Chapter 163

Chapter 163

Translator: Yonnee

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Actually, the place I asked Crowell about earlier was the store where she had bought her fountain pen.

Crowell’s work relied on her sketches, and it’s not just a day or two that she’d been using that pen.

It must be the good kind, if Crowell was continuing to use the same fountain pen. It also had a luxurious feel to it.

And it was something that Albert was bound to use frequently as well. I’d been trying to think of a gift I could give him that was something that could be useful to him and at the same time something that was high-quality, and in that sense, giving him a fountain pen as a gift was perfect.

Mercy and I entered the fountain pen shop, then I picked out a handcrafted, customized pen for Albert. It would take about a day or two to prepare.

And since I was already out, I also want to get him another simple gift. So, I bought a platinum bracelet at the jeweler’s next to the fountain pen shop.

Before I transmigrated, I wouldn’t have been able to afford any of this. But right now, the story was different.

It’s quite exhilarating to spend money.

Everything that happened until now was well worth the trouble—as long as I’d be able to spend this much every time.

Oh, the joys of life when it’s finally possible to buy things without looking at the price tag!

After a satisfactory round of shopping, we went out for a short walk.

There were many shops along the avenue that had posters of Albert’s face hanging on their windows. People everywhere were praising Albert’s might.

The business district was abuzz with voices.

After such a long time, I met many people and was able to talk to them. Even if I do miss the tower, I realized that—naturally—people should meet other people, communicate with them in order to live.

As expected, humans should be able to meet other humans.

While walking down the avenue, I heard a lot of people talking.

The most common topic was Albert.

There had been a purge of Rosteratu-allied nobles, and it already ended smoothly. Most of the country’s people were starting to accept Albert as their king.

A lot of talk also involved how he had a grasp over the lord of the magic tower and the other nobles.

Mercy smirked when she heard that she was being talked about as well. Of course, they didn’t seem to know that Mercy was the one and only lord of the magic tower.

Listening to the showering praises directed at Albert, I felt satisfied for no reason. And as I walked down the avenue, my ears sharpened more as I listened out for what else they were going to say.

“Gosh, he’s truly a great man. After overcoming such a time in his life…”

Such a time, huh. Well, it’s only natural to say something like that if you know what happened during Albert’s childhood.

“You know, my son went out to volunteer this time. My son also said that he’s a great man.”

It wouldn’t have been an easy task to reverse the rumors that Rosteratu had first spread beforehand. But, as expected, Albert was born to be king.

I nodded my head along with satisfaction as I heard them complimenting him.

“Still, he had been truly unfortunate. But he finally returned to his rightful place. Who knew that he had tried to take his own life in the past.”

I halted where I was. That last part struck me right then. All I could think about was that I shouldn’t just pass by like this.

“Isn’t that what made His Majesty who he is now? I’ll be loyal to him for the rest of my life.”

“I can’t believe that even someone as perfect as him had such an arduous life. I couldn’t even dare to say that I can sympathize with him, given his hardships.”

“And I heard it wasn’t just one instance, too.”

…This is the first time I’m hearing about any of this.

Blinking dazedly, I turned to Mercy.

What I was aware of was about how unhappy Albert’s childhood had been, but…

I had never heard about him trying to take his own life. I didn’t even read anything about it in the original novel. Never once did it even cross my mind.

“What are they talking about?”

“You didn’t know?”

Mercy blinked back in surprise. Rather, it looked as if it was weird that I didn’t know about it in the first place. I’m going to need a more detailed explanation.

Seeing the sudden fervor in my gaze, Mercy scratched her chin for a second, then she let out a deep sigh.

“It’s a rumor that His Majesty had spread himself. It played a part in calming down the false rumors that Rosteratu had spread before.”

When she mentioned that Albert had spread this rumor personally, I was able to put two and two together.

I recalled the conversation I had with Albert back when we were at Liam’s residence.

“I will buy their sympathy.”

His confident gaze was straightforward, shining with certainty, and his voice rang clear. He was the very image of the male lead.

Back then, I was under the impression that Albert would be talking about his unhappy family history.

About how he barely survived from the attacks of his very own blood relatives, who all had killed each other. A story like that was enough to win people’s sympathy and favor.

Albert was wise enough to make good use of his irrevocably tragic past.

That’s what I assumed.

I knew that he’d be able to jump over that hurdle in no time. And looking at the Albert of the present, no one would be able to imagine him suffering in any way in the past.

He was the main character who could fully overcome all his childhood wounds. Every main character had such a backstory.

It was a scar from the past that would make it impossible for others to completely be able to understand him. This was a cliché that’s often used in novels.

I had already seen Albert up close—touched him with my own hands. I thought that he had already put his past behind him.

“People will be quite sympathetic once they realize that the person who is all the way up there is, in fact, not so different from themselves.”

I already knew about how harsh his family history was before even being taken under Rosteratu’s custody. However, I never thought about whether he had been able to overcome those experiences already, emotionally and mentally.

Seeing the present Albert, such things didn’t seem important to him. Everything was part of the past—just a required trial in order to make who he was today.

Of course, what had been mentioned just now could be just another publicity stunt. It might have just been a lie so that he could further manipulate public opinion towards him. After all, it aligned with what he said about buying the people’s sympathy.

It did not fit Albert’s personality to make up such a lie—about taking his own life—just for the sake of fueling rumors. But still, I would rather that it was, truly, just a lie.

Something like that, happening to him. Wasn’t it just too cruel of a story?

“I want to remain the perfect man in your eyes, even if only a little longer.”

…What he said to me back then rang in my ears. And my face flamed up. I couldn’t stand the shame that was surging within me.