The Eccentric Entomologist is Now a Queen's Consort

"Are you awake?"

Mikhailis turned his head to see Elowen sitting by the fire, her golden eyes watching him with a mix of curiosity and concern. He gave her a crooked smile, his voice slightly hoarse.

"I see... I lost consciousness after getting too excited, huh?"

Elowen smiled gently.

"It's fine. You did great, Bug Hero." Her tone carried a hint of amusement.

"Don't tease me, wifey," Mikhailis muttered, shaking his head lightly. He glanced around, noticing the Chimera Ants patrolling the perimeter of their makeshift camp, their forms just visible in the dim light.

"I guess... I wouldn't be able to have this much excitement back on Earth, huh?"

He fell silent, his gaze turning introspective as he watched the flames. The warmth of the fire contrasted with the chill of his thoughts. Elowen's expression softened as she moved closer, eventually settling behind him, her back pressed against his. The two sat like that, sharing warmth, their breathing slowly syncing. The quiet between them was filled only by the crackle of the fire.

"Is it perhaps the right time to hear your story?" Elowen's voice was soft, hesitant, as if she feared breaking the delicate peace between them.

Mikhailis chuckled, his eyes still on the fire.

"It's not a pleasant one, though," he warned. He let out a slow breath before starting.

"There's a kingdom called Ruslania..."

He began to tell her about his homeland, the Kingdom of Ruslania. It was a small monarchy in Eastern Europe, built on the remnants of Ruthenia. Rich in culture, and steeped in a blend of Eastern Slavic and Byzantine influences, Ruslania was a land of both tradition and modernity.

Mikhailis spoke of its golden age under King Vladislav II, its cultural and technological advancements, and the intricate balance it had maintained amidst surrounding empires. It was a place of history, where ancient castles stood alongside AI research centers, where modern skyscrapers coexisted with sacred forests.

"It sounds like a beautiful place," Elowen said softly.

Mikhailis smiled, though it didn't quite reach his eyes.

"Yeah, beautiful, but not without its darkness." He paused, a sigh escaping his lips.

"I was a prince... not that I wanted to be. The fourth child of the royal family—the youngest of four brothers. My eldest brother, Dimitri, was the one I looked up to the most. He was kind, protective, the only one who saw me as something more than a rival." He looked down at his hands, his voice dropping. Stay tuned to empire

"The others, though... the second and third... they were different. The kingdom was everything to them. Power, control, status—that's all they ever thought about."

He swallowed, the memory of his brothers surfacing in his mind.

"I guess, in a way, we were all like that. Our parents were the same—ambitious, power-driven. To them, we were pawns in their game, tools to secure their hold on the kingdom. It was a life of constant battle, of watching your back, never knowing who might strike next. Dimitri and I had each other, but the other two... they saw me as a threat, a potential contender for the throne."

His voice grew quieter, tinged with pain.

"They tried to kill me. Not once, not twice... several times. They orchestrated situations where I had no choice but to fight back, cornering me when no one was looking, making it impossible for me to escape without retaliating. And in the end... I killed them." He looked down at his hands, flexing his fingers as if he could still feel the weight of that moment.

"It was self-defense, I don't feel anything from killing them at first, but... the look in Dimitri's eyes when he saw what I'd done, the way my parents looked at me after... it was like I had become a monster. I guess that was the moment when I realized. I've done a truly bad thing," He let out a hollow laugh.

"From that day, I threw away any thoughts of being a prince. I didn't want the crown, I didn't want the power. I wanted out."

He fell silent for a moment, then continued, his voice softer.

"That's when I found anime, games, and later, technology. It was like a breath of fresh air—something far removed from the bloodstained life of a royal. I found a new passion in insects, in understanding how they worked, how they lived. I became an entomologist. But... it was a lonely life." He smiled sadly, his gaze distant.

"You know, there's a saying: 'Cursed are those who feel the oceans but can express just a drop.' I think that's what my life felt like. All those emotions, all that longing, but no one to share it with. All those resources, such a rich and life of luxury, but with no luxury to feel anything,"

He reached for Elowen's hand, his fingers brushing against hers. He could feel the warmth of her skin, the slight jolt as her body stiffened in surprise.

"I was so overjoyed when you summoned me. At first, it was because of the fantasy world—a dream come true for someone like me. And then, of course, there was you—a mature, beautiful queen standing before me." He chuckled, his voice turning soft.

"But the more I got to know you, the more I realized... we share something, don't we? That feeling of being alone, of having no one who truly understands. A feeling that only those who is 'a stranger at one's home' could understand,"

He closed his eyes, leaning his head back slightly, feeling the comforting pressure of Elowen's back against his.

"You're noble, yet hypocritical. Strong, yet vulnerable. Regal, yet... just as lost as me. And somehow, that made me feel complete." He smiled, his heart feeling lighter as he spoke.

"I don't know if I'm making any sense, but... you filled a void in me. You made me feel like I wasn't alone anymore."n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

Silence settled between them, the warmth of their shared contact spreading through him. He looked up at the cave's entrance, where the night sky had darkened, the stars beginning to peek through the clouds. The sky was beautiful, vast and endless, just like the feeling in his chest.

"That's why, Elowen," Mikhailis said, his voice filled with quiet determination,

"I've decided to be your husband. And I'll fulfill my duties—I'll provide everything you want, everything I can give." He lifted his hand towards the stars, his fingers splayed as if trying to grasp the distant lights.

"I failed to be the support my brother Dimitri needed. But for you, I want to be different. I want to support your dreams, your wishes. I might be strange, but this feeling—it's the most genuine thing I've ever known."

He felt Elowen's hand squeeze his gently, her warmth seeping into him, anchoring him in that moment.

"I see..." she whispered, her voice barely audible, but it carried a depth that resonated in the stillness of the cave. And in that silence, Mikhailis felt something bloom within him—a connection, a promise, a new beginning.