The Eccentric Entomologist is Now a Queen's Consort

The streets of Luthadel stretched before them, cloaked in shifting waves of mist that curled and slithered through the air like restless spirits. Though the arcane wards lining the noble districts flickered defiantly, attempting to hold back the encroaching fog, they were imperfect. At times, the mist slipped through in thin, spectral tendrils, forcing the city's denizens to adjust their hoods or pull their cloaks tighter.

Mikhailis walked leisurely at the center of the group, hands tucked in his coat pockets, his sharp gaze flicking between the passing figures. This city operated on whispers and wary glances—information didn't flow through loud boasts or public declarations but in the subtle flick of fingers, coded nods, and the quiet transactions carried out behind closed curtains.

The disparity between districts was clear. In the noble quarters, where golden runes shimmered in the air, the mist barely clung to the ground. Within their protective barriers, aristocrats lounged in comfort, sipping mist-infused elixirs on floating terraces, their laughter faint and detached. Their world was a spectacle of wealth and control.

But the lower districts were different. Here, the mist lay thick, pressing into every corner, dampening the air with a chilling weight. The cobbled streets were cracked and uneven, their stones worn down by years of foot traffic that had long since lost its urgency. Hunched figures loitered in the alleys, wrapped in heavy, mist-resistant cloaks that barely kept the creeping cold at bay. Their eyes, dulled by exhaustion and resignation, flickered toward Mikhailis and his group for only a moment before shifting away, uninterested in another set of travelers passing through their world. Read new adventures at My Virtual Library Empire

A group of children huddled near the remnants of a collapsed building, their thin forms swathed in oversized cloaks, their movements slow and deliberate. They weren't playing, weren't laughing—just existing. One of them, a girl with tangled hair and hollow cheeks, clutched a ration bar in her hands, breaking off small pieces as if to make it last. A younger boy beside her watched with hungry eyes but did not ask for a share. She gave him one anyway.

Rodion's voice hummed in Mikhailis' mind, as sharp and clinical as ever.

<Observation: The mist wards are unevenly distributed. Nobility maintains near-perfect containment while lower districts receive only minimal protection. This suggests controlled environmental disparity—an intentional system of governance designed to maintain reliance on external forces.>

Mikhailis' smirk faded slightly as he scanned the rooftops, catching sight of the faint glow of mist wards flickering against the thickening fog. Rodion was right—the magical barriers were strongest in the wealthier parts of the city, while here, in the depths of Luthadel's slums, they barely held. Every few moments, a flicker of mist would slip past, coiling along the buildings like a slow-moving predator before dispersing.

Nothing surprising there. Keep the poor desperate and the rich untouchable.

They moved through the marketplace, where the air carried a different kind of tension. Unlike the bustling markets of other cities, where merchants called out their wares in loud, enthusiastic voices, the vendors here spoke in murmurs, their transactions swift and silent.

Mikhailis slowed his pace, watching as a merchant wrapped a bundle of dried meat in wax paper and slid it across the counter to a hooded buyer. No words were exchanged—only a nod and the flick of a wrist as the payment was placed in a concealed slot beneath the table.

Another stall caught his eye—a black-market trader selling mist-purified water in reinforced glass vials. The prices were high, ridiculously so, but the demand was evident. People in the lower districts didn't just fight hunger; they fought thirst, disease, and the slow, creeping exhaustion that came from breathing tainted air day after day.

Lira walked beside him, her dark ponytail swaying slightly as she took in the scene with her usual composed expression. Unlike the others, who openly showed their unease, she maintained the same unshaken poise, her gaze flickering from stall to stall as if mentally categorizing the most important figures in the market.

"Efficient, isn't it?" she murmured, watching as another deal was made in the blink of an eye. A merchant handed off a package wrapped in silk, and the buyer melted back into the crowd like mist dissolving into the air.@@novelbin@@

Mikhailis smirked. "Nothing like a city built on secrecy. No wasted words, no wasted movements."

A few paces ahead, Cerys threw a glance over her shoulder, unimpressed. "It's unnatural."

Vyrelda, walking beside her with her arms crossed, snorted. "It's suffocating."

They weren't wrong. There was something eerie about the way Luthadel functioned. Every action had purpose, every movement calculated. The city breathed in whispers, exhaled in silence.

