MMSTS 12

Chapter 12

There, standing before him, was a reader with enough insight to mention the title of his greatest masterpiece.

Hennessey looked at the silver-haired lady in the bonnet with sparkling eyes.

“You truly mean that?”

The familiar-looking woman smiled gently.

“The most important duty is to reach out to those beneath us. When people less fortunate than ourselves are struggling, we should willingly lend them a hand. That is the true meaning of a noble’s noblesse oblige.”

“I thought that line was absolutely beautiful.”

Hennessey thought,

She seems perfectly normal. A moment ago I thought she was a little strange.

Forget everything else.

The important thing is that this woman is my reader.

“…Have you actually read the entire book?”

“Yes. I thought it was quite good.”

“Wonderful! Hahaha! May I ask your name? Perhaps we could visit a coffee house and have some tea…”

Deeply moved by meeting his very first reader, Hennessey eagerly wanted to continue the conversation elsewhere.

At that moment, the woman slowly lowered her sunglasses and gave him a playful wink.

“My name is Giselle Florette. You’ve probably already heard of me.”

The hand he had extended for a handshake froze.

Giselle Florette… the Duke’s fiancée?

Did she investigate me together with His Grace?

Is that why she knew about my book from the beginning and approached me after scolding that bookstore employee?

She actually uncovered the pen name I worked so hard to hide… My excitement has completely disappeared.

His expression turned cold as he looked at her.

“I never imagined His Grace knew my pen name. Nor that he would tell you.”

“No. His Grace doesn’t know your pen name.”

“I’m the only one who does.”

“…Would you believe that if you were me?”

Even after hearing such a rude statement that openly questioned her credibility, Giselle simply smiled as if she had expected it.

“I heard the Elder Council’s approval was necessary, so I did a little research.”

“I also read the book you published under your real name. It’s a self-improvement book.”

“I noticed the logic and writing style were surprisingly similar.”

“…”

“Then I heard that this bookstore—where you invested money—had placed this book on its best display shelf, so I came to see it.”

“While I was looking at the display, you happened to arrive.”

“…I see.”

“You’re quite capable.”

“I’ve always been rather capable.”

“The timing was just good too.”

She answered his sarcastic remark without the slightest hesitation.

She has more courage than I expected… but that’s all.

Hennessey let out a dry laugh.

“Regardless, I don’t think we have anything more to discuss.”

“I’ll be going now.”

“No.”

“If you leave now, you’ll regret it.”

A trace of annoyance flashed across Hennessey’s eyes.

“I’ll help make sure everyone in the Empire knows about this book.”

* * *

Naturally, Hennessey refused Giselle’s offer.

I don’t need any marketing.

Surely someone will eventually recognize my book’s true value.

After returning to the Elder Council, however, he spent several days listening to discussions about Giselle Florette.

The five elders who still opposed the Duke’s marriage had gathered in a private room and were arguing passionately.

“We still haven’t received any request from His Grace to meet the fiancée.”

One hot-tempered elder with a booming voice slammed the table repeatedly.

“I investigated her thoroughly!”

“They say she’s timid, weak, and completely naïve!”

“Wouldn’t it disgrace the family if someone like that became our duchess?”

“Elder Felice.”

“You’re raising your voice.”

“Please calm yourself.”

“…My apologies.”

“But am I wrong?”

“How could someone like her possibly become the lady of our house?”

“In any case, if everyone continues to oppose it, this marriage won’t happen.”

“The chairman also seems to be in a bad mood today.”

“Let’s end the meeting.”

Hennessey was indeed in a bad mood.

But it wasn’t because of Giselle.

For the past several days, not a single bluebird carrying his royalty statement had tapped on his window.

Does that mean…

Not a single copy of my book has sold?

Not long ago, he had even given away several free copies in hopes of creating word of mouth.

The reactions had been…

“It’s way too long. Can someone summarize it in three lines?”

“My head hurts. Why is one sentence ten lines long? Did a human even write this?”

The endless criticism had left him utterly miserable.

A bizarre book?

They’re calling my masterpiece bizarre?

Just then, one of the elders cautiously spoke.

“Chairman Hennessey…”

“Perhaps you should personally meet that young lady.”

Whether by coincidence or fate, another opportunity to meet Giselle alone had arrived.

“I’ll meet her.”

There was only one reason Hennessey had become chairman despite being universally known as an eccentric.

He had an excellent eye for judging people.

But Giselle puzzled him.

Her reputation was terrible…

Yet whenever he actually spoke with her, she seemed remarkably intelligent.

Come to think of it…

She touched a very sensitive subject that day.

Because of that, I never properly evaluated her.

If she’s truly talented… she deserves another look.

That was all.

* * *

“So…”

“You’re asking how I plan to market your book?”

“I’m merely curious.”

Does he really think I can’t tell what those huge dark circles under his eyes mean?

In the original novel Will You Regret It After I Die?, Chairman Hennessey becomes depressed because not a single copy of his book sells.

Driven to despair, he gets drunk one day, crashes an odd party, and delivers a passionate speech about his masterpiece.

After everyone learns that the mysterious author is actually the chairman of the Kalinos Elder Council, the book eventually becomes a bestseller.

Yet he isn’t happy.

Because his secret dream had always been to become a highly respected self-help author without anyone knowing his real identity.

In other words…

He wants to be a hidden genius writer.

Around this point in the story, he desperately tries to sell his book.

Unfortunately, the constant criticism destroys his confidence and leaves him emotionally exhausted.

Hennessey earned his position through merit.

He’s a fair and capable person.

If I simply show him what I’m capable of, getting his approval for the marriage should happen naturally.

Even if he still opposes the marriage, I’ll at least gain a valuable ally in the long run.

After making up her mind, Giselle decided to reveal only a small part of her plan.

“People these days won’t read something that’s too long.”

“It has to be clear, eye-catching, and easy to understand.”

“That’s what grabs their attention.”

“…Are you insulting my book?”

“No.”

“I’m saying I’d like to first publish a handbook containing the most important parts.”

“We’ll hook readers with a short version, then guide them toward buying the original.”

Hennessey’s expression immediately stiffened.

Just as I thought.

He has a strong ego.

But he can’t keep being stubborn forever.

Giselle simply stared at him in silence.

Unable to endure the silence, Hennessey finally groaned.

“…Let’s hear exactly what kind of handbook you have in mind.”

“First, we’ll trim it down.”

“For example, we’ll cut those extremely long sentences into shorter ones.”

“It’ll be much easier to read.”

“Easier to read…”

After explaining the basic direction, Giselle finally revealed the most important part.

“And here’s the key.”

“We’re going to change the title.”

“The title?”

“You want to change this magnificent title?”

“Yes.”

“What could possibly be wrong with such a great title?”

A lot.

But he’ll never realize it himself.

“Either way, what do you have to lose?”

“…”

“We’re not changing the original book.”

“This is just a summarized handbook.”

“Change the title, distribute it to bookstores, and wait just three days.”

“…”

“And if it really sells…”

He looked at her with complete disbelief.

“Then give me just ten percent of the royalties.”

Smiling confidently, Giselle held up two prepared contracts in one hand and the edited sample of the handbook she had already condensed in the other.