The Eccentric Entomologist is Now a Queen's Consort

He rubbed his forehead, groaning slightly. What could he do? Foraging was risky, and relying on scavenging alone wasn't sustainable. If the ants got desperate, there'd be no turning back. Maybe he could take a page from those kingdom-building anime he loved. Or perhaps those space novels where civilizations created food artificially?

There had to be some idea out there that would work.

As he mulled over it, a delicious smell wafted toward him, distracting his thoughts for a moment. A warm, savory scent tickled his nose. Suddenly, something soft touched his lips.

"Here, aahn, Your Highness," came a gentle voice, snapping him out of his thoughts.

Mikhailis blinked and found a spoonful of food hovering right in front of his face. Without much thought, he opened his mouth and took the bite. The taste was incredible, a perfect blend of spices and tender meat that melted on his tongue. He savored it for a moment before swallowing.

"Thanks," he mumbled, his mind still focused on his colony problem.

<Mikhailis, if you're talking about fantasy solutions, we could consider popular RPG monster types. Perhaps—>

Rodion's voice hummed in his ears, listing creatures he could think of.

<You have the basic ones: goblins, orcs, ogres… but if you want something efficient and renewable, what about—>

Rodion continued rattling off monsters, but Mikhailis's attention drifted back to the taste of the food still lingering in his mouth. It was strangely comforting. His mind snapped back to reality when Rodion mentioned,

<Slime. We have slime. They can absorb and consume almost anything. Highly efficient.>

Mikhailis's eyes lit up.

"That's it! Slimes!" he exclaimed, excitement bubbling up inside him.

Just as he was about to expand on the idea, another spoonful of food appeared near his mouth.

"Here, Your Highness, aahn," came the same gentle voice again.

He looked over and saw Lira, his maid, sitting beside him. She was holding a spoonful of food toward his lips with a soft smile on her face.

Eh? Since when did she sat here?

"Oh, thank you again," he said, taking the bite. The flavors exploded in his mouth, and he couldn't help but comment.

"Hm, this is delicious. What meat is this?"

Lira, still holding the plate, smiled softly.

"It's a special dish from the Silvarion Thalor Kingdom, Your Highness. The meat comes from the Halcyon Bird, a magical bird that lives deep within our enchanted forests. It's seasoned with fire-root spices and nightshade glaze."

Mikhailis blinked, chewing slowly.

"Wow, this is… really good." He swallowed, then his eyes widened as he finally noticed Lira sitting right next to him, eating from the same plate.

"Wait, you're eating too?"

Lira simply nodded.

"The others have already finished cleaning, and the room is spotless now. I thought I'd stay and keep you company. You seemed deep in thought, so I decided to feed you."

Mikhailis chuckled softly, amused by her sincerity.

"Thanks for the consideration, Lira, but you don't have to—"

Before he could finish, Lira scooped up another spoonful and gently pushed it toward his lips.

"Open wide, Your Highness," she said with a teasing smile.

He laughed softly, shaking his head.

"Alright, alright. Thank you." He took the bite, relishing the taste.

"This truly feels like royalty."

Lira giggled at his comment.

"If you like being treated this way, I could do it more often, you know?"

Mikhailis smirked, leaning back slightly.

"As much as I enjoy it, I don't think my heart could take it."

Lira giggled again, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

"Your Highness, you're too kind or timid sometimes."

For a few moments, they continued eating in silence, but Mikhailis couldn't help but notice how calming it was to have someone by his side, especially when he had so much on his mind. His worries about the chimera ants seemed to melt away, at least for a little while.

"If you're feeling better now," Lira began.

"then perhaps you can eat on your own?"

Mikhailis grinned, but a cheeky thought popped into his head.

Getting fed by a beautiful maid is every otaku's dream! -he thought, trying not to laugh out loud.

"My hands are a bit tired," he said with a grin, leaning back into the sofa.

"I was exercising earlier, you know."

Lira raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into a knowing smirk.

"Oh? Is that so?"

"Yep," Mikhailis replied, crossing his arms behind his head.

"So, you'll just have to keep feeding me."

Lira chuckled softly.

"Is that right?" she murmured, her voice low and teasing.

Before Mikhailis could react, Lira adjusted her ponytail, pulling a strand of her glossy black hair behind her ear. She then took a piece of bread and meat into her mouth, leaned in closer to him, and without warning, moved toward him as if she was about to…

Wait, was she about to feed me with her mouth?

Mikhailis's eyes widened.

