The Eccentric Entomologist is Now a Queen's Consort

The banquet hall was bustling with life, the clinking of glasses and echoing laughter reverberating off the high ceilings adorned with ornate chandeliers. Mikhailis moved through the crowd with practiced ease, his face wearing the faintest hint of a smile, as if he found all of it mildly amusing. The nobles were circling around, eager to catch a moment of his attention. But even as he smiled and exchanged pleasantries, his thoughts were far away.

Elowen's in the private room, discussing serious matters with the others... I bet it's way more interesting than listening to all this political drivel.

Mikhailis suppressed a sigh, turning his attention to a short, rotund noble with a neatly trimmed mustache who had just approached him.

"Your Highness," the noble began, his voice dripping with politeness, "I must say, it is most reassuring to have you here. The presence of the Prince Consort is surely a great morale booster. Wouldn't you agree, gentlemen?"

Mikhailis chuckled lightly, giving the noble a half-smile.

"Oh, of course, nothing boosts morale like a guy who spends his free time playing with bugs and watching anime." He gave a mock serious nod, as if genuinely agreeing with the noble, while a few others nearby laughed politely, unsure if he was being serious or not.

Another noble—this one tall, with sharp eyes and a stern expression—leaned in, his tone questioning.

"I must admit, Your Highness, some of us are curious. You've come from another world, yet you've managed to gain Her Majesty's favor so quickly. It's... intriguing, to say the least."

Mikhailis raised an eyebrow, his eyes glinting with mischief.

"Intriguing, you say? Well, it's all thanks to my secret weapon—my irresistible charm." He winked, and the group let out a mixture of awkward chuckles and amused smiles.

"But in all seriousness," he continued, his expression softening, "I'm just here to support Elowen in whatever way I can. She believed in me, so the least I can do is live up to that trust." His voice grew more earnest, and the nobles exchanged glances, some nodding, others still skeptical.

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As the conversations drifted on, Mikhailis continued to engage with humor and lightness, disarming those who tried to pry too deeply. He could sense the tension in the room, the undercurrent of skepticism about the northern situation. Whispers about the monster outbreak, concerns over the military's readiness—it all swirled around him like an invisible fog. He smiled, nodded, joked, but beneath it all, he was listening, analyzing, piecing together the sentiments of those around him.

They're worried, he thought, and rightfully so. But they won't see me falter—not when Elowen's counting on me.

Eventually, the weight of the superficial interactions began to wear on him, and he decided it was time for a retreat.

Mikhailis smiled politely, masking his exhaustion. "If you'll excuse me, I think I need to call it a night. The journey has taken more out of me than I expected." He glanced around, then added with a light chuckle, "And besides, I don't think I can handle any more nobles tonight without falling asleep on my feet."

The nobles nodded, some offering polite smiles while others barely hid their relief.

A young maid with dark hair tied neatly in a bun stepped forward to lead him away. "This way, Your Highness," she said, her voice soft. Mikhailis followed her through the estate's grand hallways, admiring the intricate tapestries and the craftsmanship of the wooden beams as they walked.

"It's quite a place," he murmured, more to himself than to the maid. She nodded, glancing back at him.

"Count Arvis takes great pride in maintaining the estate. It's one of the finest in the Northern Province," she said.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Mikhailis gave her a lopsided grin.

"I can see why. It's impressive, though I have to admit, I'd trade all this grandeur for a quiet night with a good book."

The maid's lips twitched in the hint of a smile, but she remained professional as she led him to a spacious room clearly prepared with care—a large bed with fine linens, a fireplace crackling warmly, and a small table set with refreshments. Mikhailis sighed in relief as the door closed behind him, finally allowing himself to drop the polite facade. He ran a hand through his hair, glancing around the room.

The maid led him to a spacious room that had clearly been prepared with care—a large bed with fine linens, a fireplace crackling warmly, and a small table set with refreshments. Mikhailis sighed in relief as the door closed behind him, finally allowing himself to drop the polite facade. He ran a hand through his hair, glancing around the room.

Nice place. Too bad I'd rather be anywhere but here right now.

Rodion's voice broke through the silence, cool and precise.

<You can rest assured. The meeting is going on smoothly, and I'm assisting Her Majesty to ensure that she is in an advantageous position and didn't miss anything important>

Mikhailis smiled, sitting down on the edge of the bed.

Good old Rodion, always multitasking.

"Glad to hear you're keeping her covered. Anything interesting happening that I should know about?"

<Count Arvis has revealed information regarding a potential Goblin Apostle leading the monster outbreak. The discussion is centered on logistics, defenses, and intelligence gathering. Your wife has suggested reaching out to magical experts to better understand the Apostle's abilities first.>

<For information. An Apostle is a rare evolution of a monster that has reached the [King] rank and possesses [Unique] skills, which are usually troublesome and need to be dealt with swiftly. Most individuals at the [King] rank, including Vyrelda, Elowen, Earl Vaelis, and Serelith, have their own [Unique] skills. The discussion is centered on logistics, defenses, and intelligence gathering. Your wife has suggested reaching out to magical experts to better understand the Apostle's abilities first.>

Mikhailis frowned slightly, his mind racing.

