What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 197

Purple Tulip (4)

Last night.

‘I’m not forcing you. The Prince’s opinion is the most important.’

Cardinal Boutier had clearly said that.

‘Keep it a secret from Cedric, okay? He’ll be angry if he knows I said this.’

He had also whispered such things.

As for me, I wasn’t the type to refuse in the face of an adult’s troubled smile.

In the end, the answer I gave her was a general statement like, ‘Well… I’ll think about it and give you an answer.’

My teacher nodded benevolently, as if she could wait forever.

I wondered if I was the only one shocked by those words; Sir Johan was nonchalantly spooning up his mocha pot de crème [a rich, chilled custard dessert].

Even after waking up this morning and thinking about it again, it felt like a dream.

No, even if I were planning a real estate investment with these friends for the next 30 years, I’d still hesitate…

Does this make sense? Is this development okay?

“Isn’t Grand Tutor Yi’s reputation already at rock bottom? This is too much.”

-Kki-eung

“Seriously, Demi. It’s been almost nine months since I possessed this body, and the main characters still aren’t dating. I would have dropped this a long time ago.”

-Kkurrrr

The lesser panda made a sound like it was chuckling.

Leah and Perry were using my thighs as pillows, fast asleep.

I stroked their warm bodies, lost in anguish.

Only the fireplace in the lounge burned peacefully.

-Oji-jik, tadak-tadak…

After hearing the Cardinal’s story and returning to the Juliette Palace, I couldn’t sleep until dawn.

Even though I wasn’t a reader of Grand Tutor Yi, I still had some sense.

That was a sentence that couldn’t be misinterpreted.

The meaning of purple tulips in the continent was diverse.

God, Pope, miracles of faith, the oath of the Twin Stars, and so on.

But ‘it will only bloom at my feet’? Saying that specifically in the tulip garden?

In the place where the tale of Arian and Philip, the first religious partners, is told?

My teacher’s meaning was clear.

She was telling me to become the Crown Prince’s ‘religious partner.’

“Is the author serious?”

I muttered. Moreover, Emperor Frederick probably thought the same thing.

The two adults moved as one.

“What’s worse, Cristel is going to be a Grand Duchess soon. Then she won’t be able to marry into the Imperial Family. This is really serious.”

-Kkii?

“Yeah, she can’t. Here, only the second child and onwards can become independent from the family. The first child or only child must inherit the family, in principle. They have to come from another house to marry in.”

I remembered a story Cristel had told me once.

If she and Crown Prince Cedric were to get engaged, the Sarnese Duke would adopt his closest nephew to continue the lineage.

Because Cristel was an only child.

“If the two of them don’t date before she becomes a Grand Duchess, it’s going to be a disaster.”

-Kkeuing

My solo ramblings grew longer due to the sense of crisis. I didn’t even have the presence of mind to take out my notebook.

Like a madman, I spewed out hypotheses.

“It’s troublesome if they date after she becomes a Grand Duchess… No. That’s not bad either. It avoids the worst.”

However, in that case, things would become complicated.

If Cristel, having been declared the head of the family, were to date the Crown Prince and even think about marriage, Sarnese would have to be prepared to be absorbed into the Imperial Family and disappear into the annals of history.

If they belatedly adopted a nephew to remove Cristel from the position of head of the family, it would become a topic of gossip in society for a long time.

Either way, it wasn’t a development that a prestigious family would welcome.

“Haa…”

A sigh escaped me. I buried my head in the soft sofa and closed my eyes.

Dduk-ssim, who had been playing on the armrest of the sofa, flew over and sat on my neck.

Whether it was my imagination or not, my shoulders felt heavy.

I decided to just be friends because avoiding it was too difficult, and now they’re asking me to take on the ‘vessel’ altogether.

The main characters’ love line, which is supposed to be the highlight, feels like the most difficult task in the world.

“Suddenly, I’m feeling disillusioned. Do the main characters really have to date?”

-Bbi…?

The wren chirped with a puzzled sound. It was as if it was asking what was wrong with me. My eyes suddenly widened.

“They have to. Of course, I have to stick to the original flow.”

