The Broodmother Is Hungry Again Today - Chapter 1

In the seven hundredth year of the insectoid race’s decline, I was born.

As the exalted Broodmother, I should have received the most devoted care my entire species could offer.

Instead, I nearly starved to death—with dignity, naturally—upon my frozen throne before even half a male showed up to welcome me.

I cautiously extended a wisp of psychic power. At once, I heard the insectoids outside talking about me.

“The Broodmother? You mean that weak, useless thing from the old stories—the terrifying source of contamination that drives males mad with obsession?”

“We mastered technological reproduction ages ago. Who would submit to a useless Broodmother now? I certainly don’t yearn for her. Not even a little.”

My hands trembled as I listened.

Partly from anger, but mostly from hunger.

A newly born Broodmother was unimaginably frail and remained so for a long time. Without consorts attending to her every need, she could easily die before surviving that vulnerable period.

Was I about to become the first unlucky Broodmother in history to starve to death immediately after being born?

Determined to overcome my physical limitations, I was just preparing to crawl down from the throne and find my own dinner when my lingering psychic power detected something unusual.

Someone had entered the palace.

Four extraordinarily powerful males.

Whenever a Broodmother was born, the Law selected several of the strongest males in the race. They became her consorts and received the glorious honor of serving her.

Judging by the present situation, however, whether my visitors were friends or enemies remained anyone’s guess.

Sure enough, the four males tried to establish their dominance the moment they entered the main hall.

They took up positions at four different points around the room, making no attempt to hide their dislike for one another. Yet all four tacitly ignored me while exchanging the friendliest of greetings.

“Ning Fu, this is Her Exalted Highness the Broodmother.” The striking blond male folded his arms. “If you hope to wash away the stain of your lowborn blood, clinging to her may be your only chance.”

The pink-haired male called Ning Fu replied with a smile.

“How kind of Lord Cecil to worry about me. But compared with a self-made male like myself, surely you have a greater need to ingratiate yourself with the Broodmother. How else will you keep the sham prosperity of the nobility afloat?”

Without so much as glancing at me curled up on the throne, Cecil said coldly, “A fragile, useless female is not worth my time.”

False regret painted Ning Fu’s delicate, bewitching features. “She may be useless, but she is rather cute. If I didn’t have experiments waiting, I wouldn’t mind amusing our little Broodmother for a few days.”

They argued for ages, neither willing to give an inch.

Somehow, despite the insults flying between them, I was the one being abused the most.

Me: “?”

I turned toward the other two consorts, neither of whom had spoken.

The nearer one wore a severe military uniform. His long silver hair was pulled into a meticulous high ponytail. At the moment, his eyes were closed beneath a frown, as though even looking at me was beneath him.

The one farthest away almost blended into the darkness.

He stared ahead with hollow eyes. Perhaps he was daydreaming. Perhaps he was intently watching me upon the throne.

His upper body was unnaturally still. Under the robes of a Temple cleric, however, something in his lower half writhed without pause. The sight was eerie enough to make my skin crawl.

The instant I studied the strange male in black, something cold and slick brushed my ankle. It felt as though a slimy tongue had licked me.

I flinched and let out a short cry.

The argument stopped dead.

All four males looked at me at once.

Their gazes were restrained but still scorching, each carrying a strange hint of anticipation.

My scalp prickled beneath their attention. I drew a light breath and ventured, “Um, shouldn’t you…”

Shouldn’t you find me something to eat before you continue arguing?

Before I could finish, Cecil jerked back half a step.

“If you have something to say, then say it!” he snapped. “Why are you seducing people for no reason?”

Ning Fu nodded in agreement. Even the silver-haired male shut his eyes more firmly.

Me: “???”

Wow. They were all deranged.

Calm down. A magnanimous Broodmother got fed.

Ignoring their rude reactions, I forced on a gracious smile.

“The situation is this: because I was only recently born, I am still weak from hunger.”

“As my consorts, perhaps you could provide me with some food?”

Cecil answered immediately, and naturally, nothing pleasant came out of his mouth.

“Of course a frail female can’t endure a little hunger. If you’re truly this weak, can you really… really bear my…”

Whatever his imagination supplied, his imperious face suddenly turned red.

While Cecil stood there as if his brain had overheated and crashed, the others remained silent. None showed any intention of offering me food.

I considered the problem, then spoke slowly.

“I won’t force all of you to waste time caring for me. But I do need to survive my vulnerable period.”

“So why don’t I choose just one of you as my consort and set the other three free?”

If I let all four keep passing responsibility around, they might starve me to death. Better to provoke a fight among them and make them sacrifice one loser to serve me. If the chosen male refused to obey, the other three would probably help subdue him just to rid themselves of the nuisance.

The plan was perfect.

I hid my smugness and waited for them to nominate the loser.

Instead, Cecil spoke first.

“My family has money to burn. It wouldn’t hurt to relax once in a while. I suppose I can shoulder this burden for the rest of you.”

Ning Fu narrowed his eyes and studied me. “The Institute of Science may be busy, but I can spare enough time to take care of a little Broodmother.”

Even the strange male who had been staring blankly from the corner forced two hoarse words from his throat.

“…Choose me.”

Me, abruptly transformed from universally despised to hot property: “?”

I looked from one to another, my expression growing increasingly peculiar.

Why had they become so enthusiastic all of a sudden? Were they hiding sinister intentions? Did they want to murder a poor, helpless little Broodmother?

No. Absolutely not.

I shook my head, raised one hand, and pointed firmly at the only male who had said nothing.

In the ensuing silence, the silver-haired male seemed to sense my choice and opened his eyes.

When he saw my finger aimed straight at him, his pupils trembled almost imperceptibly.

“I choose him,” I said, looking at him. “He can take care of me.”