What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 705

#705

Spare Us from Temptation (7)

“I hate it. I haaate it….”

“You hate it? Rin, who taught you to say that?”

No, there’s only one suspect.

I couldn’t help but smile, looking at the child’s face, which resembled a burst dumpling.

Then, Rin pulled on my cheek with her small, fern-like hand, not hard enough to hurt.

The baby seemed quite sulky because of Cornelli and Gain’s closeness.

Understandably so. Gain was the ultimate idol any fan could imagine.

“Aiyo, ahaa (Ouch, it hurts).”

“Mommy only hates me….”

“No, I don’t hate you. I just need a little time.”

‘Uncle promises.’ Holding the whining child, I stood outside the tent in the shade of a gaunt tree.

Beside me stood Sir Johann, on guard, while the other friends were busy helping the mountain people.

Among them, François was the busiest, seemingly determined to use up all the magic stones he had brought from the main camp.

Watching him create simple magical tools for the children, showing them how to use them, and explaining in detail how to handle malfunctions, I couldn’t help but feel respect.

Isabelle, with her delicate craftsmanship, was proving to be a great assistant.

Gain, Cedric, and Djibril Diop mainly took on physical labor.

Of course, the Divine Beasts were also very busy.

Tete was constantly pulling out delicacies from the sea, while the lesser pandas were enthusiastically cultivating various crops and fruits.

Ropi pretended to be uncooperative but would rush into any tent that was even slightly cold, causing a fuss before leaving.

His heart was as warm as anyone else’s.

“So, what did the Princess say?”

Sir Johann, who had two gugus [small, playful creatures] on his hand, asked me gently. I patted Rin’s cool back, choosing my words carefully. Hmm….

“Frida, the leader here, said she had heard a rough explanation from the two children. Cornelli wants to put Maiker Rasso in prison, even if it means abusing her authority.”

“The Princess has the qualities of a wise ruler.”

“Hahaha. Yes, she seemed to.”

I smiled, thinking of the quirky and intelligent girl.

Of course, she couldn’t become queen because she had an older sister, but Cornelli would certainly grow up to be a model royal.

“Iseul, Cornelli’s partner, wants to rely on the power of the Roséharder family, as expected. She said that even if she can’t bring down the fake lord, she wants to evacuate the residents here to the Count’s territory.”

“But that idea is already….”

“Yes. But the child talked about bringing Roséharder’s soldiers. She said that if the soldiers escort the territory residents, they could move in small groups.”

“Oh.”

Sir Johann was surprised in a similar way to François.

I had a hard time holding back my laughter for a moment.

The gugus were chasing their tails, spinning around his arm.

“Iseul is a very clever child. However, that could lead to an all-out war between Maiker Rasso and Count Etzard Roséharder, so it sounded like a somewhat dangerous plan. The fake lord would naturally see that as an act of stealing the territory residents… In the end, it could escalate into a conflict between territories.”

“That sounds like the views of the Crown Prince and Duke Diop.”

“You’re exactly right.”

“What about the Palace Lord’s wise opinion?”

Ahem.

“…I actually thought it was worth trying, but they ganged up on me and pecked at me….”

“Hahaha.”

The Cardinal smiled refreshingly, his drooping eyes curving. I looked into the distance with an embarrassed expression.

Just then, the figures of the two royals carrying large firewood and sacks came into view.

Look at them walking side by side and talking. I told them to get along, and now they’re like two peas in a pod.

“Listen, Sir Johann. Maiker is not the real lord, is she? Although she is the previous Duchess, the person who rightfully inherited the title from her is Leopold Rasso, and she is just a criminal who started a rebellion, taking advantage of her son’s absence. Currently, the territory residents are under the oppressive rule of her forces. Considering that, Count Roséharder escorting those who request to move to his territory could be seen as a humanitarian act as a politician and nobleman. Moreover, what if it is at the request of Leopold Rasso himself, who was deprived of his title?”

“….Indeed, that’s persuasive.”

Sir Johann smiled softly. See!

