What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 480

How to Proceed (5)

“The rumors of the Imperial Prince have reached even the front lines.”

-Sizzle…

‘Clink.’ Cecile Blanquerre said, setting down the teapot.

Eva, who was sitting like a well-behaved young lady from a noble family, flinched and looked up at her.

The mother and daughter, having entered the empty tea room of the Lord’s Castle, brewed tea and steeped tea leaves without bringing a single soldier.

Eva was seeing her mother do something like this for the first time.

Cecile had always been Duchess Blanquerre first, before being a mother to her children. She was a person who had no reason or need to handle miscellaneous tasks besides official duties.

Eva never thought she would see her mother doing something like this so smoothly, as if it were her main occupation. Her mouth kept opening and closing in surprise.

*I once learned how to serve tea with the maids for fun when Lady Yeser of the Imperial Palace was learning. If it weren’t for that experience, I might have made several mistakes today.*

“Does society suit you?”

Suddenly, an unexpected question was posed. The young duchess quickly nodded.

“Yes, I think so.”

“……”

*Was it right to answer honestly? Or should I have lied and said no to match my mother’s temperament?*

Eva, unsure, only stared at the surface of the mint tea.

Her mother was always a difficult person.

The child had never felt her parents’ ‘warmth’ or ‘affection,’ not even once since she was born.

Of course, the governess and nanny said otherwise.

They said that giving the siblings gold coins for pocket money, gifting them a house, feeding them good food, or dressing them in beautiful clothes was the greatest love.

And until a few years ago, Eva firmly believed those words.

To be exact, until she met the foolish Imperial Princess.

“You said you wanted to have power. Do you not regret those words?”

“……Yes. I only vaguely wanted it before, but now I know that I can do a lot of good with power. So I still feel the same way.”

Eva said, holding the teacup handle tightly.

Cecile looked at her daughter once, then gracefully put honey in her own cup.

Eva couldn’t stand the silence and briefly glanced out the window.

The entire territory of Yeri was busy with workers carrying luggage.

She heard that His Majesty would be leaving this place soon.

The Imperial Princess and her friends were also said to be going north to catch Werner Fenetian and the Archdemon.

“I was not originally destined to be a duchess.”

Cecile said calmly, taking a sip of tea.

Eva looked back at her with wide eyes. This was such an unexpected remark.

She had eaten together with her several times, but her mother was never one to enjoy small talk.

The main point was always the priority, and even then, there was no lengthy explanation.

Even when the three of them, including her father, sat at the table, the conversation rarely exceeded thirty lines.

The two of them seemed used to it, but Eva was honestly a little uncomfortable.

She would rather sit alone and listen to the servants’ chatter while eating.

But…….

“My older brother was supposed to become the heir, so I never thought deeply about the future of the family or the Magic Tower.”

“Ah, yes.”

It was the story of Eva’s uncle, Alexandre Riester, whom she had never actually met.

Her heart felt like it was beating out of rhythm at the unexpected topic.

“I was a reckless second child, always hiding in my brother’s shadow and complaining. I also said that I wanted to have power, or that if I became the duchess, I would become greater than my brother.”

“……”

“Those were words that could be said by someone who would never become the heir. It was a truly comfortable life.”

For a moment, the eyes of the two mothers and daughters met.

The identical dark brown eyes reflected each other completely.

“Then one day, I became the heir without warning. It was a bolt from the blue, but I had to adapt.”

“……”

“Only then did I understand the actions of my brother, who was like a rough stone. Why he tried to teach me more, why he gave me more responsibilities and tried to make me grow… Why he seemed so unattached.”

“……”

“Why he said he was sorry to me the day before he left home. All of it.”

“Do you resent His Majesty?”

“No.”

The answer was sharp. Cecile gave a rare smile.

Her eyes, reminiscing about her older brother, were so warm that Eva was inwardly surprised.

“It would be a lie to say it wasn’t difficult, but it wasn’t bad. I was satisfied with becoming the young duchess.”

“……”

“The only regret is that I didn’t have more conversations with my brother. My parents blocked even the channels through which we secretly exchanged letters.”

That was too much. Eva unknowingly furrowed her brow.

Cecile quietly looked at her daughter, who still seemed young.

“……I don’t think I’m a good mother. I’ve never received affectionate affection from my parents, and I was born with an indifferent personality. Unfortunately, your father grew up in a similar environment.”

“……”

“I won’t ask you to understand. I’m not so pathetic as to ask a child to bear the burden of an adult. It’s just that we’re lacking.”

