The Eccentric Entomologist is Now a Queen's Consort

Chapter 183 Daily Life After The Goblin Case (End)

Mikhailis lounged comfortably on the plush sofa, his head tilted back with an arm lazily resting behind his head, watching as Lira sat beside him, completely absorbed in the game she was playing. The sight made him chuckle. Lira, usually so elegant and composed, had a furrowed brow and an intense gaze fixed on the screen as she guided her virtual farmer through another day in the game "Harvest Sun." Her delicate fingers danced over the controller, and every once in a while, she would let out a sigh—of frustration or triumph, he couldn't always tell.

"Alright, how do I... oh! The prices are up for tomatoes! I should sell them, right?" Lira muttered to herself, her voice almost a whisper.

Mikhailis grinned. He couldn't help but be entertained by how invested she had become in the virtual world. This was the same Lira who usually moved with such elegance and control, handling everything with an air of calm competence. Now, she was getting all worked up over pixelated crops and chickens.

"Yep, sell them while the market's hot. If you keep them for too long, they might go down in value," Mikhailis said, offering advice while trying to suppress another chuckle.

Lira didn't look away from the screen as she nodded, pressing the buttons frantically.

"Yes, yes... I'm selling! And what about these... strawberries? Should I wait on those?"

Mikhailis shook his head, smiling.

"Nah, strawberries are high-value right now. You should sell them too. Oh, and make sure to water your crops before the day ends. Otherwise, you'll regret it tomorrow."

Lira let out an exaggerated groan as she maneuvered her farmer character towards the well to fetch water.

"This game is deceptively complicated, Your Highness. Who knew farming could be so... stressful?"

He laughed.

"Welcome to the world of virtual farming. It's all about the grind, Lira. You thought being my maid was tough? Try raising cows and growing strawberries while trying to keep those spirit sprites happy."

Lira's lips twitched into a smile, her gaze still glued to the screen.

"You jest, but honestly, I might prefer tending to you over dealing with these spirit sprites. They're very demanding."

Mikhailis nodded sagely.

"You've got to appease the sprites, Lira. Their blessings give you those rare seeds. Without those seeds, your profit margins are going to look terrible. And let's face it—a bad margin is unacceptable."

"Yes, yes. Rare seeds," Lira repeated, her eyes focused as she maneuvered the farmer back to the barn.

"How do I get more of those again? The ones that bloom in winter—what did you say they were called?"

"Frost Lilies," Mikhailis replied, holding back a grin.

"You need to complete the sprite's challenge near the mountain. It's a tricky one—better get ready for a lot of running back and forth."

Lira sighed deeply, and for the first time, she looked away from the screen, fixing Mikhailis with a dry look.

"I'm starting to think this game is just your way of tormenting me."

He laughed aloud, shaking his head.

"Nah, Lira. It's all about building resilience—a different kind of endurance training, if you will."

Lira shook her head, her ponytail swaying behind her as she returned her attention to the screen.

"I should've known your definition of 'relaxing' would be a form of labor."

"Hey, you volunteered! Don't pin this on me now," Mikhailis retorted, his voice playful.

"True," Lira muttered, her voice quieter now.

"But I'm determined to figure it out. I won't let a simple game defeat me."

Mikhailis leaned back, watching her with an affectionate smile. There was something oddly charming about seeing Lira in such a state—competitive, focused, determined to succeed even in the little things. It was part of what made her, well, Lira. The elegance, the calm—but beneath it all, a fierce determination that drove her forward.

She's definitely more competitive than I thought.

He chuckled inwardly, watching as she carefully navigated through another day in the virtual world.

Mikhailis raised an eyebrow, impressed.

"800%, huh? That's... a lot of food. No wonder Elowen looked so happy when she got those reports."

Mikhailis rolled his eyes.

"Alright, alright. Spare me the lecture. I get it—fertilizer good, more food, kingdom happy."

"Whoa, whoa, one thing at a time, Rodion," Mikhailis interrupted, holding up a hand.

"Inventions should be introduced slowly. We don't want people getting too dependent, and besides, it's more fun when the local inventors take the hints and run with them themselves."

"Yeah, yeah, I know," Mikhailis said, waving him off.

"Let them figure some things out on their own. It'll be better for everyone in the long run."

Rodion was silent for a moment, then spoke again, his tone shifting slightly.

Mikhailis's smile faded slightly, his eyes narrowing.

"What kind of issue?"

Mikhailis sighed, leaning forward, his elbows resting on his knees. He stared at the floor for a moment, considering Rodion's words.

Of course. Nothing good comes without a price.

He knew that better than anyone. For every step forward, there was always a risk, always something lurking in the shadows, waiting for the right moment to strike.

"Yeah," he said quietly, his voice lacking its usual playfulness.

"I get it. Prosperity brings its own set of problems. And if people start seeing Silvarion Thalor as a threat, they're not going to just sit around and watch."

Mikhailis stayed silent, his gaze distant. He knew Rodion was right. The more they achieved, the more they built, the more they grew, the more they would become a target.

"We'll handle it," he said finally, his voice steady.

"Whatever comes, we'll deal with it. Just like we always do."

But then, so suddenly.

The atmosphere in the room seemed to shift suddenly. Rodion's voice interrupted Mikhailis's thoughts, this time with an urgency that made him sit up straight.

Mikhailis frowned, his eyes narrowing. "What is it? What's going on?"

The feed from one of the chimera ants following Elowen came into view, projected onto his glasses. Mikhailis saw Elowen sitting in a meeting room, her face showing a hint of surprise. She was surrounded by advisors and other officials, her eyes widening as a messenger whispered something in her ear.