Spurred by Liseti's suggestion I walk straight back home.
Kyska would surely be very angry with me if I again use self-pressuring to keep the eggs in check so I can make it in time.
Like this, there is only the choice to hurry very much before I get into this kind of predicament.
The escort is aside from the nurses apparently fit enough to follow me.
Those service drones simply don't have the right legs to run very fast and can barely keep up.
However, I can't be too considerate of them in this situation.
It might be just my imagination but I believe to start to feel that unwanted familiar stirring in my hip.
Fortunately, I make it back in time.
I reach my courtyard and have just to get back inside where I can get over with this before it happens out in the open.
Relatively seen as we are inside a big tunnel.

In the end, I just don't want to be seen while doing this.
Especially by my family or certain other individuals.
So I just have to make it through the door where nowadays a curtain hangs in front to give me some privacy.
I guess that was mum.
I should thank her later.
But now I have to get this done.

 

"You!!!" (T)

<Sriiek?!/What!?> (E)

 

Just a moment before I make it inside my room I hear myself getting called out from the side.
Even more in human words.
A moment later I realize it was this woman from house Lorata who approaches me with heavy determined steps.
The escort doesn't like this almost hostile behavior but I guess my inner wish that they shouldn't rip her apart produces the corresponding pheromones.
At least my head feels slightly greasy now.
She comes close to me to a stop with a face that barely hides her anger.

 

"What kind of game are you playing here?!" (T)

"Ehk. S-sorry, but I don't understand." (E)

"What you don't understand? First, you invite us here without leaving us much choice but to come with you, and then you let us rot at this place for days without doing so much as tending a single time to us! So I'll repeat my question. What game are you playing here?!" (T)

"S-sorry. But right now is not a good time." (E)

 

Urgh. I'm sure the stirring gets worse.

 

"Not a good time!? When I tried to settle this yesterday your crazy monsters tried to kill me! That wasn't a good time! What even happened there? Tell me!" (T)

"R-really, I have to go somewhere." (E)

 

I am so close.
I almost made it.

 

"Don't talk yourself out of this! You're planning something, right? Do you intend to take everyone as hostages?" (T)

"Please. We have to end that talk now. I can't..." (E)

"Oh no, you will speak to me now. I won't move away before you answer all of my questions." (T)

"GOOD RIEDDAENZE IEEE SAIEEEED NOT NOW!!!" (E)

 

"Plop"

 

"It started!" (K)

<Nurses, attend the princess!> (K)

"Started? What started? What was this?" (T)

 

No! I almost made it.

 

"Plop"

 

I was so close.
This Lorata woman looks totally confused and I really didn't want her to see me like this.

 

"Plop"

 

I think I'm dying of shame.

 

<Kyska please, somehow bring me inside!> (E)

<Princess, you shouldn't move during your sessions.> (K)

<Screak!/Then carry me! Just do something!> (E)

<As you wish, my princess.> (K)

 

"Plop"

 

A moment later, four workers grab me very carefully and lift me up in a way that my posture doesn't change the slightest.
Then they walk with me through that curtain while always a nurse stays at my back to catch any emerging eggs.
Outside my room remains a very perplexed noble.
She isn't really left alone, as regularly nurses are leaving my room with the new eggs.

 

"Plop"

 

As Liseti said, this one's one of the more intense sessions.
I really can feel how the eggs are pressuring to get out.

 

"Plop"

 

"Scraak!/Urgh, when will this be over?" (E)

"If you would have kept the laying installment this would be much easier." (K)

 

Thank you Kyska, but I didn't ask for this.

 

"Plop"

 

After far too long it finally ends and the last nurse leaves with an egg in her hand to give it to a worker for transportation.

 

"Fifty-eight! Such a great feat!" (K)

 

I don't like it that much to get the numbers.
I always feel like some kind of livestock or installment that has to make a quota.
However, after that talk with Liseti, one thing strikes me odd.

 

"That's weird. I thought there would be a total of hundred... strands to produce them. This doesn't add up." (E)

"Oh no, you misunderstood. They require more time in relation to their complexity. A hunter or worker is naturally less complex than a guardian or interceptor. The former grow faster and like this naturally leave first." (M)

 

Ah, so this is it.
Not that I like this topic about my body but I believe this is rather important for me to know.
Like this, I can be sure that forty-two will be something more complex.

 

"What about nurses?" (E)

"Those too. They are specialized and rather intelligent and like this need more time." (M)

 

Well, intelligence is a skill.
I don't feel too bad.
Kyska insisted this morning that I eat enough to prevent another collapse of mine.
Like this, I have the necessary energy and can still keep myself going.
Yet now I think I have no choice but to attend to my guests.
At least I will have to speak with that Lorata woman.
She has certainly seen something.
I don't know if she understood what exactly happened but this was nothing I wanted strangers to witness.

