episode_0159

“The cartoon you gave me is fun, but if I had to name a big problem, it would be that it portrays the state as if it were the villain.”

Rupert had no excuses for the Emperor’s words.

In fact, no matter how much the pirates were purified into adventurers, the work’s ultimate enemies were the World Federation, a union of nations, and some privileged classes.

“I now know the power of what you can create with your pen.”

The emperor’s words were sincere.

Rupert’s work included making comic books to teach common people how to read and making fairy tales to awaken their consciousness.

Moreover, the enthusiastic response to the card competition I watched this time was no less than the atmosphere of a war triumph.

Up until now, we have just watched them as they helped to check the power of the nobles, but we must keep in mind the ramifications if they return as a blade that threatens the imperial family.

“I know you’ve received a marriage proposal from Bluewell too. So you’ll have to choose.”

Is it the royal family or the aristocracy?

If he had chosen Iolin and supported the royal family, he would have been free to continue Rupert’s creative activities as before.

Otherwise, it would have been right to eliminate the buds of danger.

‘Rupert, honestly, I still envy that ability.’

The Emperor had valued Rupert’s abilities so much that he had wanted him as the Crown Prince’s right-hand man, and so had not blocked his creative activities up until now.

However, if Rupert were to marry Bluewell, then he would become one of the eight great nobles of the empire, not the seven, and no matter how positively he was viewed in the fierce political battle between the royal family and the nobles, Rupert could not be an exception.

“… May I meet Her Highness the Princess and speak to her?”

“Like that.”

Rupert couldn’t give an answer on the spot.

The first thing that came to mind was Amelia, who had confessed her feelings to him, and from now on, a lot would be determined by what choices he would make.

As I left the palace and headed towards Iolin’s residence, I couldn’t help but worry and worry again.

***

“Come in.”

Squeak.

At the sound of the door opening, Iolin stopped drawing with his pen and turned around.

“Hello, Your Highness.”

“Yeah, you too, are you okay?”

“Actually, I came here today to talk about something important.”

At Rupert’s words, Iolin ordered all the maids in the room to leave.

“Is this enough time to talk about something important?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Iolin had a bad feeling when he saw Rupert’s stern expression.

‘What happened in the palace before you came here today?’

It was Iolin who had already been informed that Rupert had entered the palace to meet his father, the Emperor.

I don’t know the full story, but I thought it would be the same this time, since Rupert had stopped by the palace last time and had a private meeting with my father.

Rupert’s expression seemed troubled, as if he had something important to say.

“Your Majesty, no, Lord Iolin.”

“Yeah.”

“What do you think of me?”

“What?”

“I just came back from hearing the story of Your Majesty’s marriage to Iolin.”

Iolin was taken aback by Rupert’s unexpected remark, and soon became confused as to what to do about the story of her father’s intervention.

‘Did I bring this upon myself?’

Iolin thought that it was because she had told her father that she wanted to hurry up and marry Rupert, that he had taken such a direct approach.

“I’ll be honest. I like you.”

Now that it was that way, the rest was up to him.

“But I hope you choose me instead of following my father’s will.”

-Just as I chose you among countless marriage partners.

Iolin spoke her mind without wavering, and this time it was Rupert who was taken aback.

I hadn’t expected to hear someone say that they liked me so directly, so my mind was going blank, not knowing what to say in response.

“Are you saying you liked me?”

“That’s right. I thought I had a clue, but you didn’t notice it at all?”

“… I’m sorry, but yes.”

Rupert thought back to Iolin and things,

It started with a letter saying that he was not satisfied with the ending of the work, and he was the one who brought him to the palace in the first place.

Since some time ago, Iolin has become a good friend and colleague with whom I can have serious conversations about comics.

Her endless talent intrigued Rupert more than anything else.

Iolin was like a cartoon character who made me feel keenly why directors in the sports genre become absorbed in the growth of the protagonist.

Rupert, she learned and realized how to draw by watching and learning many modern cartoons, just with a little advice from Rupert.

Now he is so good at drawing that he is considered to be the best at drawing battle scenes after Rupert.

Moreover, Rupert always enjoyed talking about comics with her because her opinions on comics matched up well with his.

But Rupert couldn’t help but be flustered now, questioning whether that was a rational emotion.

