What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 337

Sub-Male Lead Goes on Strike – Episode 337

#337

The Free Duke of Liester (5)

ended in resounding success.

‘Waaaaah!’

Truly, no other description would do it justice.

‘Pass it forward, quickly!’

‘Salt! Someone get the salt! We need to cure it quickly!’

‘Liester forever! Liester forever!’

Those who doubted I was who I said I was were now completely enthralled by the fresh seafood, unable to escape its allure.

The atmosphere had completely reversed in an instant.

Just moments ago, they looked ready to drag me to the torture chamber if they found anything suspicious about me, but now they seemed ready to escort me to the Imperial Palace even if I tried to feign ignorance.

Swaaaaaash! Many soldiers cheered and washed their faces in the clean, refreshing rain.

Although they drew water from the উইনিটে River and the oasis, it seemed they couldn’t use it freely due to the local residents.

Some nobles and soldiers closed their eyes and prayed.

We gathered in the circle of land untouched by rain and embraced deeply.

‘First. First, we will escort you to His Majesty’s tent.’

‘Yes, yes······.’

After a while, a nasal-voiced Elizabeth said, and I replied in a nasal tone.

Benjamin hugged her warmly and stroked her back.

Tete smeared seawater on the Vice Commander’s uniform, enjoying himself.

I was relieved that he didn’t seem exhausted even after using so much power.

Seeing Perry begging to be hugged as well made me burst out laughing.

“······This is absurd.”

And so, here we are.

Emperor Frederick spat out the words, and I cowered, shrinking back.

Judging by the atmosphere, she didn’t seem terribly angry, but you never knew.

This could just be the calm before the storm.

I knelt in the tent, as vast as the Imperial Palace, awaiting the adult’s judgment.

On one side, Elizabeth and my friends bit their lips with anxious expressions.

They had all been crying, their eyes red. Except for Sir Johann.

“You’re saying that since you came to the Imperial Palace, you haven’t been Yerseo Fenetian even once. Not even once?”

“Yes······.”

I answered in a barely audible voice.

The troublesome creatures, who freely roamed the tent, tilted their heads, looking at me curiously.

Their eyes seemed to ask why I was crouching like that.

Dduksoomi even hopped around, chirping, ‘Bee-bo!’

I gave them a stern look. Not now, let’s go over there.

“That sounds plausible. There were many aspects that didn’t seem like a prince.”

‘There were quite a few differences from the rumors,’ the Emperor said something scary as if it was nothing.

Benjamin and Elizabeth nodded in agreement.

I twitched my eyebrows, feeling wronged.

I thought I was acting diligently, but was it that obvious?

I may not have grown up being treated like a prince, but I tried······.

“They said he was a playboy from the Divine Kingdom. But he doesn’t seem to know how to bring women or men to his bedchamber.”

“Gasp.”

“They said he was quite the rascal, but he doesn’t drink.”

“Ah.”

“He barely knew how to dance socially, even after learning.”

“Ugh.”

Yerseo, what were you thinking! I squeezed my eyes shut and trembled.

Deceiving the Emperor of the Empire was a capital crime that couldn’t be washed away even with one’s life.

Even if the Crown Prince recognized me as the ‘Marquis Serenite,’ that was just his personal judgment, and ultimately, the final decision rested with his mother.

If she didn’t forgive me, the future developments······.

Frankly, even Writer Retgekong wouldn’t be able to save me.

I tensed up and bit my lip.

“You said you came from another world.”

“······Yes.”

“At least it doesn’t seem to be the Divine Kingdom. If it were, my territory would have been turned upside down by now.”

“······.”

“Also, you didn’t come with hostility. You’re too clumsy for that.”

“I’m sorry.”

After answering, I realized it wasn’t something to be sorry for.

But I was so nervous that it was hard to stop the words from coming out.

‘Awoo.’ Tete whined from the basket placed next to the aide.

The Emperor chuckled, looking at the baby wrapped in soft silk.

I heard that the great nobles who assisted her were bringing all sorts of soft things from the barracks to offer to the Divine Beasts.

“Does it seem like you’re bothering your friend?”

-Awoong

“How extreme.”

She murmured as if sighing. I quietly lowered my head.

The Emperor’s words continued above my head.

“But someone has to do it. Also, someone has to take responsibility for what happened, and someone has to set the future course. That’s all me.”

“······.”

That’s right. I knew how great Frederick Liester was.

I had vaguely guessed it before, but after reading Retgekong, I realized it even more.

She was a born leader and a genius ruler.

Even after sending her beloved husband away first, she never wavered internally or externally, and she was a person who always clearly recognized her priorities.

