Chapter 186: Interpretation Over Dream(2)
Chapter 186: Interpretation Over Dream(2)
[The Queen of Albenheim Finally Breaks Her Silence! "Xenon and I share a bond, but we are not lovers..."]
[“I happened to meet Xenon by chance several years ago. We both share a love for books, and we have simply maintained our connection since then. He already has someone he has promised his future to.”]
[“Do not inflate the rumors any further. Albenheim is currently in a state of turmoil due to the Elder Council. I intend to focus on state affairs moving forward.”]
Two days later, Arwen made the announcement exactly as we had discussed. She clarified that we weren't lovers, but merely acquaintances whose bond had continued to this day.
The reason she was able to provide the speech was explained by the use of magic that allowed us to contact each other. She added that they hadn't been in touch as much recently due to their busy schedules, but they still saw each other regularly.
Though it felt a bit late, Arwen’s public statement caused the "lover" rumors to subside... or rather, they didn't quite vanish, as suspicious eyes remained. After all, once a seed of doubt is planted in a person's mind, it tends to grow until it is completely uprooted.
And with Arwen’s announcement, other articles began to circulate.
[The Queen of Albenheim Knows Xenon’s Identity.]
That single sentence was enough to guess the situation Arwen was about to face. Not just journalists, but prominent figures from various nations began releasing statements one after another.
A wide variety of statements poured out, but the majority expressed an urgent desire to meet with Arwen. This included the Minerva Empire, the Ters Kingdom, the Duchy of Bellua, and even the Maritime Kingdom across the sea.
For those who didn't know Xenon, Arwen was their only point of contact, leaving them with no choice but to cling to her. However, even though Albenheim had lost the Race War, it was still a nation famous for its power.
Arwen rejected all requests, citing the need to stabilize internal affairs. If a diplomatic delegation visited, she wisely turned them away with grace, ensuring no diplomatic friction occurred.
Normally, they would have tried to pressure the wavering Albenheim, but since Arwen was their only link to Xenon, they found themselves in a position where they could do nothing but suck their thumbs in frustration.
In a way, Albenheim had gained a massive shield thanks to Arwen, reaping unintended benefits.
And then, another piece of news arrived—a silver lining for the readers of the Xenon Biography.
[Hello, readers. This is Xenon. Recently, due to various... (omitted) ...I received great help from a passing priest, and my right hand is now fully healed. I will not reveal who it was, but I wish to express my gratitude to that priest. The new volume of the Xenon Biography will be released in fifteen days at the earliest, or within a month at the latest.]
Xenon’s supposedly ruined right hand was fully recovered. Readers, who cared little for world affairs and only for the Xenon Biography, cheered.
They had been so anxious when they heard his right hand was severely injured. They had expected a hiatus of at least six months, or perhaps up to a year if he had to learn to write with his left hand.
But just as there are villains in the world, there are also good people. A single virtuous soul had happened to help Xenon, relieving the public's anxiety all at once.
[The Elven attack was real. Then what about the Blood Pact?]
[The Queen of Albenheim: "The Blood Pact was entirely fake. Xenon handled the situation and contacted me."]
[How great is Xenon’s martial prowess to have subdued even the Elves?]
On top of this, strange misconceptions were added like seasoning. The narrative formed that Xenon possessed such great personal strength that he could subdue the Elves who attacked him.
With Arwen’s testimony added to the mix, people began to view Xenon as a man who mastered both the pen and the sword. While they knew he had an assistant based on the fact that someone else had transcribed for him, all the focus remained solely on Xenon.
As a result, it was only natural for Xenon’s value to skyrocket. A figure who possessed not only vast knowledge but also martial might was rare in this world—and he had even triumphed over Elves.
While these countless misunderstandings surged like a typhoon, the protagonist himself...
"Are these all fan letters?"
"Yeah."
He was peacefully reading his fan letters, as if sitting in the eye of the storm.
I stood with my arms crossed, staring blankly at the mountain of fan letters piled on the desk. Cecile and Marie were also looking on with fascinated expressions.
Once everything had settled down, I contacted the publisher and asked them to send me the fan letters. The publisher gladly complied and sent a massive quantity my way. This was the result.
The sheer volume was staggering. I hadn't been accepting fan letters because I was too busy, and an enormous amount had accumulated in the meantime.
According to the publisher, this was merely a "portion" of them. I couldn't even fathom how many more letters were still sitting in storage.
"Do you really plan on reading all of these?"
As I was debating which letter to start with, Cecile asked me in a skeptical voice. I scratched my temple and replied.
