What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 113

#113 The Leader of the Divine Kingdom’s Wheel (1)

“Ollie? Are you listening to me, dear?”

Christel snapped out of her reverie.

Her gaze, which had been blankly staring out the window, returned to the ‘mother’ sitting across from her.

Isabel de Sarnese, Duchess.

“I’m sorry. I was lost in thought for a moment.”

“It’s alright.”

Isabel replied, her dark eyes curving into a smile.

She seemed genuinely delighted to be out on a date with her beloved daughter after so long.

Her elaborate outing dress and jewelry were all the most valuable in the Empire, and her elegantly styled light green hair shimmered like a lush forest in the sunlight.

Christel didn’t want to worry her, so she forced a smile and pressed her lips to the teacup.

She couldn’t even tell if it was tea or coffee, but she pretended to drink anyway.

“Is something wrong?”

Her mother asked, lowering her voice. Christel remained silent.

For a while, the only sounds between the mother and daughter were the ambient noises of the upscale tea house.

The chatter of customers, the sound of a server delivering afternoon tea, and the sound of horses’ hooves outside.

“Well, it’s nothing much.”

“It doesn’t matter if it’s nothing much. I’m curious about everything.”

It was a kind remark.

It was precisely this aspect of Isabel that made it difficult for Christel to get close to her.

Her mother was too good of a person, and she wasn’t her real daughter.

If Isabel ever found out the truth, Christel couldn’t bear to think of the disappointment and sadness that would cloud her beautiful face, so she couldn’t close the distance.

She didn’t want to hurt her.

But at the same time, ‘Ham Gaein’ was very vulnerable to women around her older sister’s age.

So it was no wonder that Christel acted as an ‘awkward but kind daughter’.

She hesitated for a moment before opening her mouth. She wanted to confide in someone anyway.

“I think I made a mistake with the Prince.”

“Prince Yeser?”

Isabel tilted her head. Christel nodded and continued.

“Last night, the Prince formally accepted me and His Highness the Imperial Prince as partners.”

“Oh my! There must have been a celebration at the Imperial Palace. Why didn’t you tell me this morning?”

Isabel smiled brightly, as happy as if it were her own affair.

She knew that Christel had wanted the Prince as a partner for a long time.

Isabel herself had a deep affection for the Prince.

He was a benefactor who willingly forgave her rudeness and listened to her troubles even in difficult situations.

When he returned safely from the ‘Monster Subjugation’ with her daughter, she wanted to treat him to a grand banquet at the Lord’s Castle.

Of course, it was a wish that could not be fulfilled because he was a hostage.

“…The Prince didn’t do it voluntarily.”

“Hmm?”

“He was forced to make the decision by the situation. To save others, and to save himself. It’s not like he truly likes me or His Highness the Imperial Prince.”

Christel’s tone darkened.

Isabel realized why her daughter’s complexion had been unusual since last night.

She took off her mesh gloves and gently took her child’s hand.

Since awakening as a Holy Knight, her daughter’s body temperature had been consistently cool. The Duchess was upset about it.

“So you’re angry. Because he didn’t accept you willingly. You feel like he’s just using you as pawns. You know he’s not like that, but you’re still upset.”

“…”

“But after lying in bed and thinking about it… I was doing the same thing until recently.”

Isabel smoothed her daughter’s stray hairs. The Princess added.

“I approached the Prince because I liked his Aether [a magical energy]. He’s a good person and it’s comfortable to be with him, but at first, I didn’t try to be considerate of the Prince.”

“I see.”

“I was acting like a child. The Prince isn’t a toy.”

Christel muttered with a sigh.

The conversation she had with Cardinal Boutier at the banquet came to mind.

‘Your Highness, there’s no need to make a decision as if being pushed…’

‘Christel, give the Prince time to think.’

At the time, she didn’t know what it meant.

She had said those words to give the Prince time to think.

But looking back, she didn’t think she had ever sincerely given him space.

She was just busy appealing to him about what she wanted.

Perhaps the Cardinal was pointing that out.

Isabel silently stroked her daughter’s hand.

“Thinking about that made me wonder if I had any right to say anything. Even if I’m not like that these days, the Prince might have already been disappointed.”

