“Have your… dates been fruitful, Queen Chrysanthemum?” asked Queen Gloria the Eighth, shifting uncomfortably on her gilded throne.
The Swarm Queen loomed before the dais, antennae swaying as she squinted at the three hyoomee women lined up side by side. Vicky stood stiff-backed with her arms crossed, Jakira leaned casually on her hip with a smirk, and Mera wrung her hands, eyes darting nervously to and from the insectoid monarch.
Chrysanthemum’s mandibles flexed in thought. She had to make the perfect decision, of course. Nothing less than a queen’s dignity demanded it.
“Yesss,” she finally chittered, “this one is pleased of this stock. Very fine stock. But this one has the problem.”
Gloria’s brow furrowed. “What… problem, exactly?”
The three women all shifted, tension sparking between them. Each nervous for a reason all their own.
The Swarm Queen extended one massive claw toward Vicky. “All three are excellent. The repulsive beautiful one there makes this one disgusted and enraptured at the same time. Very… interesting feelings.”
Vicky’s ears flushed a dull red. “Repulsive? I—” She bit back her retort, jaw tightening.
“I don’t see anything wrong with her,” Queen Gloria said carefully, giving Vicky a sympathetic glance.
“She has the predator bits,” Chrysanthemum clicked, her antennae twitching toward the dragonkin’s sharp teeth and faint scales. “Do not like. Too much like things this one eats. But also makes exciting. Dangerous. Knows the romance. Has brained good.”
“I… see.” Gloria’s tone suggested she didn’t quite see at all.
Chrysanthemum turned, mandibles flexing as she gestured at Jakira. “Good. The hard-softflesh green hyoomee is fierce. Pretends at being tougher than is. Very cute. Very charming. Has powerful mandibles, even if they do not flexible!” She made a snapping motion with her own.
Jakira gave a low laugh, arms still crossed. “Guess I’ll take that as a compliment.”
Finally, the Swarm Queen’s many eyes settled on Mera. The human froze under that heavy, alien gaze, every instinct in her body screaming at her to look away but unable to move.
“And the squishy soft hyoomee…” Chrysanthemum’s voice slowed, almost reverent, the click of her mandibles drawing out each syllable. “If she was in this one’s lands, she would be cutest. Mostly because Skitherix is not here.”
She gestured toward the throne. Everyone’s eyes followed the movement to the enormous millipede curled in a loose coil beside Queen Gloria’s dais. Its countless legs shifted faintly, the dull green sheen of its carapace rippling like polished stone as its head lifted. Multifaceted eyes glittered, reflecting the candlelight in hundreds of pinpricks.
“Skitherix,” Chrysanthemum said matter-of-factly. “The most beautiful. But compare to Skitherix is unfair.”
The massive millipede clicked its mandibles once, as if in agreement.
Mera had gone completely pale. That thing’s the standard for beauty? Gods preserve me…
Chrysanthemum’s antennae curled back toward Mera. “Still. Look at her. The softflesh is most pleasing on the Mera. Cute. Want to crush. Protect. Crush and protect at the same time. Very confusing.”
Mera’s knees nearly buckled. She wasn’t sure if she should be terrified, insulted, or flattered. Probably all three.
The Swarm Queen rose to her full towering height, wings flexing with a low hum that reverberated through the chamber. “Hard to choose. Very hard. All of them are warriors in the romance. This one respects warriors.”
The three women looked at each other nervously, as if trying to decide who would be devoured first.
“Yess, yess. This one still has trouble,” Chrysanthemum chittered, mandibles flexing with each syllable. “So this one will ask the questions. Then the choice will be clear. You.”
Her clawed finger snapped toward Jakira. The orc straightened, tusks flashing as she tried to look composed under the gaze of a god-slayer.
“What will you provide?”
“I am a well-trained warrior,” Jakira said confidently, pounding her fist to her chest. “And I can make arms and armour for anyone who needs them. My forge work is strong, and I fight just as hard.”
Chrysanthemum tilted her head, antennae curling. “The swarm already has exoskeletons. Much armour. Stronger than metal. Also, their bodies are weapons. Except for Skitherix.”
The millipede beside Queen Gloriana clicked its mandibles in a slow, almost smug rhythm. Chrysanthemum gestured at it proudly. “Her weapon is being the cute.”
