What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 252

Sub-Male Lead Goes On Strike-252

#252

I Can’t Let Sand Get in My Eyes! (1)

How could this happen?

Is this okay?

Are you kidding me?

“Areum, does this make sense?”

-Heeheeing

Somehow, the next day arrived, and I was still dazed.

Packing Ganael’s birthday present, earnestly comforting the boy who ended up crying, and clearly remembering saying goodbye and asking him to take care of me in the future.

But after the noisy party, I vaguely remembered how I spent the day.

Except for the face of the handsome crown prince or the brightly smiling Christel, everything else is a blur, but that’s not right. Let’s get a grip.

I quickly shook my head.

“The world is so absurd and irrational. Why do difficult things always come at once?”

-Ptooo

Armgard, the most handsome white horse in the Imperial Palace, scoffed at my words.

He was a friend I made last year as a gift from Benjamin.

Sir Johann gave him a Venetian name that suited his handsome appearance.

I came to see him whenever I had time, and recently, this picky lady seemed to consider me half her owner.

I stroked Areum’s neck and swallowed a sigh.

The horse, wearing thick winter clothes, wagged its tail like a flag.

Judging by the way its head was comfortably lowered, it seemed to be in a good mood.

If my study of ‘horse body language’ is correct.

“This is really messed up······.”

Even stroking Areum’s mane didn’t calm me down easily.

Benjamin excused himself for our communion, and the troublemakers were playing tag with Ganael in the playroom.

I stood like a snowman in the stable, tightly closing and opening my eyes. What should I do now?

“······What do you mean, what to do? This is reality. Things don’t happen one at a time.”

I muttered grimly.

Originally, when people are free, they are so relaxed that they wonder if it’s okay, but when they are busy, they are so 정신없다 [jeongshineopda – overwhelmed/ 정신 (jeongshin) – mind/ spirit, 없다 (eopda) – to not have] that they don’t even know what day it is.

I knew it because I had worked in society.

So, ‘1. Meet and talk to Elissa in the neutral zone’ and ‘2. Sabotage Crown Prince Cedric’s matchmaking’ had to be resolved simultaneously, and I had to be able to do so.

If I was just standing by, a war would break out or an official couple would break up.

In the worst case, both would happen.

“First, I’ll tell my teacher directly about going to the neutral zone. Let’s talk to my friends about the crown prince’s matchmaking. I can’t do anything alone.”

I knew that I was too obsessed with the original story.

I also accepted the fact that I couldn’t easily give up their relationship because I was so psychologically dependent on the original.

But that doesn’t mean I could give up, saying, ‘Taegeukong is ruined, they won’t end up together.’

If you knew how pretty they were on the cover, no one would say that.

I didn’t want to be caught off guard like I was with ‘Emile de As’.

I had to be very proactive from the beginning and cut off the bud.

Above all, they have definitely gotten closer compared to last spring.

Last week, they were wrestling and rolling on the floor! The buttons were torn off!

“Hoo······. I’ll come again, Areum. I’ll give you good news soon.”

My face became hot again for no reason.

I was so determined that golden ether beads sprang up from my fingertips.

“That’s right. You said I could go outside the Imperial Palace with you in March.”

-Ptooo

‘The atmosphere will be much more organized.’ When I whispered, Areum fluttered her ears and reacted politely.

It was my first time seeing such a big and mature animal, so I couldn’t help but laugh.

I patted her shoulders and chest before stepping out of the partition door.

No, that’s what I was going to do.

“Charlemagne seems to be restless, Your Highness.”

It was the voice of stableman Audre. I was startled and tiptoed.

Among the workers coming in from afar, I saw a tall, black crown of hair.

Wow, he’s really not a gentleman.

“The black horse’s friend’s name must be Charlemagne, right?”

That’s grand. I whispered to Areum.

I had never heard the Crown Prince call his black horse directly.

I was going to go out, say hello, and go straight to the Imperial Palace class,

“I heard that precious princesses are coming as guests. Would you like to stroll near the greenhouse with them?”

“······.”

The murmuring continued. Princesses?

Princesses? Not even one?

“I will prepare accordingly, David.”

Sigh’s answer was not heard properly.

It seemed that David had reacted with a nod or quietly hinted.

Soon, footsteps approached. Gasp! I changed my plan and quickly inhaled.

And I imagined closing the ether faucet as much as possible.

I tightly closed the doors and windows in my head and even put up blackout curtains.

My teacher said that drawing this kind of image can definitely block the ether that flows out without me knowing.

There was no better way to hide completely. Areum looked at me and moved her lips.

