“And if this book sells more than 50,000 copies in three days…”
Hennessy’s expression lifted at the corners as if just imagining it would be wonderful, then quickly contracted. “The previous Marquis Berto wrote a book that became a steady seller across the empire, even that sold 50,000 copies in three days. That number isn’t possible.”
I blinked and smiled brightly like a fool. “What if Giselle makes that possible?”
“…”
“Will you help me marry the duke?”
I naturally pushed the <Promotional Contract> and <Marriage Consent Contract> toward him.
“How about it? You’ve got nothing to lose, right?”
Selling 50,000 copies wouldn’t just help him—it would also prove my abilities.
At that moment, Hennessy’s pupils trembled. I was certain that trembling was exactly what agreement looked like!
* * *
“Giselle, have you been busy lately?”
It was at the breakfast table with Count Florette, Mariposa, and even Abisan. Count Florette looked sympathetic when he saw the dark circles under my eyes.
“Yes. I’ve been a bit busy.”
“Is something going on?”
I’ve been getting less than an hour of sleep a day editing the book. Fortunately, with modern knowledge and the necklace buff, it seems like it’ll be finished soon. Though I couldn’t say that…
Here it comes—time to use the passive attack.
“I’m working on something, but I don’t have a maid. Doing everything alone is keeping me busy.”
“…Huh? You don’t have a maid? Why not?” Count Florette was understandably puzzled. After all, I had a maid until he left.
I widened my eyes and stomped my feet, pretending to have misspoken. “T-That’s… It’s absolutely not that Madam Mariposa took my maid away from me.”
At my words, Count Florette’s eyes flashed. “Mariposa. Didn’t you assign a maid to Giselle?”
Mariposa looked dismayed. She must have completely forgotten after hurriedly moving my belongings from the closet to a warm room right after the count’s return.
“There seems to have been a misunderstanding. Giselle, you said you didn’t want a maid. That it would be uncomfortable?”
“Huh? When did I say that?”
“Then there must have been a communication error. I just thought you were uncomfortable.” Mariposa continued to act shamelessly.
Oh, so everyone in the mansion is on her side, huh?
Count Florette furrowed his brow, deep in thought.
Recently, Count Florette was extremely busy, having to organize the estate and review business records for ventures conducted under borrowed names rather than the family name. I knew he was sleeping less than 30 minutes a day. With the family meal barely scheduled, he had no time to pay attention to his nominal adopted daughter. Still, he must sense something odd is going on.
A fiancé 30 years younger and even the maid situation. I had planted the seeds of doubt in his mind. Waiting for them to naturally ignite, I casually changed the subject. “Actually, there’s a reason why I have been busy. I happened to meet and befriend a remarkable self-development author.”
Mariposa’s lips twitched. She probably wanted to say it was ridiculous for someone like me, a social outcast, to have friends. But if she did, she’d have to list all the reasons for my ostracism, so she’d have to hold back for now.
“I have been helping write the book.”
“Really? I’m curious about what kind of book it is.”
I smiled brightly. “I will tell you in three days.”
* * *
Three days after Hennessy’s book was released in all the bookstores.
[How Did It Become a Bestseller?]
[The Ultimate Self-development Book in a Short Time! 100,000 Copies Sold in Three Days!]
[Both Commoners and Nobles Are Raving. Let’s Take a Look at the Sold-Out Sensation!]
The pocketbook summarizing Hennessy’s book was an instant hit as soon as it hit the bookstores. Thanks to the pocketbook’s sales, the original also began to adorn the bookstore shelves in style.
Inside the private room of the coffee house, Hennessy sat across from me, rambling in disbelief. “How on earth is this possible? My book only sold one copy in a whole year!”
I nodded and smiled at Hennessy from across the table. “The method is simple.” While he couldn’t contain his excitement, I looked at the book on the table, grinning with satisfaction.
The cover color must be eye-catching! A bright red background with the title boldly printed in black letters.
“The most important thing is the perfect title.”
[The Secret That Amazed the Meteor Empire, Made the Roden Kingdom Envious, and Shook the Eastern Continent: ~Become a Billionaire with Just One Minute a Day~]
In this era flooded with self-development books, it’s a title you can’t ignore just by looking at the cover.
Thank you to those ‘cyber wreckers’ on YouTube and also to my father’s necklace.
TL/N: The term cyber wreckers means YouTubers who specialize in posting videos that target specific people, mostly celebrities but sometimes noncelebrities like infamous criminals, to attract viewers and ultimately make money. The thumbnails they upload usually contain a provocative sentence in large font with eye-catching colors.
Just three days after it was published, the book had already hit the bookstores. Was it thanks to the combination of modern marketing skills and my father’s magical penmanship? This book became a legend in the self-development genre, one that everyone was curious about and ended up reading from start to finish.
“I’ll pay the royalties as per our contract. How would you like to receive them?”
At present, I have the portable magic vault that Duke Kalinos has given me. It was a magic vault for storing money, but unfortunately, it could only hold the advance payment of 500 million gold he had given me.
Come to think of it, I’ll need a bigger secret vault for my money. My own precious secret vault just for me.
I rested my chin on my hand and fell into deep thought. “I’ll let you know soon. For now, please provide a transparent statement of accounts.”
He nodded in agreement and continued. “As per our contract, I’ll support your marriage. Besides that, I’d like to watch Lady Giselle a bit more closely.”
Seeing the faint affection in his eyes, I smiled with satisfaction.
Hennessy was starting to become an ally. However, due to his desire to keep his true talents hidden, he wouldn’t be able to reveal that I was the one who helped him.
He’s perfectly suited to be my ally. Above all, my ‘pretend to be normal to get permission to marry’ strategy was a success, wasn’t it?
I grinned while clutching the book’s wrapping. The next step was to place this book on Count Florette’s desk as promised.
“Giselle, what is this book?”
“It’s a book I edited myself!”
Count Florette absentmindedly took the book, then paused. “The title of this book, it’s…”
“The meeting is about to start, right? Please read the book when you have time. Well then, goodbye!”
As I left, I saw it. Count Florette’s hand naturally reaches for the book. He must be curious. Who wouldn’t want to earn a hundred billion with just a one-minute investment?
From now on, everything will work itself out.
While Count Florette is reading, many people will enter his office for the meeting. Then, my story will naturally become a topic of conversation. And then… They’ll quickly realize that I’m being treated differently than an ordinary lady. Even if Mariposa has firmly instructed them to keep quiet, the subtle dismissive attitude won’t disappear so easily.
* * *
[1. From Zero to a Billion Gold! Ten Success Secrets You Didn’t Know
2. Why Has Everything You’ve Done So Far Failed Miserably?! There’s Only One Answer
3. The Current Hot Trend—Everyone Knows But You!]
It’s unfamiliar, concise, and, above all—irresistibly intriguing!
Count Florette’s hand turned the pages without hesitation. What kind of title is so compelling that you can’t help but turn the pages?
