Chapter 54
It was springtime on the capital planet. Hill lay on the hospital bed, stunned for two seconds, then slowly nodded, as if ice and snow were melting: "Okay."
He spoke softly, "Father, I do."
Cyrus stroked the cub's long hair tenderly, then paused: "Your male father will be back on the capital planet soon, little Hill. Don't be afraid, your female father and male father will always be by your side."
Whether the outcome is life or death? Hill closed her eyes and thought quietly to herself, her hands under the thin blanket slowly tightening.
I don't want to face death alone like an insect; I want to live, to live at all costs.
The news that His Majesty the Insect Emperor was holding a competition to select female Insects for His Highness Hilgard spread like wildfire and quickly caused a stir throughout the entire Insect race.
"Is this really not a rumor? His Highness Hilgard is an S-rank male insect, he doesn't need to hold this kind of competition at all, does he? Aren't all the female insects with military ranks in the military flocking to him?"
"Princess Hilgard has a fiancé, doesn't she? If I remember correctly, isn't it that damned Federation bug, Albert?"
"So, are we selecting female servants now?"
"What are you disappointed about upstairs? I'd be willing to serve as a female servant to an S-class male insect, let alone a female servant or slave."
"What outdated information are you all having? You're always so busy looking at Lord Male Insect, don't you know to pay attention to the military website? Albert was executed by Marshal Celt at the border for the crime of intending to start a war on the border. It is said that even his insect core was crushed."
"Have those stupid insects in the Federation lost their minds? With a great ruler like His Highness Hilgard, why even think about starting a war?"
"This war is really strange, isn't it? Marshal Celt executed Albert without any testimony from him. Speaker Wilson insisted that Albert discovered the Empire's secrets and was therefore silenced."
"The Federation just loves conspiracy theories. To put it another way, it would be more interesting to say that the Marshal was jealous that Albert's master was S-class, so he killed insects and forcibly took the master."
"What's there to be jealous of if Marshal's lord, Prince Sirius, is also an S-rank? By the way, is Prince Hilgard in such a hurry to select a female ruler in order to prepare for the Insect Emperor and Insect Queen competition six months later?"
"The battle for the Insect Emperors." The female insect with light brown hair was preparing breakfast in the kitchen while quickly scanning the major events on the StarNet, and she whispered this comment to herself.
His Majesty the Insect Emperor does indeed have this idea. His Majesty Cyrus is stepping down from his pedestal from his golden age, and power needs to be transferred smoothly while he is able to control the overall situation.
The five princes of the Insect Emperor, whether female or male, can participate. The Insect Emperor will randomly assign a planet, and the five princes, along with their respective female rulers or male insects, will organize armies loyal to their own and fight on that specific planet. The final victor will be crowned with power.
A brutal free-for-all.
Currently, only the female ruler of Hilgard remains undecided, which explains why His Majesty the Insect Emperor is making such a grand preparation for the selection.
But does Hildegard really still have the capacity to need a female ruler?
Hesen smiled and scooped up a spoonful of soup to taste. It tasted good, just the kind of soup the male ruler liked. He picked up the tray and went to wake the male ruler.
He prefers to do things himself in these kinds of matters.
Nathaniel had already woken up and, with Hessen's help, was dressed in an expensive and elaborate shirt and vest with layers of lace collar. He sat upright, proudly raising his head, and looked at Hessen in the mirror as he combed his long golden hair.
“You did a good job with Albert,” Nathaniel said with a reserved tone. “Hmph, that damned bug is up to no good, only Sirius can’t see it.”
He never missed an opportunity to belittle Sirius.
Hill had long expressed his dislike for Albert, and now that the marriage had been ruined, it suited Hill's wishes perfectly, proving that his promise to Hill had been true.
“There is another matter,” Nathaniel said, raising his chin with triumph, “I will not allow the marriage between Celt and Sirius to succeed.”
Hill has liked Celtic for six years. Although the foolish Celtic has no sense of right from wrong and has taken a liking to Sirius, he has promised Hill and will keep his word!
“Yes, please rest assured, Master,” Hesen’s gentle fingers brushed through Nathaniel’s long hair as he looked at the proud male insect in the mirror. “I will do it.”
The news of Hilgard's selection of female insects spread like wildfire throughout the galaxy, and all female insects above S-rank were eager to participate.
Since the selection process has already begun, even if you don't get chosen as a female ruler, female servant, or female slave, you can still look forward to it, right?
"In the past half month, the number of female insect applications on the capital planet has exceeded 500,000. A large number of female insects have arrived on the capital planet. Currently, the application requirement is S-rank or above female insects. At least 200,000 female insects are still on their way. The buildings outside the royal palace on the capital planet are packed with qualified female insects. Here, we also appeal to all female insects to be rational and reasonable..."
"Don't push, don't push, damn it, who the hell is pushing?"
"Squeeze again and smash them all into mincemeat—" The female insect, bursting with fighting power, fiercely swung her fist, then, upon seeing the camera, broke into a panic, sweating profusely, "Oh no, Your Highness Hilgard, don't film me, no, no, that's not it..."
Laughter and cheers erupted from the surrounding area, as people watched with amusement.
