EP.12

The House of Marquis Emanuel was a prestigious noble family in the Empire, known as one of the seven great noble families of the capital.

As the birthday of the Marquis’s only granddaughter approached, the vassal families and nearby noble households were in a frenzy.

“We need to prepare a better gift than anyone else, no matter what!”

For an aristocratic family like the House of Marquis Emanuel, there were at least ten vassal families beneath them.

Moreover, considering the guests who came to curry favor with the Marquis, the number would increase to several dozen.

If one prepared an inadequate gift, they could end up being ridiculed in front of numerous nobles.

Particularly, the Marquis’s deep love for his granddaughter was well-known, and if the gift was lacking, she could face ridicule for an entire year.

Thus, everyone was busy preparing exquisite presents, and finally, as the granddaughter’s birthday approached, vassals and various nobles flocked to the Marquis’s estate.

Among them, one noble entered the banquet hall with exceptional confidence, holding a book in his hand.

“Tsk. What’s that book you’ve got? Surely it isn’t a gift?”

One noble clicked his tongue at the sight of another noble’s book.

The book had *Snow White* written on its cover, and the noble who had brought it retorted defiantly.

“Are you telling me you don’t recognize this book? It’s recently popular in the Imperial Family…”

“I know that; that’s why I’m asking. Where did you come by such a shabby thing?”

“What?”

*Clap!*

As the noble belittled the book his peer held, he clapped his hands once, and a servant who had been waiting behind approached and took the book.

“That’s…?!”

“This is the authentic *Snow White*. There were only 100 copies released, so those lacking connections or late to hear the news likely didn’t even see it.”

Indeed, the *Snow White* in the noble’s hand was visibly superior to the book brought by the other noble.

The quality of the leather cover was different, and the paper was whiter, clearly giving it a luxurious appearance at first glance.

Moreover, when he opened the book, the illustrations that came out were on an entirely different level.

“Who could have created such illustrations?”

Nobles had only seen portraits, so the illustrations in a fairy tale book were shockingly impressive.

With beautiful colors and detailed, dreamlike drawings.

“What on earth is this book I painstakingly acquired?!”

Realizing that the illustrations in his own book were embarrassingly poor in comparison, the noble hurled the book he brought for a gift to the ground.

“The books *Cinderella* and *Snow White* are both exceedingly difficult to source, leading to substandard counterfeit copies circulating; that must be one of them.”

Hearing such scathing criticism filled the noble with rage. He wouldn’t be relieved until he threw the merchant who sold him this book into prison.

“*Snow White* is certainly a great book, but your copy doesn’t seem all that high-quality either, does it?”

As the two nobles bickered, another nobleman appeared. Upon his comment, the noble holding the authentic *Snow White* became incensed.

“What? Maybe you don’t know, but this book is…”

“This is a premium hardcover edition of *Snow White*, with only 30 copies published.”

“No! How do you know that…?”

“I have a personal relationship with the leader of the Yuren Merchant Guild, so I heard the news early.”

Indeed, the premium hardcover was distinct. The *Snow White* in the newly arrived noble’s hand had a bright white leather cover. It was undoubtedly made from the skin of a white calf.

Additionally, the paper not only appeared white but also had a bluish tint, indicating that it was produced with precious magical stones.

The cover’s lettering was embossed in gold, displaying a quality that was clearly on another level.

In the face of the distinguished appearance of the premium hardcover, the noble who brought the counterfeit and even the one who brought the standard 100-copy edition had no choice but to bow their heads.

Thus, it seemed that the newly appeared noble was the ultimate victor.

“Success! It was worth it to secure this book by making a year-long product contract with the Yuren Merchant Guild.”

Even though he suffered losses for terminating the original contract with another guild to obtain this book, the bargain seemed cheap considering it would please Marquis Emanuel.

Now, as those around him admired the limited edition of 30 copies he acquired, its value had practically been proven.
“Ah? Your version is slightly different from mine.”

However, an ominous voice echoed from somewhere.

As if it had discovered its prey, a voice laced with suppressed excitement caused my head to turn instinctively toward its source.

In the owner’s hand was yet another copy of *Snow White*.

*

“Did you have a good time, my lord?”

I remained silent, sipping tea as I stared intently at the guild leader.

Was he aware of his guilt? He couldn’t summon the courage to meet my gaze and instead fidgeted around the reception room he had visited several times before, pretending to look at anything but me.

“So brazen. You sold me to the princess.”

“Tsk.”

Before I could finish my sentence, the guild leader placed a pouch on the table in the reception room.

“What are you doing? What I want to know is why Her Highness the Princess…”

“Please, open it, my lord.”

No, can’t he let a person finish speaking? I had decided to scold him severely if I saw any sign of him trying to make excuses.

“Regardless of what this is, I’m reconsidering my dealings with a guild leader who has broken the trust between our contractual relations…”

I couldn’t complete my sentence.

Inside the pouch were gleaming golden spheres overflowing.

Their dazzling appearance startled me so much that I involuntarily trembled slightly.

*Clink*

The sound of beautiful metal colliding.

“Alain, we have a guest, yet why hasn’t tea and snacks been served?”

“Yes? Didn’t you just say that traitors deserve only death…?”

