"So we've confirmed that this stuff does what it's supposed to do." (E)

Nonetheless, I'm uncertain if I really should give this to dad and Toris.

If they'd be as influenced as Olira is now by my fits it would shake the family balance.

However, that they can't understand mum is much worse.

I mean, small exchanges are possible, and mum is slowly regaining her speaking ability.

Still, family talks shouldn't be an effort like this.

"Excuse me, what?" (O)

"Ehk, sorry." (E)

"We told you already. The source of this vile substance is another princess. And believe me, she's really a handful. You can be glad that you're not crawling on the ground with some extra limbs." (T)

"Next time I'd like to be informed in advance how low you estimate my chances to remain unscathed to be." (O)

"Well, you probably wouldn't have done it if you knew. But now that that's settled, there's just one more thing to do." (T)

"Ehk, a-and what would that be?" (E)

At this moment, Temia plunges two fingers into the liquid and rams them without any hesitation into her nose.

The effect is the same as before.

She becomes clearly nauseous, her legs give in, and tears well up in her eyes.

But she won't budge.

Neither is she throwing up, nor goes she down any further.

She holds her nose with one hand and forces herself to stay calm until the discomfort subsides.

"Definitely! Not! Recommended!" (T)

"Told ya." (O)

What was that!?

"Uh, please stop shouting!" (O/T)

I didn't even speak!

"So it is like this..." (T)

"Why? I mean... Why?!" (E)

She's nobility.

Olira can do whatever she wants but if it gets public that my noble guests return with permanent body changes this won't put me in a good light.

"My mission is to gather all the information I can about this hive so that we know what we're dealing with. It would be incompetent on my side to let such an opportunity slip by." (T)

"Still! Isn't this too rash? This must be unpleasant." (E)

"What's unpleasant is your internal screaming. Seriously this is totally imposing." (T)

"S-sorry." (E)

I have no idea how to control this.

I wasn't really aware of how strong my pheromones are for others.

Yes, I know that for example, Liseti has a completely different vibe to her than other drones.

But was I ever oppressed by her scent?

Sure, she's got a dominant personality, but there was no mental reaction.

Or did she always control herself?

As well as Honiu.

So maybe princesses are simply not affected or she didn't use it in my presence.

I tend to the latter, as Honiu seemed to notice my anger.

(K)

"Okay... So it sounds like this." (T)

"Session?" (O)

"Kyska! Why did you say that? And even more in insect speech?" (E)

Made aware of myself, I notice that I'm truly a little hungry.

Also, the faint pressure of the next egg-laying slowly builds up.

However, I would wish she hadn't said that out loud.

(E)

"You're aware that we can understand you?" (T)

"Please, no talk about this. To no one." (E)

Olira looks rather interested than creeped out.

Temia just averts her gaze.

It's obvious that the role of a princess is nothing she's going to exclude from her report.

To my dismay that is.

But it's not like I can do something about her relaying this.

If anything I could threaten her.

Yet this is neither a reliable method nor will it help to establish positive relations.

Since I'm done here all that is left would be to leave.

Naturally, I grab the vessel with the liquid.

This stuff was the sole reason for all that happened.

However, I am not sure if I really want my father and brother to take it.

There isn't much left but two more applications should be possible.

Still, I worry if it would be alright for my family to have it.

Before my waist starts again to cramp up badly I go to their place.

Mum should be right now at her nursery job.

About dad, I'm not too sure.

It sounded as if his job at the mycelium is more like a way to pass time.

At least I find Toris.

"Hey. little brother. Is dad there?" (E)

"Ah, sis! Do you have time? Can we play with the hunters?" (T)

"No sorry. I'm rather occupied right now and... What!? How do you get such ideas?" (E)

"I like them. They're like big friendly pets." (T)

"Okay, we really need to talk about this. But not now. Is dad there?" (E)

"Yes he is. But you have never time for me! You're always occupied!" (T)

"Sorry, but I have just too many duties. I need to care for many people. So I cannot act as free as before." (E)

He scowls at me.

