What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 569

I Want to Go to the Ball (5)

A startled old man grabbed his arm and dragged him away.

Cedric frowned, looking down at him.

“Let go.”

“I’ll let go, but please don’t wander around as you please. This is a dueling ground for the Liestehr Imperial Family!”

“But it’s intact.”

-Nyaooo

He raised an eyebrow and observed his surroundings.

Meanwhile, Shu had been exhausting himself, keeping an eye on the unpredictable young man and guarding against the Imperial Guards who might appear from anywhere.

His voice was hoarse from scolding in a suppressed tone.

To be engaging in such a dangerous adventure at his age, he couldn’t help but think he was out of his mind.

He had been completely mesmerized by the first-class magic stone he had ever seen…

“When was this place last used?”

“Hmm… Well… Hasn’t it been about twenty years? Maybe more.”

“……”

As the bell-ringer answered, dredging up hazy memories, the young man wore a thoughtful expression.

The Imperial Family’s exclusive dueling space outside the palace seemed to please him (or perhaps the opposite).

For several minutes, he stared at the tiles of the stepped seating for no particular reason and peered into the trees surrounding the rear, trying to find any traces.

The little cat followed him, sniffing or constantly pressing something with its front paws.

-Aooong

However, all that remained there was time. There was really nothing.

“…It seems there was no need to throw a glove [issue a challenge].”

“Huh? What did you just say?”

Shu, who was taking a sip from a water bottle he had taken out of his bag, blinked.

Cedric didn’t answer. He was truly a prickly young man.

“…Alright. If the sightseeing is over, let’s go to my house for now. It’s only a ten-minute walk from here.”

“It would be better to part ways here.”

“What?”

“What!” The old man’s mouth dropped open. In all his life, he had never encountered such an absurd situation!

Regardless, the man calmly took out camouflage gear from his bag and put it on.

It was something Shu had gone to great lengths to obtain.

“If you need anything else, I’ll send word.”

“Do you know where my house is?”

“Do you think I wouldn’t?”

Hmm…? He really seemed to know.

The old man cautiously watched the cat while sharply pointing out,

“You’ll be in big trouble if you wander around here alone. The guards patrol…”

“I came during the shift change, so it doesn’t matter.”

“Heo…”

His energy drained away.

At the same time, fear and tension began to bounce around the bottom of the old man’s fragile heart.

Whether his words were bluff or truth, it seemed clear that the man was planning something big.

He had come here without asking further questions because he had asked to get off in the northwest of the Imperial Palace, but now it seemed that his business was with the palace itself.

Just as Shu was about to persuade him one last time—

Suddenly!

“I was surprised…”

“……”

The man, who suddenly raised his head, glared fiercely at the inside of the Imperial Palace.

His orange eyes were boiling hotly like the sun in the darkness.

He looked just like a predator who had captured his prey. But Shu felt strangely nothing.

At the same time—

-Whoosh!

“Oops!”

I almost dropped it!

The old man barely caught the magic stone that flew in a long arc.

This was already the second first-class magic stone.

The wrinkles on her face twitched wildly, unable to contain her joy and curiosity.

For a proper magician—especially a non-combat magician—it was impossible not to be swayed by a good magic stone…

“Uh…”

-Swoosh…

Shu, who raised his head, froze on the spot.

The handsome young man had vanished without a trace.

Hurriedly…!

Flap! Clatter! Flap!

“Hah, we’re here. We’re really here!”

-Squeak!

I crouched flat behind the stone fountain at the end of the Juliette Garden and hid the troublesome creatures that came running one by one under me.

Now, the massive Romero Palace stood before us, having safely crossed the courtyard.

It wasn’t much coming from my own mouth, but the delivery veteran was different after all [I am experienced in this type of thing].

I had experience taking out the sleeping homeowner from the Romero bedroom, and I had quietly left gifts in the room next door.

Everything was going smoothly.

The excited lesser pandas puffed out their noses and breathed heavily.

I wasn’t much different.

Taking advantage of the break, I gave Demi water, took a sip myself, and quickly looked around.

Huh… Whew… Deep breath.

“…This is the champagne His Eminence the Cardinal sent to the guests, Count.”

“Oh, how kind. His Highness Oreli’s eye for quality is as good as ever.”

“The finish is excellent. Don’t you think so, dear?”

“Indeed…”

The Imperial Palace, with the Crown Prince’s birthday just around the corner, was filled with cheerful aristocratic guests even at the late hour.

As I remembered, this part was the same in our worldline [timeline].

Around the time of Cedric’s birthday, commoners who were clearly identified were also allowed to enter the Imperial Palace.

Snacks and small, pretty gifts were placed everywhere for visitors, and as the night deepened, servants carrying champagne glasses appeared.

Most of them were faces I knew.

-Kkia?

“Yeah, that’s Ganael. He must be helping out with the Romero Palace overtime.”

I stroked Perry, who had guessed correctly, and slightly raised the corners of my lips.

The boy who handed out champagne to the guests was smiling brightly at the servants who were calling him from afar.

Then, his rosy lips moved greatly, containing the word ‘Prince’.

The following sentence was full of jokes that only they knew.

As I blankly watched the scene, a smile spread across my face, and I felt strangely nostalgic.

