Warmth | Meruem

8 - Komugi

MEHANA

"Wow! You are amazing, Komugi!" My jaw dropped in awe when I finally learned the basics of Gungi. Judging from what Komugi had taught me, she basically did big moves to take the King down, despite him improving so much after each round!

"I am flattered but really, it's nothing big to fuss over!" She smiles and waves her hands around frantically. With a sniff, she tries to keep her snot in.

"What do you mean, it's nothing big!? You literally created a move that went down in the history of Gungi!" I exclaimed, my eyes shining like stars. I couldn't believe that I was now talking to such a big-shot in the world of Gungi!

However, her nose is a problem...

"Hmm, I should tell His Majesty to buy tissues! I bet he doesn't even know what they are..." I sigh and took the girl's hand before placing my handkerchief on it. "Use this for now. I don't want you to have a cold all the time!"

"T-Thank you!" Komugi slightly teared up and used the handkerchief. My eye stopped twitching after her nose was cleaned. Her snot honestly bothered me a lot when she taught me how to play Gungi...

"You are so cute, hehe!" I grin and patted her hair. "Wow, your hair is like cotton! White and fluffy." My hand couldn't help but touch it longer.

"Oh...t-thank you!" She blushed, lightly scratching her cheek. "You flatter me too much, Mehana-sama."

My heart fluttered at the honorific. "S-Sama?" I laughed.

"Are you not the supreme leader's wife!?" She asks in wonder. I coughed on thin air, my cheeks flaming red from her inference. Was that how she thought of us the entire time? That's absurd!

"N-NO! Of course not! What made you think that I was his wife? Haha..." I was kind of relieved that Komugi couldn't see my face right now, which was beet red.

"Well, his voice just sounds different when he speaks to you. The same goes for you too, Mehana-"

"Mehana, just call me Mehana."

"Mehana...I'll have to get used to it. Your manner when speaking to him is a bit more assertive and informal than everyone else I heard talking to him. Even though you may sound rude to the supreme leader, he still tolerates it. That must mean you are considered to be someone close to him." She states her observations and conclusion. I gaze at her in awe before staring down at the Gungi board with flushed cheeks.

"What about him?"

"The leader's tone towards you is kind and gentle. Others may not be able to detect it easily since it's only a little bit softer, but my other senses are heightened because of my loss of sight. I can tell that he favors your presence." She says with confidence.

"I...I-"

My entire face began to steam in embarrassment. Hearing Komugi say that the King likes me was even weirder than the King confessing to me himself!

"Mehana? Are you there?" Komugi starts turning her head in a panic. "D-Did I say something wrong...?"

"No...not at all." I mumbled. "I was just...thinking."

Even if the King likes me, this relationship won't end well. A human and an ant? Pfff...yeah, one of us will have to end up dead. Especially if he is the King of the chimera ants.

"Would you like to play another round with me?" She asks shyly.

"Yes, thank you." I closed my eyes with a smile. She made her move first.