"Now then, do share what was worth leaving your cell and risking your life," said Celeste, her voice smooth and commanding, echoing softly off the high stone walls of the chamber.
"Last night… when I was in my prison cell," Ari began, his lips trembling slightly, "I overheard—and saw—Vladimir plotting with ants from a rival colony."
He shifted on the cold dirt-packed floor, the rough surface digging into his legs. "They… they're planning to invade this colony and steal all the resources and food supply."
He swallowed hard, the bitter tang of fear rising in his mouth. "They promised Vladimir a lot in return if the plan succeeded… and they're aiming to infiltrate the colony in three days."
His hands clenched at his sides as he leaned forward, eyes wide with desperation.
"I see," Celeste said slowly, each word measured and deliberate. She shifted her weight on her throne, her sharp eyes narrowing as they studied Ari intently.
"And why should I believe you… when you have no proof of this exchange?"
"I have known Vladimir for the longest time," she continued, tilting her head slightly, the faint scrape of her hands against the throne's armrest punctuating her words. "That doesn't add up. If he had betrayed me… why would he choose to do it now?"
"I… I don't know his motive," Ari said, keeping his voice steady, forcing his hands to remain at his sides. His chest tightened, and his pulse raced beneath the surface, but he masked it behind a calm expression.
"But if you don't do something about this… this colony will be stripped of everything."
He met Celeste's gaze steadily, forcing his tone to sound measured. "Everything… including all of your lives."
Without warning, Vladimir stepped into the Queen's chamber, his presence slicing through the tense air like a shadow.
The faint clink of his exoskeleton echoed against the walls, and a cold weight seemed to settle over the room as all eyes instinctively turned toward him.
"Princess Tanya, I've been looking all over for you. Where did you run off to? I was really worried about you," Vladimir said, his voice carrying a sharp edge beneath a veneer of concern.
Tanya's chest tightened, and her hands instinctively curled at her sides.
Then his gaze snapped toward Ari, sharp and accusing. "Wait… it's you. Why are you not in your cell? How… how were you able to get out?" His voice grew colder, each word dripping with anger, and the tension in the room thickened.
Ari kept his posture straight, forcing his expression calm, even as a shiver of apprehension ran down his spine.
As Vladimir turned to face the princess, she flinched under his gaze, a heavy knot of shame pressing down on her chest. . She couldn't bring herself to meet his eyes, her throat tightening as if the words she wanted to say were trapped inside.
"Wait, don't tell me—were you the one who set the prisoner free, Princess?" asked Vladimir.
"I… I'm sorry. Yes, it was me," Tanya whispered, her voice barely rising above the echoing chamber.
The stone floor pressed cold against her feet, her chest tightening as guilt wrapped around her like a vine. She avoided his gaze, feeling the weight of judgment pressing down on her shoulders.
"This ant claims to have overheard you plotting against me and my colony with our rivals," Celeste said, her voice sharp and steady, reverberating lightly against the chamber walls. Her eyes bore into Vladimir, narrowing with quiet suspicion.
"My Queen, that's preposterous," Vladimir said, his voice smooth and measured, each word carefully chosen to sound earnest.
He leaned slightly forward, eyes locking on Celeste's with a glint of feigned concern. "I have been by your side since the great war… and my loyalty has always been—and will always be—to you and the colony."
He let a faint, charming smile brush his lips, the kind that implied trustworthiness. "I'd never betray it."
"So then all the information he shared with me is false?" Queen Celeste asked, her voice sharp, eyes narrowing as she studied Vladimir for the slightest flicker of dishonesty.
A faint tension hummed in the air, the room holding its breath.
"I would never do such a thing, Your Highness," Vladimir replied smoothly, his tone calm and persuasive.
"Princess Tanya," Vladimir said, his voice smooth, almost conversational, though each word carried an edge that made her stomach tighten.
"Am I to assume that letting this ant out of his cell means you believed him when he said I betrayed the colony?"
He took a step closer, eyes narrowing slightly, letting silence linger just long enough to weigh on her.
"After all I've done for you… you went ahead and believed this slave ant?" His lips curved faintly, not quite a smile, and his gaze held hers, steady and unnerving.
"I… I was only trying to do what I thought was right for the colony," Tanya stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.
"He… he told me that something was coming, that we might be in danger. I… I didn't know what else to do. I wasn't saying that you betrayed us, Vladimir, I— it's just that... he was so serious. I could see the sincerity and integrity in his eyes."
I hope he understands… I really do, she thought, chest tightening.
"I see," Vladimir said, his voice calm, almost casual, as he turned back to Tanya for a brief moment.
"I'm sorry he… unsettled you. He was probably just trying to escape back to his colony."
His eyes flicked toward Ari, sharp and assessing, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "Don't worry. I'll make sure he never comes near you again—or that you're ever out of my sight."
"You lying bastard! You crave nothing but power and control! Why would you lie to her face like that?" Ari snapped, forcing his voice to stay loud and steady even as his chest heaved.
He flailed his arms, teeth gritting, trying to burn away the helpless fury coiling inside him.
"That's enough out of you," Vladimir said, his voice smooth but firm, each word carrying an unspoken weight. His gaze pinned Ari in place, cold and unwavering.
He straightened, the faint scrape of his boots against the floor punctuating his command. "It's time for you to go back to your cell. Take him away."
The military ants that came with Vladimir advanced swiftly, flinging a sticky, gooey substance over Ari's limbs.
He struggled against it, the cold, clinging material tightening around his wrists and ankles, resisting his every movement.
"You're all making a big mistake!" he shouted, forcing his voice to remain steady despite the panic coiling in his chest.
