Chapter 36
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A villainess locked away in a desolate tower—I had possessed her body. Chapter 36 —Cletan Empire, Pliana's Salon. Wherever noblewomen in elaborate gowns gathered, the most burning issue of high society was inevitably discussed. As the blue-haired noblewoman who arrived last took her seat, someone murmured as if they had been waiting.
"Sigh, I wonder when it will come out."
"I know, right? I'm going absolutely mad waiting for this."
"What on earth has happened?"
Tap. Someone placed a magazine in the center of the table. On the cover, designed for easy portability, the title "Safety Regulations of the Haunted Duke's Castle" was inscribed in elegant script.
"I'm so curious about the next installment, but the magazine company won't even respond to our inquiries!"
"I've heard that their operations have been paralyzed by protest letters demanding the sequel."
A proper salon was traditionally a place where noblewomen gathered to sip tea with refinement and share society gossip. Yet recently, Pliana's Salon had become a space where only one topic echoed: the manga serialized in the magazine, "Safety Regulations of the Haunted Duke's Castle."
And no wonder—this very manga had recently swept through high society and begun setting trends.
"Nothing is as entertaining as this lately."
"Exactly, and I've heard that Abije Magazine Company has even started trying to imitate it, but it's utterly dull...."
"The narrative structure is simply lacking. What do they take our refined tastes for? And the artwork and coloring are so important."
As everyone nodded in agreement and the salon grew louder, the door suddenly swung open. Creak! The salon door opened wide.
"Special edition! Special edition!"
It was the young book merchant whom Pliana had granted constant access—a boy who came rain or shine, always carrying news of new releases for the noblewomen who thirsted for them. Catching his breath after arriving in haste, the boy raised his voice again as all eyes turned toward him.
"A special edition of 'Safety Regulations of the Haunted Duke's Castle' has just been released!"
Haunted Duke's Castle, special edition, surprise release. The noblewomen, having instantly grasped the key words, leaped to their feet. News of this new release, which they had awaited more eagerly than their own husbands, flooded their hearts with pink-hued joy.
"What, what did you say?"
"Oh my! I must have this!"
As the noblewomen rushed forward, wallets open, the young book merchant set down the new volumes and beamed with the satisfaction of a day's sales achieved in mere moments.
"The special edition seems a bit shorter in volume...."
Pliana, observing a noblewoman's disappointed expression as she gazed at the thinner-than-usual book, gently offered a suggestion.
"Then, what if we use the remaining time for a reading circle?"
"What a splendid idea!"
After all, disappointment could be easily soothed by sharing passionate discussion with those of similar taste. Brimming with anticipation for the new content, the noblewomen became completely absorbed in their reading, not lifting their eyes until the teacups before them had gone completely cold. And shortly after, Pliana, who had finished reading the fastest, closed the book and murmured as if entranced.
"Blackout curtains...?"
Another noblewoman who had finished reading to the last page chimed in enthusiastically.
"I absolutely must buy this. Where on earth do they sell these?"
A murmur rippled through the crowd. Among those whose consumer desires had been unexpectedly ignited, someone cried out.
"Oh! There's a contact for a custom blackout curtain maker listed on the very last page!"
"My goodness, you're right!"
The only ones who grew busier due to the rush of noblewomen were the servants of the noble families who had accompanied them. And at that very moment, another place had grown equally busy—none other than the Empress Palace, the very heart of the Imperial Palace of the Cletan Empire.
"Haah...."
Oriana, reclining diagonally across the sofa, let out a languid yawn. Though she appeared to be in her mid-to-late thirties, the Empress of the Cletan Empire had actually passed forty more than a decade ago. As the Empress of a great empire, she seemed to lack for nothing—yet recently, she had been unable to sleep through a single night...
"Merlin."
The drowsy summons fell from her lips, and the head maidservant standing nearby stepped forward promptly.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Have you still not discovered who the artist is that drew that comic?"
"I regret to say that we have not, Your Majesty."
With an answer heavy with difficulty, the head maidservant's graying hair bowed downward.
"Sigh...."
