Chapter 64: The Calm Before the Storm(2)
Chapter 64: The Calm Before the Storm(2)
It had been about ten days since I sent the package containing my manuscript and letter home.
Usually, it takes about a week to receive a reply, but for some reason, it was a bit late this time. Moreover, the mail I received was quite thick.
What’s in here?
Unlike the usual thin envelopes, I stared curiously at the bulky package before tearing open the top.
Peering inside, I realized it was filled with a considerable number of letters.
My mother must have organized them; they weren't scattered haphazardly but were neatly arranged one by one, like the pages of a book.
Are these all fan letters?
That seemed highly likely. I gazed at the neatly stacked letters for a moment before picking up the one that stood out the most.
Given how much it caught my eye, I assumed it was from my parents.
Confirming the sender, I was certain it was from them. Without hesitation, I tore open the sealed edge and pulled out the contents.
[I’m sending a selection of the fan letters you asked for. The publisher says there are so many they can’t send them all at once. I’ll send the rest gradually.]
The first part was a note from my father. True to his character—a man of few words—he got straight to the point.
[By the way, the publisher didn't say anything about your hiatus. They’ve probably given up since it’s so hard to communicate with us. However, the fallout will be significant. Be prepared.]
I had informed my family about the hiatus a long time ago. Besides, since I included an Author's Note on the last page of this manuscript, the publisher must have realized it by now.
His warning to be prepared bothered me slightly, but it shouldn't be a problem. It’s not like people are going to swarm the publisher demanding books.
For now, I just need to focus on my studies. Even if Lina or Leort beg me for just one more volume, I plan to refuse them all. I’ve been running at full speed until now; I need a break to look around and rest.
And Mother’s letter is... here it is.
As always, my mother had sent a long letter. Most of it was asking if I did well on my exams, if academy life was manageable, and so on. It was mostly just checking in on my well-being.
Still, my heart felt healed by how much she worried about me. It must be a chore to send such long letters every month, yet she sends them faithfully with such care.
This is why I want to be an even better son. I read my mother’s letter twice before looking back into the package.
My eyes fell upon the pile of fan letters packed tightly inside.
This is only a portion?
And she said these were just a selection, so just how many are piled up back home? It feels like it would take days just to read all of these.
I pulled out a clump of fan letters and set them on my desk. Envelopes of all shapes and colors scattered across the surface.
Wondering which one to pick, I chose one at random. It stood out because it was a peculiar pink envelope with a gold-leaf flower pattern.
[Cherry Blossom Roseberry]
Judging by the middle name, she seemed to be a noble, but her name sounded like it would smell strongly of cherry blossoms. I tried to recall who the Roseberry family was as I opened the envelope.
The envelope was pink, and the letter inside was pink as well. It seemed this color was the family’s signature hue.
[Hello, Author! I am the eldest daughter of the Marquis Roseberry family, Cherry Blossom Roseberry!]
The opening greeting gave off a very bubbly impression. It was a different kind of liveliness compared to Mari’s.
I carefully read through the fan letter that filled the page. Most of it was about how much she enjoyed Xenon Biography and how she wanted to write a novel like that herself.
[I’ll be enrolling in Halo Academy in a year! If I have as much knowledge as you, Author, I’ll be able to write something like Xenon Biography one day, right? If I get the chance, I’d love to meet you in person and learn how to write. But since you don't seem to like showing yourself to the world, I’ll have to hold back. I’ll work hard!]
"Hmm?"
At the mention of her enrolling in Halo Academy, I hurried to check the date the letter was sent. Surprisingly, it was from a month ago.
That meant this noble lady would be enrolling when I became a second-year student, so we might run into each other if fate allowed. Of course, even if we met, I wouldn't breathe a word about being the author.
Still, it feels good.
There’s no better feeling than someone saying they want to write like me. It means someone respects me.
Unable to hide the pride swelling within me, I smiled and read until the very end. Aside from the part about enrolling in the academy and wanting to write like me, nothing else particularly stood out.
I should keep things like this.
It seemed like a good idea to collect fan letters that praised my work or cheered me on. Looking at letters like this whenever I’m having a hard time would surely give me strength.
I pondered how to store the fan letters before deciding to just put them back in their envelopes for now. I placed it on the side of my desk, intending to categorize the envelopes later.
Next is...
I noticed something while checking the fan letters. The ones sent by commoners were plain as could be, but the ones from nobles were colorful and embossed with unique crests.
Furthermore, the number of fan letters from commoners was overwhelmingly higher than those from nobles. Originally, novels were something enjoyed more by nobles than commoners, but Xenon Biography was a story easy to read regardless of status.
Also, nobles only make up about 1% of the total population. Naturally, the number of letters from commoners had to be higher.
[Greetings. My name is Viscount Gild Tess Hillert. I was deeply moved by your book. Therefore, I would like to make a proposal. Please visit our family...]
Among the nobles, many tried to use their status to lure me to their families. I just skimmed through those.
Still, since they had swallowed their pride to write the letters, I wouldn't throw them away. That was the least I could do, even if no one was watching.
Anyway, I decided it would be better to read the commoners' fan letters later. There were simply too many to finish today.
[Mari Hausen Rekilis]
"... ..."
