The question made me pause and think. It was really worrisome...
But a minute later, I laughed and patted my wife on the shoulder.
"Absolutely not! Intelligence is one thing, and all these vices of humans which you describe is another. They all have their own reasons for existing. And bees have their own vices that exist for another reason..."
I put my hands on my hips, nodded sagely to myself, feeling more sure about my words the more I spoke.
"I read once that laziness of humans is just a result of their brain trying to conserve energy. It’s not optimal for any creature to spend energy for no reason, but especially so for ones who need to preserve their lives to procreate. Humans aren’t the only lazy beasts. And bees are the opposite! They are hardworking because their lives don’t matter and they can work themselves to death if this is what the hive needs."
Amby raised her brows.
"But it’s not optimal for our daughters to spend energy for no reason, either. Their energy is the colony’s energy..."
I cleared my throat and scratched my cheek.
"Ah, what I meant—this is so for ordinary, unevolved bees. As for us—nobody should work themselves to death! Neither should humans. Working sucks! I wish nobody had to work. Especially myself..."
I recalled the pile of reports compiled for me by Attendant Helping-Hands, who bravely came with us on this journey, and my shoulders dropped.
Now it was Ambrosia who smiled broadly and patted my shoulder.
"If ever a thought appeared in my head that you were lying about being a human in the past, Necty, it would’ve disappeared now. This is such a human laziness... I will help you with your paperwork, just don’t teach our daughters this. And thank you for dispelling my worries. You are right—bees and humans are too different."
I brightened. Was Amby reading my thoughts? Was I accidentally projecting them in her head? Or did she just know me this well?
I didn’t care! I just hugged Amby briefly and kissed her on the lips.
"Thank you, you are the best! I swear, I will use my free time for something useful... Eh-he-he, want me to put even more eggs in you?.."
Upon hearing this—admittedly—awful pickup line, Ambrosia smiled even wider. Which made me smile wider, too. And we smiled and just stared at each other for a while...
Sadly, in the end I still didn’t get an opportunity to put anything into anything, because the time freed from paperwork was snatched by Farini, who humbly asked to greet me.
Which I didn’t *have* to do, but he had prepared an entire ceremony in miniature for this "humble greeting", invited his family and closest friends to it, and—look, I didn’t want to get all these people disappointed and resentful.
Not when they were so nice and obedient so far. Almost like my daughters, despite being random humans who still thought that the Earth was flat.
The time until the grand ceremony flew swiftly like a dragon. Between meetings with all the people who suddenly had business with me, dealing with reports and requests sent through the telepathic chain all the way from Hive Supremo, trying to find something else to show Ambrosia while we were away from home, and diplomatic negotiations with the delegations of the protectorate kingdoms, I had almost no time for myself.
A week after my arrival, everything and everybody was ready for what was now officially put down in Naregan history books and the Bee Empire Achievements as "The Unification Day".
Thousands of people gathered in the square near the Royal Hall. Several squads of city guards kept them in check while hundreds of Bee Agents monitored their thoughts in case someone here wanted to create trouble—even if just for the sake of getting closer to the front.
These people were told that today the blessed Bee Emperor was going to descend to them in person, after all!
Kings of the protectorate kingdoms (or the chosen representative of the senate, in case of Judji Republic) made a long journey to this place for the unprecedented ceremony. And for the negotiations that I spent hours on before this, of course.
The negotiations described the terms on which Judji, Kachi-Chi and Barahi countries will officially join the Bee Empire as its administrative regions. Of course, they were going to have a lot more independence than bee-controlled regions of the Empire, but now they were going to obey me directly.
One of the conditions of the unification was that I will send people who will help the kings (or, in case of Judji—the senators) to rule their countries. Just like they were already "helping" king Farini.
In practice, this meant that the kingdoms were going to be under my total control. Even if they wanted to protest the terms, they already signed them (out of fear of losing Naregan support or even being attacked, if nothing else). Refusal would be a rebellion and will be crushed like any rebellion.
So now these people just came to bow their heads before their new ruler. And this ruler came to show himself to all the common folk watching from the square.
Right now, they could see only the three kings and one senator standing together. Soldiers and servants in flashy ceremonial clothing of different cultural styles were surrounding them just so it would all look more pompous.
To the side, an orchestra of human drummers began to play a loud march. Following it, several servants pulled open the massive doors of the Royal Hall.
From my hidden observation spot on one of the massive statues standing on the square, I could see it all perfectly, just like Amby and my entire bodyguard squad.
When the door opened, a gust of quickly dispersing smoke came from it. Then, followed Nectus II.
The dragon scales on the mecha’s frame gleamed blindingly in the bright sunlight, and the crowd exploded with shocked gasps!