What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 333

#333

The Free Marquis of Lyester (1)

-Thwack, thud! Thwack, thud!

“Make sure to preserve all the leather. Yes, even the toes!”

-Tssssss······! Swish!

“Commander! The synthesis of the venom neutralizer and antidote is delayed. The mages are swamped with work······.”

-Whack, whack, whack, whack······

“That’s right, that’s right. Cutting along the grain is essential to maintain quality.”

The outside of the tent was quite noisy that morning. It couldn’t be helped.

The support unit commanders, who arrived late at the scene (though it wasn’t really late, the Crown Prince was just too fast), grasped the situation and turned pale.

The journey of the evacuation carriages was temporarily suspended, and healing priests were hurriedly deployed to check on the wounded.

Fortunately, no critical patients were found.

I diligently petted Dduk-sim, who had worked so hard for everyone.

Where a mythical-grade monster had been killed by a pierced heart, an imperial army’s temporary camp was erected overnight.

The dirt floor was muddy, but with the touch of experts, a plausible dwelling was created.

The monster’s corpse was too large and precious to be cremated immediately, so they were now working on collecting byproducts.

What else was there?

“The Count asks if the current location of the golems is okay, Commander!”

-Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

“Oh yeah, it’s fine. As long as they don’t obstruct traffic!”

That’s right!

‘Karme,’ the trafficker who controlled the golems, was formally arrested on the spot based on Sir Johan’s testimony.

‘You said you’d let me go? Honey, you said you’d let me go!’

‘Ahem! Just go and get investigated!’

‘Now that I see him, that man is a white fox?!’

The woman protested, distorting her beautiful face, but the imperial soldiers didn’t bat an eye.

Sir Johan decided to take charge of the mana core for the time being, and he acted as if he couldn’t even see her.

Wiping my wet face, I diligently absorbed all the information into my head.

Even knowing it wasn’t a dream, adapting to the changed reality was another matter.

Beyond the thick canvas, the conversation of knights and soldiers continued.

“A message has arrived from Honing, Commander! Only mid- and low-level monsters are appearing, and the troops there say they can handle it sufficiently. There are no casualties, but a few outer barracks were destroyed.”

“The grace of the Main God. Truly so.”

“Yes, indeed. Also, His Majesty’s urgent message has arrived at the military camp······.”

It truly was grace.

And the fact that no monsters above the high level were coming out of the Trosart ‘Dungeon’….

In fact, I was nervous that Prince Cedrick’s younger appearance would be discovered, but Sir Johan covered him with his coat and carried him on his back.

‘Thank you.’ When I greeted him quietly, he smiled with his eyes.

I still couldn’t tell if he recognized me or what he was thinking.

I only remembered that the veins on the back of his hand were bulging, probably because he had used a lot of power.

After that, David seemed to come and take care of the Prince.

It wasn’t certain because the scene was bustling, but I saw the top of his head.

“Haa······.”

A trembling sigh echoed through the tent. I was startled and covered the middle-aged man’s hand.

Benjamin, who was sitting next to me, was constantly dabbing at his eyes with a handkerchief.

He had been crying silently all night, which broke my heart, and the situation hadn’t changed much in the morning.

When I hugged him, he sobbed so much that his shoulders shook, and I ended up crying a little too.

Sant was skipping meals and sobbing with a tear-streaked face.

Only when I spoon-fed him soup did he barely take a few bites.

I couldn’t help but smile at his swollen, childish face.

“Benjamin, please don’t cry. I’m really okay.”

“How can you be okay? How······.”

“······Actually, I was really scared, but seeing Benjamin made me feel completely better. Meeting Sant and the precious ones feels like a miracle.”

I conveyed my pure sincerity. Then Benjamin closed his eyes.

He let out a sorrowful breath and stroked the back of my hand.

Seeing his gaunt cheeks and dark circles under his eyes, my heart ached.

Even then, the lesser pandas didn’t leave my side.

Leia had taken over my lap, and Perry was clinging to my shoulder.

Tite and Demi wouldn’t leave my arms, making my whole body hot and hard to move.

It was a good thing I didn’t get hot easily.

Dduk-sim seemed to be dozing off on top of my head.

I could tell from his occasional tilting body.

“Sant. Are you okay?”

“Huu, to think you would be resurrected like this······. The Main God, in a truly mysterious way, hic······. It’s truly a miracle, Prince-nim······. A miracle of God, haa······!”

Oh dear. Sant, who had been staring at me, started to wail again.

