Drawing Manga in a Romance Fantasy

Chapter 168

“In the summer, I wished for winter, but honestly, summer was better than this.”

A man standing in line blew on his freezing hands and grumbled about the chilly weather.

Others in line murmured their agreement.

The reason they were all standing in the cold on a winter day was none other than Rupert’s latest release.

“It’s been a while since his last fairy tale after Hansel and Gretel. No wonder the line’s longer than usual.”

**“New Fairy Tale: The Little Match Girl Released!

This is the first book to feature Somerset Workshop’s groundbreaking new technology. We promise readers an experience like no other!”**

The mere fact that Rupert had published a new fairy tale was enough to draw a crowd. But once word spread about the new technology incorporated into the book, even more people flocked to buy it.

“Somerset’s books are always the best.”
“Other books fall apart when kids read them too much, but Somerset’s still look brand new.”
“Not to mention, they’re cheaper than most others.”

By now, the name “Somerset” had become synonymous with trust across the Empire.

Books were traditionally fragile and expensive, but Somerset Workshop’s products—sold through the Yuren Trading Company—were renowned for their durability.

Especially popular were their fairy tales, which were not only sturdy but could also repair minor damage. Once purchased, there was no need to replace them.

And despite their superior quality, the prices were comparable—or even lower—than others, making Rupert’s books an obvious choice for buyers.

“Is that girl the protagonist of the new fairy tale?”

Since there was still time before sales began, the people in line started discussing the advertisement board outside the shop.

It displayed an illustration of a little girl in a red hood, holding a basket filled with matches.

“Hmm… Doesn’t she look a little sad?”

When someone pointed out the sadness in the girl’s expression, others began to notice it, too.

“Could it be…?”
“No way, right?”

Rupert’s fairy tales were so influential that scholars had begun analyzing and categorizing them.

Cinderella, Snow White, and The Little Mermaid were considered Rupert’s “Three Great Romances.”

Pinocchio and Hansel and Gretel were classified as “Fantasy Tales.”

And then there was A Dog of Flanders—the only one in a category of its own, labeled Rupert’s “Tragedy.”

The Dog of Flanders was widely regarded as a social commentary, earning a reputation for its heartbreaking narrative.

“There hasn’t been another sad one since then…”
“Come to think of it, wasn’t A Dog of Flanders released last winter, too?”

The more they talked, the more uneasy they felt. But they quickly dismissed their worries, convincing themselves it was just a normal fairy tale.

“We’ll now begin sales!”

At last, the shop assistant announced the start of sales. The line began moving, and people eagerly purchased Rupert’s new fairy tale, The Little Match Girl.

“The kids are going to love this.”

One father, who had waited for days to buy the book as a gift, left with a cheerful spring in his step, imagining his children’s delight.

*****

“Matches for sale!”

A small blonde girl in a red hood stood clutching a basket full of matches.

“Sigh… How much, miss?”

“I’m not a miss! I’m Ada, the match girl!”

Owen, now used to this, picked up a matchstick and started rummaging through his pockets.

“All right, Match Girl Ada—how about 1 copper?”

“No way! At that price, Ada’s going to freeze to death!”

“Fine, 5 coppers?”

Raising the price slightly, Owen waited, but Ada shook her head firmly, lips pressed tight.

“All right! 10 coppers!”

Satisfied only after charging ten times the original price, Ada turned and strutted off to find her next customer.

Owen could only chuckle as he watched her walk away.

“Butler, why is the young lady so obsessed with selling matches these days?”

“You bought some, didn’t you?”

“Who wouldn’t? She’s been running around the mansion dressed like that—how could I not?”

At Owen’s words, Alain nodded in agreement.

It wasn’t an exaggeration to call this the “Era of the Match Girl” in the Empire.

‘Rupert’s fairy tales aren’t just children’s stories.’

The impact of his new release, The Little Match Girl, was so profound that scholars throughout the Empire had already begun publishing analyses of it.

