chapter 50
Polius creaked as he turned his head toward the sound of “Lady Clotilde and the Tower Master.”
“Amazing. Until now, I thought about hanging paintings or placing flowers, but I never imagined changing the whole shop with lighting.”
“I didn’t think changing the colors could make it feel like a completely different place.”
“So, the lights aren’t available for purchase yet?”
“They’ve only been given as sponsorships to a few famous shops. The official release is later.”
Melanie had been pondering mood lights, and she decided to add several more types for use in shops rather than just simple bedside lights.
The shop lights illuminated larger areas, and the music was upbeat enough to be pleasant without being too noisy.
“Did Melanie really release these too?”
The admiration people expressed over the lights unsettled him more and more with every comment.
“They say other shops have lights in colors besides purple. Something like teal or blue, but not quite either…”
“Oh, I’ve been there. It was called ‘The Sea Between You and Me.’ I liked it more because it had an abstract name.”
“Right? Giving it that kind of name evokes the scene and creates an atmosphere. It also makes it more memorable.”
“This would be perfect to turn on at home before bed…”
Everywhere he went these days, people talked about Melanie and Damian. It was impossible not to hear their names—even in places without video walls or home theaters.
Polius frowned. What seemed like an easy venture into video walls wasn’t easy at all.
They had planned to record the Beldert Theatre’s plays for Red Sun’s launch, but…
Recording plays on video walls was expensive.
“What’s so hard about recording a play that’s already been done? Why are they demanding so much money?”
Couldn’t they just do it roughly? Why spend so much?
“Maybe we shouldn’t have sold the theater building…”
If they hadn’t, the original production team would have made the plays, and there would have been no need to rent a space at such a cost.
“But we needed business funds. That can’t be helped.”
Still, he was lucky the aspiring staff they entrusted hadn’t charged too much.
“Wow, isn’t this food delicious? That’s why yesterday I…”
Trying to lighten the mood had only worsened things. He desperately tried to shift the conversation away from the ambiance created by the lights, but it was hopeless.
He barely noticed what he was eating.
“So, it was really funny!”
“…I see.”
Josephine responded curtly, showing none of her usual attentiveness. She was clearly upset that Melanie had made the lights.
‘I’ll never come here again.’
The meal ended in a gloomy, half-hearted atmosphere.
Even after the meal, business schedules continued.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Josephine Ingda from Red Sun.”
Still, she didn’t show a sour face in front of others.
Polius felt a quiet relief as he looked at her.
It wasn’t for nothing that Josephine was called the flower of society. Even though Red Sun was a new company compared to Black Moon, it was thanks to her that they could meet important contacts.
But that was as far as it went.
“Since they’ve already signed an exclusive contract with Black Moon…”
Polius had tried securing video content here and there, but most theater troupes had already signed exclusive deals with Melanie.
Luckily, some hadn’t, but…
“Compared to Black Moon, the contract terms are absurd.”
Apparently, they had scattered money everywhere, but compared to Melanie, the rates and contract fees weren’t as good, and the troupes were indifferent.
“We simply won’t sign a contract.”
It was the same everywhere. Polius fell behind in securing content.
‘Damn it. The Beldert Theatre has famous plays already, so it should be fine…’
He gritted his teeth.
Meanwhile, one troupe finally agreed to a contract—but with a strange condition.
“If you let us use the play we originally created at Beldert Theatre for free, we could sign a contract to record our play.”
“That’s…”
“You’re not going to run the theater again anyway, right?”
That was true… but asking to use it for free was audacious. Who did they think they were?
‘They don’t waive the copyright fee but expect the same terms as Melanie?’
His pride was hurt. Yet, the most popular videos in Melanie’s video wall subscription service were from this troupe.
“All right, we’ll do it.”
But before Polius could decide, Josephine accepted on his behalf.
“In exchange, the contract covers multiple plays…”
“So, not just one play…”
Josephine, too, was desperate to surpass Melanie.
Even though she continued the discussion without consulting Polius, he didn’t get angry. He was relieved she didn’t say anything regrettable.
‘A contract weaker than Melanie’s…’
Regardless, Polius managed to secure several additional pieces of content.
“But the video walls are still a problem. Even if we record the plays, we don’t have enough money to commission the wizards to develop video walls using mana stones. Where does Melanie get her money…?”
Polius sighed gloomily.
And finally, he voiced what he had been thinking.
“Different because she’s from a ducal family, huh?”
“!”
Josephine flinched at that. She had always been insecure about being from a marquis family, while Melanie was a duchess.
“…It’s just that Lady Clotilde doesn’t understand money! Mana stones are involved, so selling them at that price is absurd!”
Feeling cornered, Josephine didn’t just defend herself—she counterattacked.
“You keep saying it’s because she’s a duchess… but isn’t it unfair of you to say that, Polius?”
“What are you talking about? I just said—”
Polius tried to explain, but it was too late to calm her down.
“Do you know how much trouble your mother gives me? I’m completely exhausted because of her.”
“What? How can you say that? It’s my mother!”
Hearing that, Josephine reflexively remembered the Tower Master’s words.
“I’m not like some men who take advantage of women for money.”
“And I don’t have a mother who satisfies her greed by using her son.”
Damn it, why now?
Polius, who thought serving his mother was natural, and Damian, the Tower Master, who, despite his bad temper, didn’t make women perform filial duties…
“You must be exhausted after work today, and yet you waste Lady Clotilde’s time without letting her rest.”
Josephine ground her teeth and spat the words at Polius.
“If you’re going to date or marry anyone, Damian the Tower Master might be better.”
“Who are you saying that in front of?!”
Mentioning the Tower Master was explosive.
Finally, doing something forbidden in front of Polius felt liberating.
“You’re already busy with work and short on money, but you call me at all hours asking for this and that! Asking me to come meet you and play!”
“When you were calling your mother, you were all sweet and friendly! Has your mind changed about me?”
“I wouldn’t do that even for my mother—once or twice is enough!”
The argument escalated. Josephine, flustered, stormed off, leaving Clara and Polius behind.
“Ugh, really troublesome…”
Polius returned to the office, exhausted both physically and mentally.
He wanted nothing more than to go back to the count’s residence and rest, but he didn’t even have the strength to take a carriage there.
A timid employee approached and handed him a document.
“Um… sir. There’s a lawsuit regarding the <13th Article>…”
“What?”
Polius froze, and at the mention of a lawsuit, his eyes widened.
“A lawsuit? What do you mean by that?!”
