Chapter 181: The Answer to All the Queen’s Problems

"I... I’m just something like..." Zilu said, lowering her hands and starting to fidget with her fingers nervously as her face grew even redder. "Something like a concubine... or something similar to a lover... according to the harem hierarchy that Miss Ely made..."

"..."

"..."

"HUH?!"

The queen’s reaction echoed through the entire empty hallway, and in that instant her mind plunged into chaos.

At first, when she had met all those women, Emilia couldn’t help but wonder if they all had some kind of relationship with her "husband." However, she had pushed that thought aside almost immediately since it seemed far too improbable to be true.

’I thought only one of them was his partner and the others were simply his combat companions. That would have made sense... and would also have been much more manageable.’

Because the plan she had desperately devised after being left alone in her chambers was based on something fairly simple.

Trap him.

Emotionally or physically, it didn’t matter how, the point was to create a bond strong enough that he would want to stay of his own free will.

And while the queen had imagined that one of those women would be an obstacle, it didn’t surprise her either.

After all, it was impossible for a man like him not to have at least one admirer among so many incredibly attractive and powerful women who accompanied him everywhere.

Competing against one woman would already be difficult. But competing against six at the same time was impossible.

’I’m in the worst possible scenario...’ she thought, feeling a chill run down her spine.

Then Emilia noticed that Zilu had given a small start at her reaction and was now watching her with concern.

The queen took a few seconds to realize she had frozen in the middle of the hallway, eyes wide and mouth slightly open.

’I need to calm down.’

She took one deep breath and quickly composed her expression.

"Sorry for that reaction," she said, forcing a smile. "It’s just that knowing that caught me a little off guard."

Zilu looked at her for a second longer and then seemed to relax.

"Don’t worry," Zilu said as they resumed walking down the hallway. "I had the same reaction at first."

"Really?"

"Yes," Zilu confessed, nodding. "When Miss Ely explained how things worked I went completely blank for a good while."

"I can imagine..."

"But then I reached the conclusion that it’s actually quite normal," Zilu continued in a much more relaxed tone.

"Normal?"

"That a male as strong as the Master would have several females around him," Zilu explained with complete naturalness.

"Y-yes, I suppose that makes sense..." Emilia replied with a smile that took considerable effort to maintain.

The two continued walking in silence for a while until the queen spoke again.

"...Zilu."

"Yes?"

"Could you tell me a little more about this hierarchy you mentioned?"

Zilu blushed slightly.

"W-well," she said, fidgeting with her fingers as she walked. "As I mentioned before, the Master has five head wives."

"Mhm."

"Miss Ely, Alice, Yuki, Rose, and Aria," Zilu listed. "They’re the ones who have, let’s say, the highest priority."

"Priority..."

"Miss Ely was the first, and she considers herself the head wife above the others," Zilu continued. "Though the others don’t always agree with that."

"I-I see."

"And after them there’s me and a succubus named Cali whom I haven’t met in person yet but whom everyone says is very pleasant."

’You’ve got to be kidding me...’ Emilia thought, barely keeping her smile up. ’A succubus too. This has to be a joke.’

"And tell me... do they all ’satisfy’ him?" the queen asked fearfully.

Zilu flushed immediately, her ears shooting straight up and beginning to tremble slightly.

"Y-y-yes..." she replied in a voice so quiet it was barely audible.

’Its over,’ Emilia thought, closing her eyes. ’I’m screwed... There is absolutely nothing I could give him that they aren’t already giving him.’

Emilia was about to sink back into despair when Zilu continued speaking.

"While at first I felt somewhat overwhelmed by all of it..." Zilu confessed as a smile spread across her face, "now I’m more than happy that the others gave me the chance to be with the Master."

"What do you mean they gave you the chance?" the queen asked curiously. "Wasn’t it him who went after you?"

"No," Zilu replied, shaking her head. "It was the head wives who offered me the chance to be one of the Master’s lovers."

"They offered it to you?"

"Yes," Zilu confirmed. "To give the Master children."

"Children?" Emilia asked, frowning.

"Well... the Master’s head wives can’t have children," Zilu murmured, looking away. "That’s why they looked for someone who could give them to him."

The queen listened to every word as if her life depended on it.

"And they chose me... well, me and Cali," Zilu said, her cheeks still red.

Then Emilia stopped abruptly beside a door.

"Here we are..." she said, turning toward Zilu. "This will be your room."

Zilu looked at the door and was about to open her mouth to thank her for guiding her when the queen lunged forward and hugged her.

It was a strong, sudden, completely unexpected embrace that caught Zilu so off guard that her ears shot straight up and her arms hung at her sides not knowing what to do.

"Thank you so much!" Emilia said, squeezing her tight. "You’re the best, Zilu! You just saved me!"

"W-wh-what???"

"If you need anything, anything at all, just tell me!" Emilia continued without letting go. "I’ll get it for you!"

"O-okay???" Zilu replied, completely bewildered.

The queen finally released her, giving her a radiant smile.

Zilu looked at her with an expression of total confusion, blinked a couple of times, and then decided the best thing was simply to go into the room before things got even stranger.

"G-good night..." she said, quickly turning and stepping into the room.

"Good night, Zilu!" Emilia replied cheerfully.

After that, the door closed and Zilu stood inside the room with her ears still raised and an expression of complete bewilderment on her face.

’The queen is a little odd...’ she thought as she walked toward the bed.

Then she sat on the edge of the bed and let herself fall back onto the sheets.

’But she’s also a very pleasant person.’