< Concerning the second special volume of “Safety Rules for Writing Horror Stories,” and the release of a mug inspired by the heroine Nadia! >
The mug was successfully launched and was featured prominently on one of the pages of the Imperial newspaper.
Of course, it would be great if it sold well!
But the primary goal was to burst the market bubble and eliminate unfair scams that deceived innocent people.
“That's why I sent a mug to Baron Bavron as soon as it was issued...”
I stared at the wizard as he bowed before me in amazement.
A wizard from the magic tower? Why is he here?
Before I could comprehend my confusion, the wizard, who looked exhausted and pale, bowed deeply and pleaded with me.
“Ma’am, please… save us.”
I was already exhausted from waking up at the crack of dawn, and now, this unexpected event completely overwhelmed me.
"Huh? Save you...you? What do you mean by 'suddenly'?"
Was I killing them without knowing it or what?
“Okay...”
After a short pause, the wizard opened his mouth again.
“Right now, not only merchants, but even ordinary citizens are flocking to the Magic Tower.”
"What? Why...?"
Wasn't the Magic Tower already open to the public for tourism purposes?
When the magician saw my confusion, he continued his speech.
“Of course, people coming to the Magic Tower is not the problem. The problem is that they are constantly demanding Nadia’s version.”
“But hasn’t Nadia’s version been released already? I thought the Magic Tower was doing its best to produce it.”
The letter I received from the Magic Tower with the newspaper only said that things were going well, so I couldn't understand what was happening.
“That's not the problem.”
The wizard explained in a sad voice.
The problem started right after the release of Nadia's version.
Crowds gathered at the entrance of the Magic Tower, preventing the mages inside from interacting with the outside world.
Whenever someone who even slightly resembled a magician was spotted, he was harassed and forced to hand over a cup. The situation has become unbearable.
“The tower master ordered us not to inform the benefactor of this situation, but...”
His eyes filled with tears.
“But when I saw the Tower Master trapped inside for three days, unable to leave or even eat properly, I couldn’t hold it back any longer. Please, help us…!”
“Ah…”
An elderly man is unable to return to his home...
I felt pity, so I rested my chin on my hand out of habit.
Honestly, after piecing together the threads of the situation, I had a vague idea why this happened.
“For those who were familiar with the previous obsession with mugs, this must have seemed like the perfect opportunity.”
وبطبيعة الحال، سيلاحظ التجار الساعون إلى الربح الطلب المتزايد بشكل كبير.
To be honest, I wasn't sure there weren't people hoarding or smuggling the product during distribution.
If so…
“Although we announced that it will be sold out continuously, the initial supply will not be able to keep up with demand.”
I have worked hard to convince the Empress to prevent such chaos, but now my efforts are practically meaningless.
After some thought, she asked the wizard cautiously.
“Is it possible to increase production...?”
“Based on the order of the Tower Master, each wizard is already focusing on producing Parthanium Cups. Production itself is not a problem, but the problem is the speed of distribution.”
"then…?"
“There is no one to undertake customs clearance procedures and the papers required for shipping to various regions. For this reason, everything piles up...”
This was a completely different issue compared to when we planned a limited edition of 100 units.
The unexpected situation was giving me a headache.
سأحتاج إلى مناقشة هذا الأمر مع الدوق الأكبر.
لكنه كان مشغولاً للغاية في الآونة الأخيرة لدرجة أنني لم أره ولو للحظة.
As I hesitated, unsure of how to react, the door suddenly opened without warning.
“Huh?”
To my surprise, the person I was just thinking about was standing there.
“Your Highness?”
“...there's a problem.”
The Grand Duke, who was always careful to follow proper protocols, did not even knock on the door. This means that the situation was dangerous.
No, in fact, his serious tone alone was enough to sense the seriousness of the situation.
“What kind of problem...?”
After examination, it turned out that the Grand Duke did not appear to be in good health either.
Dark circles under his eyes, and a facial expression indicating extreme exhaustion...
Ever since I gifted him blackout curtains, his skin has been glowing. But now?
“Foreign letters addressed to our home have disrupted my ability to fully administer my official duties.”
"Huh? Foreign letters?"
I am waiting. impossible.
She looked at him with a screaming expression: “This can’t be true...”
لكن نظراته أكدت كل شيء بالفعل.
“Messages from people claiming to be ‘friends of friends of friends’ – people I’d never heard of – all asking for Nadia’s copy.”
oh well.
In short, the release of Nadia's version sparked even fiercer competition.
وبينما كان عقلي يكافح لمعالجة كل شيء، شعرت بأنني أفقد الإحساس.
Ah, it's been a long time...
Since the last time I felt this, it's completely and completely gone.
* * *
“Kh, kh… is this Nadia’s version?”
At his wife's question, Baron Bavron nodded and gently fed her a spoonful of warm soup.
“Yes, just like I said, she has a very amazing quality.”
“It must have been hard to get it… ugh, ugh! Thank you so much, darling.”
“No, ma’am. This is the least I can do as your husband.”
The Baron stayed at his wife's bedside for a long time before he finally got up as the day began to wane.
As he stepped out of the warm, comforting air of the room, his eyes took in the desolate state of their home.
Although the baron's residence was not far from the capital, it was located on a piece of land so small that calling it a province seemed like an exaggeration.
The palace itself was modest in size, and had no staff to maintain it, so Baron Bavron and his wife resided in the annex rather than the main building.
Of course, time affected everything. The furniture, which seemed to have been collected from different places, lacked any cohesion.
However, the Baron never found this strange.
He was fully aware of his poverty.
And he was the one who brought this on himself.
“Huh...”
He took a cheap bottle of wine out of the cupboard and poured himself a drink.
As he finished the full cup, he bit his lips, his face covered in worry.
I have reached my maximum potential.
He could no longer deny that his stubbornness was delaying his wife's treatment.
He was, after all, the man who had been shunned by his family because he married them.
He was once the most privileged child, but became a complete outcast after his marriage.
“James, do you really intend to disobey your mother?”
"Yes! I'm tired of all this! A mother who only cares about money, a family that only values social status – I don't want to have anything to do with any of this!"
If he had to balance his pride and his wife, the choice was clear.
If he gave up his pride and returned, he would be able to secure her treatment from the empire's most skilled doctors.
But…
An intense fear hung over his sluggish shoulders.
If she did that, Elena would be hurt.
Even if her body recovered, what good would it do if her heart suffered?
He could imagine his family belittling and hurting her simply for giving birth.
Baron Bavron feared all this.
As he emptied another cup, his fingers were shaking slightly.