Also, she is rather rude I think.
But maybe I am also no great host.
Especially not for noble standards, yet as an embassy, she should be more courteous.
However, I still want to make a good impression.
After all, this could be crucial to establish friendly relations.
So I head over to the place which was allocated as their lodging.
Miwa is accompanying me, while Suki shall relay to my family what I've got from Liseti.
And Kyska was suddenly gone.
My district isn't very big.
So the place is close to the entrance.
I would knock if the insects would know doors.
Well, I can do it on the wall.

 

"Knock, knock"

 

"Excuse me? It was said you would need something?" (E)

"Ah, Princess Erys. How fortunate that you grant me a visit." (O)

 

Instead of that Lorata woman, this merchant comes.
Her name was Olira if I'm right.
Looking inside, I see that there are two tunnels, so I guess their rooms are separated and I seriously have no idea why the other one was so unsatisfied with their accommodation.

 

"Ehk, hello. Lady Lorata said that there is an issue. I didn't want to appear inhospitable so if there's any problem, please tell." (E)

"Ah, it isn't that bad. The food is a little bland but I've brought some provisions with me. Also, your maid came over and asked already if we would need anything." (O)

 

That must have been Suki.
Kyska is already busy attending to all the people I accommodated in the lower segments of the hive.
So Suki was in charge of my district.
That's why I have Miwa around since I cannot be left alone and those two can't be at more than one place at once.
That reminds me that I should probably visit those as well, as I am in some way their host.

 

"So everything is fine? I am sorry that I was occupied recently." (E)

"There's no problem. But I need to say that I was a little cooped up here. Couldn't really leave or I for sure would have ended up lost. This place is basically a maze." (O)

"Who're you telling that? And all these foreign creatures must be pretty frightening, right?" (E)

"Some of them. Those on four legs can be quite intimidating. But I watched how they dug out a tunnel. They're pretty sophisticated I need to say. Good personnel." (O)

"Y-yeah. They're devoted. What about lady Lorata?" (E)

"Temia? Don't know. She ran in with a complicated expression. It might be that she heard you when you came." (O)

"Well, maybe I should visit her too. She seemed to be quite upset. I don't want to worsen her impression." (E)

"This could be a lost cause. This woman can be quite obnoxious. I have to know that. I spend the last days with her." (O)

"Might you inform her? I don't want to intrude together with my escort." (E)

 

The insects keep their distance since this is a secured area.
But I have the feeling that they would follow me to lady Lorata who is not really approved by them to pose no risk.

 

"Sure. I don't have any reservations in this regard." (O)

 

She certainly steps boldly in there.

 

"Heeellloooo, Teeemiaaaa! The princess wants to talk with you!" (O)

 

Apparently, the tunnels are a little longer than I thought since I cannot hear anything concrete of the now started quarrel.
What is for sure is that it's intense.
At least, I know now that she is there.
Some moments later Olira returns.

 

"She says she will be ready any moment. You can without any worry enter." (O)

 

Why do I believe this smile of hers is fake and Temia didn't say anything in this direction?
Yet I am sure that I have to settle something with her.
Unsurprising an escort follows, yet keeps some distance so that they're not too present.
I also sign Miwa to keep a little distance to make this talk not too oppressive.
I find Lady Lorata or Temia as Olira refers to her on her bed making some notes on a paper.

 

"Urgh, what did I say?" (T)

 

I haven't the slightest idea.

 

"I'm sorry, but you said you want that I pay you more attention." (E)

"I said I want you to do your job as our host." (T)

"What exactly are you referring to?" (E)

 

Didn't I just do exactly that?

 

"I came here to gain insight on your swarm. Yet all that happened was that you're locking us up at this place." (T)

 

Olira said something similar, but I think this Lorata woman makes it sound worse than it is.

 

"I didn't restrict your movement." (E)

"As if I could leave. It's not like I can ask for the way if I get lost. And even if I find something that looks interesting I couldn't learn what it is about." (T)

"So you want a tour?" (E)

"...would be a start." (T)

 

While talking I notice that I get occasionally weird looks from her.
I dread to know what they are about but have to address it regardless.

 

"Is something the matter? You're staring." (E)

 

She looks for a moment uncomfortable but then seems to make up her mind.

 

"What were those white things?" (T)

 

Why had it to be this topic?

 

"That's a private matter. I don't want to talk about this." (E)

"I've already seen enough. They came out of you." (T)

"Do I have to point it out for you?" (E)

"You want my trust? Then yes." (T)

 

This is certainly unpleasant.
The topic alone is making me cringe but to reveal it to someone I barely know is terrible.
And if she wouldn't already know everything she needs to figure it out I wouldn't say anything.