I straightened my back, muttering as if making a resolution.

As I said before, I had never read Grand Tutor Yi.

Therefore, I didn’t know how similar or different the current flow was from the original.

Of course, it had deviated quite a bit from the established route.

Originally, neither of the two were holy knights, and the real Prince Yeseo didn’t have ether in his body.

There were also days when the main characters refused or ignored the few events that only I knew about.

But if even I lost my mind, if I ignored the main plot of this novel and entrusted myself to the present as things came…

I would have nothing to support me.

Frankly speaking, I wasn’t confident enough to endure that anxiety yet.

Even if you point fingers and call me weak, I have nothing to say.

“And besides, they look good together when they’re together. They’re pretty and heartwarming.”

This was the unadulterated truth.

-Bbi-bbo-oh

“Why are you talking like that?”

Dduk-ssim stretched out its cry in a mischievous way.

I chuckled and touched the tip of its beak.

I was a little, just a little, resentful of my teacher.

In the original work, she was the one who arranged the marriage between Cristel and the Crown Prince, and was called ‘Oh Teacher’ by the readers.

But why now…

-Knock knock

Just then, someone knocked on the lounge door. It was time for the guest to arrive.

I laid the lesser pandas down next to me and quickly got up from my seat.

I straightened my clothes and smoothed my hair.

At the same time, Ganael peeked his head through the door.

“Your Highness, Lady Sarah Beliard has arrived.”

“Okay. Tell her to come in.”

I smiled brightly. The box on the table gleamed.

*

Ganael loaded Dduk-ssim and the precious bundles onto the flower cart and took them away, and Pierre went to pick up Tete, who had been immersed in ice water.

Soon, the guest entered.

“It is my first time at Juliette Palace. It is an infinite honor for the Beliard family, Prince Yeseo.”

The journalist bowed with an elegant gesture. Lady Beliard was dressed in a splendid dress today as well.

The robe and gloves decorated with luxurious fur also looked expensive, and her dignified voice was the same as ever.

I greeted her in return and pointed to the sofa, and she sat down, observing her surroundings with a sharp gaze.

It felt like I could see the contents of the biweekly Liester coming out on the 15th.

I’m glad I prepared a room that wasn’t being used.

“Please have a comfortable time.”

Then Benjamin placed refreshments and left the room.

His face was perfectly professional. Our writer thoroughly separated his main job from his side job.

“I didn’t expect you to call me first. In fact, this rarely happens.”

“Haha. I hesitate to bring a reporter to a private place.”

I joked.

As soon as I finished the funerals of Grandma Pom and Henriette and came up, I formally invited Lady Beliard here.

I wanted to deliver the sun halo herb for her sick grandson.

Crown Prince had given his okay sign early on, and last night I cautiously received permission from the Emperor and the Cardinal.

The person involved didn’t know anything about it.

“If you’re willing to conduct an additional interview, I’ll do my best to assist you.”

“An additional interview?”

“We have quite a few questions that have been gathered. The readers also love the Prince very much. The May 1st issue, which featured the Prince’s interview, sold almost three times as much as usual.”

‘It was the best performance in 13 years,’ she added happily.

I didn’t immediately answer because I was worried about how to bring up the main point.

Lady Beliard seemed to think it was a positive sign, as she put small glasses on the bridge of her nose and took out a notebook and quill.

“Please let me know when you’re ready. May I ask how much time you have set aside?”

“I have plenty of time. It’s the weekend.”

“Oh.”

‘I’m lucky,’ she exclaimed, shaking her short white hair.

I stared at the Cornelian cherry flower tea that the woman hadn’t touched.

She said she doesn’t drink beverages during interviews, probably.

“Lady Beliard.”

“Yes, let’s begin.”

Oh my, she’s quick.

“Readers are flooding us with inquiries about the Madame Victoire case. A relic of the Marquis de Cesse was found in the shabby inn room where she was staying. Even the old women who sold goods together at the stall believed without a doubt that Victoire was a local resident… I heard that the Crown Prince and his party, including the Prince, personally caught the culprit.”

“Well, that’s right.”