“…”

“Honestly, I can understand the Prince. As a hostage, he has no choice but to become more desperate. But I wasn’t in that situation.”

Her chest felt tight. Sir Haynes explained that being a Holy Knight was a very lonely job.

Not only ordinary people but even priests couldn’t understand the primal hunger and pain of a Holy Knight.

A Holy Knight craves Aether until their last breath, but only another Holy Knight truly understands it.

So demanding that the Prince understand her desires was, in a way, foolish and one-sided.

She knew it in her head, but her actions didn’t follow.

“I’ve heard that Holy Knights always crave Aether. They chase after Aether even when their souls are stable.”

Christel looked up. Warm black eyes were looking at her.

“It’s like drinking water but still being thirsty, or eating but still being hungry. Unlike priests who are loved by the Main God, there are times when Holy Knights wonder if they are hated by the Main God.”

“Where did you hear that?”

“I’ve exchanged letters with Sir Johann Haynes a few times.”

The Princess’s blue-gray eyes widened. Isabel smiled and added.

“I was worried that I hadn’t properly met my daughter’s teacher. I sent a letter as a greeting, and he replied. So I asked him about various things. My child doesn’t talk about difficult or bad things.”

“…”

“You can take it one step at a time, Ollie. Apologizing, and becoming true partners with the Prince. Then someday, you’ll be able to understand each other.”

Isabel added, ‘I’ll try too, Mom.’

Christel bit her lip, feeling a sudden surge of emotion.

Her mother’s hands, which she looked down at, were smaller and thinner than her own.

“You said you were acting like a child, but you’re still a child. It’s okay for children to make mistakes.”

“Hahaha.”

She burst out laughing at those words. She wasn’t a child, and she wasn’t at an age where mistakes were forgiven.

She thought she was quite skilled in relationships.

Was that just the result of being used to living with a mask on?

Ham Gaein only showed her true face after borrowing someone else’s body, and only after showing her true face did she realize that she was still an immature child.

“Talk to the Prince.”

“Yes.”

“He seemed like a very considerate person. He’ll definitely be open to listening.”

That was true. The Prince she knew was generous and kind to others’ faults.

Besides, they were friends.

The corners of her lips curved into a smile. It was then.

“Yes, my wife received a message yesterday! The Crown Princess is right in front of the portal!”

“I’ve heard she’s as brave and beautiful as a lion.”

“Don’t even mention it. His Highness the Imperial Prince will have to be on his toes.”

“I heard she’ll arrive in the Imperial Capital by dawn tomorrow?”

At the table by the opposite window, a few men and women who appeared to be high-ranking nobles were excitedly raising their voices.

Christel quietly recalled her schedule for tomorrow.

She would once again enter the Imperial Palace and welcome Crown Princess Elysee Venetian alongside the Imperial Family and the Prince.

What kind of person would she be? How strong would she be?

Would she really help the Prince and Sir Haynes?

*

“Your Highness, all preparations are complete. As soon as Crown Princess arrives tomorrow morning, she will pay her respects to His Majesty at the Imperial Palace and then come straight to Stroda Palace.”

“…”

Cedric silently walked through the back garden of Stroda Palace. David followed behind.

This was the largest palace opened to guests at the Imperial Palace.

Recently, it was also the venue for the grand ‘Spring Ball’.

The news that Crown Princess Elysee would be coming as the Cardinal to judge the Imperial Prince and Princess Sarnese caused a stir not only in the Imperial social circles but also among the commoners in remote areas.

For the past eight days, the Imperial Palace had been busy deciding on and preparing the protocol for her.

David, the chief steward of Romero Palace, was among the busiest.

This was because the Imperial Prince in charge of welcoming this guest was his master, the Imperial Prince.

“Wouldn’t it be better to go inside and get some sleep? The Imperial Palace gardeners have come here themselves to take care of this back garden, so you don’t need to check it again…”

The middle-aged man said with a worried voice. It was almost midnight.

The Imperial Prince originally had a lot on his schedule, and recently, he had a lot to worry about due to the Crown Prince’s enthronement ceremony and Prince Yeser’s confinement.

