Chapter 30 Unexpected Visitors pt. 2 (1/2)
We retired to a smaller room to the side.
We were led to a round table with four seats. The Little Goddess' hands shook nervously as she poured us tea.
Meanwhile Mother was looking the blue-haired Goddess up and down with a critical eye.
Having long since recovered from a state similar to Dolly's pudding-form she now exuded the aura of a true Milf Queen with all the firm, imperial bearing that came with it.
”An Undine, huh. Not bad, your kind are fairly uncommon and you also agree with his bloodline perfectly. I suppose you're pretty enough as well. But you're much too small in that area. If you want to have any hope of being my son's concubine you need hips at least as ”thick” as mine, as Damien would say. Really, how do you expect to birth healthy Dragonlings with such a thin body?”
She frowned in disapproval.
The poor girl was frozen solid in fright. ”My apologies...I'll work harder...yes...sorry....”
”First, it's thicc.” I corrected. ”Second, I'm not taking anyone in as a concubine!” I snapped.
”Nonsense, love. Of course you will.”
”What happened to the marriage approval from earlier?!”
The woman laughed lightly. ”Please, son. Marriage is an entirely different matter. It's about happiness and mutual affection. I see that now. But the Dragon race comes first. We still need you to repopulate our numbers, after all. You're free to marry whoever you wish, I'll give you that because I care about your happiness. I can't, however, budge on you performing your duties as our race's Prince.”
”About the repopulation thing, I heard you sent letters to some realm? The hell is that?”
”Multiple realms.” She smiled gently, pinching my cheek. ”And yes. I sent them the day you left. I was so angry and sad I couldn't help myself.” She stuck out her tongue cutely. ”Oh but I chose only those which house the strongest, rare and pure of bloodlines to make things easier. Many have already sent in notice of their acceptance so you'll have your work cut out for you in the future. Don't worry, I'll give you another year or two for your body to further mature before you begin.”
”Why would you do something like that to begin with?!” I glared.
This isn't a laughing matter!
”I was planning to bring the girls over and have them pester you. I knew it'd drive you crazy.” She grinned wildly. ”Once women of certain realms have their eye on a male they don't give up till they get what they want.”
An army of Yesminas!
I wanted to hit her. Wanting to turn veritable bloodhounds onto her own son like this...What kinda sadistic woman does that...?
”You're vicious.” I said.
”Thank you.” Another smile.
”Actually even if I went with this whole crazy idea what were you planning to do with the girls?”
”What do you mean?” She seemed surprised at the question, as if she'd never thought of it before.
”Well where would you put 'em?”
”Ah. That. No matter. They'd be sent back if anything, we only care about the children they would produce. They'd be well compensated. Or, if you like, we can send them to one of our personal realms for you to keep. I don't mind you making more. We live long lives and so do most races. There would be plenty of time for you to fully restore our stock of Dragons. Its a novel idea, isn't it? You'd basically be the progenitor of the entire next generation of Dragons. You'd likey even create new Dragon species never before seen. Quite exciting. Of course only those with the water attributes could be considered part of the Okeanos family officially, but only as a branch. We still have to keep the bloodline pure, you understand.”
Father shifted uneasily at that. He'd been quiet up till now and this was the first time he expressed discontent. I was thankful since at least someone recognized Mother's insanity.
”You're basically calling them breeding horses.” I deadpanned. ”You realize that's fucking crazy.”
”Like I said, they can be sent home.”
”Still, you're planning to use them as mere babymakers!”
”Yeah.” She admitted easily. ”And?” An innocent blink of the eye. ”If you don't want them why do we have to take care of them? Don't tell me you really want to take them in? I didn't think you were so magnanimous, son.” The tone was a touch mocking.
I snorted. ”I'm not, we both know that's unrealistic. But I'm not taking a child from their mother. So, yeah, fuck that plan.”
”Fine.” Mother folded her arms confidently. ”I told you, we live long lives. If you feel so strongly about it then let's make a deal. Instead of a few hundred all at once, give me thirty.”
I was confused. ”Thirty what?”
”Kids.” A shocking reply. ”Only provide us with thirty children every ten years and after a few hundred years you won't have to make any more.”
”Yeah...no.”
That's ten batches of thirty, basically 300 kids at least. Depending on how many hundreds of years she meant by ”a few”.
I was already quietly freaking out about the ”long living” thing she talked about. I can't wrap my head around having so many children on top of that.
It just didn't sit well with me.
”Son, that just won't do. I know it's a lot of responsibility, or so it seems. But we'll take care of everything. You won't have to watch after them on your own, silly goose. Our clans will all pitch in and raise the children together.”
”I am not gonna have strangers taking care of any kids of mine. No deal.”
I saw an eyebrow twitch. ”Son. I'm warning you now. Don't push me on this. I love you and your sister to death but this isn't a matter I'll leave alone. Either come to a compromise here and now, or--”
”Or what?” I challenged. This was starting to piss me off. ”Here I am thinking we were getting along and you're still talking about all this unreasonable bullshit.” I shook my head in disgust. ”I was joking about the disowning thing. Now? Maybe that's not a bad idea after all.”
”Do as you wish on that front.” Mother's voice became almost imperceptibly hoarse. Almost. ”But you'll give us what we want. One way or another.”
And that was it. I was thoroughly sick of seeing her again.
”I don't negotiate with terrorists.” Was all I said. ”Go back. We're done here.”
”Son--” Father started. I cut him off.
”So NOW you wanna speak up?”
His lips were set at a firm angle. There was steel in his eyes. ”Yes.” He stood. ”Let's take a walk.”
***
We left the others in a heavy atmosphere. I followed Father as he asked but I was silent the whole time. I only spoke once to let Cass know to find the others and round them up. I felt I still had a few things to talk to the Goddess--Undine, whatever--about once Mother and Father left.
The hustle and bustle of the city was ignored by us both as we wandered. I thought he was gonna stay quiet for good, but just as the thought came to mind he opened his mouth once more.
”Damien.” He said. ”Your Mother's stubborn and prideful.”
”Is that supposed to come as a surprise to me?”