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Translator: penny
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: Banned from My Own Fan Gallery
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"That concludes the preview shoot."
The host announced in a bright voice.
"Principal filming begins tomorrow. Please rest comfortably in your assigned accommodations today."
...Preview?
This was the preview?
"Your lodgings are in the guest house of the imperial villa. Rooms have been assigned, so please follow the guides."
The participants began to move.
I followed along.
My mind was a whirlwind.
The princess's gaze.
The gallery reactions.
'Their chemistry is insane.'
'Dropping breadcrumbs from episode one.'
...I didn't do anything. Why is this happening?
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
We arrived at the lodgings.
It was spacious.
Five people could lie down on that bed.
The garden was visible through the window.
There was even a fountain.
Was this better than my room in the Northern Grand Duchy?
...The imperial scale is insane.
I flopped onto the bed.
I stared at the ceiling.
"...What do I do?"
I muttered without thinking.
Principal filming starts tomorrow.
I need to stay out of sight.
But the princess looked at me earlier.
The gallery went nuts.
Have I already been noticed?
No.
This is still just the preview.
I can stay quiet during the main shoot.
Hang out in the corner munching bread.
Redirect attention to the other guys.
I just need to be background.
...
But.
That gallery.
It popped up forcibly earlier and then vanished.
Can I see it again?
Curiosity bubbled up.
Honestly, it was fascinating.
A modern internet community in this world?
'Ethernet,' was it?
Magic communication network.
How do I access it?
I looked around the room.
A small crystal orb sat on the table.
Labeled 'Lodge amenity - For Ethernet access.'
...Convenient.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙[Ethernet connection complete]
I picked up the crystal orb.
The moment it touched my hand, a translucent window appeared.
[Connection history detected. Reconnect to 'Red Thread Gallery'?]
Oh.
I hit 'Yes.'
⚠️ ACCESS RESTRICTED ⚠️[This gallery is currently in 'view-only restricted' mode.] [Access denied at this time.]
...What?
Can't access?
But it forced open earlier?
Right then—
Ding—
A notification chimed.
[Verifying permissions...] [...] [Special permissions detected.] [Access granted.]
...?
Special permissions?
Me?
What permissions?
I'm just the Northern Grand Duke's second son.
A total spare.
Something felt off, but...
Hey, if it works, it works.
Good is good, right?
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
[Red Thread Gallery]
The window expanded.
Posts were flooding in real-time.
I scrolled down.
🔥 Real-Time Hot Posts⭐ Top Post— IWantToBeBittenByAWolfDid you see the Northern young master's walk when he entered? His stride is different... The other nobles walk all cautious, but he just strides in naturally, big steps and all. I was like, that's a Northern man... They say it's a hunter's gait... ingrained from monster hunting... Oh god...— AnonHunter's gait lololol what even is that but I get it— AnonI wanna get hunted too— SilverHairWallEyes_Mine_ApprovedWonder what he looks like wielding a sword... wish he'd demo some swordsmanship...
...
I stared blankly at the screen.
Walk?
I just walked normally?
Hunter's gait?
What are they on about?
I scrolled further.
⭐ Top Post— NorthernArtMajor[Northern Young Master's Eyebrow Angle Analysis.jpg] [Image: Diagram precisely analyzing eyebrow angles] Golden ratio. Start to end angle exactly 15 degrees. Peak position perfect. This is innate. Can't be groomed. God-sculpted.— AnonYou're insane lololol— AnonYour passion is scary...— EasternMarquis3rdDaughter_PseudonymWith analysis skills like this, you could enroll in the Magic Tower— AnonEyebrow angle 15 degrees lolololol this gallery is wild
"..."
No words came to mind. No appropriate ones, anyway.
With trembling hands, I barely scrolled down.
— PleaseKidnapMeYoungMaster | Views: 1,284I'm seriously losing it, getting dragged to the North sounds great I used to hate the North? Cold, monsters everywhere, nothing but potatoes? But now? If he tossed me in a carriage and took me North, I'd thank him. Hell, just drag me... Carry me over his shoulder... Lock me in a cave... Feed me potatoes forever... With that face, potatoes taste like steak...— Anonlololol potatoes to steak lololol— AnonRelate... eye contact with him and dirt would taste good— SilverHairWallEyes_Mine_ApprovedLine up. I get kidnapped first— EyesMelting_NorthSpring8 months of winter a year but with him beside me it'd be warm...— AnonLock me in a cave lololol you okay dude lololol— EasternMarquis3rdDaughter_Pseudonym↳ ReplySeriously considering asking Dad to set up a marriage talk with the Northern Grand Ducal family↳ AnonYou're Eastern Marquis family, right? That's actually doable?↳↳ EasternMarquis3rdDaughter_PseudonymI'm the third daughter so no ㅠㅠ Sisters ahead in line ㅠㅠ
...Are these people serious?
