Afterword

Hello there! My name is Yui. Thank you so much for reading this volume of Bibliophile Princess!

I have loved books ever since I was little. As long as I had one in hand, I would be well-behaved and quiet. The story of Bibliophile Princess was actually based on some popular keywords that appeared on the Syosetsu website (where the web novel is uploaded), but I have actually always loved reading and writing books. So in a way, it was kind of like a challenge to myself, like, “If I were an author, this is how I’d write things!”

Stories are strange things. I have all this creativity that has welled up within me coming to life in the form of this story, and it feels like every day I now have my characters shouting at me, “Let us out into the world! Let us out!” I find myself agonizing, caught between the story I imagine in my head and the reality that maybe my current writing abilities aren’t good enough for me to be able to express it properly. The reason I continue to write despite all of that is probably because I am captivated by the appeal of being an author.

So that was how Bibliophile Princess was born. And it’s not quite living up to the purely romantic series I’d intended. I mean, that was the direction I was supposed to be going for, but the comedic parts I had planned in the beginning somehow took over. Combined with the protagonist’s airheaded nature, the story kind of veered off track by the end.

Even during the part about Chris’s youth, it was a real struggle with myself trying desperately to make sure the story didn’t turn comical. There was this fierce battle between the comedian in my veins (note: I don’t actually descend from any comedians) and my vision of Chris as someone who would defend his image as a suave, collected prince to the death. In fact, while he gives us glimpses at his scheming ways, he won’t really allow us to see his true self. It felt like a battle with him constantly trying to resist my attempts to portray him candidly. (He should be happy that I didn’t name the new content arc “The Prince’s Day of Heaven and Hell.”)

As for our key protagonist, Eli, she’s also a stubborn type that completely ignores anything not relevant to her interests. When those around her try to provoke her interest in romance, she gives them the slip. She even indirectly rebuffs Chris’s attempts to try to court her and isn’t really the type to stick her nose into things. All she does is read books all the time.

It really makes you feel like, “What the heck is with this protagonist?” It may sound strange for me to say given that I am the author, but she just really doesn’t move at all. Yet it feels like everyone else around her is desperately rushing. As I was coming up with the plot for the extra content for this volume, my editor even said, “I can’t think of her doing anything other than reading books...” Plus she’s not the type to just let herself be kidnapped either, but rather the kind to impatiently march right in and try to solve things. As we saw, Eli is the type to ride in to save the princess (or books in this case) from the bad guys. I wish you luck, Chris. (Actually as we were doing the planning for the extra content, my editor suggested the title “Good Luck, Chris.”)

After receiving the opportunity to publish Bibliophile Princess, I made many extensive improvements and adjustments to the manuscript in anticipation of its light novel debut. That meant going back through a story that was, in my mind, already complete and having to dig through it and re-put it together all over again. This turned out to be a far more confusing ordeal than I thought it would be. I gradually fell into this baffled state where I wasn’t sure what was good or bad anymore. Each time that happened, my editor kindly reassured me and told me exactly what I needed to hear, and somehow I was able to finish everything. I am truly grateful.

I know this sounds cliche, but I really do want to thank everyone who helped me. To the proofreader who was surely confused at my choppy and confusing word choice in places, thank you for your gentle guidance each time. It was always so helpful. I’d also like to thank the designer who did an adorable job with the title design, everyone at Ichijinsha (the publishing company) who gave me this opportunity, the staff running the Syosetsu website, and finally Satsuki Sheena for her drawings that made me squee each time I saw them. Her drawings were like the bait that lured me into completing this volume. Almost like a carrot being hung in front of a horse, teasing it like, “Hungry? Want this?” I’m such a slowpoke, but her art really spurred me on to see this volume through to the end.

I would also like to thank all of my friends and family for supporting me and listening to my (frequent) crying and complaining when I was plagued with writer’s block. Though more than anyone else, thank you to all of you, my readers. This world is overflowing with stories and books, so I thank you from the bottom of my heart for choosing to read mine out of all of them. I hope that my story was able to leave a lasting impression on you, however small.

I’m still very inexperienced, but I will continue to improve my craft so that hopefully I can deliver an enjoyable, emotionally impactful reading experience to all of you. I look forward to meeting you all again in my other books!

-Yui