What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 62

#062 Let Him Enjoy (3)

“It wouldn’t hurt to know.”

I adopted the most defensive attitude possible. Christel nodded lightly.

But it felt more like she was thinking, ‘If you say so, then so be it,’ rather than actually believing me.

I hoped I was wrong.

“I thought that the Crown Prince and I had earned the Prince’s displeasure.”

“No, not displeasure….”

I trailed off, flustered.

I absolutely didn’t want to get close to the two protagonists and then be dragged into a war or face a life-threatening situation, but that didn’t mean I disliked them.

There was no way I could hate the people that Eunseo cherished so much.

Even if that Crown Prince was a bit annoying.

“That’s a relief.”

Christel’s face brightened slightly.

I wondered how I could change the subject, and then lightly shook the fairy tale book in my hand.

.

“Thank you for the book recommendation. Have you read it yourself?”

“Yes, even with the librarian’s help, that was the only book I could find related to the Paladins. If I study here, I think I’ll become a good historian rather than a good Paladin.”

She was right. I gave a wry smile and walked out from between the bookshelves with her.

Then, we headed to the opposite bookshelf.

Since she had helped me find a book, I wanted to give her a small reward in return.

“Here, there are also fairy tales about sacred objects. Evelyn the Great wrote this one as well.”

“He must have loved his son very much. He even wrote fairy tales himself.”

“Yes. It seems he drew the pictures himself too.”

She took the that I handed her, examined the cover and contents, and then smiled, expressing her gratitude.

Since she had decided to become a Paladin, it would be good for her to gather valuable information and grow as quickly as possible.

Maybe she could even find a good priest partner.

But did she just say ‘son’?

“By the way, Prince. Is there anything you want?”

“Why all of a sudden….”

“Because your birthday is coming up.”

People were trying to take care of my birthday from all over the place.

But unlike gifts from the Emperor or Marquis Dhiem, I couldn’t possibly accept favors from the protagonist.

It would be awkward to just brush it off, and I would end up having to take care of her birthday in return, which would be too much of a burden.

“Everyone is talking about my birthday.”

“The [a fictional periodical] published that your birthday is May 31st, so there’s probably no one in the Empire who doesn’t know.”

So that’s where it came from. No wonder all the nobles I met at the celebration knew!

“Well, His Majesty takes such good care of me that I don’t really need anything.”

“Come on, birthday gifts aren’t for necessities, they’re for cheering you up.”

I had never thought of it that way.

When I smiled ambiguously without answering, she sighed softly.

“I’m leaving for the North with Lady Elizabeth tomorrow. I probably won’t be back until June.”

“You mean summer vacation.”

I nodded.

Christel and Lady Elizabeth, who had become much closer after the ‘Monster Great Extermination,’ were said to be going north together during the ‘June Heatwave.’

It was still May, so it was earlier than I thought, but it was definitely good news for me that the protagonist was leaving the Imperial Palace.

“Yes. Originally, I was going to leave in June, but the mages’ predictions have changed. The heatwave will start as early as tomorrow, or at the latest the day after tomorrow.”

Benjamin had said something similar this morning.

There was an Imperial Mage Advisory Group directly under the Emperor that predicted monster appearances and the weather in the Imperial Palace, and their predictions had been hastily revised yesterday.

The news was that the heatwave would reach the Imperial Palace more than a week earlier than usual.

At this point, it was more like a live broadcast than a prediction.

“The North will be cool. Have a good trip.”

“Thank you. It sounds like it will be fun. Actually, Lady Elizabeth is going on a tour of her territory, and it happens to be the season when pirates appear in the North Sea.”

Wait. Just a minute.

“Pirates?”

“Yes! I hope I can actually see them. They don’t appear every year. They are said to operate between the Fenetian Theocracy [a fictional religious state] and the Empire’s territorial waters….”

Her expectant blue-gray eyes sparkled like stars.

Christel kept chattering on, but I couldn’t concentrate on what she was saying as I struggled to hold onto my fading consciousness.

Eunseo’s voice poured into my head like heavy rain during the monsoon season.

