What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 236

#236

Curtain Call (8)

I’m completely out of it.

“Oh, Mother!”

I have no idea what all this commotion is in the middle of the night.

“Don’t push, don’t push!”

“Waaaaah!”

Clair Square instantly turned into a scene of chaos.

Maurice and the event staff were huddled in a corner of the stage, trembling.

I looked at the bird perched on my forearm and whispered softly, just loud enough for the person next to me to hear.

“You… you’re Jjook-shim [a familiar/affectionate nickname], right?”

– Chirp

Then, the creature that looked exactly like a phoenix tilted its head.

The round eyes were the same color as Jjook-shim’s true form, ‘Bireom’s Ark.’

The familiar way it settled on my arm, and the way it wiggled its body to act cute even after growing this big, it was definitely Jung Jjook-shim.

Marquis François’s light pink eyes flashed ominously.

He looked ready to dissect and study every aspect of the bird.

I ignored him and whispered again.

“You could turn into other birds besides a wren? Why didn’t you tell Hyung [older brother/term of endearment] all this time?”

– Chirururu

It was even a bird from the Bible. In the Jooshin Church, the ‘phoenix’ wasn’t a sacred beast or object.

It was a kind of divine being that assisted Jooshin and relieved her loneliness, often interpreted as an avatar or fragment of the god.

I roughly knew why he took this form, but I couldn’t hide my sudden surprise.

The little rascal pretended not to know anything and preened his feathers with his beak. Cheeky.

“You and Hyung are going to have a little chat in the palace later.”

– Chirp, cough!

Then, the bird tried to talk back but coughed.

I quickly checked on him, mindful of the audience.

I was worried he might have caught a cold in the cold weather. The phoenix obediently opened its beak.

The inside of its beak being yellow was exactly like Jjook-shim.

– Cough, cough! Peep!

“Oh, we’re going to get caught.”

The eagle-sized creature stubbornly made wren noises. François tilted his head.

I urgently closed the little guy’s beak with two fingers. Then this time,

– Swish…

The phoenix’s left wing began to shrink, emitting a light purple color!

It wasn’t in pain, but it looked like his divine power was dropping in real-time. My mouth dropped open.

The Marquis, noticing the anomaly, quickly stepped forward to shield the situation.

His one wing is a chimney right now!

“You’re overdoing it when you haven’t even recovered your energy. I heard you flew all over the empire, you little thing.”

I gently chided.

Then, his mystical eyes turned as dark as chocolate, and his signature white fur appeared above his right eye.

– Bbiing

He seemed displeased.

I sighed and stroked his small back as if to soothe him.

Yes, he must have been exhausted from using his power without a master to serve. He must have been lonely too.

“Thank you, you worked too hard. Let’s go rest. Take a nap and bask in the sun.”

– Bbi

Only then did he rub his head against my shoulder. By that time, the commotion had grown even louder.

“Emperor Frederick Licester and Cardinal Aurelio Boutier have arrived!”

“What?”

I couldn’t believe my ears.

But it wasn’t someone’s prank; there was authority in the voice, and the crowd in the square was actually parting like the Red Sea.

The Marquis, who met my gaze, also looked greatly surprised.

Since the pirate ship that passed through Sarnese Harbor had been flying in the sky, I expected news of us to reach the Imperial Palace.

But still, I didn’t expect them to come to the square in person….

– Step

Soon, the sleek toe of a boot appeared.

Hugging Jjook-shim, I hurriedly lowered my body. The Marquis also bowed respectfully.

The most precious person in Licester had come to the place considered the lowest.

It was the moment when everyone in the empire bowed their heads before her.

– Whoosh…

“What is that.”

I covered my mouth first.

Purple tulips were growing long in her path as she walked towards the stage.

My jaw kept dropping in shock.

Even the legends of Arian and Philip, which had been embellished in various ways for a thousand years, weren’t this dramatic.

That flower was the blessing of Jooshin and a symbol of continental faith, growing only in the tulip garden of the Imperial Palace.

It was a good omen and a miracle to anyone who saw it.

“No….”

What on earth is going on?

– Thump! Thump!

“Ugh!”

I was startled and my shoulders jumped.

– Crash! Bang!

I couldn’t count how many times I blinked.

Three holy knights and Sir Erbe, who jumped from the pirate ship in the sky, landed on the stage with their ordinary friends in their arms.

As if they weren’t the main characters! How noisy!

“Oh my!”

“Oh, oh….”

The crowd lying on the ground stirred rapidly.

‘Ah!’ Some people were fainting.

In a land where meeting one member of the imperial family in a lifetime was considered an honor to the family, they witnessed the Emperor and the Crown Prince at the same time.

Moreover, legendary purple tulips were blooming in the cracks of the stone.

It was understandable that they were losing their minds or gasping for breath.

I whispered to Christel, who was letting Ellen down.