As I continued through the pile, I found a fan letter sent by Mari. I blinked at the pure white envelope before the corners of my mouth curled upward.
I wondered what kind of content Mari had put in her letter. I was looking forward to it.
Soon, I unfolded the paper and began reading the fan letter Mari had written by hand.
[Hello, respected Author. I am Mari of the Rekilis family. I am truly enjoying your work.]
The style was surprisingly plain. The content was also nothing but praise for my work.
Well, that didn't matter. My true goal was something else.
What would happen if I took this and read it aloud to her?
What would happen? This.
"Don't read it! I told you not to read it!"
"Ack! Stop hitting me! Okay! I won't read it!"
I got smacked on the back.
*
As mentioned before, some nobles were bribing the publisher that held the copyright for Xenon Biography. Most of the requests were to reveal the identity of the author or to secretly provide new books as soon as they came out.
Of course, the publisher never revealed the author's identity and usually only provided the latest releases. From the publisher's perspective, it was better to give out the golden eggs early than to kill the goose that laid them.
Even high-ranking nobles might grumble about it, but they didn't harbor true resentment. If they poked around too much and the author of Xenon Biography went into hiding, it would be a great loss for them as well.
So, finding the author was pushed to the back burner, and they simply received the latest volumes in advance. Thanks to this, they could read Xenon Biography without having to engage in fierce competition.
This was even before the news of a new volume was officially announced.
"Hmm~ hmmm~"
Lina, the Imperial Princess of the Minerva Empire, was humming in her quarters as she carefully opened a piece of mail.
As her humming suggested, she was currently in a very good mood. Unlike when she wore her usual 'mask,' her smile now was genuinely radiant.
The reason lay within the mail she was currently unwrapping.
"Ta-da~"
Lina pulled a book out of the package and held it high toward the ceiling. Even though no one else was in the room, it was a boastful, exaggerated gesture.
It proved just how happy she was, and she had every reason to be.
Because the book Lina was holding up was Volume 10 of Xenon Biography. The publisher hadn't even officially announced it yet.
The Imperial Family had lobbied the publisher to obtain it faster than anyone else.
Power really is a great thing at times like this. Hehe.
Anyone watching might criticize her for wasting power on something so trivial, but Lina didn't care. Having entered the political world at a young age, using power was second nature to her.
She gazed lovingly at Volume 10 before slowly lowering it onto her desk.
Isaac really is a genius.
Looking at the book naturally brought Isaac to mind. She still mistakenly believed that Hawk provided the story and Isaac merely transcribed it, but that didn't change the fact that Isaac's writing skills were superb.
Lina couldn't even imagine how one could possess such literary talent. No matter how she looked at it, it was an ability that didn't suit someone his age.
I must keep him in the Empire. But before that...
Let’s read the story first. Lina opened the book with a wide grin.
She was full of anticipation for what kind of story would unfold to delight her this time.
Wow. Love between a human and an elf? That won't be easy.
And a story that did not betray those expectations unfolded before her eyes. A love story between a human and an elf. This, too, was a theme likely to cause a global stir. She naturally predicted that the elves, in particular, would react.
Moreover, even though there were no illustrations, the incredible readability and descriptions that allowed her to visualize everything in her head were as amazing as ever. The conflict and agony between Xenon’s Master and the Elf Queen felt vividly real.
That wasn't all. The scope of the story was so vast it was beyond imagination. She couldn't help but marvel every time the things commonly referred to as 'foreshadowing' were resolved one by one.
Ah. I’ve finished it already. What a shame...
She had been so engrossed that she finished the whole thing before she knew it. It was especially disappointing because the Master had just infiltrated an area managed by a high-ranking demon official.
What will happen to the relationship between the Master and the Elf Queen? Surely it will work out, right?
The Master had dropped some unsettling words here and there, but for the sake of dreams and hope, it was better for them to end up together. Nothing would be more tragic than something happening to one of them.
Furthermore, the Master was a legendary romantic who only had eyes for the Elf Queen. When he was teaching Xenon, he seemed like nothing more than a cranky old man, but her perception of him had changed today.
Even the reason he sought to become stronger was to extend his lifespan even by a little—it was truly a story one couldn't read without tears. His attempt to overcome the limitations of his race to achieve love was enough to serve as an inspiration to many.
It’ll be fine. Yes. It’ll definitely be fine.
But what was this sense of unease in her heart? She had a nagging feeling that something bad was going to happen to the Master.
Lina suppressed that feeling and turned to the next page. The story was over, but it was a habit of hers to check if there was anything left.
"Huh? Author's Note?"
And as she turned the final page, a new section titled 'Author's Note' appeared. Lina’s eyes widened in curiosity as she began to read the text written there.
At first, it was just a simple introduction. Moreover, the fact that Isaac had started using the pen name 'Xenon' was unexpected to Lina. Sharing a pen name meant he had the will to communicate with the world.
However...
"...Eh?"
Before long, a single thought flashed through Lina's mind.
Hiatus... notice? He’s mentally exhausted?
That things had gone terribly wrong.
And for two years...?
That a massive storm was about to break.
"...Oh?"
Lina stared blankly at the Author's Note with a look of utter devastation.