It was as clear as if I were hearing it right next to me.

‘Christel was kidnapped by pirates a while ago, and people were fighting over whether to drop the series or not.’

‘But you didn’t drop it.’

‘Why would I drop it when it’s fun? Honestly, it wasn’t that frustrating. Yeseo and Seregi joined hands to save her, so the story progressed quickly. And how can the story always be refreshing? There has to be a crisis like that.’

This is… This is the plot I know….

“Prince?”

“Yes?”

“I don’t think you were listening to me.”

“…I’m sorry. It’s hot, so I’m a little dazed.”

“Oh dear. Now that I see it, you’re sweating a little.”

Christel took out a handkerchief from her bosom with a pitiful expression and handed it to me.

She continued with words of comfort, ‘You must be very sensitive to the heat. It’s not that hot yet.’

I had a handkerchief too, but I was too busy sorting out my complicated thoughts to refuse her kindness.

I wiped the light sweat on my forehead with her silk handkerchief.

In the original work of ‘Toegyeong,’ Christel had been kidnapped by pirates.

I didn’t know the details.

I had just listened to Eunseo’s complaints.

But now that Christel had mentioned the word pirate and was leaving for the sea tomorrow, it seemed that the episode was about to begin.

Of course….

“Thank you for the handkerchief. I’ll wash it and return it to you.”

“Yes, then I’d appreciate it.”

I concluded as I looked at the smiling Christel.

She was no longer the Christel from the original story.

Her personality might not be that different, but there was no way Christel, who had absorbed the ‘Blessing of the Sea’ and possessed tremendous water power, would be harmed by anyone at sea.

Rather, the pirates should be avoiding her.

“When I give you the handkerchief, I’ll bring you a gift.”

“Princess.”

“We’re friends, aren’t we? We’re not that close yet, though.”

Christel looked up at me. I couldn’t bring myself to argue with those words.

It was I who had proposed a secret to her in front of the fallen ‘Saydi’ [a type of monster] in the valley of Marquis Dhiem’s territory where the Monster Great Extermination was held.

It was also I who didn’t take back her declaration of friendship.

“…Just a small souvenir will do.”

I compromised.

“A souvenir sounds good. I’ll do that.”

Christel smiled as if she would brighten the world.

I looked at her face and made up my mind once again.

If this was the process of the protagonist influencing those around her, I would become the first and last extra who wouldn’t fall for it.

“Be careful of pirates.”

Well, just in case.

“Are you telling me to be careful?”

“Who knows what might happen.”

Then she laughed out loud this time.

She had to take the portal tomorrow morning, so I quickly sent her back.

I was grateful that she didn’t suggest accompanying me in the end, as she had read my discomfort.

I was left alone in the library again, with Evelyn the Great’s fairy tale book in one hand and Christel’s handkerchief in the other.

*

The next day was peaceful again. But now it was hard to ‘enjoy’ it.

“Prince, are you very hot?”

“This is terrible. The heatwave hasn’t even landed yet….”

Ganael and Benjamin, who were standing beside me, were restless.

I was leaning against the bed sheets, which had been changed to a cool material, wearing a thin nightgown.

The two of them didn’t seem to be hot at all, but I was dying.

I had suspected it, but it seemed that Prince Yeseo’s body was really weak to heat.

In reality, I wasn’t very sensitive to heat or cold, so I didn’t expect things to turn out this way.

Damn it.

“I’m fine.”

“Don’t say that. If you have trouble sleeping tonight, I think you should really go on vacation.”

Ganael said, fanning me with a very worried expression.

I had refused as soon as Lady Elizabeth mentioned the vacation ten days ago, but now that I was in this state, the boy’s suggestion sounded very tempting.

People are so fickle.

This morning, Christel left for the North with a teacher from the Papal States [a fictional country].

I heard that Crown Prince Cedrick was going on vacation to some territory tomorrow when the heatwave started in earnest.

I wasn’t sure because I overheard the servants’ conversation.

During the morning class, Cardinal Boutier also told me about his plans to go to the summer palace with the Emperor.

