Ten years and a half before the Canterlot Wedding, Castle Mi Amore…
“So, dear daughter,” Cadenza’s mother, Mi Amore Cavatina, began as she took her glass of wine. “I couldn’t help but notice that this young Equestrian knight was quite friendly with you,” she said calmly, bringing her glass into the light to observe the burgundy beverage.
It had been a few hours since the escort of the Golden Sun had left Maredrid to return to Canterlot. Prince Fortissimo had offered them hospitality for a couple of days as a thank-you for bringing back his daughter safely. Despite the slight tensions between the Istalloñan ruling family and the Alicorn Princesses of Equestria, the escort’s stay happened without any sort of trouble. With their guests now gone, the Mi Amore family was gathered for an afternoon tea and biscuits, which usually involved the two rulers to taste various vintages while their children were more than content with actual tea and biscuits.
“You mean Shining Armor, mother?” Cadenza asked after politely chewing on and swallowing her almond-crusted cookie. “I’ve babysitted his younger sister quite a lot, so we got more opportunity to get to know each other. He’s a good friend.”
“Babysitted?” Cadenza’s older brother, Bolero, asked with a cocked eyebrow. “Since when do you even do babysitting?”
“Since I have way too much free time in Canterlot and that I think children are adorable,” Cadenza explained softly.
“I find that hard to believe, considering how mean you’ve always been with me,” Crescendo, Cadenza’s ten-years-old brother remarked with a frown.
“That’s because you’ve always been a little demon shaped like a child,” Cadenza retorted with a frown of her own, remembering all the dirty tricks her younger sibling had pulled on her over the years.
As his younger siblings were glaring at each other, Bolero tried to refrain his chuckles while their mother simply rolled her eyes and their father frowned in displeasure. When Prince Fortissimo cleared his throat sternly, Bolero immediately re-took his handsome poker-face and his siblings stopped what they were doing.
“I trust you did more than babysitting, Cadenza,” Fortissimo said his voice full of disdain. “I did not agree for you to study in Canterlot so that you could spend all your time playing with peasants’ children.”
“....I do study well, father,” Cadenza replied slowly. “Also, Shining and his family aren’t peasants!”
“Even so, did you get close to the Princesses?” Fortissimo asked calmly. “As I told you to?”
“...... Princess Celestia and Princess Luna accepted to let me live in their castle for my studies in Canterlot, but I’m nothing more than a guest to them,” Cadenza explained. “On the rare occasions I actually spent with them, we’ve never really discussed any matter that might be of use to you….”
“So basically, you’ve done nothing of what was expected of you there?” Fortissimo asked after letting out a long and displeased sigh.
“.....” Cadenza opened her mouth to retort, but closed it at the same time as her fists.
“Father,” Bolero cut off softly. “If I may interject, you’ve said yourself that there was only one chance over a million that Luna or Celestia would say anything of importance to Cadenza during her stay,” he reminded with calm and stoicism. “I find it unfair of you to take such a blaming tone with her.”
“.... I suppose you’re right, Son,” Fortissimo admitted with a sigh. “Forgive me, child,” he added sincerely towards Cadenza. “With all those bandits scourging the land and the railways problems with Equestria, my patience is wearing thinner every day… Much to my own displeasure.”
“I understand, Father,” Cadenza calmly replied with a nod as the door of the private salon were pushed open.
“Your Grace,” a middle-aged man called with a short bow as all of the royals were looking straight at him in surprise. “I’m sorry to bother you, but a woman at the gates claims that Princess Cadenza invited her over,” the Prince’s steward, Bastante, explained in a professional tone.
“Well, ask the guards to chase her off, like they do to all those lying attention-seekers who come at our door,” Princess Cavatina demanded calmly.
“Wait, Bastante!” Cadenza almost shouted over her mother’s voice, startling her father’s steward. “Does she have dark green hair that reaches down here?” she asked more politely, holding her hand to the level of her loins.
“Hum, Yes,” Bastante asked in confusion. “How did you know, my Lady?”
“Yes, Cadenza, how did you know that?” Cavatina, Fortissimo and Bolero asked simultaneously.
“I told you about her already!” Cadenza reminded impatiently. “It’s the woman who saved me on the road! Just let her in, please!”
“Well...,” Bastante let out uneasily, looking at the ruling Princess to know what to do, only to have her looking at her husband with the same expression as his.
