Chapter 16

“Did you see the garden on your way here?”

“I caught a glimpse of it from inside the carriage as we passed by… but I didn’t see it in detail.”

“We recently increased the number of gardeners and put a lot of care into various aspects. If there’s an opportunity later, it might be nice for me to personally show you around.”

Rosabel, sitting diagonally across from me, smiled sweetly as her gentle voice flowed out.

Although I was initially breathless, since the princesses spoke to me first, naturally responding to the conversation made the pressure disappear.

The person who showed particularly keen interest in me was none other than the second princess, Rosabel.

“Rosabel, if you keep talking like that, you won’t be able to eat.”

Imperial Consort Rielen, who had been watching her, restrained her with a calm expression.

“Oh my, I made a mistake. Lady Blaine, our head chef’s skills are renowned throughout the empire, so please try it quickly.”

Having been distracted by conversation, my gaze belatedly shifted to the table.

Splendid foods and extraordinary visuals at first glance.

True to the imperial family, I carefully picked up the ornate silver utensils and began eating in earnest.

‘This is trouble.’

As soon as I took one bite, I savored the excellent taste spreading in my mouth with a serious expression.

Among the things I had been earnestly advised was to eat as little as possible during the meal, but how could I leave food when they had prepared it with such sincerity?

While enthusiastically using my fork to handle the food in front of me, my eyes met Selena’s, who was sitting across from me.

“This is my favorite dish—would you like to try it?”

I should have made at least one polite remark before accepting, or at least declined tactfully, but I couldn’t.

“…Thank you. This is the first time in my life I’ve eaten such delicious food.”

In that moment, I unconsciously brightened up and nodded.

Fortunately, she didn’t seem to find it rude, as Selena smiled and pushed the plate of food toward me.

“It’s such a relief that Lady Blaine can enjoy the sea.”

Eating fresh seafood in the capital was literally a luxury.

Although the barony was relatively close to the coast so we ate it often, to bring it to the empire’s center required countless costs and magical processing.

The imperial family, at the pinnacle of the wealthy, invested generously in food as well.

“This is my favorite dish!”

“Head maid, please move this plate in front of the young lady.”

But how did this situation come about?

Starting with Selena, suddenly the other princesses and even Imperial Consort Rielen joined in recommending various foods.

I can’t not eat these either.

The atmosphere seemed to be flowing strangely, but thanks to this, I quickly felt full while tasting various types of food.

I wasn’t originally a big eater and belonged more to the category of light eaters.

Having been starving, I ate more than usual, and my previously sensitive senses gradually became languid.

‘In the end, we’re all the same people, just trying to make a living, right?’

After sharing a meal together, my wariness decreased, and as dessert was served, the conversation that had stopped resumed.

“We all found the book Lady Blaine wrote very interesting and wanted to meet you in person. But… when will volume 2 of Knights of the Sky come out?”

Even though Princess Selena’s opening remark was about Knights of the Sky volume 2—

Rather, since it was a business-related topic, the answer came much more easily. Having only stayed holed up at home, I wasn’t very familiar with noble speech patterns.

“I’m currently writing Masked Ball volume 2. As for Knights of the Sky volume 2, since I haven’t written anything yet, it will take quite some time… but I’ll do my best to work on it.”

I felt piercing gazes from various directions as if they would bore holes in my face.

“I asked out of my own greed, so please don’t mind it too much and take your time writing.”

Won’t they come looking for me later if I delay?

With Selena’s calm expression behind me, when Rosabel, who had been quietly sitting beside her, spoke up, my head turned to the side again.

“Masked Ball volume 2 sounds good too. We’re actually thinking of hosting one directly at the imperial palace… could you help as the original author?”

“It would be my honor.”

The content mentioned in the letter was real, and she began asking for detailed information with a face devoid of laughter.

“What kind of dancing are people doing at the ballroom?”

“…Since my knowledge of dance is lacking, I thought of the easiest difficulty level, and basically I thought of a free-form style where people dance freely according to the music rather than having a set dance format.”

Come to think of it, I think I had said I’d look into a dance teacher before writing the book, but there’s been no news until now.

Which is good for me.

While answering Rosabel’s question, I broke out in a cold sweat inwardly since I didn’t know any dances.

“We’re thinking of temporarily opening the imperial garden during the masked ball—what form is the garden decorated in?”

Fortunately, I remembered the drawing Zeon had made, so I could describe the imaginary imperial garden in detail.

