What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 566

I Want to Go to the Ball (2)

The cruise ball is so important because Cristel, Prince Cedrick, and Prince Yeseo will all be there.

The love triangle, which seemed to favor one side, slowly starts to balance itself from that point onward.

And in the latest episodes of ‘Toegye Gong’ [a fictional story], the feelings of the two main characters become quite clear.

At least, that’s how it was as far as I read.

I feel sorry for the prince, but the main couple was so lovey-dovey!

······They just didn’t clearly express their feelings to each other.

-Squeak, squeak······

“Even if I’m a bit down, I should still clean diligently.”

-Creak!

Anyway, as the site of the most crucial event in the early part of the novel, it’s also a place where I’m likely to run into my friends.

Judging by how quiet the Imperial Palace has been, it seems everyone is out and about. If so, they’ll naturally look for places where the main trio would appear, just like me.

Because they’ll think that’s where they can meet them.

But I can’t go. This is a big problem.

“Hoo······.”

At first, I thought I could definitely go, but when I thought about it more, it wasn’t going to be that easy.

It’s absurd for a mere servant to follow the prince around, unless I were a valet [a personal attendant].

-Squeak, squeak, squeak

······Here’s an interesting fact.

“In the world I came from, the cruise ball didn’t even happen.”

-Kkiung?

“Oh, it’s true. That ball is an event that Viscount Judith Andre holds to raise his family’s profile and announce his son’s engagement. Duke Andre seized the perfect opportunity thanks to Gongja’s runner-up finish in the Demon Beast Subjugation Competition.”

-Kkiing?

“That’s right. In my world, the Demon Beast Subjugation was very… well, the demons were actually subjugated. The Crown Prince took first place, and the whole country was buzzing for a while thanks to Hwaseong’s Hyegeom [likely a famous figure or event], and the other participants didn’t even have a chance to get noticed. But it’s different here.”

I smiled and tapped my temple with my index finger.

The difference between ‘Toegye Gong’ and my original knowledge is that I know most of it by heart.

I don’t even need to look at my notebook for this.

“Here, Cedrick Liester didn’t participate in the Demon Beast Subjugation. He didn’t need to. Because he has······.”

I looked around the deserted hallway and lowered my voice.

The little lesser pandas wiggled their snow-white whiskers.

“Already has the Blessing of the Azure Sea. He’s using that to suppress his ether [magical energy].”

-Kkia!

Peri’s eyes lit up as if he finally understood.

I chuckled and rubbed his forehead.

“Right. If I remember correctly, the winner of this subjugation suffered serious injuries and couldn’t even leave the house, let alone attend social events. But the runner-up, Duke Andre, was different. He was a talented Rank 6 swordsman, and his conduct was usually decent. Besides, it’s not often that you get this much attention in life, right?”

-Splash, splash, splash

I dunked the dirty rag into the bucket and scrubbed it with both hands.

‘Kkieu.’ The two lesser pandas wagged their tails and stepped back a few paces at the sight of the dark grime.

Only Demi was watching with curious eyes.

“The Andre viscountcy made a fortune through a large-scale opera house business… but they tended to be looked down upon by the families in the Imperial Capital’s social circles.”

-Kkii······

“They originally started as a baronetcy, and the first head of the family’s husband was a commoner merchant. I guess there was some negative perception because it’s a class-based society.”

-Swish!

I wrung out the rag, squeezed out the water, and placed the somewhat clean cloth back on the windowsill.

And this time, I diligently talked while scrubbing away the grime stuck in the corners.

The lesser pandas, trying not to leave jelly marks [referring to their paw prints], tilted their heads with sparkling eyes.

They seemed to be looking out the window, so I turned my gaze that way too….

-Rustle, rustle!

“······What was that just now? Do we have another troublemaker besides you guys?”

I stared at the swaying bushes outside the window, but soon shook my head, thinking they were just small birds.

Then I busily moved the rag again.

As a servant, it was hard to satisfy all my curiosity immediately.

So, if it wasn’t a big deal, I had no choice but to forget about it quickly.

“The previous head of the family received the viscountcy about twenty years ago as a result of being recognized for contributing to the development of the empire’s culture. But the current Duke Andre isn’t satisfied with that. Wow, look at that shine······.”

‘It’s a color I never knew existed when I lived here.’ I smiled brightly at the newly cleaned windowsill, then led the rag bucket and the kids to the next target.

Once again, I familiarly took my place and scrubbed the windowsill with the rag.

The pants I was given were so stretched out at the knees that they were perfect for dragging around.

“Anyway, the viscount started looking for a marriage partner from the moment his son won second place.”

-Kkiheung

“Yeah. To raise the family’s status in Liester… should I say it’s easy? Anyway, the easiest way to raise it is through marriage with a more honorable family.”

-Kkulut

“For the Andre family, that was the Bacari baronetcy.”

-Flap, flap, flap!

The lesser pandas, surprised by the familiar name, quickly clung to me.

They opened their small mouths as if asking what that meant.

I steadied my swaying body and chuckled quietly. It was then.

“Kkamjjik-ah! How much of this windowsill have you done?”

Huh! It’s Wangnun-i sunbae [senior]!

“Ah, yes! I’ve finished all of the left side and about half of the right side!”

“That kid’s hands are fast. Don’t overdo it and come down to eat a snack! Let the puppies rest too.”

She, who was going to accompany the prince as his porter at this cruise ball, was famous for being sturdy and strong.

She also had experience going out with the prince several times.

The probability of a newbie like me overtaking her and accompanying the prince was 0.

Really, zero.

“Snack?”

