The Eccentric Entomologist is Now a Queen's Consort

Mikhailis lounged in the dimly lit common room of The Silver Veil, idly swirling a half-filled cup of tea between his fingers. The tea was lukewarm, its scent fading, but he continued the motion absentmindedly, watching the ripples dance across the surface. The heavy scent of mist and damp wood clung to the inn's walls, a quiet reminder of the city's ever-present shroud. Outside, Luthadel carried on in hushed whispers, merchants moving goods under thick fog, and watchful eyes lurking behind every shadow. The city breathed unease, and after last night's discovery, Mikhailis couldn't blame it.

Rodion had confirmed the worst—or perhaps, the most interesting—scenario. The mist didn't just exist as a natural phenomenon anymore. It was being manipulated, controlled down to the finest detail. And someone, somewhere, had altered a piece of that system in secret.

He set the cup down and leaned forward, fingers tapping against the wooden table. "Alright," he began, voice light but carrying an undertone of intrigue, "we've officially stepped on someone's toes." His golden eyes flickered with amusement. "The catacombs confirmed something important—Serewyn once had control over its own mist. The Technomancers aren't just managing it; they're rewriting history."

Lira, ever poised, let out a slow breath as she crossed her arms. Her sharp, intelligent gaze held a trace of something deeper—concern, maybe, or the slow realization of how far-reaching this conspiracy really was. "Which means the current dependency on them isn't natural. It was engineered."

Cerys, her red ponytail catching the candlelight, clenched her jaw. "If that's true, then this isn't just a matter of control. This is occupation disguised as governance."

Vyrelda's fingers tapped against the table in thought, her keen eyes narrowing. "Psychological warfare. The slow kind. Keep a population under an ever-present force, convince them they can't live without it, and they'll never resist."

Mikhailis gave her a wry smile. "It's a lot easier than ruling through brute force. You don't need chains when people willingly shackle themselves."

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A quiet, uncomfortable silence settled over the table. It wasn't just a theory—it was reality. Luthadel's streets told that story. The noble districts, protected, mist-free, their residents living in comfort. The lower districts, drowning in fog, weary and broken, conditioned to believe that mist was an inescapable part of life.

Estella, poking at a piece of dried fruit on her plate, finally spoke. "We've got confirmation from our contacts. The Technomancers are reinforcing security in the noble and merchant districts. They're onto something, even if they don't know it's us yet."

Rhea leaned in, lowering her voice. "They're looking for a thief, not a researcher. But they're putting pieces together. It won't take them long to figure out someone's been in their system."

Mikhailis smirked. "They'll suspect rats in their ranks before they suspect outsiders. But that only buys us so much time."

Lira exhaled, placing her tea cup down with practiced elegance. "We have time. The question is, what do we do with it?"

Mikhailis drummed his fingers on the table, considering their next move. "So, we have three options. One, we expose this mist manipulation to the public. Two, we find another relay station to confirm our findings before making a move. Or three, we sit tight and wait for Prince Laethor."

Cerys frowned, shifting slightly in her seat. "We don't have enough leverage to go public yet. If the Technomancers have countermeasures, we'll just look like conspiracists."

"Not to mention," Vyrelda added, "if we force their hand too soon, they could shut everything down before we get real proof. A public reveal might work, but only when we have enough to shatter their credibility."

Mikhailis nodded. He had expected those answers. "Which leaves us with options two and three."

Vyrelda leaned forward, her sharp gaze locking onto his. "Finding another relay would give us more proof, but it also increases the risk of exposure. If they caught wind of us tampering once, they'll be watching closely."

Lira, fingers tracing the rim of her teacup, regarded Mikhailis carefully. "Laethor might already have a plan. If he's been investigating this from within, he could have resources we don't."

Mikhailis hummed, his lips quirking into a smirk. "I doubt the prince knows everything. If he did, he wouldn't need us. But…" He leaned back, arms stretching over his head, fingers lacing behind his neck. "It wouldn't hurt to see how much he does know before we tip our own hand."

Cerys nodded in agreement, though her expression remained unreadable. "If we move forward without knowing what Laethor is planning, we might end up working against ourselves. The last thing we need is to interfere with a plan that's already in motion."

