What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 585

Behind the Stage (1)

#585

Behind the Stage (1)

Guided by Baccarat and the Andre family’s servants, the ball guests began to descend and walk toward the lake.

-Click!

“We greet the one known as the Moon of the Gods. We humbly inform you that, for safety, you must proceed on foot from here…”

Well, we were no exception.

The Prince and I shrugged and got out of the carriage.

“Wow…”

-Squeak…

“You’ll get a fish in your mouth. Ms. Serenite from the lake village. Demi, Leah, and Perry.”

“Ah, sorry.”

-Squeak

Prince Yeseo joked, and the divine beasts and I clamped our mouths shut like clams.

I hurriedly looked around, wondering if anyone had seen, but fortunately, no one was leisurely enough to pay attention to a servant.

Of course.

With the magnificent backdrop that had been called ‘the Lake of White Magic’ for decades and kept hidden from outsiders, the large and profound crescent moon, and the summer constellations beginning to rise in the sky…

-Swoosh…

-Rustle, rustle…

“…It’s really pretty.”

I don’t know how such a thing is possible, but all the boats floating gently on the lake had small magical lights like fireflies.

Looking closely, there were about three large boats, and the rest were all small skiffs.

Along the path to the lake, temporary lanterns stood tall in a row.

It was a dreamlike scene, like an illustration from an old fairy tale.

-Thud, thud, thud…

It was clearly a scene described in writing at Toegye Academy [a historical Confucian academy in Korea], but seeing it in person, everything was unfamiliar and amazing.

The shipboard ball was an episode focused on the emotional conflict between the two main characters, so their story was more memorable.

I readjusted my handbag and engraved everything I saw into my mind.

Even timid Leah seemed eager to be seen today.

Even Perry, who was shy, seemed to want to see many people today.

“…Oh, look at that! Honey!”

“It’s really spectacular. The wizard family is different.”

“It’s so beautiful, Father. I’m glad I came!”

-Woof! Woof woof! Woof!

“They look like whales!”

“Yes, yes. There will be too many people at the Crown Prince’s celebration anyway…”

Everyone was excited and flushed in the romantic atmosphere.

A few dogs that followed their owners jumped around, wagging their tails and barking.

I walked a step behind the Prince, looking around.

Not as extravagant as the spring ball guests I had seen at Stroda Palace, but these guests were just as luxurious.

Tails with cool splits from the back, dresses that exposed the shoulders.

Expensive monster fur fans and peacock-like headdresses. Colorful hats.

Coral decorating the leashes of companion dogs, canes showing off fist-sized opals.

Lace and gloves exuding all kinds of cosmetic scents…

“Don’t stare so openly. Ms. Yeseo is my date today.”

“Ah, I’m sorry.”

I quickly fixed my gaze forward again. Then the Prince laughed softly.

But this time it was not a joke.

I was the only one attending to him today, so I had to be careful with every action.

Originally, Benjamin was supposed to accompany him to the event, but I heard that the Prince had told him to rest at the palace.

In other words, ‘I want to go alone quietly this time.’

Of course, senior knights of the Imperial Guard were escorting him, but Sir Erbe D’huem and Dame Elizabeth were not among them.

It was the night of the Crown Prince’s birthday and investiture ceremony.

On a day like today, it was absurd for the two wings of the Imperial Guard to leave the side of the royal family.

-Rustle, rustle, rustle…

“I’m worried you’ll be carrying heavy things. You look thin and weak.”

“…Are you talking about me? No, I’m fine. You saw me working at the Imperial Palace; I’m stronger than you think. My stamina isn’t bad either.”

“Hmm.”

The Prince looks much thinner and weaker to my eyes—and he actually has terrible athletic ability—but he looked at me with an expression of disbelief.

I can easily carry this little handbag for hours.

A booklet depicting the creation of the continent by the Main God fluttered in the man’s grasp.

It was what he carried instead of a fan (the Prince only received fanning from others and, for some reason, was reluctant to hold a fan himself).

