How To Live As A Writer In A Fantasy World

Chapter 405: Shock and Awe (1)

It has been three days since the release of The Chronicles of Zenon Vol. 29, which has left people in shock and awe.

By now, evaluations and reviews should already be pouring in via various newspapers.

As planned, I immediately headed to the imperial palace without delay.

Just in case, I asked the publishing house to send the book to my mother a little later.

The group heading to the imperial palace consisted of me, Mari, and Adelia—three in total.

Rina, naturally serving as a guide, was also included.

You might wonder why Kate is absent.

She recalled some tasks and has returned to the clergy.

Apparently, after confessing before me and receiving my advice, she gained some insights.

In any case, the imperial palace is far safer than the dormitory, so there’s no major concern.

Unless a meteor falls from the sky, there’s no need to worry about terrorism.

Besides, Rina mentioned that she could rely on the clergy for assistance if needed, so I could rest assured.

“Mari, you’ve been to the imperial palace often, right?”

“Yes. Our mansion is essentially more like a personal office for work. So I know the way.”

The distance from the academy to the imperial palace isn’t far, so a carriage suffices.

The issue lies in the guards escorting the carriage.

I looked out the window at the scenery passing by.

Inside the carriage were the princess, Mari, and me, which resulted in military-level protection surrounding it.

As previously mentioned, the capital of the Minerva Empire, Gloria, boasts excellent public security.

Therefore, even when Leorte or Rina heads to the palace, the escort force isn’t usually this large.

On the contrary, excessive attention could lead to inconveniences.

However, my case is different.

With demon worshipers openly attempting assassinations, the escorts had to be maximized.

Looking outside, I could see knights, mages, and even clergy dispatched by the church.

Breaking through all of this would require a suicide attack.

Moreover, according to Rina, a search unit was preemptively deployed in the vicinity to prevent any incident.

‘That’s a tough job.’

With actual threats of terrorism, they must be on edge.

I withdrew my gaze from the window and looked ahead.

Mari and Adelia sat side by side on either side of me, while Rina sat in the middle opposite us.

Her shoulders and collarbone were entirely exposed, revealing her fair skin, but her chest was mostly covered by a yellowish dress.

Unlike Cecily, who flaunted her charm with a dress emphasizing her chest, Rina exuded elegance.

The color scheme suited her perfectly.

‘A person like that…’

I wasn’t just referring to her unusual tastes; Rina had shown me countless vulnerable moments.

For instance, spilling tea uncontrollably after learning my true identity or even spraying tea directly onto my face.

Though such behavior was understandable given the circumstances, it provided an unexpected charm that contrasted sharply with her usual demeanor.

“Do you have something to say?”

Realizing I had been staring too intently, Rina asked, slightly flustered.

I shook my head left and right, implying I was merely zoning out.

“No, I was just daydreaming.”

“How boring. Aren’t you curious about the imperial palace?”

“Curious, you say…”

Crossing my arms, I recalled details about the Minerva Empire’s imperial palace.

It’s renowned for its sheer size, even beyond the borders.

To start, it’s massive—truly absurdly so.

Even Halo Academy, sometimes called a “city within the capital,” pales compared to the palace.

Legally, no building larger than the palace is allowed to be constructed.

Yet, it isn’t just about flaunting wealth; the palace also houses numerous government agencies.

Additionally, it includes institutions for training knights and mages, as well as the teleportation facility we previously used.

Given the vastness of the territory, the size of the government institutions is immense, but the palace itself is appropriately scaled for such an expansive domain.

“I don’t have many questions. I’m curious about the interior, but I’ll find out soon enough.

If anything…”

Trailing off, I glanced at Rina to gauge her reaction.

Sensing my hesitation, Rina nodded as if to say I could ask.

“What kind of person is His Majesty, the Emperor?”

“My father?”

“Yes. I haven’t heard much about him until now.”

The Emperor of the Minerva Empire, Verit Urmi Jacqulis Minerva, remains largely unknown compared to King Friedrich of the Kingdom of Teres.

He occasionally appears for diplomatic matters, but there’s hardly any gossip.

The few remarks about him suggest he governs well and has only two children—Leorte and Rina.

While no news can be good news, his lack of presence makes me curious.

If I weren’t connected to Rina, I might not have cared.

But since I’ll inevitably meet him in the future, it’s better to know beforehand.

“My father… To put it bluntly, he’s someone who prefers sticking to the basics.”

“Sticking to the basics?”

“Yes. Because of that belief, he focuses more on maintaining the status quo than pursuing rapid development.

He’d rather solidify the foundation than rush progress and risk creating cracks.”

