Chapter 21: The Red-Haired Big Sister Seems to Want It Too…

“Good morning, Your Majesty.”

“Good morning… Yiwen…”

Ella rubbed her eyes. 

When she stepped out of Dieyi’s room, the first thing she saw was Yiwen leaning against the corridor wall.

The red-haired big sister was wearing a deep red uniform skirt today. 

A black bow tie was fastened at the collar, and the hem stopped three fingers above her knees, revealing long legs wrapped in red stockings.

On her feet were a pair of black short boots. 

The heels weren’t high, but they still clicked crisply against the corridor floor.

As expected, the only person on the entire ship who would greet her with a good morning was the teacher-like Yiwen.

Dieyi was still asleep in bed, and Zhuluo probably wouldn’t greet anyone on her own initiative.

Only Yiwen would always appear at the right time, in the right place, and say the right things in the right tone.

Ella looked at the red-haired big sister who stood a full half-head taller than her. 

In her mind appeared the image of a tiny mosquito no bigger than her palm—wings still soft, proboscis still curved—perched on her finger with its antennae gently twitching.

It was hard to imagine that she had once been such a small insect.

Come to think of it, what kind of mood was I in back then when I turned a mosquito into one of my companions…

“I’d like to ask one question first.”

Yiwen shifted her crossed legs, the tip of her boot lightly tapping the floor. Her gaze was slightly probing.

“Have you remembered?”

Ella paused for a moment, then nodded.

“Yeah, I remember now.”

She roughly understood what Yiwen was referring to—those scenes of playing Fight the Landlord with insects on the small sampan, the scenes of biting rocks, the scenes of squatting down and poking the little bugs with a finger. 

They weren’t illusions or tampered memories. They were real fragments of her own past.

“So…” The corners of Yiwen’s mouth curved slightly.

“Did I really eat rocks back then?”

Ella’s face grew warm.

“You mean during that card game?” Yiwen tilted her head.

“Yes. Zhuluo completely crushed you. You ate quite a few rocks.”

“Alright…” Ella muttered.

“Good thing my digestive system is much stronger now than when I was human.”

She paused, then added, “Did those rocks taste good?”

“You said they tasted really good at the time.”

“That was just me being stubborn.”

“We know,” Yiwen’s smile deepened.

“So we played several more rounds with you.”

Ella fell silent. In her mind appeared the image of a man squatting on a sampan, chewing on rocks, with three small insects crouched in front of him. Sunlight sparkled on the sea surface.

“My actual question hasn’t been asked yet.”

Yiwen’s voice pulled her back from her memories.

“Did Dieyi make a move on you last night?”

Ella’s body stiffened.

“Ah? This… yes…”

She lowered her head. 

Silver hair fell beside her face, hiding her gradually reddening cheeks. 

Her fingers unconsciously gripped the hem of her pajama top, knuckles turning white.

“Tch…”

Yiwen clicked her tongue, revealing an expression that caught Ella somewhat off guard.

It wasn’t anger or blame, but something more subtle and sour—jealousy? 

And the dissatisfaction of having someone else pick the peach first.

Her brows furrowed slightly, the corners of her mouth turning down for a brief moment before returning to calm.

It seemed the relationship between Yiwen and Dieyi wasn’t very good.

“Never mind. She’s ruthless. She got the first bite.”

Yiwen composed herself, resting her right cheek on her hand as she gazed at Ella.

That look gave Ella a slight chill.

No way… This person couldn’t possibly want to…

Fuck me too…

She looks so mature and elegant, the classic big-sister type. She probably wouldn’t…

“Do you remember much about the rules of this world?”

Yiwen’s voice pulled her thoughts back, returning to that gentle, scholarly tone.

“Uh…” Ella blinked.

“There’s basically no land. Everyone can only live on ships. There are monsters in the sea, even ancient gods that are more terrifying than monsters.”

“You haven’t forgotten those, at least.”

Yiwen nodded. 

Her red pupils gleamed faintly in the morning light.

“You understand now, right? You are yourself. It was the Insect Nest Will that controlled you.”

“I understand now.”

Ella’s voice grew quieter.

“Then what should I do? Does that mean… I can’t use my power anymore? But in this dangerous world… how am I supposed to survive…”

Her fingers tightened on the hem of her clothes.

This was the first time she had seriously considered this question. 

Previously, the Swarm had been everything to her—her weapon, her shield, her hands and feet. 

If she could no longer use the Swarm, she would be nothing in this endless ocean.

“That’s exactly what we want to do, Your Majesty.”

Yiwen took a step forward. 

Her long red hair slid from her shoulder, glowing with a warm luster in the morning light.

“You can use your abilities as much as you want. We will do our best to ensure you remain yourself.”

Ella looked into Yiwen’s eyes. 

There was no lie or calculation in those red pupils—only sincere, almost earnest seriousness.

Her throat bobbed.

“Alright…”

She nodded, then seemed to remember something and looked down at her feet.

The ship was still rocking, swaying left and right, rising and falling, like an endless cradle.