What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 157

#157 Conspiracy (2)

Emperor Frederique narrowed her eyes.

“Tsk.”

She made a sound that could have been interpreted as pity or displeasure. I stood quietly beside her, awaiting her response.

Responding to King Christner was out of the question. I wasn’t the real Prince Yeseo.

I had worried a lot when I met Elissa, but writing a letter to my own mother was even more problematic.

The difference in handwriting would be obvious, and the tone and format would be significantly different.

[···Do you swear to defend the Lord God with your life?]

[I swear.]

[Do you swear to traverse the world inside and out, according to the will of the Lord God alone?]

[I swear.]

Cardinal Boutier’s gentle voice echoed from the front.

Christel and Crown Prince Cedric were reciting the oath of the Holy Knight in unison.

A dazzling silver-white ether overflowed from the hearts of the two.

I watched the scene with a pleased expression, then glanced at the Emperor.

“······.”

I didn’t want to do anything that would make her suspicious for a second time.

Of course, I was her man, having received a marquisate, and also a friend and partner of her son.

But fundamentally, I was a foreigner.

I had no intention of giving the Emperor, who already had to be wary of everyone, any additional cause for concern.

It would be a lie to say that she wouldn’t be conscious of the contents of a letter sent to the king of an enemy nation.

“Fine. Do as you wish.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

I replied promptly. She tapped the armrest and abruptly changed the subject.

“What you did in your territory.”

“Yes.”

There were more than one or two things that happened in Serenite, but if the Emperor was going to bring something up directly, it would be the As siblings incident.

I tensed up and looked at her.

“It was amusing. Well done.”

I was momentarily speechless. I was quite surprised because I didn’t expect to be praised.

The Emperor smiled and looked at me.

“I heard that the guild leader was a clumsy clown. But this body is the Emperor.”

The rest of the words didn’t follow. But the meaning was clear.

For her, who had to contemplate all the major affairs of the Empire, it was absurd to directly investigate and judge a young guild leader from a free city.

She had more important official duties piled up, so she wouldn’t have had the time.

So, the fact that we revealed Emil’s wrongdoings and handed him over to the Imperial Army······.

It seemed like we had removed a thorn from under her fingernail. Maybe.

“Thank you.”

I managed to say.

“Although it’s late, thank you for repairing the confessional. It feels like new, so I feel good every time I go in.”

I also greeted her because I could see the confessional next to the platform. Then the Emperor tilted her head.

“That’s good. But it wasn’t my order.”

“Yes?”

“Didn’t I say I’m the Emperor? I don’t have time to take care of the temple’s repairs.”

That’s true. I was confused because I heard a similar story when I thanked my teacher last month.

So, did the imperial carpenters voluntarily take time out to fix it?

Lost in thought, I stared blankly at the cardinal and the two Holy Knights.

Before I knew it, the Holy Knight investiture ceremony was heading towards its end.

The cardinal laid his hand on the Crown Prince’s head and gave him a blessing. He had his eyes closed neatly.

[···From this moment on, the Lord God will eternally endorse your authority as Archbishop.]

“Ah!”

The crowd let out a moan close to joy.

I expected it, but it was a different dimension from just thinking about it and the Vatican actually acknowledging him.

It was a great occasion that the Empire’s first Holy Knight was taking his first step as an Archbishop.

Some believers were clapping their hands while crying.

I could see Eva stomping her feet in the priest’s seat.

I turned my gaze and met eyes with the Crown Prince.

‘It will be alright.’

I moved my lips.

Christel and I will help, so the things he was worried about wouldn’t happen.

I don’t know if he understood my words, but his orange eyes looked much calmer than a few days ago.

That’s a relief.

[Your authority as Archbishop······.]

“Wow!”

“Long live Liester!”

Around the time the same grace was poured on Christel’s head, the venue was in a festive mood.

When the protagonist smiled brightly and gestured to the ceiling, ‘Paang!’ and a splash of water burst like fireworks.

