What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 40

#040 Rumbling, Rumbling, Rumbling (3)

Marquis François D’Huem set a large trunk down beside him and began to speak, holding a piece of cloth in one hand.

As the Marquis’s one-man show began, Tae-ui quietly packed his things.

This is a scene I often see on the subway.

“We’ve attached a very special glue to the back of this cloth. Would you like a hint, since you seem so curious? Think of ‘mana beast’ and ‘deer glue’ together. Heh heh heh. Just attach this part behind your ear, and the mana in the glue and cloth will combine to create a special reaction. I even participated in the research myself…”

He was really talkative, and as I’d heard, quite the attention seeker.

All his gestures were so big and fast that he would be loud even if he just used his body language.

Cardinal Boutier blatantly ignored the explanation and snatched the Kimi—no, the portal sickness medicine—from the Marquis’s hand.

“Ah! I see you’re interested, Your Highness Aurelio.”

“François, can you please be quiet? The Prince is a patient.”

Her voice was laced with annoyance.

It was amazing to see the Cardinal treat someone like that for the first time.

However, Marquis D’Huem was not intimidated in the slightest.

“Indeed, I have been rude. But he will recover from his symptoms soon, so please do not worry too much. Prince Yeseo, here is more.”

He smiled flamboyantly and began rummaging through another bag.

I thought it was strange for someone of the Marquis’s status to be so frivolous, but I decided to be grateful since he had come after hearing my story.

The fact that he was intelligent and cared about the welfare of his people meant that he was a fairly decent ruler.

His words and actions were endlessly light, but he had the face and wealth to match, so it seemed like a worthwhile trade-off.

“Here, take this.”

The Marquis limped over and handed me the motion sickness medicine.

Only then did I realize that I had been so focused on Tae-ui’s words that I hadn’t checked on his condition.

“What happened to your leg?”

I asked.

At that, the Marquis struck a very dramatic pose, as if he had been waiting for it, and stroked his left leg, which was in a splint.

His light pink eyes trembled slightly. It really felt like watching a play…

“His Imperial Majesty, the beloved Emperor, has bestowed upon me the burning pain of the earth in place of the divine.”

He got his joints kicked.

“I heard that you are offering the sacred artifact ‘Comet Sword of Mars’ in your territory as the prize for the ‘Mana Beast Extermination,'”

I said. The only reason the Emperor would call him in and personally kick him was because of the Comet Sword.

The Cardinal took me out of class to clean up the Marquis’s mess, and the Emperor traded an interview with Sara Bellial and me.

It was a bit surprising that the Emperor had used violence against the Marquis, but considering what I had heard about Emperor Frederick’s personality, it wasn’t that surprising.

“That is correct. Although it was a decision made out of my and my family’s loyalty, the Emperor’s face was filled with a northern wind…”

“You should be grateful that your legs are still attached.”

The Cardinal cut him off sharply. The Marquis made a sound like ‘sob sob’.

It was like watching a skit, and I burst out laughing.

I heard that the D’Huem Marquis family was the Emperor’s closest aide, and in some ways, they really did seem like family.

“First of all, thank you for the motion sickness medicine.”

I gathered my laughter and accepted the medicine the Marquis handed me.

He bowed gracefully with an incredibly dramatic movement.

I wondered if he was so slender because he exercised so much.

“Then you must have been using the carriage all the way from the Theocracy [a government ruled by religious leaders]. You must have suffered a lot.”

The Cardinal said with a regretful voice, looking at me.

I froze a little at the unexpected words. Come to think of it, that was true.

I heard that portals were widely used in the Theocracy of Fenetian, but with this body, Prince Yeseo would not have been able to ride the portal.

Even if he had, he would have crossed the border half-fainted.

“Well, that’s all in the past.”

I mumbled vaguely. Compassion was reflected in the beige eyes looking at me.

I didn’t aim for it, but it seemed like I had gained sympathy.

“If the medicine is effective, we can try the portal again.”

She said quietly. I nodded awkwardly.

I couldn’t yell that I didn’t like it when there was medicine available.

No matter how I left, it was natural to suffer when I left home.