Suddenly, I blinked, thinking of Jung Hyunseo. *Hyung* [older brother or male friend] has been very quiet for the past few hours.

From then until we reached the waterfront, we listened to the chatter of other nobles and walked quietly.

That was perhaps a new commonality between the Prince and me.

Since we were both outsiders, we tended to focus on obtaining information from others rather than expressing ourselves, given the opportunity.

The nobles glanced at us from time to time, but they could not easily approach because the Prince had the Imperial Guard as a screen.

All they did was bow lightly and salute from afar.

-Thud, thud, thud…

“…It’s surprising that Baron Jan Tillier is going to jail for tax issues. I thought he would last at least until he was eighty!”

“Oh, he should have gone a long time ago. There have been terrible rumors about him, haven’t there? By the way… how did they float those boats? The Empire doesn’t have any paladins.”

“From what I heard from the Andre Baron’s fifth cousin, there is a great power hidden at the bottom of the Lake of White Magic. They use it to float various objects on the water.”

“Oh! Magitek [a blend of magic and technology]. Difficult.”

“Ordinary people like us get dizzy just hearing the word magic.”

“Did Baron Baccarat plan this event?”

“Of course not, it came from Baron Andre’s head, *monsieur* [French for sir]! I don’t know how this will sound, but Baccarat is a notoriously old-fashioned family. The ‘delicate’ Baroness would faint at the mere mention of an event.”

“Hahaha!”

“Oh, right. I can already picture it. ‘Baron, I want to float a boat on your lake. It’s our children’s engagement announcement, so we need a dramatic device like an opera.’ Baron Andre would have said this, and Baron Baccarat would have answered immediately. ‘That would be very romantic. By the way, not even a sailboat can enter our lake.'”

“Ahahaha!”

“Ohoho, you’re witty!”

The nobles laughed as if they were about to collapse.

A wind carrying the heavy smell of alcohol blew from the direction of the group.

The Prince and I silently exchanged glances.

It seems we are thinking the same thing right now.

“…Then what about the cost?”

“Don’t ask so little, *madam* [term of address for a woman]. Even a passing servant knows that the Andre family paid for it today. I heard that Andre’s side was also in charge of moving those boats here.”

“Oh my!”

“The Baccarat family, well… they are not wealthy. The number of servants who came out today is not large either.”

“I don’t understand at all. Isn’t that family’s second child the leader of the Fleur-de-lis [likely a magical or influential group]? He’s already an 8th-grade wizard at the age of twenty. If I were a mother, I would invest in him even if it meant pulling out the pillars of the house.”

“That’s what I’m saying, honey. Are we not wizards, so we don’t know? Look at the money Marquis D’huem, who is also an 8th-grade wizard, earns!”

“Baccarat is Baccarat, dear *monsieur*. A prodigy cannot survive in that family.”

“They named their own child ‘Modeste’ [meaning modest in French]. I know his specialty is eerie, but frankly, that was too much.”

“Ah, I agree. If it weren’t for Duke Mendy, he wouldn’t have even debuted in society.”

“…”

The more I listened to their stories, the more my gaze slowly fell to the dirt floor.

Some of it I knew, but most of it was new to me.

I roughly guessed that Camille’s family relationship was not smooth and that he grew up without his parents’ love…

“By the way, what kind of person is Desiree Baccarat?”

“She is now a small marchioness. She is so taciturn that she only says three or four words all day long. Her reputation is average.”

“She is not the type to be intimidated by the wealthy Andre. She is so upright. And I heard that she is giving the family heirloom as an engagement gift…”

That’s when it happened.

“…Welcome to the Lake of White Magic.”

“Ah! Leader Baccarat!”

A very familiar voice was heard from under my chin. I quickly raised my head.

Camille, dressed in a neat formal suit, was greeting guests right in front of the waterfront.

The nobles who encountered the expressionless teenager were greatly embarrassed.

Some succeeded in maintaining a poker face, but most were busy covering their faces with fans and hats. Of course, the person himself didn’t seem to care.

