The Eccentric Entomologist is Now a Queen's Consort

Mikhailis followed Serelith out of his chamber, his eyes wandering over her confident stride. Behind them, Lira trailed in her usual silent manner, her gaze occasionally flicking toward him, a subtle warmth still present on her cheeks from their recent encounter.

The cool night air of the castle hallway greeted them, the dark, polished stone of the walls reflecting the flickering light of the sconces.

"So, where exactly are we headed?" Mikhailis asked, unable to hide the curiosity lacing his voice. Serelith looked back at him, her mischievous smile in place.

"Are we using a Darkwood portal?" Lira asked, her voice measured, a trace of hesitation woven through her tone.

Serelith's smile widened, and she turned her head forward, taking a deep breath before responding. "Something like that."

Mikhailis's eyebrows shot up, intrigued. "Now, this is something new."

Serelith came to a stop at the end of the corridor, her fingers stretching outwards, tracing delicate shapes in the air as she began a chant in a language Mikhailis couldn't place. The words rolled off her tongue smoothly, each one resonating with an unfamiliar magic that seemed to vibrate through the air.

"Eldinara, Silvethar, Mordrithian, Galdrana—Open the path between worlds, summon the gate of darkwood!"

As her voice reached its climax, the wall in front of them began to shift, bark-like patterns growing outward as if from a living tree. Slowly, the patterns twisted and formed, a wooden gate emerging from the once solid stone. The gate's edges glowed faintly, the intricate carvings etched into the wood pulsing with a soft, almost breathing energy.

With a final flick of her wrist, the gate opened with a low creak, revealing a swirling, dark green portal beyond.

Mikhailis watched with wide eyes, unable to hide his excitement. This was the first time he'd seen an actual portal up close, let alone walk through one. Rodion's voice echoed in his earpiece, analytical as always.

<Initial hypothesis suggests the portal operates through a combination of nature and spatial magic, utilizing the inherent magic of the darkwood tree to create a stable pathway. Still, further analysis required to fully understand its mechanism.>

"Well, that sounds sufficiently convoluted," Mikhailis muttered, mostly to himself. He was more excited to experience it firsthand than to understand the theory behind it, for now.

"Please, enter," Serelith said, motioning towards the swirling portal. Her gaze turned to Lira, who hesitated for a moment, her eyes flicking from the portal to Mikhailis, a question in her expression.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Mikhailis gave her a reassuring smile. "Go ahead, Lira. I'll be right behind you."

She nodded, her lips forming a faint smile before she turned and stepped through the portal, her form disappearing into the green vortex.

As Mikhailis moved forward, ready to follow, Serelith suddenly stepped in front of him, stopping him in his tracks.

"Do you need something?" Mikhailis asked, a hint of confusion in his voice.

Serelith looked up at him, her eyes half-lidded, her lips curving into a smirk. "Isn't it a bit cold of you? After all, you 'messed me up' very badly just a few nights ago."

Her face moved closer to his, her eyes locking onto his with an intensity that spoke of both challenge and invitation.

For a moment, Mikhailis was taken aback, but rather than backing away, he leaned in.

This girl, I know what you want.

Grabbing her head with one hand, and before she could react further, he pressed his lips to hers. Explore more adventures at empire

The kiss was firm, and Mikhailis didn't hesitate. He pulled her in, his other hand moving to her backside, grabbing her firmly as he pulled her closer. Serelith's eyes widened in surprise before they slowly closed, her body relaxing into his. She let out a soft, muffled gasp against his lips as he deepened the kiss, their tongues meeting with an urgency that had her legs trembling.

When he finally pulled away, her eyes were half-lidded, her face flushed, and her tongue was still slightly out, as if she hadn't wanted the kiss to end.

"You've been waiting for me all this time, huh?" Mikhailis said, his voice low, a teasing smile playing on his lips. "Masochist magician."

Serelith hesitated for a moment, then gave a slight nod, her eyes glancing away as if embarrassed.

"Mm..." she murmured, her cheeks darkening.

Mikhailis's hand wandered up to her chest, cupping her breast through her robe. He leaned closer, whispering in her ear, "It's fine. I didn't say anything to Elowen about you. Your secret's safe with me."

