Chapter 7

Zeon, a painter who existed only in name at the artists’ guild.

Despite nearly 5 years having passed since he joined the guild, he had never once received a commission or sponsorship from anyone.

Whether drawing people or landscapes.

No one sought out Zeon because of his realistic paintings that showed no difference from what he actually saw and thought.

After all, a painter should be abstract, use imagination, or express things beautifully.

He was now accustomed to being dismissed as merely copying, having his artistry ignored.

“…If I skip dinner, I can buy one new brush.”

Zeon maintained his livelihood by taking lower-level labor commissions that came into the guild.

He still loved drawing and hadn’t given up.

Leaving his hungry stomach behind, he chose his brush and entered the storage room to sleep. And unfailingly the next day, he went to work at the guild.

“Is this person the last one?”

“Yes, all three here can draw the type of painter you’re looking for.”

I must still be half asleep.

As soon as he arrived, led by the guild receptionist’s hand into a room, there were quite a few people inside, and he saw two familiar painters.

The only person sitting was what appeared to be a noblewoman wearing a robe.

Behind her must be a guard knight.

He’d always seen them from a distance—this was his first time seeing a noble from such close range.

“I’m the painter, Zeon.”

He couldn’t remember the last time he’d introduced himself in front of someone so far above him.

Worried he might have made a poor impression, he anxiously gripped his clothes while sitting in the spot the guide indicated.

“Please draw what I’m about to describe.”

It seems this noble came to commission rather than sponsor.

A gentle-looking woman standing nearby spoke, and hearing a not-too-difficult subject, Zeon immediately began drawing.

“A single red rose and a fence wrapped with vines.”

Separate from his trembling heart, his painting was completed in an instant.

Waiting for the two other painters who hadn’t finished yet, he set down his brush.

“Make this rose more splendid, remove this part of the vine next to it, and draw the fence using this as reference.”

Suddenly the noble, who had been quiet, pointed at Zeon’s painting with her fingertip and held out a crude drawing.

“Oh, don’t mind the others and please finish what you were doing!”

The other two painters’ gazes briefly lingered on Zeon’s painting before returning to normal.

And though not completely identical, the noble showed each of the two painters the same crude drawings along with different requirements.

She must have a specific picture in mind.

Since his ears were open, he could hear everything being said.

Whatever it was, compared to the other painters nearby, Zeon’s rose and fence stood out for their realism rather than their distinctive artistic style.

The kind of painting nobles typically didn’t prefer.

“…Let’s stop here.”

No sooner had Zeon finished his painting than the noble spoke.

This was his first such experience, but he hadn’t expected much anyway, and he kept his gaze fixed only on the painting he’d drawn.

‘I could have drawn it better if I’d actually seen a real rose.’

Just as he felt some regret:

“According to our Miss’s wishes, we’d like to commission Zeon. We’d like to discuss a contract—could you prepare for that?”

Hearing the unexpected statement, Zeon’s bowed head shot up.

Following the guild receptionist’s instructions, he signed his first contract with compensation written on it, and after finishing his business, he kept his eyes on the retreating backs of the noble party until the end.

That person chose my painting.

That day, Zeon met the benefactor who would save his life.

---

“This is really the final sample.”

Daniel, who visited the mansion in the late afternoon, held out an envelope with a gaunt face.

Inside were two books and a poster.

Hiring a painter and getting the desired design took longer than expected, requiring continuous back-and-forth samples with the bookbinder.

Making two types of books meant more things to worry about, constantly delaying the schedule.

One had a cover made from different materials with similar colors to look as luxurious as possible, while the other was relatively plain.

Both identically featured a symbolic half-mask logo engraved small in the center of the cover.

“You worked hard. I think we can make it like this.”

It had become perfect with no more flaws to find.

After thoroughly checking everything to the end, I gave a small smile to Daniel, who was looking at me with a tense face.

“Then from now on, we’ll prepare in earnest to publish. Thank you, Miss!”

