Chapter 48 An Audience with Her Majesty and the D✱✱do-Buddy
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
I found myself being led through the Royal Capital’s back alleys by the Royal Guard Captain, Merluza, and that mysterious regular customer, the maid Muse. My satchel, stuffed with prototypes and other goods they’d told me to prepare, felt heavy in my hand. If everything went well, this could turn into a huge business deal. The gritty city streets soon gave way to a quiet residential district, and the buildings grew increasingly large and lavish. The closer you get to the Royal Palace in the Capital, the more you see the mansions of the wealthy and the nobility. It makes sense, as it’s convenient for an audience with the Queen, and it’s probably tied up in the history of the capital itself. They’ve done more than a few ‘redevelopment’ projects, which really just means forced evictions.
I’d left Lily to mind the shop again. I felt awful and worried about asking her to do extra work outside her contract so often lately. My worry was mostly centered on my own lower half, though. Lily’s been a real powerhouse lately, you know?
As I thought about that, the road started to slope slightly. The Royal Palace is built on a small hill, and the Capital sprawls out from its base. At last, its sheer, imposing mass entered my view, slamming into the perimeter wall.
”I’ve pretty much guessed it, but I won’t be thrown straight into a dungeon, right?” I asked, my voice tight.
Merluza let out a booming laugh. “Hahahaha, no need to fret, lad. Her Majesty can barely sleep without her Tremble-Ddo-Buddy anymore!”
”Oh, man… I mean, is that really okay, in all sorts of ways?” I muttered.
His hearty laugh just amplified my anxiety, as I suddenly realized the true power of the thing I’d created. While I was grateful—and a little turned on, honestly—that a noble person like the Queen used my products, my nerves weren’t that thick.
Fidgeting, I walked along the perimeter wall, and we were let inside through a small side door next to the massive, sealed main gate. Because Merluza was with us, the guards just waved us through. As we walked down a long corridor, important-looking people we passed were bowing deeply to Muse, too. My anxiety began to solidify into a definite dread.
Finally, we reached a room near the deepest part of the Royal Palace. The doorknob alone looked like it could buy out my entire stock. Muse knocked on the lavish door.
”It’s Muse. I’ve brought the shopkeeper of the magic shop ‘Harvest.’”
”Enter.”
Hearing that short reply, Muse opened the door. Waiting inside was a woman in the prime of her life with long golden blonde hair. She was impeccably dressed in a sumptuous gown—white with gold embroidery that matched her hair—sitting at a truly high-class looking desk, pouring over documents.
Her gaze was genuinely terrifying. It felt like she could execute two or three people with just a glance. Though she also looked incredibly exhausted, which seemed like a waste of her beautiful face.
”My apologies, wait for a moment.”
”Y-Yes, Your Majesty.”
There was no way I could tell her, No, I can’t wait! She continued to glare at the documents for a while, scratching something out with a pen. Then, with a great sigh, she rubbed the bridge of her nose.
Next, she fixed that sharp, terrifying gaze on me (though it might have just been her looking in my direction) and finally spoke.
”I am Cecile Canaria, Queen of the Canaria Kingdom. You are Kento, the shopkeeper of the magic shop ‘Harvest,’ correct?”
”E-Er, yes. My name is Kento.”
That was my first encounter with Her Majesty, the Queen.
* * *
”…You’re a more ordinary man than I expected, aren’t you?” the Queen stated, sounding slightly disappointed.
To which Muse offered a frankly terrible assessment: “I told you so, Your Majesty. Other than being a pervert, he seems like a completely normal commoner.”
I mean, I thought it was accurate, but seriously? To say that after summoning me all this way?!
”With all due respect, Your Majesty,” Merluza interjected, standing straight. “Based on what I saw at the Beast-person Association meeting, he’s a man with a keen eye for business. Furthermore, he lacks the usual eccentric stubbornness common among mages and magic toolmakers. That assessment is premature.”
