Chapter 14
Chapter 14
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: The Empress's Special Brew
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"Your Majesty's complexion grows paler by the day..."
Bubble, bubble.
The imperial kitchen resembled a witch's laboratory more than anything else.
Inside the cauldron, an unidentified purple liquid bubbled like lava.
Fwoosh.
Elena, the empress of the empire and the novel's heroine, gripped a large ladle, an apron tied over her lavish dress.
The recent sight of Darcor had been pitiful.
Sunken eyes and slumped shoulders.
But what gnawed at her heart most were the occasional grimaces of pain.
She believed without doubt that everything was for her protection.
In Elena's mind, Darcor was already a lonely, tragic romantic.
"An ancient recipe from the forbidden section of the imperial library. They say nothing boosts vitality like this."
Her gaze shifted to the cutting board.
A fresh ogre liver veined with blood, a wyvern's tongue.
And mandrake root still twitching faintly.
Each ingredient was rare and deadly enough to kill or knock out an ordinary person on the spot.
"Your Majesty, are you sure it's safe to serve this to His Majesty? If something goes wrong..."
The head maidservant asked cautiously, pinching her nose.
The other maids had already fainted from the stench and been carried out.
Elena shook her head firmly.
"Good medicine tastes bitter. And with my heartfelt effort poured in, His Majesty will surely be pleased."
Without hesitation, she dropped the mandrake into the cauldron.
Screeeech!
"Perfect."
Elena scooped up the purple broth with her ladle, a blissful smile on her face.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Darcor was basking in a rare moment of peace.
Having completed the underground auction quest and claimed Baron's head, his Madness Level had stabilized.
'Good. I'll stockpile stamina until the hunting tournament.'
He shoved aside the pile of documents.
Just as he stretched out on his chair, soaking in the sunlight flooding the office...
Thud, thud, thump!
Unsettling footsteps echoed from the end of the corridor.
And a bizarre stench crept in through the door crack.
'What the hell? Sewer backup?'
Darcor wrinkled his nose and furrowed his brow.
Bang.
The office door flew open.
"Your Majesty!"
The empress Elena appeared with a radiant smile.
In her hands, a massive pot.
"E-Empress? What brings you here so suddenly..."
Darcor instinctively recoiled.
His instincts screamed danger.
"I prepared this with all my heart for you."
Elena shyly placed the pot on the desk.
The moment the lid lifted...
Kwaaang.
A horrific stench exploded outward.
The orchid leaves on the desk yellowed instantly and crumbled to dust.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Warning.] [A lethal toxic substance has been detected.] [Ingestion may threaten your life.] 'Crazy. Is this an assassination?'
Darcor's eyes sharpened.
Had the empress finally revealed her true colors?
Was the original story's setting twisting to poison him?
But as he looked up at Elena, Darcor was left speechless.
Her blue eyes sparkled with anticipation.
Like a kitten in a movie awaiting praise, she clasped her hands and bounced on her toes.
Soot marks from cooking dotted her face.
'...She's serious.'
This wasn't an act.
"You've looked so gaunt lately, Your Majesty... I scoured ancient texts for this special tonic. Eat up and regain your strength."
Elena ladled a heaping portion of purple chunks into a bowl.
Liquid dripped from the ladle, faintly melting the tablecloth, but she didn't notice.
Darcor swallowed dryly.
"Ah... If it's not to your taste, you don't have to eat it. S-Sorry..."
Refuse?
Look at those pleading eyes.
Refusal would wound her, leading to tears, then endless soothing, and rumors twisting it into the emperor spurning his wife's devotion.
The Empress Dowager already made things troublesome enough.
No way in hell.
'It won't actually kill me, right?'
With grim resolve, Darcor picked up the spoon.
"Haha... Thanks. I'll dig in."
He hesitated briefly.
Then squeezed his eyes shut and shoved the mystery lump into his mouth.
Fwoosh.
Agony like his tongue melting hit, followed by gut-wrenching cramps.
His face turned blue as his esophagus burned.
'Gah. Th-This isn't food for humans...'
The ogre liver burst with fishy juices as he chewed, the wyvern tongue sticking toughly to his teeth.
Gates of hell opened.
"Y-Your Majesty... Not to your taste?"
Elena approached worriedly.
Darcor gripped the desk.
Vomiting now would be the end.
An emperor's pride was at stake.
He couldn't puke up his wife's cooking.
With superhuman endurance, he suppressed his heaving throat and forced it down.
Gulp.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Achievement Unlocked: Taster of Hell's Flavor] [Your body adapts to lethal toxins.] [Reward: Acquired Skill - Deadly Poison Resistance (Intermediate)] [From now on, most poisons can be digested.] 'I'm alive.'
Darcor exhaled in relief.
The vile aftertaste lingered, but the pain was gone.
"Urk. D-Delicious. Very intense."
He wiped his mouth with trembling hands, forcing a smile.
Pure survival acting.
