What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 248

The Peace of the Divine (2)

“If I have the opportunity, I’d like to visit the estate again. Of course, if you two are okay with it.”

I spoke with sincerity.

From behind, Benjamin and Ganael offered their congratulations again and asked me to give their regards to Coco.

Fabrice and Anne Berang smiled kindly, their expressions mirroring each other.

“It would be an infinite honor at any time. If it’s the Prince and his friends, we would be happy to wait even while braving the morning dew.”

“The children will be very happy.”

The couple kissed the back of my hand and bowed deeply.

It was still a slightly awkward greeting, but I tried not to show it, respecting their feelings.

‘Willingly accepting reverence is also part of being in the Imperial Family,’ my teacher had said.

Emperor Frederick’s greeting was quite unconventional, but I heard that he respected the couple’s opinions as much as possible behind the scenes.

First of all, following their request, no additional fiefdoms [land granted by a lord] were granted.

They had a great attachment to the ‘Barony’ built by their grandmother and wanted to spend their lives on the land where they had scattered some of their two sons’ ashes.

They didn’t want to rashly expand their territory until everyone there could enjoy a comfortable life.

Instead of the Imperial Family’s treasures or the finest silks, they received rewards mainly in cash and relief supplies, which was also unusual.

The couple didn’t care about anything unless it directly benefited the people of their territory.

In the end, the Crown Prince stepped in and summoned the Imperial Family’s tailor, I heard.

He intended to have plenty of clothes made for the three families to send.

That commendable fellow. I should show him what I’m made of with Aether.

“Then, Your Highness. If you’ll allow us, we’ll take our leave first.”

“Of course. I apologize for holding you when you must be busy.”

“Not at all, not at all.”

“Hahaha. Please go ahead.”

We bowed endlessly to each other as we parted.

‘Squeak!’ Demi wagged its tail, bidding farewell to the couple.

The Imperial Palace attendants who passed by looked at us with strangely pleased eyes.

“I’m glad they look well, right?”

“Yes!”

Ganael replied in a bouncy voice.

Everyone was recovering little by little. Slowly, but surely.

As always, I was bundled up and walking down the hallway today.

Hugging the sleeping Tete in my arms, making it look bulky.

When I first came to the Imperial Palace, everything was so big and vast that I couldn’t dare to wander around alone.

I usually have a bad sense of direction, so I shrank back even more.

But now, even if Chief of Staff Laura didn’t come to greet me, even if Cardinal’s attendant Natalie didn’t see me off, I could find my destination quite well.

Ganael and Benjamin no longer needed to whisper and point out the way.

I gained confidence because I came often.

-Step.

“We’re here.”

Soon, the tall and shiny entrance to the banquet hall appeared.

Compared to the ballroom, this place definitely had a more private atmosphere.

The Imperial Palace has dozens of dining halls, but this was the only place where we held the ‘Saturday Dinner.’

“Welcome, Prince Yeseo.”

The banquet hall attendants greeted me happily.

Judging from the silence around, the adults didn’t seem to have arrived yet.

A strange presence was felt, so I turned my head and saw an incredibly beautiful person waving at me from across the hallway.

My mouth opened involuntarily. It was fun to acknowledge them with my whole body without making a loud noise.

“Hello, Christelle.”

It seems Ms. Gain is eating with us today too.

*

That was right, but the previous part was completely wrong.

Christelle was invited too, but we were late!

“Oh my.”

As soon as the door opened, Christelle quickly covered her mouth.

I met her troubled-looking cherry-colored eyes and was horrified. Why did you come so early….

“Come in and sit down.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Sorry to have kept you waiting.”

The reason the banquet hall was quiet wasn’t because the adults hadn’t arrived, but because they were already inside.

I apologized immediately and moved busily (‘Take your time, Your Highness’).

With the help of the attendants, I diligently took off my coat, laid Tete in the prepared baby bed, and introduced the troublemakers to the adults (‘Say hello.’ ‘Kkyaeu!’).

Crown Prince Cedric looked at Christelle and me with a pathetic look.

Hey, we came 15 minutes early!

“It’s been a while, Your Highness.”

“Hello, Margrave.”

A cheerful voice reached my ear. I greeted the familiar middle-aged man brightly.

The person sitting next to the Emperor instead of the Crown Prince today was Caroline Mutte, the mother of Elizabeth and a Sword Master who commands the northern border.

