What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 135

#135 Preparations for the Marquis and Knight’s Journey (2)

Applause followed. ‘Serenite’?

It wasn’t ‘Angelique,’ which Emperor Frederick had uttered mockingly, nor ‘Luner,’ which Cardinal Boutier had suggested.

It wasn’t embarrassing or cheesy to hear, so it was better than those.

I felt bad thinking that both Benjamin and Ganael had wasted their money.

But what does it mean? Should I think of the English word ‘serene’?

“Next.”

The Emperor draped a luxurious cloak over my shoulders, then gestured to Chief Secretary Laura.

Laura then cast a sharp gaze towards the entrance of the audience chamber.

I rose from my seat, trying to understand the situation.

“Lady Christel de Sarnese enters!”

-Thud!

The heavy entrance opened again. I turned around, my eyes widening.

In the distance, Christel’s pink hair and beautiful eyes sparkled.

Her cheerful and confident expression made all the nobles excited and gossipy.

Am I not the only one receiving something today?

“You go over there now.”

“Yes.”

I reacted promptly to the Emperor’s husky command.

Discreetly, I stood on the steps below Cedric, the same steps I had climbed to greet Elysee.

Marquis Francois Dhuem, who was nearby, gestured with his eyes and hands.

It seemed to mean something like, ‘Congratulations on receiving the same title as me, I am handsome.’

I laughed it off appropriately and looked up at the Crown Prince.

His sun-like gaze immediately fell upon me.

‘Did you receive the necklace well?’

I moved my lips as clearly as possible to ask. The Crown Prince understood at once.

Then, frowning,

“…That was a necklace?”

He asked back seriously. There was no hint of ridicule, so I couldn’t say anything.

I bit my lip, then waved my hand to mean it didn’t matter and looked ahead.

It’s good if you received it well, yeah.

“Lady Christel de Sarnese. You have successfully completed the ‘Great Monster Subjugation’ assisting the Crown Prince of Greater Liester…”

Christel, who had already come close and knelt, was listening to the lines the Emperor had recited earlier, with her head bowed.

I think I know now why she had been looking at me with an itchy expression every time she saw me these days.

Christel also kept lifting her eyes or moving her head because she was curious about something, and I wondered if I looked like that earlier, which made me feel embarrassed and amused.

When our eyes met, she smiled brightly like a star. I waved my hand slightly.

“To commend these achievements, I bestow upon you the title of a perfect Imperial Knight and promise eternal protection.”

Wow, the protagonist is receiving the title of knight! My mouth dropped open.

It was a moment when Christel, who had been active, was given a prestigious reward.

I wish I had a phone to record a video, but I had to remember it only in my head, which was a shame.

I was the first to applaud the moment she received the title and stood up.

Eunseo would definitely love it too.

“You seem particularly pleased.”

“She’s my friend. Besides, Lady Sarnese is more than qualified to be a knight.”

Don’t you think so too? I turned to the Crown Prince with that thought in mind.

Then he cast a passionate gaze at Christel. I felt proud for no reason.

Soon, Christel, who had become a knight, slipped into a seat close to me.

Her rose-tinted cheeks and sparkling blue-gray eyes exuded the lively charm unique to the protagonist.

I offered a smile and greeting.

“Congratulations, Sir Sarnese.”

“Wow. You’re the first prince to call me that! Thank you. Congratulations to you too, Your Highness.”

She said quickly.

I felt uplifted by her undisguised excitement and joy.

Christel touched my cloak and chattered, asking if I knew the crest was embroidered on the back, or that she was hungry now that the tension had eased.

The Duke and Duchess of Sarnese across from us were looking at us with proud yet embarrassed faces.

I guess she’s still awkward with her parents.

“Lady Elizabeth Muet, Countess of So, enters!”

-Thud!

Christel and I turned our heads at the same time.

At this point, I felt that the efficiency-loving Emperor had really set a date [arranged the ceremonies back-to-back for efficiency].

I burst into a hollow laugh and watched the ensuing investiture.

Unlike us, Lady Elizabeth seemed accustomed to everything.

“…To commend these achievements, I bestow upon you the prestigious Third Class Order of the Empire.”

