Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 159: A Little Surprise?
The carriage carrying us arrived at the main gate of the royal castle.
Compared with my previous visit, things felt considerably calmer.
Even though we had been invited, the guards at the gate thoroughly inspected our belongings. And not only our belongings—they checked us physically as well.
“It seems they’re still maintaining a high level of caution.”
“Yes. I think that will continue for quite some time.”
Brother Alex stared into the distance with a gloomy expression.
I was gloomy too.
At least the possibility of a war with the neighbouring countries had become much lower. That was something.
As soon as we entered the castle, knights escorted us to a guest room.
It felt as though we were being led very deep inside the castle.
Was I imagining it?
If my sense of direction was correct, we were approaching the royal family’s private quarters.
I was getting nervous.
No matter how many times I came here, I doubted I would ever become accustomed to it.
From this room, we’d probably be called to the audience chamber to offer our greetings.
My stomach was already beginning to hurt.
If they’d brought us all the way to a guest room this deep inside the castle, perhaps there were many people waiting for audiences today.
This might be a long wait.
I was sipping my tea little by little when someone knocked on the door.
Already?
That was much sooner than I’d expected.
As I thought that, the double doors swung open.
The instant Brother Alex saw that, he hurried to his feet.
Someone important was coming.
Princess Daniela?
Yes, that was the most likely possibility.
Or perhaps Princess Chloe.
I stood immediately too.
“His Majesty the King!”
“?!”
The Royal Guard knight announced him.
I somehow stopped myself from crying out and hurriedly bowed my head.
What in the world was going on?
Why was His Majesty coming to visit us in a guest room?
Normally, we were the ones who went to him!
I desperately wanted to see Brother Alex’s expression, but there was no way I could lift my head right now.
“Alex, Julius. Thank you for coming. You may raise your heads.”
His Majesty the King was there—and Her Majesty the Queen with him.
They must have noticed how bewildered I was, because both of them were smiling as though they’d successfully pulled off a surprise prank.
“Forgive me for startling you. But if we met in the audience chamber, it would be far easier for all sorts of rumours to spread.”
No, I had a feeling the King and Queen personally visiting our guest room would cause even more rumours…
I glanced sideways at Brother Alex.
His smile was strained. Apparently he hadn’t known about this either.
“From today onward, my younger brother will be in your care,” Brother Alex said.
“Thank you for having me. I look forward to working with you from today onward.”
Brother Alex and I bowed together.
His Majesty stopped us.
“Enough, both of you. I’m the one who summoned you. There’s no need for you to bow so deeply. If anyone should lower their head here, it’s us.”
“Please don’t, Your Majesty.”
Brother Alex stopped him before the King could bow.
Nice work, Brother Alex.
If a story spread that His Majesty had bowed to his subjects, there was no telling how it would mutate as it travelled. Of course, I doubted the King had truly intended to lower his head all the way, but we still had to stop him.
“Julius, I shall be relying on you. I would be grateful if you devoted yourself to advancing magic pharmacology in our kingdom.”
“Yes, Your Majesty! I shall do my utmost.”
I placed a hand over my chest and gave the formal bow of a retainer. Brother Alex assumed the same posture beside me.
My stomach.
My stomach hurt.
It was rude to think it, but I wanted this meeting to end as soon as possible.
“Daniela has been wanting to see you,” Her Majesty said to Brother Alex. “Please go and see her later.”
“Of course.”
So, as expected, Brother Alex would be going to greet Princess Daniela too.
Would Princess Chloe be there as well?
My mood was getting heavier by the second.
“We’ve prepared a compounding room for you,” His Majesty told me. “Use it as you please.”
At his signal, a servant brought over a card.
Apparently this was the room’s access permit.
I’d better make absolutely sure I didn’t lose it.
“Thank you very much.”
“Think nothing of it. If you’re lacking anything, tell me. I shall see that it’s provided.”
Seriously?!
I hadn’t expected him to offer to obtain anything I needed.
Maybe I could use this opportunity to acquire difficult materials: griffon fangs, unicorn horns, slime crowns, golem cores…
There were so many things I wanted.
While I was happily imagining the possibilities, His Majesty and Her Majesty departed. They probably had other duties waiting for them.
Being royalty really did look exhausting.
Maybe I should give them something that helped with fatigue.
Would a stamina recovery potion work?
No. Bad idea.
I had a feeling it would leave them absurdly hyperactive.
I’d think of something else.
Brother Alex dropped heavily into a chair and sighed.
It was extremely rare to see him behave so undignifiedly.
He definitely hadn’t known this surprise was coming either.
“Please, Julius. I beg you. Show at least a little consideration for your brother’s stomach.”
“Er… I’m sorry.”
Apparently this was my fault.
I had suspected as much myself.
It seemed His Majesty valued me extremely highly.
Well, I had saved his life, even if only by circumstance.
Sighing, I sat beside Brother Alex.
A servant promptly brought us more tea.
Yes. The tea cakes were delicious.
Before long, a messenger from the Royal Magic Pharmacists arrived.
I’d assumed Brother Alex would accompany me, but apparently we were splitting up from here. A messenger from Princess Daniela had come for him at the same time.
“Julius, we’re having lunch together. Make sure you return to this room before then. They’ve agreed to leave it available for us.”
“Understood.”
“Lord Julius, I shall guide you.”
The speaker was a young man wearing a long, dark-green robe.
Apparently dark green was the colour worn by the Royal Magic Pharmacists.
Should I prepare a robe in that colour too?
Then again, I already had my own white coat. White made it much easier to notice when chemicals splashed onto my clothes.
I said goodbye to Brother Alex and followed the young man.
We passed several nobles along the way, and every one of them tilted their head in confusion.
Well, of course they did.
A child was wandering through the royal castle without a guardian.
I followed my guide while checking the mental map in my head.
I’d really like an actual map of the castle, but a castle map was surely classified information.
Forget it.
After turning corner after corner and climbing and descending several staircases, we finally reached a heavy wooden door.
Somewhere along the way, I gave up on the idea of ever reaching this place under my own power.
Whenever I came to the castle, I’d ask for a guide.
This place wasn’t merely a maze.
It was a dungeon.
The young man knocked.
A voice from inside told us to enter.
He pushed the door open and gestured for me to go in.
Oh.
Now I was getting nervous again.
What sort of person was the commander of the Royal Magic Pharmacists’ Corps?