Chapter 10

Story 7. The male owner of the harem (2)

Chapter 10

“Atsalbate Deaipara. It is a language used by the priests of Hwen. Deaipara refers to a woman who bears the Goddess.”

The answer came so easily. Even before I asked, the prince explained it to me. I asked, “You told me not to ask you anything, so why are you telling me this now?”

“I thought about it for a long time, and… I decided that not doing anything about it is not productive. It would mean I can’t do anything.”

“Do anything about what?”

I asked, but I thought I could guess what story he was referring to. The woman who bears the Goddess… Anyone from Alincha would know who this was.

Ara, the Goddess who will save this world from the Creator, will be reborn over and over again for eternity. However, since there is only one of her, this did not mean she would always be born only in Alincha.

The Goddess always left an heir before she died for this world. She always begot a child with a king, and her sons became the Goddess’ warriors. Before she died, a child from one of the priestesses from the harem was chosen as her representative.

This was the solemn promise of the Goddess. This child was proof that she will someday be reborn and return to the people of Alincha and take care of them. This female child would grow and eventually become pregnant with one of the Goddess’s warriors, and the child born would be the reincarnated Goddess.

This chosen bearer of the Goddess was called the Virtuous Priestess, and the current Virtuous Priestess was living in the deepest part of the harem she built around Minurd. She was served by numerous Odalisques (the maids who work in a harem).

Meanwhile, us, The Innocent Ones, came here to safely bring her future partner, the Goddess’ warrior, to her.

Apparently, I slept for the last three days and nights. This meant that the prince had a long time to think, and it seemed he decided to tell me what he knew. He explained to me, “That man was asking me to find him a Virtuous Priestess. That was what he was saying in his language.”

“What…?”

What did that mean, though? How were we supposed to take such a request? The Hwenians were asking us to give them our Alinchan Virtuous Priestess then?

How dare they?

I wasn’t even sure if this was really true. Could Prince Camille have misunderstood the man?

“Umm, your highness, I apologize for my disbelief, but I must ask you. You told me he wasn’t an intruder or a spy. If not, then who was he? I… I just to make sure that you weren’t bewitched by that man…”

I asked cautiously, afraid I might have offended him. His expression was unreadable as he asked, “Juya, I trust you. Do you trust me?”

“…”

I knew my answer was yes, but I became speechless. This was the question the prince asked me in my dream. His lips looked the same as he spoke the words.

The boy prince continued, but what he said didn’t make sense at all. He looked so honest and earnest, just like when he asked me to kiss him in my dream.

“The whole story…. If you promise me to help me and do as I ask, you will soon learn the truth, but before I tell you anything, I need to ask you for a favor. Please bring the Virtuous Priestess before the Sacred Day this month… You need to take her to a place no one can find her…”

Let’s just pretend that this was the right thing to do. Let’s assume that the Virtuous Priestess was in danger, which was what the prince was suggesting right now. Prince Camille was trying to save her.

If so… we needed to ask the question.

Why?

The priestess was a woman who had to be with the Goddess’ warrior. In the last 7 years, the Goddess hasn’t returned to us. This prince standing in front of me… He was born from the Goddess’ body, but he didn’t get the title of the Goddess’ warrior.

“Could it be…”

Did this boy prince love the Virtuous Priestess? Could it be that he secretly fell in love with the woman who was to marry his older brother? Was Prince Camille trying to steal the Virtuous Priestess?

I couldn’t ask these questions, but I tried to change his mind.

“If… If your goal is to save the Virtuous Priestess, wouldn’t it be better if you ask the Goddess’ warrior for help directly rather than ask me? As you must know, the warrior is a wise and fair man. I don’t know what you believe is happening in the harem, but if you discuss with the warrior, I am sure he will take care of it.”

I had to make sure the prince wasn’t in love with this forbidden woman. If he wasn’t, then I couldn’t see why Prince Camille couldn’t talk to his older brother about this situation.

To my disappointment, the prince looked away secretively. Was… was my guess correct?

Prince Camille replied, “My older brother… Well… I just don’t like telling him what to do and how to do his duties.”

I didn’t understand what the prince was telling me. I asked him a question meant to be a light joke, but my voice came out a little sarcastic instead.

“Is this why you sent me that strange incense to heal me, so you could ask me for a difficult favor? Did you think that I would feel obligated to say yes to your highness…!”

“Of course not! If I made you angry, I apologize, Juya.”

“…”

I sighed. I didn’t mean to sound angry, but I guess I was mad. The boy prince seemed genuinely apologetic, and I couldn’t push him anymore. However… I did want to know more about the incense.

“Please forgive my rudeness, your highness, but I still have a question I would like to ask. I am not sure if it was my imagination, but when I used the incense your highness sent me, I felt my body losing control over itself. That is why I need to know… Were you trying to confuse my mind… Or weaken it perhaps… so I would be more willing to do your bidding? The feeling I had from the incense was something an Innocent One should not experience. That is why I was harsh with you just now. If I was mistaken, I sincerely apologize.”

I had to pick my words carefully so I would send my meaning across accurately without letting him know exactly what happened. If his highness learned how I ejaculated dreaming of his naked body… He could never know the truth, but I did feel a little hurt because if he did intentionally give me the incense that would diminish my body and mind…

The prince stammered, “I… I suppose you could say that.”

When he admitted it, I needed to do my best not to burst into tears. This was not the answer I expected or hoped. His highness quickly explained, “The medicinal incense is used to heal your mind rather than your physical body. I learned that this incense allows you to leave your worries and anxiety behind and feel the truth. Lately, I have noticed how you seemed nervous, Juya… I thought you collapsed because of stress, and I wanted to help you heal as quickly as possible, and let you rest, of course.”

“…”

“If it caused an unwanted sensation, I apologize. I… I didn’t think of it…”

The prince was becoming tearful, and of course, I couldn’t remain angry with him. It sounded like he was only trying to help. I couldn’t imagine this young man even being aware of the kind of dirty and inappropriate thoughts I had.

The prince must have thought I was still angry at him. He seemed anxious and worried, and he stopped pushing me to save the priestess.

“…”

To save the Virtuous Priestess, or not to save her…

The Sacred Day was coming up soon. If I didn’t want to do it, all I had to do was wait a few days, and it would be all over.

Knowing I couldn’t say no to the prince, I truly wished that I could just “wait.”