Chapter 221: A New Star(3)
Chapter 221: A New Star(3)
I had originally planned to introduce Cherry to my acquaintances myself, but it seemed the introductions had already concluded while Lina and I were away at the lecture hall for a moment.
However, whatever had been discussed left them each with a different expression. Mari looked a bit uncomfortable, Cecile looked sympathetic, and Cherry wore a dark, brooding smile.
My confusion was brief; since I hadn't yet filled Lina in, I brought up the remaining details. Lina was surprised for a moment when I introduced Cherry, then she thought it over and asked me a question.
"So, when will Lady Roseberry's book be published?"
"It should be out soon. The contract should have been finalized by now."
My father had handled the contract for Cherry's debut work, Red Sunset Once Again, on her behalf. Ideally, it would have been better for Cherry to go in person, but given her circumstances, it couldn't be helped.
The publisher's president already knew my father from the first contract for Xenon's Life, so everything would be handled without issue. The president wasn't the type to cause trouble over a contract later, so there was no need to worry.
If he did try anything funny, I could just pressure him right back. As long as Xenon's Life remained a massive hit, I would always hold the upper hand.
Therefore, Cherry's work would be thoroughly protected under my name. All that was left was to wait for the sprout to grow and the flower to reach full bloom.
"I'm looking forward to it. Since you said it was interesting, the quality is guaranteed."
"Can you tell us what it's about?"
Cecile asked about Cherry's work, her interest clearly piqued. For the record, Lina was sitting next to Cherry, while I was sandwiched between Mari and Cecile.
I pondered how to explain it for a moment before speaking. I didn't intend to mention the "regression" setting just yet.
"The genre is romance, so you'll probably love it. But it's better if you see the story for yourselves. Even I was impressed when I first read it."
"A book that impressed the author of Xenon's Life... My expectations are even higher now. Right, Lady Roseberry?"
"Ye-yes?!"
Cherry, who had been hesitating, jerked her head up in surprise at Lina's call. It seemed that even Cherry couldn't help but be nervous in the presence of the Imperial Princess's authority.
Or perhaps her emotions had simply become richer during her time with me. Before meeting me, Cherry had been like a walking corpse, devoid of any vitality.
"I'll visit the Roseberry estate sometime soon. The Roseberry family is famous for their philosophy, so I think it would be nice to have a conversation."
"Ah..."
The moment Lina mentioned her family, Cherry's pink eyes sank deep, like an abyss. I couldn't help but be horrified as soon as I heard the family name.
To Cherry, her 'family' was a landmine among landmines that should never even be mentioned. However, Lina seemed to have said it because she was completely unaware of the situation.
Lina also noticed something was wrong when Cherry's gaze darkened so abruptly, and a flustered expression crossed her face. She then turned her gaze toward me, as if asking what was going on.
In the end, it was only after I informed her about Cherry's family history that she realized her mistake and hurriedly apologized.
"I'm so sorry. I had no idea there were such circumstances..."
"Th-there is no need for the Princess to apologize. I'm fine now..."
Fine, my foot. Because the trauma was buried so deep in her heart, not only her voice but even her hands were trembling uncontrollably.
Lina noticed this as well and didn't ask any more related questions. Instead, she shifted the topic to praising Cherry directly.
"At any rate, this is wonderful news for our Minerva Empire. To have the author of Xenon's Life and another author he praises... We might actually be able to surpass the Kingdom of Ters."
"I haven't said I'm subordinating myself to the Minerva Empire yet, have I?"
"Once you marry Mari, you're basically part of the Minerva Empire anyway. It's not like you're going to move to the Kingdom of Ters, right?"
"I'm not moving, and I have no intention of doing so."
The Kingdom of Ters was a land of art and culture. On the surface, it held a title that would tempt many artists.
But that was only for the artists; the upper echelons were far from ideal. You didn't have to look far—Adelia's unfortunate family history was proof enough.
As Lina said, it would be better to stay within the Minerva Empire and focus on writing under their protection; my life would be set.
Besides, despite her words, Lina surely knew. I was in a position where I couldn't be easily touched. It was just a playful expression of intimacy.
"And starting with Cherry, many other authors will emerge in other countries as well. Honestly, the grammar I use isn't difficult, and as long as you have a subject, it's enough."
"That may be true, but who would dare to imitate you? People might say they're tarnishing your honor. Cherry is someone you cherish, so she's an exception, but that's not the case for other writers."
"I've already told the publisher to prepare for that. I told them not to be afraid of people imitating me and to let them express themselves freely."
"Hmm... Is that so? It feels like a bit of a waste, but if that's what you want, I suppose it can't be helped."
Of course, some "trashy novels" might come out. I'd just have to hope the publisher filters those out on their own.
I had also made it clear that if a story was a blatant copy, I would take strict action. If I even breathed a word of displeasure, those around me would handle it without me having to lift a finger.