"I have to. These are letters sent by my fans."
"Can I read some too?"
Marie asked with a look of pure curiosity. She had decided to stay at the mansion for the time being to keep an eye on the situation.
There were exactly fifteen days left until the end of the break. I planned to stay at the mansion for about three days before returning to Helium, and Marie would be staying with us until then.
I thought about her request for a moment before nodding in agreement. It didn't matter; I could just read them again later.
"I don't mind. Just put them to the side when you're done. I need to read them too."
"Got it."
"Isaac, what about me?"
"You can read them too, Sis."
After answering, I picked one from the pile. I didn't know how long it would take to get through them all, but with the speed-reading skills I'd honed through years of reading, I figured I'd finish soon enough.
I estimated it would take about an hour or two. If I came across anything like a "solicitation" or a "threat," I'd just fold it up immediately.
"If you see anything strange in the letters, just ignore it."
"Strange content?"
"You know, things like promising me wealth and honor if I come to them."
"Aha. I guess those would come, too."
"Well, it would be stranger if they didn't."
Marie and Cecile nodded in understanding and each picked up a letter. As they tore open the envelopes and began to read, I shifted my focus to my own letter.
I didn't have to worry about anyone walking into the bedroom; I had already informed the servants. Lunch was over, and Adelia was likely deep in a sweet nap by now, so no one would be coming in.
Before opening the envelope, I checked the sender.
[Cherry Blossom Roseberry]
It’s this person again.
I had picked it because the pink envelope stood out among the pile, and sure enough, it was her. She was one of the few people who had consistently sent fan letters from the beginning, and one of the few I had actually replied to.
It felt as though the frequency of her letters had increased significantly since I sent that reply, almost as if she were moved by the gesture.
Rip—
I neatly tore open the cherry-blossom-pink envelope and pulled out the contents. I unfolded the stationery, which was just as pink as the envelope, and slowly read the message inside.
[Hello, Xenon-nim! The red autumn leaves have fallen, and the cold winter is already approaching. The residents of our territory are complaining about the winter arriving earlier than last year. I wonder if you like the winter when the flowers have withered, Xenon-nim. I personally do not like it.]
As expected, her elegant cursive was impressive. Added to that was a prose style brimming with a young girl's sensibility.
I’d felt this before, but she wrote so beautifully that it warmed the reader's heart.
If the atmosphere of the Xenon Biography flowed smoothly like a river before turning into a vast wave, this woman named Cherry felt like the scent of flowers that attracted butterflies and bees.
I had never met her, but I could roughly imagine her in my head. A literary girl who gave off the image of cherry blossoms.
[I will soon be enrolling in Halo Academy. I want to enter the academy and gain as much knowledge as you, Xenon-nim. My parents are against it, but don't you think the day will come when I can write like you? Rather than adventure, I want to focus more on the love between a man and a woman, like the story of the Elf and the Human you wrote. Love is a mysterious yet intense emotion that feels sweet yet bitter. I want to write stories that can properly unravel those feelings.]
This girl named Cherry was enrolling in Halo Academy soon. As I slowly read the text, a sudden curiosity struck me, and I turned my gaze toward Marie.
Marie was focused, her index finger pressed against her lips. I felt a bit bad for interrupting her concentration, but I wanted to satisfy my curiosity.
"Marie."
"Yeah?"
"Do you happen to know anything about the Roseberry family?"
"Roseberry? Are you talking about the Count Roseberry family, known for the color pink?"
"Probably?"
As expected of a Duke’s daughter, she even knew their middle names. As Marie and I spoke, Cecile’s attention was also drawn to our conversation.
Marie tapped her cheek with her finger, deep in thought, before she began sharing information about the Roseberry family.
"The Roseberry family is quite famous within the Minerva Empire. Like any Count's family, they have plenty of wealth, but they're especially famous for producing generations of brilliant philosophers."
"Philosophers?"
"Yes. More than half of the philosophy books published in the Minerva Empire come from the Roseberry family. Even the philosophy professors at Halo Academy are talents produced by them."
A family that valued philosophy—it was a somewhat unique lineage. However, considering the era, philosophy was a very important field of study.
The reason human rights developed in my previous life was because they were rooted in philosophy. The philosophies left behind by figures like Buddha, Confucius, Plato, Nietzsche, and many others had a profound impact on the modern world.
Above all, philosophy is deeply connected to "ideology," one of the frameworks that move a nation. The anecdote about Hitler being inspired by Nietzsche is very famous, and Marx, the father of communism, goes without saying.