“Thanks to that, there is an interpretation that His Highness is already building power.”

I don’t know about power, but it seems like he’s trying to create a partner.

“So, here’s the first question. The Prince is no longer just a confessor in the Imperial Palace, but…”

“Excuse me, you can have tea today.”

I ended up interjecting. She blinked.

I carefully pushed the steaming teacup towards her and said,

“I’m sorry to disappoint you, but I didn’t call you here for an interview.”

“Then…”

“How is your grandson doing these days?”

Then Lady Beliard’s face darkened in an instant.

She must be one of the best at managing her expressions in the Empire, but she became so weak when it came to her grandson’s story.

It was like this the first day I met her at the temple confessional. Finally, she moved her lips.

“…You are the only one who consistently asks me that.”

The child was still unconscious, it seemed.

“I apologize if it was an uncomfortable question.”

I apologized. The old woman sighed softly and took off her glasses.

“It wasn’t a reproach. I was just wondering how you could be so kind. I am a reporter who hunts for news, and the wife of a baronet, not even a baron.”

“That background has nothing to do with my business.”

I said that and opened the box placed on the table, showing her the contents.

Lady Beliard looked at the wooden box and me alternately with a questioning face.

“What is this? Flower tea?”

“Similar. You have a good sense, as expected.”

I smiled.

“This is called Sun Halo Herb. It is a new medicinal herb that His Majesty has not announced, so please do not disclose it until it is announced.”

“…I understand. But why are you giving this to me?”

Her words stopped abruptly. Her green eyes looked at me as if she couldn’t believe it.

I rubbed the back of my neck, feeling awkward.

“It has ingredients that help with ether in the body [a magical energy source]. There are patients who have taken it as medicinal tea and seen its effects, and there have been no side effects even after drinking it for a long time.”

“…”

The woman’s lips trembled. I pretended not to notice and continued.

“You’ve probably already shown your grandson to a healing priest… but they probably couldn’t open a circle to examine the vessel [a person’s capacity for magic]. That’s very difficult to memorize and requires a lot of ether to deploy, so it’s difficult to use unless you’re a high-ranking official who frequents the Imperial Palace.”

Of course, I couldn’t do it either. I smiled, thinking of the kind and brave Herrit.

“So I wanted to give this to you. Of course, your grandson may have a disease that has nothing to do with ether, but that’s just how people feel. You want to try all possible medicines.”

“Did His Majesty allow this?”

She asked in a trembling voice. I nodded silently.

“When I asked him, he didn’t give me an answer quickly. But… in the end, he told me to do as I pleased. Is there a problem?”

At my words, Lady Beliard hurriedly shook her head. Then she bowed deeply.

The old woman’s breathing was rough.

“Thank you. I will never forget your grace.”

“You’re welcome. It’s not like the effect has been revealed yet.”

I deliberately answered brightly and closed the box, handing it to her.

If I made her have too much expectation, the returning wound would be deep.

Lady Beliard covered her mouth with her handkerchief and took a deep breath.

She also seemed to be trying not to cling to the Sun Halo Herb.

Because she would know better than anyone the pain of being disappointed.

“To me… Is there anything you want from me? You must have something.”

“Yes?”

But the reporter suddenly said that. I was embarrassed.

I didn’t give it expecting anything in return?

*

But it seemed foolish not to accept it when she was offering…

I told Lady Beliard one short wish and ended the meeting.

I don’t know if that will come true, but since I don’t know what effect the herb I gave her will have, I decided to call it even.

Diligence servants came into the lounge and cleaned the sofa and table she had left.

Pierre handed me a fluffy harp seal.

“Thank you, good job. Was it fun? Was it okay to play without your brother?”

-Awoo

Tete wriggled its flippers, denying that it wasn’t. I smiled brightly and coaxed it.

-Knock knock

“Prince Yeseo.”

Lady Elizabeth’s urgent voice was heard.

I turned to the door with a strange sense of foreboding.

The neat bob of the Deputy Commander of the Palace Guards was disheveled in the wind.

The sentence she spoke was even more confusing.

“The fortune teller grandmother you mentioned… does not exist.”