The Eccentric Entomologist is Now a Queen's Consort

"Rodion, let's get a close-up on the frog variant," he said, his eyes bright with curiosity. The ant was unlike the others, with its longer back legs, built for jumping, and a glossy green sheen that gave it an almost amphibian look.

<Commencing detailed analysis of Frog Variant Chimera Ant. Enlarging live feed. Standby for attribute assessment.>

Mikhailis watched the screen as the image zoomed in, focusing on the frog variant as it paused near a cluster of worker ants. The workers seemed to be inspecting the frog variant, their antennae twitching as they made contact with it, almost like a greeting. The frog variant responded, extending its forelimbs in a manner that was oddly frog-like, a strange mix of insect and amphibian behavior.

"So what can you tell me, Rodion?" Mikhailis asked, leaning back in his chair. He could feel a surge of excitement bubbling up inside him. The frog variant was one of his pet projects—a result of his careful planning and experimentation.

<The Frog Variant Chimera Ant exhibits several unique attributes derived from the genetic amalgamation with amphibian DNA. Primary observed features include enhanced hind limb musculature. Estimated jumping capacity exceeds eight to ten meters in a single leap, far surpassing standard worker or soldier ant capabilities.

This feature positions the frog variant as an ideal candidate for reconnaissance missions requiring swift traversal over difficult terrain.>

Mikhailis grinned, rubbing his hands together.

"Eight to ten meters, huh? That's quite the leap for something this size. I can see it now, sneaking into places that other ants could only dream of. Almost like a spy straight out of those old movies."

<Indeed. Furthermore, the Frog Variant possesses a highly developed skeletal structure with joints adapted for extreme flexibility. This enables it to traverse tight spaces, scale surfaces that would typically pose significant challenges to standard chimera ants, and evade predators by rapidly changing direction mid-leap.>

Mikhailis watched as the frog variant made a sudden jump, springing across the screen. It landed gracefully near a cluster of soldiers, its legs bending to absorb the impact. The soldiers turned toward it, their antennae twitching as if acknowledging its presence.

"Look at that, it even lands like a pro," Mikhailis muttered, his eyes shining. He could feel a sense of pride bubbling inside him. There was something uniquely thrilling about seeing his creations in action, something about witnessing the results of his efforts firsthand.

<The variant's exoskeleton also exhibits a photoreactive pigmentation, allowing for limited camouflage abilities. Analysis suggests a weak earth-mana affinity, potentially allowing the Frog Variant to blend with its surroundings by subtly altering the reflective properties of its exoskeleton to match the ambient environment.

This trait, while not fully developed, provides an additional advantage in reconnaissance tasks.>

"Camouflage, too? So this little guy can jump, sneak, and hide," Mikhailis said, a hint of a smile on his face.

"Almost makes me jealous, Rodion. This ant is living my dream—except for the part where it lives underground."

<Envying an insect is both peculiar and on-brand for you, Mikhailis. However, it is indeed noteworthy that this variant has developed multiple useful features, albeit at the cost of certain standard soldier attributes. Specifically, its mandibles are less robust, rendering it suboptimal for direct combat. Instead, its capabilities lean toward evasion and reconnaissance.>

Mikhailis nodded, his eyes fixed on the frog variant as it moved through the nest. He watched it interact with the workers and soldiers, its movements fluid and almost playful. It was smaller than the standard soldier ants, its body leaner and more agile.

As it jumped again, landing near a group of scarabs that had recently been integrated into the colony, Mikhailis could see the scarabs' luminescence pulse, as if reacting to its presence.

"So it's not a frontline soldier, huh? More like a scout or a spy," Mikhailis said, his tone thoughtful.

"And here I was hoping to train it to be some kind of superhero ant. Guess I'll have to settle for a sneaky little ninja instead."

<Your penchant for impractical fantasy scenarios notwithstanding, the Frog Variant's unique attributes provide a substantial tactical advantage for specific operations, including information gathering, rapid deployment to inaccessible locations, and potentially even creating diversions during conflict situations.

