What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 582

#582

New Method (1)

The prince, or rather, the crown prince, naturally wouldn’t know.

After all, when I released the Aether [a powerful, magical energy], he was receiving the love of the entire nation in the Kler Square, and after entering the palace, his energy had already spread beyond Romero.

Finding the source of the power was virtually impossible.

-Thud, thud, thud…

【Do you know how great a concept the Covenant is?】

-Knock knock knock

Regardless of what Hyung [older brother or close male friend] was ranting about, I calmly knocked on Prince Yeser’s bedroom door.

And I stood there, busily tidying myself up until the young page opened the door.

My apron and hands were covered in soot.

Originally, I should have washed up before meeting him, but he urgently summoned me, so I had no choice but to come in the state I was in after cleaning the fireplace.

I should probably be grateful that I left the broom and dustpan behind.

-Squeak

“Yes, just wait a moment.”

-Squeak

The lesser pandas that had gathered nearby roamed around the bedroom hallway.

As if they weren’t divine beasts, they loved entering precious spaces.

Moreover, it was the crown prince’s birthday, and the entire imperial palace was in a festive mood.

Boxes piled high with all sorts of wine and anisette [a licorice-flavored liqueur] bottles filled the stairs leading to the kitchen.

Sweet and wonderful smells wafted from all directions from morning.

Chocolate, macarons [a delicate meringue-based confection], the scent of freshly ironed clothes, and moist warmth…

【Do you properly understand the meaning of the Covenant?】

“Be quiet, it’ll be distracting in front of the prince.”

【Hey, do you know? How obsessed Cedrick is—】

-Click!

“Welcome, Serenite. Oh!”

“Hello, Pierre.”

【I’m going crazy.】

The door opened, and today, the page Pierre greeted me.

I was always happy to see his freckled nose and cheeks.

The boy looked well-rested, having slept soundly all night.

He led the lesser pandas and me into the room, whispering like this.

“The prince is in a good mood.”

“That’s good.”

-Squeak

“Yes, he seemed to have slept well, and he’s been humming songs since returning from the crown prince’s investiture ceremony this morning. So, he’ll laugh it off even if he sees your face. Don’t worry too much.”

“Pardon?”

Before I could grasp the meaning of his words, the page took me directly to the prince.

Then, the man who had been arranging several outfits on the sofa turned to look at me.

He was still in a white shirt and trousers.

It was fleeting, but his purple eyes, which had been tinged with navy, shimmered greatly.

The prince slightly raised the corner of his lips.

“Sooty Serenite has arrived.”

“Yes, pardon? Oh.”

Only then did I panic and rub my cheek with my sleeve.

Black grime smeared on the beige fabric.

Crazy, I wiped it five times, and each time the clothes turned black. Really crazy!

“I apologize, Your Highness. I didn’t check properly…”

-Squeak

“No, it’s my fault for calling you so urgently. Pierre, could you excuse us for a moment?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

The young page neatly stacked a few empty boxes and left.

Meanwhile, following the prince’s gesture, I hesitantly approached the sofa.

I couldn’t dare to lean anywhere for fear of getting soot on the precious fabric.

Soon, my mouth dropped open.

“Wow…”

There, unbelievably luxurious outfits were laid out.

They all seemed to be candidates for tonight’s shipboard ball.

Are those real diamonds embedded in the shoe heels?

Well, the prince wouldn’t use imitations.

The difference between him and me was clear even in this.

I don’t have a talent for dressing well, and I’m not really interested, and I just wear whatever Benjamin or my teacher recommends as long as it’s not too attention-grabbing.

Ganael and the other attendants take turns choosing what to wear for each day of the week.

Sometimes David or Isabel would bring good fabrics, and since receiving the marquisate [a noble rank], I’ve often worn imperial clothing as well.

But this is all…

-Squeak!

“Oh, it’s very pretty.”

Shin-guk style, and very authentic Shin-guk style at that.

I don’t like cumbersome clothes, so I’ve rarely dressed up this much.

Maybe I paid attention when wearing the bishop’s mitre [a tall headdress worn by bishops] and formal attire.

I couldn’t even dream of wearing a long fur gown that trailed on the floor, a thick gold necklace, or colorful, voluminous feather headdresses.

It’s too dangerous with the children.

“Is it too flashy?”

“No, it’s not. It’s just that I’ve never seen such fine fabric… It seems to suit Your Highness well.”

When I answered with sincerity, the man smiled slightly.

I felt it at the clothing store before, but he didn’t seem to have any trouble with being the center of attention.

Rather, he seemed to take it for granted…

“I tend to like being the center of attention.”

Wow, it feels like everyone in the neighborhood is reading my mind.

“It’s advantageous for survival. It’s better to have multiple witnesses anytime, anywhere. Even to avoid unnecessary accusations in the future.”

“Ah…”

I failed to manage my expression for a moment.

I quickly lowered my head and fixed my gaze on the sparkling onyx bracelet.

My bewildered mind spun like a top that had been beaten.

So, he naturally came to prefer an environment where there were many eyes watching him.

That way, Werner, the prince consort, wouldn’t be able to harm him easily, and it would be difficult for someone to falsely accuse him of something.

If he went around the entire royal castle creating alibis, he would become even safer.

Moreover, with the title of ‘Shin-guk’s playboy,’ he would naturally be distanced from the position of heir to the throne, killing two birds with one stone.

“Yeser-ssi [term of endearment] didn’t need to do that, right?”

“…Yes.”

I swallowed hard. I couldn’t even imagine the life the prince had to live.

To make matters worse, he had a clear sense of self from the beginning.

He survived knowing to the bone that he was a creation modeled after someone and that his existence had some reason.

…Even though I was facing a smiling face, it was somehow difficult to deal with.

