What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 418

#418

Finding the Lost Piece (7)

Two days passed since then,

“Really! Count Mute, who even has a fiancée, spent time alone with Princess Juliet?”

…I was a hot topic everywhere in the military camp. A perfect snack for the season.

Gain always stayed with me after that day, unless there was something important.

Her eyes were burning with blue goblin fire.

“Hey, is that the problem now? The key is whether the Princess has made a sacred oath [a magical vow] with the Crown Prince, as rumored! The rumors among the soldiers are quite…”

“Listen. Some of my men were badly injured last time and took a carriage to the rear. And they heard a story there. Apparently, His Highness did ask the Princess for a sacred oath!”

“Good heavens. Isn’t the Princess deeply in love with Count Rambouillet! Can you swear that’s true?”

“Huh? I can’t swear to that…”

“Am I the only one who thinks it’s strange? Doesn’t the young Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guard seem different to you?”

“People, men and women alike, gather around him. He’s always been good-looking, though.”

“Ahem. That’s not the important thing right now. If the Princess has made a sacred oath, isn’t that a national celebration? Remember the day His Majesty took the Cardinal as his partner!”

“Hey, Diope said it, but is it true? He must have been trying to mock the Crown Prince. This isn’t the first time.”

“I agree. If it were true, the Princess wouldn’t have left like that.”

“But if you think about it differently…”

…Honestly, I’ve been attracting attention ever since the ‘revival,’ so it was burdensome.

But I was getting used to it to some extent.

I spent most of my time with friends and worked hard at the relief center whenever I had time.

People who used to grin at me whenever I appeared quickly got used to my presence.

It was fortunate for me that it was difficult for them to talk to me easily because I was a ‘Princess.’

Since Count Johann often accompanied me when my friends were busy with training, nothing has happened so far.

Because he was handsome and quite popular, I could quietly blend in next to him.

A few days ago, I ended up alone and that…

“Then what about the Charpentier Palace? What happens to it? I bet a lot of money on that,”

“Shh. The Princess is coming this way!”

That unlucky thing happened. Damn it.

“Hello, Marquis Cisse. Gentlemen.”

When I greeted them with a smile in the Archbishop’s plain clothes, the elderly commanders greeted me with expressions like elders giving pocket money on holidays.

Some hurriedly covered their mouths and made loud noises. ‘Oops!’

The front of the huge tent was instantly filled with embarrassment.

“Welcome, Princess.”

“We meet the moon of the Empire.”

“Aren’t you cold? Come in and warm yourself by the fire.”

“Yes, yes.”

When I gently suggested, the adults nodded and hurried into the tent.

Today was the day of the commanders’ meeting conducted by His Majesty the Emperor.

Gain and Crown Prince Cedric were coming straight to the tent after finishing their regular training, so Count Johann and I moved separately today.

People who were about to say something to me glanced at Herrit and smacked their lips, moving away.

Indeed, it seemed that it was difficult to deal with handsome people. The effect was great!

“Thank you again today, Count Johann.”

“I didn’t do anything.”

The man replied softly, holding Perry. I smiled and entered inside. Flap!

“Stop greeting and sit down quickly. It’s giving me a headache.”

…Huh?

“Your Majesty!”

“Please forgive us!”

“Lower your voices. It’s hurting my head.”

“Yes…”

“We will obey…”

Wondering what the commotion was, I opened my eyes wide and saw Emperor Frederick sitting on the throne, surrounded by golden sacred stones, holding his temple.

He usually didn’t show any signs of being unwell, but today he looked pale to anyone.

He seemed to be sweating faintly.

Even though all the commanders had arrived fifteen minutes earlier than the scheduled time, they hurriedly moved around and found their seats at her words.

I also hurriedly took care of the baggage.

David, who happened to find me, guided me to the seat between the Crown Prince and Gain.

Count Johann moved to the opposite side and sat next to Elizabeth.

The middle-aged man’s cherry-colored eyes calmly looked back at me.

“You’ve come.”

“I see the sun descended to earth. Your Majesty, is there perhaps…”

“Princess.”

