A Treacherous Courtier Manages the Empire Well

Chapter 80

80 – Creating an Irresistible Situation for Rejection

“Um… I mean…”

I had a mental shutdown.

“Lingham, you and Celene… um…”

As I stumbled over my words, Lingham let out a deep sigh, scratching the back of his head awkwardly.

“When you first saw my dress, you asked to meet me. And then… you said you fell in love at first sight. I thought I was the only one who fell in love at first sight, but it seems Celene did too.”

Lingham rambled on.

“Even confessing was Celene’s first move. But I tried to reject her. I thought the insurmountable difference in status between a princess and a commoner would be too much to overcome. I was a coward. But Celene wasn’t.”

Lingham’s expression turned slightly red.

“You said either kiss or break up. You urged me to make a decision. And if we broke up, you said I would die. So I had no choice but to kiss you. It was a very… very sweet kiss. And…”

Lingham’s previously red face suddenly turned pale.

Ah!…….

I think I know that expression.

That bastard…….

He’s been scheming.

Right.

I had forgotten.

Selene was Karia’s sister.

“Well, well, well. That’s how it happened since that day.”

That pale expression and slightly trembling voice. Right. He’s been scheming. That bastard. Just like me……. He’s been scheming against Selene like I have. It was a moment when a sudden sense of camaraderie, sympathy, and an inexplicable sense of solidarity emerged.

“We continued to meet secretly even after that day. Lady Selene was very busy, and I was very busy too. So there was no room for talk of marriage or anything. But this plan had been something I had thought about for a long time. After obtaining a legitimate title. After becoming respectable in everyone’s eyes. I planned to propose to her.”

Linghem clenched his fist tightly.

“Lord Lando. Please help me. I need your help. Of course, I am just a poor scribe with nothing to offer, but if needed, you may take my share from the department store profits. I simply wish to stand proudly by Lady Selene’s side…”

“I never knew you had such a side to you.”

I burst into laughter as I looked at Linghem.

This guy.

I like him.

He’s not just some trash trying to cling to Selene for power and money.

He has clear advantages and is doing his best to become equal to Selene with those.

Moreover, the fact that he brought a plan is very intriguing.

This kind of guy.

And if he’s someone who loves Princess Selene to the point of madness.

I should support him, right?

“Money. Not needed. Linghem. What do you take me for? Even without taking your dirty money, I am already someone overflowing with gold coins.”

Although the amount was in tens of thousands of gold units, it was a staggering amount for commoners, but to me, it was not even a day’s income.

I had enough flexibility to spare this much for Linghem in the future.

“I’ll support you.”

“R-Really?”

Linghem looked at me with a touched expression, and I nodded leisurely.

“Your plan. Very realistic. The theme of the Crystal Palace is well thought out. It’s a plan that targets the upper class very well. One of the things I’ve been regretting is the lack of proper luxury items.”

Steel.

Entertainment.

Sports.

Weapons, and so on.

Several key areas have developed, but luxury goods still lacked significant changes.

However, with this plan, we could even fleece the money of the capital’s social circles and all the wealthy nobles.

It seemed like Karl Hansen’s mouth was already tearing apart to the point of being stuck on his cheeks.

“But this is truly enticing. I’ll support your plan.”

I lit a cigarette and tried one of the lines I had always wanted to say.

“Let’s proceed.”

“Thank you! Lord Randor! I will definitely succeed!”

“Success is what………. Just do what you usually do. From building the Glass Palace to various settings. I’ll take care of everything. You just need to make clothes well. Just like you’ve always done. Oh. And one more thing.”

I smile and look at Ringhem.

This kid.

The love story is just like a drama.

Too dramatic.

“Tell me the love story of you and Selené’s execution.”

“Yes? Why suddenly……….”

“Let’s make a drama together.”

It was really good enough to be made into a drama.

For a princess and a commoner to marry, there needed to be overwhelming achievements with such public opinion that even the Emperor couldn’t casually interfere.

And who am I?

A person firmly holding onto the entertainment business.

The situation where the protagonist of a romance drama adored by the nation actually existed, and their love needed the Emperor’s approval.

If not approved, it would be a situation of ruining the greatest love story ever.

I was thinking of creating such a situation.

“Lord Randor. I’ve brought her.”

Opening the door, the person escorted by Seoric was the writer who won first place in the romance category of a recent novel contest held by SK Magazine. A small stature with tousled hair. The round glasses made her look like she was about to shout, “I’m a writer!”

“Writer Ellohina? Nice to meet you.”

“Oh, Ellohina is my pen name and… m-my real name is Ellis. Nice to… meet you…”

She seemed so nervous that she was biting her tongue and stuttering. I approached her, patted her shoulder to calm her down.

