The Eccentric Entomologist is Now a Queen's Consort

Mikhailis lounged back against the garden chair, the morning sun warm on his face. His eyes were half-closed, soaking in the sunlight as he stretched his legs lazily, the thick scent of roses and fresh herbs wafting on the gentle breeze. This part of the royal chambers was his sanctuary—a place where no one bothered him, and he could indulge in his simple pleasures. He had a sketchbook resting on his lap, its pages already filled with sketches of various insects and plants, and he smiled as he sketched the next subject brought to him by his ever-diligent chimera ant workers.

These guys are so dedicated. Imagine having your own miniature botanists who don't even complain.

Mikhailis chuckled to himself as one of the chimera ant workers approached, carrying a tiny flower with iridescent blue petals. He took the flower gently from the chimera ant's claws, marveling at the vivid color.

"Alright, little buddy, let's see what you've got here," he said softly, pulling out his pencil and beginning to sketch.

<Another rare specimen, I presume?>

Rodion's voice crackled through his glasses, the ever-familiar sarcasm evident.

"Oh, you bet," Mikhailis replied, not looking up from his sketch.

"This one is really rare. Probably the only one of its kind in the whole kingdom. Gotta document it before anyone else discovers my secret treasure."

<Yes, because the entire world revolves around you finding rare flowers and bugs. What a heroic mission.>

Mikhailis grinned, shaking his head.

"You just don't get it, Rodion. Not everything has to be about war or power. Sometimes, it's the small things that matter—the little joys that make life worth living." He finished his sketch, labeling the flower as "Blue Veil Bloom," and began noting its unique characteristics. He turned the flower around in his fingers, admiring the way the sunlight filtered through the petals. The chimera ant worker stood by, its antennae twitching as if waiting for his next command.

<Yes, quite the treasure indeed. I'm sure the Queen will be thrilled to know you've added another doodle to your collection.>

"Sarcasm doesn't suit you, Rodion," Mikhailis retorted, flicking through his sketchbook.

He had several pages filled with intricate drawings of insects, flowers, and even some small creatures he'd found while exploring. Each drawing was accompanied by notes—descriptions of the habitat, the characteristics, and sometimes even a personal anecdote. It was his way of documenting this world, of cataloging its beauty.

One of the chimera ants approached with a small, red beetle, its shell glistening like a polished gemstone. Mikhailis raised an eyebrow, impressed by its vibrant color.

"Look at you, little guy," he murmured, taking the beetle delicately and placing it on a blank page.

He began sketching quickly, his pencil moving with practiced ease.

<Are you planning on becoming the next great entomologist of Silvarion Thalor? Perhaps we could hold a royal exhibition—"The Many Bugs of Mikhailis"—surely that would attract hordes of admirers.>

Mikhailis chuckled.

"Don't tempt me. I might just make that happen," he replied, adding the final touches to his sketch. He looked at the beetle for a moment longer before carefully setting it back down, watching as the chimera ant worker took it back into the garden.

He leaned back in his chair, letting out a contented sigh. He could hear the faint rustling of leaves, the buzz of insects, and the occasional chirp of a bird. This was his sanctuary—a place where he could forget about everything else, even if just for a moment. "Alright, alright, I think I've had enough of nature's wonders for today," he said, standing up and stretching his arms above his head. "Time to get back to work."

<Oh, yes. Back to your "important" work.>

Mikhailis smirked, turning to head back inside.

"You'll see, Rodion. One day, all this will be important."

____

He descended the hidden staircase from the garden, the air around him growing cooler as he moved deeper underground. The underground study was still under construction, but it was coming along nicely. He had managed to convince Elowen to let him build it beneath the garden and laboratory.

Gotta love a supportive wife, he thought with a smile, as the chimera ant workers scuttled around, diligently expanding the chambers.

The insect lab was located above his personal study, an ever-growing collection of aquariums filled with different specimens, each with unique environments tailored to their needs. Mikhailis couldn't help but feel a sense of pride as he looked over the room. The chimera ants had done an incredible job—the aquariums were perfectly crafted, with each compartment meticulously organized.

He continued down to his personal study, which was tucked away below the insect lab. It was a small room, cozy, filled with books, notes, and odd trinkets he had collected during his adventures. The walls were lined with shelves, and the desk was cluttered with papers and tools. A warm light glowed from the crystal lamp on his desk, giving the space a soft, golden glow.

This is where the magic happens, he thought, smiling as he took a seat at his desk.

The chimera ant workers were still expanding the underground space, and he had big plans for it—a secret laboratory where he could conduct experiments that no one else needed to know about. He glanced over at the workers, who were carrying supplies and reinforcing the walls. Their coordination was impressive; they moved as if they were one, working in perfect harmony.