“What about the kids?”

“They stayed on the ship. They kept slipping out of my arms. I don’t think they want to come down.”

She whispered, bowing politely to the Emperor.

I carefully looked up at the night sky.

They don’t want to come down? Perry doesn’t like crowded places, but….

– Keeheung

In an instant, I heard something similar to Demi’s laughter.

At the end of the bow, two adorable ears fluttered. My eyes slowly widened.

A thunderous realization struck the top of my head!

“No way.”

Is this what you guys did?

I told you that you couldn’t bloom purple tulips, and even after coaxing you, you didn’t even blink an eye. Was it all a lie?

Have you been acting in front of me all this time?

“Wow, backstabbing….”

I covered my face with my hands and lowered my head.

I sincerely appreciate you putting on such a huge production to help us, but I was shocked that the lesser pandas, who I wouldn’t even hurt if they were in my eyes, had been deceiving me all along.

Maybe they thought I was bad at acting, so they planned it from the beginning without me knowing… No, let’s not go that far.

In the midst of my dizzy vision, Crown Prince Cedric, who was bowing like a statue, caught my eye.

Hugging Jjook-shim, I glared at him for a moment.

Did the main male lead teach the kids to be sly?

*

At the same time, in the lord’s castle of the Duiem Marquisate.

“It’s okay. Big brother and little brother are meeting His Majesty right now! Really….”

Antoinette held Therese in her arms and spoke in a nonchalant voice.

The youngest’s soft hair flowed through her fingertips.

She was the child’s ‘only’ older sister.

If her older brother didn’t get married, she would be the one to inherit the marquisate instead of her younger brother, who wanted to retire as the captain of the guard.

So, she had to be strong no matter what. Even if the false accusation was unfair and the separation was heartbreaking, she couldn’t be easily shaken.

Even if the marquisate’s loyal knights ended up clashing with the imperial guards.

– Clatter, clatter, clatter!

– Neigh!

Therese flinched. The sound of warhorses leaving the castle faded away outside the window.

The Berang family, gathered in the living room with the sisters, also held each other’s hands.

Baroness Anne Berang called Antoinette. It was a calm and affectionate voice.

“Princess, come here. Let’s pray together.”

“…”

‘Will that work? Is Jooshin abandoning us like this?’

Instead of asking that, Antoinette nodded.

She shouldn’t have pessimistic thoughts, even for the sake of her young sister.

Soon, the two princesses and the three families sat together in a circle.

Baron Fabrice Berang closed his eyes first and began to pray.

“Jooshin, please withdraw your divine whim and prevent your innocent children from suffering….”

Even though the room was warm, Therese kept shivering.

Elodie, the young baroness who noticed him, poured tea from a teapot next to the fireplace and handed it to him.

The two girls’ eyes met. The corners of their small mouths lifted slightly at the same time.

Antoinette put her shawl around Elodie’s shoulders.

Suddenly, a foolishly optimistic thought flashed through her mind.

It will be okay.

Because we trust and rely on each other like this and earnestly hope, tomorrow will surely be okay.

“Antoinette.”

At that time, someone rushed into the living room. The prayer stopped and the eyes gathered in one place.

Antoinette jumped up from her seat.

“Mariel?”

“A commoner guest has come to the castle. But they say they know our guests.”

Mariel grabbed Antoinette’s hand and spoke quickly.

She was the healing priest of the Duiem Marquisate, the princess’s childhood friend and religious companion.

Antoinette tilted her head and looked over her friend’s shoulder.

Benjamin and Ganael, with flushed faces, were visible. And….

“Hello, Princess. My name is Laurence Condé, a resident of Marquis François’s territory. I am also a chef working at Juliette Palace.”

A woman who looked to be about fifty years old bowed to her.

Antoinette had heard of ‘Chef Laurence’.

She was a talent praised by Prince Yeseo whenever he had a chance, and a cook known for her diverse menu and excellent skills.

But she didn’t know that such a person had her residence in her older brother’s territory.

“Nice to meet you. What brings you to the castle at this hour….”

“Laurence’s family and neighbors say they have something they want to do for the marquisate.”

Benjamin explained calmly. Antoinette looked at him once and turned to Laurence.

The middle-aged woman’s eyes were filled with determination.

“Princess, the residents also know the situation roughly. We don’t know all the details, but we’re not completely in the dark. The Marquis is not here, Prince Yeseo came and went, and the guards are down to our chins… We heard it through the grapevine. We clearly saw the knights sacrificing themselves to catch the imperial guards who came to the territory and wielded their swords.”

Laurence gripped her skirt and spoke clearly. In one hand, she held a beautiful bouquet.

Antoinette’s complexion darkened every moment.

She tried her best to fill the void of her two older brothers, but in the end, it turned out like this.

She had become a great aristocrat who only caused anxiety to the powerless residents. She was endlessly ashamed.