NABC Chapter 18
Chapter 18
"Sir Rupert, come here and have a seat."
The princess’s voice was filled with unmistakable excitement as she beckoned me forward.
What’s going on? Why is she so excited? It’s making me anxious.
As the second son of a mere provincial lord with no title, I had no defense against her words of magic.
I approached the princess, knelt on one knee, and lowered my head as I replied.
"Forgive me, Your Highness, but I cannot accept your invitation to sit in your presence."
Was this the correct etiquette? I glanced sideways at the chamberlain, whom I had a passing acquaintance with, to gauge his reaction.
The stern, white-haired chamberlain seemed slightly pleased with my display.
Fortunately, it seems I got the etiquette right.
But I had only just overcome the first hurdle. Many pitfalls still lay ahead, so I needed to stay vigilant.
"I grant you permission to raise your head."
"Thank you for your benevolence, Your Highness."
Finally, with her permission, I lifted my head.
For the first time, I saw the princess’s face, which I had only seen in portraits.
Her black hair and eyes, like a starry night sky, immediately marked her as a member of the imperial Bell family.
But what caught my attention more was her stunning beauty.
The princess wore an ornate dress and jewelry befitting a royal, which would be overwhelming for any noblewoman to pull off.
Yet she wore the lavish attire with such grace that it seemed like simple clothing.
The title "Flower of the Empire" wasn’t given for nothing.
In the original novel, there were scenes where men argued over whether she or Amelia was more beautiful.
Indeed, she was one of the most beautiful women in the world.
"So, do you know why I summoned you?"
The princess asked as she looked at me, now that I had raised my head.
The letter mentioned that she wanted to discuss The Little Mermaid.
"I understand that you wish to discuss The Little Mermaid, Your Highness."
"Yes, I have some questions about The Little Mermaid!"
"Please, ask me anything, Your Highness."
"What happened to the prince after the Little Mermaid returned to the sea?"
"Excuse me?"
I expected her to call me because she was dissatisfied with the ending, but her question about the prince caught me off guard, making me answer inappropriately.
"I know you must have thought of the story that follows, as the author."
I hadn’t thought of anything like that!
"So, the prince longed for the Little Mermaid...."
"Oh, indeed! That makes sense. Please, continue."
The third prince of the empire, Edric, was taken aback by the sight before him.
"Who is that man?"
"That is Sir Rupert, the second son of Count Somerset."
"Somerset?"
Edric recalled the name Somerset from the list of noble families.
"The lordly family of the southern Goldpool Valley."
Tsk, honestly, I’d like to ask for money. But I’d only be criticized for being someone who values money over noble honor.
Should I ask for something like a flower or a handkerchief bestowed by the princess? I pondered for a moment when a brilliant idea crossed my mind.
"Your Highness, may I humbly present my foolish suggestion?"
"Speak freely."
"I wish to create a world where all the people of the empire can read the fairy tales I’ve written."
"What?"
"My books were originally made for children, and I hope they will help the children, who will become the future pillars of the empire, to grow up to be good people."
"And?"
"I am not powerful enough to achieve this, but if Your Highness could grant your grace, I would like to see that not only wealthy nobles but also the children of poor commoners can read my books."
Did it work?
I was impressed by my spur-of-the-moment idea. Asking outright for material goods was out of the question, but what about the dissemination of books?
In my opinion, this request barely passed the test.
With a public-interest purpose, the princess couldn’t call me rude or say I didn’t understand honor.
"You truly understand me!"
Huh?
"I have also thought that these books should be read by many children. But unfortunately, many commoners cannot read."
"Yes, it’s a shame, but that is true."
"So, are you suggesting that your easy-to-read books be used to alleviate illiteracy in the empire?"
"Your... Your Highness! That’s not...!"
No, I was just asking for money to make my books widely available. It wasn’t a grand plan to eradicate illiteracy.
Why did she suddenly escalate the scale like that?
"I’m so impressed that you had the same thought as I did. A noble must always think of those beneath them."
How did the idea of disseminating books lead to eradicating illiteracy? I couldn’t stop the princess from spiraling out of control.
I looked at the chamberlain for help, but he only stared back at me with a puzzled expression, offering no assistance.
Just ask for money!
No matter how much I cried out inside, it was futile.
"Have my eyes for judging people grown rusty?"
Edric watched the man named Rupert discuss the dissemination of books with the princess.
Although it was embarrassing to admit, he had always prided himself on his ability to judge people accurately.
To Edric, Rupert seemed like someone who was sly and overly concerned with wealth.
Listening to his conversation with the princess, Rupert’s expressions seemed cold and calculating, while his words were nothing but sycophantic flattery.
However, Edric’s expectations were proven wrong.
When the princess brought up the subject of a reward, Rupert’s eyes lit up in a way that suggested he wanted something more than just money.
If this man becomes greedy, I won’t let it go unpunished.
Edric thought to himself, waiting for Rupert’s response.
“I want to create a world where all the people of the empire can read the fairy tales I’ve written.”
Surprisingly, Rupert didn’t ask for money or material wealth but spoke about allowing the people to read his books.
He mentioned that the cost of books was high and expressed a desire for the imperial family’s assistance to make them accessible to even the poor, and his expression was earnest.
I misjudged him. I didn’t expect him to have such grand ambitions.
Edric resolved never to hastily judge people again.