The Tyrant Empress is Obsessed with Me

8 – What Have I Done

“I think I’m going to die.”

Sushia said, making a faint expression as she spat out the thick, black blood.

“I still have so much I want to do… I need to visit the new dessert shop in town, travel to the kingdom of Kelly, and even participate in a group meeting with the judiciary…”

“Calm down, Sushia.”

“In the future, I wanted to marry a handsome man and live in a mansion with a beautiful garden and pond, and raise at least two dogs.”

“Sushia.”

“But now, all of these dreams will never come true. Life is just a fleeting moment, and only that moment can make us eternal…”

Ascal smacked Sushia’s head with the back of his hand.

“Ouch!”

“You look fine now.”

“…I guess so?”

Ssia wiped the black blood from the corner of her mouth. Ascal had thought that he might need to take Ssia to a doctor right away when she vomited blood.

However, as time went on, Ssia’s complexion began to improve, and she regained a healthy color.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I must have been inconsiderate.”

At that moment, Henson, who had come to serve the main dish personally, wiped the black blood on the floor with a wet towel.

“Today, we’ve prepared a special course of the chef’s medicinal dishes for you, to help refresh your weary minds and bodies from your usual national duties.”

Henson continued.

“It seems the woman over there has had weak lungs. How are you feeling now?”

Ssia, who had been listening blankly to the explanation, cleared her throat with a grunt.

“…Ah? My voice was bad because I sang all night yesterday. Now my throat is good enough to sing ten more songs.”

“I’m glad. It seems the food has suited your body well.”

Henson removed the empty appetizer plates and served the main dishes.

“It’s a baby lamb dish. It’s cooked crispy on the outside and moist in the oven on the inside. A homemade apple sauce is topping so you can eat it without any burden.”

It’s said excellent food is enjoyable from the very sight of it.

The baby lamb meat was beautifully garnished with various herbs and spices.

The crispy skin with a perfect brown crust seemed to ooze the moist and tender juices of the meat with every bite.

Ascal, who hadn’t had lunch, almost picked up the meat with a fork for a moment but then recalled the purpose of coming here.

‘I need to verify the magic stone poisoning.’

Ascal glanced at Ria from the corner of his eye. True enough, her expression seemed to sense something strange after seeing the food.

‘Ria is sensitive to magic. She must have noticed the magic stone powder sprinkled on the food.’

In fact, a small amount of magic stone powder doesn’t have a significant impact on one’s health. The problem arises when it accumulates in the body over time.

Ascal thought that eating the appetizer alone would be okay, but Ssia had symptoms as soon as she tasted the food.

What was different from his expectations was that Ssia’s condition didn’t worsen after eating the appetizer; instead, it got better.

‘Is it a temporary improvement?’

It might be similar to drugs. They temporarily make one forget the pain and revive vitality, but in the long run, they destroy the body completely.

Symptoms appeared at once either because Ssia’s condition was that bad, or Henson had excessively used the magical stone powder to treat them this time.

Or maybe both.

It was when Ascal had finished his deductions and was about to question Henson.

“You used magic stone powder in the food.”

“…Did you notice?”

Lia took the initiative.

Hansen’s expression hardened.

Ascal felt the atmosphere in the restaurant change.

‘See if you can escape, Hansen.’

He had thoroughly prepared people outside in advance. This was absolutely necessary for Ascal’s own protection. If he happened to get involved in a bribery case but had personally arrested Hansen, his crime would be considered less severe.

Ascal tensed up and waited for Hansen’s move.

The situation was on the brink of explosion.

“With this much quantity, the price mustn’t have been cheap. Is that alright?”

“There was a little pressure, but what would I regret for the benefactor?”

“…Huh?”

However, the atmosphere was strange.

Lia, who knew a lot about maseok, did not question Hansen further, and Hansen rolled his eyes, looking embarrassed.

What was happening?

Ascal was taken aback but maintained a calm tone.

“I don’t understand. Doesn’t maseok powder accumulate in the human body and cause addiction? It will eventually lead to serious problems.”

He glanced at Lia’s face, and her expression seemed to be asking what he was talking about. It was as if she had seen someone who had done a good deed being stoned.

“That’s only the case with cheap maseok.”

Hansen, who had been silent for a while, sighed.

Then he spoke with self-mockery.

“Actually, in the old days, when I didn’t get recognition, I had a bad idea. To deceive people’s eyes with my cooking by using cheap, low-quality maseok.”