Of course, I couldn’t speak in detail about the flower decorations, food, etc. that Imperial Consort Rielen asked about, but I occasionally participated in conversations sharing stories about the masked ball from the work.

‘This is an interesting experience.’

Unintentionally getting real readers’ reviews was new and good. Moreover, the subjects were the imperial family.

I couldn’t believe they were actually going to host a masked ball, but seeing Princess Rosabel’s enthusiastic face automatically gave me confidence.

“Anytime you have good ideas or opinions, please tell us! We want the attendees to enjoy it like the characters in the novel Masked Ball.”

Her sincerity was clear enough to reach me.

Originally, since the profession of writer requires a rich imagination, I unconsciously imagined the masked ball actually being held here.

“Contrary to the nobles in the book, it might be nice if everyone wore the same mask to hide their identities. Like how Rose couldn’t recognize Edwin… the people attending the masked ball wouldn’t know who each other are either.”

I casually blurted out what was merely an opinion without thinking.

Since the nobles, for whom status position is very important, wouldn’t welcome it.

Even while speaking, I thought the probability of realization was low, but—

“That’s a good idea.”

Imperial Consort Rielen, positioned at the very top of that status hierarchy, showed a positive reaction with interest gleaming in her eyes.

“It would be good to completely hide identities and give penalties if caught!”

“Since attendance is voluntary anyway… let’s set the rules in advance and distribute them.”

Oh my.

As if I had lit a fuse, I watched them alternately with a bewildered face as they suddenly began heated discussions.

Since they occasionally spoke to me, I listened attentively without letting my guard down, and when the conversation was wrapping up—

“It would be nice if Knights of the Sky had something like this too.”

I felt strangely pressured by Princess Selena’s casual remark and gave a hollow laugh.

Making things this big would increase the risks I’d have to handle later.

Even if I wouldn’t stop the imperial family from wanting to do it, I wouldn’t be encouraging such things in the future.

Then, attendants who appeared from somewhere brought a series of beautifully packaged boxes.

“I prepared something small as a memento of our first meeting.”

I was momentarily flustered by the endless procession.

Is it okay to receive this much?

Even Imperial Consort Rielen and the other princesses had each prepared separate gifts, showing the magic of what had been one carriage when I came becoming two.

“…Should I perhaps sign the books for you?”

It felt too burdensome to just receive everything quietly, so I carelessly blurted out anything.

“Oh my.”

“Jenny, go to my palace right now and bring the books.”

Those who heard it showed signs of pleasure, which was fortunate—otherwise I would have been too embarrassed to lift my face.

‘I made this thinking I’d use it someday, but I didn’t know I’d use it today.’

When people suddenly appeared with books and pens, I opened to the first page and signed in the blank space below the logo.

Swoosh swoosh—

“Ooh.”

“The signature is so cool. Could I ask for just one more book?”

A signature as Karma, not Katarina.

The signature I devised by referencing experiences from my previous life looked reasonably simple and plausible.

“Me too! Me too!”

“Please do the smart version too, not just the deluxe.”

A suddenly opened signing session.

I thought it would end quickly, but it took longer than expected and I signed over ten books.

‘I’ll need to pay more attention to book design in the future.’

I didn’t know princesses would have smart versions.

“Just one more book at the end…”

But I can go home, right?

I boarded the carriage with my hand numb from signing too many autographs in a short time.

---

[Imperial Family Seeking True Love and Romance Hosts Masked Ball!]

[First Meeting with Karma, Special Founding Festival Ball Announced]

[Karma Author’s Signature—What Gold Coins Equal Its Value?]

About a week later, content about the masked ball was extensively reported.

‘Their drive is indeed extraordinary.’

The masked ball was re-spotlighted based on statements by Selena and Rosabel. Plus their bragging about getting signatures probably helped.

New people appeared in front of Sapphire Publishing, holding modest protests.

“Give us the right to buy the author’s signed books!”

“Sapphire Publishing, hold an auction right now!”

“Take my money!”

Protests that occurred twice a day—during commute and departure times—lasting about 3 minutes before disbanding.

Initially, I was incredulous when I heard the news, but I was told that other authors were putting signed books up for auction.

Still, auctions seem a bit much.

“Should we do it randomly?”

Currently in the empire, the existence of masked balls was literally a hot potato, and if we missed this opportunity, we’d definitely regret it.

Pushing forward like that, three days later, Masked Ball volume 2 came out and we held a small event.

“We increased the binderies… we’re using over ten places… why are there no books?”

On the first day of publication, Sapphire Publishing recorded unprecedented sales.