”Hmm. So, being a commoner isn’t all bad, then. If Merluza says so, I suppose it must be true.” Her Majesty accepted Merluza’s word immediately. Her eyes were scary, but she didn’t seem as difficult as I’d imagined. She was a genuine queen, yet she also had a bit of a ‘Queen’ vibe, like from my old world. She turned her full attention back to me.
”Well then, shall we get straight to the point?” she inquired.
”Please, Your Majesty, whatever you wish.”
”Good. Your manners aren’t bad. Let’s start with the conclusion. I’ve decided to endorse the resale of the product you developed: the Tremble-Ddo-Buddy.”
The sudden, lewd phrase made me flinch. Right. Just as Merluza had said, she was a dedicated user of the Tremble-Ddo-Buddy. Imagining the ‘queen’ diligently working away every night was pretty hot, but seriously, was this okay? I wouldn’t be charged with the crime of making Her Majesty say lewd words, would I?
Her Majesty studied me with a suspicious look, perhaps misinterpreting my strange mix of excitement and anxiety (though again, she might just have been looking).
”What’s wrong? You don’t look very pleased,” she pressed.
”N-No. I am extremely honored. I thank Your Majesty for your kindness.”
”Ah, never mind the flattery. I don’t require such courtesy from the likes of you. State your honest impression more directly.” she dismissed me.
”A-Ah, well, if you insist… and forgive my bluntness. What exactly does ‘endorsement’ mean? Are you seriously planning to protest to the Church of Demon-Subjugation for a shop like mine? If so, are the court officials and bureaucrats in agreement? My other concern, Your Majesty, is what you truly expect from my shop in return.” I felt compelled to be honest, fearing that a lie would displease her.
Fortunately, my reaction seemed to be the right one. Her Majesty’s face brightened, and she looked over at Muse.
”See, he’s not an idiot! He’s better than some of my court mages! It’s a shame about his small amount of magical power, though…” she exclaimed.
”Cecile-sama, no. You’re not a child; don’t immediately crave everything you see,” Muse gently scolded her.
”Is it a no? Even just as a bureaucrat with an understanding of magic…?”
”It’s a no. He’s too old to be trained, and his background is far too suspicious. Absolutely not.”
”Ugh… I was hoping I could just dump some work on him…” the Queen grumbled.
Wait, is that what this is about? I held back my reaction, listening to their alarming conversation. They sounded exactly like employees at a black company, reacting to a talented new hire who just joined.
”Well, no matter. Your concern is correct, Kento. I agree to the resale of the Tremble-Ddo-Buddy, but right now, I don’t have enough leverage to push it through. Not against the Church, and certainly not against those stiff-necked court officials.”
”That makes sense. So, what must my shop offer in order to receive your protection, Your Majesty?” I asked, leaning forward slightly.
”Good, your quickness is appreciated. My time is not unlimited. First, I need proof. Proof of its efficacy for the Beast-person’s ‘breeding season’ and proof that it poses no harm to regular humans. This is a point the Beast-person Association and the Church will agree on. I believe an opportunity for verification will be presented soon by the relevant parties, and if the Church balks, I will personally intervene.”
Her Majesty stuck up a single finger as she spoke, a gesture so commanding it made me jump. But this was only the first shot. Verification would happen even without her intervention.
”Second, you must disclose how your product is made. This includes the mysterious material that forms the Ddo-Buddy and the unknown mechanism that generates the vibration function. As it stands, your product is completely unknown and highly suspicious.”
”Th-That’s reasonable, but it’s too much…!” I stammered, genuinely alarmed.
”Calm yourself. I understand your concern,” she assured me, raising two fingers. “If you disclose the information, the Canaria Kingdom and I will take responsibility for protecting your business. The Church will also demand disclosure, but I will make them promise you protection as well.”
