I looked at the device I made with proud eyes.

‘This should be enough!’

I hung a large white blanket on the curtain rod above the bed and placed two chairs in front of it.

And beside them, cool drinks brought by the maid and specially prepared snacks were ready.

“I popped the corn as you’ve instructed, Miss Lize… but are you sure it can be eaten like this?”

“Open your mouth.”

I put a piece of popcorn into the skeptical maid’s mouth, and after chewing with a peculiar expression, her eyes soon grew wide.

“Oh my…! This corn kernel is quite….”

“Delicious, right? This is essential.”

Although in my previous life I was always in and out of hospitals and rarely went to theaters, the fresh shock I felt eating popcorn during those few experiences remained vivid.

‘Now I can eat popcorn while watching movies too…!’

How I envied ordinary people sitting in theaters eating popcorn while watching movies.

With an excited heart, I placed the video stone on the stand I had prepared in advance.

Popcorn, drinks, screen, projector… all preparations were now complete.

Just then, with perfect timing, there was a knock at the door.

When I opened the door, Arkle, who had changed his clothes, greeted me with a small nod.

“Arkle! Come in.”

“Alright.”

Entering the room, Arkle looked around curiously at what I had prepared.

He looked at the large white blanket hanging from the curtain rod and asked.

“Wife, what is this…?”

“It will help us view the video more comfortably.”

I smiled proudly.

Originally, the video stone projected images into thin air, but if projected onto a thick screen, it would be much clearer to watch.

‘It’s like a beam projector.’

I never imagined I would fulfill my wish of installing a beam projector in my room when I got my own place this way.

I placed the popcorn and drinks the maid had prepared on Arkle’s lap as he sat on one of the chairs.

Arkle looked unfamiliar with it again, so without needing to explain, I put a piece of popcorn in his mouth just as I had done with the maid.

“……!”

Arkle’s eyes widened as he silently chewed the popcorn.

“Wife… this.”

It was the same phrase as before, but with the opposite meaning.

I grinned.

“Now you’ve become someone who can’t watch movies without popcorn.”

“Popcorn… is it.”

Arkle murmured, looking down at the snow-white popped corn kernels.

“Shall we start now?”

“Yes.”

I turned off the lights in the room and activated the video stone’s playback device.

Returning to sit on the chair, the video began playing on the large white blanket.

After the prologue that Juan and I had edited in, the movie properly began with the appearance of Cayenne’s knights playing the role of humans setting off on an adventure.

“The video is certainly clearer when projected onto this material.”

Arkle murmured as if it were an effective method.

“From now on, when using the video stone….”

“Shh—”

I put a finger to my lips and whispered.

“It’s proper manners to be quiet when watching a movie.”

“I apologize.”

Arkle spoke softly and followed my example by putting a finger to his lips.

“Shh.”

Then he turned his gaze to the screen and watched the video in silence.

I observed Arkle from the corner of my eye.

His profile, sitting perfectly still, was like a statue.

‘What is he thinking…?’

Unlike Juan, who had been terrified and made all sorts of faces even during scenes that weren’t particularly scary, Arkle’s reactions were difficult to read.

He was so unresponsive that I wondered if he was even watching the movie.

After whispering “shh,” he truly sat without making the slightest sound.

I chewed my popcorn with slight disappointment.

The truth was, I wanted to watch the movie with Arkle because I wanted to see his reactions.

‘I thought it might be cute if he couldn’t handle scary things.’

I had hoped to see Arkle’s rare frightened expression, but that seemed unlikely now.

‘Maybe he doesn’t find it entertaining?’

Hmm, that would be a bit sad.

‘No. There are people in the world who don’t enjoy horror movies. The world is vast, and tastes vary… As long as I enjoy it!’

Right, this was a work I created for my own enjoyment in the first place.

Remembering that fact, being so sensitive to someone else’s reaction seemed unlike me.

‘It’s unfortunate that Arkle and I don’t share the same taste… but I like it!’

Only then could I focus on the movie again as I usually would. Since it was tailored to my taste, it was indeed entertaining.

Finally, the life-or-death chase between humans and the undead began….

‘Computer graphics? Special makeup? None of that.’

It couldn’t compare to real authenticity.

After the chase scene of hunting and being hunted, the movie ended with the humans being captured just before escaping the village.

Though I made it myself, it truly resembled a B-grade horror movie filled with screams and strange noises.

