Antares woke up slowly.
He sat up on the wide straw bed, muscles protesting with a deep, satisfying soreness he had never felt in either of his lives. His lower back ached the most — a pleasant, heavy burn that brought a lazy smile to his lips.
That was the Best night of my life, he thought, running a hand through his long, messy black hair. By far.
Memories flooded back in vivid detail: Zarah's confession, the way her voice trembled when she said his name without the title, the heat of her body against his, the way she had given herself to him completely. The passion, the tenderness, the raw hunger they had shared for hours in the steamy bath. He could still taste her on his lips, still feel the ghost of her nails on his shoulders.
He glanced around the room. The furs that served as sheets were still damp in places, evidence of their long night. But Zarah herself was gone. The chamber felt strangely empty without her.
A flicker of worry crossed his mind. She didn't… regret it, did she? The old scar from his ex-girlfriend's betrayal tried to rear its head, but he pushed it down. Zarah wasn't like that. She had stayed by his side for years, even when he was half-dead from mana pollution. Still, the doubt lingered just enough to make him frown.
He stood up, intending to clean the mess himself, and immediately felt the world tilt. His legs wobbled. A wave of dizziness hit him hard enough that he had to grab the edge of the wardrobe to steady himself.
"Damn…" he muttered, rubbing his temples as he sat back down on the edge of the bed. "Guess that pervert friend of mine was right after all. Next time I'll drink more water."
He chuckled at the memory of his old online buddy who always preached hydration "in case you ever get the chance to dip your biscuit." The irony wasn't lost on him now.
[Ding… Congratulations, Host! You have completed one of the Ant God's Hidden Missions.]
A red screen flashed in front of his eyes, followed by a playful message in bold crimson letters.
[Special Message from Lord Antarion:]"Congratulations on losing your innocence, boy! It had a good run. Hahahahahaha!To celebrate your official transformation into a man, I've prepared some gifts for you."
Antares stared at the message, torn between laughing and groaning. "Was that perverted ant watching the whole time…?" he muttered under his breath. "Gross. Please tell me he wasn't peeking like some weird teenager."
[Calculating reward…]
[Ding… Would you like to see your reward, Host?]
"Yes," Antares said immediately.
[Here are your rewards.]
You have gained full access to the first five levels of the Ant King's Tower and the underground Brood Chamber. As an additional reward, a Queen Candidate will soon appear within your tribe.
"No Essence Points?" Antares raised an eyebrow. "That was what I was really looking forward to, but… this isn't bad. System, can you explain what the—"
A soft knock at the door interrupted him before he could finish.
Five maids entered one by one, each carrying trays, fresh clothes, towels, and various grooming items. They moved with quiet efficiency, bowing deeply the moment they saw him.
Zarah stood at the doorway, supervising from a distance. Her usual composed expression was gone — replaced by a visible flush on her cheeks and a nervous avoidance of eye contact. She kept her gaze fixed on the floor, clearly still embarrassed from the previous night.
Antares noticed immediately. He raised a hand. "Stop. Put everything down and leave us."
The maids obeyed instantly, placing the trays on the bed and exiting without a word. Zarah tried to slip out with them.
"Zarah."
She froze mid-step, a visible shiver running down her spine.
"Close the door and come here."
His voice was calm but carried the full weight of royal authority. Zarah hesitated for a heartbeat, heart pounding so hard she could hear it in her ears, then slowly closed the heavy door behind her.
Antares crossed the room in silence and wrapped his arms around her from behind, pulling her gently against his chest. He could feel her trembling.
"Are you alright?" he whispered into her ear, voice soft and worried. "I'm sorry if I pushed myself on you yesterday. When I woke up and you weren't here… I got worried."
Zarah's breath hitched. She shook her head quickly. "I… I had to check on the castle, my lor—"
"Call me by my name, Zarah," he interrupted gently, a hint of seductive warmth in his tone. "We don't need those formalities between us anymore."
She turned in his arms, eyes wide and shining. Antares didn't wait for her answer. He scooped her up in a princess carry and brought her back to the bed, sitting down with her on his lap.
Zarah's face burned crimson when she saw the still-damp furs. She buried her face in his chest, voice barely audible. "I'll… clean that."
Antares chuckled, the sound low and warm. "Last night was the best of my life," he said honestly, stroking her dark hair. "Don't be embarrassed. You were incredible."
