The Eccentric Entomologist is Now a Queen's Consort

The morning light filtered through the forest, painting the camp in a warm, golden hue. The crackling of the campfire filled the air as Lira worked skillfully, heating up the leftovers from the Skalvern dish Mikhailis had cooked the day before. The scent of the savory stew wafted through the camp, making everyone's stomachs growl with anticipation. Lira, with her elegant movements, stirred the pot over the fire, her long black ponytail swaying slightly with each motion. Her calm and composed demeanor contrasted with the small smirk that played on her lips, as she always enjoyed taking the lead when it came to taking care of Mikhailis.

Mikhailis, meanwhile, busied himself with something else. He knelt down beside his pack, pulling out what seemed to be a bundle of cloth. He gave it a small shake, and to everyone's surprise, the bundle unfolded into a small, origami-like seat. It was cleverly designed, folding out with a few movements into a sturdy, comfortable-looking seat. Find adventures on My Virtual Library Empire

"Look at this, guys," Mikhailis said, his tone laced with excitement as he unfolded a second seat.

"Brought these. They're pretty handy, aren't they? Small enough to carry around but strong enough to sit on. This material here is something we call Kevlar… or something like that." He paused, frowning slightly as if trying to recall the exact term, before shrugging nonchalantly.

Estella raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued.

"So, you has these sorts of things?" She studied the seat with interest.

"It's surprisingly strong for something that folds so easily."

Mikhailis grinned, giving her a wink.

"Oh, there's more where that came from, Lady Estella. You haven't seen anything yet."

Rhea, sitting nearby, tilted her head as she watched, her eyes wide with fascination.

"Milord always has something interesting up his sleeve," she murmured, a dreamy smile on her lips.

Milord?

Vyrelda, Cerys, and Lira stopped for a while when they heard that term.

Once the seats were all set up, everyone settled around the fire, each person occupying one of the foldable chairs. Mikhailis wasn't done yet, though. He rummaged through his belongings and pulled out a small metal teapot, filled it with water, and set it over the fire to boil. Then, he produced a small leather pouch filled with dried herbs.

"I've been experimenting with something new," he said, holding up the pouch for everyone to see.

"Verdaes Grass. Found it growing around here. I thought I'd try making some tea out of it." He poured the dried herbs into the boiling water, stirring it with care.

"Tea?" Vyrelda looked skeptical, her sharp eyes narrowing at Mikhailis.

"You're always trying strange things. Are you sure it's safe?"

Mikhailis chuckled.

"Trust me, Vyrelda. I've tested it. This is the closest thing to matcha I could come up with. Just wait until you try it. It's earthy, refreshing… really wakes you up."

The group watched as the tea brewed, the once clear water taking on a light green hue. The herbal aroma mingled with the scent of the Skalvern stew, creating a blend that was oddly comforting. Lira handed out small wooden cups, and Mikhailis poured the tea for each of them.

"Alright, here we go," Mikhailis said, handing the cups to everyone.

"Be honest, tell me what you think." He raised his cup, taking a small sip. The slightly bitter, yet fresh flavor spread across his tongue, and he couldn't help but smile.

Estella took a tentative sip, her eyes widening slightly at the taste.

"Hmm… it's not bad," she admitted, nodding.

"A little bitter, but the aftertaste is smooth. I could get used to this."

Rhea sighed contentedly after her first sip.

"It's refreshing. I like it," she said, smiling at Mikhailis.

Lira remained calm as she sipped, her expression thoughtful.

"It's different," she said finally, her lips curving into a faint smile.

"But I like it. You always manage to surprise us, i guess,"

Vyrelda took a sip and merely nodded, though her stern expression softened ever so slightly, a hint of approval in her eyes.

"Not bad at all," she conceded.

The group settled into silence as they enjoyed their breakfast. The warmth of the Skalvern stew, paired with the earthy flavor of the Verdaes tea, created a moment of peace among the travelers. The morning was still, only the sounds of nature surrounding them—the distant chirping of birds, the rustle of leaves in the breeze. They were miles away from any town or city, surrounded only by the towering trees of the forest. There was a simple beauty to the scene that made them all pause and take it in.

