What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 98

#098 The Royal Family’s Counterattack (3)

“Should I hold out for 30 more seconds?”

“Ugh······.”

Two sanctuaries collided. The sound of grinding ether and golden sparks flew.

-Tzzzzzz!

I gritted my teeth and struggled. Cardinal Boutier’s divine power was immense, and her sanctuary was powerful.

I was gradually increasing the size of my sanctuary, pressuring hers to prevent it from expanding.

It was the complete opposite of my first day in the Cardinal’s office.

Back then, she pushed me away, preventing me from advancing to the center.

But today, my goal was to drive her into a corner as much as possible.

-Kigigigik!

“Good. Maintain your concentration.”

“Hiss.”

I glared, staring intently at the boundary between the two interlocking sanctuaries like clockwork.

Due to the steadily advancing ether, my sanctuary was subtly growing.

Just a little more like this······.

“To open the Holy Ground [a sacred space or state of being], you need desperation. Think of what you desire most.”

‘Yeo Eui-seo!’

‘Little brother.’

At her words, Hyung [older brother] and Eun-seo’s voices echoed in my ears. For a moment, the strength in my chin loosened.

“Ah.”

-Paaaaat!

The Cardinal didn’t miss the fleeting gap. It was already too late to recover.

Along with the feeling of foreign ether pressing down strongly on my head,

-Kwaang!

“Kugh!”

Her sanctuary expanded in an instant, throwing me back.

Unable to withstand the intense force, my body crashed into the bookshelf and tumbled to the ground.

The golden sanctuary illuminating the office was now the only one.

“Ugh······.”

I groaned as I lifted my head. My back and knees ached, but it seemed I wasn’t seriously injured.

At most, it was the impact of a light bruise.

The Cardinal’s dazzling light emanating from the floor gently enveloped me, rotating clockwise.

She reached out her hand as she approached. I rose from my seat with her help.

“There’s no need to be too impatient, Your Highness.”

“······Yes.”

“Your Highness has talent. The Holy Ground will open in due time, so think of this as making the flow of ether even smoother in the meantime.”

It was kind encouragement. I nodded.

Even without growing further, I knew I was already an excellent priest.

But I wanted to do everything I could, as I didn’t know when or what situation might arise.

Having reliable people by my side was good, but becoming stronger myself was naturally advantageous for survival.

It would also be better for the divine beasts to have a trustworthy guardian.

“Today’s practice ends here. Take a breather.”

The Cardinal said. I immediately sank into the sofa, and she sat down at her desk.

“Do you have any questions?”

The beige eyes under the monocle shimmered faintly.

Well. There’s something I want to ask most, but I’ll ask that later.

“Are all three Cardinals coming from the Papal State Paladins?”

I opened my mouth.

I heard that Cardinal Boutier had formally requested the dispatch of Cardinals for the Paladin investiture examination [a ceremony conferring knighthood] of Christel and Prince Cedric.

If I was lucky, I might even see a Paladin with earth attribute.

At my question, the corners of the teacher’s eyes mischievously curved.

“It’s random. The judges are chosen by lottery for fairness. But only two are coming.”

Huh? Didn’t they say that the investiture requires the consent of two out of three Cardinals?

“The other one is me.”

“Teacher?”

“What’s the good of power? This much is easy for the sake of our children’s future.”

She smiled gracefully.

The unique mysterious atmosphere suddenly felt dark and eerie.

So, the decision of the judges, which should have been made through a lottery in principle, was solved with the empire’s money and power.

My mouth slowly opened.

Is this okay? Even though the Pope is vacant, isn’t this too corrupt?

She wasn’t even affiliated with the Papal State.

“The Papal State is much closer to the Divine Kingdom than the Empire, so this much is needed to balance things out, don’t you think? If I had stood by and watched, only three Cardinals negative to the children might have come.”

The purple eyebrows drooped sadly.

