What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 463

#463

Rest for the Soul (2)

“You’ve hurt your hand. Are you in pain?”

…Was that real?

Did that really happen in Shin-sil?

“Huh, huh… Haa… What…”

Could it be that I don’t remember? Why?

“If you’re struggling, I can help you.”

Or is it just another route of the nightmare?

-Kwaaaang!

I flinched! The sound of the door opening was like an explosion.

“Lady Yeser!”

Ms. Gain’s voice rang out, clear and bright.

Even though it was a sharp shout that hurt my ears, conversely, I quickly regained my breath at her presence.

Loud footsteps were approaching the bed.

It felt like the senses of reality were gradually becoming clearer.

I quickly rolled my eyes, scanning the surroundings. For now, this was clearly a bedroom.

Before I collapsed, His Majesty the Emperor and the two protagonists were by my side, so this shouldn’t be a dangerous place either.

It’s probably a room in Lord Yeriho’s castle. Then I can rest assured.

And in my hand…

“Hoo… Huh?”

A crystal bell. The gift I received from the Crown Prince, and the magical tool I keep by my side every night, was visible.

Why am I holding this again?

…Ah?

“Heok, I’m sorry!”

‘I’m really sorry!’ I was shocked to see Sir Johann, who was silently suppressed.

My heart sank, and I felt the blood drain from my head.

I hurriedly tried to get up, but lost my balance and tumbled awkwardly to the side.

Ouch! I was completely out of it.

I attacked Head Heryt, it was impossible, it shouldn’t have happened.

At this rate, I was about to catch someone, but he was just smiling as usual—

-Chak!

“Lady, what’s wrong!”

The bed curtains were yanked open, and before I could explain, my body was lifted up in a flash. Uwaaak!

“I, I’m okay! I just had a nightmare!”

-Tsk. Your holy knights are bound to be anxious.

His Majesty Hanan, who lifted me up in a flash, clicked his tongue and stepped back.

Thump! At the same time, the opposite door broke down and the troublemakers rushed in.

No matter how I look at it, it seems like a mess because of me?!

-Sreung!

“Teacher, what is it!?”

-Kkiiiiwoo!

“You two! Kids!”

The situation instantly became tense.

Sir Johann was only able to raise his upper body from the bed, and Ms. Gain and Crown Prince Cedric were pressuring him with clear attack stances.

I was speechless at the sight of Hye-geom, which I hadn’t even taken out in the black market, being drawn in a place like this.

The lesser pandas and Rophy had their tails fully raised and were circling around us.

Finally, Dduk-ssim flew over and settled on my forehead.

Then, for some reason, the little guy started rubbing my face with his wings.

I stopped the wren and hurriedly raised my voice. Don’t fight!

“I attacked Sir Johann! Cough.”

Ah, a mistake.

“……”

“……”

-…….

What is this silence? Why are you all looking at me with those eyes?

Even Sir Johann had a strange expression. Rophy was even scolding me with his eyes.

I’m not lying, Duke Ananabiya?

“Until about 3 minutes ago, the Lady’s ether was fine, but I don’t know what’s going on all of a sudden. I’m not doubting Sam, but the scene I just saw was a little suspicious!”

In the end, Ms. Gain completely ignored me. Hey!

“Taisa.”

The Crown Prince growled like a beast and held a blade to his teacher’s neck.

His Majesty Hanan made a sound in his throat as if he was amused.

I was skewered like lamb skewers on her shoulders, and I opened my mouth wide.

Cedric, you rascal, who taught you to be so rude to your homeroom teacher!

Later, your brother will punish you!

“Your Highness, please listen!”

“Let the Count explain the situation himself. This is an imperial order.”

“No, I had a nightmare! Werner Fenetian appeared in my dream!”

In the end, I shouted at the top of my lungs. Then, a silence like a lie flowed again.

“Haa, ha…”

“……”

“……”

“……”

However, this time, the nature was a little different.

The air was heavy enough to make it hard to breathe, and my hands and feet were numb.

Everyone slowly turned to look this way.

Among them, the orbs of azure and crimson were shaking greatly.

I managed to continue speaking.

“That… It’s not the first time. I’ve become quite good at locking my ether [magical energy]. Maybe it wasn’t very noticeable usually.”

Gulp. It wasn’t my fault, but I swallowed hard.

I endured the burning sensation in my cheeks and tried to calmly create the next sentence.

I don’t want to worry you, but I hate lying to my friends even more.

This is nothing to be ashamed of…

“I often see that day in my dreams, but this time the content was very different.”

“Ah…”

It’s just that my insides are a little hurt, so that’s why. It’s getting better day by day.