The help the Countess had given me over the past few months came to mind.

She maintained a dignified expression throughout and was very calm even when the Emperor personally pinned the medal on her.

As expected, the Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guard was different.

Christel and I sent warm applause on behalf of the silent Crown Prince.

After the investiture, Lady Elizabeth made eye contact with us and went to stand next to Commander Erve Dhuem of the Imperial Guard.

Commander Dhuem patted his subordinate’s shoulder with a pleased look.

After that, four or five more people received medals or titles.

During that time, Christel and I whispered about where we would be staying on the way to Serenite and how we packed our luggage.

The Crown Prince’s burning gaze was prickling the back of my head.

I know she’s going to be your wife, so calm down…

“Serenite. The sound is pretty. It must be a good word.”

“Thank you. I think so too.”

Of course, he’s a monarch, so he wouldn’t have given a bad meaning to the land where his people live, wait a minute.

Didn’t they say the Emperor doesn’t name my territory?

“It suits you well, Your Highness. You’re pretty, Your Highness.”

“Th, thank you.”

I forgot everything I was thinking because Christel suddenly came in.

It was when I was answering in an awkward voice.

“It’s over. Everyone, step back. I’ll get tired if I see your faces any longer.”

The Emperor said that and escorted the Cardinal.

It was half a joke, so some, including Marquis Dhuem, laughed and paid their respects.

It seemed the ceremony was over. Just as we were about to bow,

“Ah, by the way, my son and Sir Sarnese have made the Marquis of Serenite their divine partner.”

Frederick Liester dropped a bomb.

“If you understand, go now.”

My jaw dropped. The audience immediately buzzed.

As soon as it became clear that I had received the marquisate and gained a foothold in the Empire, the Emperor stepped in to quell the rumors that had been circulating.

Now that the Emperor’s words had been spoken, no one would be able to criticize our partnership.

Marquis Dhuem whistled.

Christel smiled and nudged my side with her arm, not painfully.

“Your Highness, we’re official now!”

…Yes, but your choice of words is a bit strange.

-Whoosh!

“Heok!”

At that moment, the tall braziers on both sides of the carpet spewed flames.

Some of the nobles were startled and stepped back.

I hurriedly looked at the Crown Prince, but he was already following the Emperor and the Cardinal, so I couldn’t confirm his intentions.

Christel chuckled and muttered softly.

“Trying to keep me in check.”

Wow, did you scare innocent people just to keep me in check?

*

The front of the Imperial Palace was crowded with people after the event.

Toughsim and Demi were hanging on my arms.

Demi is one thing, but I don’t know why Toughsim, who has wings, is overworking his beak [using his beak excessively to cling].

“Your Highness, I still want to accompany you.”

“No. You need to stay with Herrit for the time being. Besides, Sir Johann is now His Majesty’s knight.”

Sir Johann, who had come to see me off in front of the Imperial carriage, drooped his eyes.

There were a total of five carriages heading to the marquisate, Serenite.

Three were provided by the Imperial Family for me, and two were from the Sarnese Duchy.

Lady Elizabeth was scheduled to accompany us, leading a small number of guards, in accordance with the imperial order.

Sir Johann had been steadily expressing his opinion to go with me for some time, but I stubbornly refused.

I wanted young Herrit to rest and adapt in the Imperial City, and I didn’t want him to be separated from his father.

“…If that is Your Highness’s wish, I will obey.”

Sir Johann said softly and stepped back, bowing.

Lady Elizabeth, who had mounted her horse, smiled at me.

The Duke and Duchess of Sarnese had greeted me a little while ago and got into the carriage, and Benjamin and Ganael were also waiting inside, so we could leave as soon as I was ready.

I pretended not to see Marquis Dhuem blowing a kiss from afar and turned around.

How can you be an entertainer all day long?

“Then I’ll be back.”

“Your Highness!”

The moment I spoke and the carriage door closed, a clear voice cut through the gap.

It was Christel, rushing over.

“Sir Sarnese?”

“If it’s not too much trouble, would it be okay if I rode with you?”

Her tone was serious, unlike usual.

I instinctively knew that this was related to the Duke and Duchess.

