What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 186

#186 Not Baker Street, Just a Bakery (2)

After that, we roughly planned our operation, set our course of action, and even created a code.

Cristel was incredibly skilled, perhaps because she had once conceived ‘Operation Verona’.

Before we knew it, it was lunchtime, and we all ate together.

It would have been better to eat leisurely in the dining hall, but the Crown Prince couldn’t postpone all his official duties, and Elisabeth also had duties with the Royal Guard.

So, Chef Laurence quickly made tartines [open-faced sandwiches] and sent them to the drawing room…

“Wow.”

They were insanely delicious. At this point, he’s practically Ro Jang-geum [a reference to a famous Korean chef, implying exceptional culinary skill].

“I’m seriously considering applying for a position change. Joining the Guard was actually my stubborn decision. My parents were against it. But you’re telling me you eat this delicious food every day at the Juliette Palace?”

The Deputy Commander of the Guard said, heartily devouring his sandwich. I affirmed with a smile.

He must have grown up eating well in the northern margrave’s castle, and the Guard’s meals are probably top-notch too.

It seemed to taste even better because he was eating with friends.

Of course, our Ro Jang-geum is amazing, though.

“Your Highness, the troupe of clowns has entered Juliette with the Royal Guard. We are ready to interrogate them whenever you call.”

“Thank you, Benjamin.”

I quickly replied and took a big bite of the last piece.

The sandwich was nearly perfect: a large baguette cut in half horizontally, generously spread with freshly made, savory tapenade [an olive-based spread] paste, piled high with pungent, cheesy saucisson sec [dried sausage], and topped with crisp cucumbers and tomatoes.

While I was cleaning my mouth with a napkin…

“Tete, is this Tete’s rattle?”

– Ewoo!

“Oh no, it’s gone! Where did Tete’s rattle go?”

– Auuu…

“Here it is! Wow, that’s so amazing!”

Cristel, who had already finished eating, was holding Tete in her arms and coaxing him.

She had made an adorable rattle out of water blossoms, and she was amusing the harp seal by hiding the toy in her hair and then revealing it.

The creature’s black eyes grew as big as full moons and then curved like crescent moons. The corners of my mouth also lifted involuntarily.

Tete was so gentle that he got along well with everyone, including me, but he especially liked Cristel.

Perhaps he felt an instinctive comfort because they both had water attributes.

Conversely, he seemed a little scared when Cedric was nearby.

“……”

– Squeak!

The Crown Prince, who was about to get up, was stopped by Demi grabbing his ankle.

Perry and Leah, as if they had been waiting, scrambled up his legs.

The man sighed softly and leaned back against the backrest.

You know that resisting the Lesser Panda Trio is a losing battle.

“Ganael, prepare the side room. We’ll start the interrogation as soon as the table is cleared.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“…And tell the other attendants to behave discreetly.”

I gave the order awkwardly. It was to establish discipline, as my teacher had said.

My tone might have been strange, but the boy’s golden eyes sparkled as he nodded.

David used the interlude to hand the Crown Prince state documents.

I glanced at him, trying to create a solemn atmosphere.

Is that how I should act when I’m trying to be serious? Chest out, keep frowning?

“Haha.”

Sir Johan, who had noticed my twitch, chuckled softly. I was so embarrassed I could die. He caught me.

*

The Crown Prince and Elisabeth eventually left for a while.

The founding ceremony of the Imperial Capital Defense Academy, which had been scheduled for November, was postponed again to December, and they had a lot to coordinate because of that.

Wasn’t that originally an October event? Anyway.

“We will bring in ‘Nimble Serge,’ the oldest of the clowns, first, Your Highness.”

Ganael said cheerfully. I immediately wrote ‘1. Nimble Serge’ on a piece of paper.

I sat at the center of the long table, with Sir Johan to my left.

Cristel on the right was muttering things like, ‘Mr. Serge, I’ll see you on the next stage,’ in various tones.

It’s not a survival show for acrobats.

– Click

“Over there, stand in the middle.”

Soon the door opened, and Benjamin instructed.

A man who was clearly terrified entered the room.