Hansen clenched his fist.

“But! Thanks to the maseok improvement caused by the Empire, high-quality maseok became mass-produced, and there is no need to do such things anymore. Now everyone can use good-quality maseok at a cheap price.”

Wait a minute.

Maseok improvement?

‘That’s what I did.’

Ascal lost his words at the unexpected mention.

“Moreover, the benefactor has recognized my worth, so how could I do such cheap things? Now I can burn this body and stick to my cooking philosophy. All of this is thanks to the benefactor, Sir Ascal.”

This wasn’t right.

The snowball was rolling like this?

No, really.

“Ah… It must be a coincidence.”

“You’re so humble too, Mr. Ascal. Please visit our store anytime. We will never charge you for the rest of our lives. No, how could we dare to do so!”

Watching Hanson shedding tears, Ascal thought he was such a passionate person.

“Then please enjoy your meal.”

It seemed as if a storm had passed.

With a soulless gesture, Ascal picked up the meat with his fork.

‘This is delicious…’

Thanks to the marble cooking, his stiff waist from sitting at his desk all day felt much better. Ascal glanced at Lia. Lia, who had always been in good health, seemed to show no changes.

Today’s profit: just came, enjoyed a delicious meal, and then left.

As they say, strike while the iron is hot. Ascal, who confirmed that Hanson’s shop had no abnormalities, decided to deal with the illegal street stalls of witches at once.

Susiya tried to escape, claiming there was too much work, but was barely held back with the negotiating condition of buying her a luxury Montblanc.

As Ascal opened the shabby tent door, a wrinkled old man smiled ominously.

“hehehe… I’ve been waiting for you, my lord.”

Ascal hadn’t liked fortune-tellers since the past.

In his previous life, he had been told ridiculous things, like how he’d die suddenly.

Moreover, this witch seemed to have serious hygiene issues.

Her fingers, adorned with black mushrooms, were touching the cards in a very unsanitary manner.

“Here’s the official document. Since it’s a document with the seal of the Enforcement Department, let’s make sure there’s nothing strange going on and remove this illegal street stall today.”

“Don’t be too hasty, my lord. I came here to meet you. How about trying my fortune-telling service once?”

What fortune?

From No ble mt L dot c om

Ascal’s face turned serious.

“I don’t believe in superstitions.”

“I’m curious. Can I try it instead?”

Susiya stepped forward.

Ascal recalled how Susiya had been wearing rosary beads just a few days ago. Susiya was the type who enjoyed superstitions.

But isn’t this country’s administration too lenient during official business?

“Don’t meddle in this, girl. But fine. I’ll read your fortune for the sake of the lord.”

“…Huh?”

Contrary to when she saw Askal, the witch’s face instantly became stern.

As Sivia became bewildered by the sudden change in attitude, the witch began to read the fortune.

The witch shuffled the cards and then laid them out before speaking.

“It seems to be the fortune of a traitor. My lord, do not trust this woman too much.”

“…Is that all? You’re a crazy woman. Let’s dismantle this place right away.”

“It might be surprisingly credible.”

“Boss, are you serious?”

Askal nodded his head.

“Read my fortune as well.”

“Of course. Please come closer.”

Once again, the witch raised her voice as if a miner had found a diamond in a mine after reading the fortune.

“Oooooh! It’s amazing how pure the energy of the heavenly envoy can be! My lord, please allow me to confirm a little more.”

Without waiting for permission, the witch touched Askal’s palm with her wrinkled hand. Askal frowned.

“Read my fortune too.”

Lia took a step forward. At her firm voice, the witch raised her head.

“Oh,

“……What on earth happened?”

Lia, who had just removed her hand from the crystal orb, wiped her hands with a handkerchief, as if she had touched something dirty.

“Originally, witches often have deeds that ordinary people cannot understand. They are a peculiar kind.”

“Is that so?”

“Now that the witch has left, it will be easier to dismantle this place.”

Lia skillfully directed the servants to disassemble the tent.

“What should we do with the items left behind by the witch?”

“Either burn them or confiscate them. It’s up to you, boss.”

At least the crystal ball seemed quite tempting.

In a lifetime, a witch would possess only one crystal ball.

A crystal ball endowed with a witch’s magic power would sell at a high price in the black market.

“Let’s omit this one from the report.”

Ascal embezzled the witch’s crystal ball!