I served her snacks and tea.

“Writer Ellohina, I’m a bit impatient, so I’ll get straight to the point.”

“Y-Yes!”

“Do you have any ideas for your next work?”

“Y-Yes? Umm… not yet… sir.”

Nervously biting her tongue again. I comforted her, then handed her a thin notebook.

It was a summary of the love story between Selené and Ringhem that I had heard and organized.

“How about trying to write this as your next love story?”

“What is… this?”

“Take a look.”

Writer Ellohina hesitantly accepted the book. Forgetting my presence, she immersed herself in reading. Her concentration was extraordinary.

I patiently waited for her to finish reading.

20 minutes later.

She finished reading the notebook without even taking a breath, her eyes had changed.

“Did you come up with this… Lord Randor?”

“That’s not important. The truth about this story can be confirmed on TV later. What I want to know is this. What do you think?”

Ellohina, or Ellis, stood up excitedly.

“It’s captivating. A very captivating story. A love story between a princess and a commoner! Love across social classes is always a compelling theme! There are plenty of elements to create tragedy, good villains to set up, and the characters of the heroine and the protagonist are outstanding. If polished well, this could be a huge hit, don’t you think?”

“Writer Ellis.”

After calming down the excited and agitated writer Eloheena, I smiled.

“Let’s work together.”

“Uh, work on what?”

“Write this as a romance novel. And give it a tragic ending. A heartbreaking tragedy that will make everyone shed tears and snot. And the ultimate villain must be the emperor.”

“Excuse me?”

“The entity that ultimately thwarts the love between the protagonist and the princess must be the emperor. Tragic ending. The emperor as the final villain. Can you write it like that?”

At my words, Eloheena’s eyes began to wander.

The devilish imagination of a top-notch writer was rough at work.

“Leave it to me, Lord Lendor.”

And so, a romance novel began to take shape.

Karia and I had a grand wedding.

Colorful fireworks and decorations.

All kinds of guests gathered, and amidst the blessings bestowed by the priests according to ancient traditions, Karia, dressed in a beautiful dress of red and black hues, kissed me.

She choked up.

I gently caressed her cheek and kissed her again.

That way, the two of us became an official couple.

And after a week-long honeymoon at a royal villa overlooking the eastern coast, where we squeezed out affection and shared jokes, I felt even more exhausted and could return to the capital.

“I should find some elixir to take.”

For the past week, my life genre was closer to survival than fantasy.

An 19+ erotic apocalypse.

Survive in the midst of squeezing.

If Karia hadn’t managed to keep her cool when she thought I was going to die, I would have been remembered as a deceased person.

Anyway, I survived and told Karia about Ringhem and Princess Selene.

“What? Princess Selene?”

“Shh. Keep it a secret. Selene must also get married, right?”

“That’s true. Our sister. She’s smart and the queen of society… but she was too outstanding in every aspect, so she never had the chance to get married.”

Thinking about the various studies Princess Selene conducted in the tower, it wasn’t an inaccurate statement.

I told Karia about my plan.

“The finest department store made entirely of glass is being built in the capital.”

“Oh. Is that so?”

“Yes. And I will make Ringhem soar there. It’s quite possible. With my money and Ringhem’s talent.”

“That makes sense. The capital’s high society will be turned upside down.”

“And around that time… a romance novel will be published.”

“A romance novel?”

“I’ve written a love story about Ringhem and Princess Selene in a novel.”

“Really?”

Karia was surprised, but I waved my hand to reassure her.

It wasn’t over yet.

“And I will cast A-list actors to adapt that novel into a drama. It will also be made into a comic. It will make all the empire’s citizens weep. It will end in a tremendous tragedy.”

“Why? Why…”

Caria continued speaking with a wicked smile while Karia was flustered.

“And then, Lingheim rises, and the love story of the two becomes known to the entire nation. I intentionally stirred up rumors. The protagonists of this love story actually existed. Lingheim and Princess Selene are those protagonists.”

Caria was completely engrossed in my story.

“What happens next?”

“Then, Lingheim, who has power, wealth, fame, and honor, will propose. Openly.”

“The Emperor. Wouldn’t he need Adran Orabni’s approval?…….Ah.”

Caria understood my words and started to laugh.

I nodded.

“Emperor Adran may not oppose the marriage, considering how he views Lingheim, but…”

A drama spread throughout the nation.

A tragic love story that made everyone weep.

The Emperor, a being capable of turning it into a happy ending.

But what if the Emperor interferes in the couple’s romance, causing it to fall apart?

Perhaps…