He looked to be in his late twenties, and his already large eyes were even more prominent because of the dark circles around them.

When he came to Juliette to perform, he had worn elaborate makeup, so it was difficult to recognize him now.

He looked pitiful, trembling with a frame as thin as chopsticks.

But this was an interrogation to catch a serial thief and attempted kidnapper, so I couldn’t show sympathy or pity.

They might be accomplices. I steeled my heart and opened my mouth.

“Mr. Serge, I’ll ask you first.”

“Oh, Your Highness!”

Serge jumped up and prostrated himself on the floor.

His voice was clearly filled with fear. I understood.

He had been arrested during the parade, given only minimal food and water, interrogated by the Defense Force and the Royal Guard, and finally dragged to the Imperial Palace to face me, a prince and marquis…

I would probably feel like my life was flashing before my eyes.

“P, please spare me! I, we have no idea… We don’t know anyone named Madame Victoire, not even if we were to die and come back to life. I swear it’s true, I swear to the gods!”

Serge pleaded earnestly. I tried to calm him down by asking as calmly as possible.

“I heard that you are the oldest member. But when the acrobatic troupe came to Juliette to perform, I saw an old woman. Who was she?”

“Oh, th, that’s… I’m sorry, Your Highness. Granny Pomme passed away…”

‘Ye, she died.’ Serge answered and hung his head.

I was surprised and exchanged glances with Cristel. She asked sharply.

“When did she pass away?”

“That is, th-that. The day after showing off our skills to Your Highness, she was hit by a carriage… We didn’t witness it. Her granddaughter, Henriette… Took care of it. Without even calling us…”

It was unexpected sad news. Serge’s voice was already full of tears.

I expressed my condolences from the bottom of my heart. It was around mid-October, right after she showed me her skills.

I had only watched for a couple of hours, but I could easily tell that the acrobats were very close to each other.

Granny Pomme sat far away, not participating in the performance, wearing a clown costume.

So, in the beginning, I was curious about her role.

‘Good job, Serge. Our nimble one.’

‘Thank you, Granny.’

I quickly realized without even asking.

She took care of the young acrobats’ water and props, constantly encouraged them, and whispered about what was good and bad.

I remember feeling like she was a kind ‘manager’.

Although she seemed to have difficulty moving because of her hunched back, Granny Pomme never rested.

“Are you saying that after Granny passed away, her granddaughter, Henriette, held the funeral alone and returned?”

Sir Johan asked. His mint-colored eyes shone with a cold light like the aurora borealis [Northern Lights].

Serge took a difficult breath and answered.

“Ah, no. She must have been greatly shocked, sob. She only left us with a short greeting and went back to her hometown… She left for the south. She left the troupe, and we haven’t seen her since, sir. She doesn’t even reply to our letters…”

The man sniffled. I exchanged meaningful glances with Sir Johan.

“One more thing. Comparing Victoire’s movements with the acrobatic troupe’s travel route, although they don’t completely match, there are many suspicious parts. On the day he was stealing in a certain territory, your group was performing in the neighboring territory. It’s written in the Royal Guard’s report. This is the first time Victoire has been discovered so close.”

“Ah, ah! I swear it’s not true, Your Highness! We really didn’t do it!”

Serge was almost convulsing now. I was quite nervous that he might faint.

The young acrobat raised his head sharply and pleaded with tearful eyes.

“Y, Your Highness… We are p, painfully poor, we don’t know our origins, and we are just wretches who have grown up relying on each other. Sneaking into the homes of noble people and stealing things… We have never even imagined it. If we get caught, we’re d, dead. The road overlapping with the thief is just, that is,”

‘A coi, coincidence…’ He finally burst into tears.

His mental strength had reached its limit, and sweat poured down his pale face like rain.

I couldn’t bear it any longer.

I called Ganael and asked him to bring Serge a blanket and tea, and Sir Johan gave a bitter smile as if he couldn’t help it. I’m sorry.

“Speak comfortably, Mr. Serge. I can tell if you’re lying, so just confess the truth as you remember it. I’ll just act as usual too.”

