What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 61

#061 Let Him Enjoy It (2)

Right.

There was no need to be surprised or taken aback.

I greeted the Prince and maintained a calm expression, even as he ignored me.

Even if I tried to avoid it, living in the same space meant encounters were inevitable.

When multiple families live in one house, all sorts of incidents are bound to happen.

Just look at the stories in the media: , , …

“Prince.”

“Yes, Marquis.”

Marquis François Dhuem, who was preparing for the ceremony, approached me and whispered.

“There was a message from His Highness the Prince.”

A message? I glanced at Cedric, the Prince, standing at a distance.

He had the same annoying, expressionless face as always.

The Prince and I stood apart, with a priest who came as a witness between us.

The parties who were to make the ‘Pact of the Twin Stars’ were placed in the center, and the three witnesses formed a curved arc.

“I was the first to receive the request to stand here as a witness.”

“……”

“That is what he said. 30 seconds ago.”

“Did anyone ask?”

Oops, my inner thoughts slipped out.

I quickly rubbed my face, pretending it was nothing. The Marquis blinked a couple of times.

“Pardon?”

“No, it’s nothing. You don’t have to relay my words.”

“I see. Understood.”

He softened his light pink eyes and stepped back.

I was dumbfounded and looked back and forth between him and the Prince.

The surprise I felt at the Prince’s sudden appearance completely subsided.

So what if you were invited first?

What a childish thing to say, and what a thing to actually relay.

“Now, let us begin the Pact of the Twin Stars. This is not a union of two humans, but a process of two vessels forming one sacred tool. The witnesses will guarantee the faith of the contractors, and the Main God will test the faith of the contractors. First, Antoinette Dhuem, daughter of the Main God, please come forward…”

The Marquis smoothly began the ceremony.

It was probably not something he made up, as it was the beginning of a sacred ritual, but it seemed amazing that he could memorize it without looking at a single piece of paper.

I shook off my 잡생각 [jap-saenggak, idle thoughts] and watched the 성약 [seong-yak, sacred pact] of the Marquis’s sister, Antoinette.

Soon, one of the Marquis’s aides carefully came forward and placed a flower between the contractors.

It was a striking purple tulip.

A scene flashed through my mind.

‘It’s almost tulip season, so the imperial gardeners are very busy. Since you’re from the 신국 [sin-guk, holy nation], I’d like to show you purple tulips if possible…’

That was probably about a week after I possessed this body.

The gardener of the Juliette Palace had said that to me with a very regretful expression.

At the time, I didn’t think much of it, but now it seemed that purple tulips had religious significance and were used in the 성약 [seong-yak, sacred pact].

The 성약 [seong-yak, sacred pact] was a custom unique to Liester, not found in the 신국 [sin-guk, holy nation] of Fenetian.

I could understand why the gardener wanted to show me the tulips.

“Pledge in the will of the Main God.”

The Marquis said.

Then Antoinette knelt at the feet of the priest, and the priest deployed a small sanctuary that only the two of them could enter.

The two contractors were said to have known each other since they were four years old, so perhaps that’s why they giggled whenever they made eye contact while making the 성약 [seong-yak, sacred pact].

It seemed funny to try to be formal when they had seen everything about each other.

“Ahem, ahem. In the name of Antoinette Patrice Dhuem, the first princess of the Dhuem Marquisate, I request a 성약 [seong-yak, sacred pact] from you.”

Antoinette twitched the corners of her almond-shaped eyes. She had an embarrassed and ashamed expression.

So they reveal their middle names during the 성약 [seong-yak, sacred pact].

“You will become my Guardian Saint, and I will walk the same path as your soul infinitely.”

‘Ugh!’ She mouthed in agony.

The priest, who was listening intently, also twitched his fingers in pain.

It certainly would be embarrassing and mortifying to say and hear such things to and from a close friend.

It even made me laugh.

“…Even on sleepless nights, even on days when I cannot run.”

“Cough.”

The priest who received the oath covered his face with both hands.

“Don’t laugh, Mariel!”

“Ah, I can’t help it.”

The priest, ‘Mariel,’ replied in a trembling voice.

The Dhuem Marquis also burst into laughter and continued with the next step.

I had heard that the 성약 [seong-yak, sacred pact] was a very sacred ceremony, but the atmosphere was quite light since the two were not serious.