When I nodded, the coachman reopened the door wide.

Christel firmly climbed into the seat next to me,

-Squeak!

-Squeak!

This time, Leia and Perry ran out of the carriage.

The coachman groaned in surprise.

Those troublemakers again!

“Your Highness, the divine beasts are going to His Highness the Crown Prince.”

“Huh?”

I craned my neck and looked out the window.

As Ganael said, the two lesser pandas were heading towards the Crown Prince with great vigor.

He, who was standing like a guardian at the main gate of the Imperial Palace, took off his gloves and snapped his fingers when the divine beasts circled around his feet.

Two fire bouncy balls that I had seen in Ivelyn appeared.

The beasts were having fun, showing their bellies and sticking out their tongues. I shook my head with a sigh.

“Let’s just leave.”

“Yes? But,”

“I think they’re trying to comfort the Crown Prince because he can’t go with us. Those kids are close to the Crown Prince.”

I replied to the young page. The coachman, who understood the situation, bowed and closed the door.

Soon, the carriage wheels slowly began to roll.

The last thing I saw was the Crown Prince, staring at us with a face full of dissatisfaction, as if he would burn the carriage down right away.

It seemed like he felt like he was losing Christel.

Of course, I had no intention of doing that. I told you not to be busy…

Still, I gave him a lot of ether in the holy stone, so I thought he would be okay for a while.

*

This trip was better than the Monster Subjugation.

It meant that we didn’t have to go to the Leugau General Trading Company and use the portal, and then ride in a carriage for four days.

Serenite, my territory, was only two days away by carriage from the southern part of the Imperial City.

It felt a bit awkward to say ‘my territory’.

“Your Highness, what did you think of the Crown Prince’s birthday advertisement in the waiting room earlier? I sponsored it too!”

Ganael, who had come out of the Leugau portal and got into the carriage, asked.

I had nothing to say to the child who had even sponsored it, so I stammered.

The Crown Prince, expressed in pointillism [a painting technique using small, distinct dots of color], was really big and cool, but it seemed like he was not as good as the real thing.

I soothed Demi and Toughsim in my arms and started talking.

“Uh… it was very elaborate. It was surprising that it was still up even though his birthday had passed.”

“Isn’t one month the standard for birthday advertisements?”

“That’s right, Sir Sarnese knows it well. The congratulatory phrase for this year was chosen by vote…”

Ganael’s eyes lit up as he chattered at Christel’s question.

The conversation seemed to be flowing in the style of Eunseo.

I smiled quietly, took off the portal sickness medicine attached to my ear, and opened the basket with Benjamin.

Our number one travel essential was definitely delicious food.

Just as we were choosing glass bottles filled with our favorite snacks and drinks, Christel sighed deeply.

“I should be happy at the thought of teasing the Crown Prince after seeing such an advertisement… but I’m actually a bit troubled.”

It seemed like she was finally going to talk about the story of why she came to ride with us.

I handed her a fork and napkin and said.

“You can speak comfortably. Benjamin and Ganael are good counselors.”

“Yes, I wanted to tell you three first. I’m going to tell Lady Elizabeth when we get to the inn later.”

She smiled bitterly. The words came out unexpectedly.

“My parents are telling me to get married.”

“Yes?”

-Squeak!

I was so surprised that I accidentally dropped the religieuse [a type of French pastry] I was holding on Demi’s stomach.

The lesser panda covered in snowman cookies immediately protested.

I hurriedly turned my gaze, but Benjamin and Ganael showed no agitation.

Rather, they had expressions that said, ‘It’s about time.’ No way? Absolutely not?

“Why suddenly…”

“The engagement with the Crown Prince was called off a long time ago, and it doesn’t seem like there will be any more marriage talks, so they think I should slowly become the Young Duchess. Because I’m an only child.”

It was like a bolt from the blue.

Under Christel’s fork, the cute puits d’amour [‘well of love’, a small pastry], was shattered.

My head was spinning as I tried to sort out the situation.

I wiped Demi’s stomach with a trembling hand.

So, our number two travel essential is probably…

‘A chance meeting with the protagonist who is running away from love’.