Chapter 13: The Insect Queen is shocked!

“Butterfly Wing, you’re being naughty again.”

The voice came from the doorway, neither loud nor soft, like the tone parents use when they catch their child sneaking snacks.

Ella turned her head and saw Yiwen leaning against the doorframe with her arms crossed over her chest. Her red pupils were slightly narrowed.

Butterfly Wing did not turn around. She remained leaning against the edge of the bathtub, her long pink hair spread across the water’s surface, right hand supporting her cheek.

“Hmph. Since when do you get to speak here, Yiwen?”

Her voice sounded like she was marking her territory.

Ella was caught between the two of them, a bath towel wrapped around her body. Her wet silver hair fell over her shoulders, water droplets sliding down the tips and dripping onto her collarbones. Her face was still flushed red, from the base of her neck all the way to the tips of her ears, as if she had been scalded with boiling water.

Her hands gripped the edge of the bath towel tightly.

What just happened?

Her brain was still in a near-crash state. That sensation — that soft, warm, tightly pressed feeling — had left an indelible mark deep in her consciousness.

She only remembered her chest pressing against Butterfly Wing’s chest, and then…

Right now she looked exactly like a victim who had just had her chastity taken. She curled up in the corner of the bathtub, wrapping the bath towel tightly around herself, leaving only a pair of wary scarlet eyes exposed.

“You didn’t bring Her Majesty back just to make her your wife, did you?”

Yiwen walked into the bathroom. Her gaze shifted away from Butterfly Wing and landed on Ella. Her expression softened a little, giving Ella the feeling of being gently dragged home by her mother.

“Now that the bath is done, I should pick out some suitable clothes for Her Majesty.”

“I can pick them for her.”

Butterfly Wing finally moved. She sat up from the water. Water slid down from her shoulders. Her wet pink hair clung to her back. Her gaze passed over Yiwen and landed on Ella. The corners of her mouth curved up slightly.

That smile sent a chill down Ella’s spine.

“No, you can’t.”

Yiwen’s voice remained gentle and patient, but she took a step forward, positioning herself between Butterfly Wing and Ella.

“Who knows what else you might do.”

Their gazes collided in the air — red pupils meeting red pupils.

“Her Majesty needs to calm down right now. I believe she will understand everything soon. Of course, that’s only if you don’t harass her.”

She turned around and extended a hand toward Ella.

The hand was fair and slender, with neatly trimmed nails, palm facing upward.

“Let’s go, Your Majesty. I’ll take you to your room. We prepared it especially for you.”

Ella looked at the hand and hesitated for a moment.

Her gaze went over Yiwen’s shoulder and glanced at Butterfly Wing. Butterfly Wing had already leaned back against the edge of the bathtub, right hand supporting her cheek, eyes looking elsewhere as if the matter no longer had anything to do with her.

But the smile was still hanging on her lips.

That smile that made Ella feel extremely uncomfortable.

Ella bit her lip, then reached out and took Yiwen’s hand.

Yiwen’s hand was warm. Her fingers tightened slightly as she pulled Ella out of the bathtub. The bath towel slipped from her shoulder for a moment. She hurriedly grabbed it and wrapped herself again.

She was led by the motherly Yiwen out of the bathroom, through the corridor, and past one door after another.

Her mind was still spinning.

In the bathroom, Butterfly Wing had forcibly opened the door to a new world for her. As an Insect Mother whose most important mission was reproduction and expansion, in her understanding, men should be with women, and women should be with men. How could there be women with women?

How was that possible…

But… that sensation just now… was still deeply engraved in her mind.

Her gaze unconsciously fell on Yiwen’s hand, then moved away. It fell on Yiwen’s side profile, then moved away again. It fell on Yiwen’s collarbones, then moved away once more.

Even the way she looked at Yiwen beside her had changed.

This woman wouldn’t do anything outrageous too… right?

She probably wouldn’t.

She looked much more normal than that madwoman Butterfly Wing.

She might be the last normal person on this ship.

“This is your room.”

Yiwen stopped in front of a door and pushed it open.

Ella poked her head in to look.

The room was not big, but it was very clean. There was one bed, one table, one chair, and one wardrobe. The window was on the wall beside the bed, offering a view of the dark sea outside and faint starlight in the distance.

Then she saw the second bed.

Two beds were placed side by side, separated by a nightstand with a small lamp on it.

“Wha—! Why is it a double room!”

Her voice rose sharply. She pointed at the two beds as if identifying a crime scene.

“You’re making me stay in a place like this?!”

Yiwen tilted her head. The movement carried a natural, almost innocent casualness.

“Can’t be helped, Your Majesty. In my eyes, you’re still a naughty child right now.”

Her voice was gentle but firm.

“Zhuluo will stay with you to take care of you.”

Tch…

It’s just surveillance, isn’t it?

Calling it “taking care of me” is so hypocritical…

Ella pressed her lips into a thin line, but she did not argue. Her gaze swept around the room, confirming the positions of the window, the door, the wardrobe, and the two beds. Then she nodded.

“It’s good that you agree.”

A smile appeared on Yiwen’s face. She turned her head and looked toward the other end of the corridor.

“Zhuluo, Her Majesty is in your care now. Take good care of her, okay?”

Footsteps came from the end of the corridor. The black-haired girl emerged from the shadows. Her golden pupils glowed faintly in the dim light. Her expression was as flat as always. The six eyes on her collarbones were half-closed, as if in dormancy.

“Understood, Yiwen.”

What’s with that attitude of reporting to a superior?

It seems Zhuluo has the lowest status on this ship.

Wait…

It looks like I’m actually the one with the lowest status on this ship now…

Fuck…

Ella cursed inwardly, but her face showed no expression.

“Come, Your Majesty. Here are the clothes we prepared for you.”

Yiwen entered the room first and opened the wardrobe.

Her movements were quick — open, select, close. The whole process took less than three seconds. But in the instant the wardrobe closed, Ella still caught a glimpse of what was inside.

That was…

A maid outfit?

And… the extremely revealing kind. Black lace, white apron, and a skirt so short it barely covered anything.

The corner of her eye twitched.

Yiwen turned around, holding a simple set of pajamas — a white top and white long pants. The fabric looked soft and comfortable.

“You can wear this on the ship for now.”

She handed the pajamas to Ella.

Ella took the pajamas and looked down. They were pure white, with no decorations. The cut was so simple it could almost be called crude.

“So shabby.”

She muttered.

This couldn’t compare at all to the clothes she used to have the swarm prepare for her. Those were woven from the finest silk secreted by insect glands, perfectly tailored, exquisitely designed, and highly defensive. They could even fetch a good price at auction.

But now she was a prisoner, not the Insect Mother.

She had no right to be picky.

She took off the bath towel and began putting on the pajamas. The white fabric slid over her shoulders.

Yiwen’s gaze lingered on her for a moment, then moved away.

“There’s also a white hunting outfit in the wardrobe for going out. You would look very good in it.”

Her voice returned to that gentle, scholarly tone.

“Bras and underwear are all there too. Let Zhuluo teach you how to wear them.”

“Got it.”

Ella fastened the last button and looked down at herself.

Heh… Just you wait… I will definitely take revenge on all of you… Definitely…