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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team ‌‌‌and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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I possessed the body of a villainess locked away in a desolate tower.
Chapter 11
"A... comic book?"
The Grand Duke's expression grew remarkably peculiar. Caught between ‌‌affirmation and denial, I found myself nodding awkwardly at his ambiguous ‌‌‌reaction.
Surely he wasn't about to refuse me now? After all, it wasn't as though I'd proposed something outlandish like a contractual marriage.
But his next question shattered my expectations entirely.
"What is that?"
"I beg your pardon?"
Wait—he didn't ‌‌‌‌even know what a comic book was in the first place!?
Countless comic books I'd read in my previous life flashed before my eyes, yet when I tried to formulate a definition, the words caught in my throat.
"Ah, well... you see, ordinary books are composed entirely of text, aren't they?"
"That's true."
"Yes, ‌‌but comic books are essentially ‌‌‌books where the story is expressed through illustrations instead."
"Hmm."
A brief silence descended.
But I saw it—in that fleeting moment, the Grand Duke's perpetually composed expression cracked ever so slightly. Though it returned to its usual impassiveness just as quickly, as if it had been my imagination.
I carefully opened my mouth once more.
"Do you understand now?"
"Yes, but..."
The Grand Duke, ‌‌‌seated with arrogant poise, crossed his legs the other way.
My gaze was drawn to those impossibly long legs as they shifted, and I failed to properly hear what he said next.
"Is that all you desire?"
"...Pardon?"
"I asked if comic books are truly ‌‌‌all the princess wishes for." ‌‌‌
"...Ah, if it's not too much trouble, I was hoping perhaps one additional snack could be included with my meals."
Food, after all, requires a harmonious balance of sweet and savory.
But my recent meals had consisted primarily of modest, healthful fare.
While I ‌‌‌was grateful not to have to prepare my ‌‌own food, it's only human nature to want more when you have less—to wish to sit when standing, to wish to lie down when sitting.
"Something ‌‌‌a bit sweet would be nice, or something salty wouldn't be amiss either... haha."
But the moment my words trailed off, the faint smile that had graced the Grand Duke's face vanished.
"Princess, I said I would compensate you for your assistance with the Grand Duchy's affairs."
"Y-yes, you did."
"And yet all you ‌‌desire is a comic book and snacks?"
"Yes. U-unless something is amiss...?"
As his expression shifted, I could have sworn the temperature around us dropped slightly.
What on earth was the problem?
The way he said "merely" suggested this wasn't an excessive request, so what could it be? ‌‌‌
"Ha."
The Grand Duke lowered his head. I stiffened, wondering if he was angry, when I heard soft chuckling.
He raised his head again, his hand ‌‌covering his mouth, his face filled with bewildered laughter.
"...Truly, it's quite remarkable."
Though it was a handsome smile befitting a man of refined features, I couldn't ‌‌fathom why my unease only deepened with each passing moment.
As I stared at him in bewilderment, Blaire Grand Duke nodded as if his decision had crystallized.
"Very well then. ‌‌‌Comic books it is. I shall see to it as you wish."
I continued to regard him with suspicious eyes until we stepped beyond the Library, only then allowing the tension to drain from my gaze.
Liam, who had been waiting at the door, bowed his head.
"I shall escort you to your chamber."
Thud, thud.
Tap, tap.
Our footsteps ‌‌‌echoed with unusual clarity through the empty Corridor.
It was precisely when I began to drift into idle thoughts that ‌‌‌Liam, ‌‌who had maintained his silence until ‌‌‌then, finally spoke.
"I have made employment offers to those ‌‌whose names appeared on the list you specified. All of them have accepted, of course."
I stared at Liam as though he were delivering a report on matters already concluded.
Why was he telling me this?
Yet as always, the eyes behind his monocle betrayed ‌‌no particular disturbance.
Finding no particular fault to seize upon, I had no choice but to nod vaguely.
"I see."
"Those with chronic ailments or advanced age shall be assigned to relatively less demanding work, and I intend to exercise due care in such matters."
"Mm-hmm."
"Incidentally, the Black Eagle Unit appears to prefer a rather modest diet, so it seems we can procure provisions from within the Territory itself."
"Yes."
My voice was utterly devoid of spirit, yet Liam remained undeterred. ‌‌
'Would it be possible for you to discuss this with someone else instead?'
This situation was extraordinarily troublesome for me.
I had only assisted with the Dam construction matter this once, and ‌‌‌I harbored no intention of undertaking further ‌‌‌endeavors.