Maybe because I always emphasize efficiency and speed.

Now she moved quickly on her own without me having to tell her to leave first.

“I’ve done everything I can.”

Besides production, I’d passed on all the know-how and methods, so all that remained was waiting. <Masked Ball>

Time remaining until release: about 2 weeks.

---

Daniel and Greg followed anything Katarina said.

If she told them to die, they’d at least practice pretending to die.

No matter how unfamiliar the methods and decisions, they never questioned or objected.

They simply did what they were told.

After the book was completed, Katarina’s direct involvement decreased, but the two moved based on the methods she’d taught them.

“Mr. William! This is the novel we’re publishing for the first time, and we wanted to show it to you first!”

Approaching people in the same industry they already knew with bright smiling faces.

“There’s an amazing ‘romance’ novel, and I absolutely wanted to show it to Shard Trading Company, so I came to find you. Please take a look when you have time, and if there’s an opportunity, please show it to your superiors too. I’m asking you.”

Visiting small to medium trading companies evenly, first approaching the lowest-level employees.

Katarina had instructed them on what words to emphasize and what attitude to maintain.

Don’t thrust contracts at them from the start.

After approaching them friendly, show an attitude without lingering attachment.

The final appearance of Masked Ball was different from other books, making it perfect for catching people’s attention.

A luxurious purple-red cover with a gold-engraved title and logo.

“Just tell them to read it once.”

Though it initially seemed strange to show books for free before selling them, as she said, responses came quickly—within a day at the earliest, three days at the latest.

Rarely, there were cases with no contact.

However, they were able to meet and converse with medium trading company managers they normally couldn’t have met.

“Oh, what’s this? It seems more luxurious than the books I have.”

Two books that looked similar at a glance but were different.

They distributed the book originally made for commoners for sales purposes, and naturally there was also an expensive book with better materials and performance.

“Though the content is the same, we released two versions so both commoners and nobles can enjoy it. What you received first is Smart, and what you’re seeing now is Deluxe.”

Names originating from Katarina’s will not to simply divide them into low-grade and high-grade.

While unfamiliar with the strange names, everyone showed curiosity about the Deluxe version.

“But what’s this string?”

“Oh, that’s a string to mark where you last read. You use it like this.”

So-called string bookmark.

While personally demonstrating how to use it, Greg maintained his smile throughout.

Ironically, the Deluxe’s existence created starkly divided reactions due to having the same content.

“This one is definitely more interesting.”

While trading companies frequented by nobles showed interest only in Deluxe, bookstores with mostly commoner customers were interested only in Smart.

When serious negotiations about agency fees began:

Facing various proposals and threats from those trying to raise book prices or get higher agency fees, Greg didn’t back down at all.

5 silver coin books: 50 copper coins agency fee per book.

50 silver coin books: 5 silver coins agency fee per book.

‘If I treat one place well, others will get their feelings hurt.’

Hearing Katarina’s words, everyone clicked their tongues watching him maintain his bamboo-straight stance with a smile on his face.

“Even if the empire’s most famous trading company came, we’d deal with them exactly the same as here.”

Hearing this, smaller places easily gave up while relatively larger ones expressed dissatisfaction and scolded.

Occasionally there were places where contracts didn’t go through, but such places were extremely few.

Those who had already read the book once eventually proceeded with contracts.

“The official release date is three days from now. If you tell us your desired location, we’ll deliver as many books as you ordered at dawn that day.”

Though they frowned at the troublesome method, they’d already stamped their seals.

When all contracts and communications were finished and the atmosphere was about to disperse, Greg pulled out a hidden card.

“What’s this?”

“It’s a wall poster we call a ‘poster.’ If you put it up in your store, customers will probably find it interesting.”

“…How much?”

“Haha, we don’t charge money. Originally we only give two, but specially for Shard Trading Company, we’ll give you five.”

There’s no merchant who doesn’t like free things.

People who initially tilted their heads at the unfamiliar poster form gradually realized its value as its content became clear at a glance.