EROS [Zerg]

Eros couldn't see anything behind him, but he vaguely remembered that his name was given to him by the insects in the auction house based on the brand on his body.

"Yes, that's my name."

Cardian nodded, walked over, and, while examining the mark on Eros's shoulder, said in a low voice, "I feel like the tattoo on your back looks familiar, um... I can't remember."

Eros finished dressing, her platinum blonde curls cascading over her dark green tuxedo, like sunlight spilling onto a green lawn, exuding both holiness and a seductive allure.

Cardian looked Eros up and down in his formal attire, his eyes shining: "...surprisingly...adorable."

"Is 'cute' a word used to describe female insects?" Eros turned and tilted his head to look at Cardian.

"Alright, I'm not kidding anymore." Kadian brushed a strand of curl behind Eros's ear and twirled it in his claws, whispering, "I'm not kidding, you'll definitely attract the attention of a whole bunch of male insects that day."

Eros glanced at the smile on Cardian's face: "I just want to get through this banquet peacefully."

"Not feeling stage fright in unfamiliar places is the best I can hope for myself."

“You get nervous around male insects? That’s not like you.” Kadian picked up the little Ai who was crawling on the ground. “That little male has been very affectionate towards you, which is quite rare. You must be very good at getting along with male insects.”

“Thank you, Anne.” Eros nodded and smiled in gratitude. Although he didn’t understand why the female insects praised the male insects so highly, he was still grateful for Cardian’s generous help from the bottom of his heart.

“Don’t stand on ceremony with me.” Cardian patted Eros on the shoulder. “There are many more things I need to tell you, but this welcome banquet is hosted by the Eastland family. Every family has some open ‘secrets,’ so be extra careful when you attend the banquet, or you might offend an entire family.”

"The Eastland family's banquet is held in the Evita Gardens, which is very spacious and beautiful, with maze-like pine walls. If you don't want to talk to insects, you can't go wrong there."

"But once you're outside the pine wall, don't go any further. The female father's laboratory is there, and there are guards at the entrance. Trespassing will anger him. I've never been inside."

Eros agreed, and just then there was a knock on Kadian's door. The knocking stopped, and the insect servant standing outside the door told Eros that Queen Kowei had invited him to stay there that night and that a guest room had been prepared for him.

"Living here?" Eros asked in surprise.

The insect servant replied, "Yes, Queen Kowei means that you will accompany him to visit the male insect tomorrow. For convenience, we have arranged for you to stay here tonight."

“Let’s go take a look.” Cardian had the insect servant lead the way to accompany Eros to see the room.

"This is……"

The three insects arrived outside the room that had been prepared for Eros. Cardian frowned as he looked at the door and said to the insect servant who had led the way, "Did you get the room wrong? How could you clean this room?!"

The insect servant glanced at the room number and, after confirming there was no mistake, replied, "Queen Kadian, Queen Kowei specifically instructed us to prepare this room for Lord Eros. The key was also given to us by Queen Kowei, and there is absolutely no mistake."

"Is there something wrong with this room?" Eros asked Cardian, puzzled.

“This is Lieutenant General Evanson’s room in the family home. Although he didn’t stay here often, it has been locked since his death. The female father doesn’t allow any insects to enter. Why would they have it specially cleaned out for you to stay in today?” Kadian preferred to believe that Kove had the wrong key rather than that the female father had specifically arranged for Eros to stay in this room. The Eastland mansion has at least a hundred guest rooms. Why would they specifically let Eros stay in Evanson’s room?

Is it simply because the two insects look alike?

"I asked them to prepare it."

Just as Kadian was about to verify with Kove again, Kove walked in from outside. Hearing the noise from upstairs, he called out to the female insects upstairs from the living room, then slowly walked up the stairs:

“Evanson has only stayed in this room for one day in the past twenty years, so it can hardly be considered his room anymore. Moreover, he has severed ties with the Eastland family and has now gone to see the Insect God. It doesn’t make sense for this family to keep his room.”

“Perfect timing, Eros has also become a female insect of the Eastlan family, so there’s no problem with him living here.”

Kowe's voice was eerily calm, as if it were a trivial matter like casually cleaning up a piece of waste paper.

“Kardian, the Eastlan family does not tolerate betrayal. Even if Yajon were to do the same thing as his brother one day, we would deal with him. As his empress, you should always care about him,” Kove instructed Cardian, but his eyes were fixed on Eros.

Eros was startled, suddenly remembering that the symbol of the Eastlan family had now been added to the end of his name. Although he didn't feel any sense of belonging to this family, he could clearly sense that what Kove had just said was not only an instruction to Kadian, but also a warning to himself.

Today he can let himself stay in Evanson's room, but if he develops any rebellious thoughts, tomorrow he can kick him out and deal with him ruthlessly.

The thought of this made Eros's mind uneasy, and even after Kove left and Cardian said goodbye, Eros remained anxious.

As Eros entered the room, he looked at the clean and simple walls and the bed. There was a window on the wall to the right of the bed, and light shone in through the window slats, making the whole room look very clean and bright.

There were also several books on the bookshelf whose titles sounded profound.

Eros placed his claws on the outermost book on the bookshelf, unable to describe his current feelings.

He wanted to peek into the interests, thoughts, or other aspects of Evanson, who seemed like a legend to him, from the books on the bookshelf, but he also felt ashamed of such thoughts.

A secret curiosity and a sense of shame made his claws involuntarily curl up. Eros attributed this reaction to his competitive nature; he was more curious than any other insect about what kind of insect Evanson was.

I wonder how much charm this female insect, who is constantly compared to herself, possesses that makes both those who love and hate her so unforgettable. That love and hate are vividly felt in Eros, the female insect who is used as a substitute.

Eros wanted to surpass Evanson, outdo him, and make those loves and hates truly his own.

It does not exist as a substitute, but as a transcendent being.