Chapter 182: At Last, Departure Day Has Come

Dawn broke, and the weather became suitable for departure.

After eating breakfast, we were scheduled to leave immediately. Because it was to be a quiet departure, there would be no ceremony followed by a fanfare sending the carriage off. There would be no finely dressed cavalry leading the way in front of the carriage. A completely ordinary (or rather, ordinary in a way I didn’t know) carriage should be waiting at the entrance.

I walked toward the entrance of the Rear Palace together with Mother and Cass. Mother wore a sad expression, but Cass had her usual face. Cass-san, where had that passionate tsundere Cass gone? The slight firmness visible in her skin — was that because of last night’s bath?

At the entrance... the Queen was waiting. His Majesty the King was not there. Lily and Stevie were also present, of course.

"The Queen!?"

Mother was speechless. She stared at the Queen with wide, round eyes.

"It has been a long time since we last met, yet you are so beautiful..."

She stopped speaking there. Cass was also frozen in surprise. Hmm, what’s wrong? No, I understand! I know! She looks completely different, doesn’t she—! Even the soft plumpness of her upper arms is gone, so of course anyone would be astonished.

Seeing Mother’s reaction, the Queen wore an expression of complete satisfaction as she walked toward me. The Queen’s inner joy became an aura that poured down upon me!

"Robin-sama, thank you for indulging my selfishness and for all the trouble I caused you. This is a letter of introduction to my younger sister, who is married into the Veres Ducal House of the Mainz Kingdom. When you arrive in the capital of the Mainz Kingdom, please go to my sister first. I am certain she will not treat you poorly. I do not think Robin-sama needs financial assistance, but she should be able to help you advance in high society. Please take this."

Saying that, the Queen held out a sealed letter. It was an extremely luxurious, decorated envelope. Because of the sealing wax I could not know what was inside, but if I believed what she said, I would surely receive help. I accepted it gratefully.

In that case, I had to give something in return. I took the usual glass out of my mana bag and offered it. The Queen smiled with one cheek, showed a bewitching light in her eyes, took the glass, drank it in one gulp, and returned it. Then she brought her mouth close to my ear and said,

"When you return, please let me drink it directly again."

She said something quite dangerous. Her smile was seductive and frightening.

"Robby, what did you give the Queen?"

Mother asked. There was a slight edge to her words — was it because the Queen and I had looked intimate? Or something else?

"I received a youth-rejuvenating medicine,"

the Queen said with a glamorous expression. The maids present all began murmuring at once: "That’s the rumored one," "It really existed," "Don’t tell me it was from Robin-sama," "I want some too," and so on. Awawawa!?

Hearing that, Mother asked,

"Robby, what is this youth-rejuvenating medicine?"

Apparently Mother had not heard the rumors. Mother, your face is scary!! You’re a yaksha! Before I, who was being pressed by Mother and could say nothing, could speak, the Queen said smoothly,

"Queen Doreen, it seems Robin-sama created a youth-rejuvenating reagent, and I forced the request upon him and was allowed to try it. Robin-sama wanted to give some to Queen Doreen as well, but because of the child in your belly he held back out of concern that there might be an effect."

What was that way of speaking!? Just because it came from the Queen’s mouth, everything sounded like the truth.

Hearing that, Mother said,

"Is that true, Robby! Why didn’t you tell me! That it works this well on the Queen! Fine, later send some to me from the Mainz Kingdom! Do that! Send some for me and for the Queen!!"

She grabbed my sleeve and shook me.

No no no no, Mother. A mother who happily drinks her son’s semen is a little — no, extremely off-putting. The mother-and-son relationship as a light-novel theme seems possible (though maybe not "light"?), but is it allowed in this world? Ah, no, my fantasies have gone too far. Mother thinks it is medicine.

Anyway, Mother glared at me with intense eyes. Mother, if you make that face it will affect the child in your belly. And there was something important I had to say.

"Mother, that medicine has limited raw materials, and what I gave the Queen today was the last of it. Besides, even if there were more raw materials, that medicine is a living, raw thing, so it spoils immediately. If there is someone who possesses an item that can stop time with a mana bag and who can come all the way to the Mainz Kingdom, I will hand it over, but doing something like that just for that purpose is impossible, isn’t it?"

I thought this would make Mother give up, but from the side,

"Is that so!? Then I’ll try searching for someone with the ability! Robin-sama, that’s a promise!"

For some reason the Queen latched onto it. Mother was dumbfounded.

There was that kind of uproar as well, but at last it was time to depart. Lily, Stevie and I boarded a carriage bearing a small royal crest. Two carriages loaded with luggage would follow behind, I was told.

One contained our clothes and daily necessities, and the other held souvenirs — or rather tribute goods — for the royal family of the Mainz Kingdom.

The road to the Mainz Kingdom was well maintained, and there was a post town roughly every day’s walk. Meals and lodging would be taken in those towns, and notice had already been sent, I heard.

Thinking about it, since transferring here I had almost never left the royal castle. I realized anew how extremely narrow a range I had lived in until now. Anxiety about what lay ahead was great, but so was the expectation of heading into an unknown world. I had already died once, after all — there was nothing left to fear!