The food is brought and the first thing I notice is the unexpected smell.

Looking towards the workers who carry our meal inside, I am quite surprised to see that they're not bringing mycelium mushrooms or nectar.

Instead, it's mostly strips of an unknown white substance.

Is this meat?

I suppose it smells somewhat fishy.

The workers place the earthen vessels in front of me and Chera and then leave again.

(K)

So I hear Kyska muttering to herself behind me.

Yet I'm probably equally taken aback.

This is clearly not a Formicean meal, and that considering how picky they are about the treatment of their princesses.

(E)

Abruptly, I feel a surge of pheromones that indicate some kind of surprised unease.

Yet nonetheless, she answers.

(C)

As much as she's trying to suppress it, I get the sense that she really doesn't want me to order something else.

But why?

If I wouldn't know better, I'd say she's trying to be dishonest with me, while doing a very poor job of it.

I look down at the food.

She wouldn't poison it, right?

There'd be so many better ways.

Especially, as I'm completely at her mercy in her hive.

Still, that doesn't keep me from being slightly apprehensive when I take a very cautious first bite.

Hm, not directly what I expected.

The good news is, it doesn't seem to be poisoned.

At least there's no effect yet.

Also, it's not inedible, albeit quite raw.

While the texture is chewy, I don't have trouble getting this down.

On the other side, I don't really follow Chera's sentiment that one could eat this stuff exclusively.

It's quite bland with a bit of a strange aftertaste.

This might, to a degree, be related to my transformation, but I prefer sweet stuff, and therefore the mushrooms and nectar would suit me better.

Speaking of these, I might adjust my diet a bit.

(E)

That's actually quite important, because even if the flesh helps, it's not nearly as efficient to refill my energy.

I'd need to eat two more plates to have enough for the next laying.

A cup of nectar does the same.

Yet Princess Chera seems clearly taken aback at my request.

(C)

(E)

Princess Chera waves for one of her attending nurses to approach.

(C)

(nurse)

(C)

Oh my, I didn't want this to blow up.

Did I ask for something unreasonable?

But it's nectar.

According to Liseti, having a nectar unit is a necessity for any princess who doesn't want to permanently stuff herself with inefficient food.

Anyway, the nurse returns a short time later with the promised earthen cup of nectar.

It's not much but should help me get back into shape.

Or however one calls the condition of being able to lay eggs over and over again.

And hell will I go and complain.

At least I should show that I appreciate this.

This is the basic courtesy of a guest.

(E)

(C)

She seems to be an amicable person.

Yet I can't get rid of the feeling that there's something she's not telling.

(E)

Another jolt runs through this princess.

By now I'm unsure if there is any topic that one could safely confront her with.

(C)

Fine, if we're already here, I may dig deeper.

(E)

Already the uncommon structure indicates so, but there's also the location or the reaction to the food.

I can't shake off the assumption that there is something wrong going on at this place.

And her reaction only solidifies this.

(C)

She's saying this, but it's a clearly overacted statement.

She's glossing over it without having any talent for acting in general.

However, I feel like pressing for the truth won't increase my favorability with her.

(E)

(C)

I finish my meal and excuse myself, heading to the quarters I got provided.

With a last glance, I look backward and feel bothered.

Chera didn't have the slightest bit of nectar, despite looking somewhat frail.

Upon reaching my place, I'm first greeted by all my remaining little beetles.

They're not too pushy but definitely feel elated at my presence.

After a bit of personal attention, which is the least I can grant them in exchange for their short lives, I can finally sit down on a dirt bench and instantly deflate.

"Hah!" (E)

Although I'm back in allied territory, I don't feel like I can relax at all.

This uncommon secrecy, the worry not to offend this slightly odd princess or her brood, and the warring questions put me a bit under tension.

At least here in my room, I don't have to worry as much about my act.

Yet I should confer with Kyska about the situation.

In human words, just to be safe.

"Kyska, please correct me if you think I'm wrong, but do you also think that there's something strange going on here?" (E)

"Strange isn't enough to describe what I'm thinking. This whole hive is completely off!" (K)

This was an unusually emotional remark from Kyska.

Especially in human language, it's quite weird to hear from her.

I know.

There are several things that don't add up.

Actually quite a number of things, yet one stands out the most.

"You know, I think it might have to do something with the food. I think she doesn't have enough. Not even for herself." (E)

"I cannot understand this. Why is she insisting on consuming meat? Yes, a princess can digest nourishment from such a source but it's inefficient. Why isn't she ingesting nectar?" (K)

"I think that's the question. Why doesn't she have nectar? Liseti told me that having a nectar unit is basically a requirement for founding your hive. I can't believe that the professional Princess Chera you told me about would show such a lapse in judgment. That is, if broodmother love wasn't clouding the judgment of those who told you." (E)

Wouldn't be the first time that drones are a bit subjective if it's about their broodmother.

According to my own brood, I'm a perfect being through and through who can't make mistakes.

"No, Princess Chera took all her drones with her when she embarked. The ones to tell me were from the queen's brood." (K)

Okay, those should be somewhat clear.

"Then this means she should have a nectar unit, but she doesn't have nectar, or at least not enough to feed herself." (E)

In hindsight, I feel quite bad about taking it from her if she has so few, even if my body really needed it.

"There has to be a nectar unit, or there would be no nectar at all. The only explanation for the lack is that the existing one receives not enough food to produce adequate amounts." (K)

Food in general doesn't seem to be an issue. She had at least enough flesh to keep herself fed." (E)

So she shouldn't be troubled to provide enough nourishment to make it produce nectar.

"No, nectar units can't convert meat. They require the mycelium harvest to produce nectar." (K)

Well, I just learned something new.

If things are like this, it means that we have identified the problem.

"So it comes down to the mycelium. Something is wrong with it." (E)

"What are you planning, my princess?" (K)

"I'd kinda like to know what’s happening in this place before it blows up around us." (E)

"Does that mean you plan to expose yourself to new danger?" (K)

Kyska feels severely displeased at this.

"Naturally not. I won't leave the confines of the hive. As long as Princess Chera isn't planning to harm me, I am perfectly safe. And if she does, where I am won't matter. As far as we know, she already sent notice to the queen about her haul." (E)

"If you say so. But please don't act rash." (K)

"Sure." (E)

But I'll definitely discover what is going on here!

However, there's one thing I need to take care of before doing so.

"Plop"

(K)

I should've been expecting this, huh?