Ink & Crown

Chapter 68 – Setting the Terms

Lucien leaned back slightly, his gaze drifting without focus as the earlier noise faded into the background.

What would suit him?

Riven’s voice, his presence on stage, the way he carried himself in front of an audience, all of it ran through Lucien’s mind one piece at a time. It was not just about picking something good, it had to fit. Something that could hold attention, something that would work, something that people would remember.

He was still sorting through possibilities when a soft sound cut through his thoughts.

Lunessa cleared her throat.

Lucien blinked once and looked up. The others had already shifted their attention toward her.

She rested her hands lightly on the table, her expression calm but focused. “What are you both planning to do about the book?” she asked, glancing between Lucien and Dorian. “Publishing it is one thing. Getting it into people’s hands is something else entirely.”

Lucien and Dorian exchanged a brief look.

Lucien let out a quiet breath, a faint wry smile forming. “We already talked about this,” he said. “At first, I thought it would be simple. Print it ourselves, distribute it ourselves, and keep the largest share of the profits ourselves.”

He shook his head slightly. “That was… overly optimistic.”

Dorian didn’t comment, but the look he gave him said enough.

Lunessa nodded as if that answer was expected. “Of course it was,” she said. “Printing books is only one part of it. Distribution is where things become complicated.”

She leaned back slightly, still watching them. “Large publishing houses aren’t large just because they can print more books. They’re large because they can move them. They already have established networks. Contracts with bookstores, both big and small. They organize events, promotions, advertisements, reading sessions, everything needed to push a book as far as it can go.”

Her tone remained even, but there was a quiet weight behind her words. “That’s why they take the largest share of the revenue. They’re not just printing. They’re creating reach.”

Seliora rested her chin on her hand, listening with interest.

Lunessa continued, “And for new authors, especially those without a name, it’s even worse. They have no leverage. No influence. They take what they’re given.”

Lucien nodded once. “Dorian made that clear early on. Even distributing within Marilon alone is already difficult. We’re still working on improving that.”

He paused briefly before adding, “Without the MICF absorbing a large portion of direct sales, it would be even harder.”

Dorian picked up from there. “So, for now, we’re trying to reduce costs where we can. We are thinking of using local printing presses in other free cities and city-states across Calvessan instead of transporting everything from one place.”

Kaelen glanced at him briefly. “Decentralized production.”

“Exactly,” Dorian said. “It would lower the transport costs, and allow faster availability of the book in other cities.”

Lucien added, “At the same time, we’re working on deals with larger bookstore chains in those regions. It’s not perfect, but it’s a start and we to have to make do with it until Crownspire can handle all that, but that will take time.”

Lunessa listened without interrupting, then tilted her head slightly. “And beyond Calvessan?”

Lucien glanced at Dorian again, leaving the answer to him this time.

Dorian nodded. “We’re considering sending the book, along with its sales data, pricing structure, and performance metrics, to established publishing houses in other continents. If they’re interested, we license it to them.”

Lunessa’s lips curved slightly. “That’s very different from how most authors approach it.”

She rested her elbow lightly on the table. “Usually, manuscripts are sent in, reviewed by editors, and either pushed up the chain or discarded. Most don’t even make it past the first stage.”

Her gaze shifted briefly toward Lucien. “But you didn’t take that route.”

There was a hint of approval in her expression.

“You already have what they care about most,” she continued. “Real numbers with proven demand, and a growing audience. That changes how they look at you.”

Lucien nodded slightly. “Which means we simply don’t have to accept whatever they offer.”

“Exactly,” Lunessa said. “You can negotiate for better terms than other new authors.”

Lucien leaned back a little more. “We can ask for a better share of the revenue.”

That earned him a few looks from the table.

Seliora raised a brow. “Of course you would focus on that.”

Lucien looked at her. “What? Shouldn’t I?”

He gestured lightly. “If we’re putting in the work, building the audience, proving the value, why would we settle for less?”

His tone remained calm, but there was a clear line of reasoning behind it. “We should get the best terms we can. There’s no reason to accept a bad deal.”

Dorian let out a short laugh. “He’s not wrong.”

He leaned back slightly. “Even if he’s a bit annoying about it, I agree. There’s no point walking into a negotiation ready to give things away.”

His voice steadied. “We push for the best terms possible. That’s the whole point.”

Lucien glanced at him briefly, then allowed himself a faint smile.

See? This is exactly why I leave the money to him, he thought. That part, at least, is safe.

Lunessa let the discussion settle for a moment before continuing, her tone thoughtful. “We shouldn’t give all the overseas rights to a single publisher.”

Dorian nodded immediately. “Of course. That would give them too much leverage.”

He leaned back slightly, his expression turning more focused. “If we do that, we lose control. I’m already looking into publishers across different continents. The idea is to license region by region, restricting each to their own territory.”

Lunessa gave a small approving nod. “Yes, but within those regions, we should give them exclusivity.”

Dorian agreed without hesitation. “Otherwise, they won’t commit properly.”

The conversation had shifted completely now, the earlier humor replaced with a quieter intensity as the group followed along.

Lunessa continued, her voice steady. “If they believe the book will perform well, they won’t stop at publishing. They’ll try to secure everything else.”

Seliora tilted her head slightly. “Everything?”