It is, however, recommended to avoid direct confrontation unless absolutely necessary.>

Mikhailis sighed dramatically, shaking his head. "There goes my dream of having a mini Rambo among my ants. But I suppose a ninja's not a bad second option." He watched as the frog variant moved with practiced ease, its antennae twitching as it surveyed its surroundings.

There was something almost endearing about it—a strange mix of insect and amphibian, navigating the underground nest like it was born for it.

Suddenly, the door to his room swung open, startling Mikhailis out of his focus. He spun around, blinking as Lira stood in the doorway, her hands on her hips, her eyes narrowed slightly.

W-What happened. She won't just suddenly ask me to take responsibility suddenly, right?

"Your Highness," she said, her tone sharp, "Queen Elowen has summoned you."

Mikhailis raised an eyebrow, turning back to his screen for a moment before looking at Lira.

"Right now?" he asked, trying to mask the slight annoyance in his voice. He was in the middle of something important—or at least, something he found important.

"Can't this wait until I finish my 'scientific research'?"

Lira sighed, shaking her head as she stepped further into the room.

"No, it cannot wait. The queen has called for you to meet with your personal guards," she said, her voice firm.

"It's about the arrangement that you've discussed last night. She wants you in the chamber right away."

Mikhailis frowned, glancing at the screen where the frog variant was now nestled against one of the scarabs, seemingly at ease.

"My personal guards, huh?" he said, a hint of reluctance in his voice.

"Well, I guess there's no getting out of this one, is there?" He stood up, stretching his arms above his head, his joints popping as he moved.

"No, there isn't," Lira said, her expression softening slightly.

"You should take this seriously, Your Highness. The queen made it clear that this is non-negotiable."

Mikhailis sighed, giving the frog variant one last look before turning away from the screen. He knew Lira was right—Elowen wouldn't have summoned him if it wasn't important. Still, he couldn't help but feel a pang of annoyance at having his research interrupted.

"Alright, alright," he said, grabbing his coat and slipping it on. He turned to Lira, giving her a playful grin.

"Lead the way, my lovely escort."

Lira rolled her eyes, though there was a small smile on her lips as she turned to lead him out of the room. Mikhailis followed her through the hallways of the castle, the sound of their footsteps echoing off the stone walls. The atmosphere was quiet, the castle seemingly at peace for the moment. Mikhailis could feel the weight of anticipation building in his chest.

Personal guards—Elowen had mentioned this last night, but he hadn't expected it to happen so soon.

They arrived at a large wooden door, intricately carved with symbols of the kingdom. Lira paused, turning to Mikhailis, her expression serious.

"Remember, Your Highness," she said, her tone low, "the queen has already chosen these guards for you. You are to accept them, no arguments."

Mikhailis raised an eyebrow, his lips curling into a smirk.

"No arguments, huh? You make it sound like I'm some rebellious child."

Lira gave him a flat look, her eyes narrowing.

"That's because you often act like one," she said, her voice dry.

Mikhailis let out a laugh, shaking his head.
Stay tuned to empire

"Fair enough," he said, holding up his hands in mock surrender.

"No arguments, I promise."

"Well, except in bed," Lira suddenly uttered.

"I-I don't really sure how to respond that..." Mikhailis replied with a wry smile.

Lira giggled, pushing the door open and stepping inside. Mikhailis followed her, his eyes widening slightly as he took in the room. It was a large chamber, the walls lined with banners of the kingdom, the floor covered in a rich, red carpet. In the center of the room stood Queen Elowen, her regal presence commanding attention. Beside her were two figures, standing at attention.

Mikhailis's eyes flicked to the two individuals, his curiosity piqued. One of them was Serelith, her purple hair cascading down her back, her expression calm and composed. The other was a woman he hadn't met before—tall, with fiery red hair tied back in a braid, her eyes sharp and calculating. She wore a set of light armor, the metal glinting in the dim light of the room.

Queen Elowen looked up as Mikhailis entered, her golden eyes meeting his. She gave him a small smile, nodding in greeting.

"Mikhailis," she said, her voice soft, "thank you for coming."

Mikhailis smiled, giving her a slight bow. "Of course, Elowen. You called, and here I am," he said, his tone light.

Elowen gestured to the two women standing beside her.

"These are the guards I have chosen for you,"