The Eccentric Entomologist is Now a Queen's Consort

Inside the dimly lit carriage, Elowen sat comfortably beside Mikhailis, her head gently resting on his shoulder. Her long silver hair fell across his arm, and her eyes were closed, a serene smile gracing her lips. Their arms were linked, a symbol of the newfound bond they shared. Across from them sat Lira and Serelith, who were trying their best not to stare, but their eyes were constantly drawn to the intimate display in front of them.

Lira leaned in closer to Serelith, her elegant ponytail swaying slightly, and whispered in a teasing tone.

"Look at Her Majesty… She seems to have forgotten we're even here."

Serelith smirked, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

"Indeed, Lira. It's as if we're mere decorations in this carriage. And here I thought we'd at least have a good chat. But… look at her." She gestured at Elowen with her chin, her voice barely above a whisper.

"So happy and relaxed, like a cat curling up in the sun."

Lira nodded, her lips curling into a playful smile.

"Yes, Lady Serelith. She's practically glowing. I wonder if she realizes that we're watching them like this."

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Serelith's smirk grew wider as she added.

"Well, at least they can't kiss with us here. That would be a bit too much." She chuckled quietly, glancing back at Elowen's resting figure, her eyes flicking briefly towards Mikhailis, who had his eyes closed but seemed too relaxed to be asleep.

After a pause, Lira sighed softly, her voice thoughtful.

"Now that I think about it… we're quite troublesome, aren't we? Getting envious and jealous of Her Majesty, even though we have no rightful claim over His Highness." She paused for a moment, her eyes looking down at her folded hands, a conflicted expression clouding her calm demeanor.

"We're just the Queen's attendants without any official relationship with the His Highness."

There was a moment of silence between them, Serelith's eyes softening as she glanced at Lira, then back at the couple.

After a few moments, she leaned in close, her voice almost sulky as she whispered back.

"It's all His Highness's fault for not giving us proper justice, Lira… Not ours." She let out an exaggerated sigh, her expression turning more playful.

"It's his fault for laying his hands on us and leaving us hanging."

Lira's gaze turned pensive, a reluctant smile forming on her lips as she nodded, her usual composed expression cracking just a bit.

"Perhaps… you're right."

I can hear everything, you know, Mikhailis thought to himself with a wry smile despite having his eyes closed.

Seriously… these girls. What does they even mean I'm the one who lay my hand on them? It's my line. They are the ones who lay their hands on me in the first place.

He tried to stifle his chuckle, letting the soft sway of the carriage lull him into a more comfortable state. But his mind was far from resting.

Rodion's cool and precise voice echoed through the audio link of his glasses, delivering a stream of information with characteristic efficiency.

<Analyzing current progress of Chimera Ant Queen nest expansion. Potential output improvement within the next quarter is estimated at 20%. Currently working on defense and expansion efforts, including nutrient management and resource collection.>

Elowen, who had managed to stay awake, turned her head slightly, her eyes fixed on the glowing projection of the Chimera Ant Queen's nest displayed in the air between her and Mikhailis. Her gaze was alight with fascination as Rodion gave a detailed report, her curiosity evident in the way her eyes seemed to widen with each new piece of information.

"Look, Mikhailis," she whispered, careful not to disturb the others.

"This projection… it's remarkable. The way the ants have structured the tunnels—so efficient." Her eyes sparkled as she took in the intricate network of chambers and pathways, all bustling with activity as the Chimera Ants worked tirelessly.

She's really getting into it, Mikhailis thought, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

Guess I've managed to drag her into the world of bugs.

Rodion's voice continued, overlaying Elowen's excitement.

<The Chimera Ants have successfully started transporting the Thalorian Goblin corpses. These will provide essential nutrients for the Queen's evolution. It is estimated that an additional growth of 5% can be achieved by the next cycle.>

"That's amazing," Elowen said softly, her voice full of awe. She glanced at Mikhailis, her eyes wide.

"Do you realize what this means? If we can establish this process, the benefits for Silvarion could be immeasurable. Food production, resource collection, even defense—it's all right here."

Yeah, I know, wifey. Welcome to the wonderful world of bugs.

Mikhailis nodded slightly, still smiling.

He loved seeing Elowen this excited, this animated. It was a side of her that few got to see—the scholar, the thinker, the queen who was willing to get her hands dirty if it meant finding a solution for her people.

