What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 151

#151 What I Like the Most (4)

“His Majesty is hosting a banquet, gathering those she holds dear.”

Verner Venetian saw it as an opportunity. The Royal Consort’s lips curled into a smirk.

His attendants exchanged positive glances, their faces brightening.

It had been three weeks since Queen Christa had regained her clarity.

She was shocked by the news that her son had become a hostage of the Empire, but she wasn’t so horrified as to relapse into madness.

The Queen remained strong.

Moreover, she possessed a sound judgment that prevented her from dismissing her Royal Consort.

Verner’s family, the Schneidert Duchy, was one of the two major powers in the Venetian Holy Empire.

The current Duke Schneidert was a prominent figure who wielded great influence in society and politics, and Christa had maintained a friendly relationship with her.

The reason the Queen didn’t abandon the Royal Consort, or couldn’t abandon him, was because of her ties with the Duchy.

This fact both stirred Verner’s heart and gave him boundless confidence.

Like blood gushing from a punctured heart.

“Bring the new formal attire. The shoes and jewelry must also be entirely new. If a perfect appearance isn’t achieved, heads will roll.”

“As you command, Your Highness.”

At the Royal Consort’s command, the attendants immediately bowed.

Even those who had grown up pampered in noble families were ‘inferiors’ before Verner.

Even Prince Yeseo, recognized as the King’s son, was a commoner to him, so the attendants had no excuse even if they were treated harshly.

Thus, from the morning when the news of the King’s banquet was announced until the evening, the Royal Consort’s residence was bustling.

No slight gap, error, or flaw was tolerated.

Verner was pathologically obsessed with perfection.

“Your Highness, the list of individuals you mentioned earlier is prepared. Shall I bring it in immediately?”

As the hairdresser groomed the Royal Consort’s hair, the chief attendant appeared silently and asked.

His tone was calm.

It sounded as ordinary as if he were organizing a list of attendees for a party or ball.

However, both the chief attendant and the Royal Consort knew that the names written there were significant.

This was perhaps the most secret and weighty piece of paper on the continent.

The chocolate-colored eyes reflected in the mirror sharpened.

A benevolent voice flowed from the Royal Consort’s lips.

“Let’s look at it later. It’s not something to plot on a joyous day.”

“Understood.”

His capriciousness was commonplace. The chief attendant didn’t bat an eye and obeyed the order.

If the Royal Consort wanted to kill the Prince tomorrow, it would happen, and if he wanted to kill him in a year, that’s what would happen.

“Your hair is always so thick and beautifully colored. It’s the finest hair in the Holy Empire.”

“Thank you.”

The hairdresser, flattering the royal, applied musk to the light purple hair and carefully combed it.

Meanwhile, the attendants brought in several jewelry candidates, holding them up.

They stood looking only at the carpet, lest they make eye contact with their lord.

Verner scanned the treasures with an indifferent gaze.

“Today, I will wear the gifts bestowed by His Majesty.”

Then he changed his words. No one was surprised by the sudden order.

The attendants bowed their heads and hurried away to find the gifts.

Verner stroked the wedding ring on his left ring finger.

During the time he was Christa’s fiancé, and even in the early days of their marriage, their relationship was exemplary.

The King politely spoke to him and tried to provide him with whatever he needed.

She often showed a tendency to draw a line, but considering it was a political marriage, it wasn’t strange.

Verner regarded it as a good sign.

Compared to his life in the Duchy, where no one accepted him, everything was satisfactory.

The King’s cautious attitude seemed like consideration, and in the royal palace, he was revered as a noble royal.

It was completely different from when he lived as the second son of the Schneidert family.

“Chief Attendant, one of the bracelets is missing. Perhaps His Highness threw it into the fireplace…”

“Shh. Then there’s no need to bring the bracelet. Prepare with only what is available.”

“…”

His sister had innate authority.

Even before becoming the Duchess, she had been trusted by her parents and was highly praised in the royal capital.

Her mistakes became charms, and her flaws were praised as humanity.

Thanks to her boldness, she easily gained colleagues, and wherever she went, there were many who were fascinated.

Her younger brother, Verner, lived completely overshadowed by her.

Unlike his sister, his mistakes were sins, and his shortcomings were faults.

Unless he was cold and flawless, even if he made a hundred efforts, he would only be evaluated as fifty.

Praise was rare, and he could count the memories of being noticed on one hand.

That’s why he liked the position of Royal Consort.

He expected Christa to give him enough love and attention.

She was a busy monarch, but she knew etiquette and never criticized or tried to fix him.

The time they spent together trying to be good parents to Elysee was happy.

‘Michael. Michael, huh…’

However, enlightenment came unexpectedly.

It was the moment he glimpsed her whispering a strange man’s name and smiling brightly alone in the bedroom.

The King’s eyes, recalling something, were trembling.

At that moment, Verner felt the pain of having his ribs cut out.

What had reached him so far was not love.

Only insincere greetings and obligations, not even sincerity, connected him and Christa.

She had not accepted him, but had simply been indifferent to her spouse.

It was terrible. Reality instantly turned into a nightmare.

“Your Highness, preparations are complete.”

Verner woke up from his reverie.

In the mirror, he had become the most beautiful man in the Holy Empire.

Recently, such praise had been given to the royal’s lowly bastard.

But now, the Holy Empire had neither the priest who was an eyesore nor his offspring.

Verner was planning to live again receiving legitimate praise.

He curved his eyes and took a step.

“Let’s go to the banquet hall.”

“I will escort you.”

The chief attendant answered politely. The Royal Consort’s procession crossed the royal palace corridor.

