What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 346

#346

Glistening Return, A Breath (8)

It was September when I first came here, and a year had turned, bringing September again.

-Flap, flap!

The forest is where the seasons arrive a step earlier.

The wind was quite cool, and a goshawk was tearing at a plump pheasant atop a tall tree.

The eastern part of the Empire was a region that retained a splendid wildness.

I carefully escorted Berenice out of the carriage.

The young lady had been flushed the whole time, which worried me, but thankfully, she said she didn’t have motion sickness or any signs of a fever.

Eva was escorted by Sir Johann. There were a total of nine of us and one bird.

“Welcome, Prince Ye-seo. And welcome to your party as well.”

“Father.”

“Young Duke.”

Duke Paul Blancquer, who had been waiting, greeted us upon our arrival at the Blancquer estate.

He hadn’t expressed any major opposition to our plans or the use of the sacred object so far.

I didn’t know if he readily permitted it because it was for the sake of the Empire, or if he wasn’t too worried because the chances of success were so low.

The man had a stiff expression as always, but he was polite and courteous.

Duke Cecil Blancquer had gone to the front lines and had been away from home for a long time, and the Duchess Consort was said to be traveling back and forth to the capital, taking care of the family and the territory.

It had been a very long time since I last saw him at the Duke Simon de Sarnese trial.

Although their affection wasn’t deep, he had lost a child and recently sent his spouse to the battlefield.

Despite the harsh circumstances, the man was holding on firmly.

Enough not to bat an eye even when seeing me, whose appearance had changed overnight.

“It’s been a while. Thank you for welcoming me like this, Duke Consort.”

“I am simply showing respect to a precious guest. I will escort you to the main castle.”

After several rounds of eye contact and nods, we were led into the castle.

It was a little quieter this time since we didn’t bring the troublemakers.

It wasn’t for any other reason, but because I didn’t want to leave my teacher alone in the Imperial Palace.

Sir Erbe was reliable, so the guard would be airtight, but loneliness or emptiness was another matter.

Tithee was docile, nestled in his arms, beaming.

The lesser pandas seemed to understand my request perfectly, sticking close to the Cardinal’s feet until the very end.

I was really grateful that they understood my unspoken feelings.

Thanks to them, I was able to see my teacher’s smiling face even when leaving the Imperial Palace.

-Chirp chirp

“Jeong Dduk-sim, stop bothering Sir Johann and come here.”

However, Dduk-sim was an exception. This little guy had been biting and clinging to my sleeve for days.

-Chirp chirp chirp

‘······What’s wrong? Do you want to come with me?’

The wren was busily flitting about the pillowcase, the table, and the shelves.

It kept calling me and flapping its wings as if asking me to look at it.

It seemed like it wanted to come along, so I packed Dduk-sim’s personal bed (the luxurious box that the Crown Prince had used to hold crystal bells).

Still not satisfied, the little one kept hopping around me when I was writing letters or looking at my phone.

From yesterday, it finally bought everyone’s concern.

-Chirp chirp chirp!

‘Are you sick somewhere?’

‘Well, it looks like you have urgent business.’

It kept crying like that three times,

-Tap! Tap! Tap!

‘Marquis, could it be that Dduk-sim is trying to lay eggs?’

‘Ganael.’

It jumped up three times,

-Flap! Flap, flap!

‘Doesn’t it have fleas on its body? Should I apply mercury with a brush?’

‘Wait a minute, Joan!’

It sat down and repeated flapping its wings three times.

It seemed to be really hung up on the number 3, but I couldn’t figure out what it meant.

If I had sat down and talked to it seriously, something might have come out.

But I was really busy in the meantime.

My teacher wanted me to get some rest, but it was hard to do so because of the times.

I spent day and night correcting and refining propaganda materials together, and after the printing began in earnest, I was busy helping François.

The Claire & Adrien printing house, run by the Beliard family, was in a very excited atmosphere, welcoming a famous magician.

‘Amazing. So, the magic stone causes a mana reaction to your power, spraying ink?’

‘That’s right, Marquis D’Hiem! But it’s not something anyone can do. If I can’t control my energy, the ink will spray out on its own. I have to maintain my composure at all times to get consistent results.’

‘Indeed! A commendable craftsman’s attitude. Where is the operating magic formula?’

‘Hehehe. You’ll be surprised when you see it. It’s huge on the floor there······.’

The Marquis’s smile completely disappeared when he was focused on something, and his comprehension and action skills were at a genius level.

It wasn’t easy to calm down a handsome man who was so excited about the printing magic tool.

