The Mother-in-Law's Secret Remedy
Today, as always, I head to my mother-in-law's chambers to dine with the imperial family.
Creak! Opening the door and stepping inside, I offer a light greeting to my mother-in-law, my sister-in-law, and Theodora, who are already gathered.
"Did everyone sleep well?"
Theodora nods in response, while Joy answers my greeting.
"Did you sleep well, Brother-in-law?"
"Yes, I slept well."
With those words, I bow my head to pay my respects to my mother-in-law, the Empress Dowager Thera.
"I trust you had a peaceful night, Mother-in-law?"
At my words, Thera replies with a gentle smile.
"Indeed. Thanks to you, my night was very peaceful. Come, take a seat."
As I take my seat, the servants begin bringing in the food.
Among the dishes, one in particular catches my eye: oysters, neatly arranged on a bed of shaved ice.
Seeing the milky-white oysters resting in their thick shells, I can't help but feel puzzled.
"What is this?"
Fresh oysters, nestled inside their hard shells, are an expensive delicacy favored by the nobility.
Because they have to be harvested fresh and transported quickly to prevent spoiling, they command a hefty price. Moreover, they are widely rumored to be a potent aphrodisiac.
Wait... isn't this a bit much for breakfast?
They are usually served at banquets or on special occasions. Eating them first thing in the morning feels a bit... off.
Since they are such a luxury here, I never expected to see them at breakfast. It feels somewhat overwhelming.
"Mother? Why are there oysters?"
As Joy reaches out to grab one of the oysters placed in front of me, Thera catches her by the wrist.
"Joy, dear, those are for your brother-in-law."
An uneasy feeling washes over me, prompting me to look closely at the table.
While the other three have simple, modest plates of bread, bacon, and eggs, my spot features a massive platter decorated with ice, lemons, and tangerines, with oysters nestled in the center.
Even a blind man could see that only my meal is extravagantly lavish. My face pales.
Is this... about that?
The memory of being summoned and scolded by my mother-in-law flashes through my mind.
Sharing a bed chamber with Theodora. Of course, we technically share a room, but we aren't actually doing that at night... This must be her passive-aggressive way of dropping a hint.
"Hmph! Mother, you're so unfair! I'm your daughter too!"
Thera placates the pouting Joy.
"Joy, your brother-in-law often skips meals because of his imperial duties. I will tell the kitchen to prepare some oysters for you at lunchtime, so don't go stealing his food."
Joy brightens up and nods happily.
"Hehe... Really?"
Thera nods with a smile, then casts a sidelong glance at me.
When her blue eyes lock onto mine...
"Of course. The oysters have been exceptionally fresh lately, so I ordered plenty. Don't you worry."
Was that a coincidence...? Surely, her looking at me just now was just a coincidence, right?
She is smiling, but her gaze feels chillingly cold today. Suppressing the shiver running down my spine, I reach for an oyster.
"Ah, wait a moment."
Thera quickly stops me.
"Head Chamberlain, bring the Dragon Heart."
"Yes, Your Grace."
As the Head Chamberlain departs, the rest of us freeze like statues.
Gulp.
I don't know who did it, but the sound of someone swallowing their saliva is incredibly loud.
Theodora's face flushes bright red, while Joy begins to cough as if she choked on her own breath.
"Cough! Cough! Mother? Uh... Mother?"
Ignoring my utter bewilderment, the Head Chamberlain returns with an expressionless face, carrying the Dragon Heart.
He places a small shot glass next to my water cup and pours a crimson liquid from a crystal decanter.
The Dragon Heart.
It is an alcoholic tonic brewed from medicinal herbs legendary for boosting male stamina.
Legend has it that once you drink it, your heart beats like a dragon's, allowing you to hold a woman all night long without tiring.
Well, that's just a rumor. It's not an aphrodisiac, so surely nothing like that would actually happen, right?
And then...
"Head Chamberlain, bring that over as well."
The Head Chamberlain produces a white, rectangular object and a cheese grater, shaving it into a fine powder directly over my glass.
Puzzled by the unfamiliar white powder, I ask Thera.
"Mother-in-law... what is this?"
At my question, Thera beams brightly.
"That is Unicorn's Horn. A treasure of my maiden house."
Pfft! Cough, cough!
Joy, who was in the middle of drinking milk, spits it out and hacks violently, but that is the least of my concerns right now.
Wait... was that rumor actually true?
About twenty-five years ago, a certain rumor swept through the Empire.
A rumor that a unicorn had appeared at the Duke of Lombardy's estate.
Even now, Thera's beauty is undeniable, but in her prime, she was so breathtaking that a unicorn supposedly descended from the heavens, smitten by her. When it tried to approach her, Duke Jans, who was present, slaughtered it on the spot.
But aren't unicorns... mythical creatures?
Even in a world where Demon Kings and dragons exist, the existence of unicorns is highly debated.
The reason is that they rarely show themselves. The last recorded sighting was hundreds of years ago... Well, except for the recent one involving my mother-in-law. They are said to appear only once every few centuries.
They are incredibly elusive, but whenever they do appear, there are always a few common denominators.
A pure, beautiful maiden. And not just any maiden—they only appear before a beauty so peerless she comes along once in a century.
And... they kidnap these pure, peerless beauties.
Because their behavior resembles the barbaric practice of bride kidnapping, unicorns don't actually have a very good reputation in this world.
In any case.
Unicorn's Horn is said to be an unparalleled stamina booster for men.
