Chapter 58

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 58

Chapter Title: A Fellow Fan's Lament

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Although it was the first time seeing her face in person, Genevra Golbro and I sat facing each other, sipping tea as if we were longtime friends of sorts.

Because she doesn't allow visits from unverified people, neither the Duke nor Bonita had accompanied me, but I didn't find the situation particularly dangerous.

Well, getting here hadn't been difficult anyway, since they had sent over a dedicated teleportation magic scroll.

Just…

'I have no idea what she's thinking.'

Considering her personality, which hated wasting time unnecessarily, I got straight to the point as soon as I sat down, explaining the reason for my visit.

I also shared my opinion that connecting with the Embros Merchant Company would benefit the Golbro firm as well.

But contrary to my expectations, her response wasn't an immediate answer but a question.

"So, you're saying you'd like our Golbro Merchant Company to provide escort personnel to the Embros Merchant Company?"

"Yes. It would be even better if we could establish regular trade between them."

Utilizing the Embros Merchant Company's distribution network, which spanned the continent, would make personnel movements far more flexible than they were now.

I was certain the Golbro Merchant Company had been waiting for an opportunity like this.

'So why...?'

Why was Genevra fiddling with her teacup with an uncomfortable expression?

Unable to bear the awkward silence, I spoke up again.

"Is there perhaps some condition you'd like separately?"

I had brought it up as if it were a personal favor, so if she saw it as official business, this reaction was understandable.

But the pretty young lady before me gave a response utterly different from what I'd anticipated.

"It's not because of any conditions."

"Pardon? Then..."

"I'm... hurt."

"...C-Cough!"

A cough caught in my throat at the same time, and the lukewarm tea refluxed up.

Not wanting to look unsightly in front of someone I was meeting for the first time, I desperately held back the cough and lifted my head.

"H-Hurt?"

What was this all of a sudden?

The question burst out, laden with my bewilderment.

"Miss Salt."

Looking at her again, Genevra stared at me with a troubled expression on her flower-like face.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Tell you what...?"

Her voice sounded so aggrieved it could have been mistaken for a lovers' quarrel if I were a man.

Then, an explanation of the whole story poured from her lips.

"There are rumors everywhere that the publisher of Safety Rules of the Haunted Duke's Castle is in the Brail Duchy."

"Th-That's true."

"And whispers are circulating that the person behind this continent-shaking masterpiece is a woman."

No way.

I reflexively glanced at the comic books lining the shelf behind her and swallowed dryly.

"From the very start of this comic book venture, I caught a strong whiff of you, Miss Salt."

"...Pardon?"

It couldn't mean that literally, right? It wasn't like I'd marked my territory on the comics.

So the meaning of her words was obvious.

"Miss Golbro..."

"On top of that, do you know how many letters we've exchanged? I can spot exactly how you lay out your preamble before getting to the point."

Her light brown eyes gleamed sharply, as if she already knew everything.

"Once I recognized the storytelling style, it only confirmed my suspicions further."

Genevra Golbro was one of the few people who knew I was staying in the Brail Duchy. It was because I'd borrowed manpower from her last time for the dam construction...

Would it have been stranger if she hadn't suspected me in the comic business?

"W-Well, you see. I didn't mean to hurt you."

With all the tumultuous events in my life lately, I'd simply forgotten. Genevra also had a thoroughly meticulous personality.

I hurriedly began my excuse—that wasn't quite an excuse.

"And the fact that I'm involved in this business was supposed to be a secret..."

In truth, I hadn't exactly kept it a secret.

But in Salt Kingdom, it might be better if they didn't know I was not only alive and well but running a business in Kletan Empire, which was practically enemy territory...

"Ahem, ahem."

I cleared my throat awkwardly to lighten the mood and leaned slightly toward Genevra, who still seemed sulky.

"It was hard to put it in writing, since it could leak. Besides, I never imagined you'd have such keen interest in comics..."