I quickly wiped his cheeks with a napkin, folded a clean side, and held it in front of his nose.

“Sniff, do it. Sniff.”

“Huuu······. Uh-huh-huh······!”

Seeing the well-behaved crybaby made my eyes water too.

When should I tell them that it’s not exactly a ‘resurrection,’ and that I’m not a ‘prince’ either?

I’m not going to hesitate any longer, but finding the right timing was the problem.

Although they were incredibly shocked, the two of them accepted the fact that I was me very quickly.

That was······.

-Squeak!

“Oh, our Demi is doing well turning over by himself. I could make a pancake out of Demi.”

-Kkia?

“Hahaha.”

The lesser pandas and Tite were a big help.

Last night, Demi grew a cockscomb the size of a living room to save the Prince and me.

Leia and Perry bloomed hundreds of purple tulips in the muddy ground.

The harp seal cried and whined, dripping seawater as soon as it saw me.

I quickly took off my cardigan and made a front pouch for it, and only then did it quietly coo.

After that, all four of them wouldn’t leave me.

‘······Have you been well?’

And, the voice was the same.

Benjamin and Sant, who had been making blank expressions, collapsed on the spot.

Since then, we had been together all the time.

We slept together in the temporary camp and were eating an early breakfast together.

When Sant offered prayers, everyone closed their eyes and prayed.

I had politely refused Benjamin’s offer to help me dress earlier, but his complexion darkened, so I had no choice but to accept his help.

I need to tell them my identity as soon as possible.

“Eat more. It’s wartime, so you need to empty a bowl to feel full.”

I pushed soup and bread generously in front of Benjamin.

Of course, it wasn’t as good as what we ate at Juliette’s, but the food was excellent and the ingredients were good, befitting a meal for a guest of the Imperial Palace.

The middle-aged man smiled faintly and nodded.

But after stirring the bowl a few times with a spoon, he only looked at my face again.

He observed my hair, eyebrows, and eyes in order, as if trying to engrave them in his mind, which made me feel awkward and shy.

On the other hand, I knew too well how that felt. So I just smiled foolishly.

There were so many things I wanted to ask. How was Christel doing?

Were Isabel and Joan, the viscount and his wife, who had gone to the desert with us, safe?

How were Ganael and Lady Elizabeth? Were the Imperial Palace people recovering well?

How were Herrit and Eva? How were His Majesty and the Master doing? Was the Dium family healthy?

How were Agnes and Bamtori······.

“You said your bag was torn.”

“Ah, yes. I dropped it while running. A villager lent me a backpack, so I’m carrying it in that.”

“I’ll sew it up for you soon. It’ll be as good as new.”

“······Thank you.”

Benjamin’s eye wrinkles deepened at my answer. It looked good. It was then.

“Your Highness.”

It was a familiar voice. ‘Kkiung!’ I soothed Demi, who had become an aegyo [acting cute] vending machine, and turned to look at the entrance.

Sir Johan, who had opened the tent and entered, had a composed expression.

A nonchalant voice. Neat attire, just like when I last saw him.

Neatly tied white hair and calm mint-colored eyes.

“The Crown Prince is looking for you. He wants all three of you to come now.”

“Yes, I’ll go right away.”

We immediately tidied our mouths, packed up our precious ones, and stood up.

Only when we were hurrying out of the camp did I suddenly have a thought.

Sir Johan just called me ‘Your Highness.’ So he knows who I am.

“······.”

But the fact that there was no reaction was somehow amazing. I glanced at him secretly.

*

Just taking one step outside the tent, the situation was completely different from yesterday.

Not to mention that our camp was packed with sentries….

“That’s him, he’s coming out!”

“Quick, kneel! Ah, quickly!”

“Huh? That’s the volunteer. Isn’t that the person we saw until the day before yesterday?”

Murmur, murmur, Joseon navy [a Korean expression for a chaotic situation]. With every step I took, gazes poured in, and my face grew hot.

“Hey, there are more than fifteen guys who say they saw a miracle last night!”

“Have you been listening to me with your butt all this time? That person is the resurrected Prince Yeser! The rumors are about to reach the Imperial Capital!”

“What? That person?!”

Surprised voices popped up. Ugh.

“Look over there, my friend. Jordang, who used to shovel dung, became a tulip caretaker overnight and is living the good life.”

“He beat down a huge monster, and purple tulips bloomed on the land where we stay. Even the friends and knights who were on the carriage are all safe. This war is as good as won!”

“Of course, a dead person has come back to life!”

