“Master Rupert is far too good for her, you know.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“I’m talking about the marriage talk involving my sister and Master Rupert.”

“W-What are you saying?!”

Adrian was taken aback by Edric’s bombshell revelation.

If Edric’s sister was being referred to, it could only mean Princess Iolin. For Edric to casually mention her marriage like it was no big deal was enough to leave anyone shocked.

Adrian glanced nervously around, worried that someone might overhear such a sensitive topic.

Thankfully, the other club members were busy with their work and seemed not to have caught Edric’s words.

“It’s not exactly a secret. It came up during a family dinner last weekend, so anyone who needed to know probably already does.”

Edric spoke nonchalantly, dismissing Adrian’s concerns as trivial.

“That’s a major issue, you idiot!”

Adrian couldn’t believe that Edric seemed to think his family was just some ordinary noble household.

He couldn’t fathom how Edric was oblivious to the sheer number of people who would kill to hear any gossip from the imperial dining table.

“To think I once considered this fool to be an important figure who could shake the empire…”

Having abandoned that idea long ago, Adrian was once again reminded of how foolish he had been to hatch such a plan involving the third prince, Edric.

“But isn’t it too much to say that Master Rupert is too good for her?”

“Too much?”

“Your sister, Her Highness the Princess, is widely regarded as the flower of the empire.”

Adrian recalled his encounters with Iolin. The imperial family of the Bell dynasty was known for its trademark black hair and eyes, passed down through generations.

Another trait they were famous for was their extraordinary beauty.

As much as Adrian hated to admit it, even Edric, with his stunning looks, had amassed countless followers based on appearance alone.

The same was true for Princess Iolin.

Her black, cascading curls combined with her intellectual aura and the untouchable majesty of a royal gave her the impression of a truly noble flower.

“If Lady Amelia gives off an innocent charm, then Her Highness has a regal elegance.”

Though Amelia, a fellow club member, was strikingly beautiful in her own way, Iolin’s appeal was entirely different.

“My sister may seem flawless on the surface.”

“Only on the surface? Surely she’s even more admirable at heart. Isn’t she the royal who works harder than anyone else for the empire’s commoners and impoverished?”

“She’s someone you can only appreciate from a distance.”

Despite Adrian’s words, Edric stubbornly maintained his stance that Rupert was far too good for Iolin.

Edric found himself just as frustrated.

“I can’t exactly reveal the truth about my sister, can I?”

Having grown up alongside Iolin, Edric was privy to her true nature—something he couldn’t disclose to anyone.

"Edric, if you wish to live, pick up a sword."

No one believed him when he said the reason he trained so diligently in swordsmanship was to survive his sister.

“Ack! Sister, this is truly dangerous!”

“Don’t worry. Do you think I wouldn’t know how to control myself?”

Iolin had insisted on learning swordsmanship out of sheer curiosity, despite having no real need for it, and had quickly demonstrated terrifying skills.

It might have been fine if that were all. But the problem began when she chose her younger brother, Edric, as her test subject for practice.

“Why me, Sister?! You have knights, or even our older brothers, don’t you?”

“How humiliating would it be for the knights if I defeated them? As for our brothers, they’re too weak.”

"They’re not suitable practice."

Her roundabout reasoning ultimately meant that Edric was the perfect opponent.

“Why don’t you understand this?”

“Isn’t this an unofficial imperial administrative proposal? How am I supposed to—”

“Hmm… Finding this difficult, have I raised my brother too poorly?”

It didn’t stop there. Even as a ten-year-old child, Edric was often handed imperial documents that seasoned officials struggled to comprehend, with Iolin demanding his opinion.

The worst part was when he finally managed to solve the tasks and confidently presented his results to his sister.

“Oh, that? I’ve lost interest.”

She would then act as though it were nothing, abandoning the project entirely and wandering off in search of something else to amuse her.

“If Master Rupert finds out the truth about my sister, he’ll flee immediately.”

Edric fervently prayed that Rupert would escape from Iolin’s schemes unscathed.

  
   ***
     

“Your latest manga is quite impressive.”

“Is that so?”

“It seems like you planned it with an actual card game in mind right from the concept stage, didn’t you?”

“You’re absolutely correct.”

The fact that the author of Puppet Theater, which was still being serialized in Manafia, was none other than Princess Iolin was a closely guarded secret.

So much so that, among the royal family, only the emperor and the second prince, William, were privy to it.