Even the guards, clad in their dark obsidian armor, patrolled with a disconcerting precision. Their faces were obscured beneath their mist-masked helms, their movements almost mechanical as they passed through the streets. Unlike the brutish enforcers of other cities, who relied on intimidation, these men didn't need to exert force to command obedience. Their mere presence was enough.

Mikhailis watched as a street vendor, a wiry man with deep lines on his face, instinctively took a step back when a pair of them walked past his stall. He wasn't guilty of anything. He wasn't doing anything illegal. And yet, the tension in his shoulders betrayed years of knowing that the wrong movement, the wrong glance, could change everything.

Power built on fear. Luthadel was truly a kingdom within a kingdom.

Estella, who had spent the past few minutes dragging Rhea toward various food stalls, was seemingly unaffected by the oppressive atmosphere. Her golden eyes sparkled with curiosity as she inspected a selection of mist-cured venison, running a delicate finger along the meat's lightly charred surface.

"This looks promising," she announced. "What do you think, Rhea?"

Rhea, who had been trying to subtly guide her away from the more expensive stalls, sighed. "It's food. If it doesn't kill us, I'm fine with it."

Estella, unfazed by her companion's pragmatism, turned to the vendor. "I'll take five portions."

Mikhailis raised an eyebrow. "That much?"

She flashed him a smile. "It's good to try new things."

Cerys shook her head, muttering something under her breath, but Vyrelda just sighed, as if she had long since given up trying to curb Estella's enthusiasm.

As the vendor prepared the order, Mikhailis took the opportunity to grab a piece of the venison for himself. The moment he bit into it, the distinct smokiness of mist preservation hit his tongue. It was rich but slightly bitter, the flavor carrying the unmistakable undertones of the city's unique curing methods.

He chewed thoughtfully, savoring the odd combination of textures. "Not bad," he admitted. "Tastes like desperation and well-aged corruption."

Lira, who had taken a small, delicate bite of her own portion, glanced at him with a dry expression. "So, like every noble city."

Mikhailis chuckled. "Exactly."

Their meal continued in relative peace, though the sounds of the marketplace never ceased. Deals were made, whispered words exchanged, and somewhere in the distance, the faint chiming of a street musician's instrument could be heard through the mist.

The city moved around them, its pulse steady, its rhythm controlled.

And yet, even as he enjoyed the food, Mikhailis couldn't shake the feeling that their every step was being watched.

They eventually made their way to The Silver Veil Inn, a mid-tier establishment nestled between the merchant district and a noble enclave. It stood at the edge of Luthadel's economic divide, close enough to wealth to offer comfort, yet far enough that discretion was a valued commodity.

The building itself was built from dark oak and polished stone, its exterior adorned with intricate carvings of mist-stalked landscapes, an artistic tribute to the city's ever-present shroud. A sign above the entrance bore the inn's name in elegant silver script, the metal gleaming faintly under the amber glow of enchanted street lanterns.

As they stepped inside, warmth embraced them—a stark contrast to the damp chill of the streets. Floating ember-lanterns hovered along the ceiling, casting soft golden light across the well-kept interior. The scent of aged wood and spiced tea lingered in the air, mixing with the faint aroma of roasted meat from the kitchen.

Unlike the raucous inns found in other cities, The Silver Veil exuded an air of calm. There was no loud chatter, no drunken revelry. The patrons—mostly merchants and minor dignitaries—spoke in measured tones, their voices low, their meetings private. Even the barmaids moved with silent efficiency, their steps barely making a sound on the polished wooden floor.

Behind the counter stood the innkeeper—a wiry man with neatly combed gray hair and a face carved by years of quiet observation. His sharp, assessing gaze flickered over them as they entered, but he didn't linger. He had the look of someone who had long since learned not to ask unnecessary questions.

Instead, he offered a curt nod. "Rooms have been prepared," he said, reaching beneath the counter and sliding a small iron key toward Mikhailis. "You'll find them comfortable."

Mikhailis flicked the key between his fingers, his grin easy but his thoughts already cataloging the room's potential for both privacy and security. A good inn was one that let its guests disappear when needed. The Silver Veil had that feel—no invasive questions, no lingering eyes, just a place where travelers could exist without intrusion.

"Perfect,"