Vyrelda didn't look entirely convinced but didn't argue. Instead, she sighed, rubbing the back of her neck. "So we wait for the prince while keeping our hands busy. No need to sit around twiddling thumbs."

Mikhailis grinned. "Now that's a plan I can get behind."

Rhea smirked slightly. "I assume that means you already have something in mind."

"I always have something in mind." His golden eyes glinted with mischief. "We're not going to be passive. We'll let Laethor come to us, but in the meantime… we dig deeper."

Lira shot him a look, one that spoke of both exasperation and amusement. "I assume 'digging deeper' doesn't mean peacefully waiting in our rooms."

"Lira, my dear, do I look like a man who enjoys peace and quiet?" He gestured dramatically at himself.

"No," she deadpanned. "You look like a man who thrives on making everything more complicated."

"Exactly." He shot her a wink before turning back to the group. "We'll start by feeling out the noble district—see who's nervous, who's shifting alliances. We don't need another relay to know what's coming if we can read the people preparing for it."

Estella perked up. "I do love a little espionage."

Vyrelda sighed but nodded. "Alright. But we keep a low profile."

"Obviously." Mikhailis grinned. "I'm a master of subtlety."

Cerys and Rhea both made skeptical noises, but no one bothered to call him out on it.

The decision settled, the group finished their meal, conversations drifting into murmured plans and calculated risks. But the tension remained, an unspoken acknowledgment that the city was shifting, and they were caught in the storm's eye.

___

Mikhailis lay on his back in his room, one arm tucked behind his head, eyes half-lidded as he stared at the ceiling. His other hand lazily spun a knife between his fingers, the blade catching the dim candlelight in a rhythmic flicker. The night outside carried a strange stillness, the mist pressing against the windows like an expectant audience, waiting for something to happen.

Rodion's voice hummed in his mind, crisp and precise as always.

<Alert: An unknown entity is approaching the inn. Current trajectory suggests a direct path to your quarters.>

Mikhailis smirked. He had expected something like this. When you stirred the water, you didn't get just fish—you got sharks.

"Looks like someone finally took the bait."

<Would you like me to engage defensive protocols?>

"Nah." He sat up, rolling his shoulders, loosening his joints. "Let's have some fun with this."

His fingers brushed the entomancer talisman at his side, channeling a silent command. In an instant, the Scurabons shimmered into existence, materializing from the shadows near his feet. Their sleek, chitinous forms gleamed under the faint candlelight, their curved mandibles clicking softly before shifting—morphing. In seconds, they compressed into a pair of elegant knives, perfectly balanced, settling lightly into his grip.

He twirled them once, feeling their familiar weight. He had fought with many weapons before, but there was something satisfying about these. They weren't just tools. They were alive.

Rodion's voice cut in again.

<Hostile proximity: Eight meters. Target is employing advanced stealth techniques. Trained movements suggest assassin-level combat proficiency.>

Mikhailis exhaled through his nose. So, they weren't sending just a random thug. That was interesting.

The window latch clicked.

A soft sound, almost imperceptible, but to Mikhailis, it was as clear as a battle horn. His body tensed, but he made no move. Instead, he watched—waited. The air shifted ever so slightly. A whisper of movement, a ripple in the mist outside.

And then—

A shadow burst into the room.

Fast. Precise. Deadly.@@novelbin@@

The mist coiled around them like a shroud, masking their form, distorting their presence. A natural technique? No—this was controlled. The mist didn't just follow them; it obeyed them.

Mikhailis barely tilted his head before a blade slashed through the space his throat had occupied a moment before. No hesitation. No wasted motion. A kill strike.

He twisted out of the way, pivoting on the edge of his bed as the assassin landed soundlessly on the floor. His golden eyes flickered, tracking every detail. The enemy was shorter than him—lean, built for agility. Their clothing was tight-fitted, black with reinforced plating hidden beneath. Practical. Optimized for movement without sacrificing protection.

Not an amateur.

He feinted a counterstrike with one of his knives, testing their reaction. The assassin responded immediately, parrying with a swift redirection rather than brute force, using his momentum against him. Efficient. This wasn't some Technomancer brute relying on power—this was a specialist.

Mikhailis grinned.

"Well, aren't you sharp."