Didn’t you just sigh?

“Shall I prepare horses for the ladies to ride?”

“Yes. Please get me ones that are not shy and gentle.”

“What about the warming magic carriage······. Prince Yeseo is renting the spare one.”

I’m not going to give it up. Maria said that’s practically mine!

I frowned, thinking bad thoughts.

I’m sorry to the woman who’s going on a blind date with the Crown Prince, but why do adult men and women ride in a carriage alone?

Even if it’s not just the two of them, I’m absolutely against it.

I can never allow it unless the other person is Christel.

“Would you like to purchase additional ones on this occasion?”

“I don’t think it’s necessary. This time, the Crown Prince’s carriage······.”

-Squeak

Ugh! I heard the sound of the partition opening right next to me.

I gasped in silence and opened my mouth.

Now that I see it, Charlemagne and Areumhardt’s rooms were right next to each other.

I held my breath as much as possible and stood close to Areum.

I couldn’t hear the conversation clearly because of the various noises, but the route was obvious.

Noble young ladies will be entering the palace to meet the Crown Prince from this week, and that guy will have a good time with them and choose someone moderately good. Damn it.

“Charles.”

Then, a familiar low voice rang out. Then, the black horse, meeting its owner, let out a low breath.

I’ve seen it a few times, but as expected, the male lead in a romance fantasy novel seems to have a serious horse.

In comparison, Areum felt like she was slightly looking down on me.

“I will bring the horse feed and nutritional supplements.”

“Give me the horse brush.”

-Heeheeing

Rummage, rummage. For a while, the next room was noisy.

The Crown Prince didn’t say much, and the story about the meeting completely subsided as he took care of Charlemagne.

Listening to the white noise, the resentment of ‘why now of all times’ welled up once again.

But Emperor Frederick was different from ordinary people like me.

She was the monarch of the empire who received dozens of agendas every day, and the leader who processed dozens of them.

So, of course, her son’s marriage could be carried out at the same time as other matters.

It was sudden for me, but she must have had it in mind for a long time.

If she’s still in the stage of meeting several people, it won’t be difficult.

He’s cooperating because he thinks it’s his duty!

“Cheer me on, Areum.”

Even with my earnest whisper, Areum didn’t react much.

However, she pretended to tilt her head towards me.

I peeked out to make sure there was no one in the hallway······.

-Tadat!

Hugging the robe like a blanket, I ran out of the stable at full speed.

Ha! The ice-cold and clear wind instantly filled my lungs.

It was the opposite direction from where the Crown Prince came in, so I didn’t think he would have seen me.

Fortunately, no one was calling me.

“Prince, why are you coming out so urgently?”

“Benjamin. Huff, cough.”

The middle-aged man who had been waiting in the carriage hurriedly opened the door and greeted me.

Looking at his calm and deep eyes, I finally felt a belated regret.

I should have told him to talk to me. I promised not to avoid it.

White breath blurred my vision like fog.

“Well, hmm. I thought I would be late for class. Let’s go right away.”

······Still, I didn’t feel worried right away. I could talk to him this afternoon.

I decided to think of it as filming a spy movie just now.

If he wants Christel as ‘the one’, I will definitely make it happen, and if not, I will work hard to break it.

*

Today’s lecture with my teacher was held in the Imperial Palace living room, which was the size of a stadium.

The reason was simple. To make my ‘new technology’ completion work easier.

[Come out, Almighty Arm!]

-Paaaaat······!

With a shameful spell that I don’t know how many times I’ve cast, a dazzling golden circle was born from my fingertips.

The Cardinal observed the circle slowly, walking around it like a professor examining a graduation project.

The pattern, which was more complex than the sanctuary, was something she knew well, but the little dolphin jumping up and down seemed to be enjoyable no matter how many times she looked at it.

Her eyes under the monocle sparkled like a child.

Her lips were also subtly raised.

A skill for confusing vision that I recklessly developed, inspired by her sanctuary.

A 잡기 [japgi – technique/trick] I used on Madame Victoire in a dark alley.

“Now the shape is quite clear. If someone who doesn’t know sees it, they will believe it’s a divine beast.”

“You flatter me.”

I smiled shyly.

Splash! The whale that soared through the overflowing ether touched her fingernail with its snout and turned into golden grains.

The middle-aged woman’s 희소가 [huisoga – rare sound/ rare occurrence] echoed.

“The streamline seems to be easy.”

“Yes. The simpler the silhouette, the easier it is to materialize. I can imitate Tete too. Demi has difficulty with the tail or ears, and Ddukseom is surprisingly difficult.”

