The storyboards for manga and animation were similar, yet significantly different in several aspects. While a manga storyboard became the finished product once detailed drawings were added, an animation storyboard only outlined the general story. It was just the beginning of the process, as much of the work still needed to be done, particularly in filling in the gaps between the initial and final frames.

"Master Wolfgang, thank you for coming all the way here," Rupert greeted.

"Not at all! I’ve been itching to start working," Wolfgang replied eagerly.

Rupert had met Wolfgang by chance, a music student from the Academy, and had invited him to the animation research lab on the second floor of the Somerset workshop. The place was buzzing with activity, as artisans discussed and worked on various projects.

“If we want smoother motion in the animation, we’ll need to loosen the connection at this part,” one artisan remarked.

“But that’ll cause more stuttering and breakdowns,” another objected.

“Then it’s up to you to fix that,” the first one shot back.

Wolfgang’s eyes landed on the projector used during the graduation ceremony screening, as the artisans debated how to improve it. He marveled at the realization that this workshop was responsible for creating the most popular works in the Empire.

“The music you’ll be creating is essential for this new project,” Rupert said as he led Wolfgang up to the third floor, handing him a storyboard of the new animation.

“This is… The Ice Kingdom?” Wolfgang recognized the title immediately.

“You’re familiar with it?” Rupert asked.

“Of course! I’m thrilled that this animation is based on The Ice Kingdom.”

Wolfgang’s excitement was genuine. Although Rupert’s first comic, The Ice Kingdom, had been entertaining, it had felt somewhat simplistic compared to newer works. The prospect of seeing it brought to life through animation, with vibrant scenes and powerful music, made Wolfgang’s heart race.

“If we add music at these key moments, it will heighten the impact of the scenes,” Rupert explained, pointing to specific scenes in the storyboard where music would play a crucial role. As they discussed, Wolfgang also gave his input.

“Ah, this is frustrating,” Wolfgang suddenly lamented.

“What’s bothering you?” Rupert asked.

“To compose the music for this project, I’ll need to go back and forth between here and the Academy for instruments. That will take too much time.”

Rupert thought for a moment. “Then how about this?”

“What are you suggesting?”

“The Somerset estate has plenty of unused land.”

Wolfgang nodded in agreement. He had been amazed by the vastness of the Somerset estate, considering it was the residence of an earl.

“I’ve been thinking about creating spaces for guests and work areas in the unused sections of the estate, particularly for students like you who want to continue learning during the break,” Rupert continued.

Wolfgang found the idea appealing. While the Academy provided access to instruments and a work environment, it wasn’t always conducive to focusing on composition due to the constant presence of other students. The idea of a quiet, dedicated workspace at the Somerset estate was very enticing.

“Then, I’ll be looking forward to working here!” Wolfgang agreed enthusiastically before leaving, excited about the possibilities. Rupert watched him depart with a satisfied smile.

“You’ve reeled in another one, haven’t you?” a familiar voice interrupted his thoughts.

“When did you arrive? And ‘reeled in’ seems a bit harsh…” Rupert turned to see Esteban standing nearby, watching as Wolfgang left.

“There’s no better way to put it. But let’s move on. What brings you here?” Esteban knew Rupert well enough to notice when he was trying to change the subject, so he didn’t press the issue.

“Marquis Demian has agreed to send over some staff, and we’ve also gathered a team from our guild.”

“Marquis Demian is being more cooperative than I expected,” Rupert mused.

“Well, he’s a merchant at heart. Since we’re all in the same boat now, he knows it’s in his best interest to cooperate.”

The deal made with Marquis Demian during the Agora was that he would provide full support for the animation business in exchange for a partnership. While it was technically a joint venture, the work assigned to Demian’s people was mostly subcontracting. Rupert would create the storyboards, and Demian’s Vera Guild artists would fill in the artwork. In return, the Vera Guild would help distribute the finished animations.

“This is such a resource-intensive project that we needed partners from the start,” Rupert noted. Animation required a tremendous amount of work, far more than drawing manga alone. Finding skilled artists to handle the bulk of the work was essential, and partnering with the Vera Guild, which had already established itself in the comic book business, was a blessing for Rupert and Esteban.

“And now, with the students from the Academy that you’ve recruited, we have enough manpower to get started,” Esteban added.