I had greeted her occasionally, so it wasn’t difficult.

I also knew well that she liked drinking and old jokes.

However, it was unexpected that she had left her territory and come down here in this winter.

In addition to the fixed members (the Emperor, the Cardinal, the Crown Prince, and me), various invited guests joined the Saturday Dinner, and there were especially many today.

The Mutte mother and daughter and Sir Johann were there, and Marquis Francois and Sir Herve were also seen.

As soon as the brothers’ eyes met mine, they sent a look of greeting that was a subtle mix of coolness and cheesiness.

It’s fortunate that they’re handsome…

“We will serve the meal right away.”

“Please do.”

At Laura’s words, my teacher answered kindly.

As always, all the food came out at once for the Emperor, who didn’t like the conversation being interrupted.

Only the dessert was scheduled to come out later.

Dishes armed with familiar tastes, new scents, and special shapes caught my eye.

The golden water bowl for Demi also appeared. I forgot my tension and excitedly picked up my utensils.

Sir Johann chuckled softly.

“Eat.”

“Thank you for the meal.”

-Squeak.

The Emperor spoke, and Demi and I responded quietly. These answers were usually our responsibility.

After that, for about 30 minutes, things went similarly to usual.

I quickly finished a bowl of stew made with fresh beef tripe and trotters.

There was no gamey smell at all, and the broth had a deep chicken broth flavor despite being a beef dish.

The well-cooked ingredients were soft and chewy, making them fun to chew.

After scraping off all the carrots and onions inside, I took a large spoonful of piffard [a type of terrine] with raw ham on top.

The red, rich tomato smell and the yellow, savory egg smell tickled my nose.

I ate it neatly in a few bites and brought two more spoonfuls because it was so delicious.

The Clementine Ade, specially served to me who can’t drink alcohol, was also heavenly.

The sweetness was on a different level from ordinary tangerines, and the slightly frozen pulp that was put in together melted crisply on the tip of my tongue.

It was delicious to me, but it was really my brother’s taste.

Drinking a sweet and cool drink in the warm room was like being in paradise.

My mouth was instantly refreshed. What else should I eat….

“How is the North?”

“It’s a mess. It’s full of young guys who want to go to war.”

Stopped. I raised my eyes while putting rillettes [a type of potted meat] on warm campagne [a type of bread].

The imperial family members put down their forks at the same time.

Caroline gulped down the Calvados [an apple brandy] that her daughter poured for her like water, and then swept back her buzz-cut hair, making a ‘Kuh’ sound.

The same dark green hair as Elizabeth flowed down in curls over the opposite shoulder.

The Margrave, who was once the Emperor’s rival, was now a close friend who often crossed swords with her.

The woman continued calmly.

“There were nine in March. Forty-nine died last week.”

“······.”

“My area is a den of rough guys, so it’s not surprising. But the atmosphere isn’t the same as in previous years.”

Then she chewed on the dried plums that came out as snacks.

Christelle and the Lesser Count gripped their glasses tightly at the same time.

My mood also sank as the atmosphere became serious.

I expected the atmosphere to be bad since the Princess Royal had returned my letter, but heavier words than I thought were pouring out.

I carefully opened my mouth.

“Forty-nine died….”

“There was a clash between the Margrave’s soldiers and the Holy Nation’s army at the border.”

Elizabeth answered calmly.

Instantly, goosebumps rose on my arm and all sorts of negative thoughts flashed through my mind.

Knowing it was a scary story, the troublemakers who were playing quietly flocked together and clung to the chair legs.

I picked them up one by one and looked at Caroline.

“The fact that you lost nine in March, is it perhaps because of me?”

“It’s not because of Your Highness. If there are any culprits, it’s those damn twin brats.”

Caroline shook the hand holding the glass, her khaki eyes shining brightly.

So now… It seemed that everything I was imagining was true.

Last March, when the news that twin assassins had attacked me was reported, the two countries’ armies clashed in the North.

As a result, nine Liester people lost their lives.

Sir Johann’s incident in July was classified as confidential and passed quietly, but this incident was not.

Simon de Sarnese’s betrayal was known nationwide.

Nearly fifty more people lost their lives again at the border. I murmured blankly.

“······You’re deliberately keeping it from the citizens.”

“There’s no reason for the Imperial Family to take the lead in creating anxiety among the people.”

