Hello, this is Miyako Miyano.
Thank you for buying the second volume of Jeanette the Genius.
I’m sure many of you have realized by now, but I wrote this story based on the historical tulip mania (it’s written on the obi as well!). Originally, I considered using the tulip mania as a base and changing the flower. But tulip bulbs have such special characteristics, and the flowers have a beauty which captivated the people of the past. They were even deified. There aren’t many flowers about which you can say the same thing! I decided it was best to keep them as is, rather than awkwardly trying to insert another flower in their place.
Although the story turned out quite different from the real events, there are various theories speculating about whether the tulip mania even really happened, so I thought it’d be fun to enjoy it through a fictional lens!
By the way, in reality, it seemed that nobody took the sales approach that Jeanette did. Instead, the business transactions were usually done in taverns and bars (according to the books I used as reference). It might be fun to compare that part to real life events too.
As for the unrelenting Leila, I had her play the role of a noblewoman who doesn’t really understand business. I’d already decided her final fate in the original script of the story. As for Ariel, I considered having her follow her mother to the monastery or having her work as a maid in a noble house. Who would’ve thought I’d end up writing that short story about her!
I didn’t expect for Claus to go off the rails like that on page 78! It wasn’t a part of my original script, and as I was writing it, all I could hear in my head was “And iii-eee-iii!” (I wonder if teens will get this reference?)
The reason I was able to finish this volume safely is all thanks to my manager. I’m so sorry I kept giving you false promises over and over about when I’d finally send the extra chapter OTL. Thank you so much for everything.
Once again, Hayase Jyun has drawn this volume’s faaaaaaaaaan—(inhale)—tastic artwork! Thank you so much! I’m incredibly fortunate! (blushes)
To my proofreader, who so smoothly corrected my enigmatic Japanese; the designer, who once more produced a wonderful cover; all the salespeople; and everyone connected to the book in any way: thank you so much from the bottom of my heart!
And more than anything, I hope those who picked up this volume had a lot of fun reading it!
Miyako Miyano