Because of this secrecy, Rupert regularly visited Iolin personally to discuss her work.

At first, these meetings with Iolin had been incredibly daunting for Rupert.

But now, he not only found them tolerable but had come to look forward to them.

“The princess and I actually get along surprisingly well.”

He had known that Iolin was interested in manga, but her passion went beyond mere curiosity—she took it very seriously.

“The way you used a double-page spread for that scene in this chapter was truly remarkable.”
“I think you’ll need more than just the G-pens made in your workshop. Perhaps pens specifically for drawing backgrounds?”
“I think I finally understand that above all else, manga must be fun.”

Her philosophy about manga aligned so closely with Rupert’s that he often lost track of time when they discussed the craft.

Moreover, Rupert couldn’t help but admire Iolin’s talent. She was someone who truly deserved the title of genius.

“Her abilities are unbelievable.”

Among the current authors in Manafia, if Rupert were to evaluate skill based solely on the present, his first pick would undoubtedly be Saint, the author of Man of the Second Century.

Saint was second only to Rupert in artistry and excelled in weaving deep philosophical themes into his work. While this approach made his manga less popular with children, it was highly favored by adult readers.

However, if potential were factored into the equation, Rupert’s top choice was, without question, Iolin.

“Her unique art style, bold storytelling, and exceptional emotional expression…”

The difference between the first chapter and the latest of Puppet Theater showcased her astonishing growth.

Iolin absorbed Rupert’s feedback like a sponge, processing it and making it her own in a way that seemed almost unreal.

“She’s undoubtedly a talent who will shape Manafia’s future.”

Though Manafia’s success currently rested on Rupert’s shoulders, he was confident that Iolin could one day take over his role at the top.

“Now that I think about it, there were quite a few unexpected people at the last exhibition.”

“Were there?”

“Yes, like Lady Amelia of the Bluewell family and Sir Yustaf’s apprentice. It was rare to see such distinguished attendees.”

While they had been immersed in discussing manga, Iolin suddenly brought up the exhibition.

Anyone perceptive enough would have caught on to the underlying intent behind her mention of those two names.

But—

“Yes, I happened to connect with both of them by chance. They’re wonderful people.”

“Is that so?”

“Lady Amelia, for instance, first came to commission a storybook for her younger sibling. As for Miss Zinnia, we met during the recent Abyss Cult incident…”

Rupert launched into an animated recounting of how he had come to know them, oblivious to Iolin’s increasingly stiff expression.

“Oh, is that so?”

“Yes!”

Watching Rupert respond so cheerfully, completely unaware of her shifting mood, Iolin found herself reminiscing about the wooden training sword she had locked away years ago.

“Both of them are quite beautiful women. Are you perhaps… dating one of them?”

“Oh, while they’re both certainly beautiful, I have no romantic connections with either of them.”

“Really? I would think someone of your caliber would be a suitable match for them.”

Though Rupert’s answer pleased her slightly, Iolin kept her expression neutral and continued as if uninterested.

Meanwhile, Rupert’s mind was somewhat preoccupied.

Even Rupert, who wouldn’t describe himself as particularly perceptive, had started to notice the subtle change in Amelia’s behavior toward him.

“Edric is acting strange.”

More than Amelia’s demeanor, however, what truly cemented Rupert’s suspicions was Edric’s recent transformation.

“Master Rupert, I must say that the Marie character in The King of Cards is exceptional. Her boldness and obsession with victory blend beautifully. Especially her rugged yet feminine outfit—it’s artistically magnificent…”

The once composed third prince of the original story had seemingly transformed into a full-fledged otaku better suited for a Seoul Comic World convention.

“Um… Edric, do you perhaps have someone you’re dating or are interested in?”

“Of course! My first love is Elsa, but you can’t overlook the charm of Winry Rockbell. And lately, Marie from The King of Cards is quickly climbing the ranks…”

When Rupert had asked Edric this question, half-jokingly, to see if there was anything between him and Amelia, he finally realized there was nothing between them.

“Then…?”

Recalling what he had done to Amelia, Rupert couldn’t shake the recurring dreams of Duke Bluewell strangling him.

“But who does Iolin end up with in the original story?”

Rupert found himself curious about Iolin’s future. After all, even by the story’s conclusion, her romantic partner was never revealed.

“She’s so stunning, though…”

Looking at Iolin, who was pressing her lips together in irritation, Rupert couldn’t help but marvel at her beauty.