What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 413

#413

Finding the Lost Piece (2)

“What did you just say?”

Caroline Mute’s face twisted in displeasure as she turned towards the delegation from the Holy Kingdom.

The Imperial soldiers also stared blankly at Elysee.

It wasn’t that they hadn’t heard her; they were trying to confirm if what she said was ‘genuine.’

Cecile Blancard simply blinked, awaiting a response.

Beneath the table, her fingertips were white with tension, mirroring her son’s clenched fist, which remained closed even in death.

“Your Highness.”

Wilhelmina’s quiet call drew Elysee Fenechian’s attention.

The Crown Princess slowly turned her head.

The old woman’s tone and gaze were as cold and composed as ever.

The Duchess seemed completely unfazed, her face exuding generous understanding and composure.

It took the young woman a few seconds to understand what that meant.

“With all due respect, this is not the royal palace.”

“……”

The Duchess was treating her like a naive child, ignorant of courtly matters.

“While Marchioness Mute is too agitated to engage in rational conversation, that does not mean Your Highness should allow your noble heart to be swayed.”

“……”

“Your Highness is acting as Regent, standing in for His Majesty.”

It was delivered as if it were a thoughtless remark.

She was scolding her as if she were a child who knew nothing of politics or negotiation, making a minor mistake on the diplomatic stage.

Her warm gaze held a faint sneer.

The Crown Princess struggled to keep her jaw from clenching.

Gripping her trembling fists tightly, she barely suppressed the anger and shame boiling up from within.

The arrow of resentment ultimately targeted Elysee’s own heart.

Only a few years ago, she hadn’t even realized that the Duchess was looking at her with such eyes.

And thus, she was left bleeding, holding the shattered pieces of her family in her hands.

Foolish girl.

“……”

She felt pathetic for her foolish and childish self, and her eyes welled up with tears.

Hot air surged up to the back of her throat, rising and falling.

Wilhelmina addressed the Empire delegation with a calm demeanor.

“Please do not take to heart what Her Highness said in a moment of youthful passion.”

“What do you mean…”

“It wasn’t a moment of passion.”

Just as Caroline was about to frown, Elysee snapped sharply.

Once again, the three people’s gazes were fixed on her.

The Crown Princess glanced at the middle-aged individuals sitting across from her, then turned to Wilhelmina with the most steadfast expression she could muster.

A surprisingly firm voice flowed out.

“It is a matter I have decided after careful consideration. Bringing my father here would resolve many things.”

Elysee did not miss the subtle crack that appeared on the Duchess’s face.

At the same time, a profound voice, like that of an ancient tree, echoed in her mind.

‘The key is your father.’

Werner Fenechian was Sneider’s only weakness, as Grand Duchess Judith Kamingha had pointed out.

‘Here, weakness does not mean that the Royal Consort is weak or lacking. Quite the opposite.’

‘……’

‘That man has a strong sense of pride and is stubborn, so he does not listen to the Duchess. I hear that he has firm beliefs of his own and has built up some influence. Of course, you know him better than I do, who left the royal family. For someone like Sneider, who controls everything, there is no greater nuisance.’

According to the old Duchess’s hypothesis, her father was the only person her aunt could not control.

Thinking about it, her words were not wrong.

Considering that her father still had the power of the main family behind him, it was difficult to say that the relationship between the two adults was bad.

But it certainly wasn’t good either.

The siblings never attended any social events together, and they never exchanged even a common toast.

The person her father clung to and pleaded with was always her mother or her.

The Duchess, who used to visit her brother in the inner palace once a quarter, stopped coming altogether after the priest ‘Michael’ died.

It was a long time ago, so she wasn’t sure.

‘The reason the two siblings have been able to walk the same path without major discord is, I suspect, not because of familial affection. Rather, it is because their respective goals have not been detrimental to each other.’

‘……’

‘The Duchess became a royal in-law and gained supreme honor. The wealth of the already affluent family has reportedly surpassed the royal family’s assets at some point.’

‘Also, Father became Mother’s partner.’

Elysee added bluntly. The old Duchess looked at the young woman.

‘How much did the royal marriage mean to the Royal Consort?’

At this, her blue eyes shone brightly. This was something she could answer with certainty.

‘He is a treasure that Father would not trade for anything in the world. I guarantee that he still feels that way at this very moment. He has been yearning for Mother’s attention since the first moment I can remember.’

Then, Judith’s one eye deepened as if measuring a distant place.

What was the old woman, who had opposed Werner’s royal marriage in the past and ultimately failed to get her way, thinking now?

Elysee, having gained a clue from her words, began to speak.

