What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 42

#042 Escaping the Imperial Palace Number One (2)

-Krrrrr…

Once everyone who would be using the portal was inside, the heavy door closed again.

Prince Cedric and I faced Cristelle at the very front of the group.

“…”

The prince remained expressionless even when looking at Cristelle, but he seemed subtly displeased.

Judging by his lack of surprise, he must have known she was coming to the portal.

Again, I was the only one who didn’t know.

“Lady Sarnese, what brings you here…?”

No, there’s no point in asking questions like that anymore.

How many times have I told myself that it’s only natural for the heroine and the main male lead of a romance fantasy novel to get involved?

Cristelle said she would participate in the ‘Monster Subjugation,’ so her reason for coming to the portal was obvious.

Those two are destined to meet no matter what.

I soothed Demi in my arms, who was fussing, and reframed my question.

“What’s with the whip?”

The glossy navy leather looked ominous.

“Oh, I just picked one up upstairs.”

Cristelle waved the hand holding the whip and answered coolly.

I was wondering if it was okay to show that I understood the word ‘picked up’ in this context when the person next to me spoke up.

“It’s been a while, Lady Cristelle. Are you planning to use the whip as a weapon?”

It was Elizabeth, who would be joining us on our journey.

She approached Cristelle, her gray eyes sparkling.

The two had met at the outdoor training ground last time, but the gathering had broken up abruptly, so they hadn’t had a proper conversation.

“Hello, Lady Elizabeth.”

“If you don’t mind, may I take a look at the whip?”

“Yes, of course. I’ve never really used my muscles before, so it was difficult to suddenly handle a sword or spear. I pestered the knights of the duchy to find something that even someone like me could use, and they recommended a whip.”

“It’s not a bad choice if you take good care of your arms. This one looks to be of very good quality.”

“Thank you. Fortunately, my wrist action is pretty good.”

Cristelle received the whip back with a bright smile.

She seemed quite pleased with her new conversation partner.

Lady Elizabeth also smiled and nodded.

She even offered to be called anytime if Cristelle needed a sparring partner.

They seemed like they would get along well, and seeing them like this, I thought they could really become good friends.

“Stop the chattering and let’s get going.”

It was the prince who poured cold water on the cozy atmosphere.

I looked up at him with a slightly pitiful gaze.

He has no friends except for Lady Elizabeth; I felt like I understood why.

You should try talking to Cristelle too, instead of just fighting.

“I apologize, Your Highness. Everyone, pay attention! Half of the escort will remain here and move last. The other half, this way…”

Lady Elizabeth quickly composed herself and began directing the Royal Guards, treating the prince with utmost respect.

The accompanying servants and maids also lined up in their designated spots.

Cristelle sent off the vice-captain of the Royal Guard with a slightly disappointed expression and came to stand next to me.

Unintentionally standing with the main characters on either side of me, I already felt suffocated.

As part of animal therapy, I gently stroked the back of the sleeping Demi.

Soon, the advance team disappeared into the portal to the southern part of the Imperial Capital.

Watching the magic circle that swallowed people with red metallic light and the people who disappeared like dust, I felt the same fear and awe as always.

When it was our turn, I was only slightly nervous due to the mental strain, not the mana sensitivity.

“I heard about it. Did you take motion sickness medicine?”

Cristelle spoke kindly to me.

“Ah, yes.”

“Then you should be fine.”

“I think so. I’ve done clinical trials [referring to personal experience].”

When I replied, she laughed out loud and encouraged me, saying it was good.

Lady Elizabeth, Ganael, Benjamin, and David, the prince’s servant, who came up onto the huge magic circle with us, also added a word each, telling me not to worry.

I felt a little relieved.

“Wizards are not needed.”

I was smiling faintly when a cold, low voice rang out.

Wondering what was going on, I turned my head.

I saw the portal wizard in charge, looking embarrassed, and the prince, putting up a wall against him.

“What’s wrong?”

