What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 293

The Barrier Temple (1)

It was past midnight. The side gate of Gigolt Caravanserai [a large inn or trading post] was unusually busy.

Penetian royal guards in plain clothes moved with practiced efficiency, and various pieces of luggage were quietly loaded onto carriages.

Well-trained horses stood in elegant rows.

Anyone would think it was a midnight escape.

Flap! As a couple of workers pulled back the blackout curtain, a dazzling golden carriage was revealed.

Werner, holding his sleeping daughter, immediately boarded the carriage.

“Hurry.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

The chief attendant bowed deeply and hurried to urge his subordinates.

The Duke gently patted his daughter, who had cried herself to sleep.

Then, he went to the highest part of the carriage, laid the princess on a soft bed, and carefully arranged her hair.

He already knew that Cornelise was the greatest treasure in his life.

The child was someone he cherished more than anything, an angel who had once saved him from a crisis.

She was a jewel, different from Elysee, his masterpiece that he had cultivated over thirty years.

And this second child had once again brought him an opportunity. It was an unbelievable blessing.

“After cherishing her for seven years, he doesn’t even remember her name… Isn’t that a pathetic sight?”

The Duke whispered mockingly. A genuine smile of joy played on his lips.

Anyone would be captivated by her beauty at first sight, but the prince’s heart was completely different.

A couple of hours ago, he had to bite his tongue hard enough to draw blood to suppress his surging anger.

When he saw the White Knight standing next to the prince, he felt a wave of nausea.

The lowly cleaner wouldn’t recognize his face, but he knew the man’s appearance.

If Werner had given in to his instincts like a beast, who knows what might have happened in the night market.

But instead of drawing the dagger stuck in his heart, instead of causing a pointless commotion…

‘I will go to the Barrier Temple immediately. I need to see my eldest child.’

‘Yes. I will prepare.’

He ordered a night march.

Lifelong neglect from his family. Betrayal from his wife, whom he trusted and relied on.

The man, who had lived without being loved by anyone, knew how to sniff out an opportunity for survival.

He did not miss the rare chance that had presented itself.

“Whether she was ultimately judged or went mad while living abroad…”

Either way, it was beneficial.

The fact that the dirty brat did not recognize Cornelise meant that he had lost at least seven years of memories.

Now, only one thing mattered. Did his eldest daughter know about this?

“Brother…”

At that moment, Cornelise groaned and tossed and turned in her sleep.

Just as the chief attendant returned, Werner ordered lukewarm towels and a water bottle to be brought in.

Silencing his youngest daughter was also essential.

The series of events—meeting a bastard in Gigolt and Cornelise being shocked—did not need to reach his eldest child’s ears.

Even if it were to be known, it had to be carefully orchestrated under his control.

How to…

-Saaaaa…

At that moment, the man’s chocolate-colored eyes widened.

A blue light was emanating from the precious child’s body.

“Amy?” [Amy is likely a nickname for Cornelise]

“……”

Werner, surprised, called his daughter’s nickname, but there was no response.

He threw aside the towel he was using to wipe her small face.

Sensing an unusual atmosphere, the servant hurriedly approached. The princess’s body was cold.

‘Cornelise!’ He shook her shoulders and called out as loudly as he could, but his daughter did not wake up.

The Duke, pale as a sheet, raised his voice.

“What are you doing! Bring the royal physician, quickly!”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

-Saaaaa!

The blue light became even more brilliant.

It was as if a huge light source was inside the child’s body.

Werner suddenly recalled a day 25 years ago.

The moment when six-year-old Elysee first showed her power. Could it be—

-Srrrrrr…

He flinched. His sleeve was wet. The man trembled as if burned and groped at the child’s and his own sleeves.

And he was shocked.

Clear water was seeping from his daughter’s small fingertips and curly ivory hair.

The eyes that gained enlightenment widened like lanterns.

Cornelise would not wake up for days.

Fear turned into shock, and shock soon turned into joy.

“Is anyone there! No need for the royal physician. Call the healing priests! All of them!”

“Understood!”

