Under the heiress facade

Chapter 922: The Fine Line Between Cute & Terrifying

Jake knew that the logic of ectognamorphs was something he truly couldn’t understand. Vesperia also looked at him as if what she had said was only natural… which in her world it was. He had already known that the Endless Empire was the most hierarchical organization in the entire multiverse, putting even demons to shame, but still.

Throughout the multiverse, power was the ultimate decider of status. Jake was the Chosen of the Malefic Viper, yes, but he also knew that not a single god in existence viewed themselves as beneath him. Them being nice to him was either a display of respect toward the Malefic Viper, or because they found him interesting for his future potential. None of them would ever agree to be his subordinate and swear loyalty to Jake as a person, as he was ultimately just a mortal who was beneath their statute.

For Vesperia, it was different.reserved.

During the following conversation, where Jake asked some more things about how sure she was things would work out fine if she approached a bunch of other Hive Queens on Earth, and Vesperia explained a bit about her time at the Endless Empire,

She told him that during her time there, many variants of the Vespernat Lineage had made their way back to the Endless Empire. They had been independent factions before, operating by themselves with only a friendly relationship with the Empire, but when they heard – and felt – that a new Vespernat True Royal had appeared and resided at the Endless Empire Heartlands, they made their way there.

This included Hive Queen gods. Even a few at or around the realm of Godqueen – powerful beings with much renown in the multiverse in their own right – hurried there. Not just to see Vesperia but to recognize her and swear their loyalty without even knowing anything about her. It was also merely an implicit understanding that they were now part of the Endless Empire, ruled by Vesperia and Vesperia alone.

Despite how much weaker she was, they recognized her as their unquestionable leader. It was simply blind, biological devotion and loyalty, with no thought for rhyme, reason, or logic. They were just compelled by their nature. And while Jake had a good grasp of following his instincts… he did find the entire concept tough to fully grasp.

“I… to clarify, if you told a bunch of gods from your Lineage to go kill someone…?” Jake asked, just to clarify, after Vesperia was done with her explanation.

“Hm, I reckon they would ask the reason and offer me advice if it’s a good idea or not to carry out the order,” Vesperia answered without much thought. “Of course, that assumes it’s someone that’s controversial to kill.”

“And if you insisted, no matter the person?” Jake continued pressing.

“They’d naturally carry out their duty.”

“What if the other True Royals of the Endless Empire disagree?” Jake tried again.

“In that case, I would certainly consider the matter carefully,” Vesperia said, thinking a bit more about that one. “But I find the probability of that happening low. My desire to want someone dead badly enough to even disagree with the other Hive Queens beneath me will more likely than not be a desire born of the greater good of the Endless Empire, and my sisters would never disagree with something like that. However, let’s say that I want to do something everyone disagrees with. Just know that, no matter what, they do not have the authority or right to command me, even if I respect their opinions immensely.”

“What if Jake asks you to do something and the other True Royals oppose?” Sandy decided to also ask a hypothetical that Jake wasn’t sure he really wanted the answer to.

“That… would be problematic,” Vesperia answered with a frown. “I guess at that point, I would have to understand both sides and the essence of the disagreement and then simply decide for myself what I believe is best.”

Alright, that was a very balanced and reasonable response.

“To clarify, I am not going to be causing trouble,” Jake said. At least he wouldn’t cause any problems on purpose.

“Sure, sure, but what if the Endless Empires decide to make you an enemy for some reason?” Sandy continued to try pushing their hypothetical scenario.

simply shook her head. “The Endless Empire does not declare enemies that easily, and if only one of

it, no reason to fret over something that won’t

but I’m going to go and say hi to that scientist guy again

worm off as Sandy took to the air and headed toward Arnold to do who-knows-what, leaving

Empire and even consulted my sisters, and there were no traces of knowledge about their race anywhere. Then again, neither

doesn’t seem to know much, if anything,” Jake shrugged. “Not that it matters, does it? I doubt they need much help to progress or to be told some historical facts about what’s best to do. They just need to follow

“Perhaps you’re right. Simply following my instincts without considerable forethought just seems foreign, yet also familiar. As if it clashes with my inherited

you aren’t just a normal True Royal, if

I am also one of Sire’s creations,” she nodded

just nodded nevertheless as he cracked a

seen what she was capable of – and what kind of forces she commanded - he was already looking forward to what kind of chaos Vesperia could

wanna help with the Prima Guardian defense, it would be best to keep her in the

know

best course of action,” Vesperia agreed with a

in the loop, I’m gonna get quite the scolding later. I can already imagine Miranda sending some poor party into a hive, only to find it already

sure what this Miranda woman is to you. Is she not serving you?” Vesperia asked

trust her, and she’s good at her job. But if she wishes to one day leave, I won’t do anything about it either. The same is true if she one day falls too far behind or fails to live up to expectations, at which point she will be fired. I don’t hope that happens, but

have such odd relationships,”

weird as fuck relationships, even if they

pond as he continued to pat Vespy. It didn’t take long before Jake detected the resident witch, who’d quickly made her way over. Jake couldn’t blame her

hoped Miranda and Vesperia could get along. If not, things would

--

of the factions who would soon arrive on the planet. Making sure that fights wouldn’t break out was a damn struggle, and there was also still all of the usual existing problems. Earth

word that Sandy had returned to Earth. That in itself was fine, as the giant space worm didn’t really

the passenger Sandy brought along wasn’t someone Miranda could take lightly. Not in the slightest. True Royal was truly

the power a True Royal wielded was of an entirely different nature to people who simply had a high status. Jake was the Chosen of the Malefic Viper, yes, but he was still “only” a C-grade

on her own, she was that peak figure who could command even gods to do her bidding. The ectognamorphs were the only race Miranda was aware of, where the deciding factor in the hierarchy wasn’t power but the status of one’s caste. What’s more, this power in the hierarchy wasn’t just some agreed-upon social construct but a tangible biological component of their races. It was simply the nature of every single ectognamorph to

of those True Royals was on Earth. A thought that was far from comforting. It wasn’t just that she was a powerful being in her own right, but that Miranda was legitimately afraid of

the bright side, she could also prove very useful, Miranda tried to tell herself, as she was finally contacted by Jake to go meet this True Royal. It was honestly a huge relief he contacted her, as she had honestly put it down to a fifty-fifty if Jake would keep her in the loop about what he

of the True Royal there, and she made sure to calm herself down fully before having her meeting with a being that truly deserved to

this would effectively be their first real meeting, and she wanted to make a good impression. It was also undoubtful that this kind of encounter was impactful on

the valley, she turned a corner before finally laying her eyes on Jake and the True Royal sitting on a bench in front of the small

she saw was a True Royal, capable of commanding armies that could destroy galaxies with ease, sitting with eyes closed as Jake ruffled her hair. What’s more, she didn’t lean away or object but leaned

cute… Miranda thought before catching herself and clearing her