What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 4

If he hadn’t started using the training grounds every afternoon during my walk, I would have been able to enjoy the fresh air at that time.

“It’s almost tulip season, so the imperial gardeners are very busy. Since you’re from the Theocracy, I’d like to show you the purple tulips if possible…”

A gardener looked genuinely regretful. Do tulips not bloom in this garden?

“It’s alright, maybe next time.”

I wasn’t particularly knowledgeable about flowers, and it wasn’t a big deal if I didn’t see tulips, so I just laughed it off.

Soon, the gardeners bowed to me and went back to their pruning shears.

Benjamin had clearly said that the Crown Prince used the training grounds ‘occasionally,’ but ever since I spotted him from the window, he had been swinging his sword at the training grounds behind the Juliette Palace every single day.

It wasn’t like there was a war going on, and according to Benjamin, the Crown Prince’s martial prowess was already the best in the empire, but the guy seemed too diligent.

Was he stressed?

Anyway, I started avoiding that time for my walk.

I didn’t even want to accidentally run into the Crown Prince because our paths overlapped.

But a few days ago, he started showing up at the training grounds during my usual walk time.

I don’t know why his schedule changed like that, but a tenant has to adjust to the landlord’s schedule. What can you do?

The landlord is always the boss, even in romance fantasy novels.

I decided to become someone who enjoys morning walks from today.

“Prince, shall I prepare a tea table?”

“Ah, thank you. Benjamin and everyone else, please have a cup too.”

At my words, Benjamin nodded, looking somewhat troubled.

Ganael and the children grinned and went to get the table and snacks.

When I first suggested having tea time together, Benjamin opposed, saying that the imperial family’s rules were strict and that it was absurd for servants and royalty to sit at the same table.

I retorted, ‘Benjamin and the children are also from noble families, can’t they even have a cup of tea together?’ and complained, ‘It’s awkward to drink alone when everyone is watching.’

It didn’t work.

In the end, the Juliette Palace’s group tea time was something I obtained by acting like a jerk, saying, ‘I was like this even in the Theocracy, so transfer if you don’t like it.’

“Prince, today’s snack is madeleine!”

“There are cookies too. They’re freshly baked!”

“Ganael, don’t run. If you run, the twins will run too.”

Ganael and the children returned with a large picnic basket and a folding table.

I smiled and warned the little ones who were fixated on the snacks.

Eunseo was exactly like that when she was young.

The three of us siblings were big eaters, but Eunseo, in particular, went crazy for food from a young age.

A plausible tea table was set in an instant. We gathered around.

“Let’s eat three cookies and two madeleines each.”

“Yes!”

While Benjamin poured peppermint tea with professional skill, I placed snacks on the children’s plates.

I had no choice because they would never touch them unless I gave them first.

“Thank you, Prince.”

“Your grace is boundless.”

“It’s just a snack, what grace.”

The children laughed at my words.

It was both pitiful and cute to see them light up at the sight of the treats, like kids their age should.

I wanted them to feel comfortable around me, at least in front of me, even though they were only teenagers.

Excluding Benjamin, Ganael, who was sixteen years old, was the oldest of my servants. And it was quite uncomfortable to be served by young children.

When I saw sleepiness on the faces of the kids who woke me up in the morning and helped me wash my face, I felt a sense of guilt.

What time do they wake up to prepare and come here?

“These snacks are for the gardeners. Ganael, take them later and share them.”

“You are truly a warm person, Prince.”

No, it’s just that I feel guilty enjoying refreshments while the elderly are doing physical labor right in front of me.

I couldn’t bring myself to say that, so I just smiled vaguely.

The morning group tea time was quite nice.

Benjamin explained what style the Juliette Palace, where I was staying, and the Crown Prince’s Romero Palace in front of it were built in.

I only thought to myself that the Romero Palace was completely infringing on the Juliette Palace’s right to sunlight.

The children who ate the snacks flattered me immensely, saying, ‘I haven’t had nightmares since the Prince came.’

It was peaceful.

The past week had been peaceful, but it would be perfect if we could continue like this in the future.

“Then, I’ll go share the snacks with the gardeners.”

“Okay, good work.”

Ganael, who had emptied the cups and plates, got up from his seat, and the other children followed, saying they would help serve the drinks.

Soon, only Benjamin and I were left at the table. It was quiet and a little awkward.

I picked up my teacup and brought it to my lips. Benjamin was the first to speak.

“How was your morning walk?”

“It’s nice; it wakes me up.”

I felt like if I went inside and read a book right away, the content would sink into my head.

Of course, a morning of lazing around in bed is the best, but going out and breathing in the fresh air wasn’t bad either.

“I heard you read a lot of books. From magazines to history books, to the Holy Scripture and commentaries of the Chief God, you don’t discriminate against genres.”

