What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 95

#095 Playing Fire with Fire (3)

[It’s true that Cedric and Christel were different from ordinary holy knights from the start. It’s a combination of innate strength and the blessing of the main god.]

Cardinal Boutier gave her answer.

The empire’s bishops, gathered in one place, listened to her words with bated breath.

[According to Sir Johann Haynes, dispatched from the Vatican, the two of them would surpass the bishop level even if they were immediately ordained.]

“So, you knew that too.” The central temple became noisy at the Cardinal’s explanation.

The bishops bowed their heads, whispering to each other, nodding or shaking their heads, creating a heated atmosphere.

I looked back and forth between the prince and Christel, who were sitting on either side of me.

The expressions barely visible under the veil were the same, indifferent. *They look alike at times like this.*

[Your Highness, many people of Liester also know of your wonders. Those who watched the ‘Great Demon Beast Subjugation’ and the nobles who witnessed Prince Your Highness’s duel all admired it. Such sacred abilities should never be hidden by the label of ‘apprentice’!]

Archbishop Tourcoing, who had been standing, said with a determined look, spitting as he spoke.

*It was like the British Parliament.*

[That’s right!]

[I second that!]

Shouts from the bishops poured out from all over the seats for believers.

According to Sir Haynes, it would take at least a year to be ordained as a holy knight.

That was a short estimate because the two protagonists were so outstanding, and I heard that it usually takes 5 to 10 years for one priest-level holy knight to appear.

This was because it included training during the squire period.

[Princess Elysee of the Venetian Theocracy became a priest-level holy knight at the young age of six. This is because her amazing talent was recognized. Prince Yeseo is here, but if you’ll excuse my presumptuousness, would he have gone through more than a year of harsh training for ordination? I don’t think so!]

When one archbishop suddenly stood up and spoke, the bishops buzzed again.

Two thousand pairs of eyes poured out on me at once.

I hugged the lesser pandas so I wouldn’t shrink back for no reason.

The prince and Christel showed uncomfortable expressions.

So, the princess of the neighboring country was ordained at the age of six with her talent, so why can’t our prince and lady be ordained?

Since there was a precedent, it was hard to call it unreasonable, and considering it was a matter of the empire’s pride, I understood their reaction.

*Since it’s the first case, they have no choice but to be more sensitive.*

“Why are you picking on someone who’s just standing still?”

Christel grumbled. I smiled softly and replied that it was okay.

[I’ve also read the petitions from the 20 archdioceses carefully. The arguments were valid.]

The Cardinal replied.

As if she had expected the meeting to go this way, her voice was calm as usual.

[Does anyone have any objections?]

The venue became as quiet as a mouse. The bishops were looking up at her eagerly.

It was an atmosphere where it was difficult to imagine the existence of an objector. The Cardinal opened her mouth again.

[Then, what about sending the two of them to the Vatican?]

The quiet room became noisy as if it had exploded.

Ordaining a holy knight was one of the Pope’s sacred duties, so anyone who became a formal holy knight had to go to the Vatican to receive the title.

However, after the death of Pope Irene, the pontifical seat had been vacant, and all the holy knights born after that were ordained with the approval of the Cardinal.

*Hmm, it’s rewarding to have read history books.*

[That is also unacceptable. Princess Elysee was comfortably ordained in the royal castle of the Theocracy, with the blessings of the cardinals. There is no reason for the noble Prince Your Highness and Lady Sarnese to go on a long journey!]

[Well said!]

This time, a relatively young bishop expressed his opinion.

Some bishops nodded and applauded.

*At this point, it’s not an annual prayer meeting, but a regular general meeting.*

[I see. Are there any objections to this?]

A silence like water being poured on it returned.

It was subtly fun to see the Cardinal make a fuss and then become quiet every time she said something.

As I smiled and turned my gaze, I saw a doll waving its hand slightly from the front of the believer’s seat.

“······Eva?”

I opened my eyes wide.

The girl, wearing a large bishop’s hat and buried in a heavy formal dress, was smiling brightly at me.