“I’ll be right there! I have to check on the Prince’s bedtime.”

“……”

Even though I knew that child wasn’t the Ganael I knew…

Every time Benjamin, Ganael, Pierre, and Laurence didn’t recognize me… It was always a strange feeling.

I knew very well that I didn’t need to think that way.

“…Did I steal it? Could it be seen that way as a result?”

That’s definitely not what I intended…

-Kking?

“Haha. It’s nothing.”

I laughed it off and stamped a kiss on Leia’s forehead.

The divine beast quickly became dewy like dew.

“We’re almost there… Once those people pass by, let’s cross the street and climb up to the window frame.”

-Kkieueu

I regained my composure and focused on understanding the surrounding atmosphere.

Fortunately, there weren’t many people enjoying a night stroll.

Unless they were guests staying at the palace at His Majesty’s invitation, all visitors were supposed to leave before or after sunset.

Distant voices were heard nearby.

“…By the way, what will happen to the Sarnese Duchess? She hasn’t set foot in the Imperial Palace for over a week.”

“Honey, let’s talk about that in the room.”

“No, dear. Listen. There’s talk of breaking off the engagement. Rumor has it that the young lady kissed His Highness here…”

“Shh, shh.”

“Count Bardella saw it clearly with his own eyes! Through that ‘modified version’ [likely referring to a magical viewing device].”

“Please lower your voice. Romero is right in front of us.”

“So, can it even lead to marriage? Our daughter has a better chance.”

“Oh, you still haven’t given up on that ambition.”

“……”

Isn’t it? But in the end, they like each other, right?

I suppressed the urge to pick on the words, hid my rough breath in the sound of the fountain spraying water, and hid.

The black bag that needed to be delivered was hidden securely in the bag.

The Count continued to insist.

“We shouldn’t let our guard down either, dear. We never know when the Imperial Family might propose a marriage. We need to be prepared.”

“Honey, please…”

-Pitter-patter, pitter-patter, pitter-patter…

And finally, the backs of the harmonious Count and his wife faded into the distance.

I swallowed hard and carefully checked left, right, front, and back one last time.

“Let’s stay calm. We can’t get caught. Absolutely…”

The Prince said he would protect me even if I got caught, but it was difficult to underestimate Cedric Liestehr’s personality.

Especially the guy here…

Because he’s not the guy I know. Of course.

“Now’s the time, let’s cross over!”

-Kkit!

Taking advantage of the short gap where there were no patrol troops, the lesser pandas and I dashed across the carriage road at full speed.

Then, we quickly hid in the bushes I had spotted in advance!

-Rustle, rustle!

-Kking!

-Kkieut!

“Aigo, Leia! Come here. That’s right. Perry, you come to your brother too!”

The little ones, who had stuck their heads into the dense thicket, wiggled their butts and dangled in the air.

I barely took the two children out and hurriedly looked for Demi.

Where did this one go again…

-Grumble!

“…Huh?”

‘Grumble!’ Under the shade of the low, dense thicket, Demi was crying while looking at someone.

The moment I saw that, my fingertips turned as cold as ice.

Wait a minute.

“Oh my gosh. Someone’s collapsed…”

Thud. My head, which had been full of thoughts, paused as if by magic.

When I discovered the messily disheveled clothes, my heart pounded loudly.

Could it be that among the guests who came today, there was a patient? Someone who collapsed in cardiac arrest…

If so, delivery isn’t important right now.

“Demi, Demi. Can you move aside for a moment? I’ll take a look myself. I’ll check the pulse first…”

I put the two divine beasts down beside me and crawled to the patient.

The feeling of my nape getting cold and cold sweat forming was unpleasant no matter how many times I experienced it.

Please be alive, please. I’d rather it be a sleeping drunkard…

-Rustle, rustle, rustle

“Huh? Wait a minute…”

Good heavens, it looks like a child…?”

“It’s okay. Uncle will help you. I’ll take you to your parents…”

“……”

“Heok.”

And the moment I checked the face wrapped in the robe, it felt like my breath stopped.

My arms lost strength, and I collapsed as it was. Ugh!

“Why are you here…”

“……”

“No way…”

It was Seidi.

A child who had collapsed, buried in a jet-black robe and a snow-white tunic, as pale as a corpse.

“Hey, Ether. I’ll give you Ether [a magical restorative]. Why did you do this until you fainted…”

I felt like my brain was being bleached from being so flustered, but I had to do what I could do right now.

I frantically moved only my lips and pulled the child over and laid her on my lap.

The lower body temperature than usual touched me, and all sorts of thoughts exploded.

You, why are you here! Did you use up all your strength coming over here? What about the Hyegeom [a magical artifact]?

I’m really grateful for your help that day, but what if I hadn’t found you and you had collapsed in a place like this? What about the Sungseok [a magical stone] I gave you!

-Thud

Right then—

-Sreung!

“Heok!”

A jet-black sword blade flew under my trembling chin.

I squeezed my eyes shut and slowly lifted my eyelids.

The lava-like hot blade cooled the heat lukewarmly the moment it touched my skin.

“Heut…”

“……”

And this time, our eyes definitely met.

With Cedric Mercedes Liestehr.