The Eccentric Entomologist is Now a Queen's Consort

Mikhailis couldn't help but let a wry smile slip across his face when his eyes settled on Serelith, standing beside Queen Elowen. She returned his look with a sly grin, the kind that asked, "Do you have a problem with that?" He turned his gaze away, trying not to be drawn into whatever mischief Serelith was plotting in her head.

His eyes then fell upon the other person—a redhead with her hair tied neatly into a braid.

Honestly, it would have been better if his second guard were a man. Not that he was tired of women, but his relationships in this castle were already complicated enough. Adding another woman to the mix seemed like an invitation for trouble. But then again, if it were a man, there was always the risk of some ambition brewing under the surface.

Men tended to have their own agendas when it came to power and influence, and it wouldn't be far-fetched to think that a male guard might encourage him to take a more significant role, or worse, plot against him. Especially in this world, which held strong patriarchal views.

He sighed internally, forcing another wry smile. Perhaps it was better this way.

<You seem rather conflicted, Mikhailis. I don't recall you having any encounter with this particular woman before, but judging by the look she's giving you, it appears you're not very well-liked.>

Mikhailis blinked, shifting his gaze back to the red-haired guard. Rodion wasn't wrong—her eyes were locked on him, and it was far from a look of admiration. If he didn't know any better, he would've thought he'd wronged her somehow—like he was the murderer of her father and the rapist of her mother. She stared at him as though he was the very embodiment of everything she despised.

Mikhailis suppressed a groan.

Damn, girl. What sin did I do to you in my previous life, I wonder.

<She seem to be holding a great generational grudge>

"Wonderful," he muttered under his breath.

"I get to take this bundle of joy on my incognito excursions when I just want to have a good time…"

Queen Elowen must have sensed his discomfort, for her gaze flicked toward him. He quickly shifted his attention and found himself locking eyes with Aelthrin. The prime minister was staring at him, his expression neutral but his eyes observant. When Aelthrin noticed that Mikhailis had acknowledged him, he gave a subtle nod, a sign of respect.

<It appears you've earned some degree of acknowledgment from the prime minister after refusing his bait yesterday. That offer for power and influence reeked of a trap. Good job dodging it, Mikhailis.>

Mikhailis couldn't help but chuckle. He had seen Aelthrin's offer for what it was—a potential snare to tie him down in the political landscape of the kingdom. No thanks, he preferred to keep his distance from those kinds of intrigues.

Elowen's voice pulled him back to the present. She gestured to the red-haired knight and spoke with her usual composed authority.

"Knight Cerys, introduce yourself." Explore new worlds at empire

The woman straightened her back and saluted, her expression stoic, though her eyes were still hard as steel.

"Cerys the Lone Wolf, reporting for duty. It is an honor to serve as your personal guard, Your Highness," she said in a crisp voice.

Mikhailis couldn't help but notice the way she said "honor"—like it was a chore she'd been assigned against her will. He raised an eyebrow, his lips twitching into an amused smile.

Elowen turned to Mikhailis with her eyes softening.

"Cerys is a knight of unmatched skill, one of a kind in this kingdom. She will be more than enough to protect you during your excursions within the capital."

Mikhailis was about to voice his doubts about whether there was another candidate, but before he could, Rodion's voice chimed in.

<No, there are no alternatives. Only she managed to meet all the criteria required to serve as your personal guard.>

Elowen continued, her gaze unwavering.

"I would have given you options, Mikhailis, but only Cerys cleared the requirements."

Mikhailis sighed, resigning himself to his fate.

"Alright, alright," he said, giving Cerys a nod.

"I'll be counting on you."

Cerys nodded back, though her eyes were still cold. He wasn't sure if she was trying to gauge his strength or just outright despised him. Either way, it was going to be an interesting time with her around.

Elowen was watching the exchange, an amused smile playing at her lips. Mikhailis could feel her gaze on him, and he shot her a glance. Under his breath, he muttered.

You seem to be enjoying this, Wifey. If she turns out to be a real piece of work, I'm going to have to punish you in bed."

