*** Kou, Ritual ***

The Goddesses really have spared nothing for this ritual. I thought the dragon realm held all the obsidian, yet here they found ten massive columns to place the idiots upon. For all to see.

For all those who aren't fighting right now and want to see.

I'm not happy that it requires sex and kids from my Princess.

She does that too much these days. I can see it drag on her face when she gets too long a break after a session of healing. Time to think back to what she did. If it is a commoner, looking at the woman does sometimes bring back a smile to my Princess's face, but the nobles get a frown even during the act.

I need to find a way to save my Princess from that act more. Having women she loves as the target isn't a true fix. No, that clearly will still get to my Princess even if it will take longer.

I will have to get the Royal Healer and Lady Kelly to help my Princess learn more.

But on to the happy things. This is a great moment for my Princess. The star of a massive ritual. Revenge and winning a war. Things I need to help focus her towards. The dragons won't be smart enough to give up fully after losing their army. The true dragon may pop in to see what the newest royal-made champion is doing. That chaos may be just what they need to sneak to my Princess.

Happy thoughts. I don't have to be at work right this second. There's nothing I can do for my Princess right now besides stand here. Lady Armirynth will be the one to handle cheering my Princess up, and Victoria will handle any carrying that needs to happen. I'm a decoration right now. A spectator to my Princess's greatness.

So many Goddesses working together to bring revenge to these moaning idiots. Their blood still dripping down their body from the clean cuts my Princess etched into their skin. String sewing their fates together.

A beautiful idea. A great plan, and even great plans have some ugliness to them. I have to accept that as a head maid. Don't let perfect ruin a plan that gets everything done that needs to get done. My Princess accepts the pain. I just have to build a great plan to help her heal.

It doesn't make it any easier to see my Princess strip on her march to the middle. I wish Azula were further into the lineup, but it was smart of my Princess to move her up to shut Lensa up. Even if Lensa should understand she isn't something special anymore. My Princess will have power over her eventually.

She never should've accepted those kids in her womb if she wanted freedom.

Oh, there are the true wails. Far from anything I could call music, but beautiful all the same. A piercing whine that must fill the city with dread. Much better than the dull moan they had from the cuts and transportation. This is what they should go through for my Princess.

Even I can feel the heat of the fire from forty yards away, how it must feel for the pathetic slabs of meat on the pillars.

The thick flames are hiding my Princess more than I would like this early, but the wails continue, so she must be doing her part well.

Lady Armirynth is struggling with the cries; I should help her with the noise. Too bad Yuki had to earn herself a spot in the middle. Better than the outer ring, but still, it would be great to have a Princess of sound out here to help protect the delicate Lady Armirynth. She must be protected for my Princess at all costs, besides the kids. Lady Armirynth and Alzi would have me tortured and killed if I let a kid die to save either of them.

"Sorry, Lady Armirynth," I say. "I got too caught up in watching for my Princess. Let me help with the sounds."

"Thank you, Kou," Lady Armirynth says. Such a nice woman. A much better family to serve than my sisters. Imagine dealing with Tanatsu constantly. I wouldn't see the end of the century if I had to deal with any of my sisters as my Princess or Queen.

...

The flames move like clockwork. Telling exactly how far along the ritual is. My Princess is just past Shimmer now. The skin has started dripping off the slabs of meat's legs. Will their entire bodies end up melted by the end of this? I hope. They don't need anything to bury, and it would be a waste of everyone's time to grind trash into dust.

I'm working hard to keep their screams to a dull cry for Lady Armirynth. I can't do much for myself. My ears are too sensitive, and I can't let Lady Armirynth suffer. She needs to be ready to help my Princess. My Princess will be coming out like she did with the preparations. She'll need help. She'll need love, and Lady Armirynth is the best source.

Hopefully, Lady Nanoka will be able to help in that space soon. The Goddess believes in her.

My Princess must have moved over another body. The flames now encompass what is left of the slabs of meat's legs. Their torsos are now the target to melt, well, more than they already have. The fire is taking on a hint of my Princess's beautiful rainbow coloring.

Just perfect.

*** Armirynth ***

It's hard to watch, but I have to for my Baby. I have to catch her when she's done with the ritual. She's earned this, but I worry what it is doing to her mind. It's so frail already. Sometimes I worry her mind has already split.

Maybe that is the real reason for the extra bodies. To take the small parts of her mind that have frayed too much and give them a place to rest.

I have to thank Kou for helping with the sound. Blood is boiling out of the brothel owners' mouths. Their vocal cords so frayed, magic must be what is forcing their screams to fill the world. It's hard to watch their bodies melt away, even after all they did to my Baby.

I would never take them down from the pillar or ask for better treatment, but just for my Baby not to have to watch it. To keep her from seeing this. From having to endure all this.

I wish I could protect her. But she has wives now who can help with that. Kou is doing such a good job. I think my Baby finally has the women around her she deserves.

My Baby is safe, finally.