Trapped in Another World With No Magic

Chapter 182: Three Sheets to the Wind

Vaergraes would be a liar if she said she didn't feel envy most days since becoming a major part of the Fievegal. For all of her life, she has practiced a great deal of self-restraint, cool-headedness, patience, and tranquility. She has always been able to hold her head high as an Uhl'tall Archpriestess, one of the few that can truly dive deep into the mana of the world and see what the world is trying to tell its residents. This is, of course, a romantic way of looking at the relationship between an Uhl'tall priestess of any rank and the world, which is a massive pool of mana exceeding any living being, including Hekate, but there is a strong belief that the world is very much a sentient being in its own right. Its priorities are different from the peoples that walk its surface, as well as the beasts that just want to survive its every environment. But, if the world had no will of its own, there would be no such thing as Dawnseeing, or the more ambiguous world connection that Vaergraes is capable of, which can see more, but often with less clarity or specificity.

But personally, she is a woman. As far as she knows, from how much she was propositioned during her days as the 'Demon Tyrant' or 'Demon Queen', depending on which side of the mountains one originated from, she is a particularly beautiful woman by most people's standards, so long as their standards accept other races. Even by human standards, if one ignores her horns and dual-color skin blended like some sort of ineffective natural camouflage, she has symmetrical features, nice curves, and a fit form that would be quite attractive, as far as she knows.

And yet, even though Daniel has 'granted', 'permitted', or 'doesn't care' for her to call herself one of the Empresses of the Fievegal, her chastity even after all of her years of life screams that she is not quite a full-fledged Empress. No one taunts her about her slow-moving, virtuous, and maidenly status, but they don't have to with words.

Ryuogriar and Geirahoel, at the least, seem set on never NOT being nearly as round as actual spheres, since Vaergraes can barely remember a time when they weren't pregnant (since meeting Daniel, of course), and Doephluev does seem to proudly present herself with her own swollen abdomen. Even Gwenesphia, who is fairly docile, has started to show, and the others have made it no secret that they have made their own efforts towards a similar goal as if it's some sort of race.

Meanwhile, Vaergraes is still a chaste and virtuous archpriestess.

Her envy is minor and fleeting, but it is frequent, so it does cross her mind, even now, as the large, luxurious buses that Daniel had sent for the trip come to a stop in the staging area, meaning the show is about to begin.

Should I try to guilt everyone into letting me be first or second lady today? I could argue that Daniel and I both have or currently represent the enemies of the East, meaning I also represent the opposition in this peace negotiation. Would that work?

It's not that she's desperate to be one of many. If anything, and arguably like any one of the other women in question, she would actually rather have Daniel all to herself. She admires his talent for solving problems, even if he 'cheats' by using skills that come from a different world. He has proven to be courageous, overcoming his fears in order to protect what's precious to him, and he is attractive even by Uhl'tall standards.

What's most frustrating is that she often feels like a background character, which has possibly gotten worse now that her sister, whom she still feels a great deal of conflict and hurt about, has apparently been a traitor the whole time.

If Daniel is to be believed, it's possible she was the manipulator using Vaergraes for most of the Archpriestess's life, and certainly all of her time as the Demon Queen.

Vaergraes has nothing to point to that, but she also can't explain the disparity between her memories and how Thymeria acted when Daniel confronted her just an hour or so ago.