A Goblin Apostle? That's... new. And definitely not good.

He leaned back, propping himself up with his hands.

"And the ants? What's their status?"

<30 Chimera Ant soldiers and the Hypnoveil Variant have been deployed to the cave where you previously encountered the Thalorian Goblins. They are currently en route, tasked with scouting the area for potential links to the monster outbreak. The mission also includes an experiment to determine whether the Hypnoveil can successfully control a Thalorian Goblin.>

Mikhailis nodded, a sense of unease settling in his chest.

The Goblin Apostle could mean trouble on a scale we haven't faced yet. If it's intelligent enough to lead...

He shook his head.

"We need all the information we can get. Make sure they stay undetected, Rodion. I don't want to lose any of them."

Mikhailis let out a small laugh, shaking his head.

"You're always so reassuring, Rodion. Almost makes me forget we're dealing with monsters that could wipe out half the province if we're not careful."

<Optimism is not within my programming parameters, but I acknowledge the sentiment.>

There was a brief pause before Rodion continued, his tone almost sarcastic.

<However, I must remind you that it would be beneficial if you refrained from making sudden, reckless decisions that could compromise the mission.>

Mikhailis rolled his eyes.

There it is—the grandma lecture.

"Yeah, yeah. I'll try not to be too reckless. You know me, always the picture of caution."

<Indeed. Your track record speaks volumes.>

Mikhailis snorted, pushing himself off the bed and walking over to the window. He looked out into the dark night, the stars barely visible through the thick clouds. His thoughts drifted back to Elowen—how she was probably in the middle of some heated debate, strategizing, planning, being the amazing leader she was.

I just hope I can keep up with her, he thought, a small smile tugging at his lips.

She deserves someone who can stand by her side, not drag her down.

Rodion's voice interrupted his thoughts once more.

<I'm projecting the feed of the dispatched team>

Mikhailis closed his eyes, then opened and through his glasses, the images appeared. He then focused on the feed being relayed to him—a dark, narrow tunnel, the sound of skittering legs echoing softly. The ants moved with purpose, their bodies adapted perfectly to the underground environment. The Hypnoveil led the group, its antennae glowing faintly, casting an eerie light on the rough walls of the cave.

Come on, guys. Show me something useful, Mikhailis thought, his eyes still focused as he observe the scene of the ants' perspective.

The ants moved stealthily, avoiding detection as they navigated deeper into the cave system. The air grew colder, the walls slick with moisture. The deeper they went, the more signs of habitation they found—scraps of cloth, remnants of crude tools, even what looked like ritual markings carved into the stone.

<The environment suggests a significant presence. Proceeding with caution,> Rodion reported, his tone clipped and efficient.

Mikhailis watched through the feed as the ants came upon a large chamber, the ceiling arching high above them. The space was vast, with multiple tunnels branching off in different directions. The Hypnoveil paused, its antennae twitching as it scanned the area. Then, at the far end of the chamber, they saw it—a massive set of doors, carved into the stone, guarded by a lone goblin.

There it is, Mikhailis thought, his heart pounding in his chest.

A way in.

The goblin stood in front of the doors, its posture tense, its eyes darting around nervously. It was different from the others they had encountered—its skin a darker shade, its body adorned with crude armor. The Hypnoveil signaled the others to hold position, and Mikhailis could almost feel the anticipation in the air.

<The target has been identified. Awaiting further instructions,>

Rodion's voice echoed in his mind, calm and collected.

Mikhailis opened his eyes, staring out into the dark night beyond the window.

"Stay put for now, Rodion. Gather as much information as you can without being detected. We need to know what's behind those doors—and if that goblin has any connection to the Apostle."

<Understood. Maintaining current position. Further reconnaissance will be conducted with minimal engagement.>

Mikhailis nodded, his gaze still fixed on the night sky.

Whatever's behind those doors, it's got to be important. And if it's tied to the outbreak... then we've got our work cut out for us.

He took a deep breath, his thoughts turning once again to Elowen.

Hang in there, Wifey. I'll make sure I get some useful information for you.

Mikhailis was deep in thought, his eyes still focused on the projection in his glasses. He felt the weight of everything happening around them—the looming threat of the Goblin Apostle, Elowen taking on the political strain of strategizing with the northern leaders, and his own role in ensuring they came out of this mess stronger.

Suddenly, warmth spread across his lap, and he felt a slight weight settle down. His brows knitted in confusion for a moment as he instinctively closed all the visual tabs in his glasses, his gaze shifting downward.

He was met with a familiar sight—Lira, her eyes gleaming mischievously, a playful grin spread across her lips as she looked up at him from his lap.

"Lira?"