Chapter 180: Not Invited
Chapter 180: Not Invited
The dinners and formalities needed inside the restaurant were long and festive. My Elders were rolling out the red carpet for Queen Mira, very excited about her help in the oncoming war. For now, no formal talks were being held, and many of the male Bunny-kin were looking for Queen Mira keeping her firmly out of my hands in entertainment.
She was the celebrity I brought back from another nation, and Mira was taking it like a champ.
On the other hand, my women were more clustered around me with a person that I very much didn't want to be around. It seemed that while I was gone that there was a fellow 'genius' that my father liked. It was a black Bunny-kin from an elder's ancestry. It was Elder Donaven, whom I hadn't interacted much with, but he was a powerful Generalized Wizard among the powerholders in Silvermoon tower.
Donavens grandchild, or even Great Grandchild, was a tall man almost towering over me at six foot three and stood close enough that I would have to crane my head. His smile was polite and even inviting as he tried to cozy up with me and more or less ask my women to back off. Mally wasn't having much of that, and neither was Emily, with them both holding onto an Arm.
That didn't mean Asahi, Trisha, Tina, Rose, Kate, Alexia, and Yuri, were happy about it. Betsy was finding the drinks to her liking, and I couldn't help in the back of my head if she drank enough, would I be able to get drunk off her milk?
Tyler was another factor that I was surprised hadn't been brought up, as Taylor stood behind me with what was essentially my harem. On the other hand, Florine seemed to have been caught by someone for a debrief on her time in the Demon lands. I was bored talking to this guy, and he was looking at me in a way that unsettled me.
"Your accomplishments were substantial for your relatively short time there, Chelsea," The black Bunny-kin said with that same smile. "I am wondering if you would like to collaborate on more things?" He asked, finally forcing me to pay attention to him in more compacity.
"What are you thinking about? I can only tell you if I am interested in what you wish to collaborate on, that is, if you tell me what you want to collaborate on," I replied, knowing that I couldn't just off-handedly snub this man.
"Well," He said, looking around at my harem, "I am unsure if there aren't others listening that I would rather not hear." He replied while motioning to other bunny-kin while looking at my women, and I understood his meaning. To be fair, it was perfectly okay to question that from other people's perspectives.
This was a high-end conversation; if he wanted to talk shop, it wouldn't be appropriate to talk in front of them.
Still, I had to protect my women and let my face fall into a deep frown. "Then I think you would do well not to do it at a party," I replied tartly, surprising him, "I believe that you can contact me later without the need to talk to me here where there are many partygoers.
Please," I began with a warmer smile and turned to Alexia and Yuri, pointing them out, "Talk to my assistants, and I can see about putting a time slot in my busy schedule to talk to you about this collaboration. We can discuss it further than," I finished with a bright smile of a winner.
He opened his mouth, paused, and realized that he had tripped himself up with questions about my harems credentials. Again to be fair to him, it was a genuine question that he was allowed to have. It was also one that I wouldn't stand for happening right to their faces.
He was the one who brought it up at a party to which they were invited and here personally, and I wouldn't have this man question them in public. Backing off at any point would have only hurt my future relations, even if they all understood that there were things that they were not allowed to overhear due to the nature of my position and their race.
Instead of saying anything, he turned and walked away, and I barely hid my sigh of relief after talking to him for way too long. I leaned back for a moment and smiled at Emily and Mally.
"You know that he wasn't completely in the wrong there, but I wouldn't see you questioned in public," I stated, although Emily was actually okay to overhear the conversation as she was still considered my property and a slave even though I hardly considered her as such and never ordered her around.
She was still a Slave and my maid, making it normal to overhear these things, whereas Mally and everyone else were free and of the wrong race to be 'awarded' the position to overhear sensitive information.
I sighed and waited while the Black bunny-kin, I didn't even remember the name of, walked away. My moments of peace at this party were over, though, as another Elder walked up with a smile instead of trying to talk to Mira. This Elder was Greggory and at least in his mid-hundred years old, smiling as he came closer to me.
"Ah, the woman that has stolen the show by bringing a Queen back with her from the Demon lands. Queen Mira is a very powerful woman, and we are grateful you talked the Succubus Illusion tower into joining our cause." Elder Greggory said.
"Thank you, Elder," I replied, wishing I wasn't here at this point. Still, Later I knew that there should be some fun because there was no Bunny-kin party to my knowledge without some fornication.
"On a more serious note," Elder Greggory said, looking at my women, "We will be enjoying a more Bunny-kin-type party later this evening.
Queen Mira seems to be more interested in you than any of our," He paused, looking for a word, it seemed, before he smiled, "Subjects." I couldn't help but smile, and Greggory nodded, "You have made a lasting impression, and from some talks we had with her, we never realized just how bad the state of our diplomacy was with the Succubi people before you were Ambassador." Greggory stopped with that and turned, "We have brought that Traitor Ralph back, and he hasn't quite started talking.
That is no matter, though; with the Empire trying to save him, he has no legs to stand on anymore." Elder Greggory chuckled a little at that, and I felt a primal shiver up my spine as he turned. "Besides the point, After the Party, the Elder council is meeting up, and we will debrief you and learn what you have learned.
Things are moving faster than we'd like, and the Tribes are starting to gather in the Primary cities and towns." The Elder sighed, looking around, "Also, I hate to say it, but your harem here will not be invited to the next party because it will only be high-ranking members. You understand me, Chelsea?" He asked, and I nodded.
