What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 164

#164 Love and Steps Don’t Get Tangled (4)

“…Hello.”

I managed to get the words out.

The beautiful demon lady greeted me politely with a smile, then slowly extended her right hand.

I swallowed hard, took her hand, and kissed the back of it.

I felt as nervous and blank as when I first entered the ballroom. What do I do now?

What else should I say? I’ve only been to one group blind date in college!

-♬♩♪!

While I was rolling my eyes around, a graceful melody began to play, fortunately or unfortunately.

She smoothly draped one arm around my shoulder.

A-are we dancing together?

“Um, please take care of me.”

I said cautiously, and the woman chuckled as if amused.

Thanks to the rigorous practice, I didn’t trip or step on her feet despite my embarrassment.

I didn’t know where to look, so I decided to look somewhere near her ear.

Then the lady giggled again. I was so embarrassed that my ears felt hot.

I’m not like this in front of my few friends or coworkers. I swear…

-Rustle, rustle rustle

“Hahaha!”

The capes and dresses fluttered to the music, and the guests, moderately excited by adrenaline, laughed loudly.

The demon lady seemed to have a natural lack of rhythm, but it was okay because I was helping her keep pace.

While supporting her waist, I thought about the possibility that this person might be, just maybe, Christel.

But…

-Thwack!

‘Oh, shit.’

Christel had a history of tearing an expensive dress at the temple during our first meeting.

Since then, she hadn’t worn dresses if she could help it.

She said they were pretty, which was nice, but she had to give them up because they weren’t practical.

I heard she often ruined them and even fell on her own, so I didn’t think she would be handling it so naturally.

“Prince.”

Then I heard Eva’s voice. I flinched and turned to look.

The little princess, who was dancing lightly with another lady, was looking at me with a mischievous smile.

“Are you really becoming a ‘black knight tempted by a demon’?”

The child whispered teasingly.

“…”

Those words snapped me back to reality. This was no time for this.

I looked into the veiled, dim eyes of the demon lady and bit my lip.

Modest Bakari, the young leader of Fleur de Lis, said he witnessed the shadow of death here.

It wasn’t a major event like a terrorist attack or assassination, but there was definitely a suspicious person in the hall.

I had to inform my friends scattered throughout the area and find that person.

Because…

-You are in danger.

-The Chief God seems to have something prepared for you.

Bireom’s Ark, Nikki’s voice echoed in my head.

Of course, it was also possible that the danger he spoke of was not this.

This incident might have nothing to do with me, and I might just be overreacting.

However, if the prophet kid had foreseen ‘content deviating from the original,’ it was hard to say it was unrelated to me.

If so, wouldn’t it be better to resolve it either way?

“Madam, perhaps…”

I whispered to the demon lady.

She looked up at me from a distance where our noses would touch if we moved even a little.

I was about to add to my words, but I stopped myself.

I was going to say, ‘If you see a suspicious person, please find me,’ but I couldn’t forget that the suspicious person might be her.

“If you see Sir Christel de Sarnese or the Crown Prince, please let me know.”

So I changed direction. Then she smiled brightly and nodded.

After that, I continued dancing with the demon lady with a calm and clear mind.

She would tap her fingers on my neck in a rhythm completely different from the music, or move outside of the set movements.

While helping her, I looked around for suspicious people, but there were no prominent figures.

…Really, there were too few clues. It was difficult to just grab anyone and start questioning them.

“Thank you.”

The dance was over before I knew it. I politely greeted her and quickly slipped out of the crowd.

Benjamin and Sir Johann were waiting for me at the table.

The prophet was also seen sleeping soundly on the sofa.

“How did it go?”

“I conveyed the revelation to the Duke and Duchess of Blancaire. The Duke was worried that the ball should be stopped. However, Duke Cecil had a different opinion. Since no guests have left the castle yet, he believes it would be better to close it down as is and catch any suspicious individuals on the spot.”