"...In conclusion, ‌‌‌the morale of the Territory's inhabitants has risen considerably."
"That is indeed fortunate."
I endeavored to craft ‌‌the most perfunctory response possible, hoping he would somehow divine my true sentiments.
"Thank you, though it comes late."
At his softly added words, I shook my head.
"I merely fulfilled what was asked of me."
In truth, it had bordered on coercion.
He surely remembered that he had compelled me to do this, yet here he was offering his gratitude.
I could ‌‌scarcely fathom how thick the armor of indifference must be layered upon Liam's countenance.
"It is not merely that—you have also shown concern for the welfare of the ‌‌marginalized classes, have you not?" ‌‌‌‌
"...Mm."
I stubbornly fixed my gaze forward. It felt strange to receive empty flattery for something self-evident.
Setting all ‌‌‌‌else aside, ‌this incomprehensible world suffered from a severe deficit in human rights consciousness.
Even I, young and healthy(?) and possessed of knowledge of the future, found survival this arduous—what then of others?
Yet instead of laying bare my true thoughts, I responded with a touch of levity.
"Then would you mind stopping the surveillance?"
Liam's middle finger rose without hesitation, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose.
"I'm afraid that's impossible. Neglecting ‌‌my assigned duties would constitute dereliction of responsibility."
"Sigh..."
After exchanging ‌‌‌‌a few light jabs with him, I found myself already standing before my chamber.
Before opening the door and stepping inside, I looked up at Liam one final time.
"Thank you for your efforts."
So please, I beg you, ‌stop tormenting me now.
Out of ‌‌‌‌courtesy, I bowed my head deeply and moved to close the ‌‌‌‌‌door when a soft voice reached me once more.
"I shall see you again tomorrow."
...Tomorrow? We're meeting again ‌‌‌tomorrow?
Why? What business could we possibly have? Surely that was just a polite farewell?
Though it was merely a ‌conventional parting, my heart inexplicably ‌‌began to race wildly with an inexplicable sense of unease.
* * *
Contrary to my desperate hopes, Liam's words became reality.
Or rather, it happened within mere hours—a loud knock echoed at my ears while I was still sleeping soundly in the early morning.
Half-asleep, I washed up and glanced at ‌‌‌‌‌the clock: it was only 6 in the morning.
Under normal circumstances, ‌‌‌‌‌I would still be lost in dreams at this hour...
"What is this business at the crack of dawn? Don't you ever sleep?"
"My philosophy is that sleep is something ‌‌‌‌one can do after death."
Why are you doing this to me?
"...You shouldn't say such things."
I grumbled in a disgruntled tone, but my words had no effect on Liam whatsoever.
He led me, full of complaints, toward a massive door.
From within, I could hear faint murmuring, ‌‌‌suggesting there were people inside.
"Where is this place...?"
"You'll find out soon enough."
Creak.
As the great double doors swung open, I felt as though I had stumbled into a labyrinth.
A vast hall was filled with several people ‌‌gathered together.
"Who are all these people...?"
"They are painters. Or more precisely, the painters you requested to draw the 'comic book.'"
I swept my bewildered gaze across ‌‌the people clustered in a circle.
Some were elderly, their ages well-advanced, and among them were those who appeared to have been hastily summoned, still wearing indoor slippers.
And they, too, seemed equally unfamiliar with this situation, ‌their glances toward Liam and me betraying an unmistakable sense of bewilderment.
Presently, Liam strode confidently toward the center and began introducing the people to me.
"This is Brown, a former court painter, followed in order by Cedric, who taught art classes at the academy, and Robid."
Then the people clustered in the back are...?
"A pleasure to meet you. I am Brown, and these are my apprentices whom I have trained myself."
Ah, I see.
I grasped the weathered hand extended ‌‌toward me, my body still rigid with shock, and shook hands with Brown, his white beard flowing down his chest, while ‌‌‌bowing my head.
"Y-yes, I'm... ‌‌‌delighted to meet you..."
My head was already throbbing.
To create comic books, they'd brought someone who trained imperial court painters—and not just anyone, but such distinguished figures with entire lineages of disciples in tow?
Liam, leaving me ‌utterly dumbfounded, declared confidently.
"I trust you will create magnificent comic books with the support of Blaire Grand Duke going forward."
...Was this right?
These elite talents descending ‌‌upon me to produce comic books for me alone to read?

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Brought to you by ‌‌‌Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
---------------