She cleared her throat, though her eyes twinkled with humor.

"And next, we have Serelith," she said, gesturing toward the purple-haired mage.

Serelith took a step forward, that ever-present playful glint in her eyes.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"Well, as long as you have this," she said, holding out a small bracelet.

Mikhailis took the bracelet, examining it. It was made of a delicate silver chain, with what looked like a small branch of wood woven into the design.

"This is a branch from the Elder Tree," Elowen explained.

"It is a magical artifact that will help Serelith track your whereabouts. With this, you won't get lost, and Serelith will be able to check on you from time to time."

Serelith leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a whisper.

"Let's work well together, alright?" Her tone was playful, with a hint of something else. It was almost like a promise—one that could either be delightful or incredibly troublesome, depending on how things went. But the most important thing is that beneath her robe, her hand is doing something.

H-Having your back against them doesn't mean you can touch my thing that easy, girl.

Mikhailis grabbed her hand and tossed it as he raised an eyebrow, slipping the bracelet onto his wrist.

"Yeah, yeah, let's do that," he muttered, his tone laced with sarcasm. Serelith merely smiled, unbothered by his lack of enthusiasm.

Queen Elowen nodded, satisfied. She turned to Cerys.

"Knight Cerys, pack your things. You'll be moving into the guards' quarters near Mikhailis's chambers."

Cerys saluted again, her posture stiff.

"Understood, Your Majesty."

With that, Elowen dismissed everyone. Cerys and Serelith left the room first, followed by Aelthrin, who shot Mikhailis one last assessing glance before bowing to the queen and departing.

As soon as they were alone, Elowen turned to Mikhailis, her expression softening. She stepped forward, wrapping her arms around him in a gentle embrace. Mikhailis blinked, caught off guard by the sudden gesture. But after a moment, he relaxed, his arms circling around her, pulling her close.

"Thank you for agreeing to this," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

"I know it's not easy for you to have guards, but I worry about you, Mikhailis."

He smiled, pressing a soft kiss to the top of her head.

"Wifey, you're always so adorable when you're worried about me," he said, his tone teasing but with genuine warmth behind it.

Elowen pulled back slightly, her eyes meeting his. There was a vulnerability in her gaze, something that made Mikhailis's heart swell. She was a queen—a powerful, regal figure. But in moments like this, she was simply Elowen, his wife, who cared for him deeply.

A gap...

This is a gap moe, the thing that would make weebs like me fell in love and make her my waifu...

Well, she is my wife, though.

She smiled, shaking her head.

"You're incorrigible," she said, her tone affectionate.

Mikhailis grinned, giving her a light squeeze.

"And yet, you still love me," he said, his voice softening. He leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to her lips.

Elowen returned the kiss, her hands resting against his chest. For a moment, they stayed like that, the world around them fading away, leaving only the warmth of each other's embrace.

Finally, Elowen pulled away, her eyes still locked on his.

"Take care of yourself, Mikhailis, I'm back to work," she said, her voice quiet.

Mikhailis smiled, brushing a strand of her hair behind her ear.

"Of course, Wifey. I'll be waiting for you, after all."

She smiled, a soft blush touching her cheeks. She gave him one last lingering look before the prime minister Aelthrin and Vyrelda coughed, then she stepped away, turning to leave the room. As she walked away, Mikhailis watched her, his heart swelling with affection.

When she was gone, he let out a sigh, shaking his head.

"My wifey is as cute as ever," he muttered under his breath, a smile tugging at his lips.

He turned his attention back to the bracelet on his wrist, his expression turning thoughtful. Things were about to get a lot more complicated—having Cerys and Serelith as his guards was bound to stir things up, and not always in a good way. But despite the challenges ahead, Mikhailis couldn't help but feel a thrill of excitement.

Life in this world was anything but boring, and he was ready to face whatever came his way.

He glanced at the door where Elowen had left, a soft smile on his lips. For her, for their future, he would face anything.

My wife is as cute as ever.

<Yet you still cheat with two of her close aides>

"Oh, shut up, Rodion,"