The Eccentric Entomologist is Now a Queen's Consort

She had just opened her heart to him, painting a vivid picture of her childhood in the ancient forest, of her wise grandmother Sylvara, and the shocking truth of her lineage—a heritage that tied her to both the enigmatic dark elves and the noble royal family.

It was a tale of a girl who had once known only the whispers of leaves and the songs of birds—a life far removed from the suffocating burdens of royalty and politics, a life that to her had been the very definition of home.

"So you were living in the forest all those years," Mikhailis said softly, his voice tinged with wonder. "And your grandmother, she was a retired druid?" He shook his head, a gentle smile tugging at his lips.

In his mind's eye, he could almost see a young Elowen darting between ancient trees, her laughter echoing through the woods as her grandmother watched over her with loving eyes, teaching her the old ways.

Elowen nodded, her slender fingers absently brushing a wayward strand of hair behind her ear. Her gaze dropped to her lap, her voice a mixture of wistful nostalgia and lingering regret.

"Yes, she was a druid… My parents entrusted me to her because of how I looked—they knew I would face... challenges if I stayed in the castle." She paused, her golden eyes growing misty. "You see, it had been generations since a dark elf was born into the royal line, and when I came into this world..." Her voice faltered.

"I was the spitting image of those old portraits—dark skin, golden eyes, like a ghost from the past come to life. My parents... they understood what it meant—the power I might one day wield. But they also knew the danger it put me in. So they hid me away with my grandmother, in the heart of the forest."

Mikhailis watched her closely, noticing the slight tremor in her hands. She was fighting to maintain her composure, but the cracks were showing. The mention of her parents had clearly reopened old wounds—reminding her of the loss she'd endured, how her simple life had been shattered by their deaths.

Her grandmother had raised her with love, yet fate had cruelly thrust her into a role she'd never asked for.

"And then they died," she whispered, her voice breaking. "The great war took them from me. They were... assassinated. I was brought back to the castle, expected to become a queen overnight." Her eyes closed, and she took a shuddering breath before meeting his gaze again, vulnerability shining in their golden depths.

"For five long years, I learned what it meant to be a ruler. But even then, I always longed to return to my forest—to Grandma. To the life we had." She paused, her voice trembling. "But I couldn't. Word reached me that she had... passed away peacefully.

But I never got the chance to say goodbye."

The carriage rattled gently as they moved, but inside, there was only the heavy silence of a heart laying itself bare.

Mikhailis felt his chest tighten, and without thinking, his hand found hers, squeezing gently. Elowen's eyes widened at the touch, tears threatening to spill over, her emotions raw and exposed.

"She was everything to me," she whispered, the first tears finally rolling down her cheeks. "And I couldn't be there..."

"Elowen..." Mikhailis said softly, his hand tightening around hers. He could see the pain etched in every line of her face, the crushing loneliness of losing someone so dear and being unable to share those final moments.

"It's okay," he murmured, his voice low and soothing. "It's all okay now. You're here, and you're safe. And your grandmother... she's at peace. She's watching over you, I'm sure of it."

A small sob escaped her lips, and she leaned forward, burying her face against his chest.

"Thank you," she whispered, her voice cracking. "Thank you, Mikhailis."

He wrapped his free arm around her shoulders, holding her as she cried—not saying anything more, just offering his presence. Mikhailis knew he wasn't always good with words, but he understood that sometimes, words weren't what a person needed. Sometimes, all they needed was someone to be there—a steady anchor in the storm of their emotions.

They stayed like that for a while, the rhythmic sound of carriage wheels blending with her quiet sobs. Eventually, Elowen pulled away, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. She offered him a small, grateful smile that made his heart skip a beat.

"I'm sorry," she said, her voice still a little shaky. "I didn't mean to get so emotional..."

Mikhailis shook his head, smiling gently. "Don't apologize. You have every right to feel what you're feeling." He paused, giving her hand another reassuring squeeze. "And I'm honored that you trusted me enough to share your story."

Elowen looked at him, her eyes searching his face, and for a moment, it felt as if the air between them shifted—something deepening, something changing. She took a deep breath, her lips trembling slightly as she smiled.

"Thank you," she whispered again, the words carrying a weight beyond their simplicity.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Suddenly, a soft chime interrupted the moment, and Rodion's robotic voice echoed in Mikhailis's ear.

<I have compiled a summary of the information regarding Elowen's history. Would you like me to list key points, such as—>

Mikhailis groaned, rolling his eyes. "Rodion, there's no need for you to summarize her life story like it's some university student's last-minute review of a journal article," he muttered. "Give it a rest, could you?"

Elowen turned to him, her eyebrows arching slightly, curiosity replacing the sadness in her expression. She stared at him, her gaze lingering, and Mikhailis shifted uncomfortably, giving her a sheepish smile.

"Um... is there something you need, wifey?" he asked, his voice playful, trying to lighten the mood.

Elowen pouted slightly, crossing her arms over her chest. "I've told you so much about myself... I think it's only fair that you tell me something about you now," she said, her tone teasing but earnest.

Mikhailis let out a deep sigh, leaning back in his seat. He had hoped he could get away with listening and supporting without having to dive into his own past, but it seemed Elowen wasn't going to let him off the hook that easily. He glanced at her, her golden eyes fixed on him expectantly, and he could tell she meant it—that she truly wanted to know him.

He opened his mouth to speak, his expression turning somber, but before he could say anything, the entire carriage lurched violently. They were thrown forward, the world outside the windows blurring into a dizzying whirl of colors. The wheels seemed to lift off the ground, and a sickening sensation of weightlessness filled the air.

"W-what the hell?" Mikhailis stammered, his heart pounding against his ribs as he struggled to stay upright. He instinctively reached for Elowen, pulling her close to shield her from whatever was happening.

Elowen's eyes widened in shock, her gaze darting to the window. She caught a glimpse of something massive outside—a blur of feathers and talons that moved with terrifying speed. Her voice trembled as she spoke, her words barely audible over the howling wind that now filled the carriage.

"T-this is a Skyras Hawk," she whispered, her face draining of color. "An endemic beast of the Silvarion Thalor region." The realization of what they were up against seemed to steal the very breath from her lungs.

Mikhailis's eyes widened in disbelief, his grip tightening around Elowen. "A flying beast? Just what we needed," he muttered, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Alright then... time for some quick thinking, I guess."

The carriage shook violently again, and Mikhailis braced himself against the wall, his mind racing as he tried to figure out their next move. He chanced a glance out the window and felt his stomach drop—they were already high in the sky, the ground a patchwork of greens and browns far below.

"W-What should we do?" he shouted, the wind nearly drowning out his words.

Elowen clung to him, her eyes wide with fear but also a glimmer of determination. "We need to find a way to break free," she yelled back. "If we can just—"

Her words were cut off as the carriage tilted sharply, sending them both sliding across the floor. Outside, the screech of the Skyras Hawk pierced the air, a bone-chilling sound that made it clear—their journey to the Northern Province had just taken a wild and dangerous turn.