What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 587

#587

Behind the Stage (3)

“Oh, Lady Elizabeth is following us!”

“Marquis François D’Huem is here too. It seems they left the Imperial Palace together.”

Gain pressed her nose against the curtains and exclaimed, while the composed Sir Johann added a comment.

The light from the chandelier outside the lounge streamed in, illuminating his sharp nose and jawline.

I was flustered and turned to look at Prince Yeseo.

The man looked amused, and from the way he bit into a cookie without being asked—one I had tasted first, of course—I knew it was genuine.

At that moment, the nobles outside were about to faint.

No one had expected the Crown Prince, the main attraction of today, to come all the way to the outskirts of the Imperial City.

This also happens in the original story.

“This is driving me crazy.”

It just wasn’t this early!

“We greet the Crown Prince…!”

“We greet the one who will become the sun of the Empire.”

“Your Highness, this is an honor for my family.”

Without being told, the nobles stepped back to the sides, standing in orderly rows to pay their respects to the heir to the throne.

The man, who had just left the Imperial Palace celebration, was dazzlingly dressed today.

No, actually, I don’t know about the clothes, but the person was devastatingly handsome.

However, he seemed a bit thinner than our Crown Prince, and didn’t look very healthy.

Even in this situation, the noble parents desperately pushed their young sons and daughters forward.

They were trying to catch the eye of the Imperial family and secure a position.

They all whispered to their children like this.

“Smile, dear! Smile beautifully!”

“Bow lower! Lower! So he can see your neat crown…!”

“Wow, the competition is fierce. The atmosphere is a mess even though he’s engaged.”

“Gain…”

I only recently learned this—François told me—that when you become the Crown Prince, you gain the power to grant a palace to someone.

The procedure is a bit complicated, but it’s possible (I received a palace by His Majesty’s order).

Well, considering that you have the power of summary judgment and disposition even in peacetime, I guess that’s to be expected.

A literal ‘little emperor’ had appeared before the nobles’ eyes.

Our protagonist glared fiercely at the back of his black head.

“Why did he have to come here? As the Crown Prince, he must have received hundreds of party invitations. Doesn’t he hate crowded places?”

“Because he likes magic. He must have wanted to come to this kind of ball.”

“……”

That answer came from none other than the Prince.

Everyone, including the Crown Prince himself, turned to him in surprise.

The blonde beauty smiled lightly and shrugged.

“It’s just my guess.”

“No, that makes sense. The Crown Prince actually…”

I whispered, looking up at the man who had approached the curtain.

Beyond the snail glasses [thick, round glasses] that had returned to their place, I saw crimson eyes watching me.

Come to think of it, this guy always liked magic. There was no need to think any deeper.

He was always with Dioph and his men when they were discussing something magical, and he got along quite well with the non-combat mages François and Camille.

Of course, he likes swordsmanship too, but when he talks about magic, his eyes definitely change….

‘Was it made with a magic stone pen nib?’

‘If so, it won’t be able to store a large amount of ink for a long time. How does it respond to rapid temperature changes?’

“Actually?”

He caught the end of my sentence in a low voice.

“……Um.”

This is not the time to be thinking about this.

I stood on tiptoe again and looked at the situation beyond the curtain.

Now that I see it, the VIPs weren’t just the Crown Prince’s party.

Behind him, I caught sight of Isabelle and Christel de Sarnese.

There was also Viscount Judith Andre, whom I had met at the opera house, and a woman who seemed to be Viscountess Bacari.

That over there was Duke Florian Mendy, the father of Lady Berenice.

It seemed they all left the Imperial Palace together.

I was worried that the main mothership [the main group of important people] would become too heavy and sink.

…I swallowed hard. Finally, the big game is starting.

“That’s Sub-Viscount Desirée? The jewelry box that person is holding looks like a holy relic box. Right?”

“Yes. It seems they were going to reveal her engagement gift directly.”

Gain and I whispered. We were on edge about the situation before us.

Viscount Hugo Bacari kissed the Crown Prince’s golden signet ring, then politely introduced his daughter and future son-in-law.

The order of introducing the holy relic bracelet seemed to have been completely forgotten in everyone’s minds.

Damn it. Well, I guess so. How could they not when a man like that appeared?

“Yeseo, what’s the plan?”

The Prince, who was sitting alone, asked naturally.

For a moment, I felt a familiar sensation, as if he had been with us many times.

“……Even if we can’t completely steal the treasure, we just need a chance to check it out ourselves. Even just for one minute. Can you help us, Your Highness?”

And the reason why even one minute is good is because we have ‘Hyun Seo-chang’.

It’s been a little unsettling that he’s been quiet so far, but anyway, Hyung [term for older brother] is by my side right now.

So, if that holy relic is one of the seven colors of the rainbow, then when I touch it, Hyung will give me a signal in some way.

Surely that ‘See More’ button isn’t completely useless.

He’ll at least show me a yes or no indication.

-Click

Then the Prince elegantly put down his teacup.

“That should be easy. I’ll suggest that I give a blessing to the holy relic.”

“Jackpot! That’s a really good idea—”

Gain, who had been brightening up with excitement, awkwardly changed her expression as soon as she met the Prince’s eyes.

The man looked at her with an unchanged, gentle gaze.

I tilted my head, unable to understand ‘that’ at all.

You two have been acting strange since earlier, what’s going on?

Did you fight or something without me knowing?

