Drawing Manga in a Romance Fantasy

Chapter 175

“Thank you for inviting me.”

“Not at all. Thank you for coming despite what must have been a difficult decision.”

Following Adrian’s lead, Rupert walked through the halls of the Silvanian royal palace.

‘Impressive. It’s a different kind of beauty from the Empire.’

The Silvanian palace gave Rupert the impression of stepping into a medieval painting.

While the Borus Empire’s palace was unrivaled in grandeur, its vast territory and blend of cultures created an exotic, eclectic feel.

By contrast, the Silvanian palace embodied the archetype of a medieval fantasy castle, as if lifted straight from a romance fantasy manga.

Walking through it made Rupert feel as though he had stepped into one of his own stories.

‘Adrian was originally the second male lead, wasn’t he?’

When Rupert first met Adrian, he’d felt uneasy.

In the original story, Adrian had been Edric’s rival for Amelia’s affection.

—“I’ll bring down the Empire if that’s what it takes to have you.”

Initially approaching Amelia to attract the third prince’s attention, Adrian eventually turned dark, plunging the Empire into chaos in his obsessive pursuit of her.

“Professor, thank you so much for agreeing to lecture here.”

“Not at all. I’m just glad to repay the favor you did for me.”

After touring the palace, Rupert and Adrian settled into a sitting room to share tea and talk.

—“Professor, would you be willing to give a lecture in Silvania?”

Adrian had approached Rupert after the end-of-term ceremony, asking him to give a lecture in his homeland of Silvania.

—“After what you did for me last time, I can’t ignore this request.”

Rupert couldn’t refuse, especially after Adrian and his knights had aided him during the Sataniel incident.

Of course, that wasn’t the only reason.

‘If this visit improves relations with Silvania, our most strained ally, it’ll be worth it.’

Rupert had promised the Emperor that he would use culture to break down barriers, and Silvania was the greatest obstacle to that goal. Visiting now seemed like a strategic move.

“Professor—no, Rupert. I still can’t forget the awe I felt when we screened the first animation at the academy.”

“I feel the same way.”

“I want to share that experience with the people of my kingdom.”

Rupert could tell Adrian’s words were genuine.

Initially wary of Adrian’s motives, Rupert had since witnessed his sincere passion for manga.

—“I know what you’re trying to do, Professor.”

Adrian had approached Rupert with this declaration.

—“If you succeed, the Empire will no longer be isolated.”

Noticing Yuren Trading Company’s recent overseas expansion, Adrian had immediately grasped Rupert’s and the Emperor’s plans.

—“But I will ensure that Silvania has a culture to rival yours.”

What Adrian said next had left Rupert deeply shaken.

—“I want to build a world where swords and spears no longer determine the superiority of nations.”

The light in Adrian’s eyes as he spoke had been sincere, not dark or calculating.

*****

“The crowd is massive.”

“No surprise. The most famous man in the Empire just arrived.”

“Hmph! He’s still just an imperial, isn’t he?”

The capital of Silvania, Silverion, had prepared a special stage in the central plaza.

Author Rupert’s Signing and Lecture Event

It was set for Rupert, whose children’s books and manga had gained immense popularity in Silvania.

“Even in the Empire, it’s rare to get Rupert’s autograph!”

“That’s why I scrambled to buy the full set.”

“What’s this lecture about that they prepared so much for it?”

Rupert’s works had spread through Silvania almost as widely as in the Empire, drawing massive crowds unwilling to miss this opportunity.

Rupert’s signature instantly inflated the value of any book, and many had struggled to buy copies before they sold out.

Yet for most, the excitement wasn’t about resale value—they simply wanted to meet the creator of stories they loved.

“Can you believe an imperial is being welcomed like this?”

Someone muttered, and those nearby silently nodded in agreement.

For Silvania, where people—nobles and commoners alike—usually spoke ill of the Empire, such enthusiasm for a guest from Borus was almost miraculous.

However, not everyone in the plaza had come with good intentions.

“This kingdom’s gone mad! Inviting an imperial for a lecture?!”

“They say the second prince invited him personally! Has he been brainwashed by imperial nonsense?!”

“I don’t care if I get thrown in jail—I’ll go and make a scene!”

Some had gathered with the intent to disrupt the lecture and humiliate Rupert.

To protect him, the kingdom had deployed guards and even stationed priests nearby in case of an emergency.

And so, with the square packed full of people harboring all kinds of motives—

Rupert finally stepped onto the stage.

*****

“Greetings, everyone. My name is Rupert Somerset, and I am an author and illustrator of children’s books and comics.”

Standing on the stage, Rupert greeted the crowd and observed their reactions.

Some seemed pleased but hesitated to cheer, glancing nervously around.

Others openly glared at him, their discontent written across their faces as he spoke.

‘This feels oddly familiar.’

The silent response reminded Rupert of his first day at the academy.

Now, he was warmly welcomed everywhere in the Empire, but back then, jealousy had followed his rapid rise to wealth and fame.

He considered the current situation a positive challenge.

‘I’ll have to reach out to other countries through lectures, too.’

Amelia, Iolin, and Zinnia briefly crossed Rupert’s mind.

Each of them beautiful and kindhearted women.

He had already kept them waiting too long and couldn’t afford to disappoint them by breaking his promises.

Though their affections had initially caught him off guard, their sincerity and dedication to supporting him left Rupert determined to return their feelings through hard work.

“This is my first time visiting the Kingdom of Silvania, and I must say, I find it stunning—a place where old traditions live on.”

The crowd began to nod in agreement.

Silvanians took immense pride in their country, and hearing praise from an imperial citizen pleased them, even if begrudgingly.

“And yet, it weighs heavily on my heart to remember the pain Silvania endured in the past due to war.”

At these words, the crowd stirred uneasily.

Rupert was referring to the war waged by the Empire against Silvania less than a decade ago.

“Is he apologizing?”

“No way. How dare he even bring that up?!”

The people didn’t know whether to be angry or to listen, and Rupert continued unfazed.

“I do not wish for nations to invade one another. My only desire—”

—“is for the Silvenian continent to become a truly beautiful place.”

“A beautiful continent?”

Hearing Rupert’s vision, the audience’s interest grew.

“The stories I create, both comics and fairy tales, are all meant to make the world a better place.”

Heads began to nod again.

Rupert’s works were known for their moral lessons, their critiques of social issues, and their emphasis on good triumphing over evil.

“Culture has the power to enrich hearts and inspire love for others!”

At that moment, an animation began playing on the white screen behind him.

“What is that? The pictures are moving!”

“Is that the animation we’ve heard about?”

“How is something like that even possible?!”

The screen displayed highlights from Rupert’s previous animations, mesmerizing the crowd with its vibrant visuals.

“Did you know that Silvania is already a beautiful country?”

The crowd murmured in confusion.

“Isn’t that an imperial invention?”

“Did he misspeak and mean the Empire instead?”

Sensing their doubts, Rupert quickly added,

“The second prince of Silvania, Prince Adrian—currently studying abroad in the Empire—created this very animation and presented it to imperial audiences!”

“What?! Our prince made that?!”

Though Rupert had left out some details, the audience was stunned and thrilled to hear their prince credited with creating such a marvel.

Gasps and exclamations of pride filled the plaza.

“There are already many in the Empire who admire Silvania’s culture thanks to Prince Adrian’s work!”

“See? We’re not behind in culture after all!”

Watching from backstage, Adrian turned red with embarrassment and kept his head down.

‘You exaggerated and skipped so many details!’

But with the crowd cheering so loudly, he had no way to correct the narrative.

“Culture knows no borders! With a prince as talented as Adrian, Silvania will soon be renowned across the continent for its rich culture. I hope my works can play a role in supporting that future!”

“Wooooaaahhh!!!”

The people erupted in applause, swept up by Rupert’s flowery words and vision for Silvania’s cultural legacy.

Of course, Rupert’s speech boiled down to his intent to keep selling his books and merchandise in Silvania.

‘National pride works even in another world.’

Smiling at the cheering crowd, Rupert waved enthusiastically in response.