What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 292

“What is it?”

A sharp, mid-low voice rang out right beside me. I flinched and looked up at him.

In the hottest night of the desert, two small suns were floating [referring to the Crown Prince’s striking eyes].

Beneath the luxurious turban, black hair rippled like a part of the night sky.

Only when my eyes met his did I feel like I was coming to my senses.

I took a long breath and gave an honest answer.

“…I thought I saw someone I knew, but I’m not sure, so I’m confused.”

There’s no way I’d have an acquaintance here. Except for my friends, I was completely alone.

“…”

Then, the Crown Prince made a blatantly unpleasant expression.

I was surprised because I hadn’t expected that kind of reaction. Cristelle, who was walking ahead, also turned to look at me.

The other friends didn’t seem to hear, but the paladins definitely caught my words.

Because the distance wasn’t far.

“Was it a friend from the Holy Kingdom?”

The protagonist asked, handing me a small piece of simit [a type of circular bread with sesame seeds].

Isabelle offered the Crown Prince a glass of Ayran [a cold savory yogurt-based beverage]. It seemed she had bought some late-night snacks. Eating street food in a place like this would be several times more delicious than usual. Thank you.

“That’s… I’m not sure. I just think I might have seen wrong.”

I said. I wasn’t just trying to gloss over it; that’s really how it was.

The emotion that resembled sadness had evaporated in an instant, and now it was even vague whether it was real or just a delusion.

It felt so intense for a moment, but before I knew it, there was no trace left.

It was ticklishly 신경 쓰이긴 [a Korean expression meaning ‘bothering’], but that was it.

In a city of lights where thousands of people come and go, it was impossible to find someone whose face I didn’t even see properly.

I soon shook my head and smiled. It must be nothing.

“Don’t worry about it. Ah, there!”

And I pointed to one place.

‘Waaaaah!’ The crowd gathered in a circle was bursting with exclamations and applause.

It seemed that more and more people were gathering. Joan whistled.

Whatever it was, it seemed like a great show was unfolding.

When I sent a look that I wanted to go, Crown Prince Cedric sighed silently.

I know you’re curious about everything, you rascal.

*

The Gigolt Night Market was nothing short of heaven for a child.

Adding ‘Transformation Walk’ with her father made it the best time ever.

-Whoosh!

“Heooo!”

“Wow!”

Cornelia ran out, her big eyes shining.

A person breathing fire from their mouth was like a dragon from a fairy tale, filling her heart.

The child was only eight years old.

She was at an age where she was too busy running around to think about the reasons or have time for it.

Besides, this was her first trip ever.

The excited princess hugged snacks and toys tightly, digging into the crowd.

‘Amy!’ Her Abama [father in Cornelia’s native language] called out her nickname like a scream, but she didn’t care.

Cornelia had never been lost in her life.

She grew up literally like a princess, always among those who loved and protected her.

So it was natural that she didn’t fear this place.

A treasure that had never been in danger didn’t know what danger was.

She was amazed that there were so many people, and she was amazed that no one was sleeping.

It was a sparkling star world all around.

“One more time! One more time! One more time!”

“Ugh, heave-ho.”

Cornelia wriggled diligently and moved forward.

At first, she was at a loss as to how to get through the heavy and large crowd, but everyone looked at her and moved their feet little by little.

They were kind people. Her brother was right.

He said there were many kind people outside the castle too.

The princess 해득해득 [a sound suggesting understanding or realization] and slipped out to the front row.

-Clap clap clap!

“Oh my gosh! Look at that, honey!”

And she opened her darkly dyed eyes wide. She stopped breathing without realizing it.

Clowns in red and white clothes were building a tower using only their bodies.

It was on a different level from the acrobatics she sometimes saw at the Venetian castle.

They were already on the 2nd floor, 3rd floor… Now they were challenging the 4th floor!

“Waaaaah!”

“No way….”

-Whoosh!

Another clown breathed fire from the side. ‘Woooah!’ The atmosphere heated up even more.

Was he a fire-attribute paladin? Do paladins in the desert also perform tricks? She had never heard of such a story. Cornelia stared blankly at the performance.

Before she knew it, the last clown was jumping up and down in place. It seemed like he was trying to challenge the 5th floor.

Everyone held their breath with tension. Behind the stage, dancers dressed in various colors stood like flowers, waiting for the result.

The princess swallowed hard. It was the first time she had been so nervous about someone else’s business.