My teacher answered in a sad voice. My heart tightened and a sense of crisis washed over me.

The Emperor’s red eyes swirled.

“Herve. What’s the situation in the Imperial Capital?”

“Most are talking about the new Duke Fabrice Berang, Your Majesty. The couple’s heartwarming stories are spreading everywhere. The rumor that he refused the Marquis title and then received the Duke title is particularly well-received. This is similar for both the great nobles of the salons and the commoners in the streets. Talk about Sarnese’s death is also coming out from time to time, but….”

The Captain of the Guard reported up to that point and then looked at Christelle’s complexion.

She smiled as if to say she was okay. The man nodded slightly and concluded the sentence.

“It seems that the topic is less newsworthy than the first case of a Baron becoming a Duke.”

“The fact that purple tulips bloomed in Claire Square is also called a miracle. It’s not that there is no mention of war, but most are optimistic about winning the war. Of course, the elderly are skeptical of the engagement itself, regardless of their status.”

The Deputy Captain of the Guard also gave a clear answer. Silence swirled in the banquet hall for a moment.

I patted the red pandas breathing softly and pursed my lips.

I see. There was another reason why the Emperor gave Fabrice the highest title.

She put forward a hero to prevent the Empire from falling into uncontrollable chaos.

The vacancy of Duke Sarnese was very large, and the leader had to divert attention somehow.

Liester needed a new face to praise.

A person that anyone could easily empathize with and relate to.

A ‘poor and kind’ nobleman who ‘suddenly received imperial grace and made a name for himself’.

Commending the Berang family was sincere, but the Emperor was a politician.

Every action had several layers of hidden meaning.

“Francois.”

“The situation is not much different below! The closer the territory is to the Berang Duchy, the hotter the atmosphere is. However, the East is… It’s as you can imagine. Hard-line arguments that we should strike the Holy Nation are gaining strength. It’s a similar case to Madame Mutte’s territory.”

“We should send Duke Blanquer back.”

“Yes. It will be difficult if we leave the Magic Tower empty for too long.”

The light pink eyes curved softly. I wiggled my fingers under the table.

The situation was much more serious than I had vaguely guessed.

Over the past 11 months, there have already been people who have died in battle, which has been silently forgotten for the sake of the Empire’s order, and the young people in the border areas who have been exposed to the tyranny of the spies wanted full-scale retaliation.

This couldn’t be simply called spite or resentment.

The people here had a considerable sense of patriotism, and this case was a matter of Liester’s honor and dignity.

In an instant, my mouth became parched.

…To think that I thought I could undo this situation with just one letter.

How easily did I see the world?

“The matter of the letter being returned.”

My head went up in a flash.

Sir Johann, who was drinking poison, opened his mouth with a face that showed no agitation.

“I checked again, but Prince’s letter was definitely delivered to Princess Royal. It is also clear that the Holy Nation followed the same route and returned it. There were no traces of it being read.”

“······I can’t understand it.”

‘Damn it.’ The Emperor swept back her hair and spat out a short curse.

My teacher called her soothingly.

I looked alternately at Christelle sitting on my right and the Crown Prince on my left.

I don’t want to die, but if a war breaks out, all my friends will be in danger.

They would have to go to war and face the terrible sight of the battlefield every day.

I absolutely wanted to prevent such a development. I wanted these people to be peaceful and happy.

Not in the distant future, but right now. Tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, even a week later.

But how?

“The prison is overflowing with new prisoners, and the Princess Royal is not cooperating, but the Empire must maintain its dignity.”

“Yeah. It’s difficult.”

The Cardinal stroked his partner’s arm, genuinely sorry.

Dduk-ssim looked up at me with clear eyes.

I made eye contact with him and desperately racked my brain. Think, Jung Yeseo. Think.

How can I solve a problem that even adults find difficult?

If the messenger is blocked and you can’t make a phone call, how do people communicate?

“······They can just meet.”

I raised my head abruptly and muttered. I felt the gazes looking at me from both sides at the same time.

Sir Johann, sitting across from me, gave an elegant smile, drooping his mint-colored eyes.

I don’t think my words reached that far….

No, wait. Was that a knowing smile?

“How about sending an envoy to a neutral zone, Your Majesty?”

He spoke softly. All eyes were drawn to the Holy Knight at once.

“Father Sant said that he had to go meet his family anyway.”

Uh? Really…?