What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 222

#222

Faith, Hope, the Age of Exploration?! (5)

I stand corrected. I was exaggerating. It wasn’t quite ‘naked.’ It’s just…!

“It’s alright, Your Highness. They don’t seem hostile.”

Sir Johan whispered beside me.

That’s a relief, but everyone is showing too much skin! Both men and women are flaunting their cleavage.

This person is openly showing off their six-pack, and that one is practically exhibiting their entire back.

Only then did it hit me that I was in a ‘foreign country’ for the first time since I possessed this body.

Even if this place is in the tropics, aren’t they taking clothing too lightly?

This is supposed to be suitable for all ages!

“Welcome, Marquis François D’huime!”

The voice was so loud that I flinched.

The person in the middle of the group led his companions and paid respects to the lord.

Indeed, the greetings were different from those of the Empire or the Divine Kingdom.

The way they pronounced Licester’s name was also unique.

“Have you finally decided to become Donna Corleone’s second husband?”

The question, like a shout, followed.

“Euhahaha!”

“Wahahaha!”

As soon as she finished speaking, those standing with her clutched their stomachs and laughed.

The woman also patted the back of the person next to her, roaring with laughter.

The large wooden portal building looked as if it would be swept away by the waves at any moment.

Although there was seawater pooled in various places on the floor, it felt somewhat managed.

However, this atmosphere was difficult to adjust to. We kept our mouths shut as we had discussed in advance.

The Marquis opened his mouth in an elegant tone.

“My business, and the one who needs to know my business, is only Admiral Emma Corleone. Will you deliver the message?”

Wow, what a romantic line.

“Wow!”

“What’s going on!”

-Whee!-

Their side was also in an uproar.

The group whistled, clapped, and reacted intensely with wide eyes.

They didn’t seem to be trying to threaten or harass us.

It just seemed like they were originally people with big movements and loud voices.

I patted Demi, who was fidgeting under my robe.

The woman who spoke to us gestured with her chin, and the youngest-looking person ran outside.

“Signora [Italian for ‘Madam’] is not here in Adma. She went to Cheboim for business. But I will deliver the message. Especially since it’s you, Marquis.”

‘Who knows? She might come to meet you herself.’ She chuckled.

It’s a shame that the Admiral isn’t nearby, but the twin islands are connected by a portal, so we’ll be able to meet soon.

“Thank you.”

The Marquis was surprisingly calm. There wasn’t a hint of wavering in his posture as he leaned on his mace.

The woman with a plate-sized flower on her head began to observe us with sharp eyes.

The hem of her skirt and decorations were also different from Eva’s Imperial-style dress.

I also continued to make various inferences while looking at her.

Are they all portal administrators? Is this place acting as a kind of customs office?

“Since you are Signora’s guests, it’s easy to provide you with accommodation… The person next to you must be the little Young Master, and the one behind is the Young Lady?”

“Yes. They are my siblings.”

“Then what about the rest? They look too noble to be servants.”

She stretched her neck and asked.

Since I’m hidden by the veil, she must be referring to Sir Johan.

He was a handsome man by anyone’s standards these days, and his upright posture was also aristocratic.

The Holy Knight met the woman’s cold gaze.

“He is a guard knight. The friend who came with me is a servant who recently lost his wife.”

“Oh, my! I’m sorry to hear that. So that’s why you’re covering your face.”

She clicked her tongue, looking at me.

‘Separation from a lover is terrible. Even the sun in the sky loses its reason to shine!’ Such famous lines followed naturally as if breathing.

All eyes of the group were on me. They were looking at me with pity.

“Then are those beasts companions to comfort your sorrow?”

She interpreted the existence of the Divine Beasts on her own.

The settings for those troublemakers were not properly decided because opinions were divided until the end.

I was just grateful that they gave us a setting first.

I was honestly skeptical when Antoinette insisted on going with the man who lost his wife, but now it seems like we chose a good concept….

“Signora Luciana, that’s not it. They might be like children that he raised with his wife!”

“Oh! Sad jewels left as tokens of love!”

The customs officials buzzed greatly. I was incredibly surprised in a different sense.

No, how can they spout such lines when they all look so scruffy?

Indeed, you shouldn’t judge a person by their appearance.

“Ahem! Anyway, Marquis, your party will have to wait in the accommodation until Donna Corleone gives her orders. Since you are from another country, your outings will be restricted. We won’t inform the Lord, so rest assured. We have a sense of what’s what.”

“Thank you.”

‘Signora Luciana’ wrapped up the situation, and the Marquis concluded with a curt reply.

This was the first time I had seen the D’huime siblings act so politely.

Soon, Luciana’s colleagues guided us out of the portal.

Sir Johan managed to block everyone’s approach without raising his momentum. Even to ordinary people without religion, the Holy Knight seemed to have a different aura.

The Crown Prince needs to learn such adult techniques instead of just suppressing people by force.

…I wonder if he’s doing well? Did he use the necklace?

“What will that signore [Italian for ‘Sir’] fill her soul’s hunger with? Do you like lasagna, lasagna?”

Huh? I raised my head sharply. Luciana was looking back at me with a pitiful face.

Suddenly, my head spun, and the corners of my lips under the veil twitched madly.

That’s right. The culture is different here, so the food is different too. Pizza! Pasta! Focaccia!

“Yes… I like it.”

I tried not to raise my voice. I bit my lip to keep from laughing.

Demi in the robe pressed down on my shoulders, which were rising to the sky.

The woman nodded and instructed.

“Tell them to treat the guests properly.”

“Yes, Signora!”

I know this isn’t the time. I know I have to be serious.

-Kieung?

Oh. I’m really excited!

*

“Ha….”

Frédérique Licester let out a deep sigh from her core after a long time.

She was the supreme ruler of the Empire and a strict monarch. She couldn’t even blame others.

Moreover, it was none other than herself who had urged them to check with their swords which one of them was telling the truth, saying that it was ‘time for the Imperial family to move.’

She didn’t know that her twenty-five-year-old son would run away from home.

“I never thought we would have the worries of an ordinary family.”

“Aurélie.”

“Cedric ran away from home. I’m so happy.”

“······.”

The Emperor rubbed her face wearily.

The Cardinal was examining Sara Béliard’s ‘anonymous letter’ and the flyers in Claire Square with an excited look.

This morning, David, pale as a sheet, urgently visited the Imperial Palace.

She was shocked, thinking something had happened to her son, but the servant brought up a note.

Frédérique let out a hollow laugh as she looked at the piece of paper in her hand.

‘I’m going to the South.

-S.’

There was no further explanation, not even a short greeting.

The signature was the initials of ‘Saydi’ instead of Cedric.

She didn’t know whether to admire him for trying to reassure his mother and godmother by using his childhood name, or to be happy that he was finally causing the trouble he couldn’t cause when he was young.

In the meantime, the fact that he had secretly taken her beloved black horse was surprising.

It seemed she had taught him stealth properly. She was dumbfounded.

“Saydi won’t be a problem, but Élisabeth will have a hard time. She’s not only protecting the Imperial Palace alone but also helping with the investigation.”

“She’s also taking care of the Blanquer child.”

“Yes. We need to relieve her suffering quickly. And my disciple too.”

Aurélie scribbled on the document with a quill. The Emperor slowly opened her mouth.

“······Did Simon have a justification for doing this?”

Beige eyes turned to her.

“If we were to find one, there would be one. It could be to prevent the Prince’s political position from growing in advance. It could also be to place a religious partner he wants next to Saydi.”

“Still, it bothers me. This isn’t his style.”

“I agree. Simon is… not the type to go all in. He doesn’t like to expand the board either.”

The gazes intertwined for a long time. There were only two of them in the huge Imperial Palace office.

Steam rose from the gold-plated coffee cup, and the firewood in the fireplace crackled regularly.

A long silence cut through them. The Cardinal was the first to speak.

“We can’t suspect François and the Prince. It’s absurd.”

“Yes. They wouldn’t do such a thing, and one of them is even sick.”

“But why….”

“There’s something that’s scratching at me.”

The Emperor frowned.

This kind of scheme was really not Simon de Sarnese’s style.

The Duke always cherished things that were managed within his capabilities and at his discretion.

He was called the epitome of humility because he didn’t covet things that exceeded his reach.

On the other hand, he was rumored to be flawless in managing what was in his palm.

Could such a type of person carry out such a reckless act for political gain?

To create a plan where he has to die if the other person doesn’t?

“There’s something.”

A person with children to protect,

“Yves.”

While putting his body at the forefront of the terror?

“There’s another reason why they’re targeting the Prince, Adam.”

The Emperor growled. The Cardinal put down her pen and reached out her arm to her. Thud!

“Ugh.”

“What if he received orders from the Divine Kingdom?”

“Calm down.”

A trained hand grabbed the Cardinal’s thin wrist. Bloodshot eyes were raging with anger.

This temperament of the Licester Imperial family has been passed down for a very long time.

Aurélie covered the Emperor’s hand holding her with her other hand.

Calmly, warmly. Like a blanket that extinguishes the flames and blocks the cold.

“······If the Sarnese family is a spy, where did it all go wrong?”

A husky voice subsided. The Cardinal smiled soothingly and whispered.

“It’s okay. I’m here.”

Thud. She foolishly lost strength at those words.

Aurélie carefully held the hand that was slowly falling away from her.

“And there are children too. There are many trials and errors, but they are admirable children who do their part.”

“······.”

“So let’s just focus on tracking down the tail for now.”

It was wise advice. Frédérique barely suppressed her rising anger with the help of her partner.

“······We can’t mobilize the Imperial Army because the festival is approaching.”

“Yes. It would be a problem if the protagonist poured cold water on it.”

The Cardinal whispered. January 7th was the Emperor’s birthday.

Licester was in a festive mood every day, ahead of the year-end, New Year, and holidays.

If words of spies and internal strife were to leak out at this time, the chaos would spread terribly like a winter wildfire.

Even if the Prince was lucky enough to survive, he would eventually be treated as the culprit and kicked out.

Those damn flyers and news articles must have been targeting him too.

They used their heads quite a bit.

“Let’s call not only the Blanquer mother and daughter but also Sara Béliard. We need to cross-check all the writings in the damn propaganda and letters to find out who leaked what information from whom. We need to investigate everyone Simon met at the Imperial Palace.”

“Good idea.”

“Aurélie, you should interview the surviving guards.”

The Cardinal’s eyes turned cold for a moment. She instantly read the Emperor’s mind.

“You’re still suspecting that side. Then leave Archbishop Keshier to me too.”

It was a gentle voice as always. But the meaning contained in the sentence was by no means warm.

*

-Shooooo…!

-Splash, splash!

“It’s going to be cold, huh? Your tears will freeze stiff?!”

Kuhahaha! Cristel, standing on the bow, shouted madly.

It was mockery that wouldn’t reach the opponent’s ship, which had become smaller than a baby’s fingernail.

But it didn’t matter.

She was now freer than anyone else in the world, and she was not subject to any pressure or coercion.

This was the first time she had felt such exhilarating liberation since she possessed this body!

“Young Miss! Land is visible at 1 o’clock! I think it’s Serenite!”

Ellen, her loyal helmsman and deck chief, shouted.

The brave nanny, who had taken the helm, had led Cristel’s pirate ship here, taking only minimal rest.

The young captain spread her arms to make an ‘O’ as if to say she understood.

First Mate Isabelle examined the Sarnese ducal family’s merchant ship with a magic stone telescope.

“I don’t think they can keep up, Ollie. Your hail broke their sails!”

“We won again!”

Cristel beamed.

The Dduk-sim, who had taken the three of them to the Sarnese coast, only pointed out the sea route and suddenly disappeared urgently at some point.

But the three of them were enough.

The pirate ship that Cristel had obtained as a ‘souvenir’ from the Mutte County last summer had everything she needed.

The rudder that the pirate had broken was also wonderfully repaired.

Since they had outrun two of the family’s ships, if they could just land safely,

“Huh?”

Isabelle blinked as she lowered her telescope.

She looked back at her beloved daughter and nanny, then checked the scene in front of her again.

Her head tilted on its own. So that is….

“Is it an island instead of land?”