No, she had never been so nervous even about her own business!

-Dugudugudugudu…!

The musician frantically beat a shabby drum. The audience became quiet as if frozen.

Cornelia held the gifts she had bought tightly and fidgeted.

-Dudung!

-Taat!

Finally, the acrobat jumped up. Bounce, bounce, bounce! Swish, smack!

“Yiaaaa!”

The 5th floor tower was completed. The woman who reached the top started throwing and playing with a few lemons!

“Ehehehe! Awesome!”

“Amazing! Incredible!”

“How can a human body do that!”

A tremendous cheer erupted.

There was applause as loud as when her sister returned from the battlefield.

Even though it was so noisy that her earlobes felt like they were falling off, the young princess stood still, only blinking her eyes.

It was the first time she had seen such a shocking sight.

Really honestly, the clown’s leap she just saw was cooler than her sister’s golden flames or her mother’s big sword!

“Amazing!”

-♪♬♩!

The child smiled brightly. At the same time, the old musicians played music in a lively manner.

The dancers, lined up in a row, moved to the front with light movements like feathers.

Even though their bare feet and limbs were clearly visible, no one pointed fingers.

Such a dance was also unfamiliar to Cornelia.

Clang, clang! The excited audience threw glitter to the center of the stage.

When she looked closely, it was coins. Ah, they give money for a great performance. The princess nodded.

Everything was unfamiliar, but she could do this too.

A generous reward was taught as a basic quality of royalty. The little one immediately rummaged through her pockets.

There was a gold coin that Abama gave her here….

-Thud, flop! Splatter!

“Ah!”

Then she dropped the gifts in her arms with a clatter.

Cornelia bent over with a tearful face.

In fact, she had never carried so many things, nor had she ever looked for other things while carrying things.

But she had been doing well so far, and suddenly it turned out like this.

The child hurriedly picked up the nearby horn and bracelet.

She had to throw away the snacks she hadn’t even tasted yet.

-Thump!

-Thump!

“Excuse me, just a moment!”

But the situation was getting worse.

As soon as the performance ended, the spectators scattered and kicked the child’s gifts.

She knew it wasn’t intentional, but she was upset.

The bouquet she was going to give to her brother had already been swept away over there.

Seeing it half crushed, her eyes welled up with tears. A dark cloud gathered on her small face.

“Abama….”

Her voice soon became watery. Only then did Cornelia look around.

All unfamiliar faces.

Everyone moving busily looked much bigger and fiercer than her.

She couldn’t find Abama, nor could she find her servants and guards.

Realizing that fact, her mind suddenly went blank.

She couldn’t remember the way to the lodging.

She couldn’t even remember the last place she was with her father. Suddenly, her hands and feet became cold.

She was alone now.

“Eomama….” [mother in Cornelia’s native language]

She was suddenly scared. Then, tears like chicken droppings fell.

“Sister…!”

“Oh dear. She must be lost.”

At that moment, a very familiar voice was heard from the sky.

Cornelia slowly raised her head. No… There was no need to do that.

Because the other person knelt down to make eye contact with her.

“You must have been very surprised. Did you come with your sister?”

He asked kindly. Holding a bouquet that was crumpled and trampled in his arms.

“Ah….”

She couldn’t believe it.

It was the face she had missed so much. It was the person she saw in her dreams every day.

But when she woke up, she couldn’t remember anything, so her heart always stung.

She definitely drew pictures together, ate delicious things, and played hide-and-seek, but when she woke up in the morning, no one was there.

Only the fact that it happened remained firmly in her heart.

The details flew away like a lie, and at first, she was angry at herself.

She felt like a fool for not being able to remember such things.

So, she had been sleeping with a diary by her head for a while now.

To write down anything. Anything. Even something very small.

“Brother….”

But he was in front of her. Cornelia burst into tears and hugged her brother.

“Eoeong…!”

Eomama said so. If you pray earnestly, the Lord will listen.

Only today did the princess realize that she had not lied to her.

“The Marquis made her cry more!”

“No, that’s….”

“Heoeong, sob sob… Sob sob sob!”

Cornelia cried out loud.

She grabbed his shoulder so tightly that the ends of her joints turned white, fearing that her brother would disappear if she let go even for a moment.

Her brother was the same as when she last saw him.

The comforting touch and the soft voice were unchanged.