“Just as I said. I’ll use my mana, so other wizards are unnecessary.”

His orange eyes were filled with wariness. He seemed to dislike having someone else’s mana touch his body.

He’s so tall, is he really twenty-four, or is he a two-year-old? I couldn’t help but sigh.

Since Cardinal Boutier wasn’t here, it seemed I was the only one who could handle the situation.

“…Let’s do that then. I’m sorry, wizard. Please think of it as saving mana.”

The prince frowned slightly at my apology.

The portal wizard bowed and quickly stepped back. I instructed the prince.

“But you have to be as kind as that wizard. Count to three and inject mana…”

“Now.”

-Zhiing!

The prince scattered red mana over the magic circle without warning.

What he showed in the underground portal of the Imperial Palace was just a teaser; his mana devoured the magic circle relentlessly, like newly erupted lava.

Cristelle laughed as if she was dumbfounded. Lady Elizabeth was shaking her head.

-Woooong!

“Th…”

The portal activated faster than I could utter a curse word.

Demi, who had just woken up, was whimpering.

Hugging the red panda tightly, I glared at the prince’s eyes as he disappeared like a spark into the crimson mana.

Then, I felt my feet sink, and his mana grabbed me by the scruff of my neck.

Suddenly, I looked down and saw the tips of my fingers and toes, and the tip of Demi’s tail, crumbling like powder.

Wizard, I don’t feel so good…

*

Fortunately, I felt fine. Marquis Dhiem’s motion sickness medicine was amazing!

I was able to arrive in the southern part of the Imperial Capital without any dizziness, and I maintained a good condition even after getting back into the carriage.

However, one downside was that there was someone who was internally boiling because of this portal trip.

-Kkii!

“Oh, were you surprised? Were you upset?”

-Kkiiiii!

“Oh, you’re angry because your brother didn’t wake you up in advance and suddenly put you on the portal.”

-Kkurrrrr!

“Oh, your brother was really wrong. Let’s have kind Demi forgive him just once. Demi is a divine beast, and your brother is just a human.”

“Your Highness.”

Benjamin called me with a face that said that wasn’t quite right.

Only then did I feel a little embarrassed and put Demi down on my lap.

The red panda butted my palm as if it was still not appeased.

It was warm and soft.

“Marquis Dhiem said it would be okay, so I thought so too, but I guess I should have kept him from sleeping.”

I said.

A few days ago, Marquis Francois Dhiem had confidently stated that divine beasts have high mana sensitivity, so there would be no problem using the portal.

I was honestly skeptical.

The divine beasts who had left for the Marquisate first had not used the portal in case there was a problem.

Only then did the Marquis confess to me honestly.

‘Actually, I’ve teleported with the divine beasts in both arms. It worked well. So don’t worry.’

That crazy person…

“No, Your Highness. Demi-nim slept soundly even in that noisy trading post, so it would have been difficult for Your Highness to wake him up.”

Ganael took my side.

Thinking about it, that was right, so I smiled and offered Demi three raspberries.

He looked a little sulky, but in the end, he couldn’t resist the fresh and sweet scent.

-Chop chop chop chop…

“He eats well.”

Anyway, we safely overcame the big hurdle of the portal.

Now, all that’s left is to safely take care of myself and Demi in the monster subjugation.

The main characters will take care of themselves.

*

“Your Highness, we have arrived at the accommodation.”

“Ss…”

I quickly wiped the drool from the corner of my mouth and woke up.

I had eaten about four pieces of salted dried beef, Coulommiers cheese, salad, and quiche filled with various fillings for lunch in the carriage and had fallen asleep.

I vaguely remembered looking out the window, but just like the highway scenery all looks the same after five minutes, the forest path scenery of the Empire also became more and more similar.

When I came to my senses, the sun was already setting.

“It is a very humble place compared to the Imperial Palace. But it is a place where nobles and royals often stay, so it will be basic.”

Benjamin continued to explain. I nodded.

