Chapter 263

「Huh?

After hearing Leon's surprised question, Agatha in his arms trembled slightly, then buried her head even deeper into his chest, her ears flushed red as she whispered shyly:

「Darling?

「...

I didn't ask that to get you to change your term of address—I want to know why you called me by my real name!

Just as Leon, stunned by Agatha's—or the Princess's—response, stood frozen, unsure whether to let go or keep pretending, the two thousand-plus "fans" bubbles above the drama world erupted into ecstatic screaming from the sudden sugar rush.

「I can't take it anymore! Aaaaaahhhhhhh!!!

「So sweet! This sugar content is cheating! I'm gonna die of sweetness!

「Get married! Get married! Don't wait till tomorrow—marry right now!

「I'm so sweet I'm gonna twist! I'm twisting wildly! I'm gonna roll on the floor!

「She just switched to 'darling'... I... I can't take it!

It's... over... everything's over...

Watching the pink bubbles above the drama world surge like a tidal wave, the Master of Drama on the real-world stage collapsed, his legs giving out as he plopped onto the floor, his weary eyes filled with gray despair.

I'm... I'm the Master of Drama... I'm the one who created this script!

And what kind of dramatic taste do these damn viewers even have?

This play has been ruined beyond recognition, with zero setup beforehand—suddenly, a wedding heist? Don't you find it jarring? And the heroine's mother? She's supposed to be a loving but strict elder—just one question, and she hands over her daughter? Don't you find that awkward?

And most importantly, where's Elijah? He was mid-passionate confession, yet he hasn't spoken a word since, standing there like some bystander whose fiancée was stolen, just watching stiffly with the groom's relatives—don't you find Elijah's performance... wait, no!

Elijah was the male lead I designed! Mr. Joseph is just the second male lead! No, not even that—he's just a supporting character! He exists solely to highlight the protagonist's bravery and wit, and he was supposed to vanish after Act One, Scene One's tavern scene!

Realizing his perception had fractured—even his understanding of the male lead had been corrupted—【The King of Drama】 trembled as he raised his arm toward the script of *Twelve Days Together* on his forearm.

Under his despairing gaze, the script of *Twelve Days Together* slowly opened. The name once written as the male lead—Elijah—had vanished completely, replaced by a name that made him grind his teeth.

【Male Lead: Mr. Joseph】

【Background: On the surface, a spoiled youth from the small town of Ankara, fond of wandering about in flamboyant, bizarre attire; in secret, he is the owner of the kingdom's largest merchant guild and the heir to a noble family.】

【His frivolous, comical exterior is merely a mask hiding his true self—only after the heroine Agatha gets closer and gradually understands his painful, struggling inner world does she come to know his sincere, passionate nature...】

He struggles for a basket! He has a basket's inner world! That bastard's got nothing but a sincere and passionate basket!

Seeing his script forcibly rewritten beyond recognition, 【The King of Drama】 was seized by rage, cursed loudly with no dignity left, then spun dizzily and collapsed onto the floor with a thud.

At this critical moment, among the deranged pink bubbles above, one red bubble—the same one that had repeatedly steered the crowd's momentum—stepped forward again, waddling on its tiny legs to the highest point and raising its arms to shout:

「Sisters! Is Mr. Joseph hot?

「Hot!

「Is the new plot good?

「Yes!!

「Compared to Master Wilde's original, isn't the new version better?

「Yes!!!

If you had to choose between Master Wilde and Mr. Joseph, you'd pick Mr. Joseph, right?

「Right!!!!

「Then it's settled!

Standing atop the platform built by the bubbles, gazing down at the sea of supporters—and the few dissenters, now captured and silenced due to their minority numbers—the crimson bubble sneered, then tilted its head back and howled triumphantly:

「Come on, let's overthrow the incompetent Master Wilde! From now on, let the most handsome Mr. Joseph rule the drama world... uh...

Seeing 【The King of Drama】 glaring at him from above, face flushed with fury, the red bubble shuddered violently, then tumbled head over heels off the platform, instinctively trying to dive into the crowd of bubbles.

Though all the thought-bubbles looked similar, most were pale pink—only this one, the leader of Joseph's fanbase, was utterly crimson. So even though it slipped into the crowd, it was instantly yanked out by 【The King of Drama】's hand.

As it entered 【The King of Drama】's palm, the red bubble twisted slightly, then began swelling uncontrollably, gradually revealing its true form...

A goat's head grinning sheepishly?

【The King of Drama】: 「... (lol)

Black Goat: 「... (*▽*)

Seeing the roasted goat head that had been served by "Mr. Joseph," then vanished without a trace, 【The King of Drama】 trembled with rage.

So that's why you always show up at critical moments to steer everyone the other way—you're a goddamn plant!!!!!!!

「Umm... Master, we can explain...

Feeling the soul-searing fury radiating from 【The King of Drama】—enough to roast him into dried goat jerky—the Black Goat swallowed hard and grinned nervously:

「Look... we didn't want to do this, but Leon—that bastard playing Mr. Joseph—he insisted that official intervention to guide fan discourse and public opinion is a basic community management requirement for any new drama release.

「I... I didn't get what he meant, but I'm just a poor devil working for him, never harvesting any souls, living only on his cash to buy a few cigarettes to smoke... so... I had to do whatever he said.

「Hehe... so I'm not targeting you, Master—I've watched your plays too! That one about the sculptor's wife cheating? Totally epic! Got me all fired up! I'm your fan! Can't you just treat me like a fart and let me go...

「Help! Leon! Help! Someone's killing a goat!!!