What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 139

“I don’t understand. What good would it do to tarnish your brother’s reputation and ruin his marriage prospects? Is it your judgment that if the head of the trading company dies unmarried, the property will be inherited by you?”

I calmly returned to the original topic. That was that, and this was this.

I was now, as the lord of Serenete, interrogating the leader of the bandits who had attacked the lord and duke’s carriage.

Then Joan answered irritably.

“It’s annoying! That guy is so blinded by social climbing that he’s trying to sell off the entire trading company. I can live well enough even without money.”

“Social climbing, you say?”

“Yeah, it’s been ages since he lost his baronetcy, but he’s still hung up on being a noble. What does someone who was born a commoner know!”

Joan straightened her back and slumped down.

I was a royal, and everyone around me was a noble, but she didn’t seem intimidated at all.

Just as I was about to speak, she raised her voice again.

She seemed to be getting genuinely angry.

“The more I think about it, the more ashamed I am! If it was unfairly taken away, he should be thinking about getting it back. He’s going to hand over everything that Grandma and Mom worked so hard to build and become the son-in-law of a prestigious family? Is he crazy?”

“Calm down.”

Her voice echoed loudly not only in the narrow prison cell but also in the hallway.

Joan seemed like someone who was living only for today.

“Emil tells me to come to my senses, but the one who really needs to come to his senses is him. A guy with no pride or guts.”

She huffed and puffed, then took off the cloth she had wrapped around her head and scratched her scalp vigorously.

The hair that was cut unevenly, as if mice had gnawed at it, also seemed to have a story, but the word that was immediately stimulating me was different.

The vice-count quickly pointed out the question.

“Are you saying that Baron As was unfairly deprived of his title?”

“Of course!”

The hothead gave me a snake-like look. Benjamin, who had been listening silently, stepped forward.

“The baron was a spy who passed information about His Late Majesty to the Holy State in Roma. Your Grace personally held him accountable.”

“That’s all slander, mister! Another human framed my great-grandfather!”

“Please lower your voice.”

I said. Ganael was clinging to Lady Elizabeth, biting his lip.

The boy had grown up well and was not used to this kind of atmosphere.

I patted Ganael and the animals, then looked at Joan.

“Do you have any evidence that the baron was framed?”

“…No, not a single piece. That’s why I’m so upset.”

Joan muttered, lowering her gaze. The tense air dissipated in an instant.

The deputy commander and Benjamin let out long sighs as if they knew it would be like this, and even I felt a little empty.

If there had been such evidence, the As family would have been reinstated long ago.

“So, you’re saying you tried to harass innocent people because of your personal feelings towards your brother. I understand.”

“Damn it.”

Joan cursed and lay down at my conclusion.

She continued to say things like, ‘Why did I have to get caught by the lord’, and ‘I guess I’m just unlucky’.

Judging by the fact that she didn’t care about the cold stone floor, it seemed that this wasn’t her first time in prison.

I swallowed a sigh. To think that the most influential merchant family in the territory was such a mess.

Suddenly, Emperor Frederick’s playful voice came to mind.

‘There are many humorous things in territories with free cities.’

I don’t know if it’s humorous…

‘I heard that one of the heads of the trading companies there is a strange fellow.’

I stopped in my tracks.

Eunseo was half-crazy about Prince Yeseo, and she was in a different way crazy about Crown Prince Cedric.

She hadn’t talked much about male characters other than them.

Still, if it was a man that even the main male lead’s mother knew, I couldn’t let my guard down easily.

“Ms. As.”

“Oh my gosh. Are you still here?”

Joan flinched and opened her eyes when I called her. It seemed she had even taken a nap in the meantime.

It must be nice to be so carefree.

“What is it? I’m sleepy, so if you have something to say, say it quickly. Are you going to bring me some hangover soup?”

Lady Elizabeth chuckled at her blunt provocation.

I knew that the vice-count was slowly reaching her limit.

If I didn’t end the conversation quickly, she seemed like she would draw her sword, so I quickly asked the question.

“About the head of the As Trading Company. Is he handsome?”

“…Huh?”

“Your Highness?”

Not only Joan but even Ganael, who had been quiet the whole time, was flustered and called out to me.

I knew how strange and out of the blue this question was.

But Jeong Eunseo had clearly emphasized it several times.

In modern web novels, the importance of a character is symbolized by their beauty, and you should always keep an eye on handsome guys.

In fact, didn’t Duke Blanquer, who had a decent face, make a great contribution to connecting the protagonists with Eva?

“What’s with you, all of a sudden?”

“If you answer honestly, I’ll put in hangover soup as a treat.”

“He’s ugly.”

Joan said firmly.

“He’s half-baked. He’s greasy. I’m much better. He only has his arms and legs, but his face is not good.”

“Thank you for your cooperation.”

I answered immediately.

I could feel the vice-count looking at me with strange eyes, but I steadfastly reassured myself.

*

I had lunch with my friends, including Christel.

Originally, the Sarnese duke and his wife were also supposed to join us,

‘…Therefore, we will excuse ourselves, Marquis.’

‘Yes?’

‘We hope you have a pleasant time.’

The duke and duchess came and said that, then left.

I was worried about having separate meals with guests every time, but considering the meaningful look Isabel sent before the door closed…

It seemed like a judgment considering that Christel and her father were in conflict over the marriage issue.

The reason they told me was an excuse, and they didn’t want to ruin the meal atmosphere.

I nodded and poked the venison terrine [a type of pâté] and cornichon pickles [small, sour pickles] with my fork.

“So, I want to go to the As auction house, but I don’t know what will happen.”

