episode_0018

“Sir Rupert, come sit here for a moment.”

There was a joy that couldn’t be hidden in the princess’s voice as she called me to her with her arms crossed.

‘what? Why are you so excited and anxious?’

Because I was only the second son of a local lord and had no title yet, I could not resist the magic of Yongeon.

He went in front of the princess, knelt down on one knee, bowed his head, and answered.

“I apologize. Please do not dare to ask me to sit in front of His Majesty.”

This is etiquette, right? Since I was in a hurry, I wasn’t sure, so I glanced at the chamberlain, whom I barely knew.

The chamberlain, who had the image of a scraggly old man with white hair, looked at me and smiled slightly in satisfaction.

‘Fortunately, I guess it wasn’t a mistake in etiquette.’

But now we have only overcome one crisis. I had to be nervous because there were still a lot of land mines left.

“I allow myself to raise my head.”

“Thank you for your kindness.”

Only after the princess finally gave permission was I able to raise my head.

Then, I finally got to see the face of the princess, whom I had only seen in photos, in real life.

Black hair and eyes that look like the starry sky. The characteristics of the imperial ‘Bell’ clan were immediately noticeable.

But what caught my eye even more than that was her outstanding beauty.

As a member of the imperial family, the princess was wearing gorgeous and elegant dresses and accessories. Any decent lady would not be able to digest them.

However, the princess overwhelmed the fancy clothes and accessories with her beauty and made it look like she was wearing ordinary clothes.

‘It’s definitely not called the Flower of the Empire for nothing.’

Even in the original novel, there is a scene where the female protagonist, Amelia, and men argue over who is more beautiful.

She truly was one of the most beautiful women in the world.

“So do you know why I called you?”

The princess looked at me as I raised her head and immediately asked a question.

The letter clearly said that there was something to talk about about The Little Mermaid.

“I know you have something to ask about The Little Mermaid.”

“Yes, I had a question to ask about the Little Mermaid!”

“Please ask me anything, Your Highness.”

“When the Little Mermaid returned to the sea, what happened to the prince?”

“Yes?”

I thought he had called me because he didn’t like the ending, but I was so embarrassed that he was suddenly talking about a prince, so I ended up answering in a manner that was against etiquette.

“I know everything. As a writer, you must have thought about the subsequent stories, right?”

No, there is nothing like that?

***

“So maybe the prince misses the Little Mermaid… .”

“Hoo, I see! That makes sense. Let’s keep going.”

Edric, the third prince of the empire, could not help but stare in fascination at the sight he had seen for the first time in his life.

“Who is the author?”

“This is Sir Rupert, the second son of the Earl of Somerset.”

“Somerset?”

In response to Ayton, Edric recalled the name Somerset from the list of nobles in his memory.

“A lordly family from the southern Goldpool Valley region.”

An ordinary person would not be able to remember the names of the hundreds of noble families that exist in the empire, but for the third prince, it was possible.

“But why did he come here, and why is he talking so excitedly?”

Where should Ayton begin to explain to Edric’s question? I thought about it, but soon I answered, organizing step by step what had happened from the beginning to the present.

“It’s a children’s book… I also heard it through rumors, but I never thought you would like something like that so much.”

It was not easy for Edric to imagine. I can’t believe the princess, who has a thorough personality, is so absorbed in a book that only children read and reacts so enthusiastically.

“I want to see you too.”

“I will bring it to you.”

When Edric said he wanted to read a storybook, Ayton ordered the maid to bring the storybooks from the princess’s room.

***

A person’s experience is very important. When I was working in the military, my superiors harshly told me to tell an interesting story, which was very helpful.

“Yes. That’s exactly what I was curious about! The prince can’t forget the Little Mermaid, so he goes to the witch and asks her to turn him into a mermaid.”

I was finally relieved to see the princess clapping her hands, saying, “It’s really romantic.”

The princess suddenly asked if she was curious about the story behind The Little Mermaid, so you didn’t write that down? Unable to answer, I used my superhuman abilities to hastily create a story.

‘The prince suddenly remembers the time he fell into the sea.’

‘so?’

‘The prince realized that the person who saved him was not the princess of a neighboring kingdom, but a woman he had never known… .’

It is appropriate to say that a good storyteller is a good liar. I never thought that being praised since I was young for being so good at telling a lie would be helpful.

And fortunately, the princess listened to the story with a smile, as if she liked the story I had made up.

However, it was no easy task to accommodate the tastes of the princess, who was always fascinated by strange aspects.

‘I think the little mermaid princess is already hurt, so even if the prince approaches her, she will reject her.’

‘Indeed, Her Royal Highness can clearly see through the hearts of men and women. That’s amazing insight.’

‘But the Prince became even more obsessed with the Little Mermaid’s appearance, and the Little Mermaid’s heart began to waver again at the sight of the Prince’s devastated appearance… .’

