What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 115

#115 The One Who Leads the Divine Kingdom’s Wheel (3)

One day had passed since Elysee Venetian entered the Liester Imperial Palace.

Yesterday afternoon, another cardinal arrived from the Papal State, and today was the day for the welcoming banquet for them.

“To the two honored guests who have come to the Liester Imperial Palace.”

“Cheers!”

At the Emperor’s simple toast, the dozens of high-ranking nobles gathered in the banquet hall cheered in unison.

Elysee gracefully raised her glass, surveying the hall.

From the majesty and decorations of the Imperial Palace to the food and attire enjoyed by the nobles, she could feel the immense wealth and power.

The scenery of the Empire, which she had seen while riding in the carriage, was beautiful.

The Imperial Capital was a vibrant city, and even the rural areas, untouched by portals, had magical lights in every house.

The Crown Princess acknowledged the rumors that Frederick Liester’s reign was a time of peace, observing the expressions and nutritional status of the people, the well-maintained roads, and the infrastructure.

“Your Highness, the soup is amazing. You must try this.”

Martier, sitting to her left, exclaimed and ladled food into Elysee’s bowl.

“It’s called ‘Pot-au-feu’ [a French stew]. I never thought I’d be looking for something hot like this in the summer, but it’s very delicious. I might even want to eat it again for a hangover cure tomorrow morning.”

“Thank you.”

Elysee accepted the attendant knight’s sincerity and tasted the meat and vegetables.

The broth was clear yet rich in flavor, and it was even better with bone marrow on toast.

Martier looked at Elysee with satisfaction, refilling her other glass with honey wine.

Even though she knew that the Crown Princess hadn’t drunk a single sip of alcohol since leaving the royal castle.

“Is the food to your liking?”

The Emperor, sitting at the head of the table, asked while cutting his goose steak. Elysee answered smoothly.

“Yes, Your Majesty. The chef’s skills are excellent.”

“That’s a relief. Your sister is also a good eater.”

It was a passing remark. Elysee expertly composed herself, nearly faltering for a moment.

She was not the young First Princess but the Crown Princess of a nation.

Even if her sister was living alone as a hostage in a foreign land.

“Are Yeser and Sir Johann Haynes not joining the banquet?”

Elysee asked calmly.

Cardinal Aurelius Boutier, sitting diagonally across from her, answered.

“Johann sleeps a lot. The Prince is resting in the palace these days.”

“······.”

“Perhaps he is having a difficult time because of the incident in March.”

Boutier gazed at the Crown Princess with dark beige eyes.

Elysee knew that he was referring to the attempted assassination of her father, Werner, the Prince Consort.

Her hand, holding the spoon, instinctively tightened.

It was clear that the Imperial Family had prevented her sister from attending the banquet to protect her.

That was also why she had been unable to approach Yeser’s palace yesterday and today.

There had been no communication from Sir Haynes, but… she was speechless.

As the Prince Consort’s proud eldest daughter, she was never free from guilt.

“Ah, I heard that news as well. The Papal State was in an uproar.”

“Was it?”

When a gray-haired old man suddenly spoke, Boutier responded.

It was Cardinal Ari Schött, who had entered the palace half a day later than Elysee.

He sat to Boutier’s right and spoke in a hoarse voice.

“The Prince Consort said he wasn’t involved, but who among the faithful would believe that? It’s only the Prince who has suffered.”

“······.”

“I can only imagine how embarrassed His Majesty must have been. Even though I know I should be preparing for my own funeral, I was very worried.”

Schött was over eighty years old and belonged to a neutral faction in the Papal State that was not aligned with either the Empire or the Divine Kingdom.

Perhaps because he had nothing to fear, his remarks were unreserved.

The Emperor merely raised the corners of his lips and sipped his rum.

“It’s a good thing that the Prince overcame that crisis and achieved merit. I hear the Empire is granting him a title. It’s the balance of the Main God.”

The old man chuckled and spread redcurrant jam on his bread.

Elysee changed the subject without showing any agitation.

“Your Majesty, please allow Yeser to taste the banquet food. She doesn’t eat much, so just a little bit…”

“I already sent it.”