Jakira’s shoulders sagged a little. How in all hells do I compete with a giant millipede…?
Chrysanthemum’s many eyes shifted to Vicky, the dragonkin. The tavern wench swallowed hard, her scaled hands twisting in her lap.
“You. What do you provide?”
“Uh…” Vicky’s tail flicked nervously, betraying her nerves. “Not much. I just… I just serve tables, your majesty. I’m no one important.”
“WRONG!” The swarm queen’s hiss cracked like thunder through the chamber, making even Gloriana flinch on her throne. “You have caught this one’s interest. This one does not waste time on unimportant things. The interest makes you important.”
Vicky’s cheeks flushed hot. She didn’t know if she wanted to shrink into the stone floor or puff up with pride. Her hands fidgeted faster, and her eyes flicked toward the queen’s chest before she could stop herself.
Finally, Chrysanthemum turned, all her eyes focusing on Mera. The human seamstress froze like a rabbit before a hawk.
“You. What do you provide?”
Mera’s mouth went dry. She wrung her hands in front of her apron before blurting, “Cute outfits for you, your majesty?”
Chrysanthemum’s mandibles clicked thoughtfully. “Hmm… correct sort of. Yes. Good bonus. Good adornments. You make this one shine brighter.” She leaned closer, antennae twitching. “But you provide more. A power weapon for the swarm.”
Mera blinked, confused. “I… do?”
“Yessss.” The queen’s voice dropped into a low chitter, her tone brimming with certainty. “You underestimate your cuteness. All of you do. You think it is small. Weak. But the swarm knows. Cute is dangerous. Cute makes hearts weak, makes enemies hesitate. Very charm and much cute.”
Her mandibles flared in open irritation as she looked at the three of them. “All of you are this way! Warriors in the romance and the cuteness. Very hard choice. Very annoying for this one!”
Mera swallowed hard, cheeks warming. She hadn’t been called a “weapon” before, not seriously at least, and now here she was being praised for it by a woman who commanded millions.
Queen Chrysanthemum strode in deliberate circles around the three of them, two powerful legs eating the distance while her four arms moved with restless energy — one pair clasped at her chest, the lower pair flicking and counting like a judge tallying merits. Her mandibles clicked in a steady rhythm that echoed off the marble, and her antennae swept through the air as if tasting each of the women’s worth.
The three candidates stood stiff and small beneath her gaze. Jakira planted her feet like a warrior ready for a verdict; Vicky’s hands twisted at her skirts; Mera’s fingers nervously toyed with a loose thread. Chrysanthemum’s carapace caught the torchlight and threw it back in ripples of color, making her presence even more immense despite her humanoid form.
At last she halted directly in front of them, folding two arms in a ceremonial pause while the other two gestured outward in an expansive, triumphant sweep. A high, trilling chitter burst from her throat and the chamber hummed with expectation.
“Yesss, yesss! This one has thought the best choice!” she declared, voice ringing with delight. Her four hands rose and clapped — a strange, resonant sound — then she leaned forward, eyes bright. “This one does not choose alone. This one accepts all of the girlfriends!”
The proclamation landed like thunder. Jakira’s jaw dropped into a grin. Vicky gave a breathless squeak and then a nervous laugh. Mera actually went pale, then flushed, as the reality settled in. Queen Gloriana, perched on her throne, blinked and fanned herself, uncertain whether to faint or applaud.
Chrysanthemum straightened, wings fluttering once in satisfied approval. “More romance. More cuteness. More strength. All are worthy!” she finished, as if she’d solved a delightful puzzle.
Of course, Skitherix just lay there, being the cutest thing ever.
Aha. The Queen is wise. More romance per romance.
This got me and my bestie chuckling xD
more romance is more better :)
Let the face smooshing commence! Maybe include Skitherix, since her cuteness has not been appreciated much lately.
Skitherix Isn’t even a hear me out. She’s too cute! Thanks for sharing, this series has already brought me great joy
Her chitin is too pretty to be a hear me out!
I am glad I have brought you much joy! I hope that continues <3
… So now that the polycule has been initiated how long do y’all think it’ll take for Gloriana (and Skitherix) to get pulled in?
AAAAAAAA
The Queen is having the brains!
Only children choose. Queens take it all !