So, I just had to sit back and enjoy the show. I could afford to be a bit greedy, but the grammar of Xenon's Life was easy enough to follow with just a little practice.
Since complaints might arise in the future, it was better to open the gates from the start.
And in the process, I'll have more books to read myself.
Above all, the fact that there would be more interesting books to read was the most satisfying part. The reason I wrote Xenon's Life in the first place was that there were almost no readable books besides history books and travelogues.
In my previous life, genre fiction poured out like a tsunami, and there were countless entertaining novels, but not in this world. This was why people were so enthusiastic about Xenon's Life.
Though there might be some "trash" at first, there are always sprouts in the world that wither away before they can show their talent.
If those sprouts bloom like Cherry before me, and other flowers bloom beside them, a beautiful garden called 'culture' will be created.
"Isaac. I think I know what you're thinking. But unlike your expectations, it's going to take a long time."
Had she guessed my thoughts just by my expression? Mari, who was beside me, offered her opinion in a cautious voice.
I was a bit surprised that the comment came from Mari and not Lina. When I looked at her, Mari shared her thoughts.
"Since you've said that, countless aspiring writers will undoubtedly start writing their own works. But if that happens, there are people who will suffer. You don't have to look far—it's been happening since the moment Xenon's Life was released."
"Are you talking about the established authors?"
"Yes."
Novels in this world were filled with incredibly convoluted sentences and strings of obscure words. They were so difficult that people said you needed an encyclopedia just to follow the flow of the story.
There were even frequent cases where people would read a few novels and hold debates based on them. It wasn't for nothing that I'd compared them to CSAT English questions.
At least until Xenon's Life, that style was the trend. Authors wrote as if to boast of their own philosophy and intellectual prowess, and if readers couldn't understand, they would simply play politics and call them ignorant.
But after the publication of Xenon's Life, the landscape and public opinion shifted completely. Why bother reading those when there was a story that was so easy, concise, and understandable? People stopped reading the old stuff out of sheer spite.
Naturally, the established authors hurled all sorts of criticism and tried to disparage Xenon's Life, but they couldn't leave a single scratch. A few authors analyzed it deeply and praised it, but they were a small minority.
Of course, as time passed and more people became interested in 'books' themselves rather than just Xenon's Life, they did see some benefit. You could tell by the fact that the number of literature freshmen had tripled in a single year.
"It's because you're in such a high position, but the influence of established authors is much stronger than you think. The publisher that contracted Xenon's Life can ignore them because they have you, but publishers in other countries will find it difficult. The situation won't be resolved as radically as you think."
"Hmm. I hadn't thought of that. But it's not impossible, right?"
"Right."
"Then that's fine."
If time is the solution, I can wait as long as it takes. Until then, I'll just keep writing my next work alongside Xenon's Life and wait for the readers' reactions.
After that, I can just write at a leisurely pace and wait for other works. I'll also have to read Cherry's books so she doesn't feel left out.
"I don't know. I think a bit differently. It might not happen even after time passes."
However, unlike Mari, Cecile seemed to have a different opinion. I looked at Cecile and asked with a questioning look.
"What do you mean by that?"
At my question, Cecile gave a radiant smile. It was a beautiful and captivating smile, no matter how many times I saw it.
While I was staring blankly at that smile, Cecile pointed at me with her long index finger and spoke.
"Because Xenon's Life, and you, are in too high a position."
"......?"
It was a similar yet different sentiment.
*
Creation is a very grueling task. The creative process itself is fraught with hardship, and the same goes for when that creation is shown to the world.
This is because people judge a creation based on the 'result,' not the process. No matter how much the creator suffered or how much heart and soul they poured into it, people only care about the result.
Based on that result, some will offer praise while others offer harsh criticism. A creator can gain strength from those results, or they can fall into despair.
In this way, art—creation itself—is a grueling and difficult task. But even that is only if it receives attention; the world is littered with artworks that faded away without ever being noticed.
In this sense, Cherry's debut work, Red Sunset Once Again, could be considered quite lucky. Not only did she happen to meet me, the author of Xenon's Life, but she also received my praise.
To fully support her dream, I used Xenon's reputation to lead her all the way to publication. But just because I found it interesting didn't mean everyone else would. Everyone has their own tastes, after all.
"Shall we take a look now?"
"Ye-yes...!"
A week after Cherry's first work was published. Cherry and I arrived at a cafe, just the two of us, to check the reaction.
The method for checking the reaction was very simple. I just had to see what news was in today's paper.
One might ask why I didn't just look at the newspaper from the day it was published, but that's only possible on Earth. This was a world where not even automobiles were developed, let alone the internet.
Even if the publisher started sales, it took a significant amount of time for those books to move to other locations. It was said that it took at least a month to reach Albenheim, the country furthest from the Minerva Empire.
However, that was the story before the release of Volume 12. After Volume 12, I heard that the elves, unable to just sit on their hands any longer, made a direct request to Arwen. In response, Arwen readily reduced tariffs and even set up teleportation facilities.