“If there is an official request for support from the current Duke, it would be a legitimate assistance. Mother Rasso has no proper justification or cause.”

“That’s a plausible approach.”

“The problem is….”

I trailed off, looking towards the barn.

The Duke of Rasso was seen holding large buckets in both hands, taking care of the animals’ meals.

He was working hard enough to be sweating profusely, even in the chilly weather.

A baby rhinoceros with a cut-off nose and a baby elephant with abnormally grown tusks were clinging to their protector.

His beloved horse, Allison, was nuzzling her nose against her owner’s waist, showing affection.

The Duke diligently swept the barn and carried straw.

He even neatly piled up the manure he cleaned up in a corner to make fertilizer.

It was hard work usually done by servants here, but he moved with ease.

An attitude that didn’t care at all about the foul smell getting on him.

“….The problem is his will. He has to find the courage to stand up to his terrifying mother.”

“Unfortunately, we don’t have much time.”

“….”

“If he doesn’t make a decision by sunset today, the 33rd Cavalry Regiment will have to act on its own judgment.”

The following voice was somewhat dry. I swallowed hard and asked cautiously.

“How are Gain… Gain and Isabelle doing?”

“It seems they both need time.”

Sir Johann quoted my words from earlier.

“Ah… Then there’s still no reconciliation….”

“The atmosphere was awkward all morning. The disciple skipped breakfast, and Marquis Dhiem told me that Madame Rambouillet barely took a few spoonfuls.”

“Aigoo….”

I bit my lip and just nodded. It was a series of unfortunate situations both inside and out.

I wanted to step in and be a bridge between them, but Cedric told me to leave them alone.

Gain’s energy had been fluctuating for days, so he told me to wait until it calmed down.

‘I can’t keep up with my age.’

‘I’m over thirty, but my mind can’t keep up with that number. It keeps getting caught up in those days.’

“….”

Her words from the underground passage kept swirling in my head.

Her voice, sinking into the deep sea, and her moist eyes, too.

Everything, including the helplessness I felt that day.

“….Rin knows. Seen it.”

“Huh? Huh?”

I snapped out of my thoughts and looked up. The baby was looking at me, her ash-pink eyes sparkling. Rin knows? Knows what?

“Rasso. Been there.”

“….Huh? What? You’ve been to the Lord’s castle?”

This was a completely unexpected turn of events.

I was so surprised that I felt like I had been hit on the head.

Even Sir Johann tilted his head in concentration.

“Before.”

“Before? Ah, you mean in your past life? You remember going to the castle then?”

“Ung. Went. Rin is royal.”

“….Ah, that’s right! That’s right!”

‘Rin Isenia.’

A descendant of the ancient branch of the Venetian royal family and a Cardinal-level paladin who fought a bloody battle with Cedric, the Swordmaster, in the original story.

Her memories of her past life weren’t completely gone!

“That’s amazing, Rin. How much do you remember? Can you clearly recall the inside?”

“No. But I know it when I see it. There’s a secret room there.”

“A secret room? What does it look like?”

“The door…. The door is square. That’s amazing.”

“Oh, the door is square. What else?”

“Euum….”

While the baby was wrinkling her cute eyebrows, lost in thought, I turned to the Cardinal and mouthed.

‘Sir Johann! I have a good feeling about this!’

Then the man’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly. No, really!

“Th-there… There!”

“Yes?”

At that moment, someone suddenly appeared with a piercing smell.

I was surprised and turned my gaze.

“….Duke Rasso?”

“Th-there. Sniff. Me too…. No, I….”

The man, sniffing and teary-eyed, was staggering around, unable to control his boulder-like body.

Allison was pushing her head against his waist from directly behind him.

Sir Johann was holding out his arm to block him, but I had a good feeling about it.

I first gave a nod to the reliable horse friend.

-Purrr, purrr

“It seems Allison brought the Duke here. She’s a very brave child.”

“Y-yes. This one brought me…. Hooo….”