Cecile, who had confessed so much, sipped her tea. Eva followed her mother and quenched her thirst.

She suddenly had so many thoughts that she couldn’t think of a suitable answer.

Robert’s face briefly flashed through her mind.

“So……. I also dare not evaluate you as a child.”

Eva’s eyes widened as if they would pop out. The duchess calmly continued.

“Good daughter, bad daughter—I think those standards are given only to those who have properly played the role of parents. Paul and I are not qualified.”

She didn’t understand what this meant at all.

*Could it be that her mother was saying she would abandon her? No, it didn’t seem to mean that. But the context was so difficult that she couldn’t even make a rough guess.*

“So I will evaluate you as the young duchess.”

“Ah……”

“Whether you are walking the right path, whether you are properly leading this family, what impact your judgment will have on the future of the family… I can advise and point out that much.”

‘What do you think?’ the duchess asked.

Eva had a blank look on her face for a long time, then hurriedly nodded, afraid that her mother might take back her words.

As expected, there were no affectionate expressions or warm encouragement.

But in the girl’s eyes, this was the greatest support and favor that her mother could offer.

She had always wanted to be recognized by this person!

“Then, then you acknowledge me as the young duchess? Even though I am the only one in the historic wizard family who cannot use mana?”

“……It is not necessary to have mana to lead the wizard division. Rather, become a good leader.”

“Wow!”

Eva exclaimed loudly and hurriedly covered her mouth.

Still, she couldn’t suppress the twitching cheekbones.

Of course, it was last year that Eva officially rose to the position of young duchess.

But the duchess had never mentioned the family’s Magic Tower to the child.

It was only Eva’s guess, but it seemed that her mother had been worried about how to treat the young duchess, who had no talent for magic.

*If she chose an easy method, she could have adopted a daughter or son from her peers among her relatives—*

“For reference, there were no plans to adopt another child.”

“Huh.”

“It is not a flaw that you are a priest. Although there may be difficulties in the future, I see that you have the makings of a good head of the family… Return to the Empire and learn the overall management of the Magic Tower from your father.”

“Yes! Yes!”

“Yes. The work of the victory prayer meeting is enough. The Magic Tower always needs a leader.”

“I will do that, Mother!”

Eva, who was very excited, forgot her manners and jumped up.

*I’m so happy! I want to go and bother the Imperial Princess’s arm right away!*

“But.”

But……?

“In the future, it would be good for the person who will become your husband to be a wizard. I am not forcing you, but I hope you will consider it.”

Cecile said with the most solemn face.

In that moment, Eva recalled the handsome white-haired prince she had seen that day.

Her memory was a mess because she was unconscious…….

But he had saved her and disappeared in the chaos at that time, so he must have been a person with outstanding abilities.

The Imperial Princess seemed to have said something like that too.

“Umm, yes!”

Well, he wouldn’t be a holy knight, so he would naturally be a wizard.

*The prince has already passed!*

December 16th dawned.

It was the day the ‘Fake Mercenary Guild’ was leaving for the north. This time, there were a total of six members and two animals.

Me, Ms. Gain, the Crown Prince, Sir Johann,

Francois (he was greatly recognized for saving us from the black market with his belt),

Lightning (His Majesty gave it to me, but I honestly don’t understand it).

And Ropi (I’ve never asked, but it looks like he’s going with us since he’s standing next to Charlemagne) and Tete (I couldn’t help it because she cries whenever I take her out of my arms).

And our wonderful horse friends who will take us.

-Neigh, heehee!

“Okay, please take good care of the Spirit and Yeri. I trust only you.”

-Hoohoong!

“Yes. Demi is a genius divine beast, so I’m not worried. Listen to Ganael and David.”

-Kiya!

“That’s right. Our Leah is brave and will be fine. See you soon.”

We said our goodbyes in front of the north gate of the Lord’s Castle.

The lesser pandas decided not to join this trip and stay in the rear and Yeri.

This was because the ground here was so weak that the help of earth attribute was needed, and the divine object ‘Spirit of Iran’ had not yet fully recovered its divine power.

I don’t know well, but it seemed that the same attributes had something in common.

The Spirit especially liked the troublemakers, so they would stay together for the time being.

The kids also enjoyed playing with the Spirit very much.

-Good luck, Little Moon. Don’t forget your crown!

“Thank you. I hope you get well soon, Spirit.”

-Eung. Pretty.

