The hivemind is conquering for me? Chapter 926: "Traitor!"

"So one last time, Gabrielle is fine?" I said with a smile upon hearing the good news.

Hailey smiled and nodded her head. "Yes, she had been awake for a while. She will be at the event tomorrow. Hugo just wants to keep her under observation till then just to be 100% sure."

"And remind me who this Hugo is."

"Hugo Barros, you met him at Elaine’s party."

"Oh! The tall guy! Yeah, I remember him. Sorry, I have met so many people this year. Someone was bound to slip from my... Good. Well I am looking forward to seeing her and apologising for her being in that state to begin with."

"Apollo... It wasn’t your fault." Nerissa suddenly spoke from behind us. I just shook my head.

"Maybe not. But I feel protective of that woman. If she accepts my apology, I can let go of the guilt. My fault or not."

Nerissa and Hailey gave each other a knowing look before continuing their stroll.

Walking through the palace felt weird. There was no other word to describe it. I just felt out of place. I wasn’t sure if it was because of all the eyes that were on me from the shadows and right in the open or that I consider ’my’ palace to be deep underground with a sexy giant bug-wife waiting for me.

Thinking about Jewel suddenly made me very upset. After the war I had planned on picking up Orchid and heading back to Jewel for some well needed lovin’ before making our way to that other galaxy for the biominerals needed for my bones.

Now I have to wait even longer... ’I just wish there was a way I could travel the universe and still make it back to her in time for cuddles...’

*Thud Thud*

"Apollo? Are you alright?" Hailey asked, holding onto my arm as I came to a halt.

"Yeah. Sorry, I think my brain just short circuited for a moment. I’m good."

Resuming our stroll, nothing else occurred until it was time for nom noms.

My stomach was growling. The drink I had last night really pushed the limits of my poison resistance and as a result my organs had taken quite a beating. As a result I wanted more food to refuel the machine.

Hailey escorted me through the palace with triviality, the twists and turns had made me lost long ago. Eventually we arrived outside a large door where a familiar figure was awaiting us.

A woman wearing a simple white stola and sandals. She had long flowing brown hair, piercing light brown eyes and a scar that cascaded down from her left cheek into her neck.

One could mistake her for a servant with her basic clothing, but the crown atop her head showed she was something more.

As we approached, Queen Elaine had her hands on her hips, gazing directly at me. I felt a bit nervous for some unexplainable reason. Once we were close enough to speak, she turned her attention away from me and smiled at Hailey.

"Hailey. I am glad to see you are well. I apologise for your fathers threats, I am sure Sentinel Apollo here didn’t kidnap you. Though who knows what to believe when someone so young dabbles in illegal activities such as Genetic enhancement before being granted dispensation?"

Elaine then turned back to me, looked me up and down and spoke. "You are taller than our last interaction, Apollo. Is this a result of your science or other factors?"

"Elaine, back off." Hailey warned in a low tone, prompting Elaine to look back at her daughter in law innocently.

"Oh! Forgive me. I just haven’t seen the Sentinel since you practically blackmailed me and your father into giving him his dispensation for his science. Seeing him has brought up feelings of slight grievance, as aside from the incident in the courtyard in our last meeting, I had a very positive view of an upstanding member of Spartari youth. Only for it to be tainted."

She then turned back to me with those piercing eyes. I felt naked, and not in the comfortable way I usually felt.

"I-" I began to speak, but Elaine’s tone then shifted as she continued.

"That being said, you clearly are the man of character I assumed you to be. Considering not only did the Praetorian behind you blackmail my husband into giving you a position of a Sentinel. Something I doubt any other Praetorian would do for anyone else in the empire, but the way Sigismund has been ranting and raving about you being a war hero. I can forgive the transgressions of your past, especially considering that potent combat stim you have created with your science. I’ve even tried it myself. Very interesting stuff."

"Wait, Ness Blackmailed-" I tried speaking again, but Elaine cut me off again.

"Praetorians, I am afraid this is as far as I would like you to come. This meal is family only, I have my children inside. I don’t want your armoured forms lurking behind them."

Nerissa was about to rebuttal. Wanting to see the shenanigans, but Rhapso replied first. "No problem, your grace. Nerissa, lets go and find all the things needed for the rites. The sooner I get it done, the better."

Rhapso then gave me a lingering glance for a moment before turning to leave, alongside a reluctant Nerissa.

I watched the Nymphs walk away for a few moments before turning round to Elaine shaking her head at me. I recalled the last time I was here, the way she looked at me back then also made me feel strange. I had no idea what it was.

"Is something wrong Elaine?" I asked.

"Queen Elaine Apollo... I know you are from the fringes and you have gotten used to calling Sigismund without a title, but do try and remember some decorum." She said, smiling genuinely for the first time.

"Oh, forgive me, your grace." I said genuinely, prompting her to nod.

"Better. And yes, there is something wrong. Apollo, you are about to have a meal with two kings, A queen and my children. Princes and princesses. Your girlfriend is also a Princess, even if at times she doesn’t like being one. The way you are dressed... There is no way to sugar-coat it, you look like crap."

"Oh..." I said looking down. She had a point. My clothes were pretty casual. I had left my suits at the College after all.

"Don’t worry, come with me quickly, we have some Toga’s in your size. Backups in the event King Sigismund rages out in the presence of other nobles and rips the clothes he has on."

I nodded my head. "That is very reasonable, thank you. And sorry, I should have thought about my appearance before coming, we kind of rushed out because-"

"-My husband threatened to press kidnapping charges on you, yes... Sorry about that. One moment."

Elaine then turned around and opened the door ajar into the room behind her. "Torr, Eleni." She called out and a few moments later two women, one green haired, one brown haired wearing similar, but lesser quality, clothing as Elaine stepped through the door, their eyes glued to Elaine.

"The two of you escort Sentinel Lambdason here to where we keep the Sigismund disaster clothing and get him changed into something that fits him."

The two women then turned in my direction, the one with the brown hair gasped upon seeing me. I didn’t blame her, I surprised Phalanx as I passed, never mind the queen’s handmaidens. Though I frowned slightly, the woman looked a little familiar.

The green haired one then raised her hand to the side and spoke. "Sentinel, if you would please follow us?"

I turned to Hailey and smiled. "See you here in a few minutes then?"

"Mmh~ Don’t take too long." She replied before glaring at the two handmaidens in warning.

I then turned back to the Handmaidens and gestured. "Lead the way."

...

Elaine and Hailey watched as Apollo was escorted away. Hailey turned to Elaine, she wanted to berate her for attacking Apollo with all that stuff, but before she could, Elaine spoke.

"Why don’t you go in, dear. Your father isn’t in there just yet, just your siblings and Sigismund. I have to go take care of something real quick.

Hailey paused a moment, her eyes narrowing before replying. "Fine, but later we are having words. My boyfriend has done nothing wrong, he didn’t deserve that act from you."

"What act? I was letting my thoughts out for all to hear. But fine. We can discuss it later, for now though. Say hello to your siblings. Please. It would mean a lot to me."

Hailey rolled her eyes. "Fine."

She then entered the dining room and closed the door behind her.

As she passed through the door and the sound dampening barrier chaos was unfolding.

Five little creatures ranging from two to thirteen had King Sigismund on the floor and were dog pilling him. For a moment she and Sigismund made eye contact. Sigismund was giving her a pleading look. He couldn’t move. With his strength he couldn’t risk it around the children.

Hailey maintained the gaze for a few moments before looking away and swiftly rushing behind a pillar to hide her presence before the children spotted her.

Sigismund saw this, his eyes went wide with betrayal and yelled,

"TRAITOR!"