Chapter 12
Chapter 12
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: The Princess's Wager
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Royal Palace, Princess Yuria von Ispell's private reception room.
It was a place filled with a pleasant aroma, but to me, it somehow felt as if a chilling cold permeated the entire room.
"Leban."
Princess Yuria was leaning obliquely against a purple velvet sofa.
Perhaps because it was her private quarters, her attire was bolder than last time.
A red dress that fully exposed her collarbone.
Due to her crossed legs, the smooth line of her calf teasingly peeked out from between the hem of her skirt.
"The capital has been quite noisy lately. Thanks to you."
Princess Yuria smiled brightly at me.
But unlike her expression, a clear chill of displeasure was evident in her blue eyes.
"The reason I trusted you and lent you my name was..."
She slowly walked toward me.
Click, clack. With each step of her high heels drawing closer, the subtle pressure emanating from her made it feel like my throat was being squeezed.
"...not to create this mess."
She stopped right in front of me.
Along with the faint scent of rose perfume came a dangerous bodily aroma.
"I didn't sponsor you to see my dignity rolling in the mud."
Yuria's red lips came so close to my ear that they almost touched.
"If my dignity falls to the ground, the royal family's authority falls with it, right? That's... a bit different from what you promised me. At this rate... I might have to withdraw from participating as a judge."
A soft, gentle voice that sent chills down my spine.
Her eyes were smiling, but they contained a cold warning.
The intent was clear: if I didn't resolve this situation immediately, she'd pin all the blame on me.
No, Princess Yuria wouldn't even need to lift a finger.
Without the shield of the royal family, all the arrows of criticism would point straight at the BlackStone family.
Forget ratings dropping or lost revenue—our family's reputation, built over generations, would be flushed down the toilet.
But I didn't back down.
Instead, I fixed my gaze on her eyes and brazenly smiled.
"Your Highness, there's no need to worry."
"I don't want to hear excuses."
"It's not an excuse. You should congratulate me."
"...What did you say?"
Yuria's brows furrowed slightly.
I stared straight into her eyes and spoke.
"This isn't a riot; it's frenzy. It's proof that even in the preliminaries, we've generated enough demand to paralyze the entire capital."
I gestured exaggeratedly toward the window.
"Look. People can't sleep out of curiosity, clamoring to see it first. Imagine when the main rounds begin and Your Highness appears on screen yourself? All this fervent support will gather straight to you, Princess."
"You talk well."
Yuria took a step back and tapped my chest with her index finger.
"But look at reality. Roads are blocked, complaints are pouring in. How do you plan to calm all those citizens?"
This was the turning point for persuasion.
If this proposal worked, it would give wings to my plan.
If not?
I never would have started this insane venture if I'd considered failure.
"The problem right now is that supply is woefully insufficient compared to demand. Thousands want to see it, but the venues are too small. So..."
I swallowed dryly and pulled out my trump card.
"We just need to increase the supply. By building theaters."
"Theaters?"
A spark of curiosity flickered in the princess's eyes, previously filled with disappointment and displeasure.
I seized the moment and continued.
"Yes. Build one theater per district and screen it all day. Right now, it's only once a day, so demand keeps piling up, but with theaters... we could run it five times a day. No need for useless furniture like tables—just have people sit packed on the floor, and we can fit at least 200 per showing. Simple math: 1,000 per district. 5,000 a day."
"Hmm..."
Yuria licked her lips as if intrigued.
She looked so alluring that I nearly bit my tongue mid-sentence.
"Theaters... Sounds plausible, but building them would take at least three months. What about in the meantime?"
"We're not building permanent structures."
I confidently held up two fingers.
"Two days is all we need. Just lend me a few royal plots of empty land under the king's name."
"Two days?"
"Yes. With massive tents and sturdy supports, that's enough. We'll set up temporary tent theaters to put out the immediate fire, then build the real ones."
I took a step toward her.
Now it was my turn to pressure her.
