The cries scared me awake.

  My babies sounded so sad, begging for food. Their little helpless bodies are too small to do anything but cry and giggle to express their needs.

  All four of them scream out together, but I can only handle two of them, though I'm sure my other children are also hungry elsewhere in the house. Just do what you can, Alzi. I scramble up to begin helping my babies.

  A maid had removed the kids from my breasts at some point in the night. Which is good; I don't turn much in my sleep, but it is best to be careful. A little bit of mana gently pulls the nearest two kids to me. Their hungry mouths find my nipples immediately, suckling out the milk that never stops. A maid quickly takes care of the other two, giving me a soft smile as we feed my beautiful daughters.

  "Thank you for helping," the maid eventually says. "Not all mothers like waking up at night for this. The dies of the house have done well helping us maids."

  "I wasn't expecting to ever have maids help me with my kids," I say. "I'm just happy to see you all move over so quickly and even let me help."

  "The dies have been eager for you to see the kids for a while. We're all happy you're getting to meet them, and we appreciate anything you wish to help with," the maid says. "You've had an awful start to your adult life, but I hope the kids can bring some joy to it."

  "They have already. It's going to be hard leaving in a week," I say. "For a war. Leaving the new ones I brought into life to watch a bunch of women lose theirs."

  "Yes, the opposite of this. The kids will be here when the war is over," the maid says. "You should get some months to rest if the war drags on. Please, try to make it back here for a bit. Your children would love for you to visit."

  "I'll try. I am a sve," I say.

  "For now."

  A few more maids filter in, and the kids start to be done with their midnight meal.

  "Do we need to do anything else?" I ask.

  "We normally take a short walk with the kids to help put them back to sleep and catch any milk they spit back up. Would you like to join us?" the maid says. "I think the kids would be happy if you did. We normally get them all grouped up for this."

  "Yes."

  A maid helps put a sling on me, along with one of the kids—one with little blue horns. Then we walk through the house to the warm garden, where heat runes ward against the frigid air like back at our manor.

  A small group of maids and babies are here, already waiting for the other two groups.

  "Lady Alzi woke up and is joining us," the maid says to the other group. The babies all turn to watch me with their cute little smiles. They really do care about me.

  "Thank you all for taking good care of the kids," I say. "This feels strange to me. I never expected to actually meet my children."

  The other group comes out shortly, and we all begin our little walk through the garden. It smells and looks like spring with all the flowers still blooming despite the deep winter just outside the garden walls. A maid in the middle hums out a soft tune to help lull the babies to sleep. It takes just a single p around the garden, and all of them are peacefully asleep again.

  "We have a bit before we'll have to change their diapers," a maid whispers. "Get some sleep, Lady Alzi. You need the rest, and we can handle dirty diapers. I promise you are not missing out on anything there."

  "Ok," I say, my eyelids getting heavy. It seems that the lulby works on more than just the babies.

  Inside, I let them put the baby down in its crib as I feel out for the kids in Aurora's womb. I should check up on her, and she should have a real bed to sleep in.

  She is just a few doors down, still sleeping. That's perfect for me to join her, and I manage to keep her from waking up as I slip into bed with her. My annoying maid will be my teddy bear for the night.

  ...

  Aurora is nestled into me when I wake up, the old maid trying to hide underneath my breasts. Annoying woman. Face your Lady.

  "Better?" I ask.

  "Yes, I am sorry. I do not understand why I did that, my Lady. I know better," Aurora says. "More than just my limbs must have been injured. Thank you for freeing me from that terrible fate. I hope I did not keep you from your children, my Lady."

  "No, I was using you as a distraction, honestly. Shy tried to get me to ignore you until after the kids, but I got scared," I tell her for some reason, even though her question didn't require an expnation, and the colr didn't demand one. "Well, you really are a perv messing with your Lady's breasts like this. Also, I'm pregnant now. So, will I get to move down to the first floor? If, somehow, this war doesn't happen."

  "Yes, I will work with Isda to have a room prepared for you," Aurora says, jumping on the new conversation that doesn't focus on her failings. "I have a letter from Kelly as well. I can read it to you soon. I think the war will ruin our pns for having her come teach you, but we can pn for Kelly to join us after or maybe even have her take a break when you are due so she can deliver the child."