Actually, that's secondary.
The real issue is...
All of it is positive about me.
Why is positive a problem?
Obviously it is.
If big bro sees this?
'My little brother's gaining popularity in the capital.'
'He's drawing public sentiment.'
'Dangerous.'
...I'm dead.
I got serious.
This can't go on.
Need to cool down public opinion.
But how?
...
Ah.
There's a way.
I can post too.
Something to tank my own popularity.
That should calm things down.
First, nickname.
[Please set a nickname]
What to pick?
...
What was my dream in my past life?
'Unemployed Gangnam landlord living off rent.'
Yeah.
In this world?
'Idle capital mansion landlord.'
...
Perfect.
[CapitalMansionLandlord]
[Nickname set.]
Good.
Now, time to post.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇— [General] Honestly, Kasian isn't that handsome, right?— CapitalMansionLandlordLook, cold hard truth lol Just a high nose and blue eyes, that's it? Nobles like that are a dime a dozen on the street, everyone's overreacting. Hell, there are way hotter guys out there.
Posted.
1 second.
Comment.
— AnonGo look in a mirror first lololol— AnonYour eyes broken? Or mana reflux in your eyeballs?
2 seconds.
— AnonFr, no mirror? Go to the imperial physician and get your eyeballs washed
3 seconds.
— SilverHairWallEyes_Mine_Approvedlololol this guy's at it again with the jealousy. Hey, snap a pic of your face with the orb and I'll concede.
...Again?
When did I ever jealousy-post?
— EyesMelting_NorthSpringlololol "Nobles a dime a dozen on the street" lololol which street? Let me visit. Heaven on earth?— AnonIf Gal Lord's looks are average then 99% of the empire is orc? Spouting nonsense lololol— EasternMarquis3rdDaughter_PseudonymDon't need to see OP's face, total pleb vibe? Jealous commoner who can't even approach Northern Grand Ducal family, pathetic
...Commoner?
I'm the Northern Grand Duke's second son.
— AnonThis guy's the same one hating on Gal Lord earlier? Got your girl stolen by him at the academy? Why so pathetic lololol
Earlier?
This is my first post?
— NorthernWolf_BiteMeAdmin, ban this guy please. Hurts my eyes @RofanGalJju-dak
...
I set the orb down.
Took a deep breath.
"...This isn't it."
Total backfire.
Complete backfire.
My one post seemed to unite them even more.
Common enemy rallies the troops.
...
Need another approach.
Something more persuasive.
I picked up the orb again.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇— [General] Honestly, Northern land deeds worth more than Kasian's looks, right?— CapitalMansionLandlordFace pay for your meals? lololol Wrinkle up eventually—better sell off Northern territories for 5 capital mansions. Real win. Poor Kasian too. Stuck monster-hunting in the North forever with that face lololol
Different angle this time.
Not looks—practical talk.
Should get some agreement.
1 second.
— AnonGo look in a mirror first lololol Gal Lord breathes and capital mansions come by the wagonload.
...Wagonload?
Trucks in this world?
— SilverHairWallEyes_Mine_ApprovedLiving up to the nick lololol Reality: flophouse-less pleb lololol
Flophouses too?
What's the civilization level here?
— EasternMarquis3rdDaughter_PseudonymDoes Gal Lord look like the type to slum it in real estate? He's noble Northern soul. Out, you philistine
...Noble Northern soul?
Me?
The me who came to the capital for bread?
— EyesMelting_NorthSpring"Sell Northern territories" lololol that's yours now? lololol Who are you to sell someone else's family assets lololol
...It is my family assets.
— Anon"Poor Gal Lord"? lololol He'll never need your pity lololol— AnonLol look at the nick "CapitalMansionLandlord" lololol big dreams lololol
That's not a dream, it's a life goal.
— NorthernWolf_BiteMe@RofanGalJju-dak Same guy as before. Handle please.
...
And then.
🚫 BAN NOTICE 🚫[RofanGalJju-dak has blocked you.] [Block duration: 720 hours] [Reason: Just a moron]
...
720 hours?
That's a month?
Reason: 'Just a moron'?
This legal?
I set the orb down.
Stared at the ceiling.
"...What the hell."
I muttered without thinking.
I trashed myself.
And my popularity went up.
And I got banned.
From my own gallery.
No.
The gallery where I'm the lord.
...
What situation is this?
The moon rose outside the window.
The capital night was quiet.
Principal filming tomorrow.
But I'm...
Banned from my fan gallery.
For 'Just a moron.'
"Big bro."
I muttered without thinking.
"Can I just go home?"
No answer.
Only the moon shone bright.