This outing would be the first and last, so I decided to think positively.

-Squeak

Demi, who had woken up at some point, cried softly on my solar plexus.

I stroked the warm head of the creature and counted the days.

The Mana Beast Extermination is on May 8th, and today is April 27th.

It was said that it would take about four days to ride a horse from the Imperial Palace to the Marquis D’Huem’s territory if we took it slow.

If the medicine didn’t work and we had to take a carriage, it would obviously take longer than four days.

Hmm, I don’t have much time, do I?

“Whenever you come, our D’Huem Marquis family will serve Prince Yeseo with all our heart.”

The Marquis straightened his body like a peacock and said. I gave him an ambiguous smile.

*

After that, three very peaceful days passed.

That meant I didn’t meet Cristel or Prince Cedrick for three days. Confinement is so good.

“Where should I put the clothes you will wear to the party?”

“Put them in the bag in the corner. The new shoes are scheduled to arrive in the afternoon, so organize them later.”

“Yes, Benjamin!”

“Benjamin, there are three bishop’s mitres…”

“Ganael, I have to prepare the Prince’s snacks separately in the morning, so…”

From morning on, countless people went in and out of my room, the hallway, indoors and outdoors.

It wasn’t just Benjamin and Ganael.

All the servants and maids of the Juliette Palace were mobilized, and I was completely out of my mind.

It was because I was leaving for the Marquis D’Huem’s territory tomorrow.

I was sitting in a comfortable armchair, trying to be invisible, following Benjamin’s advice that ‘staying still is helping’.

A little while ago, I tried to fold and put away my pajamas, but I received a fierce glare from some of the servants.

I don’t know who’s in charge…

“Demy, come here.”

-Grrr

I called the lesser panda, who was rolling leisurely on the carpet, and put it on my lap. I scribbled on the high-quality paper I got from the servant with a quill pen.

-Squeak!

“Shh, everyone is working, so you have to be quiet.”

The pen, which oozed ink every time it moved, was so fascinating that Demi eagerly waved its black paws along my hand.

I couldn’t draw a circle because I couldn’t see the paper.

I was trying to study during the break, but my companion spirit was not cooperating.

-Knock knock knock

“Greetings, Prince Yeseo.”

At that time, someone knocked on the open door. It was a familiar voice.

I raised my head and greeted her.

“Hello, Sir Elizabeth.”

Sir Elizabeth, with her refreshing face, entered my room with Ganael’s arm.

Ganael was blushing slightly and bringing out snacks.

I’ve been thinking about it since before, but the two of them seemed really close.

“Ganael, take a break too.”

“But…”

The boy’s face darkened at my words. He seemed sorry to play alone when everyone was busy.

“You brought two glasses of juice to drink with me.”

Sir Elizabeth said playfully, and Ganael’s face turned bright red.

“Th, that’s!”

“Ganael, you look like a tomato.”

“The juice is tomato juice too.”

The Vice Captain of the Imperial Guard and I added a word each. The boy almost burst into tears.

I thought he would sulk if I teased him too much, so I laughed along with them, sat Ganael down, and changed the subject.

“You must be busy because we’re leaving tomorrow.”

“I’m happy to be going on a trip. Working outside is the best.”

Sir Elizabeth smiled and raised her glass of tomato juice as if to toast.

I knew she wanted to participate in this year’s Mana Beast Extermination.

While Ganael poured hot elderberry tea into my glass, the Vice Captain of the Imperial Guard quenched her thirst and brought up the main point.

“Then, I will brief you on the schedule. Tomorrow at 11 a.m., you will move to the southern part of the Imperial Capital through the portal closest to the Imperial Palace. The portal is located in Lugo District, the center of the Imperial Capital.”

I nodded and put a banana in Demi’s mouth.

I peeled the skin and held it, and Demi grabbed my wrist and ate it one bite at a time.

“Since you have decided to use the portal only once, that will be the first and last time on the way.”

“I understand.”

Over the past three days, I had undergone several motion sickness medicine tests with Tae-ui, the Cardinal, and Marquis D’Huem.

I became a clinical trial subject for a medicine that hasn’t even been released yet.