"And near the palace... we'll build a luxurious grand theater on another level from the others. Exclusive for nobles and wealthy tycoons. Plush velvet seats, far sharper visuals, and live orchestra music to boot— the videos you've seen so far will feel like child's play."
I looked straight into her eyes.
"And... once the grand theater is complete, the first premiere will likely be a tribute video for Princess Yuria, who supported this plan."
I could clearly see Yuria's pupils dilate.
The image of praise directed at her flowing from a massive screen, nobles applauding fervently.
Just imagining it must have flooded her brain with dopamine—her white cheeks flushed red like apples.
"Ha... Really, Leban, you..."
She moistened her lips with her red tongue and whispered.
"How do you always pick the exact words that please me so much?"
Yuria lightly touched my chin with her finger and lifted it slightly.
This time, it felt not like a threat, but temptation.
"Fine. I'll lend you the land. But construction costs? Where does that massive sum come from?"
I'd been waiting for this question.
I forced the most innocent, harmless smile I could muster and replied.
"Naturally, I can't pull off this plan alone. So, I'd like a little royal support."
"Ha, that's ridiculous..."
"In return!"
I quickly cut in.
"All completed theaters will be dedicated to the royal family. Owned by the royals, but with operational rights to our family. The royals gain immense assets and the citizens' acclaim, Your Highness preserves her dignity. We'll just... play custodian."
Yuria let out a snicker.
"Bold. Building on royal land with royal funds, then 'graciously' dedicating it back."
Before I could make excuses, she pierced my intentions and spoke firmly.
"Be honest, young master. What's the scheme in that head of yours? You're not one to do losing business. Operational rights? You didn't cook up this plan just to skim a few admission fees."
As expected of royalty. Not someone you can brush off easily.
In times like this, honesty is best.
I raised my hands slightly in surrender and whispered intimately, lowering my voice.
"I'm hiding nothing, Your Highness. I'm just... interested in the additional fun that comes with more theaters."
"Additional fun? What's that?"
"The core of theater revenue isn't admission fees, but food and goods... no, 'merchandise' utilizing the content."
"Merchandise. Selling items from the videos, you mean. At very high prices."
As expected, she grasped that much.
Royals must be trained to see the big picture, after all.
But she hadn't escaped one-dimensional thinking yet. What could be sold was endless.
"Exactly. Dishes from the videos or cooking tools used by participants. But that's not all."
"...What else?"
"For example, frying pans engraved with signatures from popular participants, or the clothes and accessories they wear. Everything they wear, eat, and use will become trendy. And we can even artificially control that trend."
I met her eyes to instill confidence.
"Create the flow of fashion, and getting wallets to open is easy. Admission fees go entirely to the royals. I planned to profit from what customers carry out in their hands from the start."
Yuria stared blankly at my answer for a moment, then threw her head back and burst into uncontrollable laughter.
"Ahahaha! Leban, young master. You are... truly, truly to my liking!"
She collapsed onto the velvet sofa, clutching her stomach in a near-reclined position, laughing for a good while.
Her dress rode up slightly as a result, so I averted my gaze to avoid looking.
There was a potted plant in the corner of the reception room.
Hm. A potted plant. The greenery looks so fresh. Nice and green.
I had to stare intently at that plant as if it were the most fascinating thing until the princess finally stopped laughing.
A moment later.
After her fit of laughter, she wiped the tears from her eyes and gazed at me intently.
The disappointment that had lingered in her eyes was gone, replaced by a deep, gleaming desire.
"All right, Leban. Do as you please. But... we need some collateral."
She pointed straight at me with her finger and smiled seductively.
"If you fail... I'll lock you in my private quarters and make you spin stories for me alone for the rest of your life. Until you empty out every tale in that head of yours. Do you agree?"
A chill ran down my spine, accompanied by a strange thrill.
If I failed?
I'd live like a bird caged in a golden prison.
But those who sit at the gambling table never think about loss.
I responded to her provocation politely, yet boldly, without backing down.
"As you command, Princess."
It was the moment the contract, wagering my entire life, was sealed.