He may not be a brilliant ruler, but he’s far from incompetent.

I nodded, understanding the type of person he was.

Progressive thinkers might hold complaints, but given the Minerva Empire’s current circumstances, such a philosophy seems prudent.

Discovering the cracks in national power due to demon worshipers would have been disastrous if discipline had also been weak.

Despite facing constant criticism for harboring demon worshipers, he manages the crisis effectively, proving his capability.

“I see. What’s he like personally?”

“Well… He rarely gets angry, and he has a quirky side…”

“Pfft.”

Hearing the word “quirky,” Mari let out a stifled laugh.

When I glanced at her, she was suppressing giggles, clearly familiar with Verit’s personality.

“Hearing he’s quirky makes me even more curious.

But he’s definitely a good person, right?”

“Yes. But be cautious—he’s incredibly persuasive.

He keeps his ministers firmly under control with his words.”

“Got it. Anything else to be wary of?”

“Not really. Honestly, you might get along well with him.”

Afterward, I also asked about the Empress, Rina’s mother.

Rina summed it up in one phrase: a perfect match for her father.

She added that their relationship remains harmonious to this day.

However, I found it a bit strange that they only had two children.

Monarchs typically had many offspring to secure their lineage.

For instance, the Kingdom of Teres has four children, one of whom was married off to the Duchy of Bellua.

“Let’s not delve further.”

There’s likely a reason behind it, and it would be impolite to pry further.

As we chatted merrily, time flew by.

About ten minutes after passing through the palace gates, a voice called from outside.

“Your Highness! We’ve arrived!”

As the carriage came to a slow stop, I peeked out the window.

The sight of the imperial palace left me in awe.

Typically, palaces are designed to be the most beautiful buildings of their time, and this one was no exception.

If Halo Academy resembled Hogwarts, the imperial palace looked like a towering fortress.

At first glance, it might appear ordinary.

However, the true highlight of the palace was its gold—a brilliant, gilded masterpiece.

Given the empire’s vast resources, such extravagance was manageable, showcasing the Minerva Empire’s overwhelming strength.

“First, let me show you to your rooms. I’ll guide you around afterward.”

With those words, Rina gracefully descended the carriage, aided by a knight.

Following her, I stepped down, taking Mari’s hand for balance.

Adelia followed last, completing our group.

Now that I think about it, Mari wore an elegant white dress, while Adelia opted for a practical outfit of a shirt and leather pants—both suiting them perfectly.

“That doesn’t matter. It seems urgent, so I’ll send it quickly.”

“I’ll express my gratitude for your consideration. Then—”

Leort gave a brief wave of his hand and moved on.

Judging by his hurried steps, it indeed seemed like a pressing matter.

I watched his back for a moment before turning my gaze back to Rina.

She looked as though she had noticed something or was observing my reaction.

‘There’s no need to lower myself like that.’

If Rina had invited me, it would be a different story, but today, I was the one who requested to come first.

If I weren’t Zenon, it might have taken not just days but even months.

Moreover, judging by Leort’s expression earlier, the empire is currently in chaos due to demon worshippers.

I gave a faint smile and nodded to signify that it was fine.

Rina, reassured by my gesture, softly smiled and spoke.

“Thank you. Are you really okay?”

“I’m fine. You have your own duties to attend to.”

At my words, Rina chuckled lightly and spoke in an even softer tone.

“You haven’t changed at all, even with such power in your hands.”

“What do you mean?”

“The person that you are.”

She then glanced at Mari and slyly added,

“I’m starting to get jealous. Men like that aren’t common.”

Her words subtly sparked a sense of jealousy.

“But don’t sleep in the room next to ours. Be confident and sleep in the same bed.”

“… …”

Instead, the remark completely turned the tables on me.

After escorting Isaac and his party to the guest room, Rina headed toward Leort’s office, as he had mentioned.

On the way, Mari’s earlier words lingered in her mind.

The comment about not sleeping in the next room but sharing the same bed was a direct hit to Rina’s particular preferences.

That one statement made her face burn, and she found it difficult to even speak properly.

Though her preferences were already openly known, she could never bring herself to say it aloud.

However, hearing it mentioned by someone else made her so embarrassed she felt like she might go crazy.

‘Could they have noticed? No, that’s impossible. As much as I enjoy it, they wouldn’t know that much.’

During Arwen’s speech, Rina had once used a magic item to spy on their relationship.

And that item was still being put to good use.

After all, Isaac’s room was right next to her dorm room, and structurally, it was convenient to use the item.

Dormitories were generally soundproof, but if you put your ear to the wall, it wasn’t completely impossible to hear…

‘No, no. What am I even thinking about…’

This isn’t the time for that. I need to think about what Leort is going to say.

