What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 553

#553

Hell Dive with Bated Breath (3)

“Your Highness, Princess Yeser, what is the meaning of this…!”

Startled, Françoise called out to me, her face pale, and the knights standing behind her gaped as if performing a synchronized dance.

Without hesitation, I strode confidently to the center of the encampment.

‘Awoo,’ Ropi, who had been lying on the side of the table, jumped up and raised his tail.

The lesser pandas, growling menacingly, followed closely behind me in perfect order.

I was charging forward like a madman when someone grabbed my forearm urgently. A firm grasp!

“Let go of me.”

-Kkyaa!

“Hey, what do you think you’re doing here? Didn’t anyone stop you at the front?”

“It would be troublesome if they did. Believe it or not, I am a princess of the Liester Imperial Palace. Not just any palace, but the famous Juliette Palace, as you say.”

-Kkheung!

As I huffed and tried to shake off his hand, Zibril Diop released me with a surprised expression.

Then, he muttered something like, ‘I should have known from the shin kick we exchanged at our first meeting,’ right in front of my face.

Whatever. I quickly reached the table.

Grandfather glanced at me with a worried look before turning to his grandson.

Following his gaze, I glared intensely at the Crown Prince, who was commanding everything from the center—

Uh?

“……Why does his face look like that?”

-Kking?

The shock was so great that the words came out without passing through my brain.

His orange eyes held no vitality or spirit.

The arms supporting him on the table faltered in surprise.

While I was gaping like a carp in the Imperial Palace pond [a common idiom for looking foolish or stunned], he ordered the soldiers in a voice that sounded like he was digging a tunnel.

“Drag her out.”

“……Yes, Your Highness.”

“Y-Yes……”

The knights, looking strangely unenthusiastic, approached me hesitantly.

Cedric looked like a dying final boss from some game.

I quickly shook my head and opened the Sanctuary [a magical barrier or safe space]. Paaaah…!

[I’m not going anywhere. Don’t waste your energy, everyone!]

“Aikko…!”

-Kkihu!

“Heok!”

The terrified group retreated a step or two.

Everyone was desperately trying to read the room, gauging both the Crown Prince and my reactions.

Françoise, looking unusually weary, rubbed her face with her hands.

“Alas, it has come to this. Not that I didn’t expect it, but…”

“Ha……”

Diop, looking as if he was about to explode, ran a hand through his hair and looked up at the ceiling.

Hey, do you think I came all the way here for a stroll? I wanted to snap back, but I gritted my teeth and counted to three in my head.

I didn’t want to blurt out a torrent of words emotionally.

Okay, let’s calmly recall the fundamental reason I came here.

Don’t get angry right away; be logical.

“Hoo……”

Yeser Jung, you’re a working woman in her thirties, and the other party is a child who suffered a great deal during the primary socialization process and has become stagnant.

So, don’t raise your voice and push him too hard.

Don’t adopt the same coercive attitude as him.

In fact, you shouldn’t do that to anyone, but Cedric is a sensitive person.

So, let’s be calm like an older sister. Let’s address each point one by one….

“Your Highness. Please withdraw the order you gave to the soldiers.”

Good. As soon as I opened my mouth, a calm voice flowed out. The speaking speed was also good.

“……I understand that you don’t want to see me. But I am objectively a talented healing priest, and I can do many other things, such as hearing confessions and interrogating those involved in the secret chamber. I can also make a meaningful contribution to the study of the newly discovered divine object. If you block my official duties, the Imperial Army will suffer a great loss in the long run. Also, it is true that Your Highness is of a higher status than me, but making such a decision forcibly without explanation—”

“Diop.”

“Damn it.”

Duke Diop openly cursed in front of high-ranking officials.

I was so taken aback by the sudden interruption that I blinked in bewilderment.

The Crown Prince didn’t even look at me as he spat out each word.

“Drag him out.”

“Pardon?”

“Ah, why me of all people—”

“And return this one to the Imperial Palace.”

“Hey!”

Hey, you son of a bitch!

-Clang! Clatter!

“Your Highness, Princess Juliette!”

-Kkiiing!

I couldn’t endure it any longer and jumped onto the table.

The stationery and wooden cups that had been holding the map in place tumbled to the side.

Françoise and Grandfather, horrified, clung to me to stop me.

The knights also grabbed the hem of my robe to help them.

But now, I really couldn’t see anything. I flailed my arms in the air, trying to grab his sleeve!

“Cedric Liester! Get over here!”

-Kkihu!

“Oh, good heavens!”

“Is this all you’ve felt after being with us all this time? Ugh, how could you do this to me! Weren’t we friends?”

“Your Highness! Please stay still!”

“Answer me! Is this all you are? Is it easy for you to erase all the shared feelings, experiences, and memories?!”

“My dear, please calm down! With your weak body—”

“I said I was sorry! I didn’t say anything even though I had a rough idea, I only talked about the advantages for me and kept my mouth shut about the disadvantages! I pretended not to know because I didn’t want to be a bad guy who ruins the mood!”

