What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 201

#201

Purple Tulip (8)

“…You prefer conversation.”

The young voice was damp, as if submerged in water.

“Don’t talk.”

“Didn’t you say there’s nothing that can’t be solved with words?”

Seidi retorted with difficulty, not giving an inch.

A transparent bubble fell from the boy’s chin. On closer inspection, it wasn’t a tear.

But his forehead was soaked with sweat, his eyes were bloodshot, and he was moist with a high fever.

His cheeks were flushed, and his eyes were unfocused. I held the staggering boy’s arms tightly.

“Why are you in such bad shape? Huh? Does your mother know?”

“Talk. I’ll listen.”

I had never seen the boy so sick before.

He wasn’t this bad even on the day we first met at the temple confessional.

Without thinking any further, I gently picked up the boy. Heave-ho.

I expected resistance, of course, but he didn’t kick my stomach or struggle like before.

His limp body, like waterlogged cotton, was unbearably pitiful.

The Crown Prince’s large fur-lined cloak dragged on the floor.

Oh dear, how did this happen?

“Let’s go lie down. You need to get your fever down.”

“…Don’t avoid me.”

“I won’t avoid you anymore. I promise. I’m sorry.”

I whispered, cradling the back of his hot head.

When his burning forehead touched my shoulder, a wave of pity washed over me.

It was a severe case of ether depletion [magical energy deficiency], but I could somehow cure it with my abilities.

However, it was difficult to be careless when he was sweating so much. Even a paladin [holy knight] could catch a cold.

So, at this moment, only one sentence was running through my mind.

‘How to deal with a sibling with a fever, ages 5-7.’

“Demi, there are some laundered handkerchiefs folded on the table over there. Can you bring them to me?”

-Kkiing

“Peri, can you close the balcony door by yourself?”

-Kking!

“Thank you. Tete, do you want to lie down with your friend?”

-Awoo

“Good boy. Leah, let’s move Tete over a little.”

-Kkiit

The kind divine creatures all helped me and made concessions.

I laid Seidi down on my bed and immediately deployed the sanctuary [a protective magical field].

-Saaaah…!

The bright, clear gold light enveloped his small frame. The boy was already unconscious.

He must have used most of his energy to come here and talk.

It was definitely a symptom of ether depletion, but it was still winter.

He must have been exposed to the cold wind while crossing the balcony and garden late at night, so it was good to give him a fever reducer.

“I put the medicine here, ugh.”

I staggered as I opened the bedside table drawer.

It was because a huge amount of ether had suddenly drained away.

The sleeping Seidi was sucking up my power as if he were possessed.

Ttuksimi, who had flown to the boy’s head, looked at me with worried eyes.

I smiled at the wren. It’s okay. It’s partly my fault.

I hurriedly took out the fever reducer and placed it on the table, and emptied the tray with the teapot and teacup.

Fortunately, the dizziness subsided quickly.

“Thank you, Captain. Tete, can you pour lukewarm water here? Let’s give Tete’s favorite cold water to our friend later when he gets better.”

-Awoong

Then, I put the handkerchief that Demi brought into a deep silver tray, and filled it with Tete’s warm water and soaked it thoroughly.

While I was wiping Seidi’s face and neck, Ttuksimi picked up another towel with its beak and put it in the tray.

It flew up and down, soaking the cloth in water.

“Our Ttuksimi is an angel.”

-Ppibo!

Ttuksimi proudly opened its beak and cried.

Splash! The towel fell into the tray, splashing water everywhere.

Leah, whose whiskers were wet, shook her head. I chuckled and started unbuttoning the patient’s shirt.

Then I stopped moving. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.

“…He didn’t use a single necklace.”

The holy stone necklace that I had filled with ether was shining brightly under the white cloth.

I held back the rising anger.

I couldn’t use vulgar language to a sick child, even if he was asleep.

So I only cursed inwardly.

You crazy bastard. What were you doing without using this until you got to this point? Were you going to save it to make soup?

Is this disposable? I’ll refill it when it’s empty, so when are you going to use it, you stingy bastard?

Should I draw a recycling mark on the back?

“It’s my fate…”

I just lamented like that and diligently moved the wet towel.