8 years old. Ether Awakening [manifestation of magical power].

The whole world was looking after Werner Penetian.

*

We lost the child without even knowing her name.

-Whoosh!

Sir Johann quickly used his power, but the small breath was quickly buried in the noise of thousands of people.

The clanging of drunken brawls and bargaining, the sound of dishes breaking and sparks flying, all hindered the delicate tracking.

Decisively, the paladins mixed in the crowd were scattering his ether [magical energy].

Air attribute was not greatly affected by other attributes, but he also could not perfectly break through other attributes.

I looked up at the Cardinal.

‘You’ll be able to see if you fly into the sky.’

‘I will not take such a risk, Your Highness.’

The paladin firmly refused my request.

He was worried that if he found the child by flying, attention would be focused on us.

Knowing that his mission was to protect the Crown Prince and me, I couldn’t ask him anymore.

I ended up just picking up the crumpled bouquet and getting up. It was a troubled night.

I couldn’t sleep until dawn, and as soon as morning broke, I requested to meet the manager of Gigolt Caravanserai.

I had to wait in the room for more than 3 hours to see him.

Because it was a place with a lot of transient people and a considerable number of nobles from the Holy Empire stayed there, I couldn’t insist that he put aside other work and come to me first.

To do so, I had no choice but to reveal our identity, but that was too dangerous.

“A missing child…? Are you talking about one of our guests?”

Manager Zeromin had a troubled expression.

He was sitting on our living room sofa with someone who appeared to be his secretary.

“Yes. She’s not with our group, but she must be someone else’s family. She was crying at the night market performance yesterday after losing her guardian. I tried to help, but she disappeared like a flash… I was wondering if the manager knew anything. Has there been any related report? She looked about seven or eight years old. She’s this tall, and her eyes are black.”

I explained as best as I could. I told him everything I remembered about the child.

The image of the little girl crying and getting angry was like a thorn in my heart that wouldn’t go away.

The words she had poured out to me kept lingering in my ears. It was hard to shake off the worry.

What was so sad and sorrowful at such a young age? It was a time when she should be busy just laughing.

Was she being abused at home, or did she run away on her own?

“She has curly, very light blonde hair. The length is about…”

“It’s about this long. I saw her from behind.”

Christel readily answered. Joan and Sant also added details.

“Her clothes looked very expensive. She must be a noble young lady.”

“Her accent was definitely from the Holy Empire. She’s definitely not an ordinary village child!”

“Hmm…”

The manager chose his words carefully.

He exchanged glances with the accompanying secretary and wiped his half-bald head with a handkerchief.

“I am very sorry, Young Master. But I cannot give you and your friends information about other guests. It’s not that I don’t trust Count Rambouillet’s party, but…”

Ah. Come to think of it, there was such a problem. I quickly waved my hand.

Personal information is important.

“I’m sorry. I was so anxious that I didn’t think that far.”

“No. It’s understandable. However, there have been no reports or inquiries about missing children. Also, our lodging is frequented by important people, so security is very thorough inside and out. The village entrance is guarded by the Papal States forces in shifts. I can say for sure that it’s not a kidnapping or abduction. If it was such a big deal, there would have been a commotion last night.”

Zeromin said calmly. I felt a little relieved that he answered that much.

He smiled gently, then,

“You are kind-hearted guests. Don’t worry too much. If she’s such a young lady, she must have had a guard nearby.”

He comforted us.

In addition, he promised to increase patrols for a few days and inquire around the village.

It was truly appreciated. Soon, the manager and staff emptied their teacups and left the room.

The lesser pandas in the bedroom ran to me, pattering.

Seeing them opening their small mouths and begging for ether, I let out a sigh.

-Squeak, squeak!

-I’m trying to comfort you.

“Me?”

I raised my head in surprise. Hanan, who was using Isabel as a backrest, nodded.

-What else can I do with old and outdated ether? This body feels the ether of other beings more clearly and sharply. The divine beast is honest and does not hide its emotions.

-Squeak?

Demi tilted her head and looked up at me. Her expression said, ‘I’ve been caught.’