“No, somehow······. Somehow, his physique is different from ours. His tone is also gentle. Wow, that’s something!”

“Are those tulips? Or hydrangeas?”

“Kid, aren’t you having a hard time living in the world?”

“Then. Then will His Majesty build a palace here? Will he?”

“Is a palace the problem? A person who died once has come back to life!”

“Is it true that his eyes are the same purple color?”

“Well, there’s a story behind that too. Listen.”

“Main God, I am overwhelmed······.”

There were also several soldiers who were tearful with rising faith and emotion.

I steadily looked ahead and carried Tite.

Everyone was saying something towards this side.

Even if it was just one sentence per person, it was already hundreds.

Buzzing, bustling. It was comfortable when no one cared, but being noticed again made me feel embarrassed and uncomfortable.

The knights who passed by showed polite respect.

Judging from the fact that they couldn’t even make eye contact with me, it was clear that the Prince had given orders in the meantime.

-Thud, thud, thud

But that doesn’t mean I can suddenly become a prince······.

Even from the perspective of the Holy Nation, I’m a complete stranger. I’m really in trouble.

But I was the only one who was anxious and uneasy.

The lesser pandas enjoyed the pouring attention and gazes, raising their tails and marching.

“Welcome.”

Huh, it’s David! I reflexively bent my back towards the middle-aged man who had come out to greet me.

Then he panicked and tried to stop me. Sant also looked very surprised.

“Prince-nim. No. Rather, I should be asking for forgiveness.”

“No······.”

I stopped talking and opened my mouth.

David’s eyes were swollen, and his voice was more hoarse than Benjamin’s.

Did you cry?!

“It’s not something to apologize for on the street like this······. The sin of daring to not recognize a precious person and trying to use them is something I can’t make up for even in a lifetime. I will definitely confess at the temple.”

He lowered his head and deeply repented. I stroked the adult’s back and smiled softly.

I had some idea of what thoughts this person, who was always loyal to the Prince, had when he hired me.

I felt sorry that I had surprised him so much.

After all, who could easily think that a dead person would come back to life in a different form?

Even if he had done something morally wrong to me, I wanted to forgive him.

“I’m really okay, David. You gave me an invaluable opportunity. Thanks to you, the Prince······.”

‘How is that person?’ I quickly lowered my voice and asked.

David flinched and raised his head, and after confirming that we were the only ones nearby, he whispered like a mosquito.

“As soon as he lay down on the bed, he turned six years old.”

“Ugh.”

I made a groaning sound and checked the side.

Benjamin seemed to be pretending not to notice that the Prince had become younger, and Sir Johan was the same, and Sant was······.

Our priest really doesn’t know. Awesome.

“Yes······. It seems he endured with instinct even after losing consciousness. It’s an obsession that has been engraved in His Highness’s soul since birth.”

“······.”

“He suffered from a fever all night. He has now regained his original form.”

A silent sigh escaped. David nodded as if he understood.

Soon we stood in front of a large camp.

It was a tent that had been properly equipped, considering it had been built at super speed.

Clang, chuck, chuck! The knights in armor saluted with precision and opened the entrance.

During those few steps, all sorts of thoughts came to mind.

I want to reveal the fact of possession when Christel is with me, so excluding that······.

First of all, if I reveal everything I can reveal here, what will happen to me?

The Prince’s commoner friend? Considering safety, that wasn’t bad either.

The covenant is, of course, out of the question.

I’m not a Lyester historian, but I know that the person who will inherit the throne doesn’t form a partnership with a commoner.

Besides, I had to go home someday.

“You’ve come.”

Flinch. A stylish baritone was heard. I raised my head and looked around.

We were the only ones in the dim camp.

On the huge table in the center, there was a feast that was too much to eat from the morning, no matter who looked at it.

I hadn’t had a full meal since I came back, so my mouth watered.

The royals are amazing at taking care of themselves.

And in the highest seat, the crimson canopy curtain was covering the bed….

“Marquis.”

The Prince’s voice was heard from there.

Now that I see it, a broad shadow was faintly visible.

Judging from the fact that he wasn’t coming out, he was still in bad shape. Then he should rest more.

“Pay your respects to His Highness.”

At that time, Benjamin whispered carefully. I blinked, wondering what he meant.

‘Troublesome.’ The Prince didn’t persevere.

“Sit down, Serenite.”

It was a spitting tone. At this point, I was sincerely dumbfounded. What am I?

“Since that will be the last meal you have outside the Imperial Palace.”

······Huh? Is that my breakfast?