“Antoinette Dhuem. As the master of the oath, do you promise to devote your intelligence to the well-being of the Guardian Saint?”

“Of course. I have been filling Mariel’s hungry belly until now!”

“Antoinette?”

“I promise.”

Antoinette bit her lip.

I thought she would have a similar personality to the Dhuem Marquis, who used dramatic language, but she was surprisingly someone who knew shame.

It was funny how she said anything with a red face.

I read that the priest in the two contractors who make the 성약 [seong-yak, sacred pact] is called the Guardian Saint, or 수성(守聖) [su-seong, Guardian Saint] for short.

The imperial family and its relatives were called 맹주(盟主) [maeng-ju, master of the oath], the master of the oath.

Since the power was inclined towards the imperial family, it seemed that they were also the face of the contract.

However, the contract itself would not be established without the priest’s approval, and it was said that only the 맹주 [maeng-ju, master of the oath] would suffer hardships if the distance between the contractors grew.

It was strangely balanced.

“Now, please rise. The two of you, close your eyes…”

Before I knew it, the 성약 [seong-yak, sacred pact] was coming to an end. It was said that it would be short, and it really seemed like only about 20 minutes had passed.

I didn’t have to pay 축의금 [chuk-ui-geum, congratulatory money] or attend a 피로연 [piro-yeon, wedding reception], so it was nice and clean.

“I hereby declare that these two have become religious partners. May the Main God bless them.”

The Marquis declared with a happy face.

Then the priest Mariel released 에테르 [ethere, a magical energy] above her sanctuary. Then,

-Saaaaa……

The purple tulip began to break into tiny grains of light.

It was the most amazing sight I had seen today.

Unlike the paladin, the priest cannot kill living things with 에테르 [ethere, a magical energy], and cannot even give 신탁 [shintak, divine revelation] to non-living things.

But just now, a fresh tulip disappeared inside the sanctuary.

I quietly stared at the ascending golden particles. Then this is…….

“The Main God has acknowledged your oath. Congratulations, my sister. Mariel.”

The Marquis’s affectionate voice enveloped the two contractors.

I was so 감탄 [gam-tan, impressed] that I exclaimed ‘Wow’ at the realization.

The tulip was the direct expression of the Main God’s will.

In the ‘Retired General’ universe, there is an unquestionable monotheistic god, and her authority is manifested daily through the 에테르 [ethere, a magical energy] throughout the continent.

But knowing that and seeing the invisible being reveal her will by accepting the tulip felt so different.

I got goosebumps belatedly. It’s a really new thought, but the Main God really exists.

With that sentiment, I looked up at the sky.

The downward arrow pattern, the symbol of the Main God Church, filled the ceiling.

“It’s the first time we’ve met here.”

At that moment, a familiar sweet voice brushed past my ear. I snapped out of my thoughts and turned my head.

The Dhuem siblings and Mariel were hugging each other tightly, and the other priest who had been a witness had already greeted them and was preparing to leave.

Only the Prince and I were left alone on the platform.

Eyes like orange-flavored Fanta were staring at me.

“Yes, that is……”

No, that’s not right. His expression slightly frowned.

It was definitely the first time I was seeing him as an adult, but I had met ‘Seidi’ several times here.

I wondered why someone who knew that would say something so confusing…….

It was obvious. He was testing my words that ‘I don’t know anything about the Prince.’ What a persistent guy.

“That’s right. It’s not refreshing to see you at the temple.”

“……”

“Then, I’ll go in first.”

I left the platform without looking back.

It seemed like the Prince clenched his fist, but it must have been my imagination.

Violence was absolutely forbidden in the temple.

“Prince, thank you for being a witness to today’s 성약 [seong-yak, sacred pact]. Our Dhuem Marquisate will never forget your grace!”

The Dhuem Marquis bowed to me with a touched face.

Antoinette and Mariel also bowed deeply.

The two friends were constantly giggling, wondering what was so funny.

“It wasn’t a difficult task. I hope you two have a happy religious life.”

I tried my best to pick out an answer.

Benjamin and Ganael, who were waiting in the believer’s seats, were preparing to return.

I had seen something incredibly amazing, and I had seen the three of them happy, so it seemed like I had spent my weekend morning fully.

I lightly 인사 [insa, bowed] towards the Prince’s aides sitting in the opposite believer’s seats, especially David, and then left the temple.

