The Beauty-Enhancing Apple Wine
The efficacy of the apple wine brewed in the Mysterious Wine Jar was immediate. As soon as I opened the lid, the scent of sweet apple wine wafted into the air. "Hmm." It smelled good. The aroma had deepened significantly. I peered inside. The color of the liquid was fine, too. It hadn't spoiled. It was a golden liquid. The corners of my mouth curled up. 'It's finished.' I lifted the jar and carefully poured it into a glass. The empty glass filled to the brim. The color alone was different. It wasn't just gold; it was a brilliant, shimmering, translucent hue. "Let's verify this." I hesitated for a moment before tilting the glass. Gulp. The apple wine slid down my throat. Gulp, gulp. Once I finished it all, I felt a surge of positive energy spreading through my body. It wasn't the harsh, burning heat of wine; it was a softer, warmer sensation. That energy began to slowly envelop my entire body.
'What will change?' I looked down at my body, observing the reaction. At first, nothing seemed to happen. It felt like my usual self. Then—
"……?"
I narrowed my eyes slightly. This… this wasn't a wine that helped increase sexual stamina. While wine sent heat downward to make my cock stand tall, this apple wine didn't just pool in my groin; it spread evenly throughout my muscles and blood vessels. My fingertips tingled. The veins in my forearms began to stand out clearly, and my abs tightened. It was the sensation of my entire body being 'activated.' I looked at my reflection in the vanity mirror in the distance. Somehow… my face looked cleaner.
I stood up and walked toward the mirror. The face in the reflection had a better complexion than usual. "Wait a minute…" Looking closely, it felt like the pimple that had been slightly visible yesterday had vanished. "Where did it go? Was it never there to begin with?" No. Thinking about it, it was definitely there, but now it was gone. And… it was certain that my skin had become clearer. It had become noticeably fairer. At the same time, the texture was smooth. "Hmm…?" The blemishes were disappearing. My skin tone was evening out, and it had a healthy glow. It was as if—
"Did I go through a molting process or something?"
I stroked my chin with my hand. The texture was fantastic. My skin was incredibly soft. "How did this happen?" My instinct as a music tuner, who analyzes, deconstructs, and reassembles melodies, awakened. I immediately began my analysis. My physique seemed to have changed slightly, too… "Beauty… is it?" Wine was for stamina enhancement. Apple wine was for beauty enhancement…? That thought gradually solidified. And soon, I was certain.
"Skin regeneration… blemish removal… body contouring… Ah… is apple wine a drink that improves one's appearance?"
I looked in the mirror once more. It was definitely—a bit better. It wasn't just my imagination. The 'me' in the mirror looked more handsome than usual. My face was in top condition. Afterward, I continued my experiments to learn more about the apple wine. I needed definitive proof. The changes I felt alone weren't enough. I had to confirm if the same thing happened to others. I gently shook Queen Regina, who was still asleep, to wake her.
"Your Majesty."
"…Hmm."
To her, looking at me with hazy eyes, I handed her a glass without any explanation. "Are you thirsty?"
"Aah… thank you…"
Regina accepted the glass without suspicion. Gulp. The apple wine flowed into her body. "Cough, cough. This is alcohol…?"
"It's a fine liquor. It's good to drink in the morning."
I didn't say anything about the apple wine and just watched her closely. A moment later—
"…Huh?"
Regina, who had gotten up to look in the mirror, touched her own cheeks. "Why is my skin so good? I pushed myself hard until late yesterday."
I just watched her quietly from behind. Queen Regina's skin tone had become much brighter. The fatigue around her eyes had vanished, and her complexion was radiant. She had just woken up a moment ago, but now she looked completely different.
'Ho-ho…'
That was when there was a knock at the door, and the maids entered with breakfast. I naturally handed glasses to them as well. "Drink a glass of this before you go."
"Excuse me…? Ah, yes…!"
"Thank you!"
The maids were flustered but obediently accepted the glasses. They couldn't refuse with the Queen watching. Gulp. Gulp. One by one. I observed their faces without a word. Soon, changes appeared. Their skin texture smoothed out, and blemishes faded. Their eyes became clear and sharp. Even their facial contours became more defined. It wasn't an exaggeration or a trick of the light. It felt as if their appearances had been elevated by one level.
'…They've become prettier, too.'
Than they were just a moment ago. Clearly. They had become more beautiful. 'The same reaction for everyone.' I stroked my chin. 'This is definitive.' The apple wine was a beauty tonic that refined one's appearance and enhanced one's beauty. I lightly swirled the remaining apple wine in the jar. The golden liquid sloshed inside, emitting a brilliant light. The corners of my mouth tilted up.
"This is interesting."
First, I need to find a portable container to carry this in.
'The Queen has been acting strange lately.'