"You'll regret not listening to me. All of you will!" His eyes darted toward Tanya, pleading, heart hammering against his ribs. "Princess Tanya… please, believe me. This… this ant is pure evil. You need to save this colony!"
Tanya squeezed her eyes shut, her chest tightening as a shiver ran through her body. Her hands clenched at her sides, and she turned slowly, forcing her back toward him.
"Please… don't talk to me again," she whispered. Her voice trembled despite her attempt at firmness. "I never want to see your face again… you liar."
"But… Princess, why?" Ari asked, keeping his tone measured even as his pulse thundered in his ears.
He struggled slightly against the sticky binds, feeling the cold tension of the goo constricting his movements.
As the military ants hauled him away, Ari's gaze flicked toward Vladimir. He caught the faintest twist of a smirk on his lips, cruel and deliberate, and his chest tightened.
That look—subtle, victorious—leaves no doubt in my mind about his intentions.
I knew someone was watching me. Felt a presence nearby… and of course, it was that slave scum. Lucky for me, no one of high status—or from my colony—saw us. Good. Once I leave Tanya's side, he'll be dealt with properly. Every detail is falling into place exactly as I want. Let him struggle all he wants—he'll learn soon enough what happens when he crosses me.
"Summon Lieutenant Valeria and Chief Warden Seth. I would like to have a word with them," the Queen said, her tone calm but carrying an unmistakable weight that made the chamber fall into an almost imperceptible hush.
Her eyes scanned the room, sharp and commanding, lingering on Vladimir for just a moment before shifting away.
"Right away, Your Highness," said a servant, his voice respectful and quick.
He darted from the chamber, the soft click of his boots against the floor fading as he hurried to carry out her command.
The servant returned shortly, leading Lieutenant Valeria and Chief Warden Seth into the Queen's chamber.
As they stepped inside, Valeria's sharp gaze immediately locked onto Vladimir, her eyes narrowing. A flicker of suspicion crossed her face, quick and precise, before she masked it behind her usual professional composure.
Her hands rested lightly at her sides, fingers flexing ever so slightly, ready for action if needed.
"You called for me, my Queen?" Valeria asked, her tone respectful yet edged with the sharpness of someone always on alert.
"What is on your mind, Your Highness?" Seth added, his voice calm and steady, but the slight stiffening of his posture hinted at the tension that filled the chamber.
"I want you to double down on our patrols for the next three days," the Queen said, her gaze sweeping over both Valeria and Seth, sharp and unwavering.
"That young ant may be lying about the invasion, but it's better to take precautions than to be sorry."
Her voice carried the calm authority of someone used to being obeyed, yet the slight tightening around her eyes hinted at the weight of worry beneath her composure.
"I'll ensure that our patrols are airtight, Your Highness," Seth replied, straightening his shoulders. His voice was steady and confident, though a subtle tension in his jaw betrayed the seriousness of the order.
That damn slave scum… he messed up the plan. I should have expected Celeste to take precautions, even with uncertainty.
There's only one way left to make sure everything goes exactly as I want.
Vladimir's eyes flicked to Tanya, lingering on her face with a cold intensity.
The military ants flung Ari back into his cell, the door slamming shut with a sharp clang.
He staggered, then lunged toward the bars, eyes wide and chest heaving.
"You guys have got to believe me!" he shouted, voice raw with urgency.
"The invasion will happen! Vladimir betrayed you all!" His fists pounded against the walls, desperation making him shake.
"Save it. Nobody likes a liar," one of the military ants sneered. "To think he deceived the princess… I'm surprised the Queen didn't order his death."
The other nodded grimly as they both walked away.
What the hell is wrong with these ants? Can't they see I'm trying to help them?
His chest tightened, breath coming in ragged gasps as his mind raced. If I don't do something… we're all going to die. I'll die with them… I can't let that happen. I have to get out of here… somehow…
"Hey, you..."
"Huh? It's you… the ant who captured me, Lieutenant Valeria.." Ari said, his voice trembling, each word catching in his throat. His chest heaved, and a cold sweat prickled along his spine as he instinctively took a small step back, eyes wide and darting for an escape that wasn't there.
Valeria stepped closer, her shadow falling over him. "I have a question," she said, each word deliberate, heavy with menace. Her voice was cold enough to freeze the air between them.
"Answer me honestly… or I'll make you wish you had."
"Did you really see Vladimir conversing with ants from different colonies, plotting to take over ours?" Her eyes were cold, sharp as blades, locking onto his with an intensity that made his stomach churn.
Ari hesitated, his chest tightening as he forced himself to inhale slowly, trying to steady his racing thoughts.
"Yes… I did," he said finally, voice trembling just slightly. "In this very prison cell… through a crack in the wall."
"I see. Thank you," Valeria said, her voice even, measured. She studied Ari for a moment, eyes flicking toward his bindings. "I don't fully believe you."
She shifted her weight slightly, arms crossed, gaze narrowing just a fraction. "However… I've known Vladimir for a long time, ever since I was a trainee. He has always been suspicious in his actions."
"He always tries to be in everyone's good graces," she continued, a faint tightness in her jaw, "which is… what I find weird and irritating. I myself suspected something about him, and now… it almost seems as if it's coming to light."
She glanced at him once more, expression unreadable. "It's not like I believe you, so don't get the wrong idea. I'll keep an eye on him… just in case."
Without waiting for a response, Valeria turned and walked away, her footsteps echoing softly and then fading into the distance.
The quiet left Ari staring at the empty doorway, his chest tight and pulse quickening.
Is that her way of saying she believes me? he thought, a flicker of hope battling the cold knot of doubt coiling in his stomach.