Benjamin explained. It was plausible.

First of all, the garrison of the lord’s castle was sufficient, and the martial power here was at an outrageous level.

Not to mention the Duke himself, an 8th-circle mage, there was Christel and the Crown Prince, Sir Elizabeth, and even Marquis Dhiem, who had arrived a little while ago.

“Were there any who seemed to be acting strangely?”

I asked Sir Johann. He smiled with a very troubled expression.

“There are many people having secret meetings on the terrace or balcony. But to ask what they’re talking about… the atmosphere is quite heated.”

I see… I guess so. Yes, that’s right. There’s a rumor that Prince Yeseo used to do that too.

I rubbed my cheek against the cold back of my hand covered in armor.

“Thank you for your hard work. I didn’t find anything. I couldn’t find Sir Sarnese or the Crown Prince either. I’m sorry.”

At my words, Benjamin sighed deeply and waved his hand as if not to worry.

“I found David and told him, so he should have heard the news by now. Sir Sarnese, his dance partner, must have heard it too.”

“That’s good. Thank you for your efforts.”

As expected, Benjamin was our problem solver. I gave him a thumbs up and repeatedly scanned the ballroom.

Just in time, Eva was coming this way, so I quickly waved my hand.

I needed to feed Eva snacks, talk about the prophecy, and come up with a plan, even if it was simple.

Oh? Sir Elizabeth and Ganael are here too!

*

“I’m sleepy.”

Eva, buried in the round sofa, muttered.

It was already past 11:30 PM.

Sir Elizabeth, sitting next to her, clicked her tongue, took off the child’s mask, and stroked her hair.

It was very difficult to vaguely look for ‘suspicious’ guests without any clues.

Even the servants carrying champagne on silver trays were all wearing masks.

Besides,

‘I can’t take off this corsage for personal reasons. Because the Black. Dragon. inside me will go wild.’

‘Ah… yes.’

The nobles most caught up in the concept would often utter profound lines.

Eva had been actively socializing, looping her arm around mine, but after about two hours, she was clearly exhausted.

She seemed to want to quit everything, and even sniped at me, saying, ‘It’s the Prince, the Prince is the most suspicious one here.’

It wasn’t exactly wrong, so I just acknowledged it.

“Close your eyes, Eva. I’ll wake you up when your parents come out.”

The young count said kindly, laying Eva on his lap.

The stamina of an 8th-circle swordsman was enormous, and her fiancé, Ganael, was still energetic.

The two men had also searched the ballroom thoroughly, but there were no significant results.

There were no special messages from the Duke and Duchess of Blancaire either.

I glanced at Bakari, who was sleeping motionlessly.

“Shall we wake him up and ask again, Prince?”

Ganael, who had taken off his lion mask and tucked it under his arm, asked. I shook my head slightly.

Sir Johann had already confirmed, but the leader was taking ‘mana rest,’ a break for mages, not ordinary sleep. [Mana rest is a form of meditation used by mages to replenish their magical energy.]

He wouldn’t wake up until the mana flow in his body became calm.

“I’ll go again. Sir Elizabeth, please rest with Ganael for a while.”

I said, drawing the veil over my face.

Sir Johann had been working hard all along, and I could still handle it.

I had decided to do my best for survival and returning home, so I was going to work diligently even if there were no results.

If nothing happens, that’s the best thing.

*

“Ah. I’m sorry.”

“If you want to earn my loyalty, you’ll have to try harder, Black Knight.”

I ended up stepping on the shoe of one of my dance partners, and he, dressed as the [a ballet reference], criticized me gently.

I must have been tired and my attention had waned.

I smiled bitterly and paid my respects, but the song changed in an instant and my partner changed.

I looked up at the man who appeared in front of me in a daze.

“Huh?”

“…”

-♪♬♩

It was the ‘angel’ I met in the tower.