I counted one by one the homework I had been experimenting with.

‘I see. I’m proud of you.’ My teacher praised me kindly.

“The current technology is good, but how about taking it a step further?”

“If I go further······.”

She gave her unique mysterious smile and moved to a large table in one corner of the living room.

It was where Natalie and the attendants had left a long wooden box.

I watched her for a while without saying anything, then I carefully brought it up.

It seemed like now was the chance.

“······Your Highness.”

“Hmm?”

“Um. Father Sant is going to the neutral zone to meet my father. I don’t know if it’s confirmed, but I heard that.”

“Uh-huh. I received such a report this morning.”

‘The identity guarantee was certain. I knew it, but.’ My teacher replied as if singing.

Her back was moving busily as she did something. I was nervous because I couldn’t see her expression.

My palms became naturally moist as I thought that she might not allow me to leave the country.

I looked down at the slowly rotating sanctuary in front of me and chose my words.

“So, um. If Sant can go to the neutral zone, maybe me and my friends can go together······.”

“Would you like to use this?”

“Yes?”

My gaze went up automatically.

My teacher, who was already looking at me, was holding something like a long cane in both hands.

It seemed to be the thing that was in that wooden box earlier. That is······.

“Holy Staff. I used it until I was the Archbishop.”

“Ah.”

A stupid sound flowed out. The Cardinal gestured slightly.

“Come here.”

Since an adult called me, I got up from my seat and approached her.

My teacher carefully led my hand to grab the center of the cane.

“······.”

I blinked. I didn’t feel any special ether.

The cane was as thick as an elementary school 철봉 [cheolbong – horizontal bar] and as tall as the Cardinal, and it was all rusty and bumpy.

I could see beige metal that resembled her irises in spots, but that was it.

It seemed like something was embedded in the end, but it was also discolored black, so I couldn’t tell what it was.

At the top······.

“Is this a sickle?”

“Oh my.”

She covered her mouth with her sleeve at my question.

But this really looks like a sickle on the old Soviet flag.

“It’s a crescent moon.”

“Ah. I’m sorry.”

I’m being stupid again. When I looked again, it looked like a moon! It was severely rusted, though.

“I was already designated as the Crown Princess’s partner, so the opinion came out to carve the moon with the meaning of being with the little sun. It was made at the Temple of Boundaries.”

My eyes widened.

“Do they make things like this there?”

“Of course. It’s said that you can even fold it with paper, but this is very precious because it was made by cutting the roots of the temple.”

“Gasp.”

I was so startled that I tried to take my hand off, but she was much faster.

My teacher covered the back of my hand and gently curved her eyes.

“It’s Prince’s now.”

“Yes?”

My head wasn’t turning quickly due to the shock.

Although the appearance was old and ugly, this was a very precious item as long as it was my teacher’s possession.

In the distant future, it would definitely remain as a holy relic.

Besides, it was made with ‘the roots of the temple’ (what is that!), so now it looked incredibly amazing.

Why are you giving me this treasure······.

“Prince is my first and last disciple, and the person who our 대자 [daeja – godparent] is always indebted to. Thank you.”

She read my confusion and answered kindly.

For a moment, my throat was blocked and I couldn’t say anything.

Is it because my birthday is in a week?

I thought I had cleanly given up on eating seaweed soup here.

“······.”

“It’s a sign of sincerity. I want to look good.”

“You are already a very precious person to me.”

When I finally answered with a smile, the Cardinal stroked my cheek and kissed my forehead.

“I wanted to hear those words too.”

“Hahaha.”

‘Thank you.’ I barely greeted her, wrinkling my nose.

She looked up at me with affectionate eyes and tilted her head slightly.

“Then you can become stronger, right?”

“Does this help?”

I asked back. A gentle explanation followed.

“Yes. The moment the cane recognizes the Prince, you will gain amazing ether control. You are already excellent at adjusting, but it will become even easier. You can erase the traces of the vessel as if you have become someone who does not exist in the world, and the new technology will become much more sophisticated.”

“Wow.”

I stared at the cane in my hand.

It was an item that should be kept safely in a museum right away, but it seemed to be still active.

The middle-aged woman made a sound in her throat as if my reaction was interesting.

“If the Prince becomes the new owner of the Holy Staff, I will consider sending you to the neutral zone.”

My head shot up!

The first thing I felt was relief that she hadn’t ignored my words earlier.

Next, I was startled because I didn’t know whether this was good news or not.

Maybe it takes about 30 years to become the owner······?