Twisted Kindness headed to the imperial palace as the Parasite Queen had summoned her.

When she arrived in the grand hall, she saw the Parasite Queen sitting comfortably on the throne. Seol Jihu, who had built a nest on her lap, was nowhere to be seen.

...No, she did feel his energy.

[You’re here.]

“Yes, responding to Your Majesty’s summons. Anyway…”

Twisted Kindness raised her head slightly before tilting it to the side.

“I can feel Temperance’s energy from Your Majesty’s back. Did something happen? And why are your wings folded in such a way?”

As she said, the Parasite Queen’s bone wings were crossed together like interlocked fingers.

[It’s nothing.]

The Parasite Queen spoke calmly and raised one wing. From the small gap that opened up, Twisted Kindness could see Seol Jihu sticking to the Queen’s back like a koala. He was sound asleep, even drooling all over the Parasite Queen.

[He fell asleep like a baby when I blocked out the light. He seemed a little uncomfortable when he was on my lap, so it’s good.]

“I feel like I am looking at a baby animal.”

Twisted Kindness furrowed her brows. She looked like she couldn’t understand why Seol Jihu was acting this way.

[I haven’t figured out the reason yet.]

The Parasite Queen smacked her lips.

[It’s not like I don’t have a guess, though.]

“May I ask what it is?”

[Mm, I believe this child sees me as his mother.]

“...Pardon?”

[Using my tissue to turn him into a parasite seemed to have influenced him.]

“It is true that all parasites think of you as their mother…. But did you not do the same thing for the First Army Commander?”

[That is the only part I cannot explain. This child’s attachment to me is too extreme.]

The Parasite Queen raised her head and glanced at Seol Jihu.

[But still….]

A thin smile hung on her lips. Though Seol Jihu was quite a bother most of the time, he was like an angel when asleep.

[I don’t think it’s a bad thing. I can feel that this child’s affection toward me is growing deeper every day.]

“That indeed doesn’t sound bad, but…”

Twisted Kindness asked, seemingly at a loss.

“Are you going to coddle him like that forever? I don’t think that is appropriate.”

[I know. I told him to go out and play for a bit not too long ago, and he really did go out to play for a short time.]

“....”

[That is why I called you.]

The Parasite Queen...