“...I think we owe to see her to thank her for saving our daughter,” Fortissimo replied, earning his wife’s dubious expression in return. “If anything, I’m more than curious about this woman, to be honest,” he added matter-of-factly.
“I’m going to go and welcome her!” Cadenza excitedly stated before she rushed to the door as quickly as possible.
“Cadenza, it’s not prop… and now she’s gone!” Cavatina said with a sigh as her daughter had bolted out of the room in a pinkish blur. “Bastante, please make sure that she doesn’t go overboard with this guest of hers!” Cavatina demanded firmly. “We’ve already put up with those armored peasants from Equestria for the last three days because of her.”
“I’ll do my best, your Grace,” Bastante quietly replied with a bow before leaving the room, hoping to catch up the younger Princess.
“Mother, If I may…”
“Yes, Bolero, I know that the Golden Shield isn’t a riff-raff of peasants in armor but a powerful and noble order of Chivalry, thank you!” Cavatina interrupted the oldest of her children sharply. “Cadenza just had way too many liberties in Canterlot and needs to re-learn the limits imposed by her status!” She turned towards her husband. “Did you see how flirty she was with that young Armor-whatever Knight?” she asked with worry.
“Well, who do you think she’s taking that from, dear?” Fortissimo asked back with a cocked eyebrow.
“I beg you pardon?” Cavatina blinked in stupor before her eyebrow was raised higher than her husband’s.
“Why don’t we go welcome our sister’ savior, Brother?” Crescendo asked slowly as he discreetly stood up.
“What an excellent idea! Let’s go greet her along with Cadenza,” Bolero suggested awkwardly as he pushed his brother out of the room while their parents started to bicker.
“Well, I wasn’t the one visiting the barracks at night to turn a young recruit away from the righteous and virtuous path!” Prince Fortissimo stated high and mighty.
“It’s not like said young recruit put out much of resistance!” Cavatina reminded with a frown. “Besides, If I remember correctly, YOU were the one who asked me to come see you at night…”
In the meantime, Cadenza made her way to the Castle Grounds’ main court, where all the visitors had to pass to in order to enter, as quickly as possible and ignoring the calls from her father’s steward for her to slow down. As she reached the court, Cadenza immediately spotted the green-haired woman examining her nails in front of five guards who blocked her the gateway. Raising her dress a bit so she could run, Cadenza sprinted to the gateway, only to be noticed by Chrysalis. The greenette smiled softly and bowed at her, prompting the guards into looking behind themselves in confusion.
“Princess Cadenza?” one of them let out softly after the teenaged princess stopped her sprint in front of them.
“Hello, sirs,” Cadenza replied calmly. “Could you let my guest in, please?”
“She’s really your guest?” another guard asked in surprise, only to have the oldest of the groupe whacking the back of his head.
“What kind of an idiotic question is that? If Princess Cadenza says that she’s her guest, than she is the princess’ guest.” the older guard stated rolling his eyes as the group broke formation to let Chrysalis in. “Sorry for the inconvenience, Highness, my Lady,” he said to both women.
“No harm done, Sir,” Cadenza assured with a warm smile as Chrysalis walked past the line of guards. “I’m glad you found the time for a visit.”
“I did say that I would try, didn’t I, Princess Cadenza?” Chrysalis asked playfully with a brief curtsey, before being pulled in a hug by the teenager. “......Well, I guess that works too as a hello,” Chrysalis chuckled, returning the hug with a warm smile on her lips.
“Friends don’t curtsey to one another, nor do they call each other Princess or Miss,” Cadenza reminded with a sly grin as they broke their embrace.
“Still not that crazy about protocol and royal decency, huh?” Chrysalis asked, her smile wider and warmer than before.
“I’ll probably never be crazy about those to be honest,” Cadenza replied with a shrug before taking Chrysalis’ hand. “Now, come! I’ll introduce you to my family!” she excitedly shouted as she pulled the older woman towards the other side of the court.
While Chrysalis felt her shoulder getting a bit sore after the rough pull from the pink-dressed princess, the pair entered inside the castle just as an exhausted old man held himself up against a wall and called for Cadenza. Before he could say anything, Cadenza asked him to warn the kitchens for they would have a guest at dinner. He tried to argue with her, but Cadenza didn’t let him finish a single sentence as she kept giving further instructions after asking Chrysalis a few questions : What she was allergic to? What was her favorite meal? Vintage? Did she enjoy stronger alcoholic beverages?...