‘The Grand Duchess is right. We must separate the interests of the two.’

‘……’

‘The Duchess will want Father to stay in the royal palace forever, to keep his mouth shut and focus solely on his role as Royal Consort. She is not the kind of person who would welcome an uncontrollable element getting in her way. So, if we bring him to the front lines, the situation will not go as the Duchess intends.’

‘……’

‘It is certain that Father murdered Yeseo. I was at the scene, though I was a step late. Isn’t Riester ultimately after him as well?’

The Grand Duchess stared at Elysee without a word for a moment. There was no gap in the blue gaze that met hers.

‘Using the enemy to strike at the enemy. Quite clever.’

Then, she slightly raised the corner of her lips.

‘You haven’t learned the art of kingship in vain.’

“Your Highness.”

Suddenly, Elysee snapped out of her reverie.

The smell of the burnt plains still seemed to linger at the tip of her nose.

The Duke of Sneider was looking at her with a worried gaze.

“Are you not feeling well?”

“Your concern is excessive.”

At her sharp retort, the old fox groaned as if he were disappointed.

The Crown Princess seemed to know roughly what the Duchess was thinking.

It was a ploy to expose her shortcomings, point them out publicly, and disrupt the flow by feigning illness.

It was an attempt to subtly manipulate her reason and emotions while pretending to be genuinely concerned.

That way, she planned to take control of the negotiations and overturn them.

As if only her words were true.

“The reason for bringing my father to the front lines is…”

She had been taken advantage of without even realizing it when she was ignorant, but there was no reason to be swayed any longer.

Today would not be easy.

Elysee was about to express her opinion firmly when—

‘There is only one thing Your Highness needs to know.’

‘Do not try to defeat the Duchess with words.’

Suddenly, Arno van Loy’s advice flashed through her mind.

Her lips, as neat as a sculpture, parted slightly.

Soon, a storm of realization shook her, urging her to come to her senses.

‘Do not try to create logic…’

If you construct logic, you will only be swept away.

‘The more you struggle, the more strongly the other party will bind Your Highness.’

You cannot win by fighting with words.

Wilhelmina Sneider possessed the tongue of a snake, the cunning of a crow, the feet of a centipede, and the courage of a lion.

She would try to transform any lie into truth and crush Elysee.

In front of such an opponent, revealing her justification was no different from revealing her inner thoughts.

That would not do. She could not start a losing battle.

‘Give up the desire to defeat that person fairly.’

The man’s words echoed in her ears like a prophecy. The Crown Princess bit her lip slightly.

“Because it is the will of the Main God, and soon, the will of His Majesty the King and myself.”

And she immediately changed course.

“Pardon?”

For the first time, there was a hint of bewilderment in the Duchess’s voice.

It was a very small amount, but it was a clear difference to Elysee, who knew her tone well.

She gained confidence. There was no need for plausible logic.

“I also know that my father, the Royal Consort, trespassed without permission into the deepest part of the Temple of the Boundary.”

“Yes. We have been pointing out that fact since the early stages of the murder case and have requested the Royal Consort to be a witness in the trial. Even Duchess Sneider, who loves evidence, will find it difficult to deny the unauthorized entry. The one who healed him after he lost his limbs was none other than Acting High Priest Ronald Lüpert. This is, in effect, the testimony of a third party, the Papal State.”

Duke Blancard spoke as if he had been waiting for the opportunity.

Now, it was impossible to tell who was friend and who was foe.

“Yes. The severe injuries that the Royal Consort sustained that day were evidence of the violence committed by Crown Prince Cedric. The Royal Consort has not received a single word of apology regarding this matter.”

Wilhelmina responded without backing down. Caroline scoffed.

“Ha! Well, our Crown Prince is not one to overlook a murderer before his eyes. Your words are proof of the Royal Consort’s sins.”

“As I said before, being at the scene is not evidence of murder, Marchioness.”

“This will not end like this. Or is it?”

The Crown Princess interrupted the flow with a dignified tone.

Once again, everyone focused all their attention on her.

The soldiers of the Empire and the Holy Kingdom also swallowed hard, waiting for what she would say next.

This was what Elysee had and Wilhelmina lacked.

“I want my father to spend the rest of his life in peace under the blessing of the Main God. It is not desirable for the husband of His Great Majesty and the future father of the King to live in hiding with the stigma of murder. The same goes for the future of the Fenechian royal family and the royal descendants. The very fact that such rumors are circulating is a tragedy that defiles the dignity and honor of the country.”

“……”

At those words, the eyes of the Empire delegation widened.

Elysee realized for the first time that she was so good at lying.