According to legend, the founding Emperor consumed an entire unicorn horn and proceeded to impregnate the Empress and all thirty-two of his concubines in a single night.
It is essentially the Viagra of this fantasy world.
Perhaps that is why Theodora hangs her head to hide her burning blush, while Joy's eyes sparkle with intense curiosity.
Wait, why are your eyes sparkling, Joy?
"Now, drink up."
As Thera urges me to drink, I reply with a troubled expression.
"Mother-in-law... I have to attend to my official duties shortly. Drinking alcohol so early in the day is..."
Thera frowns at my hesitation.
"This is not alcohol. It is a restorative tonic."
"Pardon?"
"Therefore, there is no issue with drinking it."
No... anyone can see that has far too much alcohol to be called a mere tonic.
While there are medicinal liquors in this world... isn't Unicorn's Horn a bit too extreme? The words rise to the tip of my tongue, but I force them back down. Just as I open my mouth to try and find another excuse...
"Well..."
"Son-in-law, surely you aren't planning to reject a gift from your elder?"
Seeing my mother-in-law glaring at me with narrowed, sharp eyes, I let out a silent sigh.
"I will gladly accept your kindness."
With that, I lift the glass and take in the aroma.
A pungent, indescribable scent—a mix of heavy musk, a damp, earthy mustiness, and rich oak—assails my nostrils, making my nose sting.
I'm supposed to drink this?
Since I've already accepted it, there is no backing out now. I down the entire glass in one gulp.
Ugh! What on earth is this taste?
The taste is dreadful, but worse is the burning sensation that sears down my esophagus, leaving my throat and mouth on fire.
"Cough, cough..."
Just as I realize the alcohol content of this drink is far higher than the one I had before...
"Quickly, eat an oyster to wash it down."
Following Thera's advice, I squeeze some lemon juice over an oyster and slide it into my mouth to clear the taste.
And so... breakfast begins.
That night.
"Hehe... Tonight, the two of them will..."
The Dragon Heart and Unicorn's Horn. When a man consumes both, he becomes utterly uncontrollable.
"Whew... To think I would end up using the Unicorn's Horn for my daughter."
Years ago, while walking in the garden with her father, a unicorn had suddenly appeared and charged at her. Her father had slain the beast on the spot.
He had kept the horn and later included it in her dowry when she married...
The very Unicorn's Horn she and her late husband had once used. She never imagined she would be using it for her daughter and son-in-law.
"Sigh... This much should guarantee success, right?"
If nothing else, the effects of the Unicorn's Horn are absolute.
Memories of her time with her husband flood back, causing Thera's face to flush.
Whenever her husband took it, his insatiable desire had left her utterly exhausted.
Recalling those days, she felt it was a miracle she had even survived. Her husband had been so relentless and merciless in his passion that she could barely walk the next day.
That was how potent the effects were.
As her face burns at the memory, a sudden realization makes her frown.
But... Theodora is a novice at this...
"Whew..."
Now that I think about it, I worry if I went too far for Theodora's first night. When I had my own first night, I wept from the tearing pain.
She begins to worry that Deviang, driven mad by lust, might treat Theodora too roughly, but she quickly shakes her head.
No... if I don't go this far... it won't work.
She feels a little... no, a lot of guilt toward Theodora, but when she thinks of her son-in-law's state...
There seems to be no other choice but this extreme remedy.
It has been over two months since they married. How shocked she had been to learn they still hadn't spent their first night together!
In fact, she had never in her life heard of a newlywed couple avoiding marital relations.
She can guess the general reason, but considering her son-in-law's apparent reluctance, she believes this is the best course of action.
"Theodora... even if it hurts, please bear with it just a little..."
The fate of the Empire hangs in the balance... You can get through this, right?
Trying to calm her mixture of anxiety and anticipation, she lies down in bed.
Tonight, the empty space beside her feels exceptionally cold.
"Darling..."
Her beloved husband. She misses him terribly tonight, the man who had so heartlessly left her behind.
How foolish of me. He is already gone... A dull ache squeezes her chest. Fearing tears might fall, she forces her eyes shut.
My goodness... I must get some sleep.
With that, she finally drifts off...
And in her dreams, she goes on a picnic with a grey-haired boy who looks just like Theodora, and a grey-haired girl who looks just like Deviang.
Scritch... scratch...
As I write on the parchment, I glance sideways at the clock.
Seeing the hour hand pointing to five in the morning, I stretch my arms.
"Oh? Is it already five AM?"
Usually, I would have crawled back to my room, utterly exhausted, long before now. But today, I don't feel tired at all.
"Wow, my condition is absolutely insane today."
It isn't an exaggeration; I feel bizarrely energetic.
Normally, working this late would make my brain feel like it's short-circuiting, but right now, I don't feel even a hint of a headache.
Even though I've been awake for twenty-two hours straight, I feel as refreshed as if I just woke up from a deep, peaceful sleep. Marveling at this sudden burst of vitality, I continue working through the night.
"Hmm~ The investment fund is sorted out. Lulu~ Now, shall we take a look at the chemical fertilizer business report?"
I flip to the next page, scanning the document rapidly. A smile naturally spreads across my face at the sheer vigor coursing through my body.
"Work is going incredibly smoothly today."
With my mind sharper than ever and my body overflowing with energy, I resolve to burn the midnight oil and tackle all my backlogged work.
Just as the morning sun begins to peek through the window...
Slam! Someone throws my door open and bursts inside.