Chapter 354: Elara-chan Is so Popular with the Ladies

It was morning in the royal palace, and all the great queens—and the small ones as well—were still fast asleep, still in their slumber even as the first rays of sunlight began filtering through the windows and casting warm golden light across the ornate hallways and chambers.

By this exact time, Tensei would have been fighting for his chastity against a group of overzealous Amazons before running away to meet Benjamin somewhere in a secluded part of Verdant Spire.

The fox ears twitched first, those soft and sensitive triangles of fur perched atop her head, and then Sakura opened her amber eyes slowly, blinking against the morning light.

The first thing her gaze landed on was the mural ceiling above her, a magnificent work of art filled with vines that naturally intertwined with the ancient paintings and carvings there, creating a seamless blend of nature and craftsmanship.

"Those... look dwarven in origin and style..." She muttered softly to herself as she lay on the large queen-sized bed, her body stretched out comfortably in a fairly large room that was decorated with tasteful furniture and elegant tapestries.

The entire royal palace of Verdant Spire was extravagant, regal in its design and presentation, with high ceilings, polished floors, grand windows and expensive decorations everywhere one looked.

It was quite different from the more nature-inclined and rustic aesthetic of the rest of the village, which favored treehouses, natural materials, and a closer connection to the surrounding forest.

Sakura thought about the past two days she had been staying in Verdant Spire, with all of the fun and enjoyment she had been getting from her extended visit.

The thought made a smile draw across her pink lips, her expression brightening with pleasant memories, as she shifted a strand of her long, silky pink hair away from her face.

"I truly am having too much fun here... perhaps even more fun than I should be having as a visiting queen," she giggled softly to herself and raised her back from the bed, sitting up straight and stretching her arms above her head. "Now... what mischief can I cause this early in the morning, before anyone else is fully awake?"

She was wearing a silver Asian night robe that flowed down to her ankles, elegant and comfortable, as she stood up from the bed to step onto the finely made fur rug underneath, her bare feet sinking slightly into the soft texture.

And then she disappeared from the room, evaporating as quickly as a drop of water on a hot surface, leaving no trace of her presence behind.

***

Her chambers were as queenly and impressive as ever.

The wide balcony with silk curtains being blown gently by the morning breeze offered a stunning view of the village below and the forest beyond.

The large bed dominated the center of the room, big enough for multiple people to sleep comfortably without touching each other.

The wide space mixed natural elements like flowers and small trees growing from decorative pots with a slight secular addition of polished furniture and elegant artwork, causing the entire chamber to be quite the sight for sore eyes.

Truly, it was a chamber meant for a queen. And it belonged to Queen Elara, the ruler of Verdant Spire.

However, one thing was significantly less queenly and dignified about her this morning.

Elara lay on her massive bed, her eyes droopy and half-closed, her expression frustrated and exhausted.

She had not slept well. In fact, she had barely slept at all.

She was currently positioned awkwardly on top of a sleeping horned woman — Violette, the Grootslang in her human form — who had wrapped her arms around Elara’s body as if she were a baby doll or a stuffed animal, holding her tight and refusing to let go even in sleep.

And on top of Elara, adding to her discomfort and her trapped sensation, there was a smaller, petite girl with silver hair and delicate butterfly wings on her back.

She was snoring softly like she had finally found her long-lost mother after years of searching, and was not going to leave her side ever again.

Violette, ever since the day she had arrived in Verdant Spire with Benjamin, had not stopped pestering and fawning over Elara.

She followed her everywhere--

"Would you stop following me like that?!"

"Kyaahh! Little Elara is so cute when she’s mad!"

She complimented her constantly;

"Ah, this dress looks really good on you!"

"T-Truly? I see..."

And she even went as far as feeding her by hand sometimes, treating the queen like a beloved child rather than a powerful ruler:

"Stop! I can feed myself!"

"No can do! I want you to grow up big and strong like your mummy, Irina!"

And yesterday, like every other day since her arrival, Violette had followed Elara into her private room at bedtime and cuddled her to sleep as if it was her official job, and she took her duties very seriously.

Elara had tried to protest once more, had tried to push her away, and to assert her authority as queen — but Violette was simply too strong and stubborn to resist normally.

Later in the dead of night, when the moon was high and the palace was silent, Titania had wobbled and dazed into the room holding a plush toy that looked unmistakably like Benjamin — same brown hair, same blue eyes, same casual smile stitched onto the fabric face.

She had climbed onto the massive bed without asking permission and tucked herself right on top of Elara’s stomach like a small kitten finding a warm spot to nap.

So, yes, Elara had not slept that night. She had lain there, trapped under two bodies, staring at the ceiling, questioning what had led her to this moment. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

And when Elara was about to think that her situation could not possibly get any worse, that she had reached the absolute bottom of indignity and discomfort, this morning a fox demi-god appeared in her room wearing a mischievous smile that promised trouble.

"Why, this is quite the view to wake up to in the morning... Elara-chan is so popular with the ladies. I did not know you had such a talent for attracting admirers."

"Good morning to you too, Sakura..." Elara sighed heavily, her voice flat and exhausted, her eyes barely open. "I assume from your smile and tone that you have not come here to grant me respite from my current predicament, have you?"

Sakura giggled and hopped onto the large bed with the grace of a fox, landing beside Elara in a smooth and fluid motion.

Then she wrapped her arms around the queen’s neck before she could react or pull away.

SMOOCH!

A loud and deliberate kiss landed directly on Elara, the sound echoing through the quiet chamber.

"Wha--!?" Elara jerked her head back from the sudden gesture, her eyes widening with shock and confusion, her face flushing with embarrassment. "Wh-What was the meaning of that, Sakura?!"