The divine object, who came out to see us off to the end of the garden, smiled brightly and sprinkled colorful tulip petals over my head.

It seemed that this was the ‘crown’. I couldn’t help but smile at the kind blessing.

Next, I said hello to Bishop Blaise and Sir Elizabeth.

The bishop said that he would be taking care of the patients here for the time being.

The deputy commander said that he would escort the ‘criminals’ to the Imperial City and then immediately return to His Majesty.

Over there, Ganael and Eva were sharing a warm hug with Ms. Gain.

“Imperial Princess, can we receive letters if we write them?”

“I can’t write yet, but I’m good at drawing!”

“It’s a little difficult to write letters, but we’ll meet again soon. My uncle will come and see everything without missing anything. Until then, eat well and get plenty of sleep. Promise.”

I lowered myself and hooked my little finger with Kina and Willem, and thanked the adults who came to see me off.

The warmth of the children hanging on my waist was warm.

His Majesty was too busy to be there, but instead, His Royal Highness Stanislav, the Prince Consort, sent us off.

He was dressed as if he would beat up an Archdemon right away…….

“Child, I’ll only go this far. Please understand that the old man is deeply worried.”

“Yes. Thank you so much, Your Highness.”

He said he would take a walk and go with us for five hundred steps, so I gladly told him to do so.

The scenery of my friends that I looked back on slowly had a beautiful light like the color of spring.

Seeing Cedric, the Crown Prince, being taken care of by David, or Sir Johann being taken care of by Isabel, made one corner of my heart feel warm.

Marquis Caroline, standing next to Djibril Diop, was patting his shoulder and laughing.

I heard earlier that he had a good talk with Princess Marguerite. Thank goodness…….

-Ah, Moon.

“Yes?”

The Spirit called me in a small voice from above my head.

Even though her lips didn’t move when she spoke, she put her hands together and imitated a human whisper.

-The Kaleidoscope kid seems to have something to say. Hide behind me!

If it’s Kaleidoscope…….

“Bakari?”

When I stretched my neck and called out, the blue doll walked out from behind the Spirit’s fluttering soul.

He was embarrassed to be caught like this again, and on the other hand, he had an expression as if he was firmly prepared for something.

I asked Sir Elizabeth to take care of Tete for a moment and approached him.

The prophet’s robe embroidered with silver thread fluttered greatly in the north wind.

-Whoosh……

“Imperial Princess, I have something to tell you before you leave.”

“Finally?”

When I asked back, his eyes under his glasses widened in surprise.

I burst into laughter and continued.

“You’ve been hovering around as if you had something to say lately. I’m very quick to notice.”

“……”

“Please speak comfortably. I’m ready to listen to any story.”

*If it was a revelation, I would humbly accept it, and if it was a warning, I would never forget it.*

First, I put my hands together and straightened my posture. Then Bakari bit his lip and whispered…….

“’Modeste’ is not my real name.”

He suddenly whispered such a confession. I chose my words for a moment.

“……”

“……What is that expression? Did you perhaps know?”

Ummm…….

“Imperial Princess?”

“Umm, when we met at the bar before.”

I scratched my cheek with a troubled look.

*That was probably the testimony of Baron Zan Tillier, the drunkard who assaulted Bakari.*

*’Think about it, Prince. The leader sees death. My future was read by that guy? I was caught at my end without even knowing it? Is there anything more disgusting and unlucky than that?’*

*’Why else would the baron couple name him Modeste [meaning ‘modest’ in French]? They just wanted him to be an ordinary and unexceptional being.’*

“When that person said that…… I roughly guessed. If they named him hoping that he would be an ordinary and unexceptional being, then the child would have already grown up enough to show his specialness. I thought he would have a different name when he was born. I wasn’t sure, but…….”

“Good heavens. Why does that kind of brain work so well?”

Wait a minute. What do you mean by ‘that kind of brain’?

“Haa……. Anyway, after listening to the stories you tell those children, I also started receiving spiritual healing a while ago.”

Suddenly, Bakari made a sharp turn! I was so surprised that I silenced my voice.

“Huh. I didn’t know that.”

“You shouldn’t know. It’s my personal life.”

“Ah, right.”

I hurriedly gathered my expression and nodded, and the prophet looked up at me and sighed deeply.

*No, I’m older…….*

“So I wanted to thank you, Imperial Princess.”

“……”

“I’ve also gotten a lot better. Of course, it’s not perfect peace…… But I’m getting better little by little.”