Shaking her head vigorously, she tried to clear her mind.

It’s probably going to be about demon worshippers again, as usual.

Just thinking about what new headache-inducing problem might arise was exhausting, but duty is duty.

Eventually, as she stood in front of Leort’s office, she forced herself to calm the heat that had risen to her face.

Knock, knock—

[Come in.]

At the sound of Leort’s weary voice from behind the door, Rina guessed he already knew it was her.

The moment permission was granted, Rina carefully opened the door.@@novelbin@@

As soon as she stepped inside, Leort’s tired appearance came into view.

Currently, he was seated at his desk, reading a book. Even from a distance, Rina could tell what book it was.

‘The Chronicles of Zenon? Oh, now that I think about it, the new volume was supposed to be released today, wasn’t it?’

She had been so preoccupied with her duties that she had completely forgotten about the release of The Chronicles of Zenon

On the other hand, Leort closed the book the moment Rina entered. His already tired expression seemed to grow even wearier, or so it felt.

“What is the matter, brother?”

“…Sigh… Rina.”

“Yes?”

“Have you read the new volume of The Chronicles of Zenon?”

Leort’s sudden question caught Rina off guard. After a brief moment of confusion, she shook her head.

“No. I’ve been so busy that I completely forgot.”

“Then what about the reviews in the newspaper?”

“I… haven’t seen those either.”

Under normal circumstances, Rina would have already read the new volume of The Chronicles of Zenon.

However, her current focus was elsewhere.

Recently, after learning Isaac’s true identity and receiving his advice, she had a brilliant idea that she was pursuing: a policy to decentralize the nobles’ power and strengthen imperial authority.

Moreover, since Isaac had mentioned coming to the palace, she had a lot to prepare for, leaving her unable to pay attention to other things.

“Then you should start by reading this.”

Leort held up The Chronicles of Zenon, Volume 29 and suggested it.

For Rina, this was a welcome suggestion that allowed her to take a break, so she gladly accepted it.

“Of course, brother. Shall I prepare some tea as well?”

“Do as you please.”

At this point, Rina had completely forgotten about Isaac’s earlier spoilers regarding the ending.

As she read through The Chronicles of Zenon, Volume 29, thinking it was just a brief respite…

“…What?”

She was met with an unfamiliar shock and horror. Her expression revealed utter disbelief.

The ending was so shocking that crumbs fell from her mouth as she repeatedly flipped back and forth through the pages.

Though she supported the Zenon-Mary couple over the Jean-Lily couple, this was far too cruel.

“N-No, this… This can’t… What the…”

The real issue was that this brutal ending fit Jean’s character perfectly.

While her head understood, her heart refused to accept it, causing a deep cognitive dissonance and significant emotional damage.

“…Even when the demon worshippers wreaked havoc, I still slept fine. But after reading that, I couldn’t sleep for days.”

Leort’s voice, sounding almost hollow, revealed his similar sentiment.

Hearing this, Rina looked up from the book, dazed, and stared at him.

Simultaneously, Isaac’s earlier words resurfaced in her mind.

Back then, she had some vague expectations, but she hadn’t imagined it would be this severe.

At most, she thought Jean would suffer serious injuries at the hands of demon worshippers.

But the reality she faced was far worse.

How could the two protagonists end up fighting each other?

If there were no coherence, it might be one thing, but the way everything fit together like puzzle pieces made it all the more shocking.

It felt as though despair was being forcibly shoved into the hearts of the readers.

“Because of this one ending, all the readers are in turmoil. Some even speculate that Zenon might actually be a demon.”

“A demon?”

“Of course, it’s nonsense… but that’s how shocking it was. That’s why I called you here.”

Leort sighed deeply and leaned forward in his chair.

He met Rina’s gaze with a serious expression and continued.

“Before the worshippers exploit this, spread it across all media: Isaac is not a demon. It’s merely a tragedy, not a conspiracy.

If conspiracy theories have already surfaced, it could lead to bigger issues down the line.”

“…Understood. I’ll come up with a plausible explanation, right?”

Something like claiming he foresaw this future and wrote about it… Or perhaps… No, I can’t think of anything right now.

Leort let out a groan as he rubbed his temples.

Even though he had called Rina here, the devastating ending had left his mind spinning.

“Not an actual demon, but how do they even come up with these ideas?

Could it be that the supposedly half-successful summoning ritual was actually fully successful…?”

“… …”

Though it seemed like a joke, Rina couldn’t brush it off entirely.

‘What kind of world did Isaac live in… Could it have been filled with tragedies like this?’

The misunderstanding deepened further.