I also carefully checked the amount of ether I was supplying, just in case I fainted first.

Once this is done, I have to give him medicine, check that his condition is stable, and then wake him up and send him away.

*

Cedric Liester woke up at dawn when it was turning bluish.

It wasn’t his bedroom. The man slowly raised his upper body.

His head was clear and his body was light. The body filled under his shirt was his original one.

The young and weak appearance, which some called by the nickname ‘Seidi’, had disappeared.

“……”

A carafe was placed next to him, so he drank it in one gulp.

Soon, orange eyes narrowed in the darkness.

One side of the bed curtain was wide open. Beyond it, a long sofa could be seen.

Prince Yeseo was asleep there with the divine creatures, covered with layers of blankets.

He was not even moving, perhaps because he was in a deep sleep. Only the mixed sounds of various breaths could be heard.

The Crown Prince got out of bed.

Only then did he realize that the blanket was covering him up to his neck.

The Prince had a peculiar side to his weakness.

-Ppii

At that time, a wren flew in from somewhere and sat on the bedside table.

Next to the holy water, there were things like a tray filled with water, a wet towel, and a medicine container scattered around.

A neatly written record on the paper also came into view.

‘2:30 AM, slight fever. Still absorbing ether. 3:00 AM, fever almost gone. Very small amount of ether needed. Breathing stable.’

Black eyes stared up at him. Cedric tilted his head.

“Does this mean you want me to acknowledge your hard work?”

-Ppi

The man didn’t budge.

“You have paid the price for avoiding the imperial family.”

-Ppirit!

When he responded curtly, the holy creature seemed angry and jumped up and down in its spot.

The Crown Prince ignored the bird’s protest and observed the open drawer.

In the first compartment, there was the crystal bell he had gifted, and various medicines were neatly organized.

The Prince was far from being sickly, so these were not for him.

It was certainly intended to take care of himself when he was younger or the lower people of Juliet Palace.

“……”

-Deureureuk

He opened the second drawer without hesitation. A notebook came into view.

It was an object that the Prince often took out during tea time and organized something, and it seemed very precious.

A strange light flashed in the Crown Prince’s eyes.

Then, the wren flew up and sat down on the notebook.

-Ppibo!

It even gave a firm warning with its yellow beak.

“Loyal.”

-Ppibbi

The bird puffed up its body like a ball and threatened him. Cedric picked up the notebook without caring.

The holy creature was startled and pecked at the back of his hand.

However, the man had no reason to give in.

The Prince had unilaterally avoided him, dared to flee to his father’s residence, the Charpentier Palace, and was absent from class without any explanation or apology regarding him.

In the end, the Crown Prince consumed an extreme amount of ether in his duel with Johann Haynes and was defeated.

…He could have endured it with the Hyegeom [a magical sword]. But he didn’t want to.

-Ppireureu! Ppireureureu!

The Prince and everything about him did not move according to his will.

It was very annoying and frustrating. So he had to know.

What on earth was he thinking with that little head of his?

-Ppibbibbii!

“Quiet.”

He growled lowly. It was then.

“Jeong Eunseo, when you come, a half gallon… Take your brother’s card.”

It was a strange sleep talk. Cedric frowned and looked at the sofa.

The Prince was dreaming quietly as if he had never made a sound.

Looking at his innocent appearance, the scenery of ‘that day’ suddenly flashed before his eyes.

The sky of the firmament that aroused bizarre thrills. A bloody man reaching out and flying up.

The metallic wings that sparkled in periwinkle, and the earnest amethyst eyes.

‘Eunseo,’

-Peoeok!

At the same time, Cedric woke up from his thoughts. At the time, the Prince mentioned the word ‘Eunseo’.

But he said something similar just now.

The Crown Prince’s lips moved slowly, containing unfamiliar language.

“…Jeong Eunseo.”

What does it mean? It was an awkward pronunciation.

It didn’t seem to be a Venetian vocabulary, but judging from the context of the sleep talk, it was highly likely to be a person’s name.

His attitude was too frivolous to assume that she was a lover he had left behind in his hometown.

It wasn’t like the rumors he had been driving around were true….

Nor would he order his brother or servant of the Divine Kingdom in that way.

