Chapter 200: Television at the Southern Nobles' Annual Gathering?
The Viktor family—a name that carried weight throughout the entire southern region of the Empire.
From the very moment the Empire was founded and the land was divided into four great territories, the South had always been under the stewardship of the Viktor lineage.
Yet, despite the overwhelming influence held by the Grand Duke Viktor, most of the southern citizens had barely any impression of the current duke. It was as if the man had never appeared in public.
In fact, this reclusive behavior wasn't unique to the current duke—every generation of the Viktor family had been the same. The entire family seemed shrouded in a mystique that words could not capture.
Even so, the Duke's status and authority remained unshakable. Every major decision made in the South needed his personal review and approval before it could be enacted.
The only exception?
The recent, explosive rise of the film industry.
For such a groundbreaking, wealth-generating force to emerge so suddenly—disrupting centuries of old traditions—no ruler would dare ignore it. Even the most hands-off governor would at least find a way to intervene and claim a slice of the profits.
And yet, the Grand Duke had shown nothing but complete indifference. From start to finish, he had never once involved himself with films, not even to voice a formal opinion. It was as if this new industry simply did not exist to him.
This baffled the southern aristocracy.
Why had the duke remained silent on such a monumental issue?
Eager to uncover his intentions, nobles from every corner of the southern lands flocked to the Viktor Family castle for the Annual Gathering.
. . . . . . . . . . .
Accompanied by Winry, Edward arrived at the Viktor Family castle, and the moment he laid eyes on the towering structure, he recognized it instantly.
As expected of the most powerful noble house in the South, the Viktor Family castle was vast and majestic. Though it fell just short of the Imperial Capital's royal palace, it was still among the most prestigious architectural feats of the era.
Of course, Edward, with the memory of a modern man inside him, wasn't so easily awed. Unfazed, he strode confidently into the venue.
The grand ballroom was already brimming with nobility in all manner of dazzling attire.
As a baron, Edward's rank placed him at the very bottom of the noble hierarchy. Normally, his entrance wouldn't have drawn much attention.
But Edward was no ordinary baron.
He's a Grand Mage, the pioneer of film and television, and the man who revived Magitech Alchemy.
In truth, his influence far surpassed that of any noble present.
And so, when Edward stepped into the hall, all eyes turned to him.
"Is that Edward?"
"The heir of the Durin Family?"
"The youngest Grand Mage in history?"
"The one who created movies, television… and reignited Magitech Alchemy?"
Murmurs rippled through the crowd like a rising tide.
Among the younger nobles—those accompanying their fathers—many had entered the gathering with smug grins and inflated pride. But the moment they laid eyes on Edward, those expressions faded into silence.
They were his age—some even older—yet the difference between them was a chasm.
For any youth with ambition, that kind of gap was a painful pill to swallow.
As for the noble maidens… their eyes sparkled like stars. Were it not for Winry's ever-watchful glare, many of them might have already rushed forward, eager to strike up a conversation with the legendary young mage.
In contrast, the more seasoned, power-wielding southern nobles grew quiet and calculating.
After all, regardless of Edward's personal character, what he represented was a monstrous industry overflowing with potential profits.
Everyone here wanted a piece of that golden pie.
In a feudal kingdom where capitalists have yet to exist, the nobility themselves are the largest interest group—and without a doubt, the most greedy as well.
In the past, they had failed to make any headway with Viscount Baniel. Whether by direct pressure or underhanded influence, they simply couldn't force their way into the film industry. Naturally, this left them deeply dissatisfied.
Now, having finally laid eyes on the creator of cinema himself—Edward—they could hardly wait to rush forward. They were ready to throw every temptation they could muster at him, desperate to gain a foothold in this world-changing industry, and with it, a slice of that eye-watering fortune.
Of course, what they wanted and what they could actually do were two very different things.
Just as Edward stepped into the hall, a blonde girl in an elegant gown entered from the far end, flanked by knights.
"It's been a while, Edward," she said.
It was Daphne—no longer clad in her priestess robes, but in an outfit far more formal and noble in appearance. The change in attire, along with the shift in her aura, caught Edward slightly off guard. He nodded, mildly surprised, as if stunned by the elegant transformation.
Behind him, Winry's expression had turned even more guarded, yet even she didn't dare speak up to the daughter of a duke. All she could do was stick close to Edward's side, not letting him stray a single step.
Meanwhile, Daphne smiled serenely and said, "Judging by your face, it seems like you're not particularly fond of social gatherings. Good—neither am I. Since the event won't officially start for a while, how about I show you around?"
"…"
Before he could even react, Edward found himself being whisked away by the girl, hand in hand, out of the venue.
Once they reached a quiet, empty corridor, Daphne immediately dropped her noble façade. With a playful grin, she said:
"It really has been a while, Director Durin. Sorry for disappearing without notice last time—I didn't have a choice. Oh, and during the Frost Festival, you premiered several films at once, right? I didn't get to watch them immediately, but I managed to grab a ticket near the end of the festival. They were absolutely amazing!"
The sudden shift from cool nobility to cheerful fangirl stunned Edward for a moment. He blinked, took a second to process, then muttered:
"That's a pretty intense transformation… With acting skills like that, you might just be a natural-born actress. I'll need to write more roles for you."
"Ugh… Director Durin, are you a demon or something?"
After a brief round of teasing, the two laughed and quickly slipped back into a familiar rhythm. They shared a unique bond—a mutual distaste for noble etiquette—and in that, they found a quiet sense of kinship.
Naturally, this "kindred spirit" display did not go unnoticed.
Behind Daphne, her loyal maid had a very subtle frown. Meanwhile, Winry's stare had sharpened to the intensity of a dagger, her suspicion only growing by the second.
Still, Edward and Daphne chatted casually about what they'd been up to lately. After a few minutes, Daphne suddenly asked:
"By the way, Director Durin—isn't episode five of The Garden of Sinners airing today?"
"Hmm? I think so? I left all that stuff to the Alchemy Tower team. How do you know about it?"
"Because my father told me."
"…Huh?"
"He's actually been keeping tabs on the film and television business for a long time now. The reason he called me back recently was because of this."
"HUH?!"
"Also, my father plans to publicly screen this episode at the gathering today. He wants all the nobles to watch it together."
"HUHHHHHH?!?!?!?!?"
For a moment, Edward thought his ears were playing tricks on him.
He stood there, completely frozen in place.
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