Morning. The grand hall of the royal palace. Adelheit, the deputy commander of the Queen's Royal Guard, was staring intently at the Queen, who was giving a speech on the podium.
"Regarding grain supply, the royal family will completely overhaul the existing storage system to build a structure that can survive for at least half a year even if a crop failure occurs."
Regina's voice was as dignified, clear, and firm as ever. The nobles, ministers, and court officials were all listening with bated breath. However, Adelheit felt something strange about the Queen's appearance. She looked more tired than usual, and it was common for her to be late for her schedule. Above all, there was the sight of the Queen buying a mountain of bizarre sexual tools a few days ago. '…Why on earth would she need those.'
It wasn't that she had absolutely no clues as to why she was acting this way. Adelheit shifted her gaze. In the distance, she saw Guild Leader Han Seru, who was attending as a precious guest of the kingdom. The man who led the bard guild Legato Gear from the Edelan Kingdom. He was standing among the other nobles. He was wearing formal attire, his hair neatly slicked back, calmly listening to the speech. To the naked eye, he was just a decent young businessman. Someone in whom not even a speck of darkness could be found… but Adelheit's eyebrows furrowed slightly.
'That man…'
From the day he entered the palace, Adelheit had been keeping an eye on Seru. At first, it was out of curiosity. Because he was a foreigner the Queen had brought in herself. She had watched him with interest because he said he came to compose a hymn. But… ever since he appeared, the Queen's daily life had begun to change. Waking up late in the morning, frequent delays in her schedule, staring blankly out the window during meetings, and the bedroom light staying on until late at night. And every morning… she would walk out with a face drenched in fatigue, yet wearing an inexplicably satisfied smile. Everything had started since that man arrived.
'Could that man be the one making the Queen lose her composure?'
Adelheit had been serving the Queen for over ten years. She was someone who had watched Regina since childhood, almost like family. That was why she was even more concerned about the Queen's recent changes. 'What on earth did he do to Her Majesty?'
Adelheit stared fixedly at Seru's face. At that moment, Seru turned his head. Their eyes met.
"!"
Adelheit quickly looked away. Her fingers gripped the hilt of the sword at her waist tightly. '…Did he see me staring?' A moment later, when she looked back cautiously—Seru had averted his gaze and was looking up at the podium. As if nothing had happened. He was just listening to the speech normally. One thing was certain. That man was ruining the Queen. No. It was strange to even describe it as ruining her. The problem was the Queen's face, which looked so happy. Because that didn't look like she was ruined; it looked like she had found a new happiness. It was clear that the Queen had been full of energy lately. An atmosphere of being filled from within. That was a good thing.
"—That is all for today. Finally, the emergence of succubi and incubi has been confirmed throughout our kingdom recently. The damage is spreading not only to the capital but also to outlying areas and nearby villages, so please exercise extra caution. The royal family plans to expand patrols and crackdowns to the outskirts of the city, entertainment districts, areas with high concentrations of lodging facilities, and even remote, sparsely populated areas and nearby villages."
The speech ended. Applause erupted from the nobles. The Queen stepped down from the podium. The nobles opened a path in unison. The procession slowly exited, exchanging greetings with everyone. Once the Queen left, the people dispersed. The surroundings were noisy with chatter. But Adelheit did not move. She remained in her place, staring at only one person. Han Seru. He was exiting the hall. His back was slowly moving further away.
'…You.'
Her eyes narrowed. 'I will find out. What you did to Her Majesty. No matter what it takes.'
Seru disappeared completely outside. Adelheit immediately began to follow him. Han Seru was walking through the outdoor garden alone. His gait was leisurely, and his expression was relaxed. The maids coming the other way recognized him and bowed their heads.
"Good day, Sir Seru."
"Yes, good day."
Every woman who passed by greeted him. Perhaps because he was a foreigner with black hair, a color different from the locals, there wasn't a person in the palace who didn't know him. Every time people greeted him, Han Seru smiled and responded. Adelheit followed him from a distance, watching the scene. It was when Seru turned into a remote area. He suddenly stopped walking. After looking around here and there, he suddenly hid his body quickly behind a large pillar.
'There's something!'
Adelheit quickly moved to a spot where she could see the pillar well. Swiftly, so as not to make a sound with her footsteps. She pressed herself against the wall and held her breath. She peeked at him, sticking out only her head.
And—
"!?"
Adelheit's eyes widened. Han Seru was adjusting his pants. But. The front of his pants was… bulging as if it would burst. A huge tent. The outline was so clear that Adelheit frowned. 'His penis is huge?' Why is that so big? Just then, Han Seru muttered while tapping the front of his pants.
"…Damn it, it's happening again."
He even put his hand inside his pants and obscenely touched himself there. "Ah, it's a big problem because it gets hard so often lately. Even though I get it taken care of every day."
He was seen grabbing something… and shaking it back and forth. 'Is he touching his own penis…?'