I smiled and rubbed her ears, and the King spat out a word.

-Also, someone here awakened as a paladin last night.

“Yes?”

“I wasn’t mistaken in sensing it.”

Sir Johann, who had been silent, spoke up. I looked at him and Hanan alternately with surprised eyes.

Seeing Christel and the Crown Prince being quiet, it seemed that only those at the Cardinal level could sense it.

Joan and Sant, who were sharing a piece of Boerek [a type of pastry], blinked their eyes.

Herit’s father smiled at me.

“It must have been a water attribute. I thought this kind of thing could happen if the lodging was large.”

“…That’s amazing.”

“I know. It feels like hearing news that a baby was born in the same lodging.”

Christel muttered.

It was something I had never experienced even in ‘Moreno’, the paradise of wandering paladins.

I stroked the troublesome things to calm down the strange feeling.

I wanted to believe that it was nothing, and in all likelihood it was nothing…

Yesterday’s incident seemed like it would be on my mind for a while.

“How about going out for lunch?”

At that time, Isabel, who was soothing Tete, asked kindly.

We raised our heads, which had been lost in our own thoughts.

Her obsidian-like eyes held the warmth of a caring adult.

“You can change your mood, and it will be easier to get information from the villagers and merchants.”

“……”

Christel and I looked at each other and smiled.

At the same time, when we looked at Crown Prince Cedric, he frowned slightly as he opened his book.

Why? It’s a good idea. Brother, I like being indoors better, but let’s go out together!

*

Well, there was no particular gain.

-Clatter, clatter…

One corner of my heart was uneasy, but that was the reality.

Even when we left Gigolt Village and Caravanserai, there was no trace of the ‘crying girl’.

Manager Zeromin tried his best until the end, but no clues emerged.

We worked hard, mainly going around flower stalls…

‘Oh, that kind of kid did come! She’s as pretty as a doll, and her hair is curly.’

‘That’s right! Did you happen to see her running over there late at night? She must have been crying.’

‘Well… Once I sell things, well. I don’t have the mind to check even the passing customers. There have to be a lot of people.’

That was all the meaningful testimony.

Few people had seen the girl, and even if they did, they couldn’t recall the guardian’s impression.

One clear fact was that the child had not been seen anywhere since that day.

Maybe she had already left Gigolt.

In the end, all we could do was ask Zeromin to take care of the rest.

Duke and Duchess Rambouillet comforted us, saying that he was a trustworthy merchant.

They also said that the child must have returned home safely.

-Clatter, clatter…

-Krrr!

The sound of cartwheels and camel cries could be heard nearby.

That’s because we were sitting on the roof of the cart and moving.

It was getting boring to just sit in the carriage.

On the other hand, the desert night sky was new and vast every time I saw it.

From that end of the land to this end, it was all a round sky like a glass bead and a sea of stars pouring down white.

Christel was lying down comfortably, admiring the stars.

The Crown Prince was also quietly staring into the distance.

Sant and Joan were already asleep, and Sir Johann, Isabel, and Hanan were chatting.

“Tete, look over there. It’s a constellation that looks like Tete.”

-Aung?

“Yeah. If you connect it like this, it’s a soft shape like Tete.”

-Awoo.

When I grabbed her flipper and drew a line in the air, the harp seal closed her eyes and enjoyed it.

She also dropped ice beads from her gaping mouth.

I wiped her whiskers and suddenly had that thought.

‘Liar.’

‘Are you talking about the mister…?’

‘That’s not my name! I hate you!’

Maybe that child… Wasn’t she really someone who knew Prince Yeseo?

So, did I unknowingly hurt her a lot?

If that was the case, I’m so sorry, but will I have a chance to apologize to her?

“Everyone, look over there.”

‘It seems like we’re almost there.’ Around that time, Sir Johann’s voice was heard. We turned our heads at once.

Soon, everyone’s jaws dropped.

“Heo.”

“Oh my gosh…”

The Barrier Temple.

The largest and most magnificent building I had ever seen in my life was unfolding right in front of me.