<Expansion is progressing efficiently. The current area has increased by approximately 30% compared to yesterday. At this rate, the lab should be complete within a few weeks.>

"Good, good. I want this place to be perfect," Mikhailis said, leaning back in his chair, watching the chimera ants as they worked. He had already discussed his plans with Elowen, and she had given him her blessing—as long as he promised not to blow anything up.

"Imagine the things we could do here, Rodion. The experiments, the discoveries... the secrets."

<Yes, I believe it would be very interesting, unless you have a sudden change of mind due to your unpredictablity>

"Come on, have a little faith in me," Mikhailis replied with a grin. He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. This place was going to be his own little sanctuary of science and magic, where he could let his curiosity run wild.

"Alright, let's head down for the study session. I need to learn some things."

In the afternoon, Mikhailis was seated in his underground study, a foldable whiteboard standing in front of him. It wasn't just any ordinary whiteboard—this one could be folded and carried around, and it also served as a giant note tablet that Rodion could store all of his notes on. He pulled out the board, unfolding it and setting it up, his fingers tracing over its smooth surface.

"Alright, Rodion. Ready to teach me some more about this world?"

<Always ready, Mikhailis. Today's lesson will cover a variety of topics, starting with anatomy—specifically, that of the chimera ants, local insects, and monsters. Following that, we will move on to magical theory, strategic warfare, and finally, fantasy engineering.>

Mikhailis picked up a marker, twirling it between his fingers as he grinned.

"Sounds like a full schedule. Let's get started, then." He began writing on the board as Rodion spoke, jotting down notes, making sketches, and occasionally pausing to add his own thoughts or questions.

Rodion's voice filled the room, calm and steady, guiding Mikhailis through each topic in meticulous detail. They covered the anatomy of various creatures, discussing their strengths and weaknesses, the way they moved, the way they hunted. Mikhailis scribbled notes, his mind racing as he tried to keep up. He sketched the different types of ants, noting their unique traits—the workers, the soldiers, the variants. He drew diagrams of monsters he'd encountered, labeling their vulnerable spots, their weaknesses.

<It's important to understand not just the physical aspects of these creatures, but also their behavior. Knowing how they react under certain conditions can be the key to defeating them.>

Mikhailis nodded, jotting down Rodion's words. He was fascinated by the intricacies of this world—the way everything was connected, the delicate balance between life and magic. He moved on to the next topic, his marker flying across the board as he scribbled notes on magical theory. Rodion explained the basics of mana, the different types of magic, and the ways in which they could be harnessed.
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<Magic is not an exact science, Mikhailis. It requires intuition, practice, and an understanding of the flow of energy. Unlike engineering, which follows strict rules, magic is fluid. It bends to the will of the caster, and each individual must find their own way of connecting with it.>

Mikhailis paused, tapping the marker against his chin as he considered Rodion's words.

Magic is about intuition... maybe that's why I struggle with it. He wrote down a note, underlining it twice.

"Alright, got it. Let's move on to strategic warfare."

Rodion shifted gears, diving into the fundamentals of warfare—tactics, formations, the importance of understanding your enemy. Mikhailis drew diagrams of battlefields, noting the different strategies that could be employed based on terrain, resources, and manpower. He was engrossed in the lesson, his mind working at full speed as he absorbed the information.

After wrapping up the study session, Mikhailis moved to the underground lab. The chimera ant workers were already there, waiting for his instructions. He smiled as he approached the lab bench, his hands rubbing together in anticipation.

"Alright, everyone. Let's get started. We've got a lot to do today."

The chimera ant workers moved into action, gathering supplies and setting up the equipment. Mikhailis watched them for a moment, marveling at their efficiency. They were like tiny, tireless assistants—always ready, always prepared. He turned his attention to the various projects they had underway, starting with Rodion's physical body.

He examined the blueprints spread out on the table—detailed diagrams of the body he was designing for Rodion. It was going to be complex, requiring materials that were still being gathered. He had sent the chimera ants to search for iron deposits, and he hoped they would find something soon.

"Alright, let's see how we're doing with the materials," he muttered, making a note to check on the scouts later.

Next, he moved on to the chimera ant genetic evolution project. He was working on developing a formula to understand how the queen absorbed new genetic traits and manifested them in her offspring. He had pages of notes, filled with calculations, observations, and hypotheses. He spread them out across the table, his eyes scanning over the data.

<Progress on genetic evolution appears steady, though there are still variables that have not been accounted for. Further experimentation may be required.>

"Yeah, I figured as much," Mikhailis said, scratching his head as he looked at the data. "Still, we're getting closer. I can feel it."

He moved on to the Magic Battery Project. He had several different materials laid out on the table—crystals, herbs, even a few rare metals. He was trying to determine which of these materials had the greatest capacity for storing magical energy. He picked up a crystal, holding it up to the light.

"Let's see if you've got what it takes," he murmured, setting it in a small apparatus designed to measure its mana capacity.