I trailed off and swept my gaze over the tall bookshelves with fresh eyes.

Upon closer inspection, not only the main volumes of Safety Rules of the Haunted Duke's Castle but also the special editions and the limited-run prints—still in their unopened packaging—were neatly shelved.

That's how I naturally realized it.

The depth of her love for comics.

"I really had no idea."

I lowered the corners of my eyes slightly, infusing my words with a touch of apology.

Fortunately, Genevra didn't seem intent on dragging this out; she picked up her teacup with a somewhat softened expression.

"Now Miss Salt knows."

Her prim reply ended, and her gaze turned to me.

"Right?"

Her words were practically a hint to offer what she desired.

In truth, Genevra wasn't the type swayed by money or power.

The reason I'd been able to meet her like this without issue was surely because she valued the trust we'd built over time.

And if what she wanted was...

'She has everything.'

Overflowing with wealth to the point of rot, she already owned every comic-related item imaginable.

Even the ghost duke edition tumblers, limited to just 100 initial units, were on display—three of them.

'Baron Pavron would lose his mind if he saw this.'

No, not just Baron Pavron. Countless people desperate to snag one would beat their chests in envy.

Anyway... thanks to that, one thing was certain.

Genevra was utterly hooked on the comics we published.

"Miss Golbro."

I lifted the corners of my mouth into a leisurely smile and continued in a subtly enticing tone.

It was time to play my trump card.

"I'd like to introduce you to Her Highness the Empress of the Kletan Empire."

"Oh, I must decline connections I can't handle..."

"No."

Whatever misunderstanding she had, I naturally cut off her hardened response.

"As a fellow enthusiast who shares the same hobby—a devoted fan of Safety Rules of the Haunted Duke's Castle."

"Ah."

"I imagine you already know, Miss Golbro. How actively Her Highness has been engaging with Safety Rules of the Haunted Duke's Castle in all sorts of ways."

Genevra's expression seemed unchanged at a glance, but her tightly pressed lips twitched subtly upon closer look.

That meant she knew the Empress was the first in this world to dive into secondary creations, and that she held immense interest in it.

'That's it.'

The mad scent of passion from fellow fans.

Convinced I'd hit the mark, I inwardly cheered.

"Hmm, Miss Golbro is a lady of high reputation and trustworthiness among her circles... Ah, no, that's not it!"

April carefully penned words on the stationery, then suddenly shook her head and crumpled it up.

Whoosh!

Ian—no, Kaian wearing the transformation ring—turned his head away, pretending not to notice the paper ball arcing to the floor.

"Ugh, it feels too clichéd for an introduction letter."

She muttered while clutching her head, then suddenly began glancing around as if struck by a whim.

"Ahem."

For a moment, upon spotting Bonita dozing in the corner, she quietly stood up.

As if disliking the idea of her maid doing the work, she personally picked up the discarded letter and tossed it in the trash before silently returning to her seat.

'Fascinating.'

An unusual behavior for the typically arrogant royals.

Of course, she had acted as a proxy for Remeia and wasn't properly acknowledged as a princess, which was a special circumstance...

Kaian glanced at April for a moment. But reminded that scrutinizing his charge like this wasn't befitting Ian's role as guard, he forcibly turned away.

Still, he couldn't help his attention drifting back to her repeatedly.

It had been about three months since he'd unexpectedly started guarding April.

From his observations as her 'knight escort' during that time, she was, in a word, a person of interest.

Not content with merely attracting all sorts of incidents and accidents, she exhibited the eccentricity of grumbling about the hassle yet shouldering most of them herself.

A prime example of someone whose honest body moved even as their mouth complained?

That was his overall assessment of April purely as a 'charge.' But...

'Not unpleasant to watch.'

He didn't realize it.

That as subjective judgments kept creeping in, a faint, unfamiliar smile had bloomed on his lips while his eyes lingered on her round nape.