Rodion projected another visual, this time showing a section of the nest where Worker Ants were hauling goblin corpses into a large chamber. The room was bustling with activity as the ants sorted the corpses by size, methodically breaking them down for processing. Elowen leaned forward, her eyes fixated on the scene.

"They're so organized… It's almost like watching a well-trained army." She turned to Mikhailis, her eyes shining.

"If we could somehow replicate this on a larger scale—maybe even create flying variants—imagine the possibilities for the kingdom."

<Feasibility of aerial Chimera Ant units is theoretically sound. Acquiring flying specimens for genetic integration is the primary obstacle. However, efforts could be made to locate suitable creatures for assimilation,>

Rodion responded, the image shifting to display various possible aerial targets that could be hunted.

Elowen clasped her hands together, her excitement evident.

"We must find some. This could change everything for Silvarion!"

Mikhailis, unable to contain his amusement, chuckled under his breath.

"You're getting really into this, Elowen." He gave her a sideways glance, the corner of his mouth twitching upwards.

"The world of bugs is far more exciting than you thought, huh?"

Elowen looked up at him, her cheeks flushing slightly as she smiled.

"Yes… I never imagined I'd be so invested in insects. But now…" She paused, her voice dropping to a soft murmur that only Mikhailis and Rodion could hear.

"It's truly fascinating."Nôv(el)B\\jnn

From across the carriage, Lira and Serelith exchanged a knowing glance. Serelith raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into a teasing smirk.

"Do you think they're flirting again, Lady Lira?"

Lira tilted her head slightly, her eyes narrowing as she watched the two.

"It certainly seems that way, Lady Serelith. Her Majesty is practically glowing and couldn't stop that wonderful grin of her."

Serelith muttered quietly.

"Well, we can't have that… We'll need to interrupt them soon."

Mikhailis sighed internally.

These two…

He turned his focus back to the projection, watching as the ants constructed various defenses around the perimeter of the nest. Elaborate traps had been set, designed to catch and immobilize any creature that ventured too close. He could see small monsters already caught in the snares, their struggling bodies being carried away by Worker Ants.

Elowen watched in silence for a moment, then spoke, her voice soft.

"So… this is what the prophecy meant, isn't it? About the danger." She looked at Mikhailis, her eyes filled with a mix of wonder and trepidation.

"About how Mikhailis's clone is endangered if he's too close to the chimera ant queen."

Mikhailis nodded, his gaze steady. "Yeah… But it would be fine since we have Rodion here, he'll keep the place safe and sound,"

Rodion's voice interrupted again.

<It is pleasant to hear your trust, Mikhailis. But it would be even better if you stop making sudden request and trouble that would create an error in my predictions>

Yeah, yeah. Never stop nagging just like a grandma.

Elowen's brow furrowed, her eyes narrowing as she observed the Chimera Ants mobilizing to fend off the attacking monsters. Small, twisted creatures—no bigger than dogs—lunged at the ants, only to be swiftly overwhelmed and carried away. She watched as Fire Scarabs joined the defense, their fiery glow casting eerie shadows across the nest.

"It's incredible… how adaptable they are," she murmured, her gaze transfixed.

"If we can maintain this level of coordination—even in the face of bigger threats—Silvarion's defenses will be unmatched. But the most interesting fact is that we could use them for reconnaissance,"

Mikhailis nodded, a sense of pride swelling within him. He leaned back, letting his eyes drift shut for a moment as he listened to Elowen's enthusiastic murmurs.

Welcome to my world, wifey. There's so much more to discover.

The carriage rumbled along the uneven path, the sound of hooves against the packed earth a steady rhythm that lulled the group into a comfortable silence. Lira and Serelith, who had been watching the couple with amusement, exchanged another glance, their expressions softening as they saw the genuine connection between the two.

Serelith leaned towards Lira, her voice low.

"At this rate, they completely forgot our existence. They could end up having sex in this rate, you know?"

Lira nodded slowly, her eyes on Elowen and Mikhailis.

"Yes… I think so too."

The conversation in the carriage was interrupted as the sound of a knock echoed through the enclosed space. The group turned their attention towards the door, and a muffled voice called out.

"Your Majesty, Your Highness—we've arrived at the Northern Province. Count Arvis is awaiting your presence."

Mikhailis straightened, a grin tugging at his lips.

"Well, looks like the ride's over," he said, glancing at Elowen.

"I guess it's time to be the Queen again. We could re-focus on our little 'secret' after this, okay?"

Elowen smiled, her eyes filled with determination.

"Of course."