Chrysalis hadn’t planned on staying in the castle more than a hour, but after seeing Cadenza as excited and cute as a hyperactive puppy, she didn’t have it in her to cut her stay short. The expression of sighing fatality on Cadenza’s father’s steward as the Princess kept on and on was also too funny to pass.
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A few hours and a copious dinner later, Chrysalis was about to leave the Castle. Unlike what she had initially thought, it did go pretty well. Cadenza’s brothers and Father had been more than interested into learning about her job as a mercenary, much like Cadenza had been a couple of days ago. She had fancified the deal a lot of course, but that kept their attention glued onto her for the whole evening.
The only one who didn’t seem pleased by this was, quite expectedly, Cadenza’s mother. Seeing her husband and children fawning over another woman’s tale, a woman whose background she clearly didn’t approve of to make it better, could be perceived as a low blow to her pride. Chrysalis didn’t let it get to her though. The ruling princess didn’t approve of her, so be it. It wasn’t like Chrysalis would care, unless if it would somehow undermine her goals, something she doubted a lot.
When the children, namely Cadenza and Crescendo, had been sent to bed by their mother, Chrysalis turned the conversation back to the attack on Cadenza’s carriage, wanting to know why someone would want to target such a nice young lady. Bolero, who happened to be in charge of supervising his father’s Guard, and Fortissimo explained her that cries of revolt against the Mi Amores’ rule had been claimed since the railways problem with Equestria.
Many farmers, merchants, builders and many others had made a lot of investments in prevision to the new, faster and surer trade route. Investments that wouldn’t be compensated as the construction of the rails had been delayed and then cancelled thanks to a huge mistake on the Istalloñan’s delegation’s behalf : Upon arriving to Canterlot, many of its members had boasted that Princess Celestia was getting too old to understand the importance and the economics around something as modern as a network of railways, which would result in a very good deal for them.
It was safe to assume that the princess in question had somehow heard about the delegates’ condescending comments on her person when she announced that her sister would be in charges of the negotiations. True to the rumors about her, Princess Luna was far less gentle than her sister on the negotiation table. What was supposed to be a good deal on the construction of the railways turned out to be a total disaster when the Istalloñan nobility couldn’t afford the costs of such enterprise. With the nobility not able to back up the project, it was cancelled, which lead to the events like the attack on Cadenza’s carriage.
“You say not able, yet I’m getting a feeling that the rest of the nobility is more “not willing” to back up the project, your Grace,” Chrysalis commented casually over her glass of wine, her strong green eyes boring into the Prince’s tired, blue eyes.
“...How did you...” Cavatina began in confusion.
“It wouldn’t be the first time the riches wouldn’t empty their wallets for the greater good,” Chrysalis retorted calmly. “Though, I must confess that I’m shocked that you didn’t force the others to simply comply,”
“You say it like it’s just so easy to do,” Bolero remarked with a sigh. “The others great families are as influential as ours here.”
“You have much more chances with them than with that ridiculous idea of yours. Having your precious Cadenza study in Canterlot while trying to put you and Istalloña back in the Alicorn Princesses’ good graces,” Chrysalis explained calmly as she aimed a condescending glance at Fortissimo and Cavatina.
“What did you just say?!” Cavatina asked angrily while Fortissimo glared at their guest.
“Now, I admit that Cadenza is a really nice girl who can probably turn a few heads around,” Chrysalis stated with a shrug and small smile. “Still you really thought that the two most powerful beings of the last four thousand years would be swayed by a fifteen-year-old princess who’s a bit too trusty for her own sake.”
“How dare you come here and insult us and our daughter like that, you…” Cavatina growled furiously.
“I’m not insulting your daughter, Princess,” Chrysalis countered slowly. “If anything, I’m a bit worried about her… Someone would have it easy to abuse of her trust,” she added sincerely.
“Someone like you, her supposed rescuer?” Cavatina snarled as she slammed her hands on the table to stand up.
“Hmmm, I was thinking of two immortal women in Canterlot, but I suppose that someone like me could fit the bill as well,” Chrysalis commented in admittance, prompting shocked gasps from the three Mi Amores. “I happened to rescue her and she immediately invited me to spend the rest of trip in her carriage, as well as to spend an evening in your castle…. And now, here I stand, just me and you three… No guards to watch over you, no servants to call for help if anything were to happen... “ She let the three royals sink all what she had said in a heavy silence as she levitated a pitch of wine to refill her glass. “Too much trust seems to be a family tradition I guess.”