“Everyone, get out! Clear the area immediately!”

“Yes, Marquis Diem!”

“Shouldn’t I be the one who can’t even bear to look you in the face because I feel so guilty?! Logically! Why are you in this state?!”

Thump! Finally, I grabbed the Crown Prince’s shirt.

I glared at his face, which was getting closer, and swallowed hard. His black hair was scattered like dead climbing roses.

Finally, our eyes met.

“You, heok. Cough……”

“……”

He really was in terrible condition.

It stung my heart to see the heir to the Imperial throne looking like he hadn’t eaten a bite.

He was shining like the sun just a few days ago. Why on earth…….

“……The color has returned to your eyes.”

“Is that what’s important now?”

“That’s not what’s important now, Your Highness!”

-Kkiwoo!

Françoise and I said at the same time (the Marquis and Perry almost screamed).

But the Crown Prince’s pupils still lacked vitality.

He asked in a monotonous voice, still held by my collar.

“Is there anything else you want?”

Ugh! You idiot!

“You moron, it’s not about wanting something! Friends aren’t the kind of relationship where you calculate things like that!”

-Kkyaa!

“Goodness. She just called His Highness a moron……”

“……”

“I did this much for you, so you should do this much for me, just bear with it and understand me! I’m not trying to say that kind of bullshit!”

“The point?”

“Is that all I was to you?”

When I spat out those words, my eyes naturally welled up.

I didn’t want to show him that I was crying while angry, so I gripped his collar even tighter.

I clenched my jaw, and it made a cracking sound.

For some reason, I couldn’t see his expression clearly.

I just missed Ms. Gain for no reason.

“Don’t I even deserve to be angry and resentful at you? Am I someone you can just pretend not to know like a stranger overnight…….”

“……”

“……Am I not even worth giving a chance to? Was I the only one who thought we were friends?”

“……”

I couldn’t see his face or his eyes.

It felt like I was talking to a wall, even though I was talking right in front of him.

It was so frustrating and distant. My voice trembled terribly.

“Honestly……. Honestly, I was lonely here. Of course, I was. I left my family, home, and job behind. It wasn’t even my choice, so it was like a horror movie. It wasn’t easy to adapt to this strange world.”

“……”

“But the second time, I came because I wanted to. I really did.”

Flash.

I lifted my head and looked straight at him.

Our eyes met again, but this time I couldn’t read his emotions.

I still couldn’t grasp him.

“……I was sure I wouldn’t be lonely this time.”

“……”

“I wanted to do everything I could for you. I’m not trying to show off that I want you to know, I really did. And I wanted to tell you the truth when I came. I really didn’t want to part ways without being the real me. So, I wanted to tell you everything and tell you that I’m okay. Because I’m sure everyone is sad.”

“……”

The feeling of that day when I stood on the 12th-floor balcony was especially vivid today.

To be exact, the chilling fear and despair of that time.

“Of course, I thought that it would hurt you, and maybe you wouldn’t want to see me again. It would be a lie if I said I didn’t expect it. I thought I had covered it up well once, but now even the story about my brother has come out……”

“……”

“……Um. I didn’t expect the end to be like this.”

As if that murmur had become a spell, the strength in my grip drained away.

I slowly lowered my head.

I heard the sound of the lightning mage sighing deeply from behind.

For some reason, I chuckled briefly at that.

I guess everyone will have a hard time cleaning this up.

I think I’m slowly regaining my sanity, so I need to get out of here before I get embarrassed…….

-Thud!

“Ugh!”

That hurts! My wrist is going to fall off!

“Hey, let go of—”

“Are you ultimately not an agent of the Main God?”

“What?”

Cedric suddenly glared with red irises and snarled. I was instantly jolted awake.

His grim reaper-like appearance made me feel intimidated and gave me goosebumps all over my body.

While the startled divine beasts were climbing up his thighs, Françoise and Grandfather were desperately trying to stop him from the side.

Why is he suddenly like this?

“Isn’t the Main God, who murdered my father, sending you, his blood relative, as part of some plan?”

“Wait, just wait a minute!”

“Cedric! My dear!”

Stop lowering your voice!

“If this is a trick to destroy me on a soul level,”

“There’s no way, it’s a misunderstanding! My brother isn’t that kind of person!”

“Your Highness!”

Let’s talk from a distance! Don’t you know what personal space is!

-Flap!

Just then,

“Your Highness! Admiral Emma Corleone is currently leading the navy and returning to the temporary military camp!”

The knights, who had been equipped with armor and went on patrol to the north, hurriedly rushed into the camp.

I took advantage of the gap and struggled with all my might, but I couldn’t gain my freedom.

I just had to keep staring at the Crown Prince’s Adam’s apple as if waiting for the results of a scientific experiment. It was driving me crazy. Following that—

-Flutter!

“Your Highness! There’s something wrong with the warning window! It’s flashing like crazy!”

Ms. Gain, accompanied by Sir Johann, appeared with a clear shout.

In an instant, my mouth dropped open.

You’ve come to save me, Pink Princess!