Vol.3 Ch.218 Sterilith Bloom and Royal Blue.

Vol.3 Ch.218 Sterilith Bloom and Royal Blue.

"That's peculiar..." Raiden said as he examined the fourth vial.

"What's the substance? Is it poison?" Rianna asked with curiosity.

Raiden inhaled deeply, contemplating how he would convey the news to the Queen. As his contraption continued collecting more of the yellowish liquid, he observed a blue-colored sediment forming in the fifth vial that really piqued his curiosity.

"That's quite peculiar," Raiden muttered as he quickly made his way over to one of his cluttered desks piled high with ancient tomes.

He started looking through his books for answers.

"Is it poisonous?" the Queen asked once again.

"The yellow liquid is no ordinary toxin; it's not deadly, but its origin eludes me. I could swear I'd encountered it before I arrived in this kingdom," Raiden muttered, flipping through the pages with a sense of urgency.

"What about the blue sediment?" the Queen asked.

"I have a hunch, but I need to make sure that the toxin is what I think it is. Just wait a little longer, please," Raiden requested, and Rianna got irritated.

"Fine," the Queen huffed, crossing her arms in frustration.

It took a few minutes, and the liquids stopped in all five of the vials. When it was all done, the fourth vial was almost full of the neon yellowish-green liquid.

Raiden hurried over to the device and carefully took out the vial.

"What is that toxin?" the Queen asked. Raiden examined the substance and then looked at his book on exotic substances.

"Well... It's an exotic toxin, my Lady," Raiden answered, and the Queen was interested.

"What does that mean?" Rianna asked.

"Poisons fall into two categories. The first type is standard poisons, which are easily detectable and can be countered with an antidote. The second type is Exotic poisons, which are much more challenging to counteract. It's been many decades since I've encountered a toxin of this nature..." Raiden muttered as he lifted the vial into the light, and it changed to a neon yellow.

"So it's an exotic toxin," the Queen stated.

"Absolutely, my Lady. When I was just starting out in the world of alchemy, I received an intriguing assignment to extract a unique toxin for a well-known brothel in the Marn Kingdom. This toxin had a fascinating impact on the reproductive organs of women. It was highly sought after by brothels and pimps as it rendered their workers infertile for a certain duration," Raiden revealed.

Rianna maintained a composed facade, concealing her inner turmoil, yet a lump formed in her throat. The memory of Rya's anguished countenance lingered in her mind—the moment when Rya divulged that she sensed a malevolent taint eroding Rianna's very essence, a poison that the dark elf had purged from her with relentless determination.

"Y-You said it can make a woman infertile for some time, correct? How much would... Haah... A business owner of that field need to use on a woman to ensure she remains infertile for a year?" the Queen inquired, her voice betraying a mix of concern and determination.

"Watch closely," Raiden whispered, holding up the Petri dish to the Queen. "This single drop has the power to render a female human infertile for about a year... Give or take a few months. The duration varies depending on the woman, some may be affected for longer, and some for shorter periods."

Rianna fixated her gaze on the vial, observing the eerie neon yellowish-green fluid contained within. It was hard to fathom that such a minuscule amount of toxin had the potential to inflict significant harm on a person's body.

"H-How long would a female human be infertile with that much toxin?" the Queen asked, her gaze fixed on the vial containing the dangerous substance. Despite having a rough estimate, she felt a surge of unease and uncertainty bubbling within her.

"This much!? Oh, geez..." Raiden muttered to himself, scratching the back of his head as he peered at the vial. Rianna caught snippets of his mumbled calculations as he pondered the contents.

"A-hem," the Queen coughed to get his attention.

"Oh, my apologies... I would need to measure it out for an exact number. But if I had to guess. That is enough toxin to keep a human woman infertile for ten or maybe fifteen lifetimes. Frankly, this amount of toxin might have killed a lesser person," Raiden answered.

Rianna shivered as a chill raced down her spine, sending her blood running cold. The realization that so much poison had come out of her left her in disbelief, and now she was determined to uncover how she had ingested the toxin.

Rianna inquired, "How exactly would someone consume this substance?"