She had the ability to see through others’ minds and inherited the poker face of the Queen Mother.

That was the case even when the war broke out in the original story.

After the ‘Simon de Sarnez incident,’ which was quite different from what I experienced······.

“I will not ask about your sins.”

“Gasp.”

I was so surprised that I raised my head. A gaze as red as the heart of the desert reached me.

The Emperor tilted her chin and raised the corner of her lips elegantly.

Ah······.

“I am not such a rigid monarch. Don’t I know that you had no choice? Besides, the one whose shell you borrowed was a hostage.”

“Your Majesty.”

“If you don’t adapt, you die. Just two generations ago, the court was such a place. A sentence that was off by a hair and a fleetingly twisted expression could lead to fatal slander. If you were born and entered the palace in my grandfather’s era, your breath would have been cut off long ago.”

“······.”

“I don’t want to ask someone who struggled to live, ‘Why did you do that?’”

She said calmly. ‘You have quite a few achievements.’ A playful tone was mixed in the added sentence.

For some reason, I felt choked up and quickly lowered my gaze.

I knew she was a wonderful adult, but I never dreamed she would be so generous.

The Emperor looked at Tete and continued.

“Besides, you came back like this. They say you fell from a hole in the sky.”

“······Yes.”

“You risked your life again?”

“Not quite my life. I have Dduksoomi, so it’s safe―”

“That means you caused an accident where survival is only guaranteed with the help of a divine object.”

‘Alone.’ She pointed out sharply.

It wasn’t wrong, so I repeatedly clenched and unclenched my fists.

It had been a long time since I was scolded by an adult instead of my brother, so it was awkward and difficult.

“You were reckless.”

“I was wrong.”

“It’s a relief you know that.”

For some reason, I felt a little happy. Is this feeling strange?

“You said you have a family, what is the reason you came all the way here, leaving them behind?”

“······I was sorry and worried. I was sorry for deceiving you all this time, and I was sorry for hurting you by leaving without saying goodbye. I was afraid that if a war broke out and my friends got hurt, I would regret it for the rest of my life.”

“That’s enough.”

The Emperor waved her hand as if she understood. Then, she nodded towards Elizabeth.

The Vice Commander quickly opened the tent entrance, and young nobles rushed in.

Since this wasn’t the Imperial Palace, it seemed knights were assisting her instead of noble-born attendants.

Meanwhile, Benjamin stood me up and straightened my clothes.

The newcomers bowed to the Emperor and then politely bowed to me.

I looked up at the adult, wondering what was going on. Were they going to drag me away and lock me up now?

“Everything you feel is written all over your face, what more is there to ask?”

For some reason, those words sounded very kind.

As she gestured, the knights clanked closer and showed the items they were carrying.

One knight was holding several suits, all of them imperial style and so luxurious that my jaw dropped.

Another knight opened a jewelry box that shone like a spotlight.

It was full of accessories that I wondered where they had found in this time of war.

Another knight held new-looking shoes and boots.

Finally, the one who stepped forward last had a pile of accessories such as handkerchiefs, cravats, hats, and canes.

All of them were top-quality items that would only be brought to the Imperial Palace. What is this?

“Stop wearing the Crown Prince’s ceremonial robes. Tens of thousands will gather on your way back home.”

Was the thing I borrowed a ceremonial robe? No wonder it was heavy and fancy!

I hurriedly took off my summer coat.

Benjamin took the coat and chuckled softly, and Sir Johann curved his eyes.

Everyone knew but remained silent. Why did he bring something like this to the battlefield!

“Liester is at war. Just because you came back alive doesn’t mean the sins of Werner Fenetian, who murdered you, disappear, nor does the wound and humiliation Liester suffered that day heal on their own. If conflicts between countries were as easy as children’s fights, there wouldn’t have been 30 years of severed ties. So, there is no way the war will end like a lie.”

“······Yes. I understand.”

I nodded in response. It was a natural principle.

This conflict had a clear justification, and the Empire had deeply endured it.

Now, they wanted revenge and restoration of honor.

The only way to end the war was through the Divine Kingdom’s quick and complete surrender.

“Return to the Imperial Palace immediately. Stay by Aureli’s side for the time being.”

“Your Majesty, I will help too.”

“Your mere breathing is a help.”

With those words, she rose from her seat.

The knights prepared to escort her and handle her next schedule.

I hurriedly blurted out words in my shirt.

“I also desperately want to see His Highness Aureli. I want to personally let him know that I am safe and that I have grown in the meantime······. I want to share many stories. You don’t know how precious he is to me. But I think there is something only I can do right now. I will not neglect the Crown Prince’s Sacred Stone management, so please, please let me be free. If I only stay in the Imperial Palace―”

“I never said I would confine you.”

