What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 63

#063 Let Him Enjoy (4)

In the end, a scolding erupted.

“Don’t you know that playing with fire makes you wet the bed at night?”

“…What?”

Seidi frowned, looking genuinely dumbfounded. But I was the one who was truly bewildered.

If you have something to say, you should come through the door like a normal person during the day. Is it right to sneak in at night and set fire to the room?

Where did you learn your manners? Are you even a prince?

“I told you to come to my room if you needed help, but I didn’t say my room was your room.”

-Knock knock

Just then, a hurried knock sounded. I quickly gestured to Seidi.

My lips moved exaggeratedly.

‘Hide under the bed.’

The boy only raised an eyebrow slightly and didn’t move.

He definitely understood what I was saying, but still!

“Your Highness? Are you okay?”

Ganael’s worried voice came from outside the door.

He must have accidentally heard me making a loud noise while putting out the fire.

Even before leaving, he was anxious that I wouldn’t be able to sleep because of the heat, so it was natural for him to be hovering around the bedroom, given his personality.

“Oh! I’m fine. Just…”

“Should I come in?”

Ganael asked. I was about to be caught.

I put Demi down on the floor and quickly approached Seidi without hesitation.

I could see the boy’s eyes widening in real-time.

Since his precious self couldn’t possibly go under the bed, I had no choice but to hide him myself.

“Just bear with it for a moment, heave-ho.”

I lifted the boy up in a flash. He was lighter than I thought.

Eunseo seemed heavier when she was this small.

“How dare you—”

“Shh!”

I scolded the little rascal and quickly moved to the balcony.

The ill-tempered boy was still kicking me even in this situation.

He was quite strong, and I felt like I would get bruises. This is my fate.

-Click

The doorknob turning was clearly visible. I closed the balcony curtains and hurriedly shouted.

“You don’t have to come in, Ganael! There’s a mosquito!”

“A mosquito? Oh my goodness. Should I catch it for you?”

“No, I caught it. I just caught it.”

As I answered, I turned my gaze and saw young orange eyes glaring at me as if they would burn me to death.

It seemed like a good analogy even after I said it.

He always comes in as he pleases and sucks up my aether [magical energy], so how is this any different from a mosquito?

Of course, I gave it to him voluntarily, though.

“Go and rest, Ganael. Sorry for bothering you.”

“I thought you might be having another nightmare.”

“It’s nothing like that. Don’t worry.”

Seidi’s expression changed subtly at the word ‘nightmare.’

This guy must have been sleeping soundly thanks to my aether lingering in the Imperial Palace, so he probably couldn’t imagine that I would have such dreams.

“…Then I’ll be going. If you need anything, please call me anytime, Your Highness.”

“I will. Thank you.”

Even after that, I stood still, holding my breath for about a minute.

Just when I thought Ganael had left, I raised my head and saw the boy, who had stopped kicking at some point, staring at me intently.

It was already hot, but I was getting even hotter from getting excited alone.

I took a long breath and gently lowered Seidi onto the balcony chair.

Demi, who had followed me out at some point, wrapped his tail around my ankle.

“Why are you acting so bold when you could get caught?”

“Why do you have nightmares?”

The boy changed the subject. I gave a bitter smile.

“A priest can’t use healing powers on themselves. It’s similar to that.”

“…”

Since I entered the palace, everyone around me has been sleeping soundly with good dreams.

But unfortunately, that effect doesn’t apply to me.

It’s not like I have bad dreams every day.

It was just about the same as ordinary people, but one day I had a nightmare and screamed, so Benjamin and Ganael ran over in their pajamas.

It was an embarrassing experience.

“What about you? Why… are you lacking aether?”

I carefully chose my words.

I couldn’t possibly ask, ‘How did you get so small when you have the Hyegeom [a powerful artifact]?’

“It’s a handwriting I’ve seen before.”

“Are you going to keep changing the subject? No, when did you take that again?”

I was horrified. Seidi was already holding the ‘suspicious letter’ in his hand.

I tried to snatch it away, but my hands were too slow.

