess, cannot let this slide. Goddess, please give me your authority, and I will deal with it as—"

"Princess Evelyn, please behave yourself. Now is not the time to be pressing the Goddess to make you the empress. Instead, we need to deal with the dark magic first. If you understand, then please sit back down."

Priestess Lilith came to Auriel’s rescue before the princess could finish speaking.

Being spoken to like this made the princess go red-faced, and she almost stuttered before she caught herself.

Even the princess knew that she was in the wrong this time and deserved to get scolded like this. But that did not mean she had to like what was happening.

Since the princess had already been scolded for this, the other two were much more cautious when they asked their questions.

"Priestess Lilith, since you called us here, I assume that you have a plan ready? May I inquire what you want from us?"

Duchess Amara asked in a neutral voice.

She was the oldest candidate in the room and had much more experience with negotiations compared to everyone else. She knew when she needed to push for an advantage and when to fold.

And right now, it was very much time for her to get as much information out of the temple as possible.

But Lilith was not an easy opponent for her to conquer. Instead of backing down and giving out information, Lilith held her ground and looked at the duchess with a firm expression.

"What we want from you three is simple—lend us your strength and time to find these people and uproot them. It might sound easy, but it is not, and a lot of money and manpower will be required. If you are unwilling to do this, then please say so now. We won’t bother you regarding this again."

The priestess told them, but what she did not tell them was the catch behind her words.

However, the trio was not foolish enough to miss what the priestess had left unsaid.

Any one of them could back out and save themselves the hassle. But that would also mean falling behind the others in the race for empress selection. And no one was willing to take that risk.

It was a given that they would all agree in the end.

______

Once everyone had agreed on their roles in dealing with the rise of dark magic, the tense atmosphere finally began to ease.

Auriel watched the conversation from the sidelines, letting the discussions flow between the empress candidates and Priestess Lilith.

For the first time since gathering, the three women were united in a common goal, though their personal ambitions still simmered beneath the surface.

Finally, after what felt like hours, the meeting came to an end, and one by one, the candidates prepared to leave. Auriel let out a small sigh of relief.

This was a crucial first step in their battle, and for now, things had gone smoothly.

Standing up first, she turned to leave, eager to return to her chambers and gather her thoughts.

However, just as she reached the door, Princess Evelyn suddenly stepped in her way, her sharp eyes locked onto Auriel.

"Goddess Auriel, I would like to invite you to the imperial palace as my guest."

The princess announced, her tone carrying the weight of her royal authority.

Before Auriel could respond, Priestess Lilith let out a scoff and crossed her arms.

"Princess Evelyn, you seem to forget that you are not yet the empress. The imperial palace and the imperial throne do not belong to you, and you have no authority to invite the goddess there as if you rule over it. You need to remember your place."

She reminded her with a sharp look.

The princess’s expression darkened for a moment. There was a brief flicker of anger in her eyes, but instead of lashing out, she took a slow breath and exhaled.

"I am well aware of my position. But that does not mean I cannot extend an invitation. The imperial palace is still an important place in the empire, and if the goddess wishes to visit, she should be able to do so."

Evelyn said in a controlled tone, though the way her fingers clenched the fabric of her dress betrayed her frustration.

Lilith narrowed her eyes, sensing the challenge in Evelyn’s words. But after a moment, she sighed and backed down. There was no use pushing further if Evelyn was willing to show restraint.

Auriel, watching the exchange with mild amusement, decided to step in. "

I appreciate the invitation, Princess Evelyn. And I accept. I am interested in seeing the imperial palace for myself"

She said, her voice calm.

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