Then Christel’s voice caught my ear. I raised my eyes with a sparkle.

She and Lady Elizabeth across from me were talking.

Benjamin and Ganael, who were sitting on either side, also seemed to know the flow of the conversation.

“That’s a shame. It’s not often that there’s something Lady Christel desperately wants.”

“Yes, it looked really good. It’s vintage, even though it’s used and has scratches…”

Christel said with a dejected face in words that only I could understand.

It was such a rare expression on her face that I was momentarily taken aback.

The vice-count cleverly read the context and stroked her friend’s back. I subtly asked Ganael.

“Isn’t Lady Sarnese allowed to participate in the auction?”

“That’s…”

“Unless the Marquis says she will go first, Duke Sarnese will never show a favorable attitude towards the As Trading Company.”

Benjamin explained quietly. The meaning hit me a beat late. So.

“Is it because I’m the lord?”

“That’s right.”

The middle-aged man grinned and began to slice the thrush pate [a type of finely ground meat]. I blinked.

In short, the reason why the duke acts with my decision as the top priority is because I am the representative here.

It was an unfamiliar concept.

Until now, I had lived in Juliet’s Palace without taking much responsibility, and I was in a position to obediently follow the imperial orders, but everything was different here.

The disposition of Joan’s gang was ultimately a matter for me to decide.

There were also quite a few documents that I had to stamp after eating.

But now I had to decide when and how to bestow grace on the head of the trading company.

I looked at the tray in the corner of the table.

A handwritten letter from the head of the trading company, which had arrived around the start of the meal, was placed there, but I hadn’t opened it yet.

Benjamin guessed that it contained an apology and an invitation.

“If I don’t step in… Will the territory residents reject the trading company?”

I whispered with an unnecessarily anxious heart. Chantal, who was serving, answered.

“It’s similar. There are rumors that Your Grace is dearly loved by His Eminence the Cardinal, so you never know when a thunderbolt will fall from the imperial capital. Naturally, the commercial district centered around the As Trading Company will shrink.”

Crazy. I hurriedly picked up the envelope.

I only had experience with voting when it came to politics, but I knew that if that happened, people would lose their jobs.

Chantal skillfully placed three plates of salmon papillote [salmon cooked in parchment paper] in front of me.

The weak expression from the morning was gone, and she had returned to her role as a cold-blooded head maid.

“…He says he’s unconditionally sorry. And he wants to treat us to lunch tomorrow.”

I boldly summarized Emil de As’s letter.

The paper smelled nice, and the handwriting was very beautiful.

The head of the trading company expressed his guilt towards the Duke’s family and me over three pages, and at the end, he left a message saying that he wanted to invite us to a meal.

There was no content asking to bail Joan out or defending her. Is he someone who has written apology letters before?

“If you don’t mind, may I take a look?”

Lady Elizabeth asked carefully.

That’s right, she was the vice-count who had been educated as the successor of the Frontier Count!

“Of course. I’d like your advice.”

I answered. Chantal handed the letter to the deputy commander.

Christel put her forehead against hers and read it together.

“He’s coming in very low [acting submissive].”

“Yes, because his sister’s crime is serious. Even if he knows that Your Grace will eventually forgive him, he won’t be able to show it.”

Lady Elizabeth analyzed sharply.

She silently scanned the letter for a while, then raised her head and looked at me.

“It would be better not to attend the luncheon.”

“Is that so?”

When I asked back, the vice-count swirled her gray eyes splendidly.

“Yes, postpone it to a dinner. If you follow along obediently, they might see you as easy. Besides, dinner is much more expensive.”

*

Time passed quickly.

Time went by quickly when I was playing in the imperial palace, but it really flew by when I was working.

With everyone’s help, I sent a reply ‘like a noble and aloof royal’, and even after the dinner schedule with the head of the trading company was set, I was constantly busy.

I would have made three times as many mistakes if it weren’t for Benjamin, Ganael, and Chantal.

In the meantime, I was quite proud of stamping a large number of marriage licenses.

That’s how the next evening came. Demi and Dduk-ssim decided to stay at the lord’s castle.

“We’re here, Marquis.”

The coachman opened the door in front of a large trading company building.

Christel and I got out of the carriage side by side.

As was about 40 minutes away from the lord’s castle by carriage.

Darkness had fallen and the coastline was not visible, but the sound of waves and seagulls could be heard occasionally in the distance.

I could also feel the salty sea smell and the sticky wind.

The trading city facing the sea was completely different from Yveline, which faced the North Sea.

Magical lights in various places added to the atmosphere like streetlights.

I looked around with an excited heart.

“Um, shall we go in quickly?”

Then I smiled bitterly.

It was still awkward and I felt sorry that all the territory residents who were passing by were prostrating themselves on the ground.

Christel smiled understandingly and nodded. It was then.

“I greet the Moon of the Holy State and the Marquis of Serenete.”

It was a voice that echoed like a cave. We turned our eyes at the same time.

A man with his short hair half-covered with a colorful cloth was coming down the stairs of the trading company.

He was taller than me and had broad shoulders.

His light brown skin and lemon-colored eyes blended together nicely like coffee and cake.

Even from a distance, he was a handsome man with distinct features.

Even his attire seemed to be a perfect mix of Riester nobles and Greek gods.

I opened my mouth and admired him, but at the same time, I felt a question. Why is such a handsome person here?

“I am Emil de As.”

…What was that?

“Madam. It is an honor to meet you.”

He bowed to me, then kissed Christel’s hand with a flowing gesture.

In an instant, a lightning-like sense of crisis pierced through me.

Hey, I’ve been scammed! Bring the Crown Prince!