The boy hid the paper in his arms and jumped onto the balcony railing in an instant. Damn it!

“‘Losna’ must be your middle name.”

I closed my mouth. I had made such a guess.

But I couldn’t be 100% sure, and even if it was true, I didn’t want to tell that prince.

In an instant, Seidi’s eyes darkened.

“Are you colluding with someone named ‘Wisil’?”

“Would I do that?”

I answered quickly and swallowed hard.

The boy in front of me was the same little kid I sometimes took care of, but also Prince Cedric.

There was no point in inviting unnecessary suspicion.

I stared at the boy’s forehead, which was covered in cold sweat, for a moment, and then deployed the Sanctuary [a protective magical barrier].

-Whoosh!

The balcony was filled with a golden glow brighter than moonlight.

Demi made unknown flowers bloom on the circle’s pattern, ‘Squeak!’

“If you are in contact with the Holy Kingdom—”

[I haven’t, and I have no plans to do so in the future.]

I cut him off firmly. Seidi seemed a little surprised by the sudden reverberation.

[I’m as good as dead in the Holy Kingdom. I almost died even after coming here. I won’t do anything reckless when it’s dangerous even if I live quietly.]

“…”

[I swear.]

-Swish…

As I promised with the Divine Authority, the Sanctuary brightened brightly for a moment and poured out an ether close to silver-white.

I stood there, taking the ether that was pouring from my head like a shower.

The intense light that made my vision turn white and the warm warmth embraced my body once and then receded.

When I slowly opened my eyes, which I had closed for a moment, the boy was standing precariously and looking down at me.

“You are making a covenant with me.”

The boy opened his mouth.

His expression was somewhere between satisfied and happy. This is ominous.

“Is there anything to prove to the Imperial Family’s ‘bastard’?”

Damn it… I frowned as much as I could.

I wondered why he hadn’t said that yet, but in the end, the ends of my ears naturally flushed at the remark that dredged up my dark history.

I quickly cut off the ether I was giving to him and Demi and quickly deactivated the Sanctuary.

The balcony went dark with a thud, as if the fluorescent light had been turned off.

-Squeak

“Sorry, sorry. Let’s go to sleep now.”

I picked up Demi, who was fussing, in my arms. The lesser panda gripped my shoulder tightly with his black forepaws.

“Don’t say weird things either and go in.”

The boy didn’t even bat an eye at my stern dismissal.

Wow, they act exactly the same 100 out of 100 times, so why did I believe so firmly that he was my son back then?

But isn’t it normal and common sense to think he’s your son?

I turned to the bedroom to chase away both sharply conflicting thoughts.

Looking back would only make me feel disturbed.

At that time,

“You will be the one to yield first.”

The little thing said that to the back of my head. I was furious and quickly turned around to look at the railing.

“You…”

But there was no one there.

Only white moonlight and black darkness, and a gradually blowing hot wind remained.

It’s already hot, but I’m getting even hotter because I’m angry.

*

“You made a really good decision. A summer retreat, what a wise choice!”

I’m going to die.

“Marquis… I’m sorry, but please lower your voice a little.”

At this rate, I’m going to log out from dying of the heat, not the war.

“I understand. But Your Highness, His Majesty’s office is this way. That way is a window, so you’ll fall with a ‘plop’.”

I staggered, trying to correct my dizzy vision.

Benjamin and Ganael, who were following behind, were startled and grabbed my arm and shoulder.

With the help of the ice pack I’ve had on my forehead since dawn, I was barely maintaining my sanity.

The Imperial Capital was like hell when the hot wind started blowing.

“You are very weak to the heat. Actually, this is not a strong hot wind!”

“Please be quiet…”

I was trying hard not to get annoyed with the person who had responded to my call since morning and came to give me a ‘birthday present’.

I was frustrated and resentful of the author for making only me like this when the servants and the Marquis weren’t struggling much.

What web novel supporting character suddenly ‘gets heatstroke’ and becomes like this overnight?

Usually, they use a lot of strength and spit blood, or collapse after taking a knife for the main character.