The Duke dabbed at his tears with his sweat-soaked shirt, then took a deep breath in place for a long time.

I thought he was only focused on work, but it seemed he had a lot on his mind.

I could tell just by looking at his face, which repeatedly turned red and pale, and his trembling lips.

“I, I was watching the children here…. The patients. And the animals….”

How scared the Duke was right now, how nervous he was.

However, his fear was something I couldn’t dare to fathom.

“I felt so sorry…. Ashamed, embarrassed. Last night…. When the leader girl asked me my name, I couldn’t answer proudly….”

“I see.”

“It’s my responsibility, all the responsibility I bear…. Just, just because of the memories of my childhood, I’m acting so pathetic….”

“It’s not ‘just’ your childhood. And the person who did the worst thing is someone else.”

I said quietly.

The Duke blinked his round eyes in surprise, then stammered and nodded his head. ‘Thank you for saying that.’

“I have Allison…. I have territory residents to protect, and animals. If I don’t act myself…. Nothing will ever change. So….”

“….”

“So I’m going to seize the ‘second chance’ you mentioned.”

The man said, lifting his chin resolutely.

His luxurious earrings jingled cheerfully, and his eyebrow piercing shone sharply.

‘He was faster.’ Sir Johann nodded once, as if surprised.

I lifted the baby up and burst into a smile. Rin also spread her arms wide. Finally…!

“You’ve made a good decision. From now on, just trust us and leave it to us!”

“That’s amazing!”

*

“Wahahahaha!”

“It’s like catching a school of whales in a sea of abundance, Duke Sarhentini!”

“Ah, it’s nothing. The head of the Sarhentini family has to be able to pull off this much business. I have to have a face to show my ancestors.”

“The greatest of all merchants! Our daughter-in-law’s bank trusts and invests in you.”

“Hahahaha.”

Laughter spread again, and those dressed in colorful spring clothes put their lips to their teacups.

The vast courtyard in the middle of the Venetian royal castle was crowded with nobles again today.

Even though the country was at war, it was still a distant story for the esteemed people of the royal capital.

Crown Princess Elysee Venetian, who held the royal seal, had declared a wartime economy, and Count Roséharder, who was known as a miser by all the nobles of the Divine Kingdom, had locked up the country’s coffers as if he had been waiting for it.

The canals that dug into the royal capital from the East Sea were filled with vagrants and beggars.

Nevertheless, there were places where investment was inevitable.

The so-called ‘wartime boom’.

Duke Sarhentini, a millionaire tycoon and once a patron of Wilhelmina Sneider, had been spending a relatively peaceful time since cutting ties with her.

It was true, even though it was not an appropriate time to use the word ‘peace’.

Of course, when the news that the ‘black market’ had collapsed was reported, half of the nobles in the royal capital fell into a panic, to put it a little exaggerated.

Sarhentini had to virtually give up the distribution of black magic tools that had been illegally supplied there.

It was like losing a market, so it was naturally a huge loss, and the cash flow was already bad because of the war.

She had to arrange receptions day and night to appease the backlash from the pirate industry.

However, even if the sky fell and the earth collapsed, there was a way out.

Wasn’t her nickname ‘Blood-Sucking Bat’?

“How is it going with Count Roséharder? Have you made any progress?”

“….Ah.”

One Duchess lightly probed.

The news that Sarhentini had betrayed Sneider and sided with Roséharder was already a rumor known even to the commoners of the royal capital.

She shrugged her shoulders and put down her glass.

“Well. I’ll just say that there has been meaningful progress. Since this is a time when a large investment in the defense industry is needed, the Count is positively considering our family….”

“Excuse me for interrupting.”

Just then, someone wearing a robe cast a shadow over the table.

The startled nobles straightened their backs.

The other party exuded an atmosphere that did not seem like an ordinary servant to anyone.

“….Who do you serve? How dare you come here in such attire….”

“A letter from Duchess Wilhelmina Sneider.”

‘Rustle.’ The woman handed an envelope to Sarhentini.

The Duchess’s face turned white in an instant.