What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 602

“…and I harbored a foolish greed.”

Without warning, those words were added.

Gae-in and I blinked, turning to look at the man.

Rose tints were slowly returning to his cheeks, which had been pale and bloodless.

The Crown Prince certainly seemed more stable than he had a few dozen minutes ago, and the orange irises that had been sunken now seemed to glow with the embers of life.

However, his gaze was still lingering in the distant past.

Occasionally, Tetea stroked the Prince’s arm with her small, flipper-like hands, as if reassuring him that he could return to the present slowly.

We entrusted ourselves to his embers, drifting through the old days.

-Drip, drip, tap…

The rain was gradually stopping.

The silk umbrella that Su had lent us was deep and blue, resembling the color of the Grand Duke’s eyes.

“It’s an event I don’t even remember anymore.”

“……”

“……”

Cedric Liester’s low voice once again dragged everyone into the abyss.

We were no longer afraid because we had each other.

It was the spring of the year he was about to turn twelve.

‘Greetings to the most honorable Prince.’

‘Your Highness….’

At the time, the Prince was very young and in a very fragile state of mind and body.

Ether [a magical energy] was constantly leaking from his cracked vessel, so naturally, he had no energy in his body.

He had to sleep at least 18 hours a day, but even with twice as much rest as other children, his body did not grow.

This was because all his energy was being used to hold onto his life.

‘May you be in good health.’

‘…….’

Moreover, now the entire empire knew that the Prince was ill.

There was a world of difference between rumors spreading and official articles being published.

He, who stayed in the Imperial Palace for more than 350 days a year, could not have been unaware.

The Liester royals who came and went from the Imperial Palace, the great nobles he encountered in the Imperial Palace, and even the servants and maids of other palaces… Everyone looked at him with pitiful eyes.

They tried to give him anything more, to encourage the young child and cheer him up.

The Prince hated it so much.

On days when the name of Jibril Diop was mentioned in the distance, he left more than half of his meal untouched.

He just wanted to throw everything away and scream at the top of his lungs.

The sympathy or pity of strangers was simply disgusting and hateful.

He resented the Diop family, who had not even shown their faces at the Imperial Palace for some time.

The thin peace on the ice was finally shattering.

To be precise, he hated his own body for creating such a situation.

The desperate child began to look for a breakthrough.

‘I want to go to that event too, Father.’

‘…….’

Then one day, he heard news that an event hosted by the Imperial Family would be held in the suburbs of the capital.

The details were not clear, but two things were certain.

First, attending the event required staying awake for an entire day.

Second, many nobles and commoners would gather there to release divine lanterns.

‘…Are you serious, Seidi?’

‘…….’

‘You’ll have to stand all day. I’m worried your legs might hurt.’

The Grand Duke, as always, did not point out the boy’s innate weaknesses or limitations.

He simply looked after his young son’s heart with the concern that any parent would have.

The Prince, of course, did not give in.

He was determined to prove to everyone that he was not as weak as the world said, and that he was not a cause for concern who would collapse at any moment.

Whether he took strong medicine, poured mana into his body, or mobilized all the palace priests…

He was determined to stay awake that day, no matter what.

‘Yes, I am serious. I really want to go.’

‘…….’

He didn’t want to lose even the only thing he was born with.

He wanted to protect it with his own strength.

‘I will show everyone that I can do it. So I will be the pride of my mother and father.’

At those firm words, the Grand Duke smiled faintly like a mist. Then he replied.

‘You are already our pride, my dear.’

It was like ancient magic.

‘My precious son.’

‘…Your wish will be granted.’

Emperor Frederick subtly expressed his opposition, but Cardinal Oreli sided with the father and son, saying that it would not be a bad idea if the child could do it.

It was true that such a position was necessary to solidify the Prince’s standing.

The son, who did not have the support of his mother, became even more stubborn.

It was truly a series of days that could only be described as ‘tantrums’.

Cedric sometimes acted much younger than his peers.

He was only awake for six hours a day, so he may not have had enough time to grow.

“…After that, Father secluded himself.”

“……”

“……”

“That must have been when he started ‘that research’.”

The Crown Prince murmured lowly. We, sitting with him between us, quietly looked at each other.

We didn’t know which words to start with or how to say them, so we just stayed by his side.

Occasionally, when his fingertips seemed to tremble, I poured ether into his touching shoulder.

After a long time, a clear voice flowed from the opposite side.

“…Everyone loved and cherished each other deeply, but it seems that they gradually went awry.”

It was Gae-in.

“The divergence was clearly small, but the gap seems to have widened too much. Before we could even try to put it back together, it was gone in an instant…”

“……”

“……”

“It must have been very difficult. No one intended such a result, so you must have been even sadder. You must have felt helpless. And you must have blamed yourself a lot…”

Her eyes gazed into the distant night sky.

Perry, who was in her arms, quietly looked up at his favorite sister.

The tone of her voice was very calm and dry, which sounded like well-organized, uncluttered emotions rather than coldness.

