The Eccentric Entomologist is Now a Queen's Consort

Mikhailis gave Elowen a playful look, his eyes glinting with warmth.

"Only a little bit. But don't worry—I'm being extra careful this time. Besides, I believe that you would love this very much."

Elowen smiled, stepping closer, her golden eyes softening. She reached out, her fingers brushing gently against Mikhailis' cheek before leaning in, her lips meeting his in a tender kiss. It was soft at first, just a simple connection that spoke of familiarity and love. Slowly, it deepened, her lips pressing against his as she brought herself closer, her hand moving to rest on his chest.

Mikhailis responded, his own hand cupping her face, feeling the warmth of her skin under his palm. It was a moment that felt like the world had disappeared, leaving only the two of them—free of worries, of duties, of the burdens that came with their roles. He felt her sigh softly against his lips, the tension leaving her shoulders as she relaxed into him.

When they parted, Mikhailis clapped his hands. The door to the room opened with a faint hiss, and a small mechanical monkey rolled inside. Its little gears clicked and whirred, transforming with a series of smooth metallic movements until it stood upright, its chest opening to reveal two steaming mugs of hot chocolate and a plate of neatly arranged cookies.

Elowen's eyes widened in amusement.

"You even prepared hot chocolate? You're as prepared as always, my love." She looked at the robot, noting how it had turned into an unassuming iron stick after delivering the refreshments.

"And I see you've been busy. Wasn't that an iron stick I saw one of the guards carrying earlier?"

Mikhailis grinned, nodding.

"Of course. Always good to have a few tricks up my sleeve." He gave the mechanical monkey a pat on its head before taking the tray.

"You never know when you might need a good cup of hot chocolate."

Elowen chuckled softly, shaking her head.

"Of course, only you would think that far ahead about hot chocolate. But you mentioned something I would love. What did you mean by that?"

"Fufufu. Look at this."Nôv(el)B\\jnn

With a flick of his hand, Mikhailis activated his glasses, and the room transformed once again. The 3D projection of the Northern Province reappeared, sprawling across the floor and ceiling, while multiple screens displayed live feeds from various parts of the cavern system. Rodion's voice echoed softly, its mechanical tone filling the space.

<Displaying current reconnaissance status. Mikhailis issued orders for an infiltration mission into the Thalorian Goblin cavern—the very same cavern where both of you encountered the goblins previously. He has been trying to locate their primary nest ever since. Current visuals indicate successful hypnosis of a goblin scout, who is leading our Chimera Ants towards the main base.>

Elowen's eyes widened in awe as she looked at the projection.

"I see. So, this is the projection from the Thalorian Goblin you've managed to take control of? That's great..." Her voice held a note of excitement.

Enjoy new adventures at empire

"With this, we can pinpoint their location so much faster, and it will make our work easier than ever! Plus, the Northern Province will owe us for this." She smirked, her eyes glinting.

Mikhailis straightened up, puffing out his chest with mock pride.

"Well, naturally. I do have a reputation to maintain, you know."

Elowen let out a soft giggle, her voice lilting.

"Fufufu, it looks like someone is desperate to impress his wife." She stepped closer, her arms sliding around his shoulders as she sat on his lap, resting her head against his chest.

"But for now, let me recharge." She snuggled against him, rubbing her cheek against his chest, her eyes fluttering shut in contentment.

Mikhailis blinked, a smile tugging at his lips as he wrapped his arms around her, his hand gently rubbing her back.

"W-What is this... What is this adorable creature? Could I bring her home, I wonder..."

Elowen lifted her head slightly, her eyes half-lidded as she looked at him.

"I'm already yours, you know?" She smiled, her voice teasing. "Hehehe."

Mikhailis tightened his hold on her slightly, his fingers brushing against her hair.

"Yeah, I know," he said, his voice soft. He looked down at her, and their gazes met—golden eyes locking with his. For a moment, there were no words, just the quiet understanding that had always existed between them. He leaned in, capturing her lips in a deep kiss.

The kiss was more intense this time. His lips parted against hers, and their tongues met, slow and deliberate. He could feel her breath hitch as their tongues danced together, moving in a rhythm that spoke of a familiarity built over countless moments like this. Her hand slid up his chest, fingers tangling in his hair as she pulled him closer, deepening the kiss even further.

Their tongues moved with urgency, exploring, teasing, tasting. It was as though the world had disappeared once more, leaving only the two of them. He felt the warmth of her mouth, the way she responded to every movement, every shift of his lips. Her fingers tightened in his hair, and he let out a soft groan, his own hand slipping to her waist, pulling her closer until there was no space between them.

They finally parted, both of them breathing heavily. Elowen gave him a playful smile, her gaze drifting downwards.

"Looks like you're very lively down there," she murmured, her eyes twinkling mischievously.

"He's poking me like there's no tomorrow."

Mikhailis cleared his throat, his cheeks flushing slightly.

"Well, what can I say? With you like this, it's hard not to react." He glanced at the tray on the table, then back at her.

"But as much as I'd love to continue, we should probably drink our hot chocolate before it gets cold." He gave her a small smile.

"And besides, we still have a show to watch."

Elowen pouted slightly, but then she smiled, nodding.

"Fine, fine. I guess you have a point." She shifted off his lap, sitting beside him, resting her head on his shoulder as they reached for their mugs. Mikhailis handed her a cookie, and they both took a sip of the hot chocolate, the warmth spreading through them as they settled back to watch the screen.

The projection displayed the goblin's journey through the caverns. The hypnotized goblin moved confidently, leading the way deeper into the maze-like tunnels. A group of goblin scouts joined in, their eyes scanning the surroundings, unaware of the Chimera Ants that followed beneath the surface.

Elowen sighed softly, her head still resting against Mikhailis' shoulder.

"You really do think of everything, don't you?" she murmured, her voice filled with warmth.

Mikhailis gave a small chuckle.

"Well, someone has to make sure we get things done right." He took another sip of his hot chocolate, his gaze focused on the projection.

"Besides, it's all for you, you know."

Elowen smiled, closing her eyes briefly as she snuggled closer. They sat in silence for a while, simply enjoying each other's presence, the warmth of the hot chocolate, and the peacefulness of the moment. The screens showed the goblin scouts moving closer to what seemed like a large chamber, their surroundings growing darker and more ominous.

Suddenly, a loud screech echoed from the speakers, startling both of them. Elowen's eyes snapped open, and she straightened, her gaze fixed on the screen. Mikhailis leaned forward, his expression turning serious as he focused on the feed. The goblins had reached a massive chamber—their main base.

The chamber was filled with goblins of all shapes and sizes. Thalorian Hobgoblins, shamans, and goblin riders moved around, their eyes filled with intent. In the center of the chamber stood a massive goblin, adorned in crude armor, its eyes glinting with intelligence and malice. It let out another screech, and the other goblins responded in kind, their voices filling the cavern.

<The goblin scouts have arrived at the main Thalorian Goblin base. Initial observations indicate a larger, more organized force than previously estimated. Proceeding to gather more intelligence.>

<Approximation of monsters inside this cavern:

Calculating...

.

.

.

Total: 1250~2000 monsters>

Mikhailis and Elowen exchanged a glance, their eyes widening as they took in the scene before them. The reality of what they were facing settled in, the magnitude of the threat clearer than ever. They had found the enemy's stronghold, and the battle that lay ahead would be unlike any they had faced before.

Mikhailis tightened his hold on Elowen's hand, his gaze hardening with determination.

"Looks like we've got our work cut out for us, Wifey." Elowen nodded, her eyes filled with resolve.

"Let's finish what we've started, together."