His clothes were a little different, but she had transformed too, so it was okay.

The glasses and light pink eyes were awkward, but she had put eye drops in her eyes too, so it was okay.

He didn’t hug her tightly or call her nickname, but….

“It seems like she lost her party. Can I take her to the lodging and ask for help?”

….

“You’re bothering me.”

“Don’t do that. If you get help from the manager, you can find her guardian quickly.”

“….”

She felt very, very strange. Cornelia stopped crying.

And slowly raised her wet cheeks.

She waited for over a hundred, two hundred days….

Finally, she faced her brother after a year.

“Let’s wait a little longer here? I have a lot of time. I’ll be with you until your sister comes.”

Tears fell like a monsoon. Her vision repeatedly became clear and blurred.

The familiar blonde hair and beautiful eyes were definitely those of someone the child knew.

It was the person she liked the most in the world.

“Oh my, she keeps crying. The baby must be very scared.”

“I know. This is the bouquet you dropped, right? It’s very pretty. Do you remember where you bought it?”

He smiled awkwardly. It was a tone of voice that tried to soothe her in any way.

The man was now taking out a handkerchief from his bag.

The warm gaze he gave her from time to time was the same as a year ago. But….

“Mister, uh. My name is Serenite. I came from a place with a wonderful lake. Can I ask your name?”

Lie.

“No.”

Cornelia said as if shooting back. The man was immediately embarrassed.

“Huh?”

“Liar.”

“Are you talking about me… ?”

“That’s not your name! I hate you!”

Thud! The child screamed and pushed her brother away. He was greatly surprised and fell on his butt.

The princess sobbed and glared at the handkerchief that had fallen on the floor.

She also glared at the bouquet her brother had dropped and the snacks that had become covered in sand.

It was hard to breathe as if she was drowning. She was so, so sad, and much more scared than that.

Cornelia also glared at the people who were standing by the man’s side.

The girl’s sharp cry pierced everyone’s ears.

“Don’t play weird pranks!”

Thieves. They must all be thieves. They stole her brother’s memories.

“Get away! Get away!”

-Thud! Thud!

The child pounced on the biggest man among them.

And she punched his legs wildly.

Orange eyes were burning brightly from a very high place.

Her brother was horrified and grabbed her.

“Hey, I’m sorry! I’m sorry. Then I’ll just watch from afar—”

-Tak!

“I don’t want to! You’re not my mister!”

Screamed again. Then she ran without looking back.

She was afraid that an answer would come back, so she squeezed her eyes shut and blocked her ears.

And she moved her legs much faster than when she was running in the castle hallway.

A gentle reprimand was heard from somewhere in her head.

‘You’re going to fall and get hurt. Don’t run around.’

‘Amy!’

‘Here. I’ve applied all the medicine.’

‘From now on, don’t act like a colt indoors. Promise.’

She was scared. More than the war the servants were whispering about, more than the death the courtier was explaining….

The fact that he didn’t recognize her was even more frightening. It was like a nightmare.

She promised not to cry while waiting for her brother, but tears kept coming out.

“Hic. Heuk. Ugh.”

-Grasp!

At that moment, a small body suddenly soared. Cornelia was surprised and struggled.

Beautiful chocolate-colored eyes were looking into him, drawing a curve.

“Our dandelion. What’s wrong, why are you crying?”

“Heoeong, Abama…!”

The child hugged her father’s neck urgently and burst into tears.

As if he held her lifeline. As if he was her last hope.

“Shhh… Why did you leave your father’s side without saying a word? I was very surprised.”

“Eoeong, ugh, hic, eoeoeong…!”

“Are you hurt? I’m very worried.”

Doridori [onomatopoeia for shaking head]. The princess shook her head buried in his shoulder.

Werner patted his daughter warmly and closed his eyes.

And slowly lifted his eyelids. His sharp gaze was directed at one place.

The blonde man.

“Then that’s enough. It’s good that you’re safe….”

The narrow pupils trembled. A chilling sensation ran through his body.

Werner gestured to the chief of staff and immediately set out for the caravanserai [a roadside inn].

He almost tripped over his own feet several times, but he was only happy.

He was about to leave this place immediately. If he had secured a clear advantage, he had to act quickly.

Because now, he had finally found a way to be happy.

“Heueuk….”

“It is the blessing of the Lord.”

The bastard does not recognize Cornelia.

A dazzling destiny was helping him.