I was just thinking about books, so I felt a little eerie when the topic of books came up.

But I understood why Benjamin chose that topic.

I was currently like a student living in a super luxurious boarding house called the Imperial Palace.

I drew lines under every book the servants brought, made separate summaries, and even took quizzes by myself to study the major and minor settings of Author TK.

Information that matched what Eunseo told me was important, so I gave it five stars.

Without the ‘author’ or ‘system’ granted genius memory or skills, all I could rely on was my head.

Occasionally, I felt self-loathing and tormented about what I was doing, but I endured it with the thought that I had to survive.

Days of no outings except for an hour-long walk, no intense exercise, and the only people I could talk to were the people who worked here.

“I’m trying to stay quiet, so I don’t have any suitable hobbies.”

“Especially , I heard you even get past issues.”

What, is that wrong?

was a magazine that covered the gossip and news of the empire’s social circles, but it wasn’t some third-rate tabloid.

There were many public contributions and interviews from nobles, so it was a great channel for someone like me to get information.

“While you are so interested in the empire’s social circles, may I ask why you avoid meeting with important people?”

Ah, so that could stimulate such curiosity. I carefully chose my words.

“I’m a bit introverted.”

This was true.

“I like to experience everything only in writing.”

I should have read Author TK once.

“That’s very different from the Prince’s tendencies known in Liester.”

“Rumors are like that. There are exaggerated aspects.”

“That’s right.”

A short answer came back. Benjamin’s wrinkled eyes stared straight at me.

“Prince, my duty is to serve you to the best of my ability. It doesn’t matter to me that you are from another country or that you came as a hostage.”

“Th, that’s right.”

It was the first time he had brought up the word ‘hostage.’

The atmosphere suddenly seemed too serious.

“And the act of ‘serving’ also includes keeping you safe.”

“I see.”

“But if you are hiding something from me, Prince, perfect protection is difficult.”

“Excuse me?”

This means he thinks I’m hiding something from him, right?

Bewilderment spread across my face. But Benjamin just silently looked at me.

Benjamin knew better than anyone else that I had only been going between my room, the dining room, and the garden.

There was no time or space to cause any unspeakable accidents.

“…Benjamin, I’m not hiding anything.”

Actually, there is, but that’s because this is inside a novel and you’re a character, so let’s skip that.

“You know, I’m someone who can’t even get permission to enter the imperial archives. I’ve never been out of your sight. I didn’t have a single letter from the Theocracy, and I didn’t send any either.”

“Yes, I know.”

“Then why are you suddenly saying this?”

“……”

Only then did Benjamin lower his gaze.

His face, glimpsed, looked much older than usual.

“I don’t know if you know, but I am a devout believer in the Chief God.”

He suddenly changed the subject. I groped through the learned content.

The Chief God was the state religion of the Fenetian Theocracy and the religion believed by 80% of the population of the Liester Empire.

Yeser Fenetian was also a priest of the Chief God.

“I didn’t know; I thought only Ganael was.”

“The Juliette Palace is openly called the ‘Cold Palace.’ The servants here are mostly those who have been demoted. But this time was different. Because the news that you were coming spread.”

I couldn’t keep up with the flow of the conversation.

Benjamin, who had always been calm and taciturn, was pouring out sentences like a burst dam.

“The children of devout families competed to line up to become servants of the Juliette Palace. The Calamar barony, which produced martyrs, as well as our Girardien barony, wanted a family member to be assigned to you. The other children who follow you have all been selected through a rigorous screening process.”

I didn’t know why he was telling me this story, but through his words, I came to understand the unconditional favor the children had shown me.

To the little ones, I was a mysterious foreigner, a celebrity whose name appeared in magazines, and a representative of faith.

“I am prepared to be martyred.”

“No, why are you saying that?”

I was so surprised that I waved my hands. Martyrdom.

It was too heavy and shocking a topic for a company employee who lived in 21st century Korea.

Benjamin looked at me and continued.

“But what would those children know? They will be endlessly weak in the face of death. They will not be able to endure even with the power given by the Chief God.”

“Benjamin, calm down. Nothing will happen that will put the kids in danger.”

I glanced at the teacup Benjamin had drunk from.

He didn’t drink alcohol alone, so why is he saying such extreme things? Did something happen?

“I dare to ask you. Please promise to be a responsible priest to the believers.”

“Yes, I promise.”

“Swear to the Chief God.”

[I swear to the Chief God.]

At that moment, I was startled and trembled. My voice echoed as if a microphone had been turned on.

Following that, the table began to shine brightly with gold.

“Oh my…”

Benjamin looked down at the floor and exclaimed. I hurriedly followed his gaze.

The light source was not the table.

A round, golden circle was spreading widely, centered around me.