Perhaps she had a natural talent for leadership.

Perhaps the Grand Duchess’s words that she resembled her mother in her childhood were true.

“As Regent of the Holy Land, who protects the faith of the continent, I believe that my father, who is at the center of the controversy, must come to the front lines in person. If he makes a sincere confession before the Main God, he will finally be able to prove his innocence to the entire continent and the system.”

“Your Highness, how…!”

“I wandered the harsh lands for the past two months and heard the voice of God.”

The Crown Princess cut her off with an utterly noble attitude. Wilhelmina’s eyes twitched slightly.

“The Main God does not want any more futile sacrifices. If we reveal my father’s innocence, we will be able to end the war.”

“……”

Divinity.

That was the fundamental deficiency that Wilhelmina currently craved, and it was the sword and spear that Elysee was born with.

No one on the continent would find it strange that she was telling such a story.

Even the soldiers of the enemy country, Riester, felt tempted by the Crown Princess’s words.

For speaking of the will of God and realizing it was like a mission given to the bloodline of the Holy Kingdom of Fenechian.

“I affirm with the authority of the Regent that I will send a messenger to the royal capital immediately to bring my father here.”

At Elysee’s declaration, Wilhelmina finally pursed her lips tightly.

Her face did not reveal any information.

However, the Crown Princess clearly learned from the ensuing silence.

For the first time in her life, she had defeated the Duchess.

“If that is the will of Her Highness the Crown Princess, we will gladly convey the news to His Majesty the Emperor. With the agreement of both countries, appropriate witnesses and a venue will be prepared as soon as possible.”

“So be it.”

Cecile calmly suggested, and the Crown Princess nodded in agreement before rising from her seat.

Caroline, who had already stood up, met her gaze.

Her mischievous eyes were sharply pointed.

“I respect Your Highness’s will, but the Royal Consort’s sins will eventually be revealed.”

“……”

“The rumors that Prince Yeseo has been resurrected are not false. If you have the opportunity, you will witness your younger brother’s miracle.”

‘Then.’ The Marchioness nodded and left the tent first.

Next, Cecile bowed gracefully and disappeared.

Crackle, crackle. There was no hesitation in the footsteps that stepped on the broken glass.

Elysee glanced at the fragments faintly shining on the floor of the tent.

“……”

-Flap!

Then, she turned and headed towards the military camp.

Leaving only the silent Wilhelmina in the tent.

*

Some time later. Night at the Fenechian Royal Palace.

It was the hour when even Werner Fenechian, who enjoyed late banquets, had gone to bed.

Beyond the curtains, the sound of two people’s breathing sparsely colored the darkness.

“……”

“……”

In the Royal Consort’s huge bedroom, there were now two golden beds.

One was a high-end ash tree bed that he had newly brought in, abandoning the one he had been using for about a year.

The other was a cherry tree bed about five steps away, where the man’s most cherished second princess, Cornelise, was sleeping.

Since her father returned with a serious injury, the child had not thought of leaving him.

She was with him throughout his meals and work, as well as his rehabilitation.

Then, a while ago, she started crying and whining, saying, ‘I want to sleep with Father,’ and ‘I’m scared to be alone.’

No matter how much the servants coaxed and persuaded her, she would not listen.

As if her father was the only family she could rely on now.

-Thud!

Werner was quite pleased with this.

So, he made a place in his bedroom as his daughter wished.

It was easier than moving his prosthetic leg.

-Swish…

“Umm.”

In the dim light, the man’s chocolate-colored eyes slowly opened.

It was because he felt a strange sensation.

Something as soft as muslin [a type of cotton fabric] was wrapping around his neck from behind.

A prosthetic hand studded with all sorts of jewels slowly rose to his Adam’s apple.

The thought that it might be her came to mind first, but even in his sleep, he could not shake the feeling that he was being foolish…

Once again, a faint hope raised its head.

“Your Majesty?”

The Royal Consort whispered in a sleepy voice, caressing the skin.

He regretted that the sensation of the fake hand was not clear. He wanted to see his wife’s face.

‘Rustle, rustle.’ The moment he turned around—

-Whirr, thwack!

“Cough! Hack!”

His body soared to the top of the bed.

Werner widened his eyes and scratched at his neck.

But because it was being strangled so tightly that it seemed like it would break at any moment, he couldn’t even breathe, let alone scream.

The touch as soft as muslin turned out to be real muslin.

It was now completely gripping his windpipe.

“Ugh, cough! Ugh! Ugh!”

His beautiful face was horribly contorted.

A shadow hanging in the darkness began a desperate struggle.