After what very quickly turned into an embarrassing mess of a conversation for the new crown prince, Zanac left, borrowing Climb to act as a guard. Once outside the room and the door closed behind them, Climb still shakily holding the door handle.
"You know, brother-in-law, Climb, the goddess can be quite demanding… Bearing a woman's pride to the world like that is such a challenge for us."
"Eh?" Climb panicked. "I-I-I… Yes Prince Zanac, it was embarrassing?" He saluted.
Zanac glanced to the side and up to Climb's mouth where a drip of milk ran down from the corner. "So, uh… How was it?"
"How was what?"
"The milk?"
"Oh, uh, I'm unsure exactly how to define it. Divine…?"
"I see… Oh and from now on, at least while we're alone, just call me brother. I tire of all the annoying formalities, best to keep it to a minimum when around family."
Climb blushed so hard at the thought again, Zanac let out a small sigh and then started walking away, giving Climb a nod to walk with him.
Inside Princess Renner's room, the ladies from blue rose stayed a while longer talking all about the stories of their adventures. Until…
"Lady Goddess, I was curious, you must've known my great-great grandfather, right?" Lakyus asked, with a beam in her eyes.
"You're curious about him? About if he was really a demon?" Night Silver asked, with a calm, raised eyebrow. She sat back against the couch cushion, and smiled. Though her issue started leaking again.
"I am, Mother, his tales are what drove my love of adventure since I was a little girl."
"Hmm? You're still quite young darling." Night Silver said with a warm smile and a soft giggle. "He was indeed a demon, though he wasn't nearly as strong as the demon gods. Though…" She leaned forward to drain a little into her tea, giving it a stir, and then sat back with her tea cup, she crossed her right leg over her left in an overly sensational manner. "In a way he was a little like me." She sipped her tea.
"Really?"
"Yes, though don't get yourself all excited, he was a far cry from being worthy of the title, god. He was more like a high level hero, but that's it. I even had to give the 13 of them in that group quite a bit of help on some of those demon gods. It would have been difficult had I not had so many wonderful children. They really proved themselves to me during that time."
"A shame they didn't go after all of them." Evil Eye said with a twitch.
"I am sorry about that my dear. If you wish to blame someone, feel free to blame me. I won't hold it against you. It is largely my fault after all."
"Wait, really? How could that be?"
Night Silver finished her tea, then the ever kind little girl Nemu took the cup and plate from her to place on the table. She took in a deep breath, then let it out.
"It was on my order that they leave a handful of demon gods alive. I saw them as a perfect opportunity to enshroud my Tus Nadair for the continent." She stated calmly. "I want to end the political nightmare that Tsa created, and there were only two ways around it. First, abandon the continent completely, leaving them to their own devices. Second, conquer everyone, and everything, making the entire continent mine." She explained.
"I don't understand, neither happened."
"Naturally, what kind of mother would I be if I chose the first option? And I never wanted to own everything so the second option was out of the question."
"So how did you manage?"
"I culled the enemy down a considerable deal, and trained up the rest of the continent to the point they would be able to carry on without me. This included the creation, and training of the 13 heroes… Once that was done, and everything was resolved, I used Tsa's own insidious plots to hide Tus Nadair from the world. I only opened a portal to its welcoming bath house once every 50 years, and only to the faithful who desired to see me as their mother." Her lips curled into a small smile in an attempt to mask the unyielding pain in her heart. "I did break that rule a few times to save some lost souls now and then. My heart just couldn't take it… I love all of my people whether they follow all of my teachings or not. So long as they are free, and happy, I see no reason to force them to change."
Everyone went silent, only the sound of the wind outside could be heard.
"So you see, I'm not blameless." She started to say…
Evil Eye walked over, and sat down right next to Night Silver, leaned over and gave her a kiss on the cheek, and then smiled.
"You may be right, but I can't blame you. You said we were made to be ready for it when they arrived, and we still failed… We failed you, Mother." She said, crying before drinking up some milk for herself.
"She's right, Tsa is that dragon in the Argland council state. He's been a thorn in our side for a while now too." The Marquess said, relaxing.
"That's a relief. I thought Mother was going to say she was unworthy of worship. Now I just want her to stay in my bed tonight." Renner said. "It's been too long since I snuggled with Mother." She said, hinting at her own reasons.
"Oh that's a great idea, Mother you should sleep with me." Marquess Pespea said with a delighted clap of her hands to her face.
"I'm afraid I'd have to take Renren up on her offer. Sleeping with a man in the bed wouldn't be good for me right now. It's been a whole week since I last had a man's touch. And Gazef was too dense to figure it out… So I'm a bit riled up."
"How long have you gone without relations?"
"This is the longest stretch since… oh yes, since I fought the Emperor Dragon… That was two months, but I was active the whole time. My body is craving something fierce right now."
"Then how about you join us, Sister? I'm sure Marquis Pespea will understand. Who wouldn't want a night of cuddling up in mother's embrace!?"
"He might get jealous." Marquess Pespea wondered for all of half a second before emphatically agreeing. "We could make it a big slumber party!"
…