Chapter 11
Chapter 11
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: Next Work Plans (1)
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Now, it might seem like old news, but...
The Imperial Princess, Karlreiya von Loengram, was a massive fan of Eli and Hamel's Disappearance.
To what extent? She'd already seen Eli and Hamel's Disappearance more than ten times and collected every figurine and piece of merchandise available.
So, it was only natural—practically inevitable—that she became a fan of Raguna, the man who'd essentially invented the animation genre.
'Raguna Tersion. The once-in-a-generation genius who created "Nymph and Goblin" and "Eli and Hamel's Disappearance."'
The Grinebalt Duke's family had done their utmost to keep Raguna's identity under wraps.
But in the end, the imperial intelligence network pierced through every obstacle and successfully uncovered who he was.
Once the princess learned the identity of the creator behind Eli and Hamel's Disappearance, she found herself consumed with curiosity about this man named Raguna.
'How on earth does he imagine such worlds and weave such stories...?'
The worlds he depicted through his animations were profoundly emotional and dreamlike, and the stories they evoked were exquisitely refined and beautiful.
Of course, all Raguna had done was shamelessly borrow original art and clichés from countless Earth animators who'd toiled over their works.
But the princess, unaware of that backstory, could only gasp in admiration at him.
In time, her fandom evolved beyond mere appreciation for Raguna's work—she yearned to know the man himself.
That was why...
The moment she learned his identity, she immediately sent a letter inviting him to the palace.
'According to reports, he's merely the second son of a baron's family, with no claim to succession.'
Despite his extraordinary talent, Raguna Tersion had been sidelined from high society, living a life akin to an unemployed layabout.
The reason he could paint such fairy-tale dreamscapes in his animations? Surely, it stemmed from a desire to escape his own pitiful reality.
And so, the princess deliberately invited him to the imperial palace.
Among countless nobles, only a select few ever received such an honor.
Through this invitation, she wanted to send a message: I'm watching over you, and I'll always support you.
But...
"Lord Raguna has declined Your Highness's invitation."
"...What did you say?"
The princess unwittingly made a dumbfounded face.
"He refused my invitation? What's his reason?"
"Well... He said he doesn't want anything interfering with his planning for the sequel to Eli and Hamel's Disappearance. His resolve was so firm that even I couldn't press the issue."
"....."
She'd never even imagined it.
That he would refuse her invitation.
Normally, the princess might have felt a twinge of displeasure upon hearing Hilde's report.
After all, she'd graciously invited him to the palace out of consideration for him.
Yet he'd flatly rejected her offer.
No one in this world likes having their goodwill casually dismissed.
But...
"Your Highness, he said he's truly sorry and sent this as a token of his sincerity."
With those words, Hilde handed the princess a gift from Raguna.
"Th-this is...!"
It was none other than Raguna's autograph, original concept art from Eli and Hamel's Disappearance, and a full setting bible.
The autograph even read: "Wishing good fortune to Lady Karlreiya."
In truth, for Raguna, it was just a way to offload useless production materials after finishing the anime.
But to the die-hard fan princess, it felt like an extraordinary treasure.
"To think such amazing items existed beyond just figurines and merch!"
The princess beamed like a child as she pored over the concept art and setting bible.
She'd watched the anime over ten times to etch every background and character into her memory.
But with these concept arts, she'd never need to again.
They contained Raguna's own sketches of spirit realm landscapes, plus illustrations of Eli, Hamel, and all the other characters.
The setting bible was packed with backstory that time constraints had left out of the anime.
Like Eli and Hamel's families, the true nature of Hamel's magic, or why the Spirit King had to keep them trapped in the spirit realm.
Examining these hidden details filled the princess with thrilling excitement.
'Excluding Raguna himself, I'm now the world's foremost authority on "Eli and Hamel's Disappearance"!'
The cafes outside theaters screening the film were always full of self-proclaimed experts bragging about trivia.
But now, with the setting bible straight from Raguna, the princess had ascended to a whole other level.
If she debated them again, she could dismantle their arguments without them even getting a word in edgewise.
This sense of superiority sparked boundless goodwill toward Raguna within her.
"...Right. Raguna Tersion is currently planning the sequel to Eli and Hamel's Disappearance."
She murmured as she fiddled with the concept art and bible in her hands.
"In that case... it's unavoidable. I can't let my selfish desire to see him ruin the sequel to Eli and Hamel's Disappearance."
"Then..."
"Cancel the invitation to the palace."
"...A wise decision, Your Highness."
Hilde let out a sigh of relief at the princess's words.
"From what I saw, Lord Raguna returned to his hometown to recover from the immense stress of producing Eli and Hamel's Disappearance. And since Lady Serika is with him, there's no need to disturb them."
"...What did you just say?"
The princess's brow furrowed in an instant.
"Who's with whom, right now?"
"Oh, you didn't know?"
Hilde opened her mouth with a puzzled expression.
"Lady Serika El Grinebalt of the Grinebalt Duke's family is currently by Lord Raguna's side. It seems like the two are vacationing together..."
"...Serika El Grinebalt?"
That name was definitely familiar to the princess.
How could she not know?
Serika was the jewel of the Grinebalt Duke's family—and alongside the princess herself, one of the empire's most beautiful women.
So why was that woman staying by Raguna's side?
"Because Lady Serika voiced Eli in Eli and Hamel's Disappearance."
"...What?"
"Our investigations also revealed that Lord Raguna and Lady Serika have known each other since childhood—like childhood friends. So, it doesn't seem all that strange for them to be together."
"....."
True, it was just as Hilde said.
Childhood friends who'd collaborated on an anime as creator and voice actress—vacationing together wasn't odd.
But...
'...For some reason, it pisses me off.'
Yes.
The princess felt an inexplicable emotion bubbling up inside her.
He'd refused her invitation outright because he needed to plan the sequel to Eli and Hamel's Disappearance.
Yet here he was, sweetly vacationing with Serika El Grinebalt?
What to call it?
She couldn't pinpoint why, but it stung her feminine pride deeply.
In the end, with her pride bruised, the princess spoke in a curt tone without thinking.
"So, as long as we don't invite Raguna Tersion to the palace, it's fine? Then the solution is simple."
"...What do you mean?"
"I'll go meet him at the Tersion Baron's estate myself."
"...Pardon?"
"If he can have the Grinebalt Duke's lady by his side, one more—me—shouldn't be an issue."
"Y-Your Highness... Please calm down a bit..."
Hilde's face paled as she desperately tried to dissuade her.
'Hmm, since things have come to this, I should secure more autographs from Raguna. Maybe on the Ifrit doll? Or the Undine one? If I authenticate merch with his signature, even those cafe plebs will have to acknowledge me.'
Unfortunately, the princess was already lost in her own world, deaf to Hilde's pleas.
It was a severe case indeed.