“Adaptations,” Lunessa replied. “Stage productions, movies, tv serialized versions, gaming adaptation rights, visual formats. Anything that can extend the life of the story. And beyond that, merchandise, licensing deals, all of it. That’s where the real money is.”

She paused briefly before adding, “If they can, they’ll try to bundle those rights into the deal.”

Lucien and Dorian spoke at the same time.

“Impossible.”

They both stopped, then glanced at each other for a brief moment before Lucien continued.

“They can try all they can if they want,” he said calmly, “but that’s as far as it goes.”

He leaned back slightly, his tone steady but firm. “They’ll only get publishing rights within their regions. Even that, I’ll have to think carefully about. Physical distribution for certain, digital maybe, and translation rights where necessary.”

His gaze remained level.

“But everything else is off the table.”

There was no hesitation in his voice.

“Adaptations, additional formats such as film rights, television rights, game rights, merchandise, any of it. I’m not handing those over.”

He paused briefly, then added, “And even for publishing rights, it won’t be permanent. It would be for a limited term, after which we renegotiate with them and it would be for three years at most.”

The table had gone quiet.

Lucien continued as if the reaction didn’t matter. “If they try to force those conditions into the contract, we walk away. There’s no shortage of publishers in Caelora. If one refuses, we move to the next. I don’t believe we won’t find at least one publisher whom we can agree with and can come to terms with in all of Caelora.”

His expression didn’t change.

“And if that still doesn’t work,” he said, almost casually, “then we wait.”

A brief pause followed.

“Crownspire will grow, however long it may take to reach that level. Eventually, we’ll handle it ourselves.”

No one spoke for a moment.

The scale of what he had just said settled over the table slowly.

It wasn’t just confidence. There was a quite certainty behind it, as though what he said might definitely happen in the future and it’s only a matter of time.”

Riven was the first to react.

He suddenly clapped once, breaking the silence. “Yes,” he said, grinning. “That’s how it should be.”

Seliora let out a soft breath, a faint smile forming. “That’s… bold.”

Evelis didn’t say anything, but there was astonishment in her expression as she looked at Lucien.

Kaelen simply nodded once, his gaze steady. “That would be more efficient in the long run.” He said, as if the logic was straightforward

Dorian, however, remained silent for a moment longer.

He had expected ambition and had seen glimpses of it before, but this was different. This wasn’t just planning ahead, it was setting terms for something much larger.

He let out a small breath, then shook his head faintly, though there was a trace of a smile.

“You really don’t make things easy,” he said.

Lucien glanced at him. “It’s not supposed to be easy.”

Dorian gave a quiet laugh.

Because he understood exactly what it meant.

Walking away from money was not something most people could do.

And if those rights turned out to be valuable, the offers would not be small.

Which made it all the more surprising, because of all people, Lucien didn’t look tempted at all.

Lunessa didn’t respond immediately.

For a brief moment, she simply looked at Lucien, her expression unreadable.

It wasn’t that she disagreed.

It was that the scale of what he had just said didn’t quite align with where they currently stood.

Crownspire was still small. Growing, yes, but far from the kind of presence that could support everything he had just outlined.

And yet, he spoke about it as if it were only a matter of time.

As if waiting was not a risk, but a certainty.

What kind of thinking is that?

Most people wouldn’t even consider turning down offers at that level. They would rush to secure a deal, give up whatever rights were asked for, just to get a foot in the door.

But him…

He was already thinking about walking away.

Lunessa let out a quiet breath, then smiled faintly to herself.

It was unreasonable.

It was bold.

And for some reason, she liked it.

She straightened slightly and let out a soft sigh. “I don’t even know what to say,” she admitted.

Her gaze shifted between Lucien and Dorian. “Most new authors would do anything just to get their books accepted. They give up rights without thinking twice, just for the opportunity.”

She paused briefly, then looked back at Lucien. “And you’re here setting conditions like this as if you’re the one doing them a favor.”

There was a hint of amusement in her tone.

“I don’t even know what to call that.”

Dorian let out a quiet chuckle. “Ambitious,” he said.

“Stubborn,” Seliora added from the side.

Lunessa shook her head slightly, though her smile didn’t fade. “Maybe both.”

Then her expression turned more practical again. “But the terms you mentioned…”

She hesitated for a moment before continuing, “Three years is not realistic.”

Dorian nodded in agreement. “It won’t be accepted.”

He leaned forward slightly, his tone more grounded now. “Most publishing contracts run closer to ten years for new authors. If we go in with three, they won’t even take the discussion seriously.”

He paused briefly. “We can push for shorter terms, but it has to be within reason.”

“Five years,” Lunessa said. “That’s already aggressive.”

Dorian nodded. “Five is possible. Difficult, but possible.”

Lucien remained quiet for a moment, considering it.

Then he gave a small nod. “Fine. Five years it is then.”

His gaze lifted slightly. “But everything else stays the same.”

There was no hesitation in his tone.

“No additional rights. No bundled conditions. Publishing only, within their regions.”

Dorian held his gaze for a moment, then nodded once. “That part doesn’t change.”

Lunessa nodded as well. “Agreed.”

The understanding settled between them quickly.

Because despite the difficulty of the terms, all three of them were thinking the same thing.

If the book performed as expected, the real value wouldn’t just come from publishing.

It would come from everything beyond it.

And giving that away now would be no different from handing over future profit without a fight.