“If it turns out that the holy relic is part of the rainbow, what are you planning to do then?”

“Ah.”

I quickly returned to reality at Sir Johann’s voice. I calmly continued.

“Then there’s no choice. It’s really unfortunate for Viscount Bacari and Sub-Viscount Desirée, but,”

“We’ll have to steal it.”

“……Yes.”

The Crown Prince said firmly.

I belatedly added, carrying the weight of his share of guilt.

He would have lived well as a righteous thief instead of royalty.

Of course, what we’re trying to do is nothing more than a wicked robbery….

“Then what is the specific plan for theft and escape?”

The Prince asked with a brazen face, not to be outdone.

I was momentarily speechless at his unwavering expression.

Do the two male leads have similar personalities in this regard?

…Why these parts?

“I have a good idea. Listen up.”

Just then, Gain raised her arm brightly.

Tete, who was on her back, happily fluttered her flipper feet.

“‘Idea’?”

“It means ‘brilliant idea.’ At least, Christel uses it that way.”

Cedric asked with his arms crossed, and the Prince answered softly.

The two people’s gazes intertwined again, crackling.

I don’t know what kind of atmosphere this is, but I thought someone should step in, so I stepped forward.

Standing like a barricade between the two, I turned to Gain, and she raised the corners of her lips.

Sir Johann looked like he was holding back a laugh for some reason.

What, is this a good thing?

“Well, aren’t I an employee on a business trip who came all the way here for Lady Berenice Mendy? The Duchess and the maid sisters already adore me. I’m kind of like their rookie idol?”

“Wow.”

As expected of the protagonist, her sociability is amazing….

“But I heard that Lady Berenice’s grandfather, who came with her today, is a very important person. He’s about to retire, though.”

“Grandfather?”

“Yes. Her maternal grandfather is famous not only in the Imperial City’s social circles but also in the neighboring feudal states. And we have Bacari, right? The Commander will be a contingency plan.”

…Camille? Suddenly? I blinked, having missed the flow at some point.

Gain explained again for me.

“Lady Berenice and Commander Bacari have known each other since they were young. They’re so close that they often attend parties together as partners. When I subtly probed, Bacari roughly knows that the Lady is secretly involved in ‘courtly romance’ and the content of the writings she uses there! But he just respects it as a hobby.”

…Is that special? Isn’t it natural to respect a friend’s hobby?

“I don’t really know.”

“Oh. Besides, they both hate attending social events, so they understand each other better than anyone else and have known each other for a long time. If the Lady has to go somewhere, the Commander follows her, and if the Commander has a schedule like today, the Lady comes. What kind of relationship will they have in the long term?”

“……Lifelong friends?”

I tilted my head, and the lesser pandas and Ropi also tilted their tails.

Gugu slowly bent her head when she saw that.

Even the Crown Prince was frowning for some reason.

Gain looked around at us and was silent for a long time….

“Okay. Let’s just go up to the grandfather. Let’s pretend you didn’t hear anything after that.”

“Yeees.”

She waved her hand roughly and wrapped it up like that. It must not have been important.

*

The operation proceeded smoothly from then on.

“Oh, it’s Prince Yeseo Venetian…!”

“We greet the one who is called the Moon of the Holy Kingdom!”

When Prince Yeseo, who had finally finished preparing, gracefully took a step, I witnessed the miracle of the cloud-like crowd gathered in the mothership looking up at one place at the same time.

The atmosphere was completely different from when they had an audience with the Crown Prince a little while ago.

If many nobles showed awe, lust, and loyalty to the man, what they showed to the Prince was truly close to faith.

Yeseo Venetian seemed like an incarnation symbolizing divinity here.

Moreover, with his beautiful appearance as if the chief god had made him himself, some of the people in the audience were almost overwhelmed.

Those who had been longing for the Crown Prince until a few minutes ago were now confessing their sins while looking at him.

In an instant, the eyes of the red-eyed Crown Prince and the Prince met.

But that was it.

“Your Highness, how was the lounge? I was worried because the distinguished guest seemed to be unwell.”

“I rested well thanks to you, Viscount. Thank you for your concern.”

“This is Viscount Judith Andre. He arrived from the Imperial Palace a little while ago….”

While everyone’s attention was focused on one Prince, our friends were busy scattering in all directions.

It was to properly carry out their respective tasks.

The Prince continued the conversation in a very natural and fluent manner.

“……Since you have invited me to such a precious place and have shown me kindness, I would like to give a small blessing to your engagement gifts.”

“Oh, Your Highness! If you would do that, it would be truly….”

The two Viscounts, surprised by the unexpected proposal, bowed.

It was by no means a negative reaction, but rather a sign that they were too moved and happy to know what to do.

In particular, Andre, the owner of the opera house, seemed eager to make this another event.

I smiled slightly, recalling the performance she had shown at the opening performance of .

You’re still the same, you too.

“Then, Your Highness, we will prepare a separate place in the center of this ballroom. Since Viscount Bacari’s residence is nearby, we will be able to have most of the ritual tools used for the ceremony. If there are any items you need, including an altar….”

“No.”

The Prince cut him off in a soft tone. The middle-aged man paused and looked at him.

“I want to quietly meet the treasure alone in a guest room. That’s how the prayers of the royal priests should be.”

“Ah….”

Silence flowed for a moment at those words.

Demi pressed down on my pounding chest.