“So I think I was tossing and turning and talking in my sleep. I didn’t know who the opponent was, Sir Johann or someone else, so I just knocked them down. Subconsciously, I must have thought it was the Royal Consort [the Emperor’s partner]. When I came to my senses, I was holding this in my hand.”

“……”

‘Ahem.’ I smiled slightly and shook the crystal bell.

Then the Crown Prince’s face became even more terrifying. Hmm, this isn’t it.

“That must be why my ether burst out.”

His Majesty Hanan finally slowly lowered me to the ground.

I quickly knelt down for the divine beasts who were running to hug me.

‘Kkii, kkii, kkiiii.’ The little ones’ bean-sized eyes were all moist.

I felt a surge of guilt, thinking that I had caused them a lot of heartache while I was collapsed.

I stroked each of their round backs, fluffy tails, and warm ear tips.

Rophy didn’t accept my patting, but he sat in a visible place, wrapped his tail around my feet, and watched me.

He was an child as warm as his flame.

“I’m sorry for causing a commotion. Sir Johann, I sincerely apologize. You must have been very surprised.”

“A little.”

He replied, curving the corners of his drooping eyes. Anyway, I was relieved that he was safe.

It’s absurd for such a great cardinal to get hurt because of me, but…

Come to think of it, I think Sir Johann said something to calm me down earlier.

I was too excited to hear a single line properly.

“Lady, you need to get treatment.”

Suddenly, Ms. Gain said. She was right in front of me in the blink of an eye.

The blue gaze towards me was somehow unusual.

I belatedly raised my throbbing hands.

I had no idea how they ended up like this. Did I hit the headboard of the bed in my sleep?

“I will. I’ll call a healing priest right now.”

“Ah, that’s a given. The other side too.”

“Yes?”

Rustle, rustle. She quickly sat down under my nose and carefully held my hands.

My bruised fists and wrists were aching.

The cold energy seemed to alleviate the pain a little.

Her eyes, staring intently at me, were a little red.

I forgot what to say for a moment and looked back at Ms. Gain.

I felt a strange ache in my chest. The answer came from above my head.

“Your soul must be healed.”

“Huh?”

I frowned slightly and raised my head. His voice was boiling like a kiln.

The orange eyes I met were burning more fiercely than ever.

Seeing the dignified Nam Joong-il-saek [a Korean term for a man who is very attractive and manly], I swallowed my retort.

So I just gripped the crystal bell tightly.

…No, me? Not you?

Soul healing?

*

The next day.

Very special guests visited our living room in Lord Yeriho’s castle.

The Crown Prince was sitting on the sofa, looking at military affairs documents, and Sir Johann was playing chess with Bakari.

The other friends were busy with their respective tasks and were away from their seats.

Ms. Gain was lying on the sofa next to me, waving her hand (she said she was relaxing).

-Kkiha!

The divine beasts and I got up to greet the distinguished guests. Ganael politely guided the two.

“Welcome, Kina. Willem.”

“Ah, hello. Your Highness the Crown Prince. Lady.”

“Hello, Your Highness the Crown Prince. Uncle Lady.”

The twins, wearing the smallest clothes available from the military camp, stammered and bowed to us.

The imperial greeting was still awkward for the children, who had not properly learned the Shin-guk style greeting.

Their faces, not knowing where to look, were also cute, as if they still couldn’t adapt to our status.

Still, Ganael is helping them directly, so they will soon get used to everything.

I smiled brightly and reached out to the siblings.

Thanks to the help of the healing priests, the injured areas were now completely healed.

Soon, the shy warmth of the two little ones touched my skin.

“You’ve become chubby in the meantime. Did you rest well? Did you eat a lot of delicious things?”

“Yes. Young Master Ganael gave us food all day, so our stomachs are full. Thank you.”

“That’s a relief. Was there anything uncomfortable or lacking? If there’s anything difficult, your uncle will solve it for you.”

“I keep getting sleepy because I’m full, so it’s a little frustrating that I can’t play with Bal-top much. And the blanket is so soft that I sleep too long.”

“Kina! You idiot!”

Willem finally shouted. I laughed out loud in a different sense.

I was relieved that the siblings seemed really comfortable.

There are many good people here right now, so it was not a bad environment for the children.

Of course, they shouldn’t be on the battlefield all the time.

“My room is always open. You can come and play if you want, and you can find anything you need here. You’re also very welcome to come for a nap.”

“Yes.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. His Majesty said you can rest here for a while, so there won’t be any battles for the time being. I heard that all the other lords in the vicinity have run away.”

I said, carefully examining the faces of the two children.

The young eyes kept rolling, following me.

The divine beasts were busy smelling the clothes and shoes of the guests. My voice became even lower.