Rupert had been quietly scouting talented students during his time at the Academy. Many of them, after experiencing the innovations at the Somerset workshop, were eager to work there. Rupert had already begun constructing living and workspaces for them on the estate.

“And why are you calling this place the ‘Lab?’” Esteban asked curiously.

“Well… In a remote part of the Empire, they call a place where virtuous people gather the ‘Lab.’ I thought it was a fitting name,” Rupert replied casually.

“Is that so? I thought it sounded more like a prison or a torture chamber,” Esteban quipped with a grin.

Rupert chuckled along, but internally, he was a bit uneasy—hiding the fact that the workshop’s workload could sometimes feel like exactly that.

Swish, swish.

Back at the Imperial Palace for the holidays, Prince Edric was hard at work practicing his drawing skills in a hidden space he had set up. He had been frustrated during the production of the Sylvanya Music Band animation, where his lack of skill had left him unable to contribute. But instead of wallowing in self-pity, Edric had resolved to improve. Every spare moment was spent practicing.

“If only Rupert’s body could be in two places at once,” he muttered.

As Edric worked on his art, he couldn’t help but admire Rupert even more. He had read through most of the comics published by Manafia and realized just how superior Rupert’s drawings were to others in the field. It was frustrating to see such talent used, in Edric’s opinion, for works that lacked something.

“Why are there only men in Van Helsing?”

Rupert had created female characters like Elsa from The Ice Kingdom and Windy Rocks from Fullmetal Alchemist. Those characters had captivated Edric, but so far, Van Helsing had yet to introduce a female character that resonated with him.

‘You’d agree with me, wouldn’t you, Elza-win?’ Edric thought, recalling how some of his fellow club members also lamented the lack of strong female characters in the latest issues of Manafia.

At least The Puppet Theater was an exception.

“Ah, The Puppet Theater is such a masterpiece!” Edric exclaimed. The character Eleor, a strong female protagonist who fought alongside her comrades, had stolen Edric’s heart. Her bravery in protecting the young male protagonist, as well as her banter with Gato, another male lead, was endlessly charming.

“I can’t wait for the figurine to be released,” Edric muttered, eagerly anticipating the figure’s launch, which would coincide with the publication of the volume.

After a brief distraction, Edric refocused on his drawing practice. Though his early attempts had been clumsy, his drawings were now starting to resemble proper manga art. There was still a long way to go, but he could see progress.

‘I already know the story I want to tell.’

Edric’s intense dedication to his art stemmed from his desire to create his own manga. His vision involved a cast of charming female characters, each more captivating than the last.

‘This is going to be a fantastic manga!’

He had already shared his story with fellow members of the fan club, receiving their enthusiastic approval. Now, all that remained was to bring it to life through his art.

“What does it feel like to cry out of sorrow?” Iolin sat frozen, her pen hovering over the page.

Normally, her weekly serial would have been finished by now, but today the manuscript remained untouched. The scene she was trying to draw involved Eleor’s grief as she mistakenly believed that Gato had died. However, Iolin had no frame of reference for this emotion.

She understood anger and regret well enough, but the deep sorrow that brought one to tears was foreign to her.

“I’ve never cried before… what does sadness even feel like?”

Iolin had never shed tears, which made it difficult for her to understand or depict sorrow. She could comprehend sympathy, but the pain of losing someone dear was beyond her grasp.

“Was I always a puppet too?”

Iolin had always known that her relentless search for excitement was driven by a desire to be like others. Her siblings had expressed their emotions freely, laughing and crying over the smallest things.

She had tried to emulate them, joining in their interests, but it never helped her truly understand their feelings.

In fact…

“The strangest I ever felt was that time.”

The memory that came to mind was the day Edric and her chamberlain, Aiton, had conspired to confiscate her beloved collection of comics and storybooks. The sensation of having something precious taken from her had been the most confusing feeling she had ever experienced.

“That’s right… sadness is the feeling of losing something.”

Iolin was beginning to understand her emotions. She realized that she was someone who felt sadness when something valuable was taken away from her. And the most precious thing to her right now?

It was the man who constantly piqued her interest, the one person who never ceased to intrigue her.

‘I really hate losing things that matter to me.’

And Iolin decided then and there that she would do everything in her power to avoid feeling sorrow again.