“What does that mean?”
I couldn't let my guard down, so I kept watching her closely, unsure if she was angry or not.
From scolding me for making fun of her to forcibly kicking me out of the restaurant—
In an instant, countless worst-case scenarios came to mind. But…
“I didn't think a story like this could come out of an ordinary person's mind.”
Her next words deviated completely from my expectations.
“……”
Was she calling me crazy in a twisted way?
But since the Empress seemed to be in a surprisingly good mood, I nodded enthusiastically.
“Well, since things have come to this, I'll just pretend to be a geeky genius.”
“But since it would be a pity to leave it at that...”
Just as I thought the conversation was coming to an end, the Empress spoke again.
What will you say this time?
I looked up in confusion to see her resting her chin on her hand with a friendly smile, ready to suggest something new.
“Since I invited you here anyway, I have a personal request to make of you.”
“Personal service? What kind of service do you mean...?”
I am sure you are well aware that I am not the only one, rather the entire community is fascinated by the story of the Ghost Duke. However, as quickly as the upper class is attracted, their interest fades just as quickly. So…
(Translator's note: Ghost Duke is a character in the book I wrote)
What are you trying to say?
Since the attention of all the painters in the room was not directed only at me, the Empress finally revealed her request.
“For the sake of readers like me, I would like you to create a special piece that captures the essence of the Ghost Duke.”
Featured piece?
As if responding to my thoughts, she explained at length.
“I recently used the blackout curtains I received and found them very satisfying, as if they allowed me to share the world of the story itself.”
...that means—
“Goods?”
An idea lit up in my head.
I will cover all necessary expenses, so don't refuse. concept?
For a moment, she imagined a golden halo of coins shining behind the Empress.
In the end, her proposal was nothing less than a loyal fan personally funding the production of the merchandise.
goods.
By definition, “planned products released by a particular brand or celebrity, often associated with drama series, anime, or fan clubs.”
In short, it's an absolute necessity in the fandom world.
...But what kind of goods fit into this world?
“Do you intend to refuse even this?”
I was about to lose myself in my thoughts when the Empress's elegant voice brought me back to reality.
Frankly, turning down an offer where she was the one covering the costs would be absolutely ridiculous.
“If you insist so much...”
Knowing there was a good deal when I saw her, I nodded as if I was reluctantly accepting her request.
“So, shall we talk about the story again?”
From then on, the Empress seemed to have decided to respect my unique personality, and no longer made unreasonable demands.
As a result, I was able to enjoy the rest of the meal in comfort, and answer her questions at my own pace.
Perhaps out of consideration for the older painters, she kindly offered us fine drinks after the meal.
By the time we were politely escorted outside, the sky had completely darkened.
“I thought I was going to die from stress.”
As soon as we entered the open courtyard of the Empress Palace, Ashley let out a deep sigh of relief.
For someone who was just an aspiring artist, meeting members of the royal family in person - something most people would never experience even once in their lives - was naturally nerve-wracking.
“Me too. To be honest, I felt like I was going to vomit my heart out.”
If my acting had not worked, I might have ended up displeasing the Empress.
After teasing Ashley, I went back to my room lost in thought.
“But seriously, what kind of merchandise would work in this world?”
sigh.
I've come all this way to avoid problems, and yet here I am, facing another challenge.
* * *
Maybe it was the constant feeling of unease.
I couldn't sleep until late at night.
The Empress had carefully provided blackout curtains for every window, but even in the pitch black of the night, I felt as alert as if I had drunk five cups of Americano triple espresso.
It wasn't the environment.
In fact, the Kleytan Imperial Palace was like a five-star hotel in the modern sense.
No, likening it to a regular hotel wasn't enough – it was on a completely different level.
The room was perfectly clean, not a single speck of dust in sight, and the bathroom… honestly, it was probably bigger than my room in the Grand Duke's Palace.
“But I was exhausted in the carriage a while ago.”
However, I did not sleep.
There is only one explanation left.
“The first classic trait of an introvert: extreme sensitivity to sleeping conditions.”
It must have been due to my natural inclinations.
I had already begun to consider my room in the Grand Duke's Palace as my home, so such a spacious and luxurious space made me feel out of place.
“This doesn't work.”
After tossing and turning in bed for what seemed like an eternity, I finally gave up and sat down.
I vaguely remember passing a park on my way here.
A light walk seemed like the perfect way to reset my dysfunctional sleep schedule, so I grabbed a light shawl and calmly walked out.
Since bumping into someone might lead to unnecessary interrogations and a lot of trouble, I made sure to stick to the most isolated route.
Drop, drop.
How long have you been walking?
After passing through a narrow passage barely large enough for one adult man, I began to hear the faint sound of running water.
“Ah, I found it.”
After sneaking through a carefully hidden entrance among the dense foliage, I found a quiet and peaceful garden.
It was the perfect size – small enough to feel like my little secret hideaway.
“Haaa.”
The peaceful view, with only a few trees and a few scattered patches of grass, was enough to calm me down.
I sat on a decent-sized rock and reconsidered the dilemma that had troubled me all day.
What kind of goods should I prepare?
It had to be of high quality enough to impress the Empress, versatile enough to be used by many people, and…
Perhaps because of my personal preference for practical things, I didn't want to make a flashy but ultimately useless piece of junk.
I can't think of anything.
Hoping to clear my mind, I looked up at the sky. The big moon was shining from above.
swish.
As I was lost in thought, a faint voice came from behind me.
Startled, I turned to see a tall figure staring directly at me.
The darkness made it difficult to see clearly, but I could at least tell that the person was a man.
“Who's there?”
“Ah, I…”
What should I say?
After a short hesitation, I decided to be honest.
For all I know, it might have been a guard on patrol.
“I am an invited guest of Her Majesty the Empress. I am staying in the nearby guest suite.”
I stood up and politely introduced myself, even bowing properly.
My social skills were top notch, anyway.
But the man's response was completely different from what I expected.
“So?”
“Hmm…what?”
“This area is restricted.”
“أوه، فهمت.”
So that's why the entrance was so well hidden?
It wasn't just limited to the Imperial Palace, there were similar places everywhere. SALT also restricted access to more than just a few sites.
But these spaces had one thing in common: they were blocked for no apparent reason!
The man's attitude was not pleasant at all, but I did not want my rare moments of solitude to be interrupted. So, I decided to negotiate.
“Hmm…what if we ignore each other?”
“Ignore it?”
“You're in a restricted area too! Whether you sneaked in intentionally or ended up here accidentally like me, we're in the same position...”
The man showed no immediate reaction.
But since he did not refuse outright, I asked him again cautiously.
“Uh…does that mean no?”