I was about to ask if he was unwell, but David gently stopped me from behind.

‘It is disrespectful to mention His Majesty’s health.’ Whispered teachings followed.

Realizing my mistake, I quickly bit my lip, and the Crown Prince let out a faint sigh.

Then he pushed the snack plate towards me. It meant to eat this and stay quiet.

“Enough. I have no intention of covering it up.”

Then the Emperor gestured lightly and straightened his posture.

The way he raised the corners of his lips while looking at me was cool and worrying at the same time.

“My condition is fluctuating because I have been away from my partner for a long time and recently took the aura out of my body. I didn’t expect these side effects.”

…And you announced your condition directly!

I knew he had an uninhibited personality, but I never dreamed he would say it so openly.

‘Your Majesty.’ The surprised Crown Prince called his mother, but the words had already spread.

Everyone except high-ranking officials like Marchioness Caroline began to stir.

Gain and I quickly exchanged glances. She also had a very embarrassed face.

“Don’t make a fuss. Who among you can beat me in my current state?”

“Ah…”

That was, that was true.

Even though he looked unwell, he was the Sword Master called the strongest in the Empire.

Except for Isabel, the Marchioness, and Count Johann, it was obvious that anyone of us would fall if we attacked with all our might.

The commanders nodded and quickly managed their expressions.

The Emperor chuckled and continued.

“It will get better. Don’t worry about it and say what you have to say.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

Everyone bowed politely.

After that, each unit commander had time to actively share information.

Even though it was a truce, this was a military camp.

Even a single day of stationing cost a tremendous amount, and constant effort was required to manage manpower and weapons.

I don’t worry about the wealth of the Liester Imperial Family—as I heard from Elizabeth the day before yesterday, the structure is such that assets continue to grow even if you do nothing—but the fatigue and accumulated homesickness of the soldiers were a serious problem.

Now is the harvest season, so there are even more things to take care of.

Gain and I quietly crunched on cookies and rolled our eyes.

The adults stroked their beards or twitched their eyebrows and continued their heated discussions.

“…Then, since His Majesty has approved, we will try to solve it by increasing transportation costs. That way, there will be no disruption in the supply of meat in the future.”

“Yes, yes. Young people need to eat meat soup.”

“That’s good. I don’t think the truce will last long. We can’t just relax and play around.”

Tuk, Caroline said that. A dizzying silence flowed through the tent at that moment.

She stroked her half-shaved head and crunched on the walnuts on the plate.

“Crown Princess Elysee promised to bring her father here, but no one knows what will happen.”

“That’s… That’s right.”

There was a response from the combat mage division. The Marchioness stared at the air with sharp eyes.

“His Majesty is the daughter of the late Emperor Celine, who advocated peace, so if she can capture the royal consort, she will choose dialogue at any time. As a subject, I obey and respect her as a friend, but frankly, I have a different opinion.”

“Caroline.”

“Frederick. Think about the explosives that went off in the rocky castle and the plains. Think about the children of the Empire who died innocently. Are they really worth talking to?”

“I have never forgotten a single moment. Not a single one.”

The Emperor replied without hesitation.

Knowing that it was true, the Marchioness also stopped talking and gulped down water.

‘Clang!’ The sound of putting down the glass was sharp.

We stared at her in the heavy silence.

Elizabeth gently covered her mother’s hand.

Duke Cecil Blancair in the next seat was just quietly closing his eyes.

Soon the monarch opened her mouth.

“…I only seized the opportunity to reduce the sacrifice of our troops, and it does not mean that I will easily forgive the New Kingdom. You must not misunderstand.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Also, it would be good for us if the Crown Princess’s political power grows. The current Fenetian King is nothing more than a puppet. We must be able to have proper dialogue with diplomatic counterparts to promote long-term stability, right?”

‘Even if the war ends, the Empire is eternal.’ The middle-aged man declared firmly.

‘That’s right!’ Words of agreement burst out from here and there in the hall.

Caroline also silently raised her glass and agreed.

“But if the Fenetians play tricks, there will be no second mercy. So you should keep the Marchioness’s words in your hearts.”