‘But I’m satisfied with it.’

As the shoddily made ending credits rolled up, I got up from my seat and turned the lights back on.

Arkle still had his gaze fixed on the screen.

‘This won’t do. No matter what, I’m curious about his review…!’

“How was it?”

I asked carefully.

Only then did he turn his head to look at me.

“Ah, wife. May I speak now?”

Arkle asked as if relieved.

“I didn’t know exactly when the movie ended, so I’ve been keeping silent.”

“I’m sorry— I must have spoken in a way that could be misunderstood…. You didn’t have to be completely silent. It’s okay to laugh or be scared a little.”

After all, natural reactions stemming from various emotions are almost like showing respect to the creator.

‘If you felt such emotions, that is….’

I understood why they say the scariest reaction is no reaction at all.

It would have been better if he had given even negative feedback saying this kind of content didn’t match his sensibilities, rather than saying nothing.

“So… how was it?”

When I asked again, Arkle stroked his chin as if deep in thought.

Then he groaned deeply.

“Hmm… hmmm….”

I was a bit shocked by that response.

“I get it, if that’s your review….”

“Pardon?”

“You don’t have to force yourself to say anything. It might not suit your taste…!”

I tried to sound cool, but honestly, I was disappointed.

Excluding Juan, who couldn’t really be said to have watched the movie because he was so terrified, Arkle was practically my first audience.

And without realizing it, I had been hoping that Arkle and I would share the same taste.

“Still, thank you for making time. Even though you didn’t enjoy it….”

When I smiled apologetically, Arkle spoke with belated embarrassment.

“No, that’s not it… I enjoyed it.”

“What?”

“I’m not good at expressing myself… I was contemplating what to say. Um, throughout the video, I was very, very engaged. Truly.”

That was an engaged face?

I recalled Arkle’s profile, frozen like a statue without the slightest movement, and pondered for a moment what to say.

“It was an experience I’ve never felt before. I think I forgot reality for a while. It felt as if I had become the human who set off on an adventure.”

Arkle tried hard to express the amazement he felt.

Of course, it wasn’t an elaborate review, and the phrase “it was truly amazing” appeared several times, but he didn’t seem to be lying.

“…Though Charlie’s death was a bit cruel—”

“That’s my favorite scene! It’s always the rule that the one who ignores advice and acts selfishly dies most horribly.”

“Of course, it was a just outcome.”

Arkle said, giving a thumbs up.

It felt a bit forced, but I was happy that Arkle and I shared the same taste anyway.

“I’m glad you enjoyed it. Thank you. For watching the movie with me and talking about it.”

“The pleasure is mine.”

Arkle replied kindly with a faint smile.

“Being with you is always enjoyable.”

It was a beautiful smile I hadn’t seen in a long time.

I felt dazed by his stunning appearance without even realizing it.

‘He really has a movie star face… top of the top of the top tier…. Ah, should I have made him the protagonist even if he can’t act well? The theater would surely be packed just because of his face… Huh?’

At that moment, a thought flashed through my mind.

‘Theater! What if I create a theater and screen this movie…?’

Immediately, my mind began racing.

In my opinion, this was definitely not a bad business idea.

Because the nobles here were always thirsty for entertainment.

‘And the more stimulating something is, the more talked about it always becomes.’

This empire, which believed in God, had designated a restrained and strict lifestyle as its rule.

Perhaps as a reaction to that, many nobles sought stimulating entertainment.

‘That’s it! I’ll hold a preview at the banquet Martha said she would host!’

I would gauge the reaction there first.

Since most nobles would attend, I could roughly estimate how successful the movie might be.

‘I should ask Martha tomorrow morning if we can add a new form of entertainment to the banquet…!’

“Thank you, Arkle, it’s all thanks to you.”

I bid farewell to Arkle as he returned to his room, with a bright smile.

Arkle looked puzzled.

“What do you mean?”

‘Thanks to your movie star face, I came up with this idea… Long live handsome men.’

But outwardly, I just smiled without saying anything.

Arkle still looked confused but smiled back.

“Then, wife, sleep well.”

“You too, Arkle.”

After Arkle left the room, I went to sleep with my heart racing, eager to talk about my new business idea as soon as possible.

❖ ❖ ❖

The next morning, as soon as I woke up, I went straight to find Martha.

And I received some welcome news.