"Hey, uh, Lira, what are you—?"

Her gaze locked onto his, her dark eyes furrowed slightly, as if daring him. "You can't use your hands, right? Then open up."

She leaned in closer, and Mikhailis froze for a moment before instinctively opening his mouth. Their lips met, and the food passed from her mouth to his, the warmth of her lips sending a sudden rush of heat through him. Her soft tongue brushed against his as the flavors mixed, filling his senses.

Mikhailis's mind went blank for a moment. The taste of the food was rich, sweet, and savory, but the sensation of Lira's mouth against his was overwhelming. Her breath mingled with his, and he felt her tongue gently guide the food into his mouth. He could taste the tender meat, the blend of spices, and something even sweeter—her warmth.

It was a kiss—a soft, lingering kiss. And as they shared the bite, the kiss deepened, their tongues dancing together for a few seconds longer than it should have. Mikhailis could feel his heart pounding in his chest, his hands gripping the edge of the sofa as he savored every second.

After what felt like an eternity, they broke apart, both of them gulping down the bite in silence. Mikhailis looked at Lira, her eyes hazy with something unspoken, her lips slightly parted.

"That was…" Mikhailis started, but Lira interrupted him, her voice barely a whisper.

"Again."

Mikhailis blinked, surprised by the hunger in her voice. Discover hidden tales at empire

"There's still more food, Your Highness," she added, her eyes half-lidded with desire.

Without another word, she took another bite, this time scooping up more bread and meat, and leaned in again. This time, Mikhailis didn't hesitate. He opened his mouth, and their lips met once more, the taste of the food mingling with the heat of their tongues. The kiss was slower this time, deeper, as they shared the flavors between them.

By the third bite, Lira had moved onto Mikhailis's lap, her body pressed against his as they continued their strange, intimate meal. Her lips brushed against his with every bite, her hands gently cradling his face as she fed him from her mouth.

Mikhailis could feel her soft weight against him, but something else was happening. Each time their bodies pressed together, he could feel a hard, unmistakable pressure against her. Lira hesitated for a moment, her breath hitching as she felt it too, but she didn't stop.

She continued to feed him, their kisses growing longer, deeper, their tongues twisting together as they explored the taste of every bite.

The food was savory, rich with spices that tingled on their tongues, but it wasn't just the food they were savoring anymore. Each kiss left them both breathless, their tongues sliding together, sucking gently as they tried to pull out the last bit of flavor. Their breaths came faster, more ragged, and Mikhailis could feel the tension between them growing with each passing moment.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity of shared kisses and bites, the plate was empty. Lira's lips hovered over his, her eyes glazed with disappointment.

"It's… all gone," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

Mikhailis looked at her, their faces inches apart. He chuckled softly, brushing a stray hair from her face.

"Yeah… but you know what? We haven't had any water yet, have we?"

Her eyes widened, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips as she leaned in once more.

"No, Your Highness… we haven't."

Their lips met again, this time with no food between them, just the heat of their shared breaths and the intoxicating sensation of their mouths pressed together. Mikhailis felt the softness of Lira's lips moving against his, her tongue sliding gently into his mouth. It was a different kind of kiss now—no longer just a way to share food but something more intense, more personal.

Lira shifted on his lap, her body pressing closer to him, and Mikhailis could feel the warmth of her thighs against his. Her hands gripped his shoulders as she leaned in, deepening the kiss. Their tongues met in a slow, sensual dance, tasting each other, savoring the moment.

The feeling of her body against his was undeniable now. Her soft curves pressed against his chest, and the heat between them was growing by the second. Mikhailis's mind raced as he struggled to keep himself in check. This was a line he hadn't planned on crossing, but it was hard to think straight when Lira's lips were so sweet, her touch so soft.

Lira's breath hitched as she shifted slightly, her hips brushing against him. She froze for a moment, clearly feeling the hardness pressing against her, but instead of pulling away, she hesitated, her eyes fluttering open slightly as if contemplating something. The air between them felt thick, charged with a tension neither of them could ignore.

Mikhailis broke the kiss for a moment, looking into Lira's eyes. Her cheeks were flushed, her lips slightly swollen from their kiss, and her eyes were hazy with a mixture of emotions. She wasn't just playing around anymore—there was something deeper behind her gaze now.

Suddenly, an unexpected person entered the room.

Since when has she entered? Mikhailis have no idea.

"Looks like someone is having fun," It's a mischievous voice that Mikhailis recognize well.

Serelith!