Though I’m a Homebody, I Found Myself in a Dark Captive Genre

“What does that mean?”

I couldn’t let my guard down, watching her closely, unsure if she was angry or not.

From scolding me for mocking her to forcibly throwing me out of the restaurant—

Countless worst-case scenarios flashed through my mind in an instant. But…

“I didn’t think a story like that could come from the mind of an ordinary person.”

Her next words completely deviated from my expectations.

“……”

Was she calling me insane in a roundabout way?

But since the Empress seemed to be in a surprisingly good mood, I eagerly nodded.

‘Well, since it’s come to this, I’ll just roll with the eccentric genius act.’

“But since it would be a shame to leave it at that…”

Just as I thought the conversation was wrapping up, the Empress spoke again.

‘What is she going to say this time?’

I looked up blankly to see her resting her chin on her hand with a benevolent smile, ready to propose something new.

“Since I’ve called you here anyway, I have a personal favor to ask.”

“A personal favor? What kind of favor are you referring to…?”

“I’m sure you’re well aware that not only I, but the entire social scene is captivated by the story of the Ghost Duke. However, just as quickly as high society becomes enthralled, their interest fades just as fast. So…”

(Tl Note :- Ghost Duke is a character in the book she made )

What is she trying to say?

As not just me but all the painters in the room focused their attention on her, the Empress finally revealed her request.

“For the sake of readers like myself, I’d like you to create a special item that embodies the essence of the Ghost Duke.”

A special item?

As if responding to my thoughts, she elaborated.

“I recently used the blackout curtains I received and found them quite satisfying, as if they allowed me to share the world of the story itself.”

…That means—

“Merchandise?”

A lightbulb turned on in my head.

“I will cover all necessary expenses, so don’t refuse. Understood?”

For a moment, I imagined a golden halo of coins shining behind the Empress.

After all, her proposal was nothing short of a devoted fan personally funding the production of merchandise.

Merchandise.

By definition, “planned products released by a specific brand or celebrity, often related to dramas, animations, or fan clubs.”

Essentially, an absolute necessity in the world of fandom.

…But what kind of merchandise would suit this world?

“Are you planning to refuse even this?”

I had nearly lost myself in thought when the Empress’ elegant voice pulled me back to reality.

…Honestly, refusing an offer where she was even covering the costs would be plain foolish.

“If you insist that much…”

Recognizing a good deal when I saw one, I nodded as if reluctantly accepting her request.

“Then shall we talk about the story again?”

From then on, the Empress seemed to have decided to respect my unique persona, no longer making unreasonable demands.

As a result, I was able to enjoy the rest of the meal comfortably, answering her questions at my own pace.

Perhaps considering the older painters, she even graciously served us fine liquor after the meal.

By the time we were politely escorted out, the sky had turned completely dark.

“I-I thought I was going to die from the tension.”

As soon as we stepped into the open courtyard of the Empress’ palace, Ashley let out a deep sigh of relief.

For someone who had only been an aspiring artist, meeting royalty in person—something most people wouldn’t experience even once in a lifetime—was naturally nerve-wracking.

“Me too. To be honest, I felt like I was going to cough up my own heart.”

Had my act not worked, I probably would have just ended up offending the Empress.

Joking with Ashley, I walked back to my room, lost in deep thought.

‘But seriously, what kind of merchandise would work in this world?’

Sigh.

I had come all this way to prevent trouble, yet here I was, faced with yet another challenge.

* * *

Maybe it was the lingering unease.

I couldn’t fall asleep even late into the night.

The Empress had thoughtfully provided blackout curtains for every window, but even in the pitch-dark night, I felt as alert as if I had downed five triple-shot Americanos.

It wasn’t the environment.

If anything, the Kletan Imperial Palace was the equivalent of a five-star hotel in modern terms.

No, comparing it to a mere hotel didn’t do it justice—it was on an entirely different level.

The room was spotless, not a single speck of dust in sight, and the bathroom… Honestly, it was probably bigger than my room back at the Grand Duke’s estate.

‘I was exhausted in the carriage just earlier, though.’

Still, no sleep.

That left only one explanation.

‘Classic introvert trait number one: overly sensitive to sleeping conditions.’

It must have been my natural tendencies.

I was already starting to think of my room in the Grand Duke’s mansion as home, so a vast and extravagant space like this only made me feel out of place.

“This isn’t working.”

After tossing and turning for what felt like forever, I finally gave up and sat up.

I vaguely recalled passing by a garden on my way here.

A light stroll seemed like the perfect way to reset my wrecked sleep schedule, so I grabbed a light shawl and quietly stepped outside.

Since running into someone could lead to unnecessary questioning and a whole lot of hassle, I made sure to stick to the most secluded paths.

Drip, drip.

How long had I been walking?

After passing through a narrow corridor barely wide enough for a single grown man, I started hearing the faint sound of running water.

“Ah, found it.”

Slipping past an entrance carefully concealed by thick foliage, I stumbled upon a quiet, serene garden.

It was the perfect size—small enough to feel like my own little secret hideaway.

“Haaa.”

The peaceful scenery, with only a few trees and some scattered patches of grass, was enough to soothe my mind.

I plopped down onto a suitably sized rock and revisited the dilemma that had plagued me all day.

‘What kind of merchandise should I prepare?’

It had to be high-quality enough to impress the Empress, versatile enough for many people to use, and…

Perhaps due to my own preference for practical things, I didn’t want to create some flashy yet ultimately useless piece of junk.

‘I can’t think of anything.’

Hoping to clear my mind, I looked up at the sky. A large moon was shining down.

Rustle.

Just as I was getting lost in thought, a faint noise came from behind me.

Startled, I turned around to see a tall figure staring straight at me.

The darkness made it difficult to see clearly, but I could at least tell that the person was a man.

“Who’s there?”

“Ah, I…”

What should I say?

After a brief hesitation, I decided to be honest.

For all I knew, he could be a guard on patrol.

“I’m a guest invited by Her Majesty the Empress. I’m staying in the guest quarters nearby.”

I stood up and politely introduced myself, even offering a proper bow.

My social skills were top-tier, after all.

But the man’s response was far from what I expected.

“So?”

“Uh… What?”

“This area is off-limits.”

“Oh, uh, I-I see.”

So that’s why the entrance was so well hidden?

Not just in the imperial palace—there were places like this everywhere. Salt had also restricted access to more than just a few locations.

But such spaces had one common characteristic: they were off-limits for no apparent reason!

The man’s attitude didn’t seem particularly pleasant, but I didn’t want my rare moment of solitude to be interrupted. So, I decided to negotiate.

“Uh… how about we just turn a blind eye to each other?”

“Turn a blind eye?”

“You’re in a restricted area too! Whether you snuck in on purpose or ended up here by mistake like me, we’re both in the same boat…”

The man showed no immediate reaction.

But since he didn’t outright refuse, I cautiously asked again.

“Ah… is that a no?”