What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 334

The Free Marquis of Lyester (2)

Is this too much of a feast for an ordinary person to eat in the morning?

Yes.

Is the Crown Prince making strange noises at the table again?

Yes.

Then, are you going to refuse to eat and hold out?

No? Why would you say something so disappointing?

“Haa. The soup is amazing.”

– Kkio

I eat much better than the average person, and if I were to describe the life philosophy of our three siblings, it would be ‘Let’s do everything to live well.’

Soupe au Pistou [a vegetable soup from Provence, France, similar to minestrone], made with nail-sized pasta, was the perfect thing to have on an empty stomach.

Instead of a heavy broth, the clear vegetable broth with basil, and the generous amounts of zucchini, leeks, and beans, captured both the taste and texture perfectly.

Eating two bowls made me feel just right.

Then, I lightly finished off two plates of steak au poivre [pepper steak] made with sirloin instead of filet mignon.

Coarsely ground pepper, medium-rare cooked meat, sauce made in the same pan, and roasted potatoes.

All of these were dishes that could be prepared relatively quickly in wartime.

The melt-in-your-mouth texture was so good that a smile appeared every time I chewed.

I wished everyone could have enjoyed it together, but they all said they were full from what they had eaten earlier.

Benjamin, Sir John, David, and Sant were sitting around just watching.

Crown Prince Cedric also remained silent without getting out of bed.

How strange. The smell is so amazing.

“It’s so delicious. Really, really.”

– Kkia, Kkia

Demi propped her front paws on the table and stood up on her knees.

It seemed like watching me eat was stimulating her appetite.

I chuckled and gave her a piece of apple.

Crunch, crunch. The way she chewed diligently was lovely.

Next, I started mixing the red sauce of Poulet Basque [Basque-style chicken] into the rice.

It was made with garlic and chili peppers from the New Kingdom, and I liked the slightly spicy aftertaste.

It was a flavor hard to find in Lyester.

The rice was a bit loose, but still, it’s rice. I’m Korean.

“Mix it like this. Put shredded chicken thigh on top. Take some skin and sausage too. Add a piece of tomato and bell pepper each…”

Bon appétit! Just one bite!

“Uwaaa…”

As I put a spoonful into my mouth, Sant opened his mouth and exclaimed in admiration.

It was the ecstasy I had expected, and my eyes naturally curved into a smile. So delicious.

– Kkieung, Kkieung

“Yes, Lady Leah. Ether is going in.”

Leah, who had been staring at me eating, pressed on Sant’s stomach.

The priest hurriedly began putting ether orbs into the divine beast’s mouth.

I raised the corners of my mouth and diligently moved my tongue and teeth.

The rice I had after a long time was so good that I cleanly devoured two plates and scraped up all the chicken and sauce from the Poulet Basque.

I told them to eat quickly, saying there was too much for me to eat alone, but no one listened.

It was a pity. It’s so delicious!

“…Okay. Now for dessert.”

I put down my utensils and rinsed my mouth with cool watermelon juice.

I should eat simply since it’s morning.

“Is this quiche?”

I mumbled, holding up a small piece of pie.

“It’s Flamiche [a type of open pie, similar to quiche, often made with leeks], Marquis. I heard leeks grow a lot here.”

“I see. Thank you.”

I thanked Benjamin and took a big bite of the pie.

The first thing I tasted was the sweet zucchini.

The texture was also crunchy thanks to the abundant leeks.

A few seasonal fruits used as toppings helped with a refreshing finish.

Ttuksim, sitting on one side of the table, watched me gobbling away for a long time,

– Bbing

Seeming to have seen enough, he fluttered over the canopy to the Crown Prince.

I wiped my mouth with a napkin and glanced in that direction. And then I slightly lowered my head.

“David. Is it okay if I take the leftovers with me?”

Whisper, whisper.

“We can make you new ones whenever you’re hungry.”

Murmur, murmur.

“No, I’m full. But there are people in Honing Village who took care of me… There are children too. If it’s okay, I was wondering if I could take the fruit in the basket and return it later,”

“If you’re done eating, let’s get to the point.”

A heavy voice like a sharp sword flew in.

I quickly straightened my back and buried my lips in the watermelon juice glass.

I heard him sighing deeply.

They say you don’t bother a dog when it’s eating, so I guess similar values exist here too.

In the end, the author is Korean.

Gulp, gulp, gulp.

– Clatter

“…”

After emptying the juice glass and putting it down, there was really no escape left.

All eyes were on me. I clenched and unclenched my fists several times.