The Emperor twisted her lips as if amused. I paused and blinked. Uh······?

“I graduated from the Romero Palace role a long time ago.”

The middle-aged woman shrugged nonchalantly.

The hand that took Durandal [a legendary sword] from the sword belt was very slow.

Suddenly, I remembered the moment when she was drinking wine and giving me leeway.

The night I disguised myself as Francois and infiltrated the banquet hall to save Sir Johann and Herrit.

I had to come up with an answer before the Emperor emptied her glass.

She was always an adult who took the initiative but yielded appropriately.

“······.”

It was the same now. Until Durandal took its place on her waist― Ah!

“Your Majesty, I will take charge of the propaganda.”

A light bulb flashed in my head!

“Propaganda?”

“Yes. You said it a little while ago. That tens of thousands will gather on my way back home. I will use that. Isn’t Lady Sarah Belliar currently using [the printing press] as a war newsletter?”

Surely that would be the case. It was the same in [my previous world].

“······Continue.”

That’s right! I took a step towards her and squeezed out my opinions diligently.

“If necessary, I will do an interview myself. If you are reluctant to do an interview, I can also contribute. With Benjamin’s help, a wonderful manuscript will come out. Juliette has quite a bit of cash, so we can print as many copies as we want. If my story spreads widely, it will ignite fundraising for the nobles. Even the nobles who are being uncooperative, scratching at Your Majesty’s insides, won’t be able to ignore it if their territories are buzzing.”

“······You seem to have become more familiar with the Empire’s affairs.”

The Emperor raised one eyebrow. I smiled brightly and continued.

“If we can print a large number of thin propaganda materials and spread them in the Divine Kingdom, it would be even better because the public opinion of the enemy country will be shaken. I learned it in Honing Village. Very few Divine Kingdom lords are respected by their territory residents.”

“You’re going to lead the public opinion war?”

Her eyes narrowed. I knew that meant ‘interest.’

“I can’t do it alone, but I have my teacher and my friends. Sir Johann?”

“Yes, Marquis?”

The Holy Knight, who had been quiet all along, responded gently. I winked at him without hesitation.

“If we have just one blast of that person’s Sacred Mark, all the pieces of paper will fly all the way to the Divine Kingdom’s inland.”

“Are you daring to boast in front of the Imperial Family?”

The Emperor shook her head and scoffed. But she certainly didn’t seem to be opposing it.

Elizabeth quickly stepped up to support me.

“Your Majesty, you will remember the salon that recently opened in the Imperial Capital. The space of Grand Duke Blancquer, where commoners and nobles come and go without distinction.”

I opened my eyes wide and turned to look at her. Gray eyes met mine with overwhelming light.

“You’ve become more cunning, Elizabeth.”

“I am deeply grateful. If we go through that place, the rumors will spread faster than any portal mail. Local merchants and doctors, actors and farmers······. It is a place where children with disabilities and elderly noblewomen stay together. It is an opportunity to test the Grand Duke’s power.”

Elizabeth concluded happily.

I tried hard to calm the emotions that welled up inside me at the thought of Eva.

I was proud and respectful of that child, and the corners of my mouth kept rising.

On the one hand, I felt reassured and very pleased to have friends who shared my intentions.

The Emperor quietly looked at me and Elizabeth, scanned the three people who were clinging to our sides······.

“Do it while watching the situation. Get Aureli’s permission.”

She threw those words casually and left the aide with Durandal.

We instantly bloomed with smiles and looked at each other.

Dduksoomi flew up to take care of Tete.

Demi, excited, started jumping up and down in place.

-Kkia! Kkiheung! Kkihu!

“I almost forgot.”

The Emperor, who was leaving the tent, stopped and turned to look at us.

We hurriedly bowed to her politely.

Forgetting to greet the highest person in the Empire, what kind of rudeness is this!

“The prince’s body is in Juliette’s bedroom.”

“Yes?”

Clang. I doubted my ears.

Until now, no one had told me about his post-mortem disposal.

So, this was such unfamiliar news.

The sound of Benjamin’s groan faded into the distance.

“It hasn’t decayed, and warmth remains, so I didn’t cremate it.”

······What?

“I won’t tell you to go and meet him. Just be aware.”

Cherry-colored eyes shone darkly and firmly.

Flutter. The Emperor quickly moved away outside the tent.

For a moment, I struggled to fill my dazed mind with something else.

“Good heavens······.”

But nothing came to mind.

Except for the sad face of the man I met in the white space.