At this point, it seemed like I was being used quite efficiently as a hostage.

As a result of putting the medicine behind my ear and going directly to the underground portal of the Imperial Palace, it was concluded that there was no problem with using the portal about once a day.

From the second time on, it was quite difficult even with the medicine.

‘Then you’ll be here in three days. Put one on in the morning, take the portal, and rest. Put another one on the next day, take the portal, and rest. Repeat!’

Marquis D’Huem liked it like a crazy scientist, and

‘There may be side effects, so I do not recommend using it throughout the journey.’

Tae-ui put on the brakes with very rational words.

‘François, there’s no fun in hitting your back, so do it moderately. It would be better to use the medicine only on the first day and take the carriage from the second day.’

It was Cardinal Boutier who sorted out the situation.

The portal was not a place where you could move directly from one place to another, but a concept like a subway station.

It would be great if you could move directly from the Lugo portal in the Imperial Capital to the Marquis’s territory, but you had to move from Lugo to a portal in another neighborhood and then move to the next portal from there.

Even then, the fare was so expensive that commoners and poor nobles could not even think of using it.

“It is expected to take at least four days from the southern part of the Imperial Capital to the Marquis D’Huem’s territory. It may change depending on the weather and road conditions.”

“Yes.”

Even though they said I had to drive for four days, I was somehow excited like the day before a school trip.

Until yesterday, I honestly didn’t have any thoughts.

But when I saw the people of Juliette Palace running around busily from early in the morning packing their luggage, I felt strangely restless and curious about the outside world.

I went down to the basement of the Imperial Palace and climbed the back mountain.

I went in and out of several buildings, and I even repaired the temple a little as I pleased.

However, until now, my movements had always stayed within the Imperial Palace.

I wasn’t particularly dissatisfied with that, but it was definitely a positive thing that I was able to experience a larger world.

“You look happy.”

“You must be happy about your first outing.”

Sir Elizabeth and Ganael smiled contentedly.

I was embarrassed and rubbed Demi’s black belly. Was it that obvious?

“A total of 10 carriages will move. Eight of them will carry servants, guards, and luggage…”

“10 cars?”

I was dumbfounded. I thought it would be at most three or four cars, but it seemed like too many.

Aren’t you spending too much money on a hostage? No, are you paying more attention because I’m a hostage?

“I’m not running away.”

“Hahahaha.”

Sir Elizabeth laughed loudly at my flustered words. But I was serious.

I had nowhere to go anyway, and it would only be dangerous to be alone, so why would I run away from a place that was as good as a 5-star hotel?

My top priority was survival.

“Please tell that to ‘Little One’ later.”

“Little One means…”

I trailed off. Sir Elizabeth smiled, narrowing her gray eyes like a cat.

So, she was talking about Sadie. I glanced at Ganael.

The boy seemed to be distracted by Demi and didn’t hear our conversation.

“Please continue briefing me on the schedule.”

I changed the subject.

I was reluctant to talk about Sadie in places where there were many people coming and going.

Sir Elizabeth smiled at me, then took out an imperial map from her arms and spread it out.

*

The beginning of May.

A long line of carriages stretched between Juliette Palace and Romero Palace.

Large and beautiful horses were waiting quietly for departure.

The huge imperial crest embedded in the side of the black carriage gleamed as if it could be seen from 500m away.

Benjamin and Ganael got into the sixth carriage assigned to me first.

I was waiting for Demi, who had not yet returned from the garden.

With the intention of grabbing him as soon as he came out of the bushes, I stood still, opened the circle [likely a magical ability], and released the ether [likely a magical energy].

“Demi, come out now. You have to go see your friends.”

When I thought of the lesser pandas who would be in the Marquis’s territory first, the corners of my mouth went up involuntarily. It was then.

-Click

The door of the fifth carriage, which was standing in front of my carriage, opened.

I reflexively turned to the sound.

“…You’re late.”

Following a low, sonorous voice like a voice actor reciting poetry, a man with a very familiar face appeared.

My strength drained away and my sanctuary stretched out. I didn’t even have a portal, but my stomach was already churning.