Chapter 50: Determination to Resolve

"So that’s what happened!?? I’m damned!!!" he muttered to himself. He heard Rodion’s voice chime in, cold and methodical as always. <Indeed. The situation may be described as highly undesirable, Mikhailis. The repercussions of such an event could lead to severe consequences if mishandled. Immediate damage control is recommended.> Mikhailis let out a breath, his brows furrowing as he considered Rodion’s words. "Alright, alright, damage control. What are my options here, Rodion?" he whispered, half hoping the AI would provide him with a clear way out of this mess. <Rodion’s Damage Control Recommendations: Option One: Confession to Queen Elowen, presenting yourself as the regretful yet honest consort. Probability of acceptance and understanding: 22%. Probability of relational complications: 78%. Option Two: Ensuring the discretion of Lira with appropriate persuasion or incentives. Probability of success: 63%. Probability of accidental leak: 37%. Option Three: Direct elimination of any leverage against you, including influencing Serelith. Probability of effective silence: 84%. Probability of escalating risk: 16%.> Mikhailis grimaced, sitting up. "Whoa, whoa, whoa, eliminate leverage? What are we? Some sort of gangsters?" <Clarification: Elimination is not restricted to physical harm. Leverage removal can be executed through intimidation, coercion, or negotiation. Note that subtlety is recommended to ensure the Queen remains unaware.> Mikhailis let out a deep sigh, rubbing his forehead. "Yeah, I’m really in a tight spot here." He looked at Rodion’s display on his glasses, eyes narrowing in thought. "I think I just need to talk to Lira first. I don’t want to force her into anything... and besides, I did this too." There was a brief pause before Rodion replied. <Decision recorded. Direct conversation with Lira has been selected as the primary strategy. Awaiting further instructions.> Right at that moment, Mikhailis heard a soft groan beside him. He turned his head to see Lira beginning to stir. Her eyes blinked open, her expression momentarily dazed before recognition washed over her. She pulled the blanket up, covering herself as a small, sheepish smile appeared on her lips. "That was... intense..." she muttered, glancing out the window at the light filtering in. "We’re lucky we woke up before afternoon. It’s almost time for lunch." She stood up, grabbing a cloth to wipe her body before dressing back into her maid uniform, her movements natural as if she were merely going about her daily routine. Mikhailis watched, unsure of what to say. Lira began making the bed, her gaze meeting Mikhailis’s from time to time. She gave him a small, reassuring smile. "It’s fine, Your Highness. It’s part of a maid’s duty to relieve your needs," she said casually, her tone light as she smoothed the sheets. "Of course, I’ll keep it a secret. After all, I might end up being hanged for touching the Queen’s beloved man. It’s a risk I can’t afford." She finished the sentence by putting her index finger against her lips, striking a playful pose, her smile turning impish. Mikhailis blinked at her words, feeling a strange mix of relief and guilt. Before he could respond, Rodion’s voice echoed softly through his glasses. Mikhailis nodded absently, drinking the tea while his mind raced through the next problem—Serelith. She wasn’t someone he could just ignore. Not now. She had leverage over him and Lira. If she wanted, she could ruin everything. Rodion’s voice broke through his thoughts. <The remaining problem, Serelith, is not insignificant. She has acquired incriminating leverage, not just over you, but over Lira as well. Ensuring her continued silence will require immediate action.> Mikhailis sighed, setting down the empty teacup. "Yeah, I know. It’s not like we can just let her walk around with that kind of information." He stood up, his posture straightening as determination filled his expression. Rodion’s voice carried a hint of curiosity. <What course of action do you intend to take?> Mikhailis looked at the display in his glasses, his gaze narrowing. "Rodion, I believe this is a dangerous position for me right now. So it’s fine to take a risk to remove this danger, right?" There was a brief silence, then Rodion responded. <Affirmative. Given your current circumstances—being in an unfamiliar world with limited allies—calculated risks are advisable for long-term security.> Mikhailis smirked, his eyes glinting with a mix of excitement and determination. "Alright then. Let’s go find Serelith." He took a deep breath, his mind racing with possibilities. "Tell the worker chimera ants to start searching the castle. We need to find her quickly." <Command relayed. Worker ants have been deployed for castle-wide search. Estimated time for location confirmation: eight minutes.> Mikhailis nodded, grabbing his tablet and slipping it into his pocket. He walked over to the door, taking one last look at the room. He knew what he had to do. It was risky, and it could backfire spectacularly, but he couldn’t let Serelith have that kind of control over him. "Alright, Rodion," he said, his voice steady. "Let’s go take care of this problem." He opened the door, stepping out into the hallway. The castle was quiet, the midday sunlight streaming in through the windows, casting long shadows across the stone floor. Mikhailis took a deep breath, the cool air filling his lungs. He knew he was walking into dangerous territory. But if there was one thing he’d learned since coming to this world, it was that sometimes you had to take risks to protect the people you cared about. And right now, he had a lot to protect. With that thought in mind, he set off down the corridor, his steps steady, his eyes focused ahead. He didn’t know what he would find, or how this would all end. But he knew one thing for certain—he wasn’t going to back down. Not now.