I stroked Demi’s tail and quietly blinked.

Gae-in was always a much more mature person than the Crown Prince and I.

She was more capable of managing her heart than any of us, and she had steadfastly endured and lived a life that had no choice but to be so.

“…You have worked hard.”

“……”

Only then did the Crown Prince’s head move for the first time.

I couldn’t see it well from my side, but I could definitely tell that the two were exchanging glances.

Our protagonist continued calmly.

“You have suffered.”

“……”

It resembled a long sigh.

“You must have gritted your teeth and endured until now, so you will have calluses and you will be able to do better in the future. I tried it a few years earlier, and it gets easier as you get older.”

‘Is this a bad thing to say….’ She frowned and scratched her eyebrow with a smirk.

I listened to her words while holding my precious burdens.

The raindrops occasionally tapped the umbrella, making a sound of response.

“It sounds like a lie, but it’s true. Maybe around the end of the year, Your Highness will think that way too. ‘Huh? It was a little better than last year. This year was relatively less difficult.’”

“……”

“‘I’ve become a little stronger.’ ‘Maybe next year will be even better.’”

“……”

“‘Someday my scars may fade.’ That kind of thought.”

Then the man slowly looked forward again.

Although he didn’t express it in words, his profile looked more comfortable than before.

I twitched my lips and revised the sentences several times in my mind.

I want to comfort my friend too, I want to convey some comforting words, but no matter how much I think about it, I don’t think I have the right to do so.

I was afraid that what I said would feel like frivolous hypocrisy or pretense.

I know he doesn’t hate me, but he can’t like my background or family, either.

I can’t force that, and I shouldn’t.

“Because you have good people and precious family members by your side… you will be better tomorrow. Much more the day after tomorrow.”

“……”

In the end, all that came out of my mouth was that much of a repetitive encouragement.

I was even ashamed because it sounded so pathetic.

Of course, I couldn’t even say common words like, ‘You’ve had so much heartache all this time.’

Because the person who caused the situation is my family.

Even if I didn’t know at all and there was no intention, the person who suffered from it exists.

“…You.”

“Yes?”

But the reaction that came back was strange. With a sinking heart, I had no choice but to meet his gaze.

Are you asking for my opinion now?

“…Where are you tomorrow?”

“…Ah. Ahh.”

Only after spacing out for a long time did I realize that he was asking about my future whereabouts.

Demi, who had dug into my arms, whined in a pathetic tone.

I calmed her down and calmly cleared my throat.

The man’s eyes, which seemed to see through me, were painting an alien sunset in the black sky.

But I still didn’t have the gift of gab. I didn’t know how to answer when I received the same question just now.

Really, this is all new to me.

“Uh, ahem.”

Just honestly as I can think of…

“…If Your Highness allows it, I would like to be by your side.”

“……”

“Of course, I have to go home and see my brother, Eunseo, and my mom, but I don’t want to be separated from you two forever. I hope I can always be with my friends. Sincerely.”

“……”

Scary. His expression is so stiff that I can’t interpret it.

I quickly lowered my tail.

“If you don’t like it, I’ll just cheer you on from afar…”

“Nonsense.”

Hep. Yes.

“Don’t forget.”

The man growled menacingly right in front of me.

The shade of the blue umbrella was already hot with his heat.

Goosebumps reflexively rose and my dry saliva went down.

I understand you’re angry, but please don’t be too angry!

“You were the one who said you wouldn’t run away.”

“……”

My eyes widened. It was then.

-Jijijijik! Pajiijik…!

“Huh?”

Suddenly, purple sparks flashed before my eyes, and a familiar-looking window began to appear.

In between, large phoenix wings flashed, but it was only for a moment.

Surprised, Gae-in crawled over with widened eyes.

The Crown Prince frowned and glared at her, his view obstructed.

Meanwhile, the rain stopped like a lie, and the umbrella he was holding also came down with a swoosh.

I waved both hands busily at the two of them.

“Hyung [term for older brother or male friend], it seems like Hyung is back. There’s a status window here, not a phoenix. Right in front of my nose!”

“Your timing is amazing, Hyung-nim [honorific term for older brother], what are you saying?”

Gae-in quickly took a seat in front of me.

I felt strange seeing the status window flickering in her watery irises.

Even though I can’t check the contents, the fact that we are looking at the same screen….

【YOU CRAZY BASTARD REALLY】

【WHAT DO I DO ABOUT THIS WHEN DID I EVER TEACH YOU THAT WAY】

【ARE YOU PLANNING TO WATCH YOUR HYUNG COLLAPSE AND DIE IN HIS THIRTIES YOU SON OF A BITCH】

【JEONG YEO SEO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!】

Waaaaah, why all of a sudden!

“Calm down, Hyung! What’s wrong?”

【Calm down?】

【YOU’RE TELLING ME TO CALM DOWN WHEN YOU’VE BEEN STABBED WITH A KNIFE AND YOU’RE KEEPING YOUR MOUTH SHUT?】

……Ah.

Oh dear.