Together, they took a deep breath, and then, as if by some unspoken agreement, they all let out a collective

"ahh…" after sipping their tea, smiling at the shared experience. For a brief moment, the tensions and challenges of their journey seemed to fade away, leaving only the warmth of companionship and the comfort of a good meal.

The serenity didn't last long. Lira's eyes narrowed slightly as she took notice of Estella and Rhea's position. She leaned forward, her gaze fixed on the two women sitting on either side of Mikhailis. Estella was holding her spoon up to Mikhailis's lips, feeding him bits of the Skalvern stew with an air of nonchalance, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Rhea, on the other hand, was holding the cup of tea, sharing it with Mikhailis—she would take a sip, then offer it to him, her eyes filled with adoration.

Vyrelda's eyes narrowed at the scene, her voice cutting through the quiet.

"Since when did the three of you become so close?" she asked, her tone laced with curiosity and just a hint of disapproval.

Lira's spoon froze in mid-air, her expression shifting into one of annoyance.

"Yes, I wonder the same. Since when did the three of you become so close?" Her fingers tightened around the spoon, bending it slightly out of shape as her irritation became apparent.

Mikhailis blinked, looking between Estella and Rhea, then to Lira and Vyrelda. He couldn't help but smile, a mix of amusement and exasperation.

This is going to be interesting.

"Well," Mikhailis began, but before he could say anything more, Lira stood up, her expression resolute. She stepped forward, squeezing herself between Estella and Rhea, and sat down beside Mikhailis.

"I am his maid," Lira declared, her voice steady, her gaze challenging as she looked at Estella and Rhea in turn.

"It's my duty to serve him, and I won't accept anyone else taking my place."

Estella raised an eyebrow, her lips curving into a small smile.

"Oh? Is that so?" she asked, her tone light but with an edge of challenge.

Rhea, seemingly unfazed, simply leaned her head on Mikhailis's shoulder, her dreamy smile not faltering.

"Milord has enough love for all of us," she said softly, her eyes half-closed.

Mikhailis sighed, a wry smile on his lips.

I swear, I didn't sign up for this kind of drama.

He looked over at Vyrelda, who was watching with a frown, her eyes filled with a mixture of concern and suspicion. Mikhailis knew that look. She was worried—worried that he might be getting manipulated, that Estella might be using her charms to ensnare him for her own purposes.

Meanwhile, Cerys remained indifferent, quietly sipping her tea and eating her breakfast. She glanced over at Mikhailis, her expression unreadable, before quickly looking away when their eyes met. She seemed content to stay out of the brewing tension, her aloof demeanor a stark contrast to the emotions bubbling around her.

"Alright, alright," Mikhailis said, holding up his hands in a gesture of surrender. "Let's not turn breakfast into a battleground. We have a long journey ahead, and I'd rather not start it with everyone at each other's throats."

Lira huffed, crossing her arms but staying by his side. Estella smirked, her eyes glinting with amusement, while Rhea simply nuzzled closer to Mikhailis, her contentment evident.

After breakfast, the group quickly packed up the camp. Mikhailis ensured that everything was properly organized, directing the others as they dismantled the campsite. The Skalvern leftovers were carefully stored, and soon the area looked as if no one had ever been there, leaving behind no trace of their presence.

The group reorganized themselves for the journey ahead. Estella's carriage, filled with trade goods, served as the main means of transportation. Vyrelda took up the reins, guiding the carriage with two extra horses leading it. Cerys, on her own horse, took up a guard position beside them, her eyes scanning their surroundings with practiced vigilance.

Inside the carriage, Mikhailis found himself in a rather cozy—or cramped—situation. Estella sat on his right, her expression thoughtful as she flipped through a ledger, while Lira took up the space on his left, her demeanor calm but her presence very much assertive. Rhea, meanwhile, sat across from them, her gaze never straying far from Mikhailis. The carriage was packed with trade goods, crates, and supplies, making it a snug fit for the four of them.

