Translator: Nox

Chapter 16

I'm a Homebody, But I Possessed a Dark Captivity Story

Episode 16

Did he see through my flustered thoughts?

The Grand Duke glanced at me before burying his indifferent gaze back into the documents.

“You have a look that says, ‘How did you know?’”

Gasp, scary!

Strictly speaking, it wasn't an accident... was it? It was just a small, cute plea for help.

“Princess, why aren't you answering?”

I, who was trying to quell my confused thoughts, replied small but surely.

“No, why are you interrogating me so scarily?”

“Are you talking about something that isn't true?”

“That’s not it, but….”

Is it my imagination that he feels particularly sharp today?

Seeing Liam’s behavior, it didn't seem like the Grand Duke was the type to work day and night.

Could it be that this guy is just irritable from lack of sleep?

I shook off the increasingly ominous premonition and bit my lip.

“Cough.”

If the Grand Duke hadn't suddenly laughed, my heart would have shrunk to the size of a chestnut. Seeing his hollow chuckle, my tension completely dissolved.

“The Princess has never come to find me on her own. That’s why I always had to send people to fetch you. Your precious self, that is.”

“Precious self? Don't joke….”

Who treats a precious self like this? Though, it was convenient, of course.

Thinking the Grand Duke was making a lighthearted joke, I waved my hand with a smile, but my eyes met his, and I couldn't help but close my mouth.

‘It’s not a joke?’

I realized a new fact. The Grand Duke was the type who couldn't distinguish between jokes and sincerity.

“If you're just going to stall for time like this, there's no other way. I've heard the gist of it.”

“You asked even though you already knew?”

“I was curious about your reaction.”

“…You’re mischievous.”

I swallowed the many other things I wanted to say.

At my sulky voice, the Grand Duke pushed the documents aside and looked straight at me.

“For someone who claims to be like that, you seem to be enjoying it quite a bit.”

“Well… it’s fun.”

Originally, I only watched the manga that was already made; I never had to produce it myself. But now that I was actually involved in the work, it was quite fun.

Watching my requests be reborn through the hands of talented individuals was also quite fascinating.

Above all, I was somewhat impressed by the artists' passion.

Unlike me, who always just did the work given to me, seeing people approach it with a voluntary and passionate attitude was even a little moving.

“So.”

Hoo. Right, let's say what I need to say.

“Please help meee….”

I offered a subservient smile and clasped my hands together.

What's the point of stubbornly holding onto pride? Pride doesn't put food on the table.

It wouldn't hurt to get on the good side of the person who pays the artists enormous salaries, right?

In fact, I knew without asking that he wasn't entirely indifferent to this work.

“If I help you, what will you do for me, Princess?”

“Hmm.”

This time, I was speechless for a different reason. Even if I wanted to give him something, living under the Grand Duke's roof, I couldn't think of anything I could do.

My mind raced, and I finally asked, glancing at the Grand Duke.

“What should I do for you?”

“I’ll attach one.”

“What?”

“You’re quite useful, so I’ll attach one. How about it?”

His answer left me truly speechless, and I forced myself to nod.

“Y-yes, I will.”

It was the only way for now.

Damn it, would it kill him to just help me out! What a wicked boss!

I hid my sulky feelings and lowered my head. Completely unaware that the Grand Duke saw through even that.

\ \ \

And so, the day of the decisive battle approached.

The common theme I proposed was ‘The Gold Axe and the Silver Axe.’

Since it was a folktale, it was easy to adapt, and the content was simple, making it perfectly adequate for judging skill.

“Hoo*.”

Bonita bustled over to me as I stood in front of the Atelier to check the results.

“Ah! Princess April, are you nervous? Are you worried Ashley might make a mistake?”

“That’s not it….”

I had already seen Ashley’s directing abilities and had a certain level of trust.

However… if the other artists' results were shoddy, I feared the Grand Duke would consider it a waste of time and get angry.

And if the Grand Duke got angry, there was a high probability it would blow back on me!

‘Scaryyyy!’

Everyone might think I was just playing around and having an easy time, but it was only a temporary reprieve due to the dam construction. I knew better than anyone that I was a hostage who could die at any moment.

“Hohoho, don't worry! I’ve watched closely and know that Ashley has put her life on the line for this!”

“How do you know?”

“I brought her sweet hot chocolate every night while spying.”

“Why on earth…?”

“Because I need to be the first to know about such interesting news!”

Bonita was truly no ordinary maid.

I was momentarily taken aback by her audacity, but I quickly regained my composure and opened the heavy door of the Atelier.

Inside the spacious hall.

At the end of the line of artists, a seat that seemed to be the Grand Duke's place of honor and a chair directly below it were set facing a round table.

And on the table sat two identical books.

Only the colors of the bands around the books differed, making it impossible to tell who submitted which book.

As I walked calmly and sat in the chair, Liam's voice boomed.

“Grand Duke Blale approaches!”

At this, the artists, without exception, looked towards the door with tense expressions.

The Grand Duke Bleil who then appeared… crossed the wide hall with a face so cold that not even a needle could pierce it.

The two books, whose submitters were not revealed, were placed before the Grand Duke.

He read the books without hesitation and soon handed one to me.

After I confirmed the contents, for the sake of fairness, I passed the books to the three artists who were participating in the judging.

It took a considerable amount of time for everyone to review the books, but no one moved from their seats.

Finally, Sir Brown, representing the three artists, spoke.

“We liked the book with the red band.”

Although I had been certain while reading, the anonymity of the results was thoroughly guaranteed, so the artists had no idea whose work was whose.

“I also think the red band is much better.”

At my words, the Grand Duke, who had been silent until then, spoke for the first time.

“I also feel the book with the red band better suits the objective.”

Grand Duke Bleil continued, his face still devoid of any smile.

“The book with the blue band was merely flashy with its illustrations; it lacked any driving force to make one want to read further. It was just a picture book that was too eager to show off its skill.”

The Grand Duke's sentiment was exactly the same as mine.

“However, the book with the red band was different.”

Although it was just a black and white illustration made with sketches, the emphasized parts had simple coloring, giving it a sense of vitality.

And by using various compositions each time, even with the same content, it felt much more diverse.

His evaluation, which was quite specific and convincing for someone who didn't know much about manga, made me nod, thinking he truly had a discerning eye.

“Most importantly, it was clearly felt that the book with the red band considered the reader. I choose the book with the red band.”

As the Grand Duke finished speaking, joy and sorrow diverged.

The murmuring voices gradually grew louder, but the Grand Duke paid them no mind.

“Who drew the book with the red band?”

The head maid, the only one who knew the result, bowed her head and stepped forward.

“It is Ashley Vance.”

“Outstanding.”

As his simple yet groundbreaking praise continued, Ashley’s face turned bright red.

The other apprentice artists, including Bermore, wore expressions of intense frustration but dared not say anything.

They must have remembered their agreement to accept the results.

But the Grand Duke's reaction didn't end there.

“Does Ms. Vance have a sponsor?”

“I-I’m ashamed to say, but I haven't had anyone sponsor me until now, so I've been learning art with my own funds.”

“That's unfortunate. In that case, I shall be your first sponsor.”

“…What?”

I widened my eyes and looked at the Grand Duke.

Ashley was no different. In fact, she seemed to doubt her own ears, froze for a moment, and then gritted her teeth at the Grand Duke's subsequent words.

“For those with talent must be given opportunities.”

“Ah, ahh…!”

With a face contorted as if she were desperately holding back tears, she knelt.

“Thank you, Grand Duke Bleil. Thank you!”

It was the moment her dreams, which she had only seen in her sleep, were coming true.