Chapter 261 - The Left Minister Visits the Main Palace (Part 3)

Zenia was very pleased with the poison. They tested it with some lab rats, and the result was astounding. They only added a bit more of the Mortelium plant to the poison to create the antidote. Doctor Hugo was truly a master in the field of medicine.

She was amazed at how simple it was to concoct the antidote. No one would be able to guess the ingredient and, even if they did, it was hard to find the Mortelium plant. The paralyzing effect could last for a week. The victim would eventually die if he would not take the antidote.

Vaughn shuddered a bit when he learned the powerful effects of the poison. He wouldn't dare offend his wife in a million years. His wife had another powerful ally by her side. He wondered how many capable people she would entice to join her team.

"Thank you very much, Doctor Hugo and Lewis and your staff."

"Nah, I haven't thanked you properly for bringing the Mortelium plant and letting me know how to propagate it. If there are other things that you need in the future Crown Princess, don't hesitate to let me know."

"It's your duty to extend assistance to my wife."

"Can't you spare me even for a second? I have been your friend for a long time now." Lewis pouted his mouth when he complained to Vaughn.

Vaughn corrected him, "You have been my underling for a long time now is what you mean, don't you?"

Lewis shook his head before he replied, "Yes, yes, I am your underling who listened to your woes and concerns when you couldn't tell it to anyone, including Redivo and Ruvin."

"I'm glad you know."

Lewis scratched his head while Zenia just smiled. She was glad that Vaughn and Lewis had a good relationship.

Zenia turned to Doctor Hugo, "Doctor Hugo, I will come to visit you again some other time. I hope you will continue creating poisons and medicines for me."

"I will. Lewis is here to help me. He has an amazing garden."

"We will go now, Lewis. No need to send us out."

Vaughn extended his hand to Zenia and led her out of Lewis' office. The Head Pharmacist and Doctor Hugo simply looked at the departing backs of the couple.

The ordinary-looking carriage was waiting for them at the gate. Vaughn helped Zenia to board the carriage. He ordered the coachman to return to the shop of the Master Weaponsmith.

Zenia opened the curtains of the carriage that Vaughn closed earlier. They were having a light conversation when Vaughn suddenly stopped talking.

He opened the curtain, even more, when he saw a carriage passed by – it was the carriage of the Left Minister.

Zenia followed his line of sight and saw that he was looking at the departing carriage. It was the same carriage as they had seen in Solaria when they joined the caravan. Vaughn mentioned that it was the Left Minister's carriage.

"Isn't that the carriage of the Left Minister? Is he going somewhere?"

Vaughn shook his head, "He must've gone to the Main Palace."

"That was fast. I thought he will go there after a week. Did he speak with the Queen already?"

"I don't think he did."

"Well, that's a relief then. Do you want to visit Mother?"

Vaughn looked at Zenia and loved the way she said the word mother.

"No, I'm sure that Mother knows what to do."

Zenia's stomach was grumbling, and Vaughn had decided to have lunch in the first restaurant they would come across. He was confident that all the restaurants in Tissuria had scrumptious dishes to offer. Although, not all of them could offer dishes that renowned restaurants could serve.

The first restaurant they came across looked so humble. Vaughn feared that Zenia would reject it and told the coachman to find another one.

Zenia was puzzled why Vaughn did not want to go there. The place looked cozy and warm. It had a homey vibe. She was curious about what kind of dishes they serve and wanted to give it a try.

"Is that one not good?" She asked Vaughn and kept looking back at the restaurant.

"Do you want to try it?"

"Yes! The place looks nice, although it doesn't look like any of the restaurants that we've been to."

"Go back to that restaurant," Vaughn ordered the coachman, who obeyed his command immediately.

When they reached the place, Zenia smelled the delicious aroma in the air. The dish being cooked at that moment was something that Zenia had never tasted before. She recognized it as a type of vegetable dish. It had been a long time since she last tasted a delectable vegetable dish. The Anisens were meat-eaters, although her mother would serve them green-leafy salad to create balance. Zenia was especially fond of eating shrimps.