The believers cheered. Even the dignified bishops were amazed and amused.

It was amazing that none of the candles that lit up the place went out.

“Now, please stand up······.”

A whisper from a bishop was heard amidst the commotion.

The two protagonists rose from their cushions and stood side by side next to the cardinal.

At the same time, very sacred music echoed to the top of the temple.

In response, the choir began to sing the anthem again.

-♬♪♩······

Guided by the cardinal, the two young and beautiful archbishops slowly took steps towards the entrance.

Believers bowed and prayed along the path they passed.

Priests holding large symbols of the Lord God and tulips followed behind.

I sent a beaming smile and applause.

Although they didn’t become the Sword Master and Princess couple as in the original work, the Holy Knight couple who didn’t care about fire or water was good enough to see.

“A large amount of Holy Stone is being mined in Eitz Village, Your Majesty. According to the testimonies of the Imperial Knights, it will be comparable to an ordinary mine.”

“Amazing.”

It was a report from Erbe Duiem, the captain of the Royal Guard. Frederique was purely impressed.

She and Orelly had gathered again in the Emperor’s office as soon as the Holy Knight investiture ceremony was over.

Recently, the Empire’s situation was turning around breathlessly in a good way.

Although there were two assassination attempts targeting Prince Yeseo, miracles had happened one after another otherwise.

First, the Crown Prince obtained the ‘Comet Sword of Mars,’ and thanks to that, the risk of his body becoming younger was reduced, and he was successfully appointed, and Christel de Sarnes also awakened as a Holy Knight.

Moreover, both of them were recognized as archbishops, one step below the cardinal.

A cardinal-level Holy Knight from Shin-guk was also recruited into the Empire.

Five divine beasts, the messengers of the Lord God, stayed in the Imperial Palace.

One of them was a divine object, but anyway, it was enough to inspire the faith and loyalty of the people.

In addition, the Holy Stone, which was considered a weapon unique to Shin-guk [Shin-guk is a nation known for its use of Holy Stone], was now being produced in the Empire.

Frederique exchanged meaningful glances with her contractor.

She expected at most a dozen or so carts worth, and guessed that the village would be revitalized in the process of mining the Holy Stone.

However, the amount of mining in a small imperial territory was said to be the size of a mine that would only be found in the south.

It was completely unexpected news.

“You’re right, Orelly. That guy seems to be favored by the Lord God.”

“I’m always right.”

The cardinal responded softly to the Emperor’s words and savored her coffee.

She was in full dress, only without her bishop’s hat.

Frederique chuckled and turned to Johan, who was standing by her side.

“Your reasoning was also correct.”

“It’s just that Your Majesty’s wise judgment was effective.”

The Holy Knight replied coolly.

Regarding the fact that Sunhalo Grass and Holy Stone were found together, Johan Haines speculated that the distribution of the two plants and minerals might coincide.

It was a plausible opinion since such rare things appeared all at once.

The Emperor ordered the mountains of the village to be thoroughly searched for Sunhalo Grass colonies, and sure enough, Holy Stone was found under the land where the medicinal herb grew.

“At this rate, there’s a high probability that Holy Stone will also come out of the Sunhalo Grass habitat on the border.”

“Yes. We need to contact the Blanquer Duchy. The duchy is the largest border area.”

“······Come to think of it, it’s thanks to him that we’ve resumed private exchanges with Blanquer. There’s no reason to send him back to Shin-guk.”

The Emperor said in a playful voice.

Orelly smiled, feeling that her contractor was genuinely enjoying herself.

Then the man, who had been silent all along, opened his mouth.

“Your Majesty, Your Highness. I beg you to keep Prince Yeseo Fenetian at a distance.”

“······.”

The room turned cold in an instant. Everyone’s eyes were focused on the youthful face.

Erbe felt the air becoming uncomfortable and twitched his facial muscles.

Eventually, the Emperor dryly accepted the words.

