The banquet hall was bustling with life, the clinking of glasses and echoing laughter reverberating off the high ceilings adorned with ornate chandeliers. Mikhailis moved through the crowd with practiced ease, his face wearing the faintest hint of a smile, as if he found all of it mildly amusing. The nobles were circling around, eager to catch a mont of his attention. But even as he smiled and exchanged pleasantries, his thoughts were far away.
Elowen's in the private room, discussing serious matters with the others... I bet it's way more interesting than listening to all this political drivel.
Mikhailis suppressed a sigh, turning his attention to a short, rotund noble with a neatly trimd mustache who had just approached him.
"Your Highness," the noble began, his voice dripping with politeness, "I must say, it is most reassuring to have you here. The presence of the Prince Consort is surely a great morale booster. Wouldn't you agree, gentlen?"
Mikhailis chuckled lightly, giving the noble a half-smile.
"Oh, of course, nothing boosts morale like a guy who spends his free ti playing with bugs and watching ani." He gave a mock serious nod, as if genuinely agreeing with the noble, while a few others nearby laughed politely, unsure if he was being serious or not.
Another noble—this one tall, with sharp eyes and a stern expression—leaned in, his tone questioning.
"I must admit, Your Highness, so of us are curious. You've co from another world, yet you've managed to gain Her Majesty's favor so quickly. It's... intriguing, to say the least."
Mikhailis raised an eyebrow, his eyes glinting with mischief.
"Intriguing, you say? Well, it's all thanks to my secret weapon—my irresistible charm." He winked, and the group let out a mixture of awkward chuckles and amused smiles.
"But in all seriousness," he continued, his expression softening, "I'm just here to support Elowen in whatever way I can. She believed in , so the least I can do is live up to that trust." His voice grew more earnest, and the nobles exchanged glances, so nodding, others still skeptical.
Stay connected through empire
As the conversations drifted on, Mikhailis continued to engage with humor and lightness, disarming those who tried to pry too deeply. He could sense the tension in the room, the undercurrent of skepticism about the northern situation. Whispers about the monster outbreak, concerns over the military's readiness—it all swirled around him like an invisible fog. He smiled, nodded, joked, but beneath it all, he was listening, analyzing, piecing together the sentints of those around him.
They're worried, he thought, and rightfully so. But they won't see falter—not when Elowen's counting on .
Eventually, the weight of the superficial interactions began to wear on him, and he decided it was ti for a retreat.
Mikhailis smiled politely, masking his exhaustion. "If you'll excuse , I think I need to call it a night. The journey has taken more out of than I expected." He glanced around, then added with a light chuckle, "And besides, I don't think I can handle any more nobles tonight without falling asleep on my feet."
The nobles nodded, so offering polite smiles while others barely hid their relief.
A young maid with dark hair tied neatly in a bun stepped forward to lead him away. "This way, Your Highness," she said, her voice soft. Mikhailis followed her through the estate's grand hallways, admiring the intricate tapestries and the craftsmanship of the wooden beams as they walked.
"It's quite a place," he murmured, more to himself than to the maid. She nodded, glancing back at him.
"Count Arvis takes great pride in maintaining the estate. It's one of the finest in the Northern Province," she said.
Mikhailis gave her a lopsided grin.
"I can see why. It's impressive, though I have to admit, I'd trade all this grandeur for a quiet night with a good book."
The maid's lips twitched in the hint of a smile, but she remained professional as she led him to a spacious room clearly prepared with care—a large bed with fine linens, a fireplace crackling warmly, and a small table set with refreshnts. Mikhailis sighed in relief as the door closed behind him, finally allowing himself to drop the polite facade. He ran a hand through his hair, glancing around the room.
The maid led him to a spacious room that had clearly been prepared with care—a large bed with fine linens, a fireplace crackling warmly, and a small table set with refreshnts. Mikhailis sighed in relief as the door closed behind him, finally allowing himself to drop the polite facade. He ran a hand through his hair, glancing around the room.
Nice place. Too bad I'd rather be anywhere but here right now.
Rodion's voice broke through the silence, cool and precise.
Mikhailis smiled, sitting down on the edge of the bed.
Good old Rodion, always multitasking.
"Glad to hear you're keeping her covered. Anything interesting happening that I should know about?"
Mikhailis frowned slightly, his mind racing.
A Goblin Apostle? That's... new. And definitely not good.
He leaned back, propping himself up with his hands.
"And the ants? What's their status?"
Mikhailis nodded, a sense of unease settling in his chest.
The Goblin Apostle could an trouble on a scale we haven't faced yet. If it's intelligent enough to lead...
He shook his head.
"We need all the information we can get. Make sure they stay undetected, Rodion. I don't want to lose any of them."
Mikhailis let out a small laugh, shaking his head.
"You're always so reassuring, Rodion. Almost makes forget we're dealing with monsters that could wipe out half the province if we're not careful."
There was a brief pause before Rodion continued, his tone almost sarcastic.
Mikhailis rolled his eyes.
There it is—the grandma lecture.
"Yeah, yeah. I'll try not to be too reckless. You know , always the picture of caution."
Mikhailis snorted, pushing himself off the bed and walking over to the window. He looked out into the dark night, the stars barely visible through the thick clouds. His thoughts drifted back to Elowen—how she was probably in the middle of so heated debate, strategizing, planning, being the amazing leader she was.
I just hope I can keep up with her, he thought, a small smile tugging at his lips.
She deserves soone who can stand by her side, not drag her down.
Rodion's voice interrupted his thoughts once more.
User Comments
0 comments from readers