“Yeah, I’ve got your favorite delicious treats. Romero sent us a lot of Conversaciones [likely a type of snack]. They’re discards, but they taste great. You know?”

Jackpot!

“Thank you. I’ll finish up quickly and go!”

When I answered with a beaming smile, my sunbae, whose eyes popped out, waved her hand and walked away.

It meant don’t try too hard and come down quickly.

I was excited and increased my speed by about three times. I felt a little bit of my gloominess washing away.

-Chop chop······

The lesser pandas smacked their lips along with me.

Though they were still looking outside.

*

The next day, I was diligently working again.

Originally, an Imperial Palace servant with the Imperial Family’s birthday right around the corner is as busy as can be.

“So, eusha [a Korean interjection]. Bacari-gun [a term of address] has an older sister.”

-Kkii?

“Hyung [another term of address] also doesn’t know well. I forgot her name, but anyway, that’s how it came out in the novel. Actually, Bacari-gun doesn’t seem to have a good relationship with his family······.”

‘I didn’t feel like memorizing it.’ I whispered the rest of the words and put in a book that was about a hand-span thick.

It was so heavy that my wrist was trembling a little after the twentieth book.

It was a burdensome volume even for me, who graduated from law school.

The ladder creaked and groaned every time I moved.

The lesser pandas were holding on tightly from below, but it was no use.

The place I was organizing today was Juliette Palace’s library.

The empty bookshelves had already been thoroughly dusted, and all I had to do was put the neatly wiped books back in order.

It wasn’t a job I was doing alone, so there were eight people including me.

In addition, Valet Pierre was walking around and supervising our work.

Since precious guests come and go, every part must be done with caution?

“No······. Why did they only bring heavy books like this? My wrists will break if I read this wrong.”

-Kkieong

I couldn’t help but grumble like that. Demi definitely said ‘I agree’ just now.

I had never invited anyone I didn’t know to Juliette while pretending to be Yeseo Fenetian (except for Sadie).

I couldn’t dare to think of doing that, and I didn’t have the personality to do it.

But the real prince was the opposite.

He knew many people in the Imperial Capital’s social circles, and he quickly mingled with people he didn’t know.

He also often held tea parties and parties here.

Since the dignity maintenance expenses and the shrine pension came out steadily, there was no shortage of budget, and Frederick the Emperor was not the type to sanction such things one by one.

It seemed that His Highness Aurelio didn’t like it very much, but······.

“Anyway······. The Bacari baronetcy is a historic noble family that produced the youngest leader of the Fleur de Lis [likely a prestigious organization]. Even though the title remains a baronetcy, the first head of the family had a relationship with the late Emperor Arian.”

-Kkii?

“That means the family’s honor is that much higher. It’s not strange that the Andre viscountcy proposed marriage.”

Moreover, according to the rumors I’ve heard over the past few days… Bacari’s financial situation wasn’t very good.

It was so unheard of that it might not be true, but there was a rumor that the reason the Bacari family didn’t reject the Andre family’s marriage proposal was because of money.

With a troubled heart, I pushed the next book in.

Camille-gun’s cyan eyes kept coming to mind, and my mouth tasted bitter.

“······Tillier? That fist fighter?”

“Is that true?”

At that time, the servants’ whispers from across the bookshelf traveled over the book spines.

I instinctively narrowed my brows and pricked up my ears.

What is it? Could it be useful information?

“Yeah! An employee at the costume shop slipped and fell on the young lady’s dress— Crash!”

“Oh my.”

“Baron Zan Tillier fainted on the spot and was carried away. Their heads bumped into each other, and they said it sounded like a rock breaking. Half of the Imperial Capital is talking about it now.”

“Oh my god······. Is the employee okay?”

“Yeah. She apologized several times. How is it her fault that she fell?”

“Honestly, it’s satisfying! He’s a notorious human being. What, Wangnun-i sunbae is also from the Tillier baronetcy, right?”

“That’s right, she was.”

“Duchess Sarnese even shed tears on the spot!”

“Well, yeah. She suffered such a bolt from the blue from such a scoundrel noble······.”

What······? Is that Isabel’s story?

The Isabel I know?

“Wait, just a moment.”

I felt my head chilling. I hurriedly leaned forward.

I wanted to hear more details. If it was an incident involving Isabel, maybe I didn’t know.

Maybe Ga-in-ssi [a Korean honorific] is involved—

-Thud!

At that moment, the old ladder swayed.

My body, which had no sense of balance, tilted and fell backward. Uh-oh······!

“Ugh!”

-Kkiiii!

-Kkiuuu!

-Kkiaaa!

Thud!

“You should be careful.”

“Uh······?”

Someone supported my waist from behind with one hand, then pushed me straight up.

To exaggerate a bit, it was like a Gyro Drop [an amusement park ride].

I quickly grabbed the corner of the bookshelf to straighten my back, picked up my heart that had fallen to my knees, and hurriedly turned around.

Huh!

“Your Highness, I apologize. I was careless!”

-Kkiit!

As I bowed my head immediately, Prince Yeseo looked up at me and smiled gently.

His purple eyes, which shone even without using ether, were dazzling today.

The Lesser Panda Trio stuck to his ankles as if expressing their gratitude.

He stroked the heads of the three little ones in turn, then said to me.

“The first mistake is not a fault. I came because I have a separate request.”

“Yes? If it’s a request······.”

“I made my thirtieth bet with His Highness the Crown Prince.”

What? What kind of bet did you make thirty times······.

“Could you deliver this to His Highness?”

“Yeeh?”

The man handed over a jet-black envelope with his white hand. My jaw automatically dropped.

I was now a little dumbfounded by the sudden situation.

What kind of relationship do you guys have?