What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 41

#041 Escaping the Imperial Palace Number One (1)

The carriage moved forward with a gentle sway, and Ganael’s voice wobbled along with it.

“I have committed a crime worthy of death, Your Highness. Please forgive me.”

“It’s okay, Ganael. You can forget things when you’re busy.”

“Still…”

“Really. I’m not bothered at all.”

I smiled to reassure Ganael.

The gold eyes of the boy, who had been quite intimidated, finally brightened a little.

Fearing he would apologize further, I quickly handed him three macarons.

Benjamin, who had been watching the whole situation, sighed softly.

A little while ago, while waiting for Demi in the garden, I ran into Prince Cedrick, who was getting out of the carriage next to us.

He spoke as if my presence was delaying his departure, and that’s when I first learned that the Prince and I would be leaving together.

No wonder there were ten carriages departing. No wonder the Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guard was following.

Many pieces were finally falling into place. Damn it…

I was surprised to see an unexpected face, but honestly, I wasn’t that shocked anymore.

The Prince said he would use a carriage to save costs and empathize with the lives of the people, but what power does a hostage have to resist?

“I was definitely going to tell you that His Highness the Prince would be accompanying you, but I was distracted yesterday…”

Ganael’s voice trailed off.

I remembered the boy coming to see me yesterday with Elizabeth.

Ganael definitely…

“Right, you even left your juice because you were watching Demi.”

I said casually.

Ganael looked a little dazed, then nodded his head vigorously a beat later.

Demi was seriously cute.

I wouldn’t be surprised if Elizabeth had deliberately left out the story about the Prince to surprise me.

“It doesn’t matter since we’re riding in different carriages anyway, and my schedule isn’t changing because of the Prince.”

I smiled, stating the facts.

Ganael, looking much better, handed me the brand-new, latest issue of [a fictional magazine title].

The cover had the phrase ‘Beliar Asks, Venetian Answers’ emblazoned on it.

It seemed that an article featuring an interview with me by Sarah Beliar was the main story.

I had heard about it in advance, but seeing it like this made me feel incredibly embarrassed.

“The ‘Monster Great Subjugation’ prize is mentioned too.”

I made an effort to ignore the title and mentioned the small print at the bottom of the cover.

‘The Great Monster Subjugation and the Hyegeom of Hwaseong [a fictional artifact] – Divine Artifacts Desire Their Owners.’ It was a dramatic phrase.

The article, which couldn’t be published on the 15th of last month, had finally been released with the Emperor’s approval.

I thought of the Prince, who would be riding in the carriage ahead.

He was said to boast the best martial prowess in the Empire, so winning might be easy for him, but I was puzzled about how he intended to choose the Hyegeom.

Was he going to dig up the entire land?

“Your Highness, this will probably be your first time here.”

Benjamin spoke to me gently.

I followed his gesture and turned my head to look out the window. The carriage was passing the next building in the Imperial Palace. My mouth fell open involuntarily.

“Wow, everything here is really big.”

The two attendants chuckled softly at my exclamation.

I hadn’t even left the Imperial Palace yet, and there were so many things I was seeing for the first time.

Most of the palaces I frequented were located in the rear of the Imperial Palace, so I had never come this far forward.

There was a fountain as large as the Juliette Palace, and a garden that seemed to be three times the size of the Imperial Palace.

There were also several palaces that were extravagantly decorated, though I didn’t know their purpose.

There was also a statue of Celine, the late Empress and mother of Frederick, which was at least 16 feet tall.

“We are now passing through the main gate.”

Benjamin continued to explain. I was so engrossed in watching that we had already arrived at the gate.

I felt unnecessarily nervous about something like this.

The carriage seemed to slow down slowly, then began to move forward again with a faint sound of hooves.

I pressed my forehead against the window and carefully looked outside.

The huge, jet-black main gate was wide open.

Knights armed with silver armor were kneeling on one knee, seeing off the procession.

