What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 64

#064 The Territory of the Grand Duke of the North (1)

Okay.

“Your Highness? Are you feeling better now?”

The temperature was pleasant and refreshing. I subtly smiled and slowly opened my eyes.

“He’s awake. Frederick, check his eyes.”

“You’re being dramatic, as if you haven’t seen this a hundred times.”

It was an unfamiliar ceiling. No, this time it really was.

I blinked at the strangely close ceiling, soon realizing it was gently swaying.

The clearer my mind became, the stranger I felt.

I was definitely lying in bed, but the ceiling was constantly moving, and outside I could occasionally hear the sound of horses’ hooves and the coachman’s voice….

“Gasp.”

I abruptly sat up.

Along with the cool blanket, the three lesser pandas that had been rolling around on my stomach tumbled off like chestnuts.

-Squeak

-Squeak

-Oooo

“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you guys were there.”

I apologized and gently unfurled the curled-up divine creatures.

Demi leaped into my arms, happy to see I was awake.

Stroking his warm body and long tail, I realized my condition had improved.

I was no longer hot or cold. This was inside a moving carriage.

“It seems you didn’t even notice the Cardinal and I were here.”

I immediately turned my gaze to the side.

Two people sitting on a long velvet sofa next to the white bed caught my eye.

It was Emperor Frederick, sending a sidelong glance while crossing his legs, and Cardinal Boutier, smiling with a relieved expression.

I was shocked and showed the utmost courtesy.

Why I was in the same carriage as them, why only I was lying down while these high-ranking people were sitting, and other questions began to float around in my head.

“I greet the sun descended upon the earth and His Eminence the Cardinal.”

“Spare the greetings. How is your body?”

“I couldn’t be better… I am grateful for your grace.”

The Emperor scoffed at my answer. It seemed to mean, ‘Good to know.’

The Cardinal then spoke gently.

“It’s a special carriage with cold preservation magic [refrigeration]. Since there’s only one available right now, you and we are sharing the same carriage. I hope you understand.”

“No, I am the one causing trouble to such noble people. Thank you for your consideration.”

So, it’s a premium imperial carriage with air conