What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 211

Sub Male Lead’s Strike – Episode 211

#211

Role (2)

“Sir Dhiem, you are well aware that what you are saying is utterly absurd.”

Benjamin was the first among us to speak.

I patted the anxious Divine Creatures, then turned to look at him.

His blue gaze was shadowed by the setting sun.

Erbhe Dhiem responded in a heavy voice.

“If the Prince cooperates with the Imperial Family’s investigation, the truth will be revealed. I am merely a sword executing the Imperial Order, and I do not judge or act based on personal feelings.”

Imperial Order. I took a deep breath, trying to grasp the current situation.

Charges of terrorism against the Imperial Family, attempted murder instigation, and conspiracy to incite rebellion.

All three were completely new to me, so absurd that I didn’t even feel wronged.

I even wondered if this was one of Emperor Frederick’s grandiose pranks.

But the small warmth in my arms and my intuition told me this was real.

If so, I had to address it.

I surveyed the dense ranks of the Imperial Guard and began to speak.

“If it’s terrorism against the Imperial Family, has something happened to His Majesty or the Crown Prince?”

“That is not something we can disclose,” one of the knights said.

“I asked Commander Dhiem of the Imperial Guard.”

I cut off the knight who tried to interrupt. Staring intently at Sir Dhiem, I saw him sigh silently.

“There was an attack targeting His Highness the Crown Prince. However, His Highness is safe.”

“…Really?”

“Yes. Deputy Commander Mute is also unharmed. Not a scratch on him.”

His gaze was unwavering. I was convinced he was telling the truth.

Sir Johann looked down at me, his eyes waiting for my command.

“Hoo.”

I sighed in relief and nodded.

There seemed to have been a huge misunderstanding, but since I was innocent, it would be alright.

‘Imperial Family investigation’ meant including questioning by Cardinal Boutier.

She was the Empire’s best lie detector and my teacher.

She would prove my innocence in an instant.

“Your Highness.”

“It’s alright. It’s not the first time I’ve been a suspect.”

“…”

Not long after I possessed this body, I was questioned about the ‘Temple of Boundary’ relic theft.

Back then, Elizabeth was the one who interrogated me. Now, the person had simply changed to Sir Dhiem.

Sir Johann’s expression darkened, wondering what I was thinking.

I reflexively released Aether [my magical energy].

I knew he wasn’t particularly concerned about my power, but I wanted to reassure him for now.

“I’ll go. I’ll cooperate.”

I answered firmly. The Baron’s family groaned, and Sir Dhiem nodded.

At his signal, half of the Imperial Guards dismounted.

The personnel who had been escorting us from the Berang barony from the beginning…

Most of them didn’t look surprised. They were quite calm.

“Fabrice Berang, you and your family are also under arrest on suspicion of conspiracy to incite rebellion.”

One of the knights said this. I was shocked and turned around.

It was an absurd remark. The Baron also stared at the knight with a dumbfounded expression.

The Imperial Guards firmly bound the three families.

“Father!”

“Elodie, don’t worry. I don’t know what you’re talking about. Our family and I have never harbored rebellious thoughts against His Majesty,” the Baron said, struggling against his bonds.

“There was an anonymous tip that you were training boy soldiers who had illegally entered from the Divine Nation.”

“That… They’re all wounded and runaway children! They’re more afraid of holding scissors than swords,” he protested.

“Make your statements in the Imperial Capital.”

The soldiers replied sternly.

Before I knew it, the Commander of the Imperial Guard, who had dismounted, was collecting the Divine Creatures and binding me.

It didn’t hurt, but it was stuffy. Ganael, who was quickly tied up, sobbed.

A fierce wind began to blow, likely due to Sir Johann’s influence. I said urgently.

“Sir Dhiem, those people are rescuing and helping refugees from the Divine Nation who are flowing into the Winite River. I can testify. The Berang baronial family serves His Majesty with all their heart. This is…”

Only then did a short word flash through my mind. I didn’t hesitate.

“This is a frame-up!”

“We will investigate and find out.”

He replied bluntly. I gritted my teeth involuntarily.

‘Squeak, squeak…’ Demi cried pitifully, reaching out her front paws towards me.

Eventually, Sir Dhiem took Demi, tucking her inside his Titan armor, and put her down.

She clung to my leg like a koala.