Perhaps because I was full for the first time in a while, a groundless courage seemed to spring up.

In front of me, Benjamin was holding Tete, who had her eyes half-closed.

Seeing her looking so happy even in the midst of chaos, my tense heart gradually relaxed.

It would be even better if Christel were here…

Right. Let’s talk about it now. I decided to be a respectable guardian for that child.

“My name is not Yesuh Venetian.”

Thud. Such a sentence opened my lips like a greeting.

Sant, who was startled, dropped the ether orb.

“My name is Jung Yesuh. ‘Yesuh’ is my given name, and ‘Jung’ is my family name.”

“Heo!”

David was utterly astonished.

My name is written in Chinese characters, not English, but since the pronunciation is the same, he couldn’t help but be surprised.

I was too.

“Then is ‘Heineken’ an alias?”

“…Yes. I apologize.”

I felt an immense sense of shame and apologized to the middle-aged man.

In an instant, the tips of my ears became hot, and my neck turned red.

It’s already this embarrassing and difficult, so if this gets into Ms. Gain’s ears, it will be a real disaster.

In the meantime, David made a disappointed face, saying, ‘It wasn’t a middle name.’

Still, once I started talking, it wasn’t as difficult as I thought it would be.

“I… came from a completely different world, and I entered the body of Prince Yesuh that you know. I still don’t know how my soul was transferred here, or who wanted such a thing. I’m not sure why it had to be me either. I just… opened my eyes and it wasn’t my bed in my room.”

“…Do you remember exactly when that was?”

Benjamin asked gently. I nodded.

“Yes. It was the morning of March 18, 1613, by the sacred calendar. I fell asleep at home on the night of March 17 and woke up here. Of course, we don’t use the sacred calendar in that world, but a year is still twelve months and 365 days. I remember Ganael and Benjamin coming to wake me up. I think there were others too.”

“That’s truly amazing. The Chief God truly works in mysterious ways.”

David exclaimed, soothing Perry, who was crawling up his back.

Sant had been staring with wide eyes from earlier, only alternating between saying ‘Wow,’ ‘Oh my gosh,’ and ‘Good heavens.’

Now that I see it, the divine beasts were generally calm, and only the humans were in shock.

Benjamin’s blue eyes shone with a kind light.

“Then Marquis, you are the same Marquis we know.”

“Uh… can you see it that way?”

“Yes. You’ve been with us since the first day you started your life in the Empire.”

Hmm… I guess so. Hearing that, it was a plausible interpretation.

I had been so focused on the thought that I had been deceiving my precious people that I never dreamed they would accept it that way.

For some reason, my heart was full, so I bit my lip for a moment.

“So… I’ve been lying ever since that day. I didn’t think you would believe me even if I said I wasn’t the prince, and in fact, it was a situation that was hard for me to believe. First of all, I thought it was most important to survive safely in order to return to my family,”

“Family?”

A sharp question pierced through. I flinched and looked up at the Crown Prince’s bed.

The black silhouette sat regally without moving.

“…Yes. I have an older brother and a younger sister. I also have a mother.”

“Oh, Chief God.”

“Then is your older brother the head of the family? Or is it your mother?”

David asked. Hmm, head of the family.

“My mother is sick, so she’s in the hospital… She’s in a nursing facility. My older brother is the head of the family.”

“If you don’t mind, may I ask what he does?”

“He’s a writer now. Like Benjamin.”

I smiled and looked at Benjamin. Oh, right!

“And I’m not a noble. There isn’t really a distinction of status in my hometown. There are countries that have such things, but the country where I was born doesn’t. In short, everyone is a commoner, and it’s a place where commoners represent the country.”

“Hoo…!”

“Heoeok!”

“Oh.”

David, Sant, and Benjamin were surprised at the same time.

Sir John, who had been sitting quietly until now, also tilted his head as if he was interested.

I smiled, enjoying how shocked everyone was.

It’s definitely a system that would turn the world upside down, based on this place’s standards.

“I work at a company there… To put it simply, I work in a trading company that specializes in selling electric-attribute magical tools. I do legal work.”

“Then are you a lawyer?”

“I often get that misunderstanding, but no. I work with lawyers.”

I waved my hand and laughed, and David wrote something down in his notebook.

‘So that’s why you were so different from the New Kingdom’s playboy.’ I heard an unbelievable mutter.

Since when has he been holding that?

“Then your family doesn’t know that the Marquis has returned here…”

“…They don’t know. I sneaked out at night.”

The room became quiet as if cold water had been poured over it at my words. David pursed his lips.

