Seth stood before Queen Celeste, his antennae drooping in concern. "Your Majesty, the harvest for this winter season is coming along, but progress is slow. The food source is too far, and I fear our supplies won't last the entire season. If we send out five worker ants, at least one military ant must accompany them for protection. At that ratio, we could spare one hundred military ants."
"But with a group that large, we'd become a moving target for predators and rival colonies," he continued grimly. "Even then, the workers would be exhausted before they could make enough trips. The distance—two to three days from here—makes this an unsustainable plan. And if we deploy so many of our forces, we risk an attack while our defenses are weakened. If it weren't for those damn greedy grasshop—"
"Your Majesty!" Vladimir's voice cracked through the chamber as he staggered inside, his body battered, his breathing ragged.
Queen Celeste's sharp gaze locked onto him. "Vladimir? What happened to you? You look dreadful."
"I need to speak with you immediately, my Queen. This is urgent."
One of the ant servants whispered, "He looks like he just crawled out of a warzone."
"What happened, Vladimir? Who could have inflicted such wounds on you?"
Vladimir collapsed to his knees, panting. "The princess... she was taken last night."
A stunned silence swept through the chamber, as if the very air recoiled from his words.
"What did you just say?" Queen Celeste's voice trembled, her usual composure beginning to fracture.
"I was with her during her nightly stroll when we were ambushed. An ant warrior of terrifying skill overpowered me and took Princess Tanya. I am deeply sorry, Your Majesty. I have failed you."
The queen's face paled as dread seeped into her voice. "No... they took Tanya? This is most troubling."
Vladimir lowered his gaze, suppressing a sinister grin beneath his carefully strained expression. Yes, that's it. She's taking the bait. Just a little more...
"I suspect the one responsible is that slave who appeared in the throne room yesterday. He escaped his cell on his own. Isn't that concerning?"
"Bring the prisoner here at once. Use any means necessary to make him talk. Torture him if you must. I want to know where he has taken my daughter."
"Right away, my Queen," a warden saluted and rushed toward the prison.
"Don't bother," a firm voice called from the corner.
Queen Celeste turned sharply. "And why do you say that, Anastasia?"
"Because he's innocent. I watched over him all night. He never left his cell. He couldn't have been involved."
Vladimir's eye twitched. Damn this wretched ant. Always in my way...
The queen pressed a hand to her temple, exasperated. "Then we'll have to send search parties beyond the colony. Seth, dispatch ten squads of five."
"Yes, my Queen," Seth said, already moving.
That's right. Take the bait. It still works out in my favor...
"That won't be necessary," came a calm voice from across the hall.
All heads turned to see Ari stepping forward.
"How did you get out of your cell?" an ant servant blurted.
"I released him. Got a problem with that?" Anastasia shot back.
"Who gave you permission? You're just a lieutenant."
"Silence!" Queen Celeste's voice cut through the room like a blade. "You will not speak out of turn in my presence."
"Y-yes, Your Majesty. It won't happen again" said the ant servant.
"Go ahead, young ant. Share what you have discovered."
Vladimir barked, "You can't trust him! He could be leading us into a trap!"
"Enough, Vladimir. I want to hear him out. Speak ant."
Ari stepped forward, his expression unreadable, but his voice steady. Beneath the calm, his heart thundered, his pulse sharp against his temples. He forced the panic down. He had to stay composed. His life and the lives of the ants in this colony depended on it.
"Princess Tanya couldn't have been taken far. Sending search parties outside the colony would be a waste of time. Anastasia and I spoke with the patrols last night. They confirmed they saw the princess roaming the colony grounds until late."
The queen's eyes sharpened. "Go on."
"If she vanished sometime between last night and this morning, it would be impossible for her captors to have taken her beyond the colony. She must still be here, within our walls. Vladimir, you claim you were ambushed. Shouldn't the patrols have noticed? And why didn't you signal for help?"
"My only priority was to protect Tanya! There was no time! How can you accuse me? Look at my wounds!"
Ari's gaze hardened. "Your wounds are self-inflicted. If they'd been made by another insect, the angles would have been reversed. You wanted us to believe you struggled against an enemy, but you staged the entire thing. You kidnapped Princess Tanya."
Vladimir's composure cracked. His breath hitched, but he forced a laugh. "Who would harm themselves like this? You sound insane. And why would I kidnap the princess?"
"Two reasons. First, you were furious when the Queen ordered Anastasia to double patrols. That order disrupted your secret alliance with the neighboring colony—the one planning to raid us. By kidnapping Tanya, you forced the Queen to send out search parties, thinning the colony's defenses and making an invasion easier."
The queen's face darkened as Ari pressed on.
"Second, you planned to ransom the princess for food and resources. You wouldn't risk her life—you genuinely care about her safety. That's why you didn't take her far. You wanted her hidden, but unharmed."
Vladimir's hands trembled with fury. I should have killed him when I had the chance...
Queen Celeste rose from her throne, her voice cold as ice. "All of this fits together. The strange occurrences, your suspicious wounds, and the timing of your accusations. Vladimir, answer me truthfully: did you kidnap my daughter?"
"No, Your Majesty! I would never betray you! I—"
"Seize him."
Military ants swarmed, pinning Vladimir to the ground.
"I know you are far stronger than these guards, Vladimir. But in recognition of your many years of loyal service to me, I trust you will not resist their restraint."
"I will personally escort him to the cells," Seth said. "Just in case he tries anything."
"Do so."
Vladimir thrashed wildly as they dragged him away. "Why do you not believe me, my Queen? Can't you see? He's manipulating you! He'll destroy us all! You're making a mistake! I only ever wanted to protect Tanya! Please—listen to me!"
But the queen remained silent, her gaze unreadable as Vladimir's screams echoed down the halls.
When the room finally settled, she spoke, her voice low but steady. "Thank you, you may have saved us all. But do not think I have forgotten your past, if it's true that there is an invasion it will prove whether your a spy or not ."
"Understood, Your Majesty."
Her eyes flicked to Anastasia. "And you... We will discuss your insubordination later."
Anastasia smirked, unfazed. "If it means saving the colony, then I look forward to it."
The queen watched her for a moment longer, then simply turned away, her mind already racing with new strategies. The fragile threads holding the colony together had not snapped—not yet. But war was coming, and this was only the beginning.