It was an unspoken pressure that she would be very disappointed if I took this badly or strangely.

I forced a smile. Well, it’s good if the protagonists do well.

“Any other questions? Or is there anything you want permission for?”

She asked blatantly. I felt like bursting into laughter.

When I first said I wanted to go to the polo match yesterday, Benjamin and Ganael went to the point of almost crying.

Lady Elisabeth and Christel were also very happy.

By evening, everyone in the Juliette Palace knew about it.

It wasn’t surprising that the Cardinal already knew.

“To see Marquis Dhiem’s polo match,”

“I want to go too. Can I accompany Cedric?”

The Cardinal quickly said. I ended up nodding and laughing out loud.

To be honest, I was a little nervous about being rejected, but I felt relieved that she and the imperial family trusted me.

It’s my first time actively interfering in Duke Toegye’s event, but I was confident.

As long as I don’t sit with them, right?

In the afternoon, the Juliette Palace was bustling.

The imperial physician and healing priest, along with their assistants, filled two rooms.

The prince, ‘Seidi,’ was a guy who really did what he said. The examination had already been going on for an hour.

I was relieved that I didn’t have to fast, but it was quite thorough.

Beyond the busy people, Christel was sitting in the next room.

She had followed me after Sir Haines’s class.

I was curious why she hadn’t joined Lady Elisabeth and Eva, who would be at Count Mute’s residence, and remained here.

“Overall, you are healthy. However, it would be better to gain weight.”

“I’m already eating a lot.”

“The flow of ether is also stable. It is evenly distributed throughout the body without any blockages.”

“Thank you.”

The imperial physician and healing priest each diagnosed. Finally, blood was drawn.

Since there were no syringes in this world, they disinfected a knife and slightly cut the tip of my finger to draw blood.

I’m not good with blood, so I turned my gaze elsewhere.

Christel, who met my eyes, smiled slightly. She seems a little······. She doesn’t seem energetic. Is it my imagination?

“We obtained the blood of a noble person for accurate testing, but since your complexion is so good, we don’t expect any toxic reactions.”

“I think so too.”

Some people chuckled at my words. I was serious.

Seidi was burning with anger, but it was hard to believe that Sir Haines had poisoned my teacup.

As the imperial physician and healing priest began to prepare to leave, the servants, led by Benjamin and Ganael, also moved busily.

Knowing that the ‘thing they shouldn’t interfere with’ was over, the lesser pandas ran to me.

I hugged the three in my arms and approached Christel.

“Lady.”

“Ah, yes. Are you finished?”

Christel made an expression and rose from her seat. Today, she was somehow strange.

It’s not that people should always be cheerful, but she seemed listless and her eyes were blank.

She had been like that until just now.

The person who would have usually made various jokes while watching me get examined was quiet the whole time.

She seemed fine yesterday.

“Is something wrong?”

“Me? No, nothing’s wrong.”

“Then, are you feeling unwell anywhere?”

Is Sant’s ether not enough after all?

“I’m fine. You know I’m strong.”

If that’s the case, it’s a relief, but her feigned expression remained.

Seeing that she hadn’t returned to the Duke’s residence in the capital, it didn’t seem like she had anything to talk about with her mother, Duchess Isabel.

I closed my mouth for a few seconds. The deliberation wasn’t long.

“Shall we take a walk for a bit?”

“There are good things about having worries. The prince is even suggesting a walk.”

Christel joked. So she does have worries.

I smiled wryly and walked among the flower bushes, matching her pace.

This place, the garden of the Juliette Palace and the backyard of the Romero Palace, was where I always came to clear my head.

Perhaps it would be helpful to her as well.

The July sun in the capital was scorching, but the large, white clouds created a pleasant shade as they passed by.

“If it’s okay with you, I’ll listen to your story.”

I said cautiously.

I couldn’t pretend not to see the protagonist who was walking around with ‘I’m troubled’ written on her forehead.