Vaughn took Zenia's hand as they walked inside the restaurant. The customers were a mixture of nobles and commoners. There were also private rooms. Vaughn was about to ask the manager for a private room when Zenia shook her head.

"We need to blend in with the people around here in case someone here is from the enemy side and begins to suspect us."

Vaughn nodded his head and asked for a table for four instead. He was expecting Zenia to order almost everything on the menu. They did not need to worry about where to put all the dishes if they had a bigger table.

Zenia smiled secretly and was glad that her husband was aware of her appetite. She felt warm inside because he had not stopped her from eating so many dishes even once. In fact, he had always helped her get more food. He just reminded her, every now and then, to eat slowly.

The waiter welcomed them and did not protest when Vaughn asked for a table for four people. The waiter was used to customers asking for a bigger table because they would be ordering more food.

"This way dear customers." The waiter led them to a table near a window and handed them the menu.

The waiter excused himself and told them to just ring the bell when they were ready to order. Zenia flipped the pages of the menu and looked for the vegetable dish that was being prepared earlier.

There were mushrooms, bamboo shoots, and different herbs and spices in the dish. She was amazed at the menu because each dish was described carefully. The description of each dish would entice the diner to order it and have a taste, instead of letting his imagination run wild. It was best to savor the real thing than just keep imagining the taste of the dish.

Vaughn saw the desserts and asked Zenia if she wanted some. Zenia nodded her head without looking at Vaughn. She was busy choosing the other dishes along with the vegetable dish that greeted her nostrils earlier.

"Have you chosen?"

"I will have anything that you ordered plus these desserts. I know you will like them," Vaughn smiled at her.

"Okay."

Zenia rang the bell. The waiter who greeted them at the entrance was also the one who took their orders. Zenia began saying the dishes, and the waiter started writing them. Looking at the list, the waiter was thinking whether the table could accommodate the dishes.

'Should I suggest that they could choose to move to a private room or a bigger table?'

In the end, he said nothing else. The customers would surely ask for a bigger table when they realized that their current table was too small for the number of dishes they ordered.

"I hope that Mr. Smith is done with the prototype and can finish everything within three days or less. I'm afraid that the Left Minister will come back to the Main Palace again."

"Hmm, I think so too."

"I hope General Dietrich has gathered all the men already. Do you think that the Dark Magic Lord used a sort of teleportation array to send the Left Minister's secret soldiers here?"

"I can't say for sure, but we need to gather every help we can get. I cannot promise you that it won't be bloody."

"I know, and I also know that it's inevitable to have a war. I just hope that there will only be few casualties, and children would be spared."

They were still discussing some things when the dishes they ordered finally arrived. Zenia couldn't wait to sample them while Vaughn did his best to attend to his wife.

They shared a delightful meal as they discussed their plan. They finished everything in no time. Even though the place looked so ordinary, the dishes were superb. They boarded their carriage and went to Mr. Smith's shop.

The prototype for the semi-automatic crossbow was finally done. The Master Weaponsmith was very pleased with his work. He found nothing wrong with it, apart from the location of the trigger.

Zenia liked the prototype very much. She tested it, and it worked perfectly. She did not waste any more time and told the Master Weaponsmith to start the production.

"It would be best if you can finish all of twenty in two days."

Mr.Smith looked t Zenia in disbelief. The three-day work period was already too rushed. Zenia's eyes were telling him that the weapons were badly needed. Mr. Smith sighed and nodded his head.

Vaughn noticed the reluctance in Mr. Smith's reaction. He knew that Mr. Smith's weakness was acquiring more money for his craftsmanship.

"I will add in a bonus when you finish it ahead of time," Vaughn added.

The eyes of Mr. Smith and his men sparkled when they heard that there would be a bonus. They knew that the Crown Prince meant it. The Crown Prince was someone who always kept his words.

* * * * *

The Left Minister finally reached his estate. He was fuming mad but could do nothing about it. He wasn't prepared. He did not expect that the Queen would not see him.

"Gather all my supporters and tell them that we are going to hold an emergency meeting tonight."

"Yes, Left Minister."

The Left Minister sneered and trod the path going to his garden, where Odette was waiting patiently.