The Eccentric Entomologist is Now a Queen's Consort

Chapter 131 A Forest Date

Mikhailis looked over at Elowen, a slight smirk playing on his lips.

"Now that I think about it, you didn't really get surprised when I told you I'm a former prince, did you?"

Elowen smiled knowingly, her golden eyes flickering with amusement.

"Why would I be? It was obvious from the start. The way you behaved in the castle was too natural. Your etiquette, your confidence, the way you weren't even fazed by all the formalities. If anything, it felt like you'd lived an even more lavish life before." She gave him a teasing look.

Before Mikhailis could respond, Rodion's voice cut in, cool and precise as always.

Mikhailis rolled his eyes.

"Oh, shut up, Rodion."

The two of them walked slowly, their hands intertwined, the warmth of Elowen's palm a comforting presence in the cool night. The Chimera Ant variants formed an escort around them. Scurabons flanked them, two on each side, their armored exoskeletons glistening under the sunlight. The Frog Variant led the group at the front, its muscular form bounding ahead with a group of ten Chimera Ant soldiers following. Bringing up the rear, ten more Chimera Ant soldiers marched in formation alongside the Hypnoveil Variant, whose antennae glowed softly in the darkness.

The rest of the Chimera Ant soldiers had already returned to the nest, a sprawling underground hive directly beneath Silvarion Thalor's royal castle. The workers were busy transporting the bodies of the Thalorian Goblins and Tanglebeetles they had fought earlier. Mikhailis knew those corpses would serve as a valuable source of nourishment for the growing colony—there were about a hundred corpses in total, a promising harvest. He felt a strange sense of satisfaction knowing that, even here, in this fantasy world, nature worked in cycles: waste turned to sustenance, and life gave rise to more life.

They were far from the nest—almost 200 kilometers away—but the Chimera Ants had constructed an underground tunnel system that stretched this far, allowing them to travel efficiently and support Mikhailis whenever needed. Unknown to Mikhailis until now, Rodion had secretly kept five Chimera Ants following them from below the ground, ready to assist if anything went wrong. Apparently, Rodion had thought this was the perfect opportunity for a field experiment.

There was a hint of excitement in Rodion's tone, and Mikhailis couldn't help but smile.

"That's an interesting idea, Rodion. But let's get to a safe place first, all right?" he said, glancing at Elowen.

She seemed in no hurry, her eyes filled with warmth as she looked at him.

"We can take our time," she murmured, squeezing his hand gently.

Rodion spoke again.

Mikhailis chuckled, shaking his head.

"Yeah, yeah. We'll talk about the Thalorian Goblins once we regroup, okay?"

Elowen giggled at their exchange, her eyes sparkling with amusement.

"You know, it's funny how you and Rodion always seem to bicker," she said.

"When it's just me and Rodion, we work together so smoothly."

Elowen smiled wryly, realizing how intensely she'd been watching Mikhailis.

"You're starting to sound prickly to me too, Rodion," she said.

"Is it because I'm back on good terms with Mikhailis?" She sighed playfully.

"All right, what do you want to ask?"

Rodion's response was immediate.

Elowen blinked, a perplexed look on her face.

"I... don't quite understand all that," she admitted.

Mikhailis stood up, brushing some dirt off his knees, a broad smile on his face.

"Allow me to explain." He walked back to Elowen, taking her hand once more.

"Plants need nutrients, right? These nutrients have different names—like nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium—and each plant needs different amounts of them to grow well." He paused, his eyes gleaming with enthusiasm.

"But the thing is, when you water plants, a lot of those nutrients can get washed away. That's called nutrient runoff, and it means the plants don't get all the nutrients they need. Rodion's saying we could use the Chimera Ants to bring exactly the right nutrients back to the plants and make sure nothing goes to waste."

Elowen's eyes widened as she processed the information.

"That's... amazing," she said, her voice filled with awe. She squeezed his hand, her eyes brightening.

"Mikhailis, you're full of surprises, you know that?" She looked at him, a playful glint in her eyes.

"We should definitely have a domestic session in our private time—you have so much to teach me!"

Mikhailis laughed, his gaze softening as he looked at her.

"I'd be more than happy to, Elowen." He raised their joined hands to his lips, pressing a gentle kiss to her knuckles. Find more to read on empire

"I'm here for you—in all the ways that count."

Suddenly, a rustling sound came from ahead. Mikhailis immediately straightened, his eyes narrowing as he turned towards the noise. Elowen's gaze followed his, her hand slipping out of his to ready herself.

From the thick underbrush emerged three familiar figures—Vyrelda, Lira, and Serelith. Each of them looked equally surprised to see the two standing there, with their guard of Chimera Ants without them knowing have already disappeared and went hiding, which obviously Rodion's instructions.

For a long heartbeat, the clearing was filled with silence, the only sound being the rustling leaves.

""Eh?"" Mikhailis and Elowen both uttered, their voices perfectly in sync with Vyrelda, Lira, and Serelith, who were similarly taken aback by the unexpected encounter.