“Estevan, the guild leader here, is a dear friend of mine, regardless of status. What kind of nonsense is that?”

I smiled, and the guild leader smiled back. Only Alain remained expressionless.

*

“My lord, do you know how the response to your fairy tales has been in the market?”

While sipping tea, the guild leader and I casually exchanged recent updates.

We also shared smiles over the experiences that had frightened us relating to the Imperial Family.

“Actually, I’m not too sure. I only know it’s somewhat popular.”

Considering the expensive books had sold out completely, I assumed they were indeed popular.

However, the guild leader clicked his tongue, asserting that it was much more than that.

“It may be hard for you to believe, but among the nobles lately, your fairy tales have become the benchmark of fashion.”

“The benchmark of fashion?”

“Nowadays, nobles are competing based on the quality of the fairy tales they bring to banquets and social gatherings.”

What? Competing based on book quality? I couldn’t even imagine such a scene.

“Can you believe there are counterfeit versions of *Cinderella* and *Snow White* flooding the market?”

“Counterfeits? Who would dare replicate such things?”

At my question, the guild leader nodded.

I instinctively placed my hand on my forehead. Copyrights couldn’t possibly exist in the Middle Ages; thus, it was only natural for a trendy product to be replicated.

I hadn’t thought of it at all.

“This is a disaster. What can we do…?”

“It’s not as big a deal as you think. In fact, it’s been beneficial.”

What is this guy blathering about? Can’t he hear my money draining away?

“Your artistic skills are so exceptional that all the copies differ significantly in quality.”

“Ah!”

Then it finally clicked; I understood the guild leader’s relaxed demeanor.

My painting skills, though it felt a bit awkward saying it myself, were indeed excellent.

Every time I painted, I felt the talent of Rupert, the original owner of my body, and I realized that he was born into the wrong world.

Had he been born on Earth, he would have been a famous painter, living well.

As for me, having inherited Rupert’s talent, the paintings I produced combined the styles I had honed in my past life, resulting in unique artworks that were unthinkable in this world.

It would be impossible for the current artists, who were only accustomed to painting portraits, to replicate such works, and even if they tried, the quality would surely differ.
“To become a true luxury item, there must be counterfeit versions for it to shine.”

The guild leader’s insight, that the existence of fakes enhances the value of the genuine article, occasionally left me in awe.

‘No matter how I look at it, that person would have succeeded in business, even if born on Earth.’

He truly grasped modern commercial theories. It seemed I had chosen my business partner well.

“However, this cannot simply be overlooked. While my painting may currently be unparalleled, if it’s merely imitation, sooner or later, something credible will emerge.”

Just look at the RollX watches!

Now even experts have reached a point where they cannot distinguish between the ones made in China and the originals.

No matter how excellent my paintings are, if they’re merely forged, it’s only a matter of time before similar quality products emerge.

“Isn’t there a way to resolve that issue now?”

“A way?”

The guild leader merely smiled at my question, his gaze fixed intently on a certain spot in the reception room.

He was looking at a section of one wall where a gleaming golden plaque was hanging.

*

“Why on earth can’t you replicate the paintings?”

The guild leader, Yansen of the Yansen Merchant Guild, was frustrated by the painter’s sudden declaration that he could no longer copy.

He had promised generous rewards for simply replicating the paintings, and the artist had gotten accustomed to producing credible work. Now he suddenly claimed he couldn’t work.

“Guild leader, haven’t you heard the news?”

“What news?”

The painter began to coat over the images he had been diligently coloring with a dark hue.

“What are you doing?! Are you mad?”

“The one acting mad is you, guild leader. Do you want to be taken in for insulting the Imperial Family?”

“What?”

Without responding, the painter continued to erase the works he had created.

“Speak! What on earth is going on?”

“To use the works of someone who received a commendation from the Imperial Family—it’s impossible without losing your mind!”

At the painter’s reply, the guild leader’s face turned ashen.

The imperial commendation.

It served no purpose other than to signify that one was an honorably recognized noble by the Imperial Family, but that was what mattered.

‘Guaranteed by the Imperial Family.’

“How is that possible…?”

“I don’t know the details, but Her Highness the Princess awarded a commendation to the author of your fairy tale, Rupert Somerset, so copying his works would be tantamount to insulting the Imperial Family.”

That was precisely right. Only then did the guild leader realize what needed to be done.

“Is there no one outside?! Retrieve all the sold books immediately and bring back every single copy that’s out there to burn them!”

No trace must remain. Not only for himself, but for his entire family, lest they vanish from the Empire.

*

I trusted them.

As I gazed at the golden plaque adorned with the dragon that symbolized the Imperial Family, I reflected.

At first, I had grumbled about receiving such a seemingly worthless commendation as a gift.

‘Those thieving royals think they can settle things with this instead of money.’

I never expected that even dung could find its worth in this way.

Copyright?

Such modern concepts didn’t exist in this primitive Middle Ages, but in this world, there were true masters of the language of magic.

That was the Imperial Family.

“Touch me, and you touch the Imperial Family.”

To ensure my honor, with just a single commendation, they could erase illegal forgers without a trace.

Truly, there is no bad world among the isekai.