“I’m actually a person who lacks something.”

“Yes?”

The words spoken by Iolin as she watched Rupert looking embarrassed by her statement that she liked him.

‘If you are a lacking person, then everyone in the world should die… .’

Rupert thought nothing was more out of place than for Iolin, who had the natural status of royalty and a beauty that rivaled Amelia’s, to say that he was inadequate.

however,

“Ever since I was young, I’ve easily acquired everything I wanted and was interested in.”

Iolin’s expression as he continued speaking looked serious.

“People call me a genius.”

It was not without reason that there were those who wanted to make Iolin, who was a woman and had two older brothers, the crown princess.

Because Iolin was the one who proved that the saying that seeing one enlightens ten in all areas, including swordsmanship, academics, magic, and administration, was not a lie.

But there was only one thing that Iolin had really wanted since he was little.

‘Someone who will accept everything about me.’

The reason I learned swordsmanship when I was young was because my older brothers and younger brothers who were learning it seemed like a lot of fun.

So, I started learning swordsmanship thinking that it would be fun for me to learn it like them.

‘I will not learn swordsmanship anymore.’

But it ended up being a terrible demotivation for some people.

Even if you only learn a little, there have been many instances where those who learned much earlier would become frustrated when they see the violin.

‘I have nothing more to teach you, Your Highness.’

At first, those who were delighted and taught her, calling her a genius from heaven, soon became fearful or jealous of Iolin’s seemingly endless talent.

That’s why at some point she gave up learning.

Because in the first place, I wanted to learn things in order to get along with others, not to frustrate them.

This talent, which others envied, felt like chains to her.

but,

-Your Highness, comics are a form of communication with others. It is important to bridge the gap between what you find funny and what other people find funny.

Rupert, who created the fairy tale book that had sparked her interest for the first time in a long time, was different.

For the first time, Iolin met someone who constantly created things she could never have imagined and who always lived up to her expectations.

The reason she became interested in fairy tales and comics was not simply because they were fun, but because she had met someone who was far superior to her and whose differences were so great that she could not see the end.

“You are the one I have been waiting for my whole life.”

Rupert didn’t know, though.

Iolin was awkward when dealing with people.

Since I was basically deprived of the opportunity to socialize with others, I rarely interacted with anyone, and only acted according to etiquette.

At best, the only people she interacted with were her chamberlain, Ayton, or her younger brother, Edric.

Recently, the only person she kept close to was Jorge, who was in charge of her secret escort.

It was the first time that Iolin had met and talked to Rupert in person.

“Iolin… .”

After hearing Iolin’s true feelings, Rupert couldn’t help but think about it for a long time again.

Rupert also enjoyed talking to Iolin and exchanging opinions about the comics.

‘In some ways, isn’t he the most ideal partner?’

Her true self, which I got to know through living with her and the fact that she understood me better than anyone else, was so attractive that I couldn’t help but be swayed by it.

“I’m sorry I didn’t notice your feelings until now.”

“It’s not your fault, it’s just my clumsiness.”

“And the answer is….”

Rupert was silent for a moment before continuing.

“Before hearing the princess’ confession, I also received a confession from Miss Amelia.”

Iolin’s face hardened at Rupert’s words.

He had been worried that Amelia and Xenia, who had more freedom than him, would make the first move, and as expected, Amelia took the lead.

“And I can’t give you an answer right now, Miss Amelia.”

“It’s not that I don’t like her, but I couldn’t answer?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Rupert repeated to Iolin the same thing he had told Amelia.

Iolin’s mind was racing as she heard Rupert say that he couldn’t get married right now because he had responsibilities that he had to take care of.

‘In ten years, you’ll have to choose between the two. Why should I be anxious until then?’

Iolin was willing to wait to get Rupert.

But that was only when he was sure, and if Rupert had chosen Amelia over him, then he might have been really upset.

‘Now that it’s come to this, I need to at least gain some confidence.’

Even if it wasn’t the best, it was the second best. That was Iolin’s tactic.

“Rupert, do you know anything about ‘that’?”

“What are you talking about?”

Iolin began to tell a story to Rupert, who was asking questions, and Rupert’s expression changed to one of shock upon hearing it.