Chapter 45
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A villainess locked away in a desolate tower—I had possessed her body.
Chapter 45
'What does she mean by that?'
Whether she was angry or simply displaying some inexplicable demeanor, I couldn't relax my guard and stared directly at her.
From her indignation at being mocked, to forcibly expelling me from the Dining Hall—
In that brief moment, countless worst-case scenarios flashed through my mind. But then....
"Indeed, I never would have thought such a story could come from the mind of an ordinary person."
What followed was completely contrary to my expectations.
"...."
Was she indirectly calling me mad?
Yet the Empress seemed to be in better spirits than I anticipated, so I nodded earnestly.
'Since things have come to this, my concept for now is four-dimensional.'
"Still, it would be a shame...."
Just when I thought the matter would conclude, the Empress opened her mouth once more.
'What else could she possibly say?'
I lifted my head blankly, and she, wearing a benevolent smile with her chin resting on her hand, presented a new proposal.
"Since I've called upon you, I would like to make a personal request."
"A personal request? What manner of thing might that be...."
"You surely know well that not only I, but all of high society has become enthralled with the tale of the Phantom Duke. However, high society cools as quickly as it heats. Therefore...."
Why was she saying this? With all eyes upon me, the Empress's lips parted.
"For readers like myself, create something special that captures the essence of the Phantom Duke."
Something special?
As if answering my thoughts, she continued.
"When I used the blackout curtains I received this time, it felt as though I were sharing a world like a comic book itself. I was quite satisfied."
In other words....
'Merchandise?'
A light bulb illuminated in my previously dark mind.
"I shall bear all necessary expenses, so do not refuse. Do you understand?"
Behind the smiling Empress, I felt as though a brilliant halo of golden coins was shining.
Indeed, the Empress's proposal was nothing less than a devoted fan's declaration to shoulder all costs for creating merchandise.
Merchandise.
By definition: 'planned products released by specific brands or celebrities. Products related to dramas, animations, fan clubs, and the like.'
It was hardly an exaggeration to call it essential to fandom.
...But what kind of merchandise would suit this world?
"Are you still inclined to refuse even this?"
I had nearly lost myself in contemplation when her elegant voice questioning me again snapped me back to awareness.
...In truth, refusing when she was even providing the funds would be foolish.
"If you insist so strongly...."
No matter how I considered it, the proposal favored me, so I nodded as though reluctantly agreeing.
"Then, shall we discuss the work again?"
After that, the Empress seemed to understand my concept to some degree, and she no longer made unreasonable demands.
Thanks to that, I was able to answer her questions adequately during the remaining time and enjoy the abundant meal at ease.
Whether out of consideration for the elderly painters, she even offered me precious wine after the meal finished.
By the time I received a polite farewell and stepped outside, the sky had grown completely dark.
"I, I was so nervous I thought I'd die."
The moment we emerged into the open courtyard of the Empress Palace, Ashley beside me let out a sigh of relief.
As an ordinary aspiring painter, it made sense for her to be nervous—seeing the Imperial Family in person was something she might only experience once in her lifetime, if at all.
"I was too. Honestly, I thought my heart was going to burst right out of my chest."
If my act hadn't worked, I would have only upset the dignified Empress.
After joking with Ashley, I moved toward my chamber and fell into deep contemplation.
'But what on earth should I make the merchandise of this world from?'
A heavy sigh escaped me.
I had come all this way to prevent trouble before it could arise, yet it seemed trouble had found me anyway.
* * *
Perhaps it was the lingering unease.
I couldn't fall asleep easily as the night wore on.
The Empress had thoughtfully arranged blackout curtains on every window, and though it was now the dead of night when even those curtains were unnecessary, my mind remained perfectly alert.
My consciousness felt as if I'd downed five triple shots of espresso.
The environment didn't seem to be the problem.
If I compared the Cletan Imperial Palace to reality, it would be like a five-star hotel.
No—it was so vastly different that even such a comparison felt strange.
Moreover, the room was maintained spotlessly clean, and the bathroom was, to exaggerate only slightly, larger than my chamber in the Grand Duchy.
'I was certain I'd be dead tired even in the carriage.'
But I couldn't sleep.
That left only one reason.
'Introvert trait number one: sensitivity about sleeping arrangements.'
It must be my inherent constitution.
Having already come to regard my chamber in the Blaire Grand Duke Residence as home, this vast and ornate room only amplified my sense of displacement.
'This won't do.'
Unable to bear tossing and turning with open eyes any longer, I finally got up.
I'd caught a glimpse on the way here—there seemed to be a garden nearby.
A light walk would be perfect for resetting my circadian rhythm, which had been thrown into chaos from poor sleep the previous night, so I threw on a light shawl and headed outside.
I was careful to move through the most secluded areas, as encountering others might lead to tiresome questioning.
The soft sound of water echoed gently.
How long had I been walking?
After passing through a narrow corridor that seemed like it would be snug for a single adult man, I soon began to hear the faint sound of running water from somewhere ahead.
"Ah, I found it."
As I passed through an entrance deliberately obscured by shrubbery, a serene garden came into view.
The modest scale felt like I'd discovered a secret place made just for me.
"Ahhhh."
The quiet garden, with only a few trees and patches of grass, brought peace to my heart merely by gazing upon it.
Settling myself on a suitable stone instead of a chair, I retrieved the worry that had plagued me throughout the entire day.
'What kind of merchandise should I prepare?'
Since I would be presenting it to the Empress, the quality could not be lacking, and it needed to be something universally useful to as many people as possible.
Perhaps it was due to my preference for practical things, but I had no desire to produce garbage that was merely pretty and pointless.
'I can't think of anything.'
To clear my troubled mind, I looked up at the sky where a large moon hung.
Rustle.
Just as I was about to lose myself in the pale moonlight, I felt a faint sound of movement from behind.
Startled, I turned around to see a large shadow pointing directly at me.
The surroundings were dark, so I couldn't see clearly, but I could distinguish that the other person was male.
"Who are you?"
"Ah, I am...."
What should I say?
As I chose my words, I simply answered honestly.
After all, the man could have been a guard on patrol.
"I'm a guest invited by the Empress. I'm staying in the Guest House over there."
Rising from my seat and finishing a brief introduction, I even offered a formal greeting.
I suppose my social skills are maxed out in situations like this.
But the man's reaction was entirely different from what I expected.
"So?"
"Uh... yes?"
"This is a restricted area."
"Oh, ah, um, I, I see."
So that's why the entrance was so well hidden?
Not just in the Imperial Palace, but everywhere I went, such places existed. Even in Salt, there were more than one or two locations where access was controlled.
But such spaces shared a characteristic—they were restricted without any particular reason!
The man's attitude didn't seem particularly pleasant, but since I didn't want my precious solitude interrupted, I attempted to negotiate with him.
"Um, if it's alright with you, couldn't we just turn a blind eye to each other...?"
"Turn a blind eye?"
"You're in a restricted area too! Whether you snuck in or I accidentally wandered in, we're both in an awkward position either way..."
The man showed no particular reaction.
But since it didn't seem to be a refusal, I carefully asked once more.
"Ah, is that not possible?"
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