The Eccentric Entomologist is Now a Queen's Consort

"W-What are you doing...?" Elowen stammered, her brows raising slightly in confusion. Her eyes widened at the sight of Mikhailis—the eccentric prince in full display of his antics, yet again.

Mikhailis, smiling broadly, adjusted the apron and said with all the mock seriousness he could muster.

"What does it look like, Elowen? It's the grand return of my hardworking queen, and this is the grand welcome. Everything—this apron, the sign—all led to this moment." He raised his arms dramatically as though presenting an extravagant stage play.

Elowen pursed her lips, her shoulders beginning to shake. She stifled a laugh, her eyes glistening with amusement. For a moment, Mikhailis thought he had succeeded in lightening her mood, but then he saw her gaze shift—turning cloudy and distant once again.

"I guess it's not that funny, huh…" Mikhailis muttered, scratching his head, his smile dimming just a touch.

He glanced at Lira, Elowen's personal maid standing a few steps behind her.

Lira's expression was unreadable, but her eyes spoke clearly: Surely you jest. Her sharp gaze pierced him, silently conveying a clear message—Stop with the bad joke.

He shrugged, brushing it off.

"Alright, alright, setting aside my stellar sense of humor." With a snap of his fingers, a small, monkey-shaped robot rolled out, holding a tray with a steaming cup of coffee and a freshly baked cake. Elowen's eyes widened again, this time with genuine surprise. The faintest hint of a smile tugged at her lips.

Mikhailis knew the look of someone wanting something sweet, and if he wasn't mistaken, Lira's eyes behind her lady were shining in the same way. He noticed the maids gathered around, their interest piqued by the unexpected treat. It wasn't every day that a prince consort—especially someone like him—prepared something like this for the queen.

"This," he gestured towards the cake, "is all for welcoming my hard-working wifey." He kept his gaze on Elowen, a soft warmth settling in his chest when she smiled back at him, the kind of smile that made all his frivolous actions worthwhile.

"Thank you, as always, Mikhailis," she said softly, her voice touched with something between gratitude and exhaustion. He noticed her eyes—there was something else there, something she wasn't saying. He didn't pry, only offered her an understanding nod.

"You must be tired," he said.

"Drink and relax a bit before heading to the bath. Let me handle the rest."

Elowen nodded, giving a small but genuine smile. She appreciated his consideration, his way of always trying to be there for her without pressing into her burdens.

Just as before, the maids took it upon themselves to prepare the bath for Elowen and Mikhailis. They worked swiftly, lighting candles, setting fragrant oils into the water, and then leaving the two of them to relax in peace.

The bath was ready, steam rising gently, filling the room with warmth. Mikhailis and Elowen sat beside each other in silence. Usually, this was the time when Elowen would loosen up a bit, talking about her day or simply enjoying a quiet moment. But today, she was different. Her face was darkened, her gaze distant as though she was trapped in her thoughts.

Mikhailis observed her silently for a moment, his brow furrowing in concern. He hated seeing her like this—so burdened, so unlike the strong and commanding queen he knew her to be. He reached out, gently placing a hand on her shoulder. She flinched slightly at the contact, her eyes snapping back to him.

"I don't know what's troubling you," Mikhailis started, his voice calm, deliberate.

"But if you can't believe in me, I hope you'll believe in Rodion." He gave a small chuckle, cutting another piece of cake for Elowen.

"He's far more trustworthy and dependable than me, after all."

He placed the slice in front of Elowen, but swiftly, he cut several more pieces, arranging them on a separate plate. Without a word, Lira approached, picking up the dirty plate and taking the plate with the cake with it. It was a silent exchange, a mutual understanding between Mikhailis and Lira—she would take the cake and savor it later.

As she walked away, Mikhailis caught the sweet smile on her face, a rare break in her composed expression. Lira's silent acknowledgment warmed Mikhailis's heart, and he returned her smile with a small nod.

Elowen wasn't oblivious to the exchange. She observed quietly, her eyes softening as she watched Mikhailis and Lira.

"You're very considerate, Mikhailis," she said, her voice almost a whisper.

"Hm?" Mikhailis feigned ignorance, pretending not to understand her compliment.

Elowen's eyes clouded again, her expression turning serious. She took a deep breath, letting it out slowly.

"The cake is delicious," she said, her voice trembling just slightly.

"But I think I'll go take a bath first. The trip was… quite tiring."

Mikhailis nodded, his smile still gentle.

"Of course. Let me know if you need anything, okay?"

Elowen nodded back, standing up, her movements deliberate as though she was carrying a weight that Mikhailis couldn't see. She left without another word, her robes rustling softly as she moved.

As soon as she left, Mikhailis leaned back against the cushion, sighing softly. He looked at Lira, who stood nearby, her eyes still focused on the door that Elowen had walked through. Even Lira, with her sharp instincts, could see something was wrong. There was an indifference in Elowen today, a hesitance that wasn't usually there.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Mikhailis didn't know what it was, but he had decided not to push—not yet.

Lira turned her gaze to him, her lips pressed together in a thin line. She wanted to ask, to understand what had changed between them, but she held back. Mikhailis caught the concern in her eyes, giving her a small smile, silently reassuring her.

"Don't worry, Lira," he said softly.

"She'll talk when she's ready."

Lira nodded, her expression softening slightly.

"I hope so, my lord. She... seems burdened."

Mikhailis sighed, nodding.

"I know. But she's strong. She'll be okay."

Lira looked as though she wanted to say more, but instead, she bowed slightly.

"Would you like me to prepare anything else for you?"

Mikhailis shook his head, a gentle smile still on his lips.

"No, thank you, Lira. You've done more than enough. Go ahead and take some rest."

Lira hesitated for a moment, then gave him a nod before turning and leaving the room. Mikhailis watched her go, a sense of warmth and gratitude filling him. He was lucky to have people like Lira by his side.

Mikhailis took a long sip of his hot chocolate, savoring the warmth as it slid down his throat. He closed his eyes for a moment, letting out a small breath.

"Rodion," he muttered, his voice low.

<Yes, Mikhailis?>

"Tell me. Did something happen at the Saintess's place? Are we enemies now?"

There was a pause. Silence stretched between them, and Mikhailis could almost hear the faint whirring as Rodion processed the question.

<There is no conflict, no declaration of enmity,>

Rodion finally replied.

<However, something did happen.>

Mikhailis opened his eyes, his gaze flicking towards the window.

"Go on," he said, curiosity lacing his tone.

Rodion's voice came through, calm and precise.

<The Queen has explicitly instructed me not to disclose the details of the incident. You are, of course, my primary user. Even though Queen Elowen has administrative privileges in my system, the decision to access restricted information ultimately lies with you.>

Mikhailis sat quietly for a moment, looking out at the blue sky beyond the window. He could feel the weight of the question hanging in the air.

Did he want to know?

Did he really want to dig into something that Elowen herself wasn't ready to share?

He took another sip of his drink, the rich taste of cocoa grounding him. After a long pause, he finally spoke, his voice softer now.

"No. I think… I think I'd rather hear it from her directly,"

Rodion stay silent for a while before replying.

<That would be the wisest course of action>