As they began their journey, the carriage rocked gently with the movement of the horses. Vyrelda, focused and determined, drove the carriage steadily, while Cerys rode alongside, her posture straight and alert. Inside, the atmosphere was relatively quiet, save for the occasional rustle of papers as Estella reviewed her notes.

Suddenly, a familiar voice broke the silence, audible only to Mikhailis through his glasses.

<So, how does it feel to devour two girls you just met and then have your personal maid and your newfound 'companions' fighting over you this morning?>

Mikhailis rolled his eyes, keeping his expression neutral to avoid drawing attention from the others.

Rodion and his sarcasm, first thing in the morning.

He lowered his voice, speaking just loud enough for the AI to hear.

"You were the one who suggested these plans in the first place, weren't you?"

<Oh, please. I suggested getting closer for strategic purposes, not enjoying a romantic rendezvous with two ambitious women.>

Mikhailis sighed, conceding.

"Alright, alright. I suppose that part was my improvisation."

Estella leaned closer, showing Mikhailis a ledger filled with potential trade routes and markets.

"Look here," she said, her finger tracing a line on the page.

"If we take this route, we could potentially double our profits by hitting both markets. It's risky, but the reward would be substantial." Her eyes lit up as she spoke, her passion for business evident.

Mikhailis nodded, his attention on her words, though he couldn't help but notice Lira's subtle movements beside him. She adjusted his collar, making sure it was straight, her fingers lingering for a moment longer than necessary. She offered him a small piece of dried fruit, her gaze never leaving his face as if daring Estella to try and take her place.

Rhea, sitting across from them, watched with a dreamy smile.

"Milord, you seem to have your hands full this morning," she said, her tone teasing.

"Should I be jealous?"

Mikhailis chuckled, shaking his head.

"There's no need for jealousy, Rhea. I have enough attention for all of you," he said, his voice light, though there was a hint of exasperation beneath it.

Estella shot Rhea a playful glare.

"I'm just discussing business, Rhea. If you want to join in, feel free." She smirked, her eyes glinting.

Rhea shook her head, her smile never fading.

"Oh no, I'll leave the boring business talk to you. I'm more interested in Milord himself."

Lira's eyes narrowed slightly, her expression calm but her annoyance clear.

"Milord needs proper care and attention, not distractions," she said, her voice cool as she handed Mikhailis another piece of fruit.

Mikhailis found himself caught between them, juggling their attention with practiced ease. He listened to Estella's ambitious plans, nodding in approval as she outlined her ideas.

"I like the sound of that. High risk, high reward. It's worth considering," he said, genuinely impressed by her strategic thinking.

At the same time, he turned to Lira, giving her a grateful smile.

"Thanks for looking out for me, Lira. I appreciate your care."

Lira's expression softened, her eyes meeting his.

"Always, Your- Milord."

Rhea, not wanting to be left out, leaned forward, her eyes meeting Mikhailis's.

"Milord, do you remember last night? You were so… intense," she said, her voice dropping to a whisper, her cheeks flushing slightly.

Mikhailis felt his face grow warm, and he cleared his throat, trying to maintain his composure as he felt something akin to murderous intent from his left.

Rodion is never going to let me hear the end of this. He smiled, trying to deflect the conversation.

"I think we're all a bit tired from last night. We've gone through a lot in the journey, after all. But we have enough rest, so let's focus on the journey ahead, shall we?"

Estella and Lira both gave Rhea pointed looks, but Rhea merely smiled, seemingly content with Mikhailis's response.

Mikhailis sighed inwardly, glancing between the three women.

This is going to be a long journey. He took a deep breath, plastering on his best smile as he tried to keep the peace.

"Okay, ladies, okay," he said, holding up his hands.

"Calm down. We're all on the same side here. Let's just enjoy the ride and try not to drive each other crazy, alright?"

Estella huffed, crossing her arms with a smirk. Lira nodded, her expression softening, while Rhea simply giggled, her eyes twinkling with amusement.