“....So, you’re here to kill us. Is that what you’re implying?” Fortissimo spoke softly for the first time since Chrysalis interrupted his explanation.
“No, I’m merely implying that you should be more careful,” Chrysalis assured slowly. “Even more so after the attack on your daughter… From what I gathered since my arrival here, the most violent attack on the Sun’s Road had barely involved three thugs who knocked an old merchant unconscious before stealing his wagon and horse… Kinda lucky for a group of thirty rebels to be there right on the day Cadenza was travelling back to Maredrid.”
“...What?” Bolero and Cavatina let out in shock while Fortissimo silently kept his eyes on the green-haired lady.
“Someone might have set all up,” Chrysalis stated calmly.
“Someone “might”?” Fortissimo asked firmly. “So, you’re not sure.”
“Indeed, I’m not,” Chrysalis admitted with a shake of her head. “It could be just coincidence for all I know.”
“And if it isn’t a coincidence?” Fortissimo asked in a slightly shaken tone. “What if it was a set up?”
“Then, I suggest you to stop trusting everyone that smiles at you and to reinforce the security around here,” Chrysalis said with vigor. “Maybe even finally show your strength as the ruling family of this decaying country.”
“And, you’ve got a plan for that too, I suppose?” Cavatina doubtfully asked.
“More of a vague concept than a plan to be honest,” Chrysalis admitted with a shrug.
“And what is that vague concept, if I may ask?” Fortissimo asked with narrowed eyes.
“You will but first, we need to check if the attack on Cadenza’s carriage was a set-up or a coincidence,” Chrysalis stated calmly. “I suppose you’ve kept the few prisoners the Golden Shield knights made.”
“Our Guard-Captain questioned them already,” Bolero remarked after his father had nodded to the green-haired guest. “According to him, they know nothing of real importance.”
“If he says so, then I suppose we’ll have to assume it was just a coincidence, and work on what really matters for this country,” Chrysalis said as she stood up from the table. “Tomorrow, though. It’s quite late already. My partners might start to worry if I don’t come back soon,” she added casually as she noticed how dark it was outside. “It has been a pleasure, your Highnesses.”
“Wait a second!” Cavatina called after Chrysalis bowed to them and walked to the door. “Why are you doing this? What’s in it for you?” she asked in suspicious confusion.
“Remember, Princess Cavatina, curiosity killed the cat,” Chrysalis let out with a dismissive wave, barely stopping her walk to the door. “Just pretend that your original plan of sending Cadenza to Canterlot worked….. Though, I guess we could say it sort of worked.”
“How so?”
“You sent Cadenza to get the support of powerful, influential and immortal women,” Chrysalis explained with a prideful chuckle as she pulled the dining room’s door open. “... Two out of three is still better than nothing, right?” she asked as she left the room, her chuckles resonating through the halls of Castle Mi Amore.
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The next day, elsewhere…
“I think you should stop pulling, Zero,” Clarion advised matter-of-factly to the frost-blue-haired man before him.
“How do you want them to talk if I stop pulling?” Zero asked in an even tone as tendrils of blue magic connected his fist to the screaming man’s fingernails. “Besides, what I’m doing is not lethal.”
“I’m not saying it is, but it might be a bit too painful for him to handle,” Clarion commented casually. “Also, the Swarmlady wanted you to make him talk, not holler,” he added, slightly wincing in discomfort at the sight of the prisoner’s nails being pulled further off his digits.
“I didn’t think he’d scream so loudly. I sure didn’t when it was done to me,” Zero reminded casually, showing off the nailless fingers of his left hand while keeping his attention on his victim.
“That is very true but you are a very special man,” Clarion stated before pointing at the screaming Istalloñan rebel. “He definitely isn’t. Thus, I think you should stop pulling so that he doesn’t pass out from the pain. Because if he does, we won’t get the answers to our Lady’s questions.”
“Hmm, I suppose you’re right,” Zero admitted as he dispelled his magical tendrils, causing the tortured man’s screams to reduce to mere whimpers and supplications. “So, would you consider telling us who told you and your bunch of peasants that Princess Cadenza was going to be on that road?”
“...... I told you already, no one did we just …”
“Camped out near the Sun road waiting for the princess’ carriage to pass,” Zero finished his sentence abruptly. “You’ve indeed told us that but we obviously aren’t buying it. So how about you tell the truth for a change?”
