After working her nose with a kun-kun, the Queen let out a single haa of a sigh, made a face that said Just as I thought, and then:
"Lord Robbie, I'm so glad you came. It seems quite a few things happened along the way."
She welcomed me even while speaking those meaningful words.
"Please accept this."
I handed her one glass.
"I shall."
She drank it down in one gulp. The initial sense of aversion seemed to have already vanished.
"Lord Robbie, from next time I will not send anyone to fetch you. Please come by yourself. Today I specially allowed you all the way to my rooms, but from now on it will only be as far as the gate. Understood?"
"Understood."
"Anouk, come in."
When Anouk entered through the window, the Queen said:
"Anouk, you smell."
and slightly furrowed her brows. So she did smell after all… from where?
"Then I look forward to the night after tomorrow."
When the Queen said that, I could only reply:
"Hah?"
