Daily News: Insect Girls' Heavy Dependence

Upon seeing the two men with black hair, they couldn't wait to leave.

Ge Luoluo was both amused and exasperated.

"Is this how all nobles interact?"

"As far as I know, their relationship is considered slow. Some nobles in the inner world practically want to kiss each other the moment they meet..."

"Has it been infected by gluttonous parasites?"

Upon hearing her sister's words, Ge Luoluo couldn't help but frown:

Have the insectoids from the inner world already infiltrated the aristocratic circles? They're even openly cannibalizing people in public...

Govi learned of her sister's strange thoughts through the Dream Bug.

"I meant kissing! Not actually eating each other's lips! It's a social etiquette..."

"What kind of aristocratic etiquette is this?"

"Who knows..."

……

The Duke's residence, reception hall.

Richard entered the room.

Then, hanging on the wall, were two newly acquired insectoid heads. Who else could they be but the disposed Silverwing Hunter insectoid father and son?

This made him feel a pang of sadness. Even a fully-fledged fourth-tier being, after death, would be displayed on a wall...

After Yekaterin placed the jade-like, bamboo-shaped lie detector beetle on the long table covered with insect shells, the beetle burrowed under the table again…

She gestured for Richard to sit down on the sofa.

Yekalin knew, of course, that Richard would be uncomfortable sitting in the cavities-ridden chair. She herself sat on the sofa opposite Richard.

He took the green tea broth from the head maid.

Only after all the maids had left and the door was closed.

Only then did she slowly and leisurely maintain her aristocratic demeanor. She gracefully leaned over the coffee table to brew and prepare the tea…

Richard, clutching a blanket, was having a mental conversation with dream insects...

"It smells good?" he blurted out, unable to control himself.

"It's not even ready yet, and you're already saying it smells good."

I wasn't talking about tea.

Yekalin glanced at the precious wood burning in the fireplace.

A soft crackling sound, mixed with a faint fragrance, filled the entire reception hall with a reassuring atmosphere.

"The wood in the fireplace? That's Purple Blood Insect Sandalwood, which can increase the insects' growth rate by 1%. If you like it, I'll have someone deliver it to the Pioneer Apartments."

"No, it's not that the wood smells good."

Yekalin was now confused; she didn't know what else in the reception hall could be considered very fragrant.

Richard didn't intend to hide anything.

"The dream worm inside me says your pheromones smell wonderful."

"Really? What do you think?"

"I think she makes a good point..."

"Why?" Richard actually agreed with the insect's opinion. This surprised Yekaterin, even though she also thought Richard's dream insect had good judgment...

"Even though I can't detect pheromones myself, I can smell how fragrant you are."

"Are you trying to please me?"

"Of course I'm not trying to curry favor! I'm just stating an objective fact."

"Um?"

"Tsk, what I consider objective fact... alright?"

"Oh?" Yekaterin's expression became even more amused, her eyebrows practically bulging...

"Are you just here to drink the green tea pudding? Or is that really what you're thinking?"

"Yes, I have them all!" Richard was quite frank.

Yekalin finished preparing the tea and stopped what she was doing.

She leaned against the sofa, one hand resting on the backrest, the other playing with her hair. She turned to stare at Richard, who was lying down covered by the blanket.

"Aren't you afraid of me anymore?"

"When have I ever been afraid of you?"

"Crunch, crunch, crunch..."

It wasn't the Silverwing Hunter Bug that came back to life, but the Blue-White Lie Detector Bug that was making noise!

Hiss... He was too relaxed... Richard had even forgotten about the bug. But thankfully, his lie was insincere to begin with.

"Don't shout!" Yekaterin naturally commanded the blue-white lie detector...

"Why are you afraid of me?"

This time she was speaking to Richard, but her tone was much calmer.

Anyone would be afraid of someone who can turn themselves into a puppet.

However, after having a heart-to-heart talk with Ekaterin that morning, Richard understood why this noble lady needed that kind of ability...

Richard didn't directly answer Yekaterin's question; he couldn't possibly have said that Govy had tipped her off. Besides, Yekaterin must have already guessed it…

"I was a little scared before, but I'm not scared now."

"Why were you afraid before?" Yekalin pressed for the reason, her tone now very calm.

"Don't you already know?"

"I know, but I want to hear it from your own mouth..."

What kind of logic is this! Knowing the reason, why keep asking? Richard certainly wouldn't dare say that.

"I'm afraid you'll turn me into a puppet."

Why do you think I would turn you into a puppet?

……

"Haven't you thought about that?"

Richard was getting a little annoyed by the questions. He wasn't the type to enjoy being suppressed or disciplined; he had his own dignity. He was just being accommodating to this beautiful noblewoman.

Faced with this sudden question, even though Yekalin knew she had gone too far.

But she had never been treated like this before! Even royal princes and princesses treated her with utmost courtesy. How could those mass-produced individuals compare to the only daughter of the Duke of the North?

"Of course I considered turning you into a puppet, but you're only a first-tier juvenile... it's really not worth it..."

"Just because I'm at a lower stage of life than you, do you think I can be manipulated by you at will? Don't you think I'm worthy of your honest cooperation? Do you think I'm not qualified...?"

of course not!

Yekaterin certainly didn't only view Richard from the perspective of strength. But Yekaterin didn't say that.

On the contrary:

"All the nobles in the Kingdom of Kiel are like that, so it was normal for me to think that way before..."

Yekaterin originally wanted to shift the blame to "the principle of the original sin of weakness".

The current Yekaterin is unwilling to face the fact that she once looked down on Richard... let alone her plan to turn him into a puppet.

Even though she was very honest,

Richard was not deceived.

She also needs to find a way to rationalize her motives! As long as Richard understands that everyone thinks this way, it's the norm!

That way, her guilt will lessen...

But to Richard, who was already sensitive, this only reinforced the fact that Yekaterin had a past evil plan.

"I understand, please stop talking. Just don't think that way now or in the future. I'll go find you the essence insect fluid tomorrow. I'll leave on my own in two months; I won't covet your power."

Richard's tone had lost its ease and languor.

He has already made up his mind:

Yekaterin was being so kind to her simply to ease her guilt about scheming against her allies.

He, however, thought that Yekaterin might like him.

I'm so ridiculous!

Richard, how can you be so arrogant? You're just a lowly pioneer lord, exiled by your family to a collateral branch in the northern snowfields...

Is it really possible to fantasize about a duke falling in love with you?