“That’s a relief. It’s not a life I’d want to recommend.”

“…”

Only after hearing that did I realize that the reason the man had called me wasn’t because of the clothes.

Then, the corners of my mouth, which I had been forcibly lifting, slowly drooped.

The divine beasts, more nervous than I was, began to guard him with their tails raised high.

The prince looked down at them and gave a troubled smile. He looked regretful.

More precisely, he looked like he was blaming himself.

“…I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to vent on you.”

-Squeak!

“No, Your Highness. I didn’t take it that way. Demi, it’s okay.”

While I bent down to soothe the excited lesser panda, the prince casually stroked his belt and accessories.

However, even while looking at the expensive jewels, his eyes showed no vitality at all.

I felt a strange sense of pity, making it difficult to take my eyes off him.

Why does he seem so listless?

I heard he seemed to be in a good mood just a moment ago, but was that all an act?

“Actually, there’s something I wanted to ask you, so I called you.”

“Yes, please ask.”

“The reason I was able to attend the crown prince’s investiture ceremony today…”

He whispered slowly up to that point, then clenched his fist so tightly that the back of his hand turned white.

The luxurious platinum-colored satin and the handkerchief embroidered with tulips were crumpled pathetically.

“Is it thanks to you?”

“Yeeek?”

My voice cracked!

I hurriedly cleared my throat. Ahem, ahem!

【He’s misunderstanding terribly… Is he usually like this wherever he goes? Does he end up receiving Covenants left and right?】

Shut your mouth, Jung Hyun-seo! Shut your mouth!

“No, it’s not. What power do I have to do such a thing?”

I waved my hands, feeling the blood drain from my face.

The troublesome creatures, flustered by the unexpected words, also wagged their tails anxiously.

Right? Hyung is completely incompetent when he’s incompetent.

In fact, our prince is under house arrest and can’t attend official events, so what could I possibly do to overturn that?

Unless it’s the crown prince (of this neighborhood) himself!

“But the only change that’s happened to me is you.”

-Squeak?

“Pardon? What are you talking about…”

Really, what are you talking about! Think of the person you love!

As you know, that lady has the ability to wield the strongest man in the world like a whip.

It’s the result of her stepping in for you!

“I don’t have the power to change my surroundings. I’m just barely able to run away from death.”

Rummage, rummage… The prince added indifferently and began to dress himself.

I sincerely wanted to help him, but right now, I was literally covered in soot, so just staying still was helping.

Damn it, my insides were sizzling like seasoning stuck to an iron plate!

“No, no. Your Highness, would you listen to my story?”

“…”

…Wait. But I shouldn’t be talking about this.

Because even the original Christel wasn’t sure if she had convinced him or not.

Of course, the crown prince changed his mind after listening to her, but Christel doesn’t reveal to the prince that she stepped in.

In the midst of all that, who knows how things will go wrong if an extra like me interferes!

【Yeah, you’re actually thinking for once. But how did that guy end up getting a Covenant with you—】

“That’s… Well, it’s definitely not me.”

“I didn’t have any nightmares last night.”

He checked his sleeve cuffs, then gracefully turned his head to look at me.

My heart fluttered for a moment. I couldn’t even remember what I was going to say.

“Pardon?”

“I slept very deeply, and I had a good dream that I couldn’t buy with several carts of this silk. My sleep was unnaturally comfortable.”

“…”

“Is that also thanks to you?”

Oh, I’m going crazy!

“…It’s not ‘also,’ it’s ‘only’ my power. It’s not entirely mine either, it’s an ability I received from somewhere. The pre-festival noise was too loud, so I hoped everyone would sleep soundly…”

“So you can manipulate Aether after all.”

“…”

My mouth closed again at that remark. He had already guessed.

That the ‘priest’ the crown prince here was looking for was none other than me.

“You’re different from me, who’s just a facade. In everything.”

“…”

He whispered resentfully. Of course, he doesn’t resent ‘me.’

It’s just that I, who am pathetic and foolish, felt that way.

“There are similarities, but that’s it… We’re completely different people.”

“…”

The prince, who had been meticulously arranging his attire with delicate hands, glanced at me like a statue that had lost its magic.

No emotion surfaced in his monochrome jade eyes.

Joy, sorrow, happiness, anger… None of them could explain the man’s expressionlessness.

His eyes were simply purple, having swallowed all of the ocean’s blue and the sun’s red.

“Did you have a good talk with your friends?”

“…”

Even I felt like I would despair at that face.

“I saw you from afar, from this window. You seemed to be very close to each other.”

“…”

I had wanted to know his true feelings ever since I came here, but

“You look happy. Yeser-ssi.”

“…”

I definitely didn’t want to realize it through this kind of conversation. The inside of my cheek was slowly bitten between my teeth.

【Ah. The atmosphere is strange right now.】

“Prince Yeser.”

So I called him again. I was truly fearless.

The man, who had been smiling for a moment while thinking of someone, tilted his head when he saw me.

My face must have looked pretty serious.

“Yeser-ssi?”

Yes, I’m just an extra here.

【…Hey. Are you thinking something weird again? Don’t tell me you are?】

This is the noble original (Canon), and I should probably not touch it if possible.

In principle, everyone would think that way. And so far, nothing has changed significantly.

Our paths haven’t properly overlapped with the protagonists’ paths, and even if they do, they haven’t collided head-on.

It’s still safe.

“I dare to offer a suggestion to someone so esteemed.”

【Hey, don’t do this. Hyung has set everything up, so just relax…】

But if we respect the original, and therefore leave this place untouched—

“Yes, please speak.”

The prince before my eyes will die.

Someday, inevitably.

“Would you like to go find the rainbow with us?”

…I don’t want that.