 

"Eggs!" (E)

"What?" (T)

"Where do you think these things come from? They're mass-produced by single individuals. And I am one of them." (E)

"You... You do what?!" (T)

"I lay eggs. Many hundreds. And because of this they're so overprotective. Because harming me means harming all their babies. You get it?" (E)

 

I'm not too sure as she seems to have her problems processing this.
This might be confidential information but the insects aren't too secretive about the importance of their princesses so I don't think there's much point to hide it.
The escort doesn't seem to care about anything I say.

 

"But you... What are you?" (T)

"Honestly, I have not the slightest idea anymore. It's confusing, creepy, and feels just wrong to me. So I really don't want to talk anymore about this. Can we please change the topic?" (E)

 

She's in quite a stupor. But after some time it seems she can gather her thoughts.

 

"Fine. You've said that you don't want to be holed up here. Olira too, so what about a tour? I might bring you to the others so that you can confirm their wellbeing." (E)

"Uhh, you're difficult. However, I need to see this place so I can report on a founded base. Then you may as well lead me." (T)

 

I still get strange looks from her but I guess I made clear that she shouldn't address this topic anymore.
On my way out I see how Olira tries to communicate with Miwa which is severely complicated due to the language barrier.
Still, she looks determined and uses gestures and scribbles to get something out of her.
I'm not even sure if Miwa on her side wants to answer her yet she stays courteous like all the nurses I've encountered until now.

 

"Ah, Princess Erys. Were you able to lure Miss Grumpy out of her hole? Oh, apologies. Lady Grumpy!" (O)

"I hate this woman." (T)

 

Maybe I should arrange separate lodgings for those two.
Before one of them ends up dead.

I approach Olira.

 

"Lady Lorata would like to see the others. So I thought it might be good to give her a tour. As it is, I wanted to ask if you would like to accompany us." (E)

"Absolutely! In your company, I might even be able to overlook certain unpleasant elements." (O)

 

This earns her a glare from Lady Lorata.
I ask myself if it is a good idea to have this combination around me but I believe in the worst-case my escort should be able to prevent them from killing each other.

 

"Okay. Then do you need to prepare?" (E)

"No, I'm ready to go." (O)

 

I am ready to set out before discovering that the main entrance is blocked by a large number of insects.
And in front of them, is Kyska.

 

<Screak!/What is this!?> (E)

"My princess, I was able to pursue the matter." (K)

"What kind of matter? What is going on here?" (E)

"Your brood my princess. We can finally begin to exchange the posts." (K)

 

I can perceive how elated she is about this.
While I have mixed feelings.

 

"You seem to be quite happy about this, Kyska. (E)

"Naturally, my princess. Finally, you will be self-sufficient. There will be no longer a need to rely on other resources than your own. It means that we finally begin to truly provide to the swarm. This is an important transition." (K)

"Okay, then celebrate. I wanted to go to the other humans." (E)

"Ahh, then this will be the perfect opportunity to bolster your escort with your own brood. This will be a wonderful asset for you." (K)

 

I notice something like a pheromone signal which causes many of the new workers in front of me to switch places with those behind them.
The guardians might still take a while.
Now that I look and smell closer I recognize most of the workers from my nursery visit.
Basically solely through the scent, which makes me a bit conflicted about how much I'm adapted to everything that happens here.
In my opinion, they are still rather young to be in this job if they are this much smaller than those they replace.
However, the exchange proceeds without problems.

The other workers scatter in the area.
It's a weird feeling to know where all these giant insects, set to protect me come from.
They feel at least very determined to me.
I want to finally set off.

But then I realize...

This whole conversation was in human language!
They heard!
Temia stares at me with wide-open eyes.

 

"All these things are... Urblrg!" (T)

 

Temia barely manages to contain the contents of her stomach inside her.
Some of it still slips through her fingers.

 

"Brood?" (O)

"No further comments on that matter! Ask someone else, please." (E)

 

She was friendly until now so I hope that will prevail.
I want to start moving when I realize that I don't really know the way.
Somewhere in the lower mid-segment is not very accurate considering this labyrinth of tunnels.

 

<Kyska, do you know the way to the place where the other humans are?> (E)

 

I speak in Formicea since it would be far too embarrassing to let them know my lacking sense of direction regarding my own guests.

 

<Naturally, my princess. I will guide you.> (K)

 

Great. With this, there is nothing to keep us and I can get going.
That's at least what I thought.

Still, I get moving out of my district to make it more difficult for her to ask me out.
Kyska is already in front of me so I just have to follow her down, where I should meet the other humans.