Not really buying my excuse.

Even if I can honestly state that I'd rather play with him instead of having the next laying session.

But that's sadly not my decision.

I move into the cave where my family got accommodated and soon find dad.

"Erys?" (R)

"Hey dad. Ehk, you, you asked me to bring you something. So... Here." (E)

I show the bowl with the disturbing liquid and place it on the table.

"You've got it? That's great!" (R)

"Dad! I, I'm not too sure if that's a good idea. I had someone use it and... there are quite some side effects." (E)

"Side effects? Wait! Did you experiment on people?" (R)

"N-no. Just someone who absolutely voluntary opted for trying it out." (E)

The look I receive is still somewhat condescending.

Even if no one got really harmed.

However, its effects are still a bit too extreme to use this stuff carelessly.

I mean, giving that to Toris is bordering on child abuse.

"Seriously, I saw how grown women almost became a crying mess on the ground after putting it into the nose. And then the fact that you need to literally pierce your nose with it. It's not pleasant." (E)

"That... sounds hard. But still, if it works... I would do anything for your mother." (R)

(F)

Mum stands at the entrance.

Not only her exasperated expression but also the associating pheromones she emits are telling enough.

I walk straight towards her and dad follows quickly behind.

Also, partly to not be trapped within the room while she's angry.

"Ehk. Mum, that was Formicea." (E)

"Oh. S-soorrriiiiiee. Iet'z... ha-ard." (F)

Guess it is.

I really see her struggling with words she did not train yet.

"Farrah. At least I should take this." (R)

"If thies is what I belieeve iet iz then I can just say that you have no idEa what you're deealing wieth. Ie wouldn't wish to anyeone to make thies expErieence." (F)

Sorry, Temia and Olira.

"You know, I may not be the most talkative person but I could never get tired of your talking. That's how we work. You talk, I listen. If I couldn't even do this I am useless." (R)

"Oh, Rowan. Iet'z fine" (F)

Guess she took the time to train saying his name.

"And now? Shall I get rid of it?" (E)

"Ie don't know. I guess thies smelling stuff alone iesn't too bad. At leeast iet doesn't take anyething away." (F)

"You're right. But it"s still such strong stuff. If there would just be a milder version." (E)

"Still, I will do it." (R)

"You can't sieemply deecide somethieng like this on your own! We are a famiely, we..." (F)

"Aaaaaaaaahhhhhh!!!" (T)

"Toris!" (E)

Following the scream, I turn around and find my brother bent over the table.

When did he slip past us?

No, that's not the point right now.

Toris crumbles to the ground, his fingers covered in the substance of the bowl and a residue at his nose.

Clear evidence about what just happened.

(E)

Naturally, I rush towards him, directly followed by my mother who makes similar sounds as I do.

His wailing intensifies and tears flood on the ground.

"Why did you do this, stupid! Why?" (E)

"I-I... Waaaaahhhh!" (T)

He's barely able to answer, obviously in inner turmoil.

(F)

(E)

Yes, this happened because I left this stupid bowl on the table.

I'm at fault.

I feel like crying myself.

(F)

This time she points at me and Toris.

Oh shit! Princess pheromones!

I completely forgot!

My presence is aggravating everything!

Without any clear thought, I rush out of the hole and don't stop till I'm inside my quarter.

(S)

Right now everyone who panics uses insect speech.

(E)

(S)

(E)

Suki is rather fast at it.

I just hope she won't trouble them.

She is a nurse and like this should be good with children, but really soothing and caring for human ones?

It's not like there was anything wrong with Toris until now so it's complicated.

(K)

(K)

(E)

"Plop"

No! Why now?

(K)

"Plop"

I can't even give in to my despair like this!

After that, the usual procedure starts.

Nurses come and go, each taking an egg away.

It's a usual amount, which means far too many to be comfortable with.