The host insect painstakingly carved a path through the swarm of insects: "There are only three days left to register. We encourage eligible female insects to register enthusiastically and strive for their desired male prince—"
"It is anticipated that over a million female insects will flood into the capital planet, and His Highness Hilgard will appear on the final day..."
"What? Prince Hilgard has arrived?"
"Where?"
"Where is His Highness? Are you damned tall guys blocking his way? Get out of the way—"
The scene descended into chaos once again, and the poor host insect disappeared amidst a group of female insects of S-rank or higher.
"Where's the footage of those savage insects? The footage—"
This is currently the biggest news for the Zerg, and it also involves the male Zerg prince, who is of most interest to the female warriors. Therefore, all the screens on the starships are vying to broadcast the registration process, which is currently the female warriors' favorite program to watch.
A female insect violently pounded on the screen in frustration, seemingly trying to extract an image of Prince Hilgard.
"Stop knocking!" His colleague next to him elbowed him.
"What are you doing? Don't you want to see?" The female soldier was about to lose her temper when her eyes suddenly met a sharp and cold gaze. She almost lost her breath and immediately straightened her back and respectfully lowered her head.
Celtic's cold eyes paused for a moment, then looked away, continuing to walk forward without glancing to the side. The marshal's bloody aura silenced the surroundings until the heavy sound of his military boots completely disappeared, at which point a slight sense of life returned.
"Has Marshal Celtic's pheromones been rather volatile lately?"
"It seems so, like it's about to explode. There are 24 stars in a day, and the Marshal hasn't had a break for more than three days. Prince Sirius doesn't seem to be giving the Marshal any pheromones."
"By the way, the Marshal has been fighting extremely fiercely lately, and Speaker Wilson has been seriously injured and had to have a mechanical arm installed. So, is it possible for us to return to the Federation sooner and be able to register for Princess Hilgard's female insect selection?"
"You've all been blinded by lust!"
"So, is there anyone with military rank who could ask Major General Gust?"
Don't ask why we dare not ask the Marshal, because no one has the guts to provoke Marshal Celtic.
The hatch slammed shut, completely blocking out the whispers and discussions behind him. Celt tore off his uniform, stepped onto the floor, and entered the bathroom. Warm water poured over his head, but it couldn't quell the restlessness rising in his heart.
There are 500,000 female insects, and another 200,000 are expected to arrive soon.
Selte zoomed in on the screen; it was a photo of a male insect. Under the cool moonlight of the capital planet, he wearily closed his eyes, his profile seemingly perfect.
Celt withdrew his blood-stained fingers the instant they touched the virtual image, seemingly afraid that the blood on his hands would stain the male insect's face.
His hand clenched in mid-air, the insect patterns shimmering, veins bulging, on the verge of losing control.
He needed to stay calm and resolve the conflict as quickly as possible. An inhibitor was slowly injected into his arm, and the shimmering insect patterns finally subsided.
The selection of female insects for Hilgard will close on the 30th of this month.
On the 27th, the barely surviving Federation requested peace talks, which, with His Majesty Cyrus's approval, ended this swift and brutal war.
On the night of the 27th, without any rest, the army set off, completely away from Acheron. At this time, the planet was nothing but ruins and Speaker Wilson, who was temporarily enduring the resentment of losing his female offspring.
The female insects were not angry at the marshal for setting off without any rest; instead, they were deeply grateful for his thoughtfulness. Although the marshal seemed cold and aloof, he was actually very considerate of their feelings.
They traversed the wormhole at top speed in three days, arriving at the capital planet late at night, just in time for the last day of registration for His Highness Hilgard's selection of female worms.
"Marshal, why return to the Empire at this time? We could have easily wiped out Wilson completely."
This female insect, no longer in her prime, was no match for the Marshal, even though she was filled with the flames of rage. The Marshal was an insect who always believed in eliminating all traces of the insect, so how could he fail at this crucial moment?
Dick couldn't understand it.
Celtic's shoulder was soaked with blood. The mechanical insect was busy on his shoulder, its silver blades repeatedly breaking through the bone to remove the tiny fragments of the explosion that remained inside.
Celt's expression remained largely unchanged. He calmly dealt with the urgent military matters, letting the mechanical insects cut through his bones.
"The Federation will not disappear, and it can eliminate Wilson at any time."
His tone was cold and resolute, leaving no room for doubt in the insect, because he was indeed capable of doing it; if he could drive Wilson to the brink of despair the first time, he could do it again.
"But......."
Such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity is unlikely to come again.
Dick was anxious, but all that appeared before him was the Marshal, with indifferent eyes. The projection was turned off, and the world was plunged into complete darkness.
Celt put down his official duties, closed his eyes, and the fatigue from working non-stop for several days came over him. A heavy shadow covered his face, and on the table, the photo of Hill that other insects had secretly taken of him was opened again.
He had stared at this photograph countless times during this period, raising his intact left hand to caress the ethereal male insect's eyebrows and eyes.
The Federation will not disappear, but the male insects he loves will.
In the moonlight, his shadow was so faint, as if it would vanish if the wind blew it away.
He had to admit that he loved Hilgard, from the very beginning, and only grew to love her more.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com