"Really? Oh my goodness... I'm so relieved."
A tear of joy welled in Elena's eye.
"There's plenty more. Your Majesty, have seconds!"
"...."
Elena swung the ladle enthusiastically.
The bowl refilled with purple hell.
'Fine... I have resistance now. Let's do this.'
Darcor cursed inwardly as he picked up the spoon again.
Gulp.
He gulped it down without chewing.
'His Majesty is eating so quickly for the first time. My cooking must suit his taste!'
Elena clasped her hands over her mouth, touched.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Gauss, you've spent too long cowering in the eastern mud pits."
Empress Dowager Elizabeth spoke coldly.
In a secluded underground villa on the capital's outskirts, absent from maps.
A heavy silence hung in the dark chamber.
The Ashes Knights, vanished from imperial history.
Before the Empress Dowager knelt a massive man.
A scar across his face, eyes like a beast's.
Captain of the Ashes Knights, Gauss.
"I awaited only Your Majesty's call."
Gauss's voice grated like scraping metal.
"We'll settle it at this hunting tournament."
The Empress Dowager tossed a map onto the table.
Twilight Forest.
"Shall I bring the tyrant's head?"
"No. He can't just die."
She set down her teacup with a cruel smile.
"It must be a tragic accident. The tyrant, mad with the hunt, overreaches and falls to the beasts."
She traced a finger across her throat.
"Torn to shreds by monsters. Not even a corpse to recover—every bone gnawed clean."
"Monster chow... Fitting end for the tyrant."
"Failure is not an option."
"Worry not, Your Majesty."
Gauss caressed the greatsword on his back.
"No beast or man has ever left alive before my blade."
His lips twisted into a grotesque grin up to his ears.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Urgh... My stomach hurts."
Darcor sprawled on the office sofa like a corpse.
Clutching his belly and groaning pathetically.
Without the Deadly Poison Resistance skill, he'd be dead already.
Knock knock.
"Your Majesty, it's Edel."
"Come in. Save me..."
Edel entered and clicked her tongue in pity.
"You look awful. Did you overdo it on Her Majesty the Empress's love potion at lunch?"
"Don't tease. I nearly died."
Darcor dumped digestive medicine into his mouth with shaking hands.
Edel shook her head and unfolded her report.
"I have news. We've spotted rat activity."
Her face switched to escort knight mode.
"Ashes Knights Captain Gauss has infiltrated the capital covertly. Location unknown, but circumstances suggest contact with the Empress Dowager."
"Gauss? That old dog's come personally?"
Darcor chuckled hollowly as he sat up.
The Empress Dowager's muscle in the novel.
One of the empire's top fighters in raw power.
She'd finally played her ace.
"This is suspicious. The tournament's too dangerous. Cancel it and—"
"Nah. Why so scared? Them coming to me saves trouble."
"Your Majesty!"
Darcor scratched his neck and yawned lazily.
"To catch 'em all at once, the bait has to look tasty."
"Sigh... And another headache."
Edel continued curtly.
"Her Majesty the Empress and the Saintess are joining the tournament."
"What? Why are they coming? It's dangerous."
Darcor grimaced genuinely.
The mess was bad enough without extra baggage.
"To cheer you on, or something."
Edel pouted and snapped.
"Secret nights with the Saintess, daytime tonics from the Empress. Ten bodies wouldn't suffice."
"Hey, are you mocking me?"
"Perish the thought. Just stating facts. Impressive stamina day and night."
Edel shot him a glare.
"Some of us pull all-nighters breaking our backs... while others flirt. So envious."
"Envious? Go be emperor then."
"Your Majesty!!"
"Kidding, kidding. Relax."
"Fine. I'll get back to work. The third wheel's outta here. Hmph!"
Edel stomped out.
Bam!
"..."
Darcor scratched his head, baffled.
'Her time of the month, probably. Better stock up on meds.'
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Hunting tournament day.
The palace square bustled with colorful banners and crowds.
Nobles in splendid hunting attire showed off their steeds.
But the moment the emperor appeared...
The clamor died like poured water.
Emperor Darcor mounted on a white steed.
His black hunting garb exuded overwhelming intimidation.
"Return safely, Your Majesty."
From the highest podium, Empress Dowager Elizabeth smiled warmly.
"The forest is deep. Rumor has it starving beasts await with open maws."
Her voice was soft, but her eyes icy cold.
Darcor gripped the reins and smirked.
"Worry not, Mother. Nothing you'll fear will happen."
He paused turning his horse, then stared at her pointedly.
"Oh... Mother, expect great things from this hunt. I'll bag something special."
"Special prey?"
"Yeah. Things with tough, dingy gray hides you love."
"Wh-What?!"
The Empress Dowager's face twisted in shock.
The Ashes Knights.
Did the emperor know her final card?
'He knows...?'
Darcor ignored her horror.
He spurred his horse toward Twilight Forest, where the hunt awaited.
"Time to start the hunt."