I couldn’t see where Dduk-ssim had flown off to.

“Sir Haynes, you must wear this.”

The Imperial Guard knight said, taking something out of the saddlebag.

My eyes widened. It was an Aether Restraint [a device to suppress magical power].

“There’s no need for this. Sir Johann won’t attack you!”

“We have no choice due to the suspicion of conspiracy to incite rebellion.”

“Isn’t he a refugee who defected to the Empire? He made a promise to His Majesty,” I argued.

“It’s a formality.”

“…”

I looked at Sir Dhiem with resentful eyes. He didn’t budge.

Whoosh, swish…! The bushes near the Lord’s Castle howled in the strong wind.

White hair fluttered. Sir Johann opened his mouth with a faint smile.

“Commander Dhiem of the Imperial Guard.”

“Yes.”

“I’ll trust you.”

My jaw dropped. He gave up his freedom willingly.

He was worried that if he resisted with force here, the charges against me would be turned into truth.

Elodie, frightened, was sobbing quietly from behind.

I stared silently at the black instrument of torture that wrapped around the Paladin’s neck.

It was rare for me to feel wronged as a hostage, but this time I was genuinely angry.

Clang, the sound of metal interlocking. It was then.

-Thwack!

The knight who put the restraint on Sir Johann took out a long needle from behind.

-Stab!

“Kuh!”

Then he plunged it into the Paladin’s neck!

It happened before anyone could stop it. Mint-colored eyes slowly closed.

“Sir Johann!”

“Good heavens!”

“Oh my god!”

Sir Dhiem grabbed me as I screamed and lunged forward. Benjamin and the Baron’s family flinched.

I stared blankly at the collapsing Paladin, horrified. Thud!

“What are you doing! You said it was a formality!”

“…We’re leaving immediately.”

Sir Dhiem, ignoring my protest, declared coldly.

The Imperial Guards lifted Sir Johann into the carriage like luggage.

I bit my tongue, trying to somehow reboot my shocked brain.

My lips began to taste of blood.

Thus, we were taken into custody by the Imperial Guard and headed to the Imperial Capital.

*

The entire Imperial Palace was in disarray.

Orelly Boutier wore a troubled expression.

The Emperor, sitting at the head of the bed, had not left her side all day.

Cedric was also with Frederick.

The Emperor occasionally patted his son’s back and even kissed his cheek once.

Aside from loving her children, she rarely showed affection, so it was a very heartwarming scene to see.

But…

“I’m really fine, but I don’t know why you two are here.”

This was the Cardinal’s bedroom in the Imperial Palace.

Orelly had been caught in Modest Bakari’s mana surge that morning and had been staying in her room ever since.

Despite the diagnosis from the Imperial Physician and the Healing Priest that she was ‘unharmed,’ she was not allowed to go outside.

Frederick retorted as if she were asking too many questions.

“You’re confined for the time being, Orelly. So, your partner must be here.”

“Don’t say things like that. What will Sadie learn from that?”

“Hmph.”

The Emperor snorted and turned his gaze to the paper in his hand. It wasn’t an ordinary state document.

Orelly slowly reached out and wrapped her hand around the Crown Prince’s hand.

Soon, sunken orange eyes turned to her.

Her precious child was without a single scratch. Moreover, he had even saved precious people with his blessed power.

She thanked the Main God again today.

“Why is our Sadie so weak?”

“…”

“It can’t be because she’s worried about her godmother being confined in the palace with a perfectly healthy body.”

“Adan.”

The Emperor called out her middle name as if scolding her. The Cardinal smiled and stroked his large hand.

“He’ll be alright.”

“It’s a low-level plot.”

The Crown Prince growled lowly. Orelly gently curved her eyes.

“Yes, it’s not even worth mentioning. That’s why your mother sent Erbhe.”

“…”

“The Imperial Guard will protect the Prince until he returns to the palace. Don’t worry.”

Cedric did not answer.

It was extremely rare for the Empire’s ruler to keep the Commander of the Imperial Guard away from his side.

The Emperor trusted the Prince that much. However, the Crown Prince’s anger did not subside.

The very fact that someone was trying to harm the Prince was unpleasant.

Preparing false articles, and the fact that it eventually reached his mother…

‘Thump.’

He was angry at everything. His vision flickered with crimson.

He wanted to find the culprit immediately, tear them to pieces, burn them, and erase them from the world.

He gritted his teeth to avoid holding his godmother’s hand too tightly.

He was afraid she would get hurt.

“How is Bakari?”

“…He’s still asleep.”

To be precise, it was a mana dormancy [a state of magical exhaustion].

The Prophet had fainted immediately after leaving a terrible prophecy and had not regained consciousness as of the current night.

Considering the aftermath of the windows of the Juliette Palace being blown away, it seemed it would take a few more days for him to wake up.

To check the prognosis, the Imperial Family did not send him to the Duke’s residence but brought him to the Stroda Palace.

“Prince Andreji… We’ll have to cremate the body.”

“Isn’t that damn bastard already half-cremated?”

The Emperor said sharply, turning the paper over. Orelly drooped her eyebrows.

It was natural for her to show such a harsh reaction.

The terrorist attack at the Academy Founding Ceremony resulted in forty minor injuries, one serious injury, and one death.

The dead person was a fifteen-year-old criminal.

The Crown Prince immediately scattered flames, but the boy could not withstand the impact of the explosion and died on the spot.

“…Elizabeth and I will take charge of the investigation.”

Cedric said.

He recalled the Count and Countess Andreji, who had been stripped of their titles and sentenced to life imprisonment by the Emperor’s trial not long ago.

It was a family that had abandoned their sickly children for generations.

But their bloodline, who had received Imperial grace for being young, jumped into a sordid affair and took their own lives.

“There must be a force manipulating the deceased.”

“Yes. Since the family was ruined by the Prince’s accusation, there would have been enough motive. The problem is that the child… The person who led him down the wrong path is still alive.”

Beige eyes showed a worried light.

The Crown Prince glared at the ‘anonymous tip’ that his mother was holding.

It was what Sara Beliard had brought to the Imperial Palace today.

‘He told me to fulfill my duties as an Imperial Family member. That’s what it says in the memo.’

The indifferent voice of the old woman echoed.

She did not issue an extra edition as requested anonymously, nor did she ask the Imperial Family for anything in exchange for passing on the tip.

‘It’s an absurd thing. It’s already been decades since I left the palace on my own feet.’

She simply remained silent.

The reporter pretended not to see all the sentences claiming that Yeser Venetian was plotting a rebellion.

The elderly green eyes were shining like fresh sprouts.

‘If I want to repay the favor, it’s best to follow the method the other party wants.’

That was Beliard’s last word.

The woman, who was once an Imperial Princess, left the palace again like that.

Thanks to this, the Imperial Capital was turbulent, but it did not turn into a crucible of chaos.

There was no suggestion from the great nobles to block the capital or to send a warning to the Divine Nation.

However, it was difficult to drag on like this.

If the mastermind was not struck quickly and accurately, a follow-up plot could be executed.

The Crown Prince clenched his empty left hand. Vivid warmth rose from the sacred stone near his heart.

“We will catch the criminals.”

He declared as if spitting out between his teeth.

The Emperor silently placed his hand on the hands that the Cardinal and the Crown Prince were holding together.

*

-Thud

“Ouch…”

I woke up with a grimace. The back of my head, which I had bumped while dozing off, was tingling.

Clatter, clatter. The carriage was heading towards the Imperial Capital without rest even in the middle of the night.

My body shook from side to side due to the rough ride. The surroundings were dark because the magic lights were off.

It was a little funny that the Emperor’s premium winter vehicle had turned into a transport vehicle in just a few days.

I had to keep my wits about me, but it was also funny that I had closed my eyes because I was tired.

“…But would it be better for you to sleep?”

I looked at Mrs. Ahn Berang and Elodie, who were lying on the two beds.

I didn’t feel good seeing them tied up and asleep with tear-stained faces.

The Baron was leaning against the bed, nodding off.

I also felt sorry for Sir Johann, who was still unconscious, and Benjamin and Ganael, who were asleep in uncomfortable positions.

Demi was clinging to me, huddled up. Soon, guilt washed over me.

In a way, it was my fault…

“Mmph.”

At that moment, someone covered my mouth with a rough hand in the darkness. My whole body stiffened in an instant.

Breathing became difficult, and familiar fear washed over me. I barely managed to identify the man in front of me.

There wasn’t even a sign of the door opening, so how,

“…”

Vivid pink eyes were looking into me. It was Erbhe Dhiem.