Come to think of it, Eva was also a newly ordained bishop.

Most of the bishops seemed to be in their forties or older, but it was pitiful and admirable to see a child who was only sixteen years old sitting in the midst of them.

Christel and I waved back together.

I heard that the letter I wrote to my parents was properly sent. I hope it works out well.

[Archbishop Castex!]

The chairman called out in a loud voice. It seemed that they had already moved on to the second question.

“It seems like that was resolved well.”

I whispered to the prince. A low-pitched answer came back.

“They say they’re requesting the dispatch of cardinals to the Vatican.”

I knew it would turn out that way. I nodded my head.

Today’s holy knights are examined by three cardinals, and if two or more of them agree, they are ordained.

The empire had only one cardinal, Cardinal Boutier, until now, so it was amazing that three of them were coming.

Indeed, there seemed to be nothing rough in the protagonists’ narrative.

[Regarding the point that Prince Your Highness and Lady Sarnese do not yet have fixed divine officer partners, what is Cardinal Your Highness’s position?]

Finally, the most important question came out.

Around that time, several servants brought us drinks and snacks.

It seemed that they were aware that the meeting was getting longer.

“What is there? I can’t see well.”

“The drinks are coffee for the two of you and my rooibos [a South African herbal tea]. The snacks are······.”

It was a bit difficult to explain with words, so I asked for understanding and lifted Christel’s veil to show her the *cougn de Lyon* [a sweet bread from Lyon] and the *croustade* [a small pastry shell].

Christel picked up a warm goose meat *croustade*, as if she was hungry.

Then, I lifted the prince’s veil and had him choose something to eat.

[Prince Yeseo is Venetian, isn’t he? I think it would be difficult for him to work as a permanent partner, even if he can assist.]

“Bullshit.”

One bishop argued. Christel took a big bite of bread and snapped back.

I smiled bitterly and met the prince’s eyes.

The orange eyes had darkened like sunspots. *This guy has a dangerous look in his eyes.*

“Have some candy, candy.”

I said soothingly.

As if he was already thinking about it, the prince picked up two or three *cougn de Lyon* and put them straight into his mouth.

The sound of him crunching and chewing was brutal. I put down the veil and added.

“You’ll lose a tooth if you do that. Be careful.”

It would be a bit sad if the male lead of a romance fantasy novel had implants.

[The relationship between a holy knight and a divine officer is very special. Even if they don’t make a sacred oath. Everyone in the empire knows that Prince Yeseo has built a special friendship with the two of you, but relying on the prince for ether could lead to national security issues······.]

“He’s packaging what he wants to say so carefully.”

Christel’s jab made me laugh.

I whispered to her as she sipped her iced Americano.

“Still, what he’s saying is right. If you have a hostage as a partner, you’ll have political problems.”

Of course, not all the bishops gathered here were saying such things out of patriotism.

The majority of them were trying to get involved with the prince or Christel and make a fortune.

Because the Liester Bishopric is primarily a huge power group.

“Then, what about the prince?”

“Yes?”

“Aside from those external issues, if you just take away the prince’s heart, are you uncomfortable with us?”

Christel looked straight at me and asked.

For that moment, the temple didn’t feel dark at all.

The bustling venue quickly faded from my ears.

The cyan eyes were shining brightly.

I felt breathless and turned my head to the other side.

The quietly burning gaze grabbed me by the scruff of my neck.

“Hmm.”

I cleared my throat.

It was an atmosphere where I had to answer, but I didn’t want to lie to them.

I didn’t have the talent to beat around the bush.

*Jeong Eun-seo, who was reading Toegye [a prominent Korean Confucian scholar], would slap the phone screen, saying, ‘Human, express yourself! Who will know if you keep your mouth shut!’*

That was a criticism that applied to both the prince of the original work and Prince Yeseo.

The characters in Benjamin’s also twisted the situation because they always conveyed their true feelings ambiguously.

I didn’t want to create such a development with my own mouth.