“I’ll take it into consideration.”

“I dare to ask, it should not end with just taking it into consideration. I can assure you that he is a dangerous being.”

“Commander Modest Bacari.”

Eventually, Erbe Duiem stepped forward.

As the trusted captain of the Royal Guard, he had watched the Emperor for quite some time, and he sensed that there would be repercussions if he didn’t ease the current atmosphere.

The captain of the Royal Guard gave the prophet a handsome smile. He had learned it from his older brother.

“Your Majesty highly appreciates the work that the Prince has done for Liester and His Highness the Crown Prince. I am grateful for your noble advice, but I believe that the timing is not appropriate.”

“I had to tell you as soon as possible.”

Modest sharply shone his blue-silver eyes under his glasses. Both fists were clenched tightly.

The Emperor’s tone finally sank.

“What is the basis for saying that the Prince is dangerous? Did you receive a revelation?”

“No, I have stronger evidence than that.”

“Speak.”

“I can’t feel anything from him.”

A terrifying silence flowed through the office. It was not the Emperor who broke the silence, but her shadow.

“I’m curious what you mean. I’d like to hear an explanation.”

The mint-colored eyes curved like a crescent moon. A whirlwind began to blow around Johan.

The prophet did not lower his head even under the Holy Knight’s subtle pressure.

“It’s as it sounds. I have received unexpected revelations since I was three years old. It was like seeing how the coachman of a passing carriage would die, and what would happen to the horse. When there were no visions, I heard hallucinations and received prophecies in my dreams. My head has never been quiet.”

“I know roughly about your special skills. And?”

“······But the area around the Prince is as quiet as a mouse. Nothing can be seen or heard, only silence lingers. I cannot predict him.”

He looked somewhat frightened. Now the prophet looked younger than his age.

Whining, the autumn wind howled eerily outside the window.

Erbe didn’t know if it was the power of the season or the threat of the Holy Knight.

“It means that no one knows what he is thinking and what he will do in the Empire in the future. Moreover, the people next to the Prince also show similar aspects. At the investiture ceremony just now······.”

Modest gritted his teeth. His cheeks were flushed as if he was ashamed of his own incompetence.

“Even the surroundings of Your Majesty, who was with him, were silent. In my entire life, such a person, such a thing, is the first time.”

“Amazing.”

The cardinal imitated the exclamation that the Emperor had uttered.

After that, no words were exchanged in the room.

Just as the last breeze hid between Johan’s white hair, Frederique finally opened her mouth.

“So that’s why you wore glasses. Is it a magic tool that enhances magic power?”

“······That’s right.”

“It doesn’t seem to have been very helpful.”

She said mockingly. Orelly stepped on her boots to mean to stop appropriately.

Frederique frowned.

“I understand your concern. I think I should pay attention as a monarch. There’s no point in ignoring Fleur de Lis’s advice. However.”

The corner of her mouth lifted.

“It’s a warning that Frederique Liester quite likes.”

Curiosity lingered in her cherry-colored eyes.

Modest opened his mouth blankly, and Orelly swallowed a sigh.

The ‘Eve’ she knew was a troublemaker who couldn’t stand unexpected actions since she was a princess.

She had become more gentle after ascending the throne, but it was impossible to change her innate nature.

The fact that there was someone nearby whose next move no one could foresee, and that she would become such an existence if she was with him, was clearly pleasing.

What to do.

“······Thank you for your good advice, Bacari. You can go now.”

In the end, the Emperor’s companion could only smile bitterly and send the prophet out.

“My ear is itchy······.”

“Oh my. Someone must have been talking bad about the Prince.”

Christel joked from the side as I scratched my earlobe.

Then she looked around with fierce eyes.

The servants were startled and lowered their shoulders.

The Crown Prince, who was walking on the left, narrowed his brows as he was unfamiliar with the superstition about itchy ears.

“Are there still people who insult you?”

“There’s no way.”

I hurriedly replied.