*

“Paladin, paladin, paladin……”

I squatted in a corner of the imperial library and rummaged through the bookshelves.

It seemed to be getting hotter, so I unbuttoned a couple of shirt buttons and completely rolled up my sleeves.

I had obtained enough information about the continent’s 신물 [shin-mul, divine objects] from , so today I was going to look for books about paladins.

With the two protagonists of Retired General having awakened as paladins, I couldn’t ignore this part.

“It would be faster to just ask Ganael. There’s not enough data.”

I lamented.

The imperial library had countless books and a vast amount of information, but it seemed that not many of them satisfied my needs.

It wasn’t because the library’s level was low, but because this was the Liester Empire.

Until recently, not a single paladin had been born in the empire, and the priests were, to put it a bit exaggeratedly, another powerful group.

In addition, it had been 30 years since the 단교 [dan-gyo, severed diplomatic relations] with the 신국 [sin-guk, holy nation] of Fenetian.

It was difficult to find books dealing with the education and growth of paladins, and the relationship between paladins and priests, no matter how hard I looked.

Even was a book published 40 years ago in the 신국 [sin-guk, holy nation], which Ganael had managed to obtain with difficulty.

“Ha……”

I roughly sat down on the floor.

I had 고민 [go-min, contemplated] about asking the librarian for help several times, but I still didn’t want to reveal my interests to the people of the imperial palace.

I feel like I’ve been searching for 2 hours. I wish a secret manual would fall from somewhere.

-Thud!

“Huh.”

I was startled and raised my head. A thin book had fallen at my feet.

Did I just say that out loud?

“A fairy tale book……”

Looking closely, the book had a very familiar appearance.

I slowly picked it up.

– Eve Blancquer and the Phoenix Paladin Corps>

Why is the subtitle like this? Is it a plagiarism?

‘Written by Grand Duke Evelyn for his beloved child.’

The excellent handwriting on the back cover was still the same.

I got up from my seat and roughly flipped through the pages.

The large letters written to be considerate of the child, and the meticulously colored cute illustrations.

It had the same composition as the book that dealt with 신물 [shin-mul, divine objects]. However, this work,

‘Eve, paladins need priest partners.’

‘Bullshit.’

‘No, really. If you don’t have a partner, you’ll have a hard time because you’ll lack 에테르 [ethere, a magical energy].’

It was about paladins!

It was a story that was so faithful to the subtitle that I felt a little sorry for raising plagiarism suspicions.

I quickly turned my eyes and looked at the gap where the fairy tale book had been 꽂혀있던 [kkot-hyeo-it-deon, inserted]. Hadn’t I 훑어봤던가 [hul-teo-bwatt-deon-ga, scanned] this side?

“Hello, Prince.”

“Ack!”

My heart took a gyro drop.

I was so startled that I stepped back and hit my head on the bookshelf on the opposite side. Thud!

“Ouch!”

“Oh my, you must have been very surprised.”

Christel was very sorry.

Of course, I’m surprised, you person! There are blue eyes across the bookshelf!

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know you would be so 경기를하실 [gyeong-gi-reul-ha-shil, startled]……”

“I, I didn’t 경기했습니다 [gyeong-gi-haett-seup-ni-da, get startled].”

“Yes, you are right, Prince. I thought you were looking for a book about paladins, so I pushed a recommended book for you.”

She replied with a voice full of laughter.

I rubbed the back of my head and tried to calm myself.

After all, you can’t trust the romance movies that come out on TV.

Meeting the main character in the library like this and feeling excited was impossible.

I almost had cardiac arrest.

“Princess, hmm. Are you allowed to enter the imperial library?”

“Since last Monday. His Majesty allowed me to become a good paladin.”

Christel answered as she turned around the bookshelf and approached.

The pink hair, rolled up like a donut, looked like a hat.

The 청회색 [cheong-hoe-saek, blue-gray] eyes sparkled refreshingly today as well.

I was so excited about the title of imperial library that I realized that I had overlooked an important fact.

Not only me, but also the Prince, and now Christel, could freely come and go here.

“It’s been a while. Have you eaten?”

“Yes. Have you eaten too, Princess?”

We asked about each other’s stomachs as if it were natural.

The conversation about the book followed after that.

“I didn’t know you were interested in paladins. You’ve never attended my and His Highness’s 수업 [su-eop, classes].”

……It feels like there’s a bone in her words.