The place where we would be staying for one night was not a noble’s castle, but an ‘inn.’

It didn’t make sense that there was an inn when there was a prince, but the road down to Marquis Dhiem’s territory in the southern part of the Empire was quite rough.

There were no lord’s castles to rest along the way, and if we absolutely wanted to, we would have to turn and go far to the side.

It meant we would waste more time looking for a five-star hotel.

So we would be spending our first night in a village called ‘Luca.’

-Clatter, clatter, clatter

The carriage slowed down and then stopped completely.

I put Demi, who was now energetic, on my shoulder and got out of the carriage with the escort of the coachman.

Then I looked around.

“Wow…”

Amidst the busy Imperial Palace servants and maids, a clean accommodation building came into view.

It was large for an inn, and it looked like a small hotel photo in the European countryside.

Magical lights were lit here and there, so there was no dark or dangerous feeling.

In front of the accommodation, there was a sign that said ‘Luca Inn.’

“Your Highness.”

Benjamin called me softly. I snapped out of it and turned around.

“Gasp.”

A small breath escaped.

About a thousand residents of Luca village were gathered in front of the inn, kneeling down.

I had seen similar scenes in the Imperial Capital, but the feeling was completely different.

If the greetings of the people there seemed to express affection and respect for the Imperial Family, what I felt from these people now was closer to awe.

I could see many backs trembling.

“W-we greet His Highness the Prince… You shine like the sun…”

Then I heard the sobbing voice of a child.

Turning my head, I saw a girl standing in front of Prince Cedric, holding a bouquet of flowers.

She looked like she was barely ten years old, and she seemed to be welcoming the royal family as the village representative.

The adults who made the child do such a thing were the worst, but I immediately approached the prince.

I was worried that he might treat the child harshly. But,

-Rustle

The prince accepted the bouquet with a simple motion.

The child was startled and knelt down on the spot, bowing her head.

I blinked at the unexpected development.

“…Unpack the luggage and distribute it.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

The servants’ movements became even busier at the prince’s words.

I finally realized why his luggage was so heavy.

I could also see why all ten carriages were moved by the portal.

It wasn’t supplies he had brought to use from the beginning.

“Stand in five rows! We will deliver the gifts from His Highness the Prince.”

“Write your name here, and here…”

“The grace, the grace is boundless…”

…He doesn’t seem like a human who deserves to be called ‘Trash Cedric.’

I looked at the residents who were constantly bowing and quickly followed the prince into the accommodation.

Cristelle, who had approached me, watched the prince’s back and exclaimed, ‘Wow…’

It was a tone that said she had reevaluated him.

“We greet the noble Prince.”

“We will do our best to serve you.”

As we entered the inn lobby, the neatly dressed staff and the person who appeared to be the owner all bowed at once.

Coming out of the Imperial Palace, this was a bit burdensome.

Fortunately, thanks to renting the entire inn, it seemed like we could stay comfortably inside, but,

-Rustle

“Huh?”

The prince shoved the bouquet into my arms haphazardly.

Then he went up the stairs, following the inn owner’s guidance, without looking back. What’s this again?

“I’m sorry, Prince Yeser. His Highness doesn’t like things that are cumbersome… If you give it to me, I will take care of it.”

David, the prince’s servant, quickly approached me and apologized.

In short, that guy threw the bouquet at me.

Hey, that’s why Jeong Eunseo calls you Trash Cedric…

“He’s the type to build up points and then tear them down himself. He must live a tough life.”

Cristelle fired a Patriot missile [a cutting remark] from the side.

David clearly heard it, but he couldn’t refute it.

I heard Lady Elizabeth grabbing Ganael’s arm and sobbing with laughter behind me.

I couldn’t help but sigh.

“I’ll put the flowers in my room. I feel sorry and it’s a waste to throw them away like this.”

“Then I’ll provide the water.”

Cristelle answered with a grin at my words. I couldn’t tell if she was teasing me or cheering me on.

I just wanted to eat dinner and go to sleep.