“...I swear it is the truth! Please! I swear it on my life!” the rebel pleaded softly while Zero sighed apathetically before re-conjuring his magical tendrils. “N-no! Please! I beg you! NO! NO!”
The screams resonated through the dark chamber as soon as the pulling started again. Clarion shook his head before stepping away from Zero, not without reminding once again to his comrade that their prisoner’s limit isn’t quite the same as his. Clarion glanced at the north wall of the room, waiting for a sign to come from it. When it didn’t show any, Clarion leaned against the south wall and watched Zero, one of Chrysalis’ Executioners and probably the best interrogator of the Changeling Hive, work his magic on the ill-fated rebel. On the other side of the illusionary wall that separated them from Zero’s questioning, Chrysalis observed her subordinate in silence as Vigil sighed in defeat.
“That’s the last of the prisoners from the attack, Chrysalis,” Vigil stated slowly. “I’m afraid those rebels really did act without the support of the other noble families.”
“Of course, they acted without support of the nobles, Vigil,” Chrysalis let out calmly. “If the nobles would have been behind this, the Hive would have been contacted about this months ago.”
“So why did you send a message for Zero to come?” Vigil asked curiously.
“Well, it was to be sure,” Chrysalis replied matter-of-factly. “I didn’t believe that the nobles would be involved, but if they were that would have been a nice opportunity.”
“How so?”
“Only the heads and heir of the noble houses of Istalloña sport golden signet rings on their hands,” Chrysalis explained. “Which means more than two-hundred of the wealthiest persons spread throughout the whole Principality. Investigating on them should be simpler if the Mi Amores start doubting their loyalty.”
“So what are you going to do now?” Vigil asked slowly.
“The only thing left to do, Vigil,” Chrysalis stated calmly as she walked through the wall separating them from the questioning.
As she stepped out of the wall, Zero and Clarion immediately looked at the Swarmlady, only to see a claw pop out of her wrist-band and pierce the poor man’s chest with it. As his breathing became more ragged and slowly came to a stop, Chrysalis retracted her claw back to its inoffensive shape of a wrist-band. Zero merely cocked an eyebrow at his dying target before shrugging non-committedly and bowing to his superior.
“I thank you for your efforts, Zero,” Chrysalis said sincerely.
“I’m sorry they didn’t result in the answers you were looking for, My Lady,” Zero replied evenly as he took a deeper and more apologetic bow.
“It’s okay. I have another assignment for you, and maybe it could bring such answers to me,” Chrysalis declared slowly.
“Your wishes are my commands,” Zero assured in his quiet, inexpressive voice.
“I need you to go back to the Hive, take as much supplies as you can for I have a possibly very long mission for you,” Chrysalis explained in a calm tone.
“Very well, I’ll be back as soon as possible,” Zero stated with a nod.
“And bring the others with you,” Chrysalis ordered calmly.
As soon as those words passed her lips, the two Executioners snapped their heads at her in shock, an expression of complete bewilderment on their faces, even on Zero’s usually cold and blank one. Chrysalis simply crossed her arms and cocked an eyebrow at the pair, as if daring them to argue with her.
“.....The others, my Lady?” Zero asked in a confused whisper.
"You're not the only Changeling under my command, Zero," Chrysalis reminded with a small smirk.
"...And by that, you mean..." Zero began softly.
“All of my Executioners, Soldiers and Drones,” Chrysalis finished for her blue-haired Executioner. “I want every single one of my three-hundreds-sixty-eight changelings to come to Maredrid.”
“......It shall be done, Swarmlady,” Zero replied with a low bow and promptly stood up to leave.
“....Lady Chrysalis, If I may interject,” Clarion called while softly raising his hand just as Zero left the room in hurry. “The other Swarmlords will never approve of a gathering this size outside of the Hive.”
“You think Vigil's going to oppose my decision?” Chrysalis asked with a cocked eyebrow, knowing that Clarion had no idea Vigil just stood behind the illusionary wall.
“Vigil Locust is my master, I will not pretend to voice his opinion on the matter,” Clarion declared solemnly. “But, I would advise you to think more on what you just ordered Zero to do… Too many wasps in a garden will make the gardener weary of the existence of a nest.”