Oh, and the other day, I attended a tea party at the Andre Viscount’s house in the capital.

Joan was my partner that day―

‘Ack!’

‘Joan, are you not feeling well?’

‘Ah! No, ugh! I’ve been sitting in one position for too long, and I have a cramp in my leg! Why is everyone just eating and drinking? Is this a pig meeting?’

‘Shall, shall we have you lie down for a moment? I’m good at catching cramps.’

‘Marquis. I’m not from a noble family, but I think I know what the reaction will be if you lay an unmarried woman on the lawn here.’

······I’ll skip the details.

You can roughly guess why Berenice, who has a good reputation in society, came to help us.

If Sir Johann hadn’t entered with us that day, we would have been in big trouble.

“News has arrived from Sir Christel Rambouillet in the desert. Have you heard?”

I snapped out of my thoughts and looked at the Duke Consort.

The man’s gaze was gently lowered.

“Ah, yes. I heard that Sir Christel has acquired another water-attribute sacred object. I’m proud of him.”

“He has also gone to the front lines.”

“······Yes?”

I stared at him with wide eyes.

The friends who were following immediately began to murmur. The Duke Consort gracefully moved his eyebrows.

“This is the east, so news travels faster than in the capital. According to our informants, Sir Rambouillet disobeyed the Imperial order and left for the front lines with the sacred object. His Majesty wanted him to return to the capital to see the Prince and rest. So, this is a kind of······.”

“Desertion?”

The feeling of my cheeks turning pale was vivid.

Why would you do that, Gain-ssi! That’s not okay!

“Strictly speaking, it should be considered unauthorized departure.”

“Did I hear wrong?”

Perhaps because I was in a hurry, my pace seemed to quicken. The Duke Consort continued speaking with a calm face.

“He didn’t run away because he didn’t want to fight, but rather refused his vacation and went back to the battlefield. I heard that His Majesty didn’t escalate the matter.”

“Why? Why did he do that? He clearly promised me that he would return safely!”

Eva, who was walking close to me, raised her voice.

I wrapped my arm around the surprised child’s shoulders and looked at my friends.

Herit was also frightened and clung to his father’s waist.

Berenice and Benjamin exchanged uneasy glances.

The Duke Consort, who had been quietly watching his daughter, explained.

“······He went to help Crown Prince Cedrick.”

“The Crown Prince?”

“News has arrived that three Cardinal-level paladins have gathered in the inland plains. The word will spread throughout the country in two days.”

“Oh my.”

A chill ran down my spine, and all sorts of imaginations ran wild. I hurriedly met eyes with Sir Johann.

A sharp light like a blade was swirling in his mint-colored irises.

“His Majesty, wouldn’t he have something in mind? He wouldn’t send his only son to his death.”

“Of course, that’s right, Prince. However, Sir Rambouillet’s deviation was unexpected, so I wanted to let you know.”

“······Yes. Thank you.”

I didn’t even know what I was answering.

I recalled the letter in my Gaggabang [a small bag or pouch] and lowered my head.

There hadn’t been a day in the past few days that I hadn’t laughed out loud.

However, one corner of my heart was as dark as if it had been painted with a black crayon.

I was grateful and happy that everyone was by my side, but the absence of the two men was as clear as if I could grasp it.

No matter what anyone said, I wanted to believe that they, as the main characters, would both be safe.

I wanted to believe that they would overcome any situation and drink Cydre [a type of cider or alcoholic beverage].

“Marquis, why did you suddenly become ugly?”

“Ah. I’m sorry, Eva.”

“Babo [Korean word for ‘fool’].”

-Chirp chirp

······But if it were that easy, I wouldn’t have come here.

I gave the young duke and the wren a faint smile.

*

That day, we rested well in the estate, and September 2nd dawned.

Again, four people and a wren simply packed up and set out.

“I’ll be back.”

“I wish you good fortune, Prince. Young Duke, don’t forget your safety and honor.”

“Yes, Father.”

Eva, holding Herit’s hand, answered bravely.

Benjamin and Ganael slipped me one last snack, and Sant and Berenice were already reciting prayers.

Joan and the others decided to stay in the castle.

It was because they had accumulated fatigue, and because the Duke Consort advised that it was not good for too many people to approach the sacred object.

“The Sacred Palace sharply distinguishes between those who serve it and those who do not. Please be careful.”

“I will keep that in mind, Duke Consort.”

I nodded seriously.

Since the masquerade ball last year, a large-scale monster subjugation had taken place in the duchy.