He pulled the breakfast tray closer. The maids had brought roasted meat, fresh celcane stalks, boiled greens, and a large jug of the sweet purple juice. Antares tore off a piece of meat, dipped it in the thick red sauce, and held it to her lips.
"Eat. You need to regain your strength."
Zarah opened her mouth obediently, cheeks still flushed, and accepted the bite. Antares ate a piece himself, then fed her another, alternating until the entire tray was empty. The simple, intimate act felt strangely domestic and right.
"How do you feel now?" he asked, voice full of genuine care.
"Much better… thank you," she whispered, finally relaxing into his lap. A shy smile played on her lips as she leaned against him.
A firm knock sounded at the door.
Zarah tensed. "My lord, I should go. It wouldn't be right if people saw us like this."
Antares smirked. "I told you to call me by my name. And we're not doing anything wrong, are we?" He kissed her forehead. "Don't stress. I want everyone to know you're mine… and I'm yours. Get used to it."
Her heart fluttered, but the worry in her eyes softened. "Come in," Antares called.
Levi and Eli entered, immediately kneeling on one knee with heads bowed.
"We greet His Majesty… and Lady Zarah," they said in perfect unison. A tiny, mischievous smile tugged at the corners of their mouths despite their best efforts to stay serious.
Antares was impressed by how quickly they read the room. Little rascals.
"Report," he ordered, still gently stroking Zarah's hair.
Eli spoke first, as usual. "My lord, several clans have sent envoys requesting an audience with you. They wish to discuss the current issues facing the tribe and a path forward."
The Scarlet Ant Tribe was divided into several clans, each responsible for specific duties — agriculture, defense, crafting, foraging, and more.
Antares nodded. "Tell the envoys this: I will receive all clan leaders tomorrow. It is a general summons issued by me, Antares Antis, current ruler of the Scarlet Ant Tribe. Absence without a valid reason will not be tolerated."
"Your orders will be relayed exactly as stated, my lord," Eli answered.
"Anything else?"
"Lord Ian sent word that the celcane harvest will be plentiful this season. Nothing else of note occurred."
Antares smiled faintly. Lord Ian was one of the few people he could truly rely on — a middle-aged man who had served as his personal butler since birth, alongside Zarah. He currently oversaw the tribe's agricultural sector, a vast underground plantation of celcane. The plant was a treasure of the tribe: tall, fibrous stalks that looked like a cross between sugarcane and celery, with a sweet, juicy interior and small bushy leaves on top. It could be eaten raw, stored for long periods, and used in countless dishes. Its nutritional value made it vital for surviving harsh winters.
"Hmm, that's good news. Excuse Lord Ian from tomorrow's meeting — he's busy with the harvest."
"Yes, Your Highness."
The twins rose and left with quiet efficiency.
As soon as the door closed, Zarah murmured, "I think I should be going too…"
"Are you tired of me already?" Antares asked in an exaggeratedly sad voice.
"No! Not at all!" she replied quickly, taking his joke seriously. "I just have my duties as head maid. Tomorrow is the clan meeting — I need to make sure everything is perfect."
Antares laughed softly and set her down on her feet. "I was only teasing. Go do your job. Just come back to me tonight."
He kissed her forehead again. Zarah blushed deeply, then practically fled the room, cheeks burning.
Antares watched her go, a fond smile on his face. She really is the embodiment of sweet but deadly.
He poured himself a full cup of the sweet purple juice from the jug the maids had left and drank it in one go, then refilled and drained the entire jug. "I might get addicted to this," he muttered.
He stripped the damp furs from the bed, folded them neatly in the corner, and headed to the bathroom for a long, luxurious shower. The bathroom was surprisingly well-stocked with fragrant oils, creams, and soaps that clearly weren't made by the tribe. He took his time, enjoying the hot water and the soothing scents.
After drying off, he changed into the new clothes the maids had brought: comfortable leather trousers that fit perfectly, a loose white long-sleeved shirt, and a thick fur coat to ward off the lingering underground chill. Even thousands of meters below the surface, the inner nest still felt the bite of winter, though nowhere near as deadly as the surface.
Antares stood in front of the full-length mirror, drying his long black hair. He still wasn't used to the wild mane, but he liked it. The blood-red eyes staring back at him looked sharper, more alive than ever.
He sat back down on the freshly made bed, took a deep breath, and spoke aloud.
"System, give me information about the rewards I received."
[Surely, Host…]