And I am spent.

I kept myself forcefully awake after I was done with the laying session.

I'm simply too troubled over what happened to Toris.

I don't even know if a child's body can take this fluid without risks.

So I'm anxiously waiting for Suki to return.

It affords quite much from me not to go there.

Finally, she returns.

"Suki! How is he?! Any pain? Will he be fine." (E)

(S)

"You could calm him down? And my mother let you?" (E)

(S)

"How did you manage to do so?" (E)

I still believe that a human child is hardly comparable to the usual larvae.

(S)

Wait! Like... Mind-control?

Nurses can mind-control kids?

While I can see how this would be an extremely convenient ability for anyone who has to take care of children, I don't know if I should reprimand her for doing this to my brother.

"S-Suki, I appreciate your effort, but my brother is no mindless drone. I really don't want anyone to do anything invasive to him." (E)

(S)

"Why? What is wrong?" (E)

Promptly Kyska chimes in from the side.

"My princess. Your sibling is now able to receive pheromones. Like this, he naturally will be susceptible to their influence. Pheromone communication is more than just the exchange of information. It's a sharing of emotions, desires, viewpoints. You as a princess are obviously excluded, as your well-being is the utmost priority and like this cannot be allowed to be altered by any outer input. Yet other beings will feel this as a part of the swarm. It will prove to be impossible to shield him from every single entity. Even your own mother is producing them." (K)

This revelation is concerning at best.

However, it explains a bit this common feeling of unity among the insects.

If everyone feels the same as the others it's clear that they would rather work together.

But now my family is subjected to this.

And it's kinda sad that I didn't even notice this happened to my mother.

After I calmed down enough to be convinced that it won't be harmful to Toris I get back to my family.

I find them sitting at the table.

(F)

Mum shouts at dad, who looks a bit intimidated.

"Mum, I don't think he can understand this, as long he didn't take the rest of this fluid while I was away." (E)

"Oh, sorrye. Iiiee- Ieet'z dieffieecuult." (F)

I spot Toris.

"Are you alright?" (E)

He nods.

"Toris, how could you do this? I mean, even thinking about applying it in that way?" (E)

"I-I, I heard you and dad. That we couldn't use it. That I couldn't understand mum again." (T)

"Yes. And you see now why I said so! It's dangerous and obviously not an exciting toy for you to play with." (E)

"I didn't play! It was important!" (T)

"Nothing is more important than your own safety. You're a kid. You can't believe that it's fine to use something so dangerous." (E)

"You don't know everything! We're living here too! We need this!" (T)

"You need to stop this! Stop acting as if everything is safe and friendly here! Things can be dangerous!" (E)

(E)

Toris wants obviously to retort but suddenly he quiets down.

His words get stuck in his throat.

He looks at me and I see... he's intimidated.

I wouldn't go as far and say he's scared but something similar.

Unable to speak up to someone superior.

I've just realized that I used whatever presence a princess has against him.

And mum as well seeing how she wants to say something but is troubled to do so.

"I, I'm sorry." (E)

"What happened?" (R)

"Our daughter's ienput can be a biet much, for those who are affEcted." (F)

"Oh." (R)

"Sorry. I'm new to this. I really didn't want to impose on you." (E)

"Scrih. I know. Iet's just that thies makes it diffiecult to talk to you on equal lEvel." (F)

"Sorry." (E)

"Iet'z fine. You know that you shouldn't do iet." (F)

"Right. And now?" (E)

"I think I should take this stuff as well." (R)

"Really?" (E)

"Yes. It doesn't make sense that I'm the only one left out. And if my son takes it I can't possibly back out. Even more after you took the effort to bring it." (R)

"I understand. But I shouldn't be nearby then." (E)

Everyone nods in agreement.

I talk a bit longer with my family before leaving again.

And before dad will as well sentence himself to be forever influenced by some insects' opinion.

Worriesome perspectives.