Furthermore, since gods actually existed here, philosophy was bound to be even more developed than on Earth. It wasn't strange at all for there to be a family centered on philosophy; such things were common in my past life as well.
No wonder she writes so damn well.
Born and raised in a family that held philosophy as its foundation, it was only natural that her writing skills were extraordinary.
Seeing my look of realization, Marie pointed to the letter I was reading and asked.
"Is that from the Roseberry family?"
"Yeah. Someone named Cherry Blossom Roseberry. She says she's enrolling in the academy soon."
"Really? Maybe you'll run into her. Though you'll be in different years. Plus, you were appointed as a recommended student."
"Hmm..."
At those words, I looked back at the letter. There couldn't be many people who wrote so sweetly; perhaps it wouldn't be bad to meet her once.
Of course, that was only if we happened to cross paths. For now, I intended to continue exchanging letters as an author and a fan.
"Maybe we will."
I shrugged and began reading the next letter.
In the current climate, where news was overflowing, it was a well-known fact that many nations were striving to form a connection with Albenheim.
If they could somehow establish a link to Xenon, they could significantly advance their cultural development. The leaders of each nation were doing their utmost to win Arwen’s favor.
Among them was the Ters Kingdom, famous as a land of freedom and culture. When Piren had spread his desperate "facts," they had headed to the Hask region in high spirits, only to return empty-handed.
The Ters Kingdom, realizing only then that Piren had leaked false information, couldn't help but be despondent. Their pursuit of Xenon had already hit a dead end, and now their last hope had been snatched away.
Ultimately, the Ters Kingdom decided to proceed with their original plan.
"...So, I have to go there?"
"It cannot be helped. It is something that must be endured for the sake of our relationship with the Minerva Empire."
"You have Lara, don't you?"
"Lara is still young. And who knows what kind of rudeness she might commit?"
King Friedrich of the Ters Kingdom spoke firmly to the woman before him. In response, the woman with sky-blue hair and eyes twitched her brow.
Her name was Hiriya Ducard von Kerchers, the Second Princess of the Ters Kingdom.
Unlike her half-sister Adelia, who had a lively impression, Hiriya was a "cold beauty" with a somewhat sharp image.
Instead of a bright dress like most princesses, she wore a neat uniform, exuding an image of integrity and strength.
"But that doesn't mean you should send me, does it? I made myself clear. I would rather become a knight than be dressed up like a doll."
"I know."
"Then why are you so anxious to marry me off? Is forming a bond with the Minerva Empire really that important?"
"It's not about marrying you off; we're simply going to start a rumor. So you don't have to worry."
"That's what you said about Sister Olivia..."
"Olivia actually fell in love. That wasn't my responsibility. And look, she's living well now with three children. Our exchange with the Duchy of Bellua has become much more active than before."
"Sigh..."
Hiriya let out a frustrated sigh at Friedrich’s bull-headed stubbornness. Given his personality—once he made a decision, he pushed forward doggedly—the answer would be the same no matter how many times she asked.
To facilitate better exchange with the Minerva Empire, she, the Second Princess, would be transferred to Halo Academy. There, she would build friendships with the Crown Prince or the Imperial Princess to bring the two nations closer.
Since the two countries never knew when or where war might break out, getting closer wasn't a bad thing, and there was one specific reason why they had to do it.
It was the fact that the Maishal territory, where the exhibition was held, was Xenon’s hometown. Because of that one fact, the Minerva Empire was screaming with joy over the sudden windfall, while the Ters Kingdom felt like they'd been struck by a bolt from the blue.
"...Father."
"What is it?"
"Promise me. That you won't marry me off until I want it."
"I shall promise for now. But if you change your mind, I am always willing to listen."
"That will never happen."
After her firm reply, Hiriya suddenly remembered something and asked Friedrich in a curious voice.
"Come to think of it, isn't Adelia at Halo Academy?"
"You don't have to worry about that. She should have already graduated and left. I heard she entered a certain family as a guard knight."
"A guard knight?"
"Yes. So you don't have to worry about meeting her."
"Hmm..."
At this, Hiriya showed a satisfied smile before speaking quietly.
"That's a bit of a shame."
"Hmm?"
Friedrich raised an eyebrow, his expression asking what she meant.
But he couldn't help but let out a boisterous laugh at Hiriya’s next words.
"I was planning to beat her to a pulp under the guise of a duel."
"Hahaha."
Fifteen days remained until the academy reopened.
"Go easy on her. It'll be a headache if she ends up taking her own life."
"I'll consider it."
Another storm was slowly approaching.