The Eccentric Entomologist is Now a Queen's Consort

Then, he heard the gentle creak of the door, and his gaze shifted. Queen Elowen entered, her usually composed features softening instantly at the sight of him. Mikhailis stood up, a smile spreading across his lips as he approached her. He held his arms open, and without hesitation, Elowen melted into his embrace.

"Welcome back, my queen," Mikhailis murmured against her hair, his voice a comforting murmur in the quiet room. He tightened his embrace, feeling her warmth as her body relaxed against his.

"Rough day?"

Elowen sighed softly, her arms wrapping around his waist. She rested her head on his shoulder, closing her eyes for a moment.

"It was, but today was better than most," she said quietly, her voice laced with affection.

"The ledger you provided really made things easier. Those troublesome nobles finally know that I have leverage against them. It sped up many discussions."

Mikhailis chuckled, stroking her hair gently.

"Oh? So I finally made your day easier, huh?" He pulled back just enough to look at her, a playful smile on his face.

"Should I be expecting a special reward for that?"

Elowen looked up at him, her eyes meeting his. She let out a soft laugh, shaking her head.

"You're shameless, Mikhailis." But her voice was filled with warmth, and she leaned closer, pressing her lips to his cheek.

"But thank you… really. You made my work much more bearable."

"Well, anything for my beautiful queen," he said, his voice softer now, the teasing edge replaced by genuine care. He studied her face for a moment—those tired yet kind eyes, her regal features that always seemed to soften whenever they were alone together.

Elowen smiled, leaning back slightly as she looked at him.

"You know, it feels so nice to be able to return earlier. I feel like I have more of the evening for myself... and for you."

Mikhailis grinned, his eyes lighting up.

"Well, in that case, I'm happy to keep you entertained, my queen." He leaned in, his forehead touching hers.

"How about some nice food to celebrate this rare early evening together? Have you had dinner yet?"

Elowen nodded, her smile growing faintly playful.

"I did… but…" she paused, her eyes glinting mischievously.

"I suppose I'm still a little hungry."

Mikhailis couldn't help but laugh at her words—there was a cuteness to her tone that had become more frequent lately. Elowen, who was often so stern and composed before others, had grown more relaxed when they were alone. She was even becoming slightly spoiled, and he loved every bit of it.

"Well then, no need to call a maid for this one," Mikhailis said, stepping back and clapping his hands dramatically.

"This, my queen, is the perfect time to try something special. Voilà!"

The door opened, and the small robot attachment, which Mikhailis affectionately called "Monkey Rodion," rolled in, carrying a beautifully presented cake on its flat surface. The golden-brown crust was covered in a fine dusting of powdered sugar, and the aroma of sweetness immediately filled the room.

Elowen's eyes widened, sparkling with excitement as she caught sight of the cake. She looked at Mikhailis, her ears twitching slightly with delight, a testament to her ancient dark elf lineage.

"Did… did you make this?" Read exclusive chapters at empire

Mikhailis smiled, nodding.

"Of course! Well, with a little help from Lira getting me the ingredients. But yes, I made it myself." He pointed to a steaming mug next to the cake.

"And there's more—hot chocolate. I had to use my secret stash of cocoa powder for this, but for you, my dear wife, anything is worth it."

Elowen's eyes were wide, her expression a mix of surprise and joy. She looked at the cake and the mug of hot chocolate, then back at Mikhailis. She took a seat, eagerly picking up the small fork that came with the plate. She cut a small piece, bringing it to her lips and taking a bite. Her eyes instantly lit up, and she let out an involuntary, delighted exclamation.

"It's so delicious!" she said, her voice filled with pure delight. She then picked up the mug and took a small sip of the hot chocolate. Her eyes closed as a content sigh escaped her lips.

"So sweet…" she muttered, her ears twitching again, her smile as bright as the stars above.

Mikhailis couldn't help but grin, feeling his heart swell at the sight.

"I knew you'd like it. I've been saving that cocoa powder for just the right occasion. After all, I know how much you love sweets."