The silver-haired man grabbed me tightly as if wrestling, and began to waltz with excellent lead.

I was embarrassed, but it was comfortable because I could relax my body.

Back and forth, swirling like a calm lake.

I mechanically moved my feet and carefully scanned the surroundings.

As the night deepened, more nobles were chatting than dancing.

The center of the ballroom was much less crowded than it had been a few hours ago.

“Thank you for keeping my identity a secret.”

Come to think of it, I hadn’t said this.

But even at my whisper, the angel’s jaw was firmly shut. He doesn’t talk much.

His high nose and the way he acts are just like some-,

“Wait.”

I looked at him with wide eyes. A chill ran down my arm for a moment.

I spun out like a top two steps away and returned to the rhythm.

“Could you possibly be who I think you are?”

“…”

The man remained silent. This made it seem even more real and scary.

I thought I could see a handsome face overlapping the white mask.

It was a problem to think that there could be two guys in the empire with such long legs, but if this guy is really… the Crown Prince, then the demon lady from earlier was Christel.

Damn it! Send me home!

“Have you two been making fun of me and haven’t even come to the table to say hello? What about the late-night snacks?”

“Did you plant the tulip bulbs well?”

At that moment, a rough voice was heard from behind.

At the same time, a very ominous premonition struck the back of my head.

I quickly turned my head to look behind me, but the dancers had hidden among the other nobles and were not visible.

Could it be that armored person from earlier? Is he asking that question to other people right now?

“Something’s strange.”

I muttered, craning my neck from side to side.

A man who repeats the same question until his throat is hoarse, and leaves without even a greeting after hearing the answer.

It was too much to just be a concept. The music was getting more cheerful.

I unconsciously frowned and tightened my jaw.

The ‘angel’ glanced in the direction I was staring at, then-

-♩♪♬!

“Ugh!”

Lifted my waist up in time with the beat.

I was momentarily breathless, embarrassed, shocked, and even surprised, so I let out a strange noise!

“Did you confirm the location?”

The angel asked bluntly. I knew it, it’s the Crown Prince!

“Hey, you…”

Only the main male lead could make this kind of voice.

Even though my feet were on the ground, the absurdity didn’t go away.

Not only us, but everyone dancing had digested the movement at once, but I could never get used to it…

No. Don’t forget the purpose, Jeong Yeseo.

“Ahem, ahem. I missed it. Let’s go one more time.”

I cleared my throat, lifted my veil, and said solemnly.

The Crown Prince spun around and nodded. Then,

-♬♩······!

“Cough!”

He lifted me up like a sack of rice on the next beat.

I held my breath, glared, and searched the ballroom.

A guest wearing full armor and limping was hurrying towards the balcony, following someone.

Got him!

“I’ll leave the rest to you!”

Thud! I landed on the floor and ran, leaving the Crown Prince behind.

As I spun through the couples, I felt like a marble in a pinball machine or a falling windmill.

It wasn’t long before I reached the balcony.

I took a deep breath and looked at the two balconies alternately.

Damn it, is it because I’m dizzy? I’m confused now that I’m here!

-Swoosh!

“Excuse me!”

First, I violently pulled back the curtain on the left. If it’s not here, I can just raid the right one,

“Ah…”

I lost my words for a moment.

Marquis François Dhiem and the girl who appeared to be his dance partner were leaning against the railing, looking at me with surprised faces.

It was clearly a sudden development for both sides.

For a moment, not even a simple nod or greeting was exchanged.

My fingertips trembled slightly. Perhaps because it was autumn, the night air felt particularly cool.

Did I get the wrong one? Right?

“Prince Yeseo.”

Finally, the Marquis spoke with his usual handsome expression. I flinched. Then,

“Ugh, heh…”

Someone groaned painfully from the courtyard on the first floor.

Crack! There was the sound of a tree branch breaking.

I could tell instinctively without looking down.

The armored man had jumped off the balcony and was running away.