Chapter 152: Being Under Surveillance

After drinking what she needed to drink and having her feet thoroughly massaged, the Queen seemed satisfied. She stood up straight and said,

"Now, let’s resume."

She was clearly motivated, so after that we left the Royal Palace and walked through the Noble District. When we left the palace, female guards were added — they had probably been prepared in advance. They were knights carrying long swords openly at their waists. During the daytime in the Noble District, I didn’t think any bad guys would try anything, but it was clearly an intimidation display.

For me, proper guards only appeared when I was with the Queen, and they were young beautiful women, so it made me nervous. But the Queen acted as if it was completely normal.

"If we keep going into the Commoner District like this, can we eat the parfait we had before?" the Queen asked.

"Yes. We can if we continue this way," I replied.

One of the female guards overheard and asked with a rather stern expression,

"Excuse me, but are you planning to enter the Commoner District as is?"

She looked quite intimidating, as if wondering what I was thinking. But I wanted her to ask the Queen that.

When I looked at the Queen, she smiled at me. That smile didn’t mean "take me there," did it? I pleaded with my eyes. It seemed to get through, because she smiled gently and said,

"That’s not the case. There’s no need to worry. Today my body feels light and my legs are fine, so I just wondered if we could go. It’s all right, isn’t it, Robby-sama?"

There was a slightly spoiled tone at the end. The maids and guards around the Queen were all young women, so when they heard about the extra-large parfait, there was a brief "Wow!" but they quickly returned to normal and continued as if nothing had happened.

This was a dangerous sign. I would have to report it to Cantoner later. Someday she would say "Let’s go," and I wouldn’t have the courage to refuse.

"Robby-sama, I understand your concern, but I am aware of such things. Besides, even if we go out, there are shadow guards as well."

"Huh? Shadow guards?"

"Ufufu, keep your voice down. They are protecting me discreetly. They guard me at all times. With Robby-sama here as well, even if five or ten people attacked, they would repel them with ease."

She said things like that. I wanted to look around, but I knew I shouldn’t.

"Robby-sama. Do you know the saying ’the walls have ears and the doors have eyes’? It means that no matter where you are or what you say or do, someone is always listening and watching. It was apparently said by a former transmigrator. I believe this saying truly reflects reality. Whether I am awake or asleep, I am under surveillance. There is never a moment when I am truly alone. Before I married His Majesty the King, there were times I was alone, but the moment I became Queen, that disappeared. Therefore, just because the surveillance eyes are invisible doesn’t mean I can do as I please.

I may be causing Robby-sama various troubles, and in return you might have certain expectations of me. However, I always have watchers, so I cannot meet those expectations."

The Queen was essentially telling me that because she was under 24-hour surveillance, we could not do anything inappropriate together. As for me, I wasn’t expecting that kind of thing anyway. I thought it would be better to expect roundabout support like from the Anderson Ducal Mansion.

Something had been bothering me, so I asked.

"Your Majesty, if there were magic that could cut you off from the surroundings, would it make you invisible? For example, I don’t know if something like a ’barrier’ exists, but is there magic that makes only the people involved disappear from others’ sight?"

"Yes, if such a thing existed, it might be possible. However, if I suddenly became invisible to everyone, it would cause a huge commotion and they would start searching for me. It is necessary that I am always visible to someone."

"I see. Now that you mention it, that makes sense."

"Could it be that Robby-sama is planning to kidnap me and take me somewhere?"

The Queen smiled with a teasing, inviting expression, but I had no intention of going on a life-risking elopement.

"Unfortunately, I do not have the means to support Your Majesty even if I took you and ran away, so that is impossible."

"Oh? If it’s just you and me, I could support you, you know?"

Geh geh, her eyes were serious, Your Majesty.

"No no no, thank you for the offer, but it would be too heavy a burden for me. I’m sorry."

"I see. How disappointing."

"Also, I am still only 10 years old, so I don’t know much about the world and couldn’t protect Your Majesty."

"That’s true. When I talk with you, Robby-sama, I sometimes forget your age."

Sigh... I hear that a lot...

"Robby-sama, I was actually thinking of bringing you closer to Alan, but after you listened to my unreasonable requests, I realized what a wonderful person you are. I think it would have been better if someone like you could use your power in this country instead of being sent abroad."

She spoke with a serious gaze.

"Thank you very much."

"It troubles me when you thank me. It means I lacked discernment. In return, let me give you one thing. You will probably meet various people from now on. It would be good if they all held goodwill toward you, but if someone with ill intent tries to cast mind-control magic on you, I will give you a skill to resist it."

"Eh!? You can do something like that?"

"Ufufu, I can. I can’t go into detail, but I possess mental-type skills and can pass them on. I will give you the same one I have, but there are definitely people with even stronger skills, so please do not become overconfident. Now, may I have your hand?"

I held out my hand as told. The Queen took it and said,

"Of course, there is also the possibility that I myself might cast mind-control magic on you, Robby-sama. But I am happy that you trust me. Here, I will give it to you."

The Queen looked at my hand. I felt something enter from her hand. There was no glowing or anything.

"When you return, please check it in your room."

"Thank you very much. While we’re at it, may I ask one more thing? Do you know of any other skills that could help protect myself? I know it’s presumptuous, but this is my first time experiencing something like this, and it’s my first time receiving a skill from someone, so I didn’t even know it was possible. Could you teach me something about skills?"

"Hmm, I can’t do that. Or rather, I don’t know what would be good to teach you. Let’s see... if you take me to another restaurant, I’ll give you one more useful skill."

"Yes, understood. Thank you very much. I’m looking forward to it."

When I bowed my head, the Queen gently stroked it.