I’ve felt this since the last time she said she didn’t like the ending. I am thirsty for a very provocative story.

I can’t even imagine how on earth one could come up with such a story after reading The Little Mermaid.

However, by playing with the princess’s imagination, I succeeded in creating a story that would satisfy her, and she was greatly satisfied as a result.

“I expected your outstanding skills, but I like you more than I thought.”

With a satisfied smile, the princess forced me to sit on the chair across from where she was sitting.

Jerrit

I didn’t want to sit down because I could feel the old chamberlain watching the scene glaring at me, but I couldn’t disobey the princess’s orders, so I sat there with an uncomfortable feeling.

‘But that guy looks like Edric?’

A young man with black hair who is eagerly reading a children’s book next to the chamberlain.

Anyone with black hair in the imperial family was obviously a member of the royal family, and if it was a male member of the royal family of that age, it was clear that he was one of the princes.

However, among the three princes, there was only one reason why I thought that he was the third prince, ‘Edric Bell’, the male protagonist of the original novel.

‘You’re really damn handsome.’

I thought that the Rupert I possessed was much more handsome than I thought. That guy is just a piece.

The look makes you think you’re doing some kind of photo shoot, even though you’re just reading a children’s book.

‘But why on earth are you here? Is this really a ploy by the hands of an asshole?’

This was clearly a ploy by a crazy person, seeing as they ended up meeting each character who asked them not to meet them.

“Sir Rupert, I have been very satisfied with my day, and I would like to reward you.”

“No, Your Majesty. On the contrary, the fact that it brought joy can be said to be an honor to the family.”

It was obvious that the award would be something worthless, like an appreciation plaque.

“No, but he is a guest I personally invited, so there should be a reward. Tell me what you want.”

Tsk, if I really feel like it, I want to ask for money. But if you do that, you will only be criticized for being someone who only cares about money and does not know the honor of nobility.

Should I ask for something like flowers or a handkerchief that Her Majesty the Princess gave me? The moment I was thinking about it.

Honor, not material things… Oh, for a moment, a good thought crossed my mind.

“Her Royal Highness, then may I tell you my ignorant opinion?”

“Speak comfortably.”

“I want to create a world where people across the empire can read the children’s books I create.”

“What?”

“My book was originally created for children, and I hope that it will help children who will become equal members of the empire grow into upright people.”

“So?”

“My strength is far from sufficient, but if Her Majesty the Princess would show her grace, I would like to have the children of not only wealthy nobles but also poor commoners read books.”

Did it work?

I was amazed at the spontaneous idea I came up with. Since material things are absolutely impossible, I pass. But what about the spread of books?

In my opinion, this is a request that can be narrowly overlooked.

Since she came forward for the purpose of public interest, the princess would not be able to call her rude or disrespectful.

“As expected, you understand my thoughts!”

huh?

“Still, I think that many children should read these books. However, unfortunately, there are many commoners who cannot read.”

“Yes, it is unfortunate, but yes.”

“What you’re trying to say is, isn’t it clear that you want to solve the illiteracy rate of the people of the empire through your easy-to-read books?”

“I… majesty! That’s not it… !”

No, I just meant to give you money to distribute books. It is not a grand goal like eradicating illiteracy.

Why is it suddenly increasing in scale like that?

“It’s amazing how you thought so identically to mine. Indeed, a noble person must always think of the people below him.”

How on earth can distributing books lead to the eradication of illiteracy? There was absolutely no way to stop the princess from rushing forward.

I looked at the Chamberlain asking for help with the growing incident, but he just looked at me with a puzzled look in his eyes and did not offer any help.

‘Just give me the money!’

No matter how much I cried inside, it was no use.

***

‘Have my eyes on people become rusty?’

Edric looked at a man named Rupert who was discussing the distribution of books with the princess.

Although he was embarrassed to evaluate it himself, he was confident that his vision of people was quite accurate.

In Edric’s opinion, Rupert was somewhat sinister and a man who seemed likely to reveal his wealth.

When I heard him talking to the princess, his expression was cold-blooded, but wasn’t everything he said like a treasonous treacherous treason that rattled off everything he said?

Of course, his expression was so serious that if someone he didn’t know saw it, it would have caused cognitive dissonance.

But Edric’s prediction was wrong.

When the princess brought up the story about the reward, his eyes suddenly changed and I was astonished.

‘If this person of mine is greedy, I will never let him be.’

I was thinking to myself, waiting for his answer.

-I want to create a world where the people of the entire empire can read the children’s books I create.

Unexpectedly, he said that he wanted to make people read books, not money or material things.

His expression looked even more serious when he said that he wanted to help poor people read books with the help of the imperial family, as books are expensive.

‘I guess I was wrong. ‘I never thought he would have such grand ambitions.’

Edric thought that people should not be judged carelessly from now on.