I wondered what this atmosphere was, so I tried to salvage the situation.

“Um, I’m okay. Back then, in Prince Yesuh’s body… I woke up at home after I died, but only one night had passed. The flow of time seems to be very different between here and there. So, by now, my brother and sister are both sound asleep.”

Probably. If I’m lucky. I didn’t add those words and tried to smile.

Benjamin and Sant were still looking at me with worried eyes.

Oh dear, I didn’t plan to be a cause of concern.

“My brother is a strong and cool adult, and he raised Eunseo as if she were his own child. Oh, just like François and his younger siblings. My brother is the person I respect the most in the world. So, I’ll be okay for the time being.”

I’ll make it okay. Definitely, no matter what it takes.

We promised to protect each other.

“Jung Eunseo.”

I flinched. I blinked and turned my head.

Clack! The Crown Prince, who roughly pulled back the curtains, was glaring down at me.

Because of his black gown and jet-black hair, he looked like a sleek black panther.

What did you just say…?

“How do you know that name,”

“That was your younger sister. Eunseo.”

“Your Highness?”

“Sir.”

‘Yes, Your Highness.’ Sir John replied gently and stood up from his seat.

Then, he silently approached me, placed his hand on my chest, and bowed.

I gaped and looked back and forth between the two men. What? What is it?

“Indeed, you are of unique origin and not a prince.”

“…”

“You have deceived everyone in the Imperial Palace, including me.”

The sharp, low voice cut through the air like a blade. I quickly lowered my eyes.

“I’m sorry.”

“But nothing changes.”

The Crown Prince began to growl in earnest. My eyes naturally closed tightly.

The divine beast in my arms hugged my waist and whined.

“The Marquis will be confined to the Imperial Palace until this war is over.”

– Bbi-bbo

“What?!”

Excuse me!? My eyelids shot open.

In the meantime, Ttuksim cried solemnly, and Demi wagged her tail with delight. ‘Kkihung!’

“You will see His Majesty on the way back to the palace. You may handle the overdue official duties of the territory in the palace.”

“Your Highness, just a moment!”

“Let’s go, Marquis Serenite.”

Sir John said in a calm tone, as if recommending a walk.

I was about to ask for a moment, but without warning, my whole body floated into the air. Ugh!

“Ugh, Sir John! I was wrong, please let me stay here!”

“You didn’t do anything wrong, Marquis. We were the ones who were wrong.”

‘We won’t repeat the same mistake.’ Herritt’s father replied with a twist in his eyes.

I paused and opened my mouth. In an instant, goosebumps rose on my spine.

The swaying back of his hand was bumpy again today.

The atmosphere just now was very different.

“…Your Highness, you need to receive ether. How are you going to endure on the front lines? I know you’re turning away the priests!”

Oh well, I don’t know. I just threw out whatever came to mind and floundered like I was swimming.

I had to make sure the order to return to the palace was canceled no matter what.

Even the last sentence was something I made up!

“…Send the sacred stone.”

Then that Crown Prince readily replied and closed the curtains.

Hey, was it real! You’re not receiving ether from perfectly fine priests and only using the treasure I charge!?

“Benjamin, David. Help me. I promise I won’t cause any trouble and will stay quiet. Please let me stay in the military camp at least until I meet Sir Christel!”

Ms. Gain and I are unconditionally on each other’s side!

“…”

The two adults noticeably avoided eye contact and savored their tea.

Floating, floating. With Sir John’s powerful strength, I couldn’t even put up a proper resistance and crossed the camp.

Sant stomped his feet, and the divine beasts excitedly followed him. My words became faster and faster.

“Your Highness, listen. I understand your feelings about sending me to the palace since that’s what happened to me in the desert. But you have to stop the dungeon. You said you have to pass through the Trossart Mountains to advance inland. I have a good idea. I know a lot! I studied hard and came, so it will definitely be helpful—”

– Flap!

Upoo-upoo. A white cloth swept over my head.

I narrowed my eyes and looked around. It was outside the tent.

Already, in the late summer sky, dark storm clouds, as gloomy as my heart, were gathering.

It was a time when three or four times more people were passing by than the crowd that had gathered earlier.

Damn it.

“…Sir John, I’ll walk. Please.”

“It’ll be good for your health. Good thinking.”

The holy knight replied like a gentle breeze and let me down.

As soon as my feet touched the ground, the people passing by bowed, saying, ‘Ooh!’

I nodded to them and started walking briskly.

The drowsiness that was about to come over me was instantly cleared.