He knew that yesterday’s ‘banquet’ had gone well, but his usually bright face remained dark.

David looked at the Imperial Prince and carefully added a question.

“Is there a problem with the balcony? Shall I call a servant?”

The Imperial Prince was staring intently at the balcony at the far left end of Stroda Palace.

It would be the far right end when viewed from the main gate, but the far left when viewed from the back gate.

There was nothing and no one there except for the magical lights illuminating the darkness.

His orange eyes sank deeply.

It wasn’t that he hadn’t expected the Prince to use the position of priest partner as a bargaining chip.

He was a hostage and was not as free as even the commoners in the Empire.

In that situation, to save someone accused of attempted assassination of a member of the Imperial Family, he would naturally have to offer his own abilities as a pawn.

As a result, it was also a good thing for him.

He had a justification to receive the Prince’s Aether at any time.

But it was unpleasant. When the Prince actually acted that way, fireworks erupted inside him.

Knowing it was a childish act, he couldn’t help but send a coded message. Why?

“…The Imperial Palace Temple will reopen tomorrow morning.”

David changed the subject.

He was accustomed to the Imperial Prince’s silence and was a loyal steward.

At his words, the Imperial Prince slowly shifted his gaze.

This time, the man’s eyes reached the temple across the street, shrouded in darkness.

“The Crown Princess and the Cardinal from the Papal States are expected to visit the temple, so we have finished tidying up the interior.”

“Good.”

“Yes. We have also repaired all the parts that had been lacking in maintenance, including the decorative cords of the confessional,”

“Keep the temple closed.”

He ordered curtly. David was startled.

“Your Highness. If you do that, the two guests will not have a temple to use,”

“They can visit the central temple in the Imperial Capital.”

The Imperial Prince’s brow furrowed slightly.

It was a firm expression of intent, so David nodded without trying to persuade him further.

Cedric thought this was right.

That place was a space opened for the Prince, who was the Imperial Palace’s confessional priest.

Moreover, if it had been repaired, it was not right for other clergy to come and enjoy the convenience first…

In an instant, a realization like a flashing flint struck him.

“…”

In this ‘deal’, he was behind Johann Haynes.

He wasn’t the top priority. It was the first time he had ever experienced this.

The Prince dared to use his relationship with the Imperial Prince to save the Haynes family.

A distinct annoyance crept up the back of his neck.

But wasn’t it he who knew this and left it alone?

“Your Highness?”

David pulled him out of his swamp of thoughts.

Cedric headed straight for the carriage without any particular reaction. The middle-aged man was right.

He thought it would be better to get some sleep.

*

Without meeting Christel and the Imperial Prince again, the day of the decisive battle dawned.

Ah, maybe not a decisive battle. Just a 30-second teaser?

“How do I look?”

“You are always beautiful, but today you look like you could topple a nation, Your Highness.”

“No… Thank you. How do I look as a family member? Do I look like someone who hasn’t had a decent meal?”

“No! You’ve been eating well again since the day before yesterday, so your complexion is good.”

Ghanael smiled brightly and smoothed out the wrinkles in my ceremonial robe. That’s a relief.

Benjamin, who was talking to Elizabeth outside the window, could be seen.

Several Imperial carriages and guards to escort me to the Imperial Palace also came into view.

On the 10th day of confinement, it was finally my first outing.

It was to welcome the Crown Princess’s party. I was more nervous than on the day I took the college entrance exam.

It’s already been 10 years since then, so my memory is hazy, but anyway.

“I’ll be back, guys. Be good.”

-Squeak

I hugged the Lesser Pandas one by one and went outside with Dduk-sim.

I could breathe freely. Dozens of workers were scurrying around here and there.

Elizabeth greeted me brightly and opened the carriage door.

“Hello, Elizabeth. I was in your debt a few days ago.”

“Don’t mention it. I just got a little nagging from the Captain.”

Even while giving a wry smile to the Deputy Commander, my head was filled with excitement and confusion.

Which is more appropriate, ‘Lady’ or ‘Your Highness’? ‘Your Highness’ would be safer. Let’s go with polite language and ‘Your Highness’.

There are many eyes watching, so it would be okay if it feels like I’m being respectful.

But are those two really angry?