Her happiness was directly linked to Jung Eun-seo’s joy. And above all······.

“Because we’re friends.”

Christel’s large blue-gray eyes turned to me. She seemed surprised by my statement.

I scratched the back of my neck, feeling embarrassed.

“You were the one who suggested being friends first, but your reaction isn’t great.”

“No, it’s just······. I’m a little touched that you’re coming in like this at times like these.”

She wiped the tip of her nose.

After walking a few more steps in silence, a calm voice flowed from beside me.

“Actually, it’s nothing much. It’s just a little embarrassing to talk about.”

“Are you upset that you haven’t seen the prince for two days?”

“That has increased my happiness index, though?”

Christel’s voice rose. I chuckled softly.

The prince often missed classes like yesterday and today because he was participating in state affairs.

I stroked Dduk-sim’s wings that had flown onto my shoulder and waited for the next words.

“I’m just wondering if it’s okay to live like this.”

“······.”

“At first, it was so good. I didn’t have memories, but I gained tremendous abilities instead. My family is rich and powerful, and I’m young. I was so happy because I could do anything I wanted. It’s still the same now. But.”

“······.”

“Everyone around me has a goal. Lady Elisabeth has a clear job, is the heir to her family, and has a fiancé. Eva, who is only sixteen, is already working hard to become a duchess. She’s analyzing where to make her social debut most effectively. His Highness the Prince too······. He seems to be living his life to the fullest. I envy that.”

“······.”

“It’s my second life, so I thought I should live as a bum without complicating my mind, but. Seeing others living diligently makes me feel uneasy. I wonder if this is wrong. I wonder if I should grab something and work hard too. I’m tired of bumping and breaking, but······.”

She smiled, saying, ‘It seems like the workaholic nature is ingrained in my soul.’

These were words she was saying, assuming that I would doubt her mental state.

Perhaps she thought it was better than ranting at the wall.

But I could understand all of Christel’s sentences.

I understood all the very trivial emotions she was feeling right now.

“It hasn’t even been half a year since you woke up, but you’re not suited to being a bum [a lazy or idle person].”

“That’s right. It feels like it was just yesterday that I told the prince I would do everything I wanted. Now I’m impatient because I can’t hold something clear in my hands.”

Christel said, moving her fingers.

Was she tormented by hearing about Lady Elisabeth’s achievements yesterday?

I had similar thoughts as well.

My ‘goal’ is to return home, but there’s almost no way to reach it right now.

So now, it’s more accurate to say that I have a ‘wish’ to return.

Nevertheless, the reason I can’t give up the word ‘goal’ is because I don’t know when or how my mind will waver if I don’t set it that way.

The attitude towards life is different for people with and without a clear direction.

Christel also knew that, so she began to feel frustrated with herself for not having a special sense of purpose.

Because she must have been someone who lived desperately struggling. That’s why Eun-seo liked her.

“I believe that you will find a wonderful goal someday, Lady.”

It was a cliché even to my ears. The tips of my ears turned slightly hot with embarrassment.

“Even if you don’t go looking for it, you’re so outgoing that a goal will find you first. Besides, there are many people around you who like you. Even if the process is slow, everyone will cheer you on and wait.”

Just as I was about to add, ‘So don’t be too impatient,’ I remembered hearing similar words from the Cardinal this morning.

Christel, who looked back at me, smiled brightly. It was like seeing the Milky Way in the middle of the day.

“Thank you.”

“It was an obvious thing to say, though.”

“Still. There wouldn’t be anyone who could react like that to such a complaint.”

That was······. That’s right.

I was also an isekai person [a person transported to another world], so I could understand her situation and the ranting.

While I was greeting the lesser pandas clinging to my legs, Christel stood in place and waited for me.

“Do you have any worries these days, Prince? I’ll listen too.”

“Me? I······.”

I trailed off.

I was troubled by naturalization and the temporary partner issue of the two men and women.