The Eccentric Entomologist is Now a Queen's Consort

He sighed, stretching his arms above his head, trying to shake off the remnants of sleep.

Figures they'd be gone, he thought, scratching his head. It was the day Elowen was set to return, and Lira was nothing if not careful about appearances. She probably dragged Serelith along to avoid suspicion.

"Rodion," Mikhailis muttered, rubbing his eyes, "where are they?"

<They left approximately thirty minutes ago. Lira was preparing for Queen Elowen's arrival, and Serelith seemed to follow out of curiosity—or boredom.>

The AI's voice had its usual calm, slightly sardonic tone that Mikhailis had grown used to.

He sighed again, rolling his eyes.

"This time, did you capture everything that was happening in the nest?"

<Affirmative. I have been logging all activities nonstop, including monitoring the Queen's tactics and the defense strategies for repelling the attackers. I also provided real-time advice to the Queen for optimal efficiency in eliminating hostile forces.>

Mikhailis narrowed his eyes, his lips twisting into a wry smile.

"So it was you, huh? You're the one who made me a decoy."

<It was the most effective course of action, given the circumstances. Utilizing your unique pheromonal emissions allowed us to consolidate the attackers into a predictable vector. This strategy resulted in a 72% reduction in potential casualties compared to alternative defensive approaches.>

Mikhailis let out a dry chuckle, shaking his head.

"Yeah, yeah... Most effective way, my butt. Just had to make me bait, didn't you?"

<I would remind you that this body of yours is technically a clone, thus a somewhat expendable resource,>

Rodion's voice was as dry as ever, but there was a hint of something—maybe sarcasm?

"Sure, sure," Mikhailis muttered, rubbing his temples.

"It's not! Just to tell you, but hte queen told me that my soul is still connected to the clone and the egg so if either of them got destroyed I will die as well! In the first place, expendable or not, it still feels real enough when I'm almost torn apart by monsters." He let out a breath, slumping back against the bed.

Then, Mikhailis stopped and cool himself down.

"But well, thanks for the help, I guess."

<Of course>

Rodion's voice was almost smug.

"I hate it when you sound smug," Mikhailis grumbled, rolling out of bed. He landed on his feet, his body still stiff from sleep.

"Now, let's hear the aftermath. What's the damage?"

<The defense operation was ultimately successful. We sustained minimal losses—twenty-two worker ants and thirty-seven fire scarabs were sacrificed during the engagement, and one soldier ant was severely wounded but survived. On the positive side, the food storage chambers have been filled with spoils. Several attackers were neutralized and processed, including a Direwolf and a Giant Centipede.

The storage now has a sufficient supply for over two months.>

Mikhailis rubbed his chin, nodding along.

"And the captured ones? Any interesting monsters?"

<The Hypnoveil managed to subdue three hostiles: a Forest Stalker, a Thornback Lizard, and a Shadow Ferret. They are now restrained and awaiting further orders regarding assimilation into the colony. The Queen has expressed interest in using their genetic makeup for further specialization among the soldier ants.>

Mikhailis smiled, his eyes twinkling with a hint of excitement.

"Good, good. I knew there'd be something interesting in all that chaos."

<I have also analyzed the attack patterns from the previous assault and made several optimizations to the defense protocols. These improvements are projected to increase the survival probability by 18% in similar future scenarios,>

Rodion continued, his tone clinical and precise.

Mikhailis rolled his eyes, giving a half-hearted wave of his hand.

"Yeah, yeah, thanks for that. You really think of everything, don't you?"

<It is, after all, my function to do so.>

"You're too good at your job, you know that?" Mikhailis smirked as he stretched his arms. He yawned, raising himself off the bed.

"Man, that was terrifying, though. I'm just glad to be back in this body." He looked down at his hands, flexing his fingers, the familiar warmth of his own skin bringing a sense of comfort.

<If that is the case, then it is time to resume your daily routine. Initiating morning regimen: begin with light warm-ups, followed by mild exercises.>

Mikhailis groaned dramatically.

"You really know how to kill the mood, Rodion. You don't even let me have a moment to celebrate my survival."

Mikhailis sighed, but a small grin tugged at his lips.

"Fine, fine, Mr. Efficiency." He started with a few stretches, bending down to touch his toes, then twisting his torso from side to side. His body felt heavy, still a little tense from the fear he'd felt during the battle.

"I swear, you enjoy this a little too much," Mikhailis muttered as he did a set of squats. He could almost hear Rodion's nonexistent smirk.

<I assure you, I am incapable of experiencing enjoyment. My satisfaction stems only from the optimal performance of assigned tasks.>

"Yeah, right," Mikhailis said with a snort, moving on to some lunges.

"That's exactly what someone who enjoys their job would say."

He finished his warm-ups, feeling the stiffness start to ease out of his muscles, replaced by a growing warmth. He began his routine of mild exercises—push-ups, sit-ups, a few more stretches. His breathing grew steady, the repetitive movement helping to clear his mind.

Rodion's voice remained a constant presence in his ear, counting out repetitions, reminding him to adjust his form. Mikhailis couldn't help but think that, despite how annoying Rodion could be, there was something comforting in having him around—a presence that always watched over him, kept him safe.

After finishing his exercises, Mikhailis stood up, taking a deep breath as he wiped a bit of sweat from his forehead.

"Alright, that's enough for now," he said, rolling his shoulders.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Rodion paused for a moment, then added.

<It is now approximately ninety minutes until Queen Elowen's arrival.>

Mikhailis blinked, glancing towards the window. "Elowen, huh..." he murmured, his voice softening. He leaned against the wall, a wistful smile crossing his face.

"It's almost time, then. I wonder where she is right now... my wifey."

He chuckled at his own words, the term "wifey" sounding almost silly in the quiet room. But the thought of seeing her again filled him with a warmth that spread through his chest, pushing away the lingering fear from earlier. It had been too long since he'd last seen her—her calm gaze, the way she spoke with that quiet authority that demanded respect.

But at the same time, it's slightly conflicting for him.

"Rodion, do you think she's missed me?" Mikhailis asked, his tone half-teasing, half-genuine.

<It is statistically probable that Queen Elowen has experienced a level of emotional longing during her absence from the castle. However, I cannot quantify the depth of said longing.>

There was a moment's pause, then Rodion added.

<You should prepare adequately for her arrival. Your current appearance is—lacking.>

Mikhailis let out a laugh, shaking his head.

"Always so blunt. Alright, alright, I'll clean up. Can't let my wifey see me looking like a mess."

He moved towards the small basin in the corner of the room, splashing some water onto his face. He caught a glimpse of himself in the polished surface of the basin, his hair disheveled, his eyes still a bit bleary from sleep. He sighed, running his fingers through his hair in an attempt to tame it.

"Lira would have a fit if she saw me like this," he muttered to himself, smiling as he imagined her exasperated expression. He could almost hear her voice, scolding him for not taking better care of himself.

He straightened up, taking a deep breath.

"Alright, let's do this. Time to make myself presentable for the Queen." He grabbed a clean shirt from the wardrobe, pulling it over his head. He paused for a moment, looking at his reflection once more. The shirt fit well, the fabric soft against his skin. He adjusted the collar, smoothing out the wrinkles.

He nodded to himself, a determined look in his eyes.

"Okay, Rodion, Tell me if my wifey is near."