Insectoid Mage, Socially Withdrawn Online

[An alien insectoid world, not based on male and female insect castes and unrelated to male dominance over females. The top's true form is a giant bug with two forms. Imagine a blue dragonfly.]

Archmage Sivir I lived a lonely life, tormented by betrayal from family and close friends before his death. Reborn as the second prince of the Bluewing Empire, he is gloomy and withdrawn.

He hates flowers and water, fears sunlight, and despises anything beautiful. As it happens, all of those things are connected to the Imperial Preceptor, Lansa Mona.

He refuses to leave the palace, so Lansa brings him a puppy to keep him company as he studies and goes about his daily life.

Half a month later, Sivir looks at the little thing, now round as a ball from all the food: ...

So now he has to take the puppy for a walk every day.

He refuses to talk, so Lansa makes him a chattering crow to get him to speak.

Crow: @?)%#...

Crow: Buddy, who do you have a problem with? I'll curse them out for you.

Sivir, expressionless: Your creator, Lansa Mona.

Crow: ...

He fears death. During a massive explosion, Sivir's phobia takes hold, and he can't move a muscle.

Just as the flames are about to swallow him, Lansa appears and shields him tightly in his arms, his back reduced to a bloody mess.

At that moment, Sivir sees the shadow of death in his eyes once again. But Lansa shields him from all his fear with his own body, repeating over and over in his ear:

"It's all right, Your Highness. I'm here. Everything will be fine."

-

Several months later, Lansa is discharged from the hospital, fully recovered.

Sivir has become remarkably sensible, looking after Lansa with the utmost care and consideration.

Until one day, assassins attack the palace.

Before Sivir can even cast a spell, he sees the usually gentle, harmless Imperial Preceptor tear open a giant cocoon and transform into a blue-winged royal insect, its body gleaming with a cold light and impervious to weapons.

Once the assassins have bled their last drop, the insectoid's fearsome visage gradually fades, and he returns to his usual flawless human appearance.

Barefoot, the insectoid stands in a pool of icy blue blood, walks toward Sivir, and takes his hand. His gaze is utterly pure, like the snow atop a solitary mountain.

"Your Highness, are you hurt?"

Sivir: 0.0

The poor archmage says, "No. Imperial Preceptor, are you hurt?"

"I don't know why you weep, but I want to hold you close and kiss your eyes."

Reading notes:

1. A goofy, healing sweet romance. The withdrawn, socially anxious beauty of a bottom, Sivir, x the gentle, considerate, handsome top, Lansa. 1v1, happy ending, age gap with the top older.

2. The bottom was a mage from another world in his previous life. He uses magic in the story, so expect a chaotic blend of interstellar insects and magic.

3. Only the first chapter is in first person.

4. This is a fictional setting unrelated to reality. Please don't draw parallels to real life.

[The editor said the title couldn't use square brackets followed by "insect race," so it has been corrected. Sorry to anyone who clicked by mistake.]

[My next modern-day romance will be "The Sickly Doll," a story about an obsessive bottom and a straight top.]

Theme: Love can heal the wounds hidden in your heart.