  Are we moving too fast talking about pns for after the war? The Princess said the st war went on for her entire childhood. Why would this one end quickly?

  The Princess is going to use this to keep me as a sve, too. Fucking bitch. Damn royals, ruining everything.

  "My Lady, we can keep sleeping if you like," Aurora says. "Rest is good for you right now."

  "No, I promised to heal the sailors' families. I need to talk with the Princess to find out how that's going to work," I say. Aurora has a lot to get caught up on.

  "I see. You completed your css, my Lady," Aurora says. She must have seen my newest tattoo.

  "Yes, got three new ones."

  "We can walk through them whenever you wish, my Lady," Aurora says. "I am sure the Goddess did more than give you the tattoo."

  "How do you know I met a goddess?"

  "How else do you get a tattoo like that, my Lady?" Aurora says. "I will call Shy over. She saw you yesterday and should have already tailored a few dresses for your new size."

  "Ok," I say. Aurora scoots out of the bed, throwing on a new robe and slippers before sneaking out of the room. Did the Goddess really give me more? She seemed quite happy sticking me with these three shit csses and calling it a day.

  It only takes a few minutes for Aurora to return with her daughter in tow. Shy is already dressed in her uniform. Seems she is still looking to take over for her stupid mother.

  "My Lady," Shy says with a bow. "We don't have your full closet, but most of it needs to be tailored to your new sizes anyway."

  "Sizes?"

  "Your hips are a bit wider now as well," Shy says. "Now, before, you said you wished to be dressed like a whore. Is that still true?"

  Is she hinting at something, or is she thinking I don't want to show off my body while pregnant? I still think I should dress like a whore and annoy the Princess. If she even cares at all about what I look like. My new healing css also wishes for me to keep my clothing skimpy.

  "Yes. I have a new skill that improves my mana efficiency when I'm wearing less clothing," I say. "I should use that the best I can."

  "Hmm. That is true, my Lady. If you ever want to change, just let me know. I am happy to switch it up," Shy says, tapping her foot. "Limit clothing... We should try to find some time to test this. As it is, we will want to do pantyhose for underwear and just dresses that can handle your breasts. Suits will be terrible for you, but that is fine since you don't like them anyway."

  Fuck, do I actually have something to thank that damn skill for? Fucking Goddesses rubbing it in.

  "Ready to put something on? This will show off your new tattoo," Shy says, a green dress popping out behind her.

  "Ok."

  The dress practically frames my new tattoo between my breasts. It hugs every inch of my body, from my breasts down to my hips. Now that I'm pregnant, I get to wear tiny one-inch heels, even though I'm only a few days—well, a week for me—pregnant.

  Some rules work in my favor.

  They lead me downstairs, where the Princess is having breakfast with Fluvis and her wives. A few of my babies are hanging out in special chairs with them.

  "Good morning, Alzi," Shimmer says. "I heard you wished to heal all the sailors, so I had a tent set up outside for them. A few showed up early, but there's no rush. I can keep them busy for a bit if you want breakfast."

  "Now is fine. I'm not that hungry," I say. I expect Shimmer to go in for a kiss, but she seems to be hovering just a bit away from me. Almost like she wants to keep Aurora between us.

  "Then this way, my dear," Shimmer says. She takes me and my maids back out to the garden, where we find a tent simir to the one Oriphusa had set up for the maids. Three women, all missing a limb, are waiting in chairs.

  "Hello, everyone. Lady Alzi will be taking patients soon. Just give us a moment to make sure everything is ready," Shimmer says for me, Aurora directing me into the tent. Inside are a few chairs and a table.

  "I can handle the extra items," Aurora says. "Like the leather strip. I got it from the Princess for you. I understand why you didn't use it to heal me, but these women should have it."

  "Thank you," I say. "I need to make a checklist for what needs to be done, and for that, I need to read and write." She just has to be fucking right about everything.

  "I'm gd you see I was trying to help you," Aurora chuckles. "Is everything else in order? I can handle the checklist for now."

  "I can see the first one," I say. "They aren't paying for this, right? I meant for this to be free and to help their families as well."

  "I will work that out with Shimmer and the Princess, my Lady," Shy says. "I don't remember them asking for payment when they set this up, but I will confirm it. You just worry about helping them and spending time with your children."

  "Thank you. If I find out they had to pay for this..."

  "It will be free, my Lady. I promise," Shy says.