Raiden furrowed his brow and scratched the back of his head. "You see, this toxin, also known as Sterilith Bloom, can only be absorbed in the stomach. The catch is, it has a pungent taste that's hard to miss," he explained.

"Would the substance make someone vomit if they tasted it?" inquired the Queen.

Rianna never knew that she was poisoned by her own sister-in-law that day. She never knew that she felt off because of the poison. All this time, she thought it was because she was getting used to Fiafyrian cuisine. All those times she miscarried, all the times she thought she was a failure of a wife for only giving birth to one child. It was all Leandra's fault!

Rianna then remembered how her sister-in-law smiled at her after she had drunk that cup of divine tea. She told her the tea was very special and made the person who drinks it very healthy. She also told her the tea would help her conceive children.

The way Leandra looked at her while sipping that tea would always remain vivid in her memory.

The pieces of the puzzle fell into place as her delicate fingers released their grip on the porcelain teacup, sending it crashing down to the floor, where it shattered into a dozen scattered fragments.

Raiden jumped in surprise, "My Lady!? Is something the matter?"

Rianna's breath came in short gasps. "N-No... Nothing's wrong, Raiden. I think I had a vision," she lied through clenched teeth, her eyes fixed on the shattered cup at her feet.

Raiden raised an eyebrow, not entirely convinced. "Oh, is that so? I guess that happens from time to time when savoring something so divine," he remarked.

"Absolutely, my Lady. But I do hope to be compensated for the Royal Blue that brought you such enjoyment," Raiden replied with a nod.

The Queen gazed at him with a glint in her eye, "Oh, but of course. You shall be handsomely rewarded for allowing me to savor the essence of Royal Blue."

"Excellent. You may count on my loyalty, my Lady. You have nothing to worry about," Raiden said.

"I'll make sure someone from my husband's Treasury Department will give you the money within the week," Rianna said.

Raiden nodded eagerly, "Is there anything else your Majesty desires from her loyal servant?"

Raiden grins, "I might not always express it, but it's always a delight to see you, your Majesty."

Rianna then turns to leave. Her jaw clenched tightly in anger, her knuckles turning white as she balled her fists. How could Leandra do this to her? Memories of the countless heartbreaking miscarriages flooded Rianna's mind, each one a painful reminder of the anguish she had endured because of Leandra's actions.

Leaving the laboratory, she stepped out into the dimly lit hallway of the Pharmacy, her fists clenched in frustration. With determined steps, she made her way through the echoing halls until she finally reached the back door.

As soon as she emerged from the doorway, Nelumbo and her guards were filled with panic. One of them swiftly draped their cloak over the Queen to shield her from view. Rianna was so lost in thought that she forgot to put on her cloak, which was still in Raiden's laboratory.

"Your Highness! It would be best if you weren't going outside without a disguise," Nelumbo scolded the Queen.

Rianna was caught off guard by her forgetfulness, "O-Oh right. Thank you, Nelumbo."

"It's my job to keep you safe, my Queen. Let's get you out of here. I don't want anyone else to recognize you," Nelumbo whispered to Rianna.

The air crackled with tension as the Queen swiftly made her way into the servant's carriage, flanked by eight of her loyal guards. With a resolute clasp, Nelumbo shut the ornate carriage door and agilely ascended to the top, riding in "shotgun" while another vigilant guard took the reins in the driver's seat.

The horse-drawn carriage gracefully lifted off, gliding smoothly down the cobblestone street. Nelumbo cautiously scanned the surroundings, relieved to find no indication of prying eyes. A sigh of relief escaped her lips as she glanced over at the vigilant guards through the tiny window, whose watchful eyes remained fixed on the Queen.

"Where to, your Majesty?" inquired the guard sitting in the driver seat.

"Bring us back to the estate... I have an apology to make," Rianna declared as she reclined on the plush carriage seat. The guards remained silent, choosing not to inquire about the Queen's actions.

The horse-drawn carriage made its way through the bustling streets, finally arriving at the grand estate. The sun had not yet set, and it was a tranquil four o'clock in the afternoon. Overwhelmed by the day's journey, she felt the urge to refresh herself before the upcoming dinner with her beloved son and his soon-to-be bride.