Chapter 24
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 24: Even a Villainess Cannot Avoid a Bias Crash
An author with a fast writing speed.
An author who can churn out one book a month.
Such a person, although not common, is not that rare.
Should I say it’s the kind of feeling that you don’t see usually, but if you look for them, quite a few appear?
However, if one condition is attached to this, the story changes.
An author who wrote a mega-hit work that shook the entire country, yet still has a fast writing speed.
Then the story changes a lot.
There are authors who wrote hit works, and there are authors with fast writing speeds, but the reality is there are no authors who continue to have fast writing speeds even after writing a hit work.
If one writes a hit work, it was like an existing equation that there would be a gap of at least a year until the next work comes out.
Because they are full and lack nothing, so they don’t write out of laziness?
There might be such people, but that’s not necessarily the only reason.
It’s because of the pressure regarding the new work after writing a hit work.
Can the new writing be loved by the public as much as the previous work?
Perhaps the previous work was the peak of my life?
Because such anguish arises and a slump comes.
Of course, since things like this are case-by-case, there are people who continued writing new works at a constant pace even after writing a hit work.
Like the great literary figure Jeffere in history.
In other words, it means Noel Grace currently showed a performance akin to the second coming of the great literary figure Jeffere.
Even if that’s all thanks to preparing in advance, the fact that a new work is coming out again before even a few months, let alone a year, have passed since the hit work came out doesn't change.
“A new work from Author Homer in such a short period… surprising!”
“Ah, what kind of story will it be this time? My heart is already racing.”
Regardless of gender or status, they showed an excited reaction to the news Noel delivered on stage.
Expectations rising vertically.
It seemed questions about the new work would pour out right away as much as that expectation, but Noel, sensing that intuitively, avoided the spot.
This stage today should be solely for the actors and troupe people; it won’t do for me to dilute that.
Speaking in that way, Noel fled quickly before a barrage of questions poured down.
‘Phew.’
Noel, who returned to her seat avoiding people’s gazes, breathed a sigh of relief inwardly.
Now that the play and stage greeting were over, Noel had thoughts of wanting to return home quickly and rest rushing in.
But there was still work to do.
Not everything was over.
Exactly Clara.
Asking Rosalyn, Noel had Clara detained so she couldn't go anywhere right now.
Because she had something to ask her earnestly, if only to help her not meet a Death-wa ending after heading straight for ruin.
‘I should commission her to draw the cover and illustrations.’
It’s something she had been thinking about from before.
That since the book is full of only letters, it feels too desolate, so she wished there was at least an impressive cover.
Others might think that since novels are originally art done only with writing, isn't it natural for books to be full of only letters? But by Noel’s standards, it was different.
Even if not a light novel with illustrations inserted, a cover that catches people’s eyes was natural even for web novels.
Noel is someone who lived in a world where it was basic of basics for even pure literature to have a picture symbolizing the work on the cover.
By such Noel’s standards, books here felt too stiff.
So taking this opportunity, she intended to become close while commissioning Clara, whose skill she had no choice but to acknowledge.
Then the work could be delivered to people more impactfully, and it would be self-satisfaction, so it’s good in many ways.
Cover and illustrations, which could be called a first attempt in this world in a way.
Amidst people leaving the theater one by one, Noel spoke to Clara for that commission.
“Actually, I have a favor to ask. I want to include Miss Clara’s drawings in my new work mentioned on stage earlier.”
“What did you say?”
The moment she heard these words, Clara’s expression changed strangely.
‘I knew it!’
Now she felt a bit relieved.
She started to understand Noel’s ulterior motive, which she couldn't figure out at all.
‘It was a calculation to make the new work a hit using my fame.’
As expected, you are just a snob who can’t help it either.
At that fact, Clara felt relief and somehow a disappointment simultaneously.
Of course, that incomprehensible disappointment disappeared quickly.
Because it was buried in the bewilderment arising from not understanding why she felt disappointment and regret at the fact that Noel approached her intentionally and calculatingly.
“I don’t really feel like it but…. Considering the Princess, I will draw it specially.”
If she stays with this woman, her pace keeps getting strange.
Let’s quickly receive what I should receive, do what I should do, and then keep distance.
Thinking so, Clara, who would normally act all high and mighty, intended to just say that and leave the spot quickly.
“Wow, thank you.”
Expressing gratitude to such a Clara, Noel held out a book.
It was the bound galley proof of 「The Diary Inside My Heart」.
“Then I’ll ask for a cover that suits this work well, and a few illustrations.”
“Pardon? Illustrations….”