At least on the outside.

“For you… the two Barons have prepared a wonderful sight.”

“Oh, ahaha…”

“It will be no less than the Imperial Palace’s celebration. I hope you have a good time.”

It was the Duchess next to him who skillfully received Camille’s words.

I was standing behind the Prince and was surprised and poked my head out.

A welcome face was seen.

It’s Berenice Mendy. She’s standing with Camille’s arm around hers!

“Ah, *mademoiselle* [French for young lady]. Please give my regards to your father.”

“I will. My grandfather came with me today, so please say hello inside.”

“You look elegant today too, Lady Berenice.”

“You flatter me. See you again, Countess. Count.”

“Indeed, I wonder which family will take that clever girl…”

-Woof woof! Woof!

The whispering group of nobles scattered and boarded the ship.

Camille and Berenice didn’t even blink an eye as a strange dog barked at them.

Now that I see it, the skiffs seemed to be a kind of transportation connecting the ground, the ship, and the three large ships.

We carefully observed the appearance of the floating ship.

There was a long and thin slate-like thing attached to the bottom of the ship, and I recognized it at a glance due to the influence of being exposed to Francois too often.

“Ah…”

-Squeak…

That’s magic stone.

To be able to maintain magic power for so long even though there are no wizards around means that the grade is upper-middle or higher.

Where did they get so many good magic stones?

To spend this much money on an engagement announcement, not even a wedding… Andre is a great family.

“…We greet the Moon of the Gods. Prince Yeseo Venetian.”

“Oh, welcome. Your Highness.”

Next, Camille and Berenice bowed to the Prince.

While the man greeted the two with a painted smile, I gripped my handbag tightly and rolled my eyes.

If Berenice is here, then surely that person is too…

“Ah, Gung! No, Angko! Angko, here!”

“Ah, Bam!”

From afar, Ms. Gain, who was waiting in the Mendy family’s carriage, waved her arms.

Finally, I was able to relax and smile brightly.

Prince Yeseo looked at us alternately without a word.

*

As soon as we boarded the first mothership, the Prince asked the servant to guide us to the lounge.

The Andre Baron and Baccarat Baron rushed out barefoot and bowed at the appearance of the VIP.

Their family members also followed and paid their respects.

There was still about two hours left until the Crown Prince and Christel de Sarnes arrived.

The two would be intensely waltzing and talking at the Imperial Palace celebration by now (if that could be called a conversation).

-Clack!

The VIP lounge, which we finally arrived at, was quite spacious and the sofa was fluffy.

I opened the curtains and prepared the Prince’s seat first, then quickly unpacked and put on the tea leaves.

Ms. Gain, who came in with the permission of her superior, kept looking at him.

It was quite interesting because it was unlike her.

“…Hello, Your Highness? See you again.”

“Hahaha. Yes, nice to meet you.”

Then the Prince kissed the back of her hand.

I stopped making tea and opened my mouth slightly.

That’s when it happened.

-Chak!

“Serenite.”

“Ugh! Drag this person out!”

The Crown Prince, who suddenly appeared, looked down at us with a body as big as a house.

I almost had a heart attack!

How did you get through the Imperial Guard again!

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

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

SMPU TWSB What Happens When the Sub Male Lead Goes on Strike When the Third Wheel Strikes Back ขอทีผมคนนี้อยากหนีจากบทพระรอง 男配角罷工的話會發生的事 서브 남주가 파업하면 생기는 일 섭남파업
Status: Completed Author: Native Language: Korean
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[English Translation] Imagine waking up not as the hero, but as the second fiddle in your sister's favorite romance novel! That's exactly what happened. Except, this isn't just any supporting role—it's a fast track to a tragic war and an untimely demise. Forget destiny! This second lead is rewriting his fate. He's dodging the main characters, embracing a life of leisure, and counting down the seconds until he can finally go home. Can he escape the predetermined plot, or will he be forever trapped in a romantic fantasy gone wrong?

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