"I would like to request that one of the carriages take them to where I will reside. I prefer to be Near Queen Mira as she and I will be working together on what her forces will be doing to aid the nation." I told him.
"Of Course!" He replied, "We have already been setting that up, and you will have a room beside hers in the Silvermoon tower on the fiftieth floor." Elder Greggory said, "Ladies, You may use the carriages at any time, and please enjoy your time in our city," he told them, not addressing me. "I honestly am sorry for not being able to invite you to the after-party.
It is just some of the conversations happening there are for certain need-to-know ears only."
I turned to see some pouts, but more or less, everyone understood. I smiled and said, "Don't worry, I will make sure no of you go to bed later tonight without being more than satisfied," I finished and got some smirks and head shakes. "Why not go ahead without me? Alexia, I would love to see our daughter soon too.
Maybe pick her up, and I can meet her tomorrow?" I asked, feeling hopeful, and Alexia smiled wryly.
"I won't be able to today. I am not going to take our little girl from mother just so you can meet her in a day. I need to prepare her," Alexia told me, and I understood, "Plus," Her smile turned lusty, "I want some attention too when you come back.
I will go tomorrow afternoon and get her prepared." She told me, and I couldn't help but nod, feeling excited since I hadn't met Alexia and my little girl.
I smiled, "I cannot wait to meet her," I told her truthfully. As I said this, I noticed more smiles and charming ones to boot. I didn't care because it was how I felt. I wanted to hold one of my babies in my arms, and I felt sad that I hadn't been able to do that yet despite the number of children I have had so far in my short life in this world.
Emily then let go of my arm and smiled, "Let's go, ladies; I think the Elder has things we cannot hear, and we need to be going," It was sad to watch them go, but none of my ladies and I realized that Betsy wasn't here and when they were going while the Elder watched them with a mysterious smile.
"Child, sorry, Chelsea," The Elder quickly changed his wording as they left. Then I saw Alexia find Betsy by a table and pull her out, making me chuckle a little as I watched. "Sorry for making them go. The conversations that we will be having at this party will only be those who need to hear it and Queen Mira so that she knows we are holding nothing back.
We need those Illusionists if your studies in the Demon Lands are correct. The Empire is not a foe that we take lightly but also one we must face."
"Elder Greggory, I do not know what you think or think of my women," I prefaced, "But none of them are stupid, and there is something I would like to show you all later that I think you will be impressed about. Besides that," I said, finishing my preface, "They are not stupid. They know that they cannot hear many of my things.
Some are willing to fight for our nation as well because I find this place my country and my kin. I will not have them disrespected, but I also know when to back off when it comes to sensitive information and potential fallout. I would rather they didn't know so that they wouldn't be accused if something was leaked.
I already know them being in the city is enough to make some people dislike me." I told him my face was not twitching, but Elder Greggory's smile brightened as I finished.
"Good, Chelsea," Greggory said, "I am glad that you have brought that up. I think those old laws keeping other races out of our tribe's city are stupid. They are archaic from a time when bunny-kin were still repopulating and no longer should hold sway. Still, some think other races are beneath us and that we should keep a place of purity. Stupid conservatives don't understand that it limits things.
They are a shrinking minority, though. Still, You have made some enemies with them remaining in the city, and your mother and father have helped you out a lot in this. Although," Greggory smiled warmly, "Your Daughter Mina has come under my wing lately, and I must say your children, although chaotic, are very talented. Mina is also a humble child that loves mana and discovering more of it.
She seems to be growing into a fantastic General wizard and has already broken into the F ranks. She will be a little genius." He smiled fondly and turned to me, and I felt more than enough feelings just talking about her, "Mina still carries a doll her mother made representing you, too," I could tell from his smile that he really liked Mina.
Those words almost broke my calm facade, and I longed to hear more as he continued, "Susie, in fact, is another talent that is growing fast and is more of a little terror in the tower," Greggory's smile was fond; and I couldn't help but look at Greggory, looking for any information on my children. "Susie is a pyromaniac and is very suited to her choice of being a pure fire wizard."
"Really?" I asked, not even noticing how my voice cracked a little as my emotions surged, and Greggory looked at me with an expression of pity.
"Sorry, Chelsea," Greggory said, "I shouldn't have brought this up just before the party since I simply do not have enough time before we need to meet with the others to give you a good sense of how your children are doing."
It hurt, but I nodded slowly, "You are right," I told him with a sigh, and I pressed my hand against the back of my neck and stretched it a little. "I miss them," I told him and pointed, "Should we meet with the other elder so we can finish this party sooner rather than later?" I asked.
Elder Greggory looked at me with a more stoic face, "Again, I am sorry, But let us meet with the others," he finished.
We walked to a growing crowd in the middle of the restaurant, and I could see servers taking the food away and soon new furniture coming out. Soon it was the afterparty, but my heart was still trembling from hearing about Mina and Susie. I wanted to hear more, and I was struggling to change back into work mode.
Still, I kept my calm facade when Mira found me and came over and wrapped an arm around me.
"Give it a bit," Mira said, "We need to discuss some things and the famous afterparty of the Bunny-kin is here. Please help me out," Mira said, her smile warm, and I took a breath.
"I would be glad to assist you tonight," I told her, and together we walked to talk with some elders and powerholders here in the Silvermoon towers city. It was going to be a long night.
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