During our ascent to the upper dwellings, where also the queen's chambers are located, I noticed that the number of active guardians has increased.
They are particularly present at all the critical infrastructure.
Perhaps as an answer to having all these humans wandering around in our halls.
As usual, the greatest density of guardians one finds right at the queen's chamber.
Not like I even think anyone would dare to challenge Uma.
Having just now successfully recalled her oversized frame, as so many times before, I become uneasy when entering the great hall, where she usually receives people.
I don't need to wait for long before I already hear her pheromone breath.
So she wants a first-hand report?
Well, I can possibly give her that.
I think back to all the noteworthy events.
How well the building phase worked, the return of the enemy army, our failed attempt at negotiation, the siege, and finally the trap... as well as what followed.
So I recollect everything for Uma that could be of the slightest relevance.
Uma is clearly interested in those stories, so I can't really dodge this talk.
(U)
Why does this insect titan have to be so damn perceptive?
(E)
Like the fact that we leveled a whole landscape.
Sigh.
I doubt there's much of a point to continue trying to keep this to myself.
Uma continues staring at me, the immense pressure of her sheer presence lingering almost palpably in the room.
Is Uma doubting Liseti and taking my side?
No, something is off about the way Uma just said this.
It's doused with the strength of her pheromones, but there is an intricacy to them.
By now I can figure her out to a degree.
She didn't truly find fault with Listi's acts.
Rather, she gives her a chance and room to explain herself.
She's basically in teacher mode.
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(U)
Yeah, I am on a sinking ship here.
Not a chance to convince anyone here that massacring enemy soldiers is wrong.
She did?
I only saw how Inati's troops were massacring everyone they could.
But I doubt there were all that many she could reach through all this chaos.
What did I say?
It was so obvious she'd react like this.
I get it.
It's not like I plan on sacrificing them.
They are all so important to me.
But does this really mean that it would be wrong to choose less drastic measures?
Is being effective truly all that matters if you regularly have to resort to such extreme acts?
As if reading my mind, which she probably does, Uma addresses just this with her next pheromone wave.
I never said I would think like this either.
Yet the fact that Uma is even genuine about this makes it even worse to be confronted with this idea.
I truly care for my brood, but I also do so for all the innocent people affected by war.
Huh.
She has a point I guess.
It's difficult, but "I can't decide this" is perhaps truly not something one should settle for.
Thinking about it, could I have found a better solution?
What about killing the enemy commander or even assassinating all the decision-makers in Koreso?
Not being indecisive is actually quite difficult if you can't fathom how well your ideas will work out.
Yeah, as if that is so easily done if relations are getting complicated.
She didn't really say "adopted" here, but the meaning of taking on subjects as a princess is apparently the same to her.
Ehk, what!?
Wait, was there just a little glance at Liseti?
Did Uma just omit her thoughts in front of Liseti?
That's akin to lying!
So Uma basically just lied!
I feel like her analogy of adopting all the citizens in Caradis is reaching its limits here.
But as much as I tried to distract myself from this task that lies ahead, the management of this city is going to be quite a challenge.
Who would have thought?
As I have nothing to respond to this, it seems we are now finally done.
Once again, I feel like I said too much.
Despite barely having said a thing.