Anyway, even if they’re struggling, it’s with a story and in a cool way…

Is it better to just have heatstroke…

“We’re here, Your Highness.”

The Marquis said soothingly.

Laura, the head maid who had come to greet me near the Emperor’s office, looked at me with quite worried eyes and knocked on the door.

-Knock knock

“Your Majesty, Prince Yeser and Marquis Francois D’huem are here.”

“Let them in.”

I straightened my posture and tidied my clothes.

I didn’t even know how my hands were moving, but I managed to do it anyway.

Then, as soon as the door opened, I stepped into the room.

“Yeser Venetian, Prince of the Holy Kingdom, greets the sun descended on earth.”

“It’s more serious than I heard. He’s dying.”

Emperor Frederick answered cynically.

I somehow bowed and slumped down on the sofa, entrusting my body to someone’s touch.

The cool and dry feel of the leather made me feel a little better.

Only then did I realize that the person who had led me was Cardinal Boutier.

Her beige eyes were full of worry.

As she stroked my cheek with her cool hand, I felt all the strength drain from my body and the sofa seemed to be devouring me.

My head was heavy and throbbing.

“Your Highness…”

“Frederick, we must send the Prince to the North immediately. He’s going to faint at this rate.”

“Didn’t they say the Prince can only use the portal once a day? I wonder how far he can go in that condition.”

The Emperor clicked his tongue. In my dazed consciousness, I thought of Eunseo and my brother.

If I die like this, can I go home? Or will I have to start all over from the beginning?

“Your Majesty, Your Highness. I will vouch for Prince Yeser. Please send him to the Summer Palace.”

“I’m in favor. Frederick?”

The Marquis made a request, and the Cardinal immediately sought the Emperor’s opinion.

Her expression was not clearly visible because my eyelids were half-closed.

The ice pack kept sliding down my face.

“We can’t let outsiders into Evelyn [territory of Duke Evelyn].”

“Francois is vouching for him. And we’ll be going up soon too.”

“Aurelie…”

I didn’t hear the rest of the conversation properly.

I must have fallen asleep or lost consciousness for a moment because I relaxed in front of the Cardinal.

But it was certain that the Emperor had surprisingly quickly allowed me to go to the Summer Palace.

When I opened my eyes, the atmosphere was quite relaxed, and

“Laura, send a message to Duke Evelyn. Prince Yeser will also be moving to the Imperial Portal today.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Such words were being exchanged.

Evelyn seemed to be the territory of Duke Evelyn, who wrote the series.

The Duke is probably a member of the Imperial Family, so it wasn’t strange that there was a Summer Palace there.

Considering that the number of nobles in the Empire is enormous, the possibility that my guess is completely wrong cannot be ignored…

Anyway, I lived once again. This time from the damn heat.

“Have the Prince’s servants come in. We need to take him out first so he can use the portal.”

The Emperor’s order was given. Even at that moment, the Cardinal brought ice water to my mouth.

While I smiled weakly and thanked her, Benjamin and Ganael, who were pale, entered the office.

The two first paid their respects to the Emperor, and she waved her hand as if to say it was unnecessary.

It seemed like she meant to take care of me first.

“Um, one more thing. There’s something I want to say…”

I said, barely raising my back with Ganael’s help.

The Emperor raised one eyebrow slightly.

I wondered who the prince had learned that expression from, but it was his mother.

Having such a vain thought seemed to clear my head for a moment.

I cleared my throat once and looked straight at her.

“Your Majesty gave me the opportunity to ask for anything at the recent celebration.”

“That’s right.”

“If you allow me… I would like to make that request in this place.”

The Emperor chuckled.

It was understandable that she was dumbfounded because the guy who had been half-fainted until just now suddenly opened his eyes wide and said he had something to ask for.

But for me, it was a matter of survival in the future.

I had realized something while talking to Seidi last night, and now it was time to put it into practice.

The Cardinal held a cold cup tightly in my hand.

Benjamin and Ganael looked at me with surprised faces.

“I grant it. Speak.”

With one temple propped up with her hand, the Emperor smiled brightly, shining her cherry-colored eyes.

I opened my mouth calmly.