Prince Cedric Liester interrupted her.

Elysee looked at the man sitting to her right.

The man had the most handsome appearance she had ever seen, but his face held not a spark of emotion.

“Ten servings should be enough.”

“Cedric, isn’t that too much? The Prince can eat four servings by himself. And all the passing servants will want to taste it too.”

Boutier said with a somewhat worried voice. Elysee couldn’t follow the conversation.

Her sister had developed a habit of eating little after being poisoned as a child.

She had a small appetite and always boiled clean water to drink.

It was common to take care of the meals of subordinates, but…

“The dessert is separate.”

“I see. Then that should be enough.”

The conversation was very strange.

Elysee looked at Martier, lifting her glass with a natural attitude.

She also seemed quite surprised.

“Crown Princess, you will be able to taste it tomorrow.”

At that moment, a clear voice rang in her ears.

Elysee turned her head to confirm the face of the stranger sitting across from her.

A noble lady filled with the pure energy of water.

The bold and lively girl who had tested her power in the audience chamber yesterday.

“The Prince will be observing our examination. He will surely bring about three picnic baskets from the Juliette Palace, so be sure to try the bread and pastries in them. Chef Laurence’s skills are superb.”

Christel de Sarnes smiled brightly. The Crown Princess simply nodded once.

*

The lobby of the Juliette Palace was crowded.

It seemed to be because I was going out with food for the first time in a while.

It was the third day of Crown Princess Elysee’s entry into the palace, and the knighting ceremony for Christel and Prince Cedric was about to begin.

“Since there are cardinals from the Papal State, we have prepared four picnic baskets.”

“Thank you, Benjamin. Laurence deserves a bonus.”

“Thanks to the golden toad the Prince gave him, he will be able to live comfortably for 30 years.”

I laughed at Benjamin’s words.

Not long ago, the Prince had moved all the gifts that the nobles had sent me to the Juliette Palace.

Because there was no space in the Imperial treasury.

Except for one, they were useless, so I distributed some to the palace staff, and Laurence took a large golden toad.

I didn’t know why a golden toad existed in a Western-style romance fantasy world, but I was satisfied because he was happy.

I seemed to be quite used to the ‘Toegye Gong’s’ [a reference to a famous Korean scholar whose teachings are anachronistically present] mixed-up setting now.

Ah, I want to eat cream shrimp with Jjambong [Korean-Chinese noodle soup with seafood and spicy broth].

“Your Highness, twenty members of the Royal Guard will be providing close protection.”

Elizabeth, who naturally held one of the baskets, explained.

I opened the lid and checked that it contained fruit juice for her and Ganael.

We walked out of the palace in a group.

“I will be by your side until the end of today’s examination, but this is a decision made in case of an emergency. Unfortunately, you cannot be within ten steps of Crown Princess.”

“That’s fine.”

It was something to welcome with both hands.

The more unnecessary conversations I had with Elysee, the more disadvantageous it would be for me.

The Count and I talked about Marquis Dhiem’s polo match as we headed to the outdoor training ground behind the palace.

After Emperor Frederick allowed me to meet Elysee, the confinement became a little looser.

Originally, I should have summoned Sant to the residence today to supply ether to the two main characters.

But the Emperor had appointed me.

It seemed to mean that I should pay for my partner’s keep, or that he would let me greet the Crown Princess before starting a full-scale discussion.

Since the outdoor training ground had to be opened anyway, it might have meant that I should come out and get some fresh air.

“…You will be able to take a walk freely soon.”

“Yes. I can still handle it.”

I smiled and said to Elizabeth’s consolation.

The Crown Princess was scheduled to return home in five days, and I was anxious just being in the same space as her.

But I was in a thousand, ten thousand times more comfortable position than Sir Haynes, who was trapped and asleep somewhere in the Imperial Palace.

I decided to not forget that point and do my best.

“That’s right, very good. The Princess has talent.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

I heard an unfamiliar old voice and Christel’s clear voice. I hurried my steps.

Soon, the familiar scenery of the training ground appeared.