She let out a soft sound, nodding again. "Nn..."

He pulled back, giving her a gentle smile. "Now, let's go. Queen Elowen needs us. Time to be obedient."

Serelith swallowed, her gaze still slightly dazed, before she nodded and took a step back, her hand reaching out to motion towards the portal. She regained her composure, her expression once again returning to its usual mischievous smirk. "After you, your highness," she said.

Before stepping forward, Mikhailis felt a familiar voice chiming in, breaking the tension with its analysis.

<Catching the hints of a yandere masochist—a magician formerly obsessed with Queen Elowen, now enthralled by a prince consort who knows how to handle her needs—well done, Mikhailis. You've become quite the R-18 adult actor.>

Mikhailis blinked, completely unsure of how to respond. The truth was, Rodion wasn't wrong. Since his arrival, Mikhailis had taken in countless videos, manga, anime, and movies to learn how to handle "nightly activities" and sexual relationships, especially considering his unusual situation with Elowen, Lira, and now Serelith. He had spent nights analyzing everything, preparing himself.

And, well, the results spoke for themselves.

"Damn it," Mikhailis muttered, his lips twitching with the ghost of a smile. "I guess I am the protagonist of one of those stories."

<Suggestion: cease the attempt at false modesty. Evidence indicates exhilaration exceeds that of mere acceptance, perverted Mikhailis.>

Mikhailis sighed, his eyes rolling. "Thanks for the compliment, Rodion," he said, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

Without wasting more time, he moved towards the portal, his hand sneaking down to give Serelith's backside a firm squeeze as he walked past her. She gasped, her eyes widening before narrowing at him, a mixture of shock and something deeper in her expression.

He shot her a grin before stepping into the portal.

The sensation of passing through the darkwood portal was unlike anything Mikhailis had ever experienced. It was as if he had stepped into water without getting wet—cool, almost weightless, with an eerie green glow surrounding him. For a brief moment, he felt a sense of displacement, like he was both floating and falling at the same time.

Then, in an instant, the world shifted, and he stepped out onto solid ground.

He blinked, his eyes adjusting to the sudden change in lighting. The room he found himself in was grand, with high ceilings and intricately carved walls, decorated with elegant tapestries and banners bearing the kingdom's crest. He recognized it almost immediately—he had seen this place before during one of the review sessions with Rodion. One of the worker ants had infiltrated this area previously.

Rodion's voice chimed in, confirming his thoughts.

<Analysis indicates this is the Chamber of Prestige, typically used for noble gatherings. Observation: today, the chamber is notably empty, occupied only by Queen Elowen, Prime Minister Aelthris, Lady Serelith, Vyrelda, and Lira. This deviation suggests a more private, possibly sensitive meeting.>

Mikhailis took in the room, noting the somber atmosphere that filled the space. The nobles were absent, and instead, those closest to the queen stood around a long table. The tension was palpable, and Mikhailis could tell from the expressions on their faces that this was not a time for his usual joking demeanor.

Queen Elowen stood at the head of the table, her gaze meeting his as soon as he entered. Her eyes held a mix of emotions—relief, worry, and something else he couldn't quite place. She gave him a small nod, a gesture that felt both like a greeting and an apology.

"I'm sorry for summoning you on such short notice, Mikhailis," she said, her voice soft but carrying the weight of authority. "But this is an important matter that requires your attention."

Mikhailis's eyes shifted to her hands, and he saw what she was holding—a familiar ledger. His heart skipped a beat. It was the proof of corruption among the nobles, the very ledger that Rodion had helped him compile, writing each line with the help of his robotic "monkey" attachment.

Queen Elowen continued, her expression turning serious. "It seems the Prime Minister has a few matters he wishes to cross-check with you." She motioned towards Aelthris, who stood beside her, his eyes studying Mikhailis with an analytical gaze.

Mikhailis could see the faint apology in Elowen's eyes, the concern that she was dragging him into something troublesome. He gave her a reassuring smile, stepping forward with confidence.

"Anything for you, My Queen,"