Drawing Manga in a Romance Fantasy

Chapter 165

“The positive response is a relief.”

“Thank you. Without your guidance, Prince William, we wouldn’t have achieved success so quickly.”

Somerset Manor, a place every manga enthusiast dreams of visiting. It wasn’t just a production hub for books and merchandise but also offered coveted souvenirs to visitors—items that many desired as keepsakes.

The popularity of the estate meant Rupert’s reception room was never idle. Invitations were a privilege, and even notable figures needed to schedule appointments far in advance to gain an audience.

However, today’s guest was an exception—a figure so prominent that an invitation was extended without hesitation: the second prince, William.

*****

“Our overseas information network is second only to the Imperial intelligence network, I dare say.”

“I wouldn’t know about the Imperial Information Bureau, but the intelligence you’ve provided has been invaluable.”

William sipped tea with Rupert, the discussion flowing seamlessly. The prince had approached Rupert first after hearing about the task assigned to him by the Emperor.

“You’ve been tasked with overseas expansion, haven’t you?”

William, well aware of court proceedings, had proactively offered advice on how Rupert might approach different nations.

“For the Kingdom of Aramen, their pride in their culture compensates for their history of exclusion by other nations.”

William had recommended focusing on The King of Cards for Aramen. Not only that, but he used his network to spread rumors that amplified the appeal:

“Did you hear? The King of Cards is inspired by Aramen’s culture!”
“The Empire might be our rival, but manga isn’t to blame, is it?”
“If you can’t play the card game these days, you’re left out of every social circle!”

Thanks to these efforts, Rupert and Esteban’s cultural infiltration plan succeeded far more quickly than anticipated.

“For the Kingdom of Labas, I suggest The Steel Alchemist. It’s already known as a haven for alchemists, so the theme will resonate deeply there.”

William’s insights into which works would thrive in each region had sent export sales soaring.

“When targeting nations, prioritizing their aristocracy was key.”

“Indeed. It’s amusing, but even in our Empire, if a product is rumored to be used by one of the Seven Great Noble Houses, its sales skyrocket.”

William provided Rupert with a list of influential nobles from each nation, recommending that gifts be sent to them. His reasoning was simple: in this world, trends often flowed from the aristocracy to merchants and, finally, to the common people.

By sending gifts to these key figures, their influence would naturally spread the appeal of the products.

“As a small token of my gratitude, I’ve prepared this gift.”

“This is?”

William opened the small pouch Rupert handed him, his typically stoic expression momentarily breaking with surprise before returning to its usual calm.

Inside were cards from The King of Cards.

“I still can’t forget your incredible performance at the last tournament.”

“Ah, that? Ha! I still can’t forget how I lost to your younger sibling.”

Rupert’s thoughtful gift was tailored perfectly to William, who, despite being born into royalty and surrounded by treasures, had little interest in material possessions.

What intrigued William were things of intangible value—human connections, the Empire’s safety, and ideas. Yet even he felt an unusual sense of attachment to these cards, a testament to their unique appeal.

“You may not realize this, but your manga has given me a lot to think about.”

“Really?”

Rupert tilted his head slightly as William nodded.

“For a long time, I thought the only way to achieve what I wanted was to take it from someone else.”

William had once despised those who preached peace and dialogue, viewing them with contempt.

“But lately, I’ve started to think I was wrong.”

At first, he hadn’t understood his siblings’ fascination with fairy tales and manga.

“Don’t you read any manga?”
“You’re missing out on half of life, brother!”
“How can you not know something even I, an older man, enjoy?”

After constant pestering, William finally picked up a manga to see what the fuss was about. What he found shocked him.

The King of Cards struck a deep chord with him.

A protagonist who gave their all in a sincere battle against their opponents. While some resorted to underhanded tactics or even violence, in the end, victory was determined by skill.

That principle resonated with William: the idea that one could win without harming others. What had once been labeled as cunning or sly in the realm of strategy became a legitimate display of ability in this world.

“These days, I often visit taverns or salons in the capital,” William confessed.

Disguising himself, he mingled with strangers and played card games.

Having spent most of his life hiding his true feelings, William had assumed others were just as guarded. But through these interactions, he realized that genuine connections were possible—when approached sincerely, people responded in kind.

“This is my way of repaying you for what I’ve learned.”

Standing from the sofa, William straightened his coat.

“You’re leaving already?”

“I have plenty of work to do, as you might imagine.”

Despite Rupert’s polite attempt to prolong the conversation, William waved him off and headed for the door.

So this is why my brother is so captivated by Somerset.

As William exited the sprawling estate—a blend of factory and mansion—he thought back to his brother’s scolding after the card tournament.

“You call yourself an adult and yet seriously compete against children?”

Had he won, his brother might have grabbed him by the collar in outrage. William had laughed it off at the time but now found himself understanding his brother’s perspective.

“Such a cute little kid,” he muttered to himself, thinking of Ada, who had beaten him with an uncanny mastery of the game yet still acted every bit their age.

“I’d hoped to see her, but I hear she went out this morning.”

William couldn’t hide his disappointment upon learning that Ada had left early, supposedly for an outing that would last until sunset.

What on earth does she do on these excursions? he wondered, intrigued by the young prodigy’s mysterious habits.

“Why doesn’t your nose grow?”

“….”

By the time William had left the manor, Ada was still there, hidden away in Krune’s private workshop.

She had sneaked in without anyone noticing, using skills she had picked up from Alain to unlock the supposedly impenetrable dwarven locks.

"Anti-theft measures? No need for magic circles! A dwarf’s lock can’t be picked without the key!"

Click.

Ada would occasionally sneak into Krune’s workshop to explore. Although the room was filled with potentially dangerous items—things Rupert would undoubtedly scold her for even approaching—it was also a treasure trove of fascinating curiosities that she couldn’t resist.

“Look! This is Pinocchio!”

Recently, Ada had stumbled upon something extraordinary in Krune’s workshop: a lifelike doll.

At first, the sight of it startled her so much she let out a scream, but she quickly realized it wasn’t a real person.

What made the doll even more remarkable was that it could move.

“….”

Though it couldn’t speak, it clearly recognized Ada and would move its arms and legs in response to her presence.

Since then, Ada had taken to sneaking into the workshop whenever Krune was away, spending time with the doll she now considered her secret friend.

“Woof!”

Lash, who had taken on the role of lookout due to his reduced walks, kept an eye on whether Krune was returning. Thanks to him, Ada’s secret had remained safe.

Today, she brought her beloved Pinocchio storybook to show the doll.

“Pinocchio’s nose grows when he tells lies! I wish my nose could grow too.”

“….”

The doll tilted its head slightly, as though asking, Why would that be?

“If my nose grew, I could use it to poke Owen!”

The thought of Owen jumping around after being poked by a long, pointy nose brought a mischievous grin to Ada’s face.

“….”

While Ada giggled at her imaginings, the doll’s gaze returned to the Pinocchio book she had brought.

What Ada didn’t realize was that the doll was learning.

Though it couldn’t speak yet, it was beginning to understand words, thanks to Ada’s daily visits and conversations.

Pinocchio.

The doll’s unblinking eyes focused on the illustrations in the book, drawn to the idea of having a name.