Since the facilities were only for transporting Xenon's Life, they only took a few days to establish. Because the elves were masters of magic, the work proceeded at a rapid pace.
Anyway, now that a week had passed, it was time for the evaluations of Cherry's work to come pouring in. Since I had already mentioned that it was written by someone I cherished, interest was at an all-time high.
All that remained was whether the readers actually found it interesting. I glanced at Cherry, who was stiff with anticipation and nerves.
Perhaps because her first work was out, a bit of light had returned to her once-dark eyes.
Flip—
Soon, I slowly unfolded the newspaper, and Cherry and I simultaneously looked at the news printed in large letters.
[The Emergence of Another Great Writer? Xenon's Protégé, Mary's 'Red Sunset Once Again' Selling Fast!]
[The story of returning from the future to the past is worth noting in itself.]
[A style similar to yet different from 'Xenon's Life.' Every emotional and warm sentence resonates with the heart.]
[This book, which is gaining explosive popularity among women...]
Sure enough. As expected, her first work was receiving immense praise. Due to its nature, a regression story is a subject that's halfway to success just by existing, and combined with Cherry's unique writing skills, it would have been strange if it hadn't gained popularity.
Furthermore, I had personally said it was interesting, lending it Xenon's reputation. Would people be unable to criticize it because of my name?
Nonsense. Even when Xenon's Life was at the height of its popularity, those who wanted to criticize did so. At first, most of it was just established authors lashing out in jealousy, but as time went on, more legitimate criticism followed.
[Being a romance, it focuses more on human psychology than events. While the immersion is sufficient, it's a bit difficult to understand how events are progressing. However, it will likely improve over time.]
[I wish there were more detailed explanations of what happened in the future.]
It was in that vein. They weren't malicious comments, and since I had thought similar things, I nodded in agreement.
But that was my reaction; the most important person was Cherry. I wondered how she was reacting.
I looked up from the newspaper and glanced at Cherry. And I couldn't help but be startled.
"......"
Cherry was definitely reading the newspaper. But tears were streaming down from her pink eyes.
Had all the bitterness that had been suppressed in her heart finally been released? She didn't even seem to realize it herself, as she was shedding tears silently and incessantly.
It was perhaps natural, as this was the moment her dream, which had been cruelly trampled before it could even sprout, was in full bloom. I looked at her with a sympathetic expression and spoke quietly.
"Cherry."
"Yes?"
"How do you feel? Your dream came true."
At that question, Cherry stared at me blankly for a while before turning her gaze back to the newspaper. The news was full of praise for her work. And there were outcries asking when the next volume would be out.
Cherry stared at the news with a dazed look, and then the corners of her mouth, which had been a straight line, slowly began to turn up. Not just her mouth, but her tear-filled eyes also slowly crinkled.
Then, she gave a 'happy smile' like I had never seen before, blooming as brightly as her work, and spoke softly.
"I'm happy..."
"Are you?"
"Yes. I'm so... so happy... it feels like a dream..."
Still seemingly unaware that she was crying, tears began to drip down her cheeks. I silently took out a handkerchief and wiped her tears.
Cherry looked at me, startled. She also seemed to realize only then that she was crying and began to fluster.
"Ah, I, well, I..."
"Use this to wipe them until you're done crying."
"...Thank you."
As if the faucet were broken and she couldn't stop the tears, she eventually accepted my handkerchief. While she wiped her tears, I looked through the other news.
No matter how many pages of the newspaper I turned, there was only news related to Cherry's work. It meant it was a massive hit, comparable to Xenon's Life.
Due to its nature as a romance, it was gaining immense popularity among women rather than men. However, because of the unique setting of regression, many men were reading it as well.
Whether this was a fluke or not was now up to Cherry. According to her, she had already planned out the ending, so she just had to write, meaning I just had to wait patiently.
But isn't there any news about a contest or something?
I had told the publisher about it, but strangely, I couldn't see anything. Just as I was turning the page with a sense of doubt, a strange passage caught my eye.
[Xenon said it's fine to imitate his style, but we cannot do so.]
What is this about? I narrowed my eyes and leaned in closer to the particularly eye-catching news.
[If one wishes to have their work recognized, they must first be recognized by Xenon. To do otherwise is an insult to Xenon.]
Ah. Right.
[We must not tarnish Xenon's honor! Who would dare to tarnish his honor! He said he doesn't mind, but we will not forgive it!]
I forgot the values of this era were like this. Dammit.
"Sniff... Hic..."
"...Cherry."
"Yes... hic..."
Feeling dejected, I gently stroked Cherry's head to comfort her and spoke as if resigned.
"...Please release the next volume a bit early."
"Hic... I'll release it early even if it costs me my life..."
"That's not really necessary..."
It seemed it would take a long time for more readable books to emerge.