“Your advice is legit and I appreciate you voicing it,” Chrysalis admitted with a nod. “I have thought this through for the last three days and I’m willing to risk the wrath of the other Swarmlords in order to reach for my goal,” Chrysalis explained slowly. “Does it quiet your concerns, Clarion?”
“Not really, my Lady,” Clarion admitted with a shake of his head. “But I’ll trust your judgement and do as I’m ordered.”
“Good! Now, I borrowed seven prisoners from Prince Fortissimo, it would be unprofessional to bring him back only six of them, would it not?” Chrysalis asked, nodding at the cadaver of the Istalloñan rebel.
“That it would,” Clarion replied with a nod before taking the rebel’s appearance in a flash of green light. “Luckily, we can provide for a spare.”
“.... It might also be useful to have an eye and an ear in the rebellion,” Chrysalis commented calmly. “Do you think it’s possible?”
“Considering how easy it was for us to borrow prisoners from the prince without his formal authorization, several times I might add, I think it’s more than feasible,” Clarion stated with a smirk.
“Good, now go,” Chrysalis ordered with a smile.
With a last bow to her, Clarion walked out of the interrogation room to gather all the other prisoners and bring them back to the Prince’s dungeons. As soon as he was out, Vigil stepped into the room, frowning a bit at Chrysalis.
“Clarion is really a good man,” Chrysalis said calmly. “No wonders you’ve picked him as your second.”
“One of the best,” Vigil commented slowly. “So that’s your plan? Infiltrate the whole nobility of an entire country in the hope of finding the Masked Man?”
“Do I really have an other option?” Chrysalis asked back with a sigh.
“....Other than forgetting about him? Not really,” Vigil admitted slowly. “Why infiltrate the rebellion though?”
“You really think I’d let those wannabe-child-kidnappers go without a hitch?” Chrysalis growled furiously. “After their attack on Cadenza?”
“Cadenza’s just a girl, Chrysal....”
“A girl I saved, Vigil!” Chrysalis snapped loudly. “It’s my responsibility to look out for her now!”
“No, it isn’t, Chrysalis,” Vigil replied slowly. “She’s with her family, surrounded by guards…”
“Her family of morons who shipped her off at the other side of the continent for nothing! Guards so incompetent that Clarion and Mendax barely had to change to get in and out with prisoners!” Chrysalis growled as dark green flames gathered around her fists.
“You’ve known her for what, four days, Chrysalis!” Vigil stated slowly. “You don’t have to care for her.”
“....Then, you didn’t have to care for me in Nadira,” Chrysalis retorted slowly, instantly silencing her former mentor. “You saw me during five, maybe ten minutes in Haakim’s chambers… And you still saved me from Farah and the other women of the Harem who wanted nothing but my death! You could have abandoned me right after we left Camelu, but you brought me to the Hive instead… You could have let me fail the Drone-test, but you brought me Vespid’s elixir…. You could have left me to my own plans for the Masked man, but you found Guy and Robert for me…. You didn’t have to care for me during all those years, but you still did.” Chrysalis spun around, facing Vigil with angry but teary eyes. “So don’t you DARE tell me that I don’t have to care for Cadenza.”
“Chrysalis…”
“When she’s with me, Cadenza’s a lot like how I was with you… Hung-up to every word I say, looking at me as if I could do anything, being awed at whatever I say,” Chrysalis whispered shakily. “It feels like … like I’m her older sister or cousin, I don’t know…It..It’s feels really nice and, I just want keep her and that feeling safe....I think.”
“I guess you do,” Vigil admitted with a sigh before resting his hand on Chrysalis’ shoulder. “But how far are you willing to go to keep that little princess safe?”
“As far as I need to go, I guess,” Chrysalis let out in response.
“Would you go as far as forgetting the Masked Man for her sake?” Vigil asked coldly with narrowed eyes.
“....” Chrysalis opened her mouth a couple of times to assure that she would, but each time her throat wouldn’t make a sound.
“I know that look,” Vigil stated slowly, pointing at her conflicting face. “You need some time to think about this.” He gave her shoulder a comforting squeeze. “I’ll head to the Hive as well, making sure the other Swarmlords are off your back. Should you need me, you know where to find me,” he added sincerely before turning around to face the door of the room they were in.
“Thank you, I’ll make it up to you,” Chrysalis whispered quietly.
“You’ll never have to,” Vigil assured before planting a light kiss on her forehead and leaving the room and Chrysalis alone with brightly red cheeks.