I said. Trying to act serious when I couldn’t was as uncomfortable as forcing myself into clothes that were too small.

Before I knew it, a thick blanket was wrapped around Serge’s shoulders.

He was given warm verbena tea in both hands, and a chair with a backrest was brought in.

He looked at me blankly, and when our eyes met, he quickly lowered his head.

Still, he looked much better than before.

That’s a relief.

“Shall we continue then?”

Cristel asked me in a bright voice. I smiled and nodded.

*

And on the first day of December.

I was standing in front of Juliette Palace, feeling the rather chilly wind.

The attendants stood in a row to see me off.

A similar scene was unfolding at Romero Palace across the way.

The Crown Prince and Elisabeth were seen mounting their horses.

“Your Highness, your gloves too.”

“Thank you, Ganael.”

I received and put on the mittens.

I clearly heard that the Imperial Capital has a mild climate throughout the year, except for the heatwave season. That’s what I heard…

When the protagonist of a novel appears, when a hero appears on the continent, everything is exceptional.

According to Benjamin, the air has been unusually cold since autumn.

As December arrived, the cold wind began to blow in earnest.

Of course. I let out a sigh of a supporting character after a long time. I was already nervous.

Prince Yeser’s body, which couldn’t handle the heat, what would it be like in the cold?

“Your ears will get cold as you ride, Your Highness.”

Kind Benjamin put my hood on.

Today’s business was clear.

Yesterday, we successfully completed the interrogation of the clowns and set the direction of the investigation together.

So, we couldn’t delay any longer.

It was time to start the ‘bait-laying operation,’ running on foot without a carriage.

To catch Madame Victoire.

“Hello, nice to meet you.”

– Hihing

I greeted the horse I would be riding today.

When I stroked its neck, it kindly accepted my touch.

The foal was a two-year-old white horse, a fine steed that Benjamin had prepared as a birthday gift for me last spring.

It had been brought yesterday with great care from his family’s estate, Girardien County, which is famous as the home of fine horses.

In short, it was our first meeting. I hadn’t named it yet.

“I won’t be too heavy, I hope. I’m not a beginner, well. Please take care of me.”

“Are you a mare, Your Highness?”

“Oops, sorry. I forgot. Please don’t drop me, mister.”

– Prrr

I quickly changed my words, but it seemed a little dissatisfied.

I had definitely lost points from the first meeting.

I hugged the troublemakers one by one, greeted Herit, and then subtly got on the horse.

I didn’t bring the divine beasts in case I had to disguise myself along the way, but I did bring Stubborn, who was easy to hide.

He snuggled into my chest, only showing his face and chirping. Chatterbox.

“I’ll be back. Don’t worry and rest. Demi, listen to Benjamin and Ganael. Tete, don’t swim too much at night.”

– Kkiung

– Aeung

The two creatures gave answers that at least included ‘ung’. I chuckled and spurred the horse on.

Sir Johan, who was in charge of escorting me, followed closely behind.

“Whoa!”

You’re not supposed to ride horses fast in the Imperial Palace, but it was my first time experiencing this, so I felt excited for no reason.

A cool breeze swept past my cheeks and hair.

In an instant, I arrived at Romero Palace, and the Crown Prince on his elegant black horse looked at me as if I were a child.

Okay, class president. I won’t run in the hallways anymore.

“Welcome, Prince Yeser. That’s a very handsome horse.”

“Is this your first time riding?”

“Your Highness!”

Little Count, Pig, and Cristel each said a word in turn.

I turned my gaze to the protagonist, who had the loudest voice.

A figure on horseback was approaching us.

With pink hair neatly braided under a macaron-like hat, wearing a cape that reached her waist, and holding a pipe with blue smoke rising from it…

Wait a minute.

“Lady Sarnese?”

“Shall we go catch Henriette, Watson?”

She winked at me, making a ‘pop!’ sound in her mouth.

I couldn’t answer immediately and just gaped.

Don’t tell me it’s that concept I’m thinking of? There’s a big difference in era from that, isn’t there?

No… Is it too late to point this out now?