Since he knew very well that he was especially careful with his words in front of children.

“Eunseo. Jeong Eunseo.”

-Ppireureureu!

As Cedric quietly recited the clue, the wren fussed, hopping and shouting to put down the notebook.

Eventually, blood was forming on the back of his hand. The Crown Prince silently looked at what he was holding in his hand.

If he turned on the light now and opened this, it felt like all the questions he had about the Prince would be solved.

A strong impulse pounded his brain. But….

‘That child is good. She won’t shake off your hand.’

In the passing spring, his godmother said so.

‘Cedric, you want to trust the Prince, don’t you? Then do it.’

In the Marquisate’s forest, his childhood friend also left those words.

‘Gaining trust is not easy. Try harder.’

His mother in the banquet hall also advised.

‘You have to wait.’

The voice of the impious teacher brushed past his ears….

‘As a reply to the Prince’s favor, is that what Your Highness wants to give?’

The clear voice from the summer days in Evelyn scolded him again.

‘Please express your sincerity. Then you can get closer.’

Christel de Sarnese.

White strength entered the Crown Prince’s hand.

He didn’t want to admit it, but her direction always produced better results.

There were no logical flaws, and the Prince also showed her great favor.

Whenever he saw the blue-gray eyes that fearlessly pointed out his shortcomings, whenever he faced her arrogant attitude up close, an instinctive displeasure soared….

-Tak

Cedric put the notebook back in the drawer. The holy creature shook its belly as if surprised.

It was also gasping for breath as if it couldn’t calm down easily.

On the other hand, the vermilion iris calmly subsided.

Her words were right.

-Peolleok!

The Crown Prince put on his cloak that was on the chair.

And before heading to the balcony, he looked back at the sofa one last time.

‘I won’t avoid you anymore. I promise. I’m sorry.’

The night did not go as planned.

Because his fainting was too fast, he did not hear any explanation from the Prince.

However, he did get a short oath and apology.

He even forgot that he was distinguishing between ‘Seidi’ and himself, and hurriedly let the words slip out.

“……”

He decided to be satisfied with this much today.

-Buseureok

Cedric took out a simple card and a few marbles from his cloak pocket.

Then, he silently placed it on the empty tray on the table.

If there is something coming, there must be something going. That was the imperial family’s relationship.

The Prince might not know how to take it, but he was used to this method.

-Kkieueu?

Around that time, the divine creature with the white tip of its tail woke up and looked up at him.

Now that he saw it, there were large picture books and tulips scattered around the sofa.

What kind of situation is this again? The Prince’s mind was still in the dark.

The Crown Prince snorted and left the bedroom.

*

Why did he do that? I’m dying to know.

“No, really.”

I sat alone at the brunch table, looking down at the cards and marbles with a serious attitude.

These were the things Seidi had left behind at dawn.

To be honest, I was out of my mind this morning.

Ganael came to wake me up at the usual time, was shocked to see us crumpled on the sofa, and was horrified to find wet towels and a water tray.

He mistakenly thought that I had been sick alone last night.

The state of the room was so bad that anyone could misunderstand. In the end, I,

‘Demi was sick.’

I threw such an unreasonable number [made an absurd excuse].

If I said I was sick, the palace would be turned upside down, and I couldn’t reveal the Crown Prince’s secret, so this was the only way.

‘Yes…?’

‘I was experimenting. I was curious to see if the divine creatures could bloom purple tulips or sun halo grass, so I overdid it until dawn, and Demi became ill.’

Half of it was true.

-Kkiing, kkiing, kkiing

Then Demi flipped over with a groan.

He was listlessly wagging his tail and looking at Ganael.

His acting skills were so good that the Golden Globe was far away. The boy had a very shocked expression.

‘So, even the divine creatures get sick… I thought they were invincible as messengers of the Lord.’

‘Yeah, I regretted it very much too. Forgive me, Demi.’

-Kkiiii!

Demi was stiff, telling him to serve him.

Anyway, I barely managed to fix what was about to happen, sent Ganael back, postponed breakfast, went to bed and slept for a few more hours, and when I woke up….

‘From Fabrice Berang and Lady Anne Berang.’

A very simple invitation came from the southern part of the empire.