“We will keep that in mind, Your Majesty!”

The audience answered thunderously.

The Emperor frowned and let out a hollow laugh at the sound that seemed to tear the tent apart.

Then he looked again with his sharp eyes at one place.

“…”

It was me. Ugh!

“Come to think of it, there’s a strange rumor going around in the military camp.”

Tuk! Startled, I dropped a piece of apple under the table.

Demi waved her tail in dissatisfaction, but I didn’t even have the mind to fix it.

I swallowed hard.

The red gaze, like a seal, pressed down on me, Gain, and the Crown Prince, and then fell away.

Finally, her gaze was directed at Jibril Diope.

Soon, a husky voice flowed from the emperor.

“If it’s true, it’s something to celebrate, but I haven’t heard anything. So keep a proper line.”

Cough!

“…Yes, Your Majesty.”

The commanders stammered and bowed their heads.

I, who had a coughing fit, quickly covered my mouth with my sleeve and coughed. Cough, cough!

The Crown Prince glanced at me with eyes that looked at the most pathetic creature in the world.

Gain stroked my neck and back with a more affectionate touch than usual.

Even without raising my eyes to check, I could clearly feel the gazes focused on me.

Elizabeth, who met my eyes, sent her usual wonderful smile.

Francois threw a precarious wink as usual. What are you!

“…Cough!”

I’m going crazy here and there, really. What do they know and do that?

At the same time, the Fenetian military camp.

A woman was looking down at the vast parade ground.

-Wheeeee…

There was no sturdy armor or shining weapon. There was no ether or mana [magical energy].

No specialness was felt from her, who had entered the twilight of her life.

The hem of her dress, hit by the late autumn wind, fluttered.

It was an outfit that was hard to believe was a warrior or worker on the battlefield.

It was hard to find calluses on her wrinkled hands, but no one dared to doubt her power and authority.

Truly, no one.

“Hut! Hut! Hut! Hut!”

-Chuck, chuck, chuck, chuck…

“Stand at attention!”

‘Clang, clang!’ Armor and military boots made of iron created sharp noises as they collided here and there.

Hundreds of thousands of New Kingdom troops reorganized their ranks in an orderly manner.

The young commander looked back at Wilhelmina Schneider. She nodded silently.

It meant to continue.

“First row, prepare to fire ether!”

-Chuck! Chuck! Chuck!

Even though the full-scale truce had begun, the Duchess did not stop military training.

She continued the same schedule as when the battle was in full swing, and ordered the soldiers to do so as well.

Elysee, as Crown Princess and warrior, agreed to this policy.

It was a calculation to prepare for the worst because she didn’t know how the situation would unfold.

But Wilhelmina really had no other choice.

Even if her younger brother and royal consort Werner, who was already out of the game, returned….

-Step, step, step

“…”

…Nothing would change.

She had no intention of giving up the conditions and environment she had obtained with difficulty.

She was a person who did not easily let go of what she held in her hand.

“Master.”

At that time, someone who had quietly approached from behind called Wilhelmina.

She was her faithful servant. The Duchess answered by not answering.

Soon, the young woman continued in a low voice.

“As you expected, Lord Martier Zeelstra intervened in the affairs of the royal castle. The royal consort is currently under the protection of Her Highness the Crown Princess. Her Highness the Second Princess has taken refuge in the royal residence of Count Roseharder.”

“…Indeed.”

The corners of the Duchess’s lips rose as if to be seen.

Just in case, she had people try it out, and her predictions came true.

The Crown Princess, who had returned alive from death, was now openly checking her.

She not only regarded her as an enemy, but also realized that she would do anything to keep her position as the King’s in-law.

So she sent her limbs to save her only father. Before her aunt permanently shut his mouth.

“What about the Grand Duke’s spies?”

“They have not been sighted yet. We will continue to monitor the road.”

“Okay. Cut off the tail well. And there’s one more thing.”

Saying that, Wilhelmina looked back at her subordinate with a gentle face.

However, no emotion was reflected in her eyes.

“Wouldn’t it be difficult to leave Werner as he is?”