Chapter 142: The Rejuvenation Drug Again

"Lord Robby, walk slower. You’re going too fast."

The Queen immediately complained. But even if she said that, if we were walking through the commoner district, we had to walk twice as fast as usual or we would never arrive.

"Queen, even if you say that, if we’re walking through the commoner district, we have to walk twice as fast as usual or we will never arrive."

"Eh, really?"

"Yes. According to my calculation, the distance from the noble district gate to the shop is more than a mile."

"Well, do I really have to walk that far? Isn’t there a closer shop?"

"Queen, I know that, but I don’t know any shops closer than that. Besides, the committee already knows we’re going there, so they’re probably setting up security measures. It would be better to have you walk or give up on walking and go by carriage." 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ

I begged her, and she said,

"I understand. But if I walk fast, my feet might hurt."

She made a troubled face. Even though she was a certain age, her troubled beautiful face was still charming. When she bent over to touch her shoes, her wide collar showed everything inside her dress. I worried that her soft-looking breasts might spill out, but of course that never happened.

"Queen, I think those shoes are not suitable for walking outside. I would recommend shoes with lower heels and better grip."

"Really? What kind of shoes would be good?"

"Well, I think something like lace-up boots would be good, but do you have any?"

"Hmm, do you think I have that kind of shoe?"

She tilted her head. One of her maids ran off — she probably went to look for it.

We couldn’t wait for the boots, so we started walking again on the courtyard path. People gathered around us, watching. Walking through a crowd of people made me feel embarrassed, but the Queen seemed used to it and didn’t seem to care at all.

"Lord Robby, I’m tired. Let’s sit on that chair."

She pointed to a chair in the middle of the courtyard. I followed. We hadn’t walked that far, but she was already tired. It’s impossible to walk that far.

The Queen sat on the chair, but I didn’t sit down. In front of so many people, it would be unclear what was being asked of us if we sat together, so I kept my distance. The Queen seemed to understand that and didn’t tell me to sit.

"I’m thirsty. Please bring me something to drink."

"Yes, right away."

The maid bowed and went toward the rear palace. Only the Queen and I were left in the space around the chair. The Queen asked me a question.

"Lord Robby, have you heard any strange rumors in the rear palace lately?"

"Hmm, what kind of rumor? I try not to listen to rumors, so I don’t know."

"That’s true. You’re still young, so you’re not interested. Actually, there’s a rumor that there’s a rejuvenation drug."

Eh?! What the hell?!

—-

"Do you not know about the rejuvenation drug, Lord Robin?"

"N-No, I don’t know anything about it."

Sweat suddenly poured out all over my body. Bad premonition... where did that rumor come from?

"You’re still young, so you don’t care. But when you reach my age, you’d want to try it no matter what."

The Queen’s eyes were terrifying. Her face was smiling, but her eyes were scary. It was like being glared at by a snake.

"So that’s how it is. But is it really true that such a thing exists? Maybe it’s just a magic spell?"

I was deliberately being vague. This was the perfect time to use Deception!

"I suppose that’s natural. But no, it’s real. It’s a medicine."

She spoke with absolute certainty. This is... heavy...

"It’s a medicine?"

"Yes, it’s a medicine."

"It’s like alchemy."

"Yes, but for women, a pharmacist who makes the drug is more valuable than an alchemist!"

The Queen declared it so firmly. It’s heavy...

"Is that so?"

"So it is. I found someone who is using that drug."

"Huh? Who found it?"

"I did."

The Queen peered at my face!

"Eh? The Queen found it?"

I panicked at how close the Queen’s face was.

"Yes, I used my ability to listen to her. It was a secret, of course."

What kind of ability?! I was really curious, but I felt like I shouldn’t ask. Don’t get trapped! My sixth sense was warning me.

"It was amazing. I asked her about it, and she said there’s only one person who can make the drug."

The conversation was approaching the core.

"Haa..."

Only a sigh came out.

"The drug can’t be stored. You have to drink it immediately after making it."

I was getting closer to the truth.

"I see."

"I really want to drink it, but I can’t seem to drink it. Still, I want to try it."

"It must be difficult."

"Yes, that’s why I have a request for you, Lord Robin."

"What kind of request?"

"If you could put it in a bottle and bring it tomorrow, I’d be grateful. You have a mana bag, don’t you? You can carry the medicine without making it spoil."

She spoke with absolute certainty. The Queen already knew everything about the rejuvenation drug. I couldn’t refuse.

"I understand. I’ll try."

"Please take care of me, Lord Robin."

"But Queen, that drug is probably not delicious. No, I think it’s going to be very bad. You might feel like vomiting."

"I don’t care. I still want to try it once. Women are like that. It’s not like the saying ’bitter medicine tastes bitter’ — there’s also the proverb that good medicine is bitter to the mouth!"

"I understand. I’ll do my best."

"Actually, it would be better if I could drink it right here, but there are too many people watching. It’s unbelievable. Someone is actually doing this. I can’t believe that people in this world are doing something like that. How could they get so excited about drinking it?"

There was no answer I could give the Queen. Please ask the people who are actually drinking it. If I ever got to a point where I could kiss and force someone to drink it, I would absolutely refuse.

But when she said that, it meant the Queen had never drunk it herself. She had never been forced to drink it either. So she had never learned about it. Did that mean the Queen never used her mouth for anything other than eating? That seemed like such a waste. There was even the saying that a treasure is wasted if it’s not put to good use. Ah... I was thinking about it too much and I was about to cross the line again! Don’t raise any more flags!

Besides, if the Queen felt that much disgust, she should just stop drinking it. The way she was talking, it sounded like she might end up drinking it directly in the end. Are you sure? It’s just a rumor. I think only a very small number of people know about it.

"Queen, do your maids know about that rumor?"

The Queen gave me a bitter smile and said,

"Of course I wouldn’t tell anyone. If it became widely known, there would be fights. Besides, only one person can make the drug, and the production is limited. It’s a complete secret. If that maid spread the rumor, she’d be sentenced to death."

The Queen’s eyes were terrifying! But what kind of crime did "sentenced to death" mean? I felt like the Queen could make any crime count and sentence someone to death. That’s scary. But I don’t think she would actually kill the person who can make the drug.

When the conversation ended, a maid brought wine. A little later, the boots arrived. I’m glad they found the boots. Apparently she would wear boots if it rained or when she went out in winter. When is she going out? I put that thought aside.

"Lord Robby, may I wear these boots?"

The Queen smiled and asked.

"Of course."

I bowed and crouched down to take off her high heels, but the Queen suddenly shouted,

"L-Lord Robby! That was just a joke! I could never ask you to do something like that!!"

The maids were shocked. "No way?!"

"Lord Robby, you can’t take everything seriously. Even I sometimes make jokes."

The maids nodded along with the Queen.

"Is that so? I thought if Her Majesty commanded it, I would have to obey."

"Lord Robby, no matter what, I would never ask you to do that. If I told you to lick my toes, would you lick them?"