Everyone lowered their bodies towards him.

Verner felt the excitement of the early days of his marriage for the first time in a long time.

Treasures sparkled all over his body.

Although Christa hadn’t sought him out in the past three weeks, it wasn’t bad to think that today was the beginning.

There was nothing to block the bond between the King and the Royal Consort.

One he had permanently removed, and the other was scheduled to follow his father someday.

“Are the Crown Princess and the Second Princess already there?”

“Yes, that’s what I heard.”

The attendant said. Elysee and Cornelise were healthy direct descendants.

Verner was pleased that Cornelise, who was growing, was no longer influenced by the bastard prince.

His steps grew lighter as he approached the banquet hall.

The knights and attendants guarding the entrance were surprised by the Royal Consort’s arrival and bowed their heads.

“Your Highness. What brings you here…”

“I heard that Her Majesty is decorating the table with her favorite things. I have come at her call, so tell her.”

“Yes?”

The flustered attendant raised her head, then quickly lowered it, realizing who the other party was.

The knights exchanged uneasy glances.

“Are you going to keep me waiting?”

“Ah, no. How dare I…”

The attendant trailed off, her face pale.

She glanced at the Royal Consort’s attire and the fierce-looking attendants, then gritted her teeth and knocked on the banquet hall door.

Knock knock. The sound was cold and short.

“Your Majesty. Royal Consort wishes to enter.”

-Click!

And the door opened.

Verner smiled and met his partner’s gaze through the doorway.

Her appearance, with her golden curly hair styled under the crown, was the same as before.

A spark was in her apricot-colored eyes. Her two daughters were sitting on either side of her.

The Royal Consort paid his respects.

“Your Most Excellent Majesty. I wish to share the banquet with you.”

“Leave.”

Verner’s body stiffened. It was an icy voice.

It was as if she wouldn’t say that to a stranger or even a butcher.

The man’s eyes trembled. The King continued.

“I did not call for you.”

“…”

He couldn’t breathe.

“There’s a draft.”

It was an order to close the door. The King’s attendant immediately carried out the order.

-Squeak…

Before his eyes, the warm fantasy vanished.

The last thing he saw was a flower decorating one side of the table.

A very old purple tulip, preserved with a magic tool glass cover.

A gift that ‘Michael’ had left for her.

-Click

At the sound of the doorknob, the Royal Consort straightened his back. The attendants swallowed their groans.

Now he could grab anyone who caught his eye and raise his hand, throw things, or hurl abuse.

The young attendant at the end of the line trembled.

A silence swept through the corridor.

No one dared to speak.

After more than ten minutes, Verner opened his mouth.

“…You said the list was out.”

“Yes.”

The chief attendant answered immediately.

As someone who had assisted Verner for more than thirty years, he knew the questions and orders he asked.

The ‘list’ that the Royal Consort meant was only one.

The information of the spies that the Holy Empire had planted in the Empire for decades.

A document containing the names of Riester’s nobles and commoners.

“I will see it immediately.”

“Yes.”

The old man winked. The Royal Consort’s procession headed towards the residence.

Verner unfolded his fist.

His bitten lips were cracked, and blood was flowing from his palm.

The scar caused by blocking Elysee’s spear didn’t heal easily even with the power of a healing priest.

A new wound appeared, but he didn’t care.

What was more painful than these scratches was being abandoned.

The betrayal suffered by someone he held dear was agonizing.

Murder was not only committed by assassins.

-Step, step, step…

So he would make the Prince suffer.

No, he would kill him several times more painfully.

He would cut off the bloodline that had humiliated him.

*

-Tap, tap, tap

“Continue, one, two, three! No, you turn on three. Not half of two!”

Eva’s voice echoed through the hall.

The musicians stopped.

It had been almost two weeks since we left Serenite and returned to the Imperial Capital.

Various parts of the Imperial Palace began to wear autumn clothes, and everyone was busy.

We also played from time to time, though.

I took a break and sat at the table.

We were in intense training ahead of Eva’s social debut, the masquerade ball.

Christel, who was receiving instruction from the Princess, had a troubled look.

Then she made a self-assessment, saying, ‘I’m good at singing, but not so much at dancing…’

Sir Johann, who knew her singing ability, laughed. I put my finger to my lips.

“Sir Sarnese doesn’t know.”

“Yes, that’s Sir Sarnese’s great point. It’s also surprising that a paladin has physical abilities but can’t dance.”

The mint-colored eyes drew an arc.

Somehow, Sir Johann seemed to be getting sly since becoming the Emperor’s man.

Or was he originally like this but had been hiding it?

“Has Your Highness learned a lot of the Empire’s dances?”

“I’ve memorized all of Almand. It’s true.”

I added the words because he tilted his head.

Leia climbs on top of Perry, and Demi crawls on top of Perry, acting as my dance partner every night, so of course I have to memorize it.

Even Dduk-sim brought a cloth and waved it in front of my face.

I guess that meant I should think of that part as a virtual face. Honestly, it was scary…

“Two, three, ta-da! You did well!”

“What’s wrong. I think I have some talent.”

Christel, who succeeded in the step on the eleventh try, admired her talent.

Benjamin and Ganael whispered seriously.

I suppressed a laugh and buried my face in my notebook.

Since returning from Serenite, there were many things to sort out.

Today was the day to revisit the part that I had been worried about.

I turned the pages back.

Before long, a faded part came into view.

∙ My Goal

Don’t get involved with the main characters, survive until the end of the war, and return home healthy!

“…”

I guess I’ll have to revise the first half. I smiled bitterly.