This time, it was a deep sigh. When had it begun? Just as the women of ordinary noble families had done, the Empress too had become utterly captivated by the comic book "Safety Regulations of the Haunted Duke's Castle" that had swept through high society. The problem was that her passion did not stop at mere appreciation. First, she had collected every installment published in the magazine and repeatedly reread them whenever the mood struck, and she had summoned scholars to organize the related settings. Unable to wait any longer, she had even gone so far as to commission new stories based on the characters from "Safety Regulations of the Haunted Duke's Castle" to entertain herself.
"Your character interpretation is wrong!"
"I, I sincerely apologize, Your Majesty...."
"Don't apologize to me—apologize to the Ghost Duke whose character you've ruined!"
From renowned storytellers to jesters and theatrical actors throughout the Empire. All of them were suffering as they brought results that fell short of her meticulous analysis.
"When exactly will the next installment be released!"
Finally, her patience shattered and her fury erupted. The continuation haunted her dreams, yet when would it ever come! She had loosened her restraint to summon the person in charge directly and press them, but only reports of failure came back day after day, and now she was nearly losing her mind.
"P, please compose yourself."
"Sigh...."
At the head maidservant's dissuasion, the Empress reluctantly settled back into her seat.
"This is truly frustrating."
I had reigned for so long upon the double-edged sword that was the center of power, while simultaneously living in fear that it might one day sever my own neck. In the desolate life of the Imperial Palace, I had scrambled to seize what others possessed and to protect what I held, a bitter struggle for survival. Only now, with my son as Crown Prince, did I enjoy peace in a sheltered greenhouse—but before the current Emperor Lloyd Kletan suddenly collapsed and became a vegetable, I had lived with such fierce intensity. Perhaps that was why. The moment those peaceful days began to feel tedious, I encountered "Safety Regulations of the Grand Duke's Castle," and that comic book became the Empress's new source of joy. Though it had become an excessively parching rain for her—a drawback, one might say.
"Your Majesty the Empress!"
Just as another complaint was about to spill from the Empress's lips, her personal attendant Louise burst through the doors at full speed.
"...What is it."
Her voice was ice-cold and indifferent, but Louise paid no mind, quickly retrieving something from her bosom.
"A special edition of 'Safety Regulations of the Grand Duke's Castle' has been released! I've brought it for you, Your Majesty!"
Prostrate on the ground, yet with both hands raised upward, a weighty tome rested upon her palms.
"Good heavens...."
Thump. The Empress sprang to her feet, her voice trembling with wonder. 'In truth, I need the next volume....' When one is starving, it matters little whether what lies before you is rice or bread. She swiftly claimed the book and settled upon the plush sofa, reading with meticulous care so as not to miss a single character. And when that lengthy reading session finally concluded, the Empress's reaction was precisely as expected.
"Blackout curtains?"
Thud. I absolutely must have these! An intense, burning intuition struck through her entire being.
"Does the Imperial Palace possess blackout curtains?"
"Pardon? What are those...."
But the response that came was one of utter bewilderment. Even the Empress, who had seen all manner of rare treasures in this world, was hearing of blackout curtains for the first time.
"If I knew, I wouldn't be asking. In any case, I must acquire these blackout curtains for myself."
"Ah, Your Majesty the Empress!"
As Louise had procured several volumes, the head attendant Merlin, who had been reading alongside her, pointed to the final page of the book.
"It says you can order from here! There's a purchasing location listed on the back of the comic, Your Majesty."
"Oho."
Clap! The Empress clapped her hands once, her tone brightening as she issued her command.
"Investigate that purchasing location."
"...Your Majesty?"
"This blackout curtain, something I've never heard of in all my life, appears in this comic. Moreover, purchasing information is conveniently listed, is it not?"
The keen intuition she had cultivated through years in high society remained sharp even now.
"Which means there must have been some sort of transaction between the artist and the blackout curtain supplier."
The head attendant nodded in surprise at this astute observation, while a soft murmur escaped the Empress's lips.
"I shall find them without fail, and then...."
Without fail. 'I will discover when the young lady and the Grand Duke become connected.' It was a competitive spirit rising within her after such a long time.
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