After the chaos at the palace gates had subsided, Antares began to lead Solara toward the inner sanctum of the royal residence. He turned to offer her a reassuring word, to tell her he'd see her shortly, but Ian was faster. With a polite but firm efficiency, the butler stepped between them.
"If you will allow me, Your Majesty, the young lady likely requires rest and a change of attire after her... journey," Ian said, his tone suggesting that a King had more pressing matters than playing tour guide. "I shall personally escort Miss Solara to her living my lord."
Solara gave Antares a small, lingering look, half-grateful, half-terrified—before following Ian into the labyrinth of the palace. Antares watched her go, the scent of her song and the warmth of her hand still ghosting over his senses.
Antares eventually reached the royal office. He sank into the high-backed chair carved from deep-sea coral and obsidian, the same seat his father and grandfather had occupied before the long sleep. The room was quiet, lit only by the soft, steady hum of the light crystals embedded in the ceiling.
A few moments later, a sharp knock echoed. Ian entered, his posture perfect, his face a neutral mask. He stood before the desk in a heavy, expectant silence.
Antares held up a hand before Ian could launch into a lecture. "I know what you're going to say, Ian. But Solara is essential. I will show you, and the rest of the Council, exactly why she is here in the coming days."
Ian didn't argue. Instead, he adjusted his cuffs and looked at Antares with a gaze that felt uncomfortably paternal. "I do not doubt your intuition, Sire. However, I must ask... have you given any thought to the royal line? To the future of the dynasty?"
Antares went quiet. The question hit him like a physical weight. As a King, he wasn't just a general or a judge; he was the source of his race's continuation. It was his biological duty to rebuild the bloodline that had nearly been extinguished.
"Solara has a charm that is undeniable," Ian continued, his voice softening. "She is, by all biological and social metrics, a perfect candidate to be your Queen. But you must understand that in our tribe, marriage and its values are sacred. If she is to stay, if she is to be what you intend her to be, you must hold a wedding ceremony. The people need to see a King who is committed to a future, not just a war."
Antares leaned back, his mind drifting to Zarah. He thought of her tireless work, her loyalty, and the nights they had spent together. "And what of Zarah? How will the people view it if I bring another into the household?"
Ian offered a thin, knowing smile. "Polygamy is nothing new in the Antmen tribe, Sire. even if Zarah is loved and supported by the majority of the antmen, It is a matter of survival for the royal line. Take Lord Velas, for example. The Patriarch of the Arcanis clan maintains a harem that would make a lesser man collapse from the sheer administrative burden."
Antares barked out a sudden laugh, remembering the revelation of Velas's domestic life. The old mage truly did have a lot on his hands.
"Very well," Antares said, his voice regaining its royal steel. "Inform the clan heads and the public that Zarah and Solara are to be recognized as my Queens. We will hold the official, ceremony later perhaps after my expedition to the surface but for now, let it be known."
Ian bowed. "A wise decision, Sire." then he gave Antares a tender smile "I am sure that lord Alexis would be proud of the man you have become my lord." he whispered as he was leaving
"One more thing," Antares added. "Prepare the private dining room. Not the Great Hall where I eat with the lords, but the family chambers. I want Zarah and Solara to meet tonight. And make sure Zarah is free from her duties this evening."
Ian hesitated, his hand on the door handle. "If I may suggest, Your Majesty... domestic management is often more delicate than military strategy. Perhaps you should speak with Lady Zarah personally before the dinner? A surprise of this magnitude... well, it might not be received with the grace you expect."
Antares looked at his butler, marvelling at the man's insight. "You're right, Ian. I'll go to her first. Thank you."
"Yah , there's definitely things that we are going to work on. " Ian thought.
Once Ian left, the office fell into a deep, heavy silence. Antares closed his eyes and leaned his head against the cool stone of the chair.
"System," he whispered. "The notification earlier... explain the 'Seeding Ritual' in detail. No metaphors. Just the facts."
The blue interface flickered to life in the darkness of the room, scrolling through lines of ancient biological code.
[Seeding Ritual: Operational Parameters]
[Definition: A biological and mana-based union between the Ant King and a compatible Queen Candidate.]
[Mechanism: Through physical intimacy, the Host's specialized Royal Mana is transferred to the Candidate. This triggers a metamorphosis in the Candidate's physiology, awakening her dormant Queen-class abilities.]
[Results: Activation of the Normal and Royal Brood chambers in addition to the Queen Chambers, increased pheromonal range for the Queen, and The new queen gains ability to lay eggs that later develop into antmen.]
Antares stared at the text. It was a clinical, cold description of something deeply personal. Sex wasn't just an act of pleasure or affection in this world; it was a literal key that unlocked the survival of his species. To activate the tower, to save his people from extinction, he would have to bind himself to Solara in the most intimate way possible.
He looked out the window at the glowing settlement below. He had a conversation with Zarah to survive first, but the "ritual" loomed in his mind, a duty he could no longer ignore.
"Let's hope she understands." Antares said as he stood up to go to meet Zarah.