The noble lady, who found me, smiled brightly and put away the water flower.

“Hello, Your Highness!”

“Hello, Princess Sarnes.”

“Goodness. I am seeing the moon of the Divine Kingdom before I die.”

After greeting Christel, the old man standing next to her reached out to me.

He was a wise-looking old man with white hair and hazelnut-colored eyes.

He was wearing comfortable Divine Kingdom-style clothes, but I immediately recognized who he was.

One of the three judges.

“You must be His Eminence Cardinal Ari Schött. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“Please call me Ari. Such beautiful eyes… It is the grace of the Main God.”

The elder looked at my face with a moved expression and couldn’t easily let go of my hand.

I accepted his cane and offered him one of my arms.

The old man laughed roughly and started walking, holding onto me.

Elizabeth skillfully deployed the Royal Guards.

It seemed that Cardinal Boutier, the Prince, and Elysee had not yet arrived.

“There is a place to sit in the shade over there. There is also a table, so it will be good for eating snacks.”

“Indeed, indeed. You have a kind heart as I have heard.”

These words were embarrassing. Someone else had prepared it.

As I looked embarrassed, Christel, who was walking on the old man’s right, answered instead.

“This is a secret that I am only telling Ari, but the Prince is my partner.”

“Oh ho. Is that so? Blessings to you both.”

That’s not an answer. How close have you become to tell him that?

I was startled and looked at her. Christel winked with both eyes alternately.

I can’t live like this.

“The reason why His Majesty is giving you a title is clear. I understand, of course.”

The old man chuckled and sat on the sofa.

I put his cane where he could reach it and received the basket from Benjamin and opened it.

Ganael took out a beautiful tablecloth and spread it out. The elder’s words continued.

“How high of a title will he give you? You should call for it strongly.”

“I… I haven’t even thought about that. I was going to receive whatever he gave me.”

I answered while putting Paris-Brest [a French pastry] on plates one by one.

Come to think of it, I hadn’t traded that far with the Emperor.

I must have lumped the title together with the right to own a manor in my head. What’s the lowest one?

“Wouldn’t a Baron be enough?”

“Gasp.”

“Oh my.”

“Your Highness, that’s not right!”

Ganael, Ari, and Christel reacted at the same time.

Benjamin, who was silently brewing tea, sighed. No, that’s.

“I thought the higher the title, the greater the responsibility. I only need to be protected,”

“Marquis.”

A pleasant baritone echoed behind me. We looked at the entrance of the training ground at the same time.

Three men and women with attendants and guards came into view.

As befitting the male lead, the man in the center flashed orange eyes.

“You will be a Marquis.”

Oh, is that so… I nodded my head blankly.

That was the second highest of the five ranks of nobility, and equal to François Dhiem.

I thought it was too much, but I didn’t have the leeway to put it into words.

We got up and paid our respects to the new visitors.

Cardinal Boutier, the Prince, and Elysee greeted us in return.

The Crown Princess’s face was calm.

Did she hear my story? It’s bothering me for no reason.

“We have to conduct the examination, so shall we move to the opposite table?”

“Yes, I need to walk a lot. The healing priest told me.”

Ari readily got up from his seat at Cardinal Boutier’s suggestion.

I supported him and surveyed the situation.

This was clearly an excuse to separate me from Elysee.

The examination could be conducted at the empty table next door, and there was no need to cross the training ground.

It was then.

“Yeser.”

“…”

I stiffened.

It was the first time I had been called by my name alone since possessing this body.

When I raised my head, I saw Elysee smiling bitterly. The distance was too close.

I wasn’t supposed to be able to approach within ten steps, but it seemed like it was only five steps.

Elizabeth blocked half of my front. I felt the subtle pressure of an 8th-level swordsman.

She was ready to draw her sword against the Cardinal at any time.

“Your ether is really beautiful.”

“…Thank you.”

I managed to smile and answer. Elysee continued.

“My mother would also be happy. When you were young, she wanted you to be my partner,”

-Sreung!

The Prince drew his blessed sword. The air rang sharply and I got goosebumps.