”Ah, thank you, Your Majesty!” I bowed deeply to the Queen. It had been a scary moment, but this was the best possible outcome I could’ve imagined. If the Kingdom and the Church truly protected me, my shop would have a monopoly on the product. No similar products were on the market yet, and none ever would be. If anyone tried, the Kingdom and the Church would crush them. There was no stronger reassurance than that. But so far, my shop was the only one gaining anything, and Her Majesty hadn’t stated her own condition yet.
”My third condition, as you’ve probably guessed, is my true demand. If you cannot agree to this, there is no reason for me to protect you,” she declared.
”Y-Yes, Your Majesty…”
Her Majesty raised her third finger and stared right at me. This time, she was definitely glaring, and I honestly thought I might lose bladder control. So the previous times had truly just been her looking at me! What kind of impossible request was she about to make? As I braced myself, Her Majesty slowly opened her mouth.
”The third condition is that every product you make from now on must, without fail, be presented to me first!”
”…Huh?”
”Don’t make me say it twice! You must dedicate your products to me! Especially the latest iteration of the Ddo-Buddy series—it must be mine!” she demanded.
”W-Well, okay, I guess…”
”YES!”
Queen Cecile struck a triumphant pose, leaning back in her seat with a satisfied grin. She looked ready to snort with glee. Even Muse, the maid standing beside her, did a small, subtle fist-pump and nodded her head emphatically.
I turned around as a hand landed on my shoulder. Captain Merluza was smiling brightly, giving me a knowing wink that seemed to say, Didn’t I tell you?
It seemed the Queen of this country was utterly smitten with my shop’s Ddo-Buddy.
—
Summary:
Kento navigates the opulent but terrifying halls of the Royal Palace. He meets Queen Cecile, who’s surprisingly normal but fiercely addicted to the Tremble-Ddo-Buddy. She agrees to protect his business from the Church, demanding proof, disclosure of his magic techniques, and, hilariously, first dibs on all new Ddo-Buddy products. The Queen’s true priority is revealed to be her own pleasure.
—
Character Insight:
Queen Cecile is a monarch driven not by political ambition but by personal pleasure, which ironically makes her a surprisingly effective and direct negotiator. Her stern exterior is just royal fatigue, and her demands are surprisingly childish. Kento is relieved that the highest political demand is something so simple, but he’s still terrified of the Queen’s gaze.
—
Behind the Scene:
The Queen’s obsession with Kento’s adult goods is the central driver for this major political plot point. Her protection is an absolute shield against the Church and court. Muse, the maid, is shown to be her primary manager, even scolding the Queen, highlighting their close, unique relationship.
Notes:
• Merluza – The Captain of the Royal Guard, a veteran soldier and Lion Beast-person. She testifies to the military necessity and effectiveness of the ‘Tremble Ddo-Buddy’ (which she calls ‘Bob’) for female beast-person soldiers, ensuring job performance isn’t compromised by ‘heat’. Have dull yellow hair, large feline ears, wearing armor, and large scar over the right eye.
• Muse – Cecile’s trusted attendant and chief maid, Muse handles sensitive, discreet tasks like espionage and product acquisition. Have sharp, black eyes, wearing maid uniform, and have expressionless face.
• Lily – the sl*ve and primary experiment subject for the magic shop, ‘Harvest.’ She has striking pink hair, Blue eyes, medium breasts, which the Protagonist associates with being ‘wanton’. She has a working knowledge of magic, which she kept hidden from the slave trader.
• Cecile – A high-ranking, powerful woman in the capital who possesses the authority to regulate business and commerce, particularly concerning moral or public order issues. She is currently investigating Kento’s shop, ‘Harvest.’ Have long golden hair, elegant, and wearing expensive white dress with gold accesories.
• Kento – The owner of the magic tool shop ‘Harvest,’ which discretely sells adult goods. He’s a former overworked, ordinary salaryman from modern Japan who was suddenly transported (isekai’d) to this fantasy world. He has dark hair and an unremarkable appearance, typically wearing a plain, slightly suspicious-looking shop owner’s clothes looks like Kazuma Satou from certain series. He has a minimal amount of magic power, enough to craft his specialty items.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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