“I think you two are good people. I think you’re good as partners too. But honestly, I’m afraid that harm will come to me. You may think I’m cowardly, but I can’t help it because I’ve always been like this. I’ve actually been assassinated before.”

“······.”

For now, this was the best answer that a time-limited sub-male lead could give.

I was a little embarrassed because there was no reaction coming back. *I think this is a polite rejection.*

I stroked the chest of Dduk-sim, who was standing tall on my palm.

[I don’t think this is something I can say. Shouldn’t the opinions of the parties involved be the most important?]

The Cardinal’s gentle voice echoed through the platform. Then Christel jumped up from her seat.

Her voice, as she spoke to the prince, was surprisingly bright.

“I’ll go.”

The prince nodded his chin. *Did he know what it was and immediately say okay?*

-Tap, tap

A strong footstep sounded.

Christel, who approached behind the Cardinal, bowed politely and whispered something in her ear.

Then, the Cardinal smiled and stepped aside.

Our protagonist grabbed the altar decorated with purple tulips as if she had been waiting.

Then, she threw off the veil that was obstructing her view in one fell swoop.

[Good heavens!]

[Oh my.]

Some of the bishops rose up and were shocked. I was also startled. *Good job on suppressing the atmosphere.*

“I am very grateful for the bishops’ sincere advice and concerns, but as Cardinal Your Highness said, the partner issue is something we will decide. In fact, we have already decided. So, there is no need to have a meaningless debate.”

*No······. What is she talking about?* I blinked my eyes.

The clear voice stretched out without a microphone.

The bishops looked at each other with surprised faces and whispered. Christel did not stop going straight.

“Prince Your Highness and I will be partners with him, not the bishops here.”

[Wait a minute, Lady. Does that mean that the other person is one······. person?]

The chairman, who had been silently watching the situation until then, looked at Christel and asked.

He had a look of disbelief. I felt the same way.

*No way, did she only remember the good things that came out in front and forget about the part about the gentle rejection?*

“Yes.”

“Cough, cough!”

I was so startled that I coughed. I immediately put my lips on my sleeve.

*Hey, Eun-seo! I did as you told me, but the result is the same frustrating development. What is going on!*

[But such a thing is in the history of the empire!]

“Isn’t everything in the history of the empire the first time? The appearance of the holy knight, the ordination, and even the choice of partner. So, didn’t you decide today? You decided to advance the ordination to next month and opposed sending us to the Vatican. If there is a precedent left by the Theocracy, I thought you would put up a counterattack as it is.”

“······.”

Her speaking skills were too good. If I kept listening, I felt like I would fall for it too.

“There is a case where three people became partners. There is a record that Yuliter, who was the lover of the late Emperor Romero, was presumed to be paired with two holy knights.”

My mouth and the mouths of the lesser pandas dropped open. When did she investigate that? Was I the only one who didn’t know?

I quickly turned to the prince, but he didn’t have the slightest agitation. *I was the only one who didn’t know!*

“I don’t have a sense of competition with the Theocracy, but since the bishops are talking about that side, I had no choice but to give an example. I won’t accept any rebuttals.”

The bishops were frantically agitated, but they did not stand up against her.

It was also unsettling that the case of Yuliter, ‘Juliet’, was mentioned, but since she said she wouldn’t accept any rebuttals, they really couldn’t rebut.

In the meantime, it was so funny that I let out a hollow breath.

“Thank you. Then go in.”

She finished her statement with a very Korean comment, greeted the Cardinal politely, and returned to her seat.

She didn’t forget to pick up the veil she had thrown away and put it back on.

Her distinction between showmanship and everyday life was thorough.

“Please resolve the political issues, Your Highness.”

Christel, who stood in front of the prince, said that and held out her fist.

The prince stared at her hand for a long time, then raised his fist and bumped it against hers.

“What?”

My consciousness flowed out of my mouth. What did you just do? What are you two?

“There’s nothing to worry about. From this moment on,”

The prince turned to me with eyes like sparks in the darkness.