With a decisively bold step, I enter the queen's hall, before inconspicuously letting myself slowly fall back behind Temia.

It's like in my memory.

A hall that is so large that it's impossible to see its borders in this darkness.

"Shuuuuoooooooohhhhh"

Okay, right back to my trauma.

"What's that?" (T)

"Oh, I don't know. We are miles below the earth so it can't be the wind, I'm asking myself what could possibly be the source of this sound in the queen's chamber!" (E)

"Fine, got it. Tsk." (T)

With increasingly insecure steps we're moving forward until we don't really know anymore if we maybe missed the queen in the dark and are already on the way to the other side of the hall.

A stupid thought how I now realize.

"Shuuuuuuuuhhhhhh"

At first, I believe to see moving shadows in the darkness until my memory gets the better of me and I realize that the shifting that seems to move the whole space I'm looking at in reality belongs to a greater structure.

Which is the queen, simply being so big that one can mistake her as background.

The moment Temia understands as well she stays quite stunned, mouth agape.

I don't know how to act here.

My relationship with the queen is difficult at best.

While I know that my fate wouldn't have been much better without the Formicea's intervention, which was rather mere chance, it's not like I appreciate the one-sided forced body changes to transform me into something useful for them.

However, I know better than acting up against the thirty-meter giant.

"Ehk, hello." (E)

Oh, wait. Could it count as discourteous not to speak in Formicea?

(E)

"Skrukukukuku" (queen)

For a moment I don't know how to understand these sounds before realizing that it was just chuckling.

This decreases the felt tension a bit.

"Whoosh"

Which immediately jumps back to the highest level when she fast lowers down.

The queen's presence is not a bit less imposing than on my first day, eight appendages finding purchase around us, her oval head coming too close to be comfortable before us to a stop.

(queen)

Not a single spoken word but the communication I receive still hits me like a shock, making me almost toppling over.

Temia next to me even gets thrown from her legs, pressing her hands against her reddened head.

(queen)

I need a moment to understand.

Pheromones.

She speaks purely relying on pheromones.

The intensity is still far too overbearing, but at least not painful anymore.

Temia still seems to have problems recovering from this mental onslaught.

(E)

(queen)

(E)

(queen)

She can't do so, but if she would have any facial features she would smile self-contently.

(E)

I really don't like this idea.

Imagining how she morbidly enjoys herself in her voyeurism of my emotional turmoil.

(queen)

"Uh, I don't want to disturb this family talk but why was I even called here?" (T)

(queen)

Well, even if Temia is a proud noble, the queen basically told her to shut up and wait.

And I guess she isn't going to argue with the looming titan towering far above her head.

(E)

(queen)

(E)

(queen)

Sure... After all.

After all this horror stuff!

(E)

(U)

Truly, she only follows her outlandish ideas.

I might have ended up dead would she have been in another mood.

God, what shall I expect from such a whimsical creature?

(U)

(E)

(U)

(E)

(U)

(E)

So much for not acting up. But she hit sore spots.

(U)

I feel again like when I talked with Liseti.

(U)

I get that being grounded wouldn't be too hard for a shut-in.

(E)

(U)

Probably not but it would certainly make me feel better.

(E)

(U)

Other swarms?

Liseti said something like this.

But I thought the conflict is over.

(U)

Now it's about the main topic.

(E)

(U)

At this moment she again directs her attention to Temia.

(U)

Now she threateningly lowers down to her, so close that Temia might touch her mandibles would she extend her hand.

Which she won't, as she's not suicidal and more occupied with panicking.

(U)

I see again how Temia forcefully composes herself.

Steadying her breathing, straightening her posture.

A technique I really should learn from her at times.

"Ahem... Well, we were a little shocked, honestly. But if your great majesty has no intention to cause harm to our people there is no reason to be hostile. After all, such a wise being as you won't choose to go to war." (T)

This sounds like the absolute opposite of anything I heard from Temia until now.

She's totally in diplomacy mode, flattering as much as necessary.

(U)

Oh, yes.

I cannot expect that the queen, holed up as she is here had time to learn human language.

So I translate everything Temia said word for word, so there's no room for misinterpretation.

Also, Temia would know if I alternate anything, as she can receive pheromones.

(U)

There was a certain spike in her pheromones which I could just interpret as a wink in my direction that I should stop quarreling.

I absolutely shouldn't tell her about things like noble pride or possible discrimination if I don't want those negotiations to end before they even begin.

"A-absolutely not. Why would we seek conflict with you?" (T)

I continue translating, after recovering my bearing. Without stuttering that is.

That much Uma should have got from Temia's sight alone.

(U)

"I d-don't know what you mean." (T)

(U)

Uh, hard question.

"Y-you, I guess." (T)

(U)

"Can't we just say that yours is what's under the surface and ours what's above?" (T)

(U)

This would mean that each cellar of every house belongs to the queen.

I can see that some people might find issues with that if suddenly giant insects come and tell them to not ever enter the cellar again.

"This won't work. Not even to speak about wells and sewers. We need to find an agreement." (E)

"You know as well as I do that I cannot decide how this kind of border would run. At least you cannot demand that we don't fetch water." (T)

(U)

"Thank you... I guess." (T)

I guess this goes rather well. However, there's a certain worry of mine.

"What is with mines?" (E)

(U)

"Ehk, humans value certain ores. Because of that they dig for them. Sometimes very deep." (E)

(U)

"They make things like jewelry, tools, but also armor and weapons with it. So it's kinda important for them." (E)

She chuckles.

(U)

This one's a real joker.

"Urgh. I need to say that Erys is right. We need those mines. Especially with the war going on we cannot afford to lose our supply." (T)

I tend to the queen.

"Can we make concessions on that matter?" (E)

(U)

"I... will take care of that." (T)

That didn't sound too convincing.

(U)

Sounds a bit plump.

Would anyone say now, "No, actually we're planning to start a war!"

"Certainly. There's no intention on our side to turn hostile." (T)

(U)

She buys this!!?

(U)

Temia told you simply what was appropriate to say in this situation, without any guarantees! How is this solved?

(E)

I don't want a shallow peace that each side can break at any moment, but a properly negotiated one.

(U)

Why is she fine with this?

From what I've gathered she isn't stupid, but right now she behaves like a naive child who was told that the rainbow man comes when she behaves well and gives her sweet treats.

She isn't the slightest bit distrusting.

It's almost as if... she doesn't know lies!

Pheromones!

Formicea always convey their intentions openly through their scent.

So naturally lies are an unknown for them.

"Erys, what are you doing there!?" (T)

(Erys)

(U)

The queen's gaze is piercing and intimidating.

But together with the fact that she's big enough to simply squash us with a single finger of her claw, it makes the pressure overwhelming.

"I-I would never dare to mislead your majesty! Our country is far more stable than Erys makes it look. If we can convince the palace and the high nobles there should be no problems to establish positive relations." (T)

(U)

Temia doesn't dare to say anything else as everything could agitate the titanic queen.

(U)

Temia is clearly at a disadvantage.

Already standing upright in front of the queen is an exertion while her pheromones are bringing you down.

(U)

I fight the strong urge to correct her, knowing that nothing good would come from this.

Yet she probably already knows from my pheromones and doesn't react.

So, because I want to get away here and am kinda glad it's over, I do a curtsy and turn around to move with Temia to the exit.

(U)

(E)

(U)

Oh, if this doesn't sound ominous.

Before anything can take a turn for the worse we leave.