Elowen nodded, her cheeks faintly flushed as she looked at him.

"Thank you, Mikhailis… truly." Her voice was soft, her gaze warm.

Mikhailis waved a hand, grinning.

"Wait, it's not over yet!" He clapped his hands once more, and suddenly, the air was filled with the sound of soft orchestral music. Mikhailis's computer, set up in the corner of the room, began playing, the clear notes of a violin accompanied by the gentle melody of a piano filling the room.

The music came from a set of high-quality speakers he'd managed to build with some supplies from his world—an impressive audio setup that made the sound rich and full, unlike anything the people of Silvarion Thalor had ever heard before.

Elowen's eyes widened again, her gaze turning to Mikhailis, her smile widening as the music enveloped them. She took another sip of her hot chocolate, her eyes shining as she looked at her husband.

"It's beautiful…" she whispered.

Mikhailis took a seat beside her, picking up his own mug as he gave her a wink.

"Only the best for you, my queen."

The two of them sat there, sharing the cake and the warmth of the hot chocolate as the music filled the room. Elowen began to speak, her voice light as she recounted the events of the day.

"Aelthris has been quite harsh towards Vyrelda lately. I think it's his way of pushing her to do better, but she's been pouting about it for days."

Mikhailis chuckled.

"Vyrelda pouting, huh? Now, that's something I'd love to see."

Elowen smiled, nodding.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

"She's been rather… childlike, which I suppose is a rare sight for someone like her." She paused, her eyes softening as she continued.

"And Serelith… she's been full of energy lately. It's like she's found some renewed purpose, and it's honestly been nice to see."

Mikhailis nodded, smiling at the thought of Serelith. While his thought thinking another thing.

"She's a complex one, but I think she's finally found something worth her time."

More like she found a way to fulfill her fetish?

The conversation slowly dwindled, the two of them simply enjoying the quiet, the warmth of each other's presence. The soft orchestral music played in the background, filling the silence with a sense of peace.

Elowen cut another piece of the cake, her gaze shifting to Mikhailis. There was a softness in her eyes, a kind of hesitance that made Mikhailis tilt his head slightly, curious. She then held out the fork, the piece of cake balanced delicately on the end.

"Aahn," she said quietly, her cheeks flushing pink as she looked at him.

Mikhailis blinked, momentarily stunned. He then leaned forward, taking the piece of cake into his mouth. The sweetness of the cake mixed with the warmth of the moment, and Mikhailis swallowed, his eyes still fixed on Elowen. She gave him a small, embarrassed smile, her face red as she looked down.

"I… I wanted to do that," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

"I've seen lovers do it, and I thought… I wanted to do that with you."

Mikhailis felt his face heat up, his heart pounding as he stared at her. She was so different from the queen that everyone else saw, the queen that is famous to be an invincible, strong, unbending, and regal in the eyes of the people. Now, she was vulnerable, gentle, and, in this moment, incredibly cute. He reached out, cupping her cheek with his hand, his thumb brushing against her skin.

"You're cute, Elowen," he said softly, his voice filled with affection.

"Cuter and more beautiful than anyone I know."

Elowen's blush deepened, her eyes widening slightly at his words. She looked at him, her lips parting as if to say something, but no words came out. Instead, she simply nodded, her eyes shining with emotion.

The two of them stared at each other for a long moment, the world around them fading away until there was only each other. Elowen's gaze softened, her eyes flickering down to the cake before returning to his.

"Do you… want another one?" she asked, her voice soft, almost hesitant.

Mikhailis smiled, nodding.

"Of course."

Elowen picked up another piece of cake, but instead of offering it to him, she brought it to her own lips, taking it into her mouth. She then leaned forward, her eyes locking onto his, her intentions clear.

Mikhailis felt his heart skip a beat, his breath catching in his throat as he watched her. She leaned closer, her lips only inches away from his. He swallowed hard, his eyes widening.

"This girl…" he whispered, his voice barely audible.

"She really is driving me crazy…"