To be precise, they were sending off the Prince.

“That’s kind of cool. Demi, look over there.”

I called out to the lesser panda, who was sprawled out like cheese on my lap.

The little guy, who had been playing to his heart’s content in the garden, didn’t react much, probably because he was sleepy.

I gently stroked Demi’s back and watched the world outside the Imperial Palace slowly unfold before my eyes.

*

“No, but there are really a lot of people.”

“Your Highness, you’ve said that four times already.”

Ganael laughed as he replied.

I had been spouting sentences that started with ‘No,’ ‘But,’ and ‘Really’ since a while ago.

I was already amazed by seeing new corners of the Imperial Palace, but the city outside the Imperial Palace, the Imperial Capital, was truly a new world.

Nobles in glamorous attire and commoners in simple clothes walked together.

Street vendors selling street food and flowers were visible throughout the neatly landscaped streets.

The houses, which looked like they came straight out of a fairy tale, also boasted a variety of colors and shapes.

The expressions on people’s faces were generally bright and busy.

It was indeed worthy of the Imperial Capital, where 10% of the Empire’s population was concentrated.

“Your Highness, please be careful with your expression, as you may be seen from the outside.”

At Benjamin’s advice, I quickly stepped away from the window.

All those people were bowing to our carriage procession.

One of them could have looked up, but no one moved.

Those who were looking out of the building windows all took off their hats or bowed their heads in respect.

It was a little creepy.

“The Empire’s people have great respect for the Imperial Family.”

“It’s too early to be surprised by this much.”

Benjamin said kindly, raising the corners of his lips.

He seemed to be quite amused by my continued amazement.

“You will soon arrive at the Legho Portal, Your Highness.”

Ganael took out a portal sickness medicine from his handbag and handed it to me.

I applied the Marquis Diume’s motion sickness patch behind my ear and waited for the carriage to slow down.

The Legho District, the center of the Imperial Capital and its largest commercial district, had a large floating population, so it was one of the first places in the Empire where portals were established.

I was planning to take the Legho Portal to the southern part of the Imperial Capital and then move by carriage from there.

“It seems we’re here.”

“Already?”

“It’s the result of controlling the roads for His Highness the Prince.”

Is that so?

Is it like how the president always gets green lights when he drives somewhere, and the area in front of Gwanghwamun [a major avenue in Seoul] is wide open?

“Your Highness, there may be people who talk to you when you get out of the carriage. You don’t have to acknowledge them all.”

“His Highness the Prince doesn’t say a word in reality.”

That guy is always like that anyway.

I swallowed the words that came up to the tip of my tongue and nodded with a smile.

People bowed in the most respectful manner possible along every road the procession passed.

Soon, the Imperial carriages lined up in front of a gleaming building.

It wasn’t as luxurious as the Imperial Palace, but it was clearly an atmosphere that made it difficult for just anyone to enter.

-Knock knock

The coachman knocked on the carriage door, and after a moment, the door opened.

I checked my attire one last time.

I didn’t forget to ask Ganael and Benjamin if there were any marks on my forehead.

I don’t like crowded places or being the center of attention, but it was really time to get off now.

*

Let me get straight to the point.

The ‘Legho General Trading Post’ was like COEX [a large convention and exhibition center in Seoul] in Korea.

I tried hard not to make a disgusted face.

Demi, who was in my arms, was sleeping soundly. I was envious.

“Your Highness, please look straight ahead.”

“Yes, Benjamin.”
The entire building was packed with all kinds of stores, the paths were as complex as a maze, the lobby led to the portal entrance, and when celebrities came, the interior was packed with onlookers.

It was exactly like COEX. For example, like now.

“Long live His Highness the Prince!”

“We see His Highness Cedrick, who shines like the sun.”

“Long live His Highness the Prince!”

“Please win without fail!”

For the first time since being possessed, I thought it was fortunate that Prince Cedrick was here.