The magic tower’s surveillance system had also become more complex, so the Duke’s knights would be dispatched within 30 minutes to any area where monsters appeared.

Thanks to that, the area near the Sacred Palace had become very safe.

Thus, the two children decided to join us as exercise companions and guides.

Of course, everyone strongly opposed Herit’s accompaniment―

“Heung [a Korean onomatopoeia for a snort or humph].”

The boy shed tears and threw a tantrum, so there was no choice.

He wasn’t usually like that, but he seemed to feel anxious because he had been separated from his father a lot these days.

In the end, they allowed him to accompany them on the condition that he never go outside the holy ground.

Herit had been sulking ever since.

“Well, don’t worry because Sir Johann is here. I’ll listen well and come back!”

I waved my hand brightly. I decided not to be down like last night.

Because then even things that could be solved wouldn’t be solved.

It was ridiculous to act up now when I had been putting on a show because I didn’t want to get involved with the main characters.

Rather, it was right to remember the purpose for which I had returned here and concentrate.

Hadn’t I decided to take care of my friends until the war was over, and to tell Gain-ssi everything and ask for forgiveness when I met him?

In the meantime, it was better to only think positive thoughts and only focus on positive things.

Let’s go.

-······Stumble!

About two hours had passed since then.

“Hoo. Sir Johann, I’ve been thinking.”

I said, climbing onto a rock in my sneakers.

As always, I was carrying the Gaggabang and holding a long staff in my hand.

The road to the sacred object, ‘The Sacred Palace of Trees and Water,’ was long but not difficult.

It wasn’t surprising since Eva, who was only four years old, had reached it without a single scratch.

Behind us, 10,000 leaflets were floating along.

The Cardinal, who was watching the children ahead, quietly turned to me. It was a strange look.

“······I get nervous every time you have a new idea these days, Marquis. I almost dropped the leaflets.”

“Hahaha, you’re good at joking. I’m talking about your two disciples, Sir Johann.”

“Yes.”

“Christel didn’t come to the capital and went to where the Crown Prince is. It seems like there’s potential, right?”

“······.”

He closed his mouth and walked with a mysterious smile. There must be something there!

“Of course, I would have made the same choice, but anyway, they’re a good match. I believe you understand what I mean.”

I whispered, stepping on moss.

If Benjamin had heard, he would have said, ‘Marquis, you shouldn’t act lightly like someone who is obsessed with social gossip,’ or ‘You must prioritize the dignity of the Imperial family.’······.

But now I’ve read Toegye [a prominent Korean Confucian scholar], so I’m saying it with confidence.

The two of them could become a great couple at any time.

There were many twists and turns in the original work before they liked each other.

There were more than a few frustrating things, and it took a long time to realize their feelings.

But they were so pretty to look at and their personalities matched well.

The people involved in the story seemed to be aware of that as well.

So, even now that the world line has diverged, it was worth looking forward to a rosy future.

Optimism is good for your health, they said. Sir Johann gently curved his eyes.

“Well, the two of them have shared an unforgettable experience recently.”

Wow, awesome.

“Such memories create intense emotions.”

I swallowed, nodding my chin diligently.

Couples that are meant to be will be together even if it’s not the original work. Love comes back.

“Most of them make the bonds even stronger.”

The Cardinal continued to speak softly.

Dduk-sim was enjoying the breeze leisurely on my shoulder.

I brushed away the vines with my staff and focused all my attention on him.

“Because they lost a precious partner.”

I felt like I was stabbed with a knife for a moment.

“The last 모습 [Korean word for ‘appearance’ or ‘figure’] of the two of you that I saw was miserable.”

······What did I just say.

Soon, a wave of self-loathing washed over me, turning my heart into a sea of fire.

I groaned, burying my eyes in the cardigan sleeve.

It was like being submerged in water and burning.

I was so pathetic that I couldn’t even open my mouth. Jeong Ye-seo, you idiot.

“I’m sorry······.”

“No, the person who shouldn’t be sorry the most is you, Marquis. I was just telling the facts as they are.”

“I’m still sorry. I didn’t mean to bring up those memories.”

“Were the letters for the two of them?”

The paladin gently changed the subject. I smiled bitterly and moved my feet.

Sir Johann was always much older than me.

“Did you see it?”

“It’s rare for you to put so much effort into sending letters to someone.”

‘And the rest are all nearby.’ He added playfully.

The moment I parted my lips to answer,

“Wow······!”

I heard Herit’s scream-like exclamation. We turned our heads sharply and looked straight ahead.