Putting a picture on the cover is unusual too, but Clara blinks at Noel’s words as if illustrations are even more bizarre.
Unless it’s a textbook used for children’s education, an Academy major book, or a botanical encyclopedia, books with illustrations inserted are rare.
If it were a fairy tale book, she wouldn't know, but illustrations in a romance novel read by grown-ups?
‘Really a strange person.’
She can’t understand what she is thinking at all.
Still, one thing she knows is the calculating ulterior motive to float the new work called 「The Diary Inside My Heart」 or whatever by relying on her drawings.
Thinking so, Clara accepted the book Noel gave.
“That size will be the standard, so please draw pictures of a size fitting that.”
“Understood.”
I am busy with other work so it could originally take a few months, but thinking of the Princess specially, I will draw it quickly.
Saying so, Clara bids farewell and leaves.
She committed one fatal mistake.
That Noel wasn't trying to insert her drawings to rely on Clara’s fame because she lacked confidence in the next work.
Clara, who didn't know that fact,
“Sob… sniff.”
Result-wise, completed both the cover and illustrations in just one day, not even the few days promised.
Since she needed to know what the content was to draw pictures fitting the work as per Noel’s request, she read the book and her tear ducts broke down as is.
“I’m not crying. This is… just something got in my eye… sob….”
Tears she absolutely couldn't stop.
Clara’s pride was hurt at the fact that she was moved to tears reading a novel written by a strange woman like Noel Grace.
So she doesn't want to cry, she wants to stop tears right now, but it doesn't work.
Clara, who grew up without knowing what love is.
Because of that, she had no choice but to deeply empathize with Lawrence, whose situation felt similar to hers, and she came to feel the heart of Lawrence suffering in the crisis that the love he barely obtained might evaporate.
And as much as that passion, thanks to the welling inspiration, Clara could complete the cover and illustrations Noel requested in an instant.
She thinks such fast work is the first time in her artistic life.
Originally, she even thought about setting a tight deadline on purpose and being mean… but her thoughts changed.
She wants other people to see 「The Diary Inside My Heart」 even a day faster. And seeing her drawings included in 「The Diary Inside My Heart」, she wanted them to share the emotions she felt while reading the book.
Thanks to that, there was no unfortunate event of the release being delayed due to Clara’s spite as others── mainly Princess Lydia worried.
Rather,
“When on earth is the book officially released? What is the problem that it takes so long? I painstakingly drew a cover and even lots of illustrations, surely it’s not becoming nothing because a problem arose, right?”
Clara was stepping forward more actively like this.
“That is… there are too many good drawings, so we are in the process of selecting only really important illustrations among them.”
Seeing Clara making a fuss wanting the world to see 「The Diary Inside My Heart」 quickly and share the same sentiments as her, Noel made a troubled expression.
At Lydia’s words asking if it wasn't too regrettable to just return to the Viscountcy, she was staying in the capital for a while and enjoying sightseeing.
Amidst that, she couldn't help but be flustered at the momentum of Clara who barged in to file a claim asking why the release wasn't happening yet when it had been a while since she sent the drawings.
It hasn't even been a few days since receiving the completed cover and illustrations….
She thought she would control her going astray while getting close to Clara, but this is a bit unexpected.
Noel slightly flustered.
Whether she knew such signs or not, Clara spoke as if frustrated.
“Why are you selecting them? Put them all in.”
“No, that is… since there is inevitably a problem with page space….”
“Then you just need to increase the pages, don’t you?”
Count’s daughter Clara saying simply as if asking if there is no cake, can’t you eat bread?
Folding her fan with a snap, Clara spoke as if declaring.
“Selecting the drawings I drew itself is unpleasant in the first place. Make sure to put them all in.”
She speaks so easily.
If they really did as she requested, they would have to re-equip the printing facilities as much as the increased pages.
Honestly, even now the field is screaming because of putting a picture on the cover and shoving illustrations in, but to put all 10 illustrations in, not just one or two?
If it were about 3 sheets as Noel initially thought, she wouldn't know, but like this, they have to redo the printing process from the beginning.
It was a difficult matter since they had already even printed bound galley proofs as samples.
“Well, the cost is also a problem….”
“If it’s that, I will solve it for you. I will cover the entire cost required to change the facilities.”
Thinking that Clara’s artworks are already recognized, it was certainly something coverable with just her private funds.
But even so, is this something to go this far for? Noel couldn't hide her bewilderment.
‘Why is the illustrator making more fuss than me, the author?’
Although Noel was flustered, one thing was certain.
Teaching Desu-wa—Clara Vence—what love is and taking care of her so she doesn't go astray seems likely to work out easier than thought.