“He’s incredibly popular.”

Ganael whispered, as if he had caught my muttering like a ghost.

I nodded without making it obvious and glanced at the Prince walking ahead.

Elizabeth was clearing the way beside him with a face that was uncharacteristically devoid of smiles.

The Imperial Guards formed a human barrier between us and the crowd.

The people, parted like the Red Sea, filled the trading post lobby without a gap, creating a commotion.

Thanks to the overwhelming attention the Prince was receiving, I was able to move away from the spotlight a little.

“Your Highness the Prince!”

“I have no regrets even if I die…”

I also saw women wiping away tears as they looked at him.

I wondered what was so touching, but considering the Prince’s face, it wasn’t an incomprehensible emotion.

I also saw people laying flowers at his feet.

The merchants who sold flowers on the street were aiming for this.

“Every year, an advertisement celebrating His Highness’s birthday is placed in this waiting room.”

“Huh?”

I doubted my ears as I walked around, looking around.

“He doesn’t have many external activities, but he receives so much love.”

Ganael explained excitedly. I was so flustered that I couldn’t stop asking questions.

Is this genre modern fantasy?

“What. Do they put up something like, ‘You are my star’?”

“Your Highness, please. How dare they use such a phrase? They put up, ‘The miracle of August 13th, Your Highness is our star.'”

My facial muscles wouldn’t listen to me.

I was confused about which I should find more absurd, the flood of TMI [Too Much Information] or the birthday advertisement that appeared in a classic romance fantasy.

This is really just COEX.

“Prince Yeser, thank you for your mercy!”

At that moment, a man’s voice rang in my ears.

I reflexively turned to the source of the sound.

A middle-aged man, who seemed to have chosen the best clothes he could, was sobbing as he looked at me.

It was a sight that was hard to ignore.

“What do you mean by mercy?”

I approached him and asked. Then, the murmuring around me spread like a wave.

I could feel the gazes carefully examining my eyes, and I gave a bitter smile.

Whispers of ‘It’s really purple’ continued.

“I, I heard that you sent a large sum of money to Baron Berang. Thanks to you, many good things have happened in our territory. We have also started the canal construction, and the lord is building a large orphanage. All, all of it is thanks to Your Highness’s virtue.”

The man spat out quickly with a very grateful face.

His voice trembled, making it difficult to understand, but he was talking about the story of me sending money to the parents of the dead twins.

So, he was a resident of the Berang barony.

“No, that is the virtue of the Baron and his wife. I simply contributed to the funeral expenses.”

At my words, the man bowed deeply.

“May, may the eternal blessings of the gods be upon you.”

“Thank you. Then please go down carefully.”

I greeted him and turned back around.

Looking ahead, I saw the Prince, who had already crossed the lobby and arrived at the portal entrance, staring at me.

He had ignored all the people who had been waiting since dawn to say a word to him, so he had no choice but to be fast.

He had that ‘you’re late’ look again.

“I’m going, I’m going.”

I mumbled.

I was trying not to look too rushed while maintaining a proper gait, so it felt like my hands and feet were going out together.

Only then did I notice that a third of the flowers on the floor were purple.

With a doubtful thought, I looked around and saw gazes fixed on me, looking at me intently.

In an instant, the tips of my ears became hot. Wow, it would have been better not to know.

“We will now open the door, Your Highness.”

As I creaked to the portal entrance, a person who appeared to be an employee guided me with a polite attitude.

The Prince nodded his chin once in response.

-Krrrr…

Soon, the huge bronze door slowly opened to both sides.

According to the Imperial order, no one had used the portal all morning.

The empty space resembled the Imperial Palace’s underground portal in many ways.

First, it was circular, and second, there was a splendid magic circle engraved on the floor.

“You’re finally here. I see His Highness the Prince and Prince Yeser.”

And third, Cristel de Sarnes, holding a whip in one hand, was already inside.

…Huh?