“It was devastating… A lonely girl dying on a snowy winter night—how could it be so tragic?”

Even now, Owen felt a lump in his throat remembering his first time reading The Little Match Girl.

The immersive experience of reading the book amplified the emotions tenfold.

‘Why does this page feel so cold?’

When readers touched the pages depicting the match girl selling matches on a snowy street, the paper felt icy enough to make their hands shiver.

**“In a deserted alley, the girl sat down.

‘I miss Grandma.’

Her hands, frozen after hours of selling matches, felt as cold as ice.

Desperate to warm them, the girl struck a match.

‘Oh… A house with a warm stove….’

To her amazement, the scene she had always dreamed of unfolded before her.

In a cozy room with a blazing stove, a grand feast was laid out on the table.

‘Hurry, dear! The food will get cold!’

‘Mom?’

‘Princess, don’t you want to open the gift Daddy brought for you?’

‘Dad!’

The parents she longed for, who had passed away, were there at the table, calling to her.

Tears streamed down the girl’s face as she took in the unbelievable sight.

But—

Sizzle.

When the match went out, everything vanished.”**

‘Ugh… The page showing her hope feels warm.’

The climax of the story—where the match girl struck a match and glimpsed her dreams—was printed on warm-to-the-touch paper, adding an extraordinary layer of emotion.

Readers were stunned by this new “temperature paper,” which allowed them to feel sensations while reading.

‘Just adding temperature makes the immersion so much deeper?’

Given the tragic nature of The Little Match Girl, the temperature shifts enhanced the emotional impact and pulled readers further into the story.

And that wasn’t all.

“Showing the girl ascending to heaven with her grandmother through illusion magic… that was just unfair.”

“Unfair?”

“How could anyone not cry after seeing that?”

Owen, who had never shed a tear while reading Rupert’s other sad tales like The Little Mermaid or A Dog of Flanders, couldn’t hold back this time.

The final scene—where the girl’s matches burned out and she saw the spirit of her beloved grandmother—played out as an animated projection using illusion magic.

‘Is Rupert a devil? How could he end it like that?’

With cutting-edge technology woven into every detail, The Little Match Girl generated an explosive response.

Coinciding with winter, the book’s setting and season felt even more real, leaving readers teary-eyed whenever they saw a little girl on the streets.

‘I’m calling this the Match Girl Syndrome.’

The book’s impact even led to academic studies analyzing why people wept at the sight of impoverished girls after reading it.

“Well, at least the Somerset Welfare Foundation saw a flood of donations thanks to it.”

Alain recalled Rupert’s struggle to sort through the overwhelming donations pouring into the foundation.

With contributions from across the Empire, Rupert decided to allocate funds for schools and housing for underprivileged children, consulting Esteban and donating a portion to the church.

The influence of The Little Match Girl even reached Somerset Manor.

“I can’t refuse to buy matches when the young lady’s dressed like that.”

“Isn’t playing along her favorite thing to do?”

Alain chuckled at Owen’s complaint.

After reading the book, Ada had followed Rupert around for days, demanding he rewrite the ending to save the girl.

When that didn’t work, she began acting out the story, dressing exactly like the protagonist.

“Matches for sale!”

From the maids at Somerset Manor to the workshop staff, no one could resist buying matches from Ada as she paraded around forcing sales.

“Why is the young lady so determined to sell matches?”

“She’s never been one to hoard money…”

Ada had been selling matches for 10 coppers—ten times their usual price.

Owen debated whether to stop her but always caved when she looked up at him with sad, pleading eyes.

Though it wasn’t a huge amount of money, her sudden obsession with selling matches felt suspicious.

“Raschu! You have to wear this!”

“Woof!”

Ada was now tying a red yarn ball to Raschu’s nose.

“Once Krune finishes the sled, you have to pull it!”

“Woof!”

Raschu barked in reluctant agreement, letting Ada dress him up without complaint.

When Ada was excited, nothing could stop her.