Chapter 247: Morning Briefing

Take it easy, Captain. You’re the one who smells like a bar.

"We have survivors. We’re digging into their backgrounds—people with underworld connections. The reason was pure greed, but... they’re not talking."

He looked like he’d swallowed a whole mouthful of bitter herbs. He didn’t even touch his tea. Classic "I’m not going to say anything" act.

I leaned in.

"Actually, I can use a certain magic that makes it easy to get them to talk. Could I question the thieves myself?"

I wasn’t sure I could actually do it, but it was a bluff. The captain’s eyes went wide with panic. The Queen probably can do it... and for some reason the Duchess’s face flashed through my mind.

"I-I’m afraid that’s impossible, Ambassador. I’d have to ask my superiors and get their approval... I don’t think it would be appropriate... I’m sorry to trouble you..."

He was stammering, waving his hands.

I cut him off.

"No, I don’t mind at all. I just want to hear it from the men who attacked us directly."

His face turned even paler.

"T-then... I’ll check with my superiors and get back to you! I’m truly sorry for the intrusion!!"

He stood up so fast he nearly knocked over the table and bolted out of the room.

Yeah, that was never going to work. I told Rudolf.

Rudolf nodded grimly. "They’ll probably claim the survivors died from their injuries by morning."

Rudolf hadn’t used any force, but that detail could be twisted later. From now on, anyone who tries to break in is getting killed on sight. I should have done it that way in the first place.

I finished my breakfast, then headed straight to the Ducal Palace. The Duchess greeted me with her usual radiant smile and immediately held out her hands.

"Give me the medicine, Robin! I need it now!"

I pulled out two glasses. She drank hers in one gulp, pressed a hand to her waist, and sighed in pure bliss.

She’s younger than when I first met her—glow, smoother skin, that natural radiance. The heavy makeup from last time is gone. Probably not completely fake, but the effect is real. I felt a quiet thrill. My medicine really works.

While she savored the second glass, I told her about last night’s attack.

She listened with only a faint "Hmm..." and a slight nod. "These things happen." She didn’t seem interested at all. The Duke was apparently still out for the morning, so I couldn’t ask him directly. Oh well.

That was the end of the debrief. Now I had my real reason for coming.

"Duchess, there’s one thing I’d like to ask you. The Queen of Marie Kingdom also uses mental magic, but I’d like to know exactly what kind of magic she employs."

I needed a model for how to run a pressure interrogation. Unfortunately...

"Magic? What are you talking about? I don’t use any magic at all! I can’t use magic!"

Elle standing beside her added with a calm smile:

"Lord Robin is mistaken. The Duchess cannot use magic. She simply... influences people around her naturally."

The Duchess nodded in agreement.

"I don’t use any active spell. For example, if my husband is hiding something from me, I just look at him with a certain stare and say, ’You’re hiding something, aren’t you? Tell me the truth!’ Then he spills everything. Even things he didn’t plan to say. It’s like my eyes and voice carry a weight that makes him feel guilty."

Elle kept going.

"That’s all it is. You don’t need to do anything special."

I was still trying to process when the Duchess changed the subject.

"Actually, there’s something I wanted to tell you. I was going to call you, but you came today so it worked out perfectly."

She looked serious.

"Yesterday I spoke with the Queen. She’s extremely interested in the medicine. She wants to try it as soon as possible and asked if she could visit my residence tomorrow or the day after. Could you bring it then?"

"Of course. But I haven’t even met the King yet. Is it all right for the Queen to come see me first?"

"She’s not that formal. It’s fine. I’ll let her know you’re available."

"Thank you."

The Duchess smiled sweetly.

"And I’d love it if you could show me the medicine-making process in front of the Queen and me. Elle can help. She’s already demonstrated the effect on me. How about it? Do you mind?"

Elle’s face went deathly pale. She shook her head so hard her neck creaked and tears welled up in her eyes.

"Elle, you can do it, right?" I asked.

She kept shaking her head, eyes full of panic.

"I can’t! I don’t know how! That’s why I want to watch you do it! Please, Robin, I’d be grateful! Elle, it’s fine, isn’t it? Just be careful!"

The Duchess had completely taken over. There was no "no" option for Elle anymore. She was already so rejuvenated from the medicine that showing the process would probably make her even happier.

While Elle was still frantically shaking her head, the Duchess leaned in and whispered:

"By the way... how old do you think the Queen is?" ℯℯ𝑙.

"Honestly, I’ve never asked. She looks about the same age as the current Queen of Mainz."

Same age again? I thought. No matter which world I was in, I was destined to be the "youth supplier" to a woman in her early thirties. This is getting dangerous...

"Elle, can you really do it?" I asked again, trying to read her mind.

Her whole body shook with a silent "No!"

I was about to give up when the Duchess’s eyes sparkled with a brilliant idea.

"Then we’ll do it like this!" she declared. "You don’t even need to show the process. Just come in front of us and... interact with the medicine naturally. Elle can assist. It’ll be far more convincing!"

Elle’s eyes went even wider, but she had no choice. The Duchess had already decided. The only way to stop it now was to go along with the plan.