“That… If it’s okay, we want to send you to the Empire. Of course, after taking a break here for a while. So that you can continue to eat your fill in a safe home, be protected, make friends with your peers… So that you can learn whatever you want and live healthily. What do you think?”

Then the four eyes became round. Looking at them, I felt like I was going to burst out laughing again.

“Can we?”

“Really? Can I learn to write too?”

“Of course. That’s your right.”

‘Enjoy it to your heart’s content.’ I answered after fixing the stray hairs of the two children.

Then the siblings nodded their heads, smiling brightly.

Seeing the little ones genuinely happy made me feel happy too.

“Wait, what about Bal-top then?”

“Let’s ask him to go with us. He’ll definitely like it. He enjoys making friends!”

“That’s right! I saw him playing well with that lightning uncle earlier?”

“Kina, are all handsome people your uncles? Listen, that person is a bit grumpy…”

“Hahaha.”

I couldn’t help but burst out laughing again. Even in the meantime, the siblings were constantly bickering.

Yesterday’s dinner was with His Majesty and my friends, and the story about the little twins was agreed upon there.

There were already plenty of places in Liester where children could live without worry.

We had the kind Berang ducal family, the orphanages that the imperial family had started operating, and my territory, Serenite.

Francois added that his lord’s castle would be relatively close to the border.

We could rest assured that Antoinette was in the Diem marquisate.

So anywhere, as long as we protect the Empire well.

So that no one can break these children’s peace.

-Knock knock knock

Around that time, Ganael heard the knocking and opened the door.

I straightened my back slightly and straightened my posture.

Ms. Gain and the Crown Prince’s eyes narrowed at the same time.

They must have sensed a different ether, so could it be ‘that person’?

“…Lady, it’s the healing priest. He said he came to see the Lady and her friends under the special order of His Majesty the Emperor.”

Ugh, the real doctor came! I couldn’t manage my expression and acted like a robot.

“Thank you, Ganael. I’ll get ready soon. Please tell him to wait a moment.”

Then Kina looked up at me and tilted her head.

“Healing priest? Uncle Lady, are you sick somewhere?”

“No? Uh. Uh.”

I instinctively denied it, but I quickly affirmed it, thinking that I shouldn’t lie to a child about something like this.

I didn’t want the two children to have preconceived notions about soul healing.

“That’s… People get treatment when they’re physically ill, but they also get treatment when their hearts are sick.”

“Heart?”

“Yes. As you live, your heart can get sick too. Some are as light as a cold, and some are more serious than that. Some get better quickly, and some get better very slowly.”

“Wow…”

“You can also get professional treatment for such diseases. You can also use medicine.”

“Amazing!”

The children, who had grown up in the ground receiving the life force of Shin-mool [divine object] all of their lives, had no knowledge of diseases.

It’s fortunate that they are healthy now, but in the future, they may witness and experience various pains on the ground.

I added, gently raising the corners of my lips.

“You can ask for help anytime you need it. Then the priest will help you. Do you know what I mean?”

“Yes.”

“Yes.”

“Good. Then shall we meet again next time? Uncle has to get treatment from now on.”

Then the children quickly greeted and stepped back.

It was only one more time, but the posture, which had become quite neat, was incredibly cute.

I waved my hand slightly at the backs disappearing beyond the open door…

“Wow, this is surprisingly nerve-wracking.”

I quickly tidied up my appearance.

Ms. Gain also started touching her cravat from behind.

Last night, His Majesty said that he would find a priest who I could treat comfortably.

He said that he would find and send someone who I could easily open my heart to and rely on…

“Then, I will escort the priest.”

“Okay. Please.”

Honestly, I don’t know.

It’s wartime now, and it doesn’t seem easy to bring such a person here.

-Squeak…

Soon, the living room door opened, and a familiar face appeared.

I opened my eyes wide. Uh…?

“Bishop?”

“Marquis Serenite, I greet the moon of the Empire. I also greet the one who is the small sun of the Empire.”

This was Bishop Blaze Bonn, the bishop of the Serenite Diocese.

He was the one who held the funerals for Grandma Form and Henriette last year!

“Oh my gosh, Bishop. Hello. Nice to meet you!”

In an instant, I forgot even the purpose of his visit and greeted him tactlessly.

Ms. Gain also greeted him with a smile and shook hands.

The living room quickly became as lively as a guest room.

The bishop’s kind face drew curves here and there.

It was then.

“I’m here too, you idiot Lady!”

A very sharp and sulky voice pierced my eardrums from behind.

Before I even checked the face, my lips were already rounded.

I really couldn’t believe it at all.

“I’m disappointed that you didn’t treat Mademoiselle first!”

…This is too much?