LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 36
―The Kletan Empire, Lady Pliana’s Salon.
As always, the gathering of noblewomen in their extravagant dresses was abuzz with the hottest topic of the social scene.
As the last guest—a lady with striking blue hair—finally took her seat, someone mumbled expectantly,
“Ugh, when is it coming out?”
“Exactly! I’ve been waiting so long I’m going crazy.”
“What happened next, I wonder?”
Thud.
Someone placed a magazine in the center of the table.
The elegantly printed title on the cover, designed for easy portability, read: “< Safety Rules for Writing Horror Stories>”
“I’m dying to know what happens next, but the publisher isn’t even responding to inquiries!”
“I heard their entire office is in chaos from all the complaint letters demanding the next issue.”
Traditionally, salons were a place for noblewomen to sip tea gracefully and exchange gossip about high society.
But recently, Lady Pliana’s salon had become dominated by one topic alone—the serialized comic “< Safety Rules for Writing Horror Stories>” that was featured in the magazine.
And for good reason. The comic had taken the social scene by storm, setting the latest trend among the aristocracy.
“There’s nothing more exciting these days.”
“I know, right? The Abizé publishing house tried to imitate it, but their version is just awful….”
“The storyline is weak! Do they take us for fools? And the art and coloring—those are just as important!”
As agreement spread throughout the salon, the chatter grew louder—
Bang!
The salon doors burst open.
“Special edition! Special edition release!”
A breathless young bookseller, whom Lady Pliana had granted unrestricted entry in rain or shine for such urgent news, stood panting at the doorway.
Seizing the moment, he shouted again,
“A surprise special edition of ‘< Safety Rules for Writing Horror Stories>‘ has been released!”
‘< Safety Rules for Writing Horror Stories>’ Special edition. Surprise release.
The noblewomen instantly processed the key words and shot to their feet.
The long-awaited news, anticipated even more eagerly than their own husbands’ return, sent their hearts into a frenzy.
“W-What did you just say?”
“Oh my! I must have it!”
As they rushed forward, throwing open their purses, the young bookseller grinned, already calculating his record-breaking daily sales.
“This special edition seems a bit shorter than usual….”
One noblewoman eyed the thinner book with slight disappointment, but Lady Pliana offered a gentle suggestion.
“In that case, shall we hold a reading session instead?”
“What a wonderful idea!”
A shared passion can easily replace any lingering regrets.
And so, the noblewomen, filled with eager anticipation, immersed themselves in reading, not noticing as their tea grew cold.
After some time, the fastest reader, Lady Pliana, finally closed her book and murmured in a daze,
“Blackout curtains…?”
Another noblewoman, having just finished the last page, immediately chimed in.
“I must buy them. Where can I find such things?”
A murmur spread through the room.
Then, someone shouted,
“Ah! There’s a contact for custom blackout curtains listed at the back of the book!”
“Oh my goodness, you’re right!”
As the noblewomen crowded around in excitement, the only ones who suffered were their poor servants, tasked with fulfilling their whims.
But at that very moment, another place had also been thrown into chaos—
The Imperial Palace of the Kletan Empire, at its very heart, the Empress’s chambers.
“Haaam….”
Reclining lazily on a sofa, a woman let out a soft yawn.
She appeared to be in her late thirties, yet in truth, she had passed forty long ago.
She was Orianna, Empress of the Kletan Empire.
As the Empress of a mighty empire, one might think she had no reason for discontent—
And yet, she hadn’t been sleeping well for weeks.
“…Merlin.”
At the languid call, the head lady-in-waiting swiftly stepped forward.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“You still haven’t found out who the artist of that comic is?”
“I… deeply apologize, Your Majesty.”
Lowering her graying head, the lady-in-waiting answered with great difficulty.
“Haaaa….”
Another deep sigh.
When had it begun?
Like the other noblewomen, Orianna had fallen completely under the spell of ‘< Safety Rules for Writing Horror Stories>’
The problem, however, was that her enthusiasm went far beyond simple enjoyment.
She collected every issue, rereading them whenever the urge struck.
She summoned scholars to analyze and organize the comic’s lore.
She grew impatient and even commanded her attendants to create original stories based on the characters to entertain her.
“This interpretation of the character is all wrong!”
“M-My deepest apologies, Your Majesty….”
“Don’t apologize to me! Apologize to the poor Comic you just ruined!”
Renowned storytellers, jesters, and even theater actors had all fallen victim to her merciless literary critiques.
“When will the next issue be out?!”
Her patience had finally reached its limit.
She was dreaming about the next installment at this point!
Despite ordering a full investigation to locate the artist, every day ended in frustration.
“P-Please calm yourself, Your Majesty.”
“…Haa.”
At her attendant’s plea, the Empress reluctantly sank back into her seat.
“This is unbearable.”
Orianna had long ruled at the pinnacle of power, constantly fearing that the same blade she wielded might one day strike her down.
She had spent her life seizing from others and desperately defending her own in the ruthless world of the palace.
Now, with her son secured as Crown Prince, she could finally enjoy a period of peace—
Yet, ironically, that peace had become unbearably boring.
Then, she had discovered ‘< Safety Rules for Writing Horror Stories>’ —
And it had become her new obsession.
But that very obsession had left her thirsting for more.
“Your Majesty!”
Just as another complaint was about to spill from her lips, her personal maid, Louise, burst into the room at full speed.
“…What is it?”
Her voice was ice, but Louise didn’t hesitate.
She pulled something from her arms—
“The special edition of ‘< Safety Rules for Writing Horror Stories>’ has been surprise-released! I secured a copy, Your Majesty!”
On her outstretched hands lay a single, weighty book.
“My word….”
Thump.
Rising as if possessed, the Empress let out a trembling gasp.
‘What I truly need is the next volume….’
But when one is starving, does it matter if it’s rice or bread?
Snatching the book, she devoured its contents on her plush sofa, missing not a single word.
And when she finally finished, her reaction was predictable.
“…Blackout curtains?”
Thud.
She needed them.
A fiery conviction surged through her veins.
“Does the palace have blackout curtains?”
“Pardon? I… I am unfamiliar with such a thing….”
Even the Empress, who had seen all manner of luxuries, had never heard of them before.
“If I knew, I wouldn’t be asking. In any case, I must have them.”
“A-Ah, Your Majesty!”
Louise, who had acquired multiple copies, pointed to the last page.
“The purchase information is listed here!”
“Oh?”
Clap!
With a triumphant slap of her hands, the Empress brightened.
“Investigate this seller.”
“…Excuse me?”
“This comic introduced something entirely unknown to high society—blackout curtains. And conveniently, it even provides a seller’s information.”
Years of navigating the treacherous social scene had sharpened her instincts.
“This suggests a deal between the artist and the curtain seller.”
As her lady-in-waiting nodded, stunned, Orianna murmured with steely determination—
“I must uncover their identity….”
And above all—
‘I must find out when the young lady and the Duke will finally get together.’
(Tl Note :- she is talking about the story in ‘< Safety Rules for Writing Horror Stories>’ the story in the book is also about a young lady and a duke but in a haunted castle as ‘< Safety Rules for Writing Horror Stories>’ can also be translated as ‘< Safety Rules for Writing Horror Stories in duke’s castle>’ [I guess?] )
For the first time in years, the Empress’s competitive spirit flared to life.