So, the day after tomorrow, I would be the only one left in the Imperial Palace.

If it weren’t for this heatwave, I would have enjoyed a staycation alone in the spacious palace.

No, if it weren’t for this body.

“How long did you say the heatwave would last? A week?”

“It lasts for a week at the shortest, and ten days at the longest. Most of the shops in the Imperial Palace close during this time. Commoners also take a break from work.”

Damn it. I cursed only in my mind.

If it were just my body, this wouldn’t be a problem, but the Prince’s body was so weak that I wasn’t confident I could last a week.

Moreover, the heatwave hadn’t even started yet.

“When the heatwave passes, it’s more like summer in spring, Prince. It’s a little hot during the day, but it gets cool at night.”

Ganael explained. I thought I should just close my eyes and stick with the Cardinal until then.

It felt awkward to freeload on the Emperor and Cardinal’s vacation….

“Let’s sleep for one night, and if it’s really not possible, let’s talk about vacation tomorrow.”

“That’s a good idea.”

Benjamin put down a letter basket on the bed with a benevolent face.

It was letters from the Liester nobles congratulating me on my upcoming birthday.

The gifts went straight into the Imperial Vault, but thanks to the Emperor’s consideration, I was allowed to bring in short cards.

I didn’t care at all if I didn’t receive them, but Benjamin and Ganael seemed very moved by this measure.

“Then, we’ll be on our way.”

“Good night, Prince. If you’re having a hard time, please call us even in the early morning.”

“Thank you, Ganael. Both of you, get some rest.”

I waved to the two servants who were leaving with worried faces.

As soon as the door closed, Demi, who was at my feet, slowly climbed onto my stomach.

It was hard to sleep because of the heat, but I couldn’t tell an animal that couldn’t speak to go away.

I stroked the back of his ear and began to tear open the envelopes.

The ice block placed in the gold carriage next to the bed was diligently releasing cold air.

“Air conditioning is urgent, really.”

-Kkiiing

Demi rubbed his head against my chest, crying as if answering. I laughed because he was so cute.

It seemed fine now, but if the heatwave started tomorrow, I would have to bring up the vacation story for Demi’s sake as well.

“This is a card from Marquis Dhiem. This is from Count Mute… This was sent by Lady Elizabeth’s mother. This is,”

-Thud

Among the luxurious cards, a piece of paper folded into a ttakji shape [a traditional Korean folded paper toy] fell.

I blinked in a little embarrassment. What is this doing here?

“Demi, look at this. Who sent this?”

-Kkii

The divine beast sniffed the ttakji, twitching his nose.

He quickly lost interest and flopped down, so it didn’t seem like he felt any suspicious energy.

I carefully unfolded the paper. I wondered if a love letter from a servant had been mixed in.

‘Dear Losna.

I hope you are doing well.

I hope we can meet again.

Happy birthday.

From, Wisil.’

…I don’t think it’s about love.

I got up with a stiff face.

Demi slid down and pooled between my crossed legs.

I turned the letter over and brought it close to the candlelight, but there were no hidden letters.

It was a powerful and neat handwriting.

It mentioned my birthday, so it seemed to be addressed to me, but both the recipient’s and sender’s names were unfamiliar.

I had a strange feeling. Could it be….

-Whoosh!

At that moment, a fire broke out on the table in the center of the bedroom.

“Crazy!”

Hugging Demi and the suspicious letter, I quickly jumped out of bed.

Fortunately, the flame was only the size of a fist. There was no need to hesitate any longer.

I picked up the vase on the table and quickly poured water on it.

-Tsssk….

“What’s going on again!”

I couldn’t help but shout. The fire was quickly extinguished.

I was already flustered because of the strange note, but the handkerchief on the table spontaneously combusted….

Huh, this is the one Christel lent me.

“The smell of water is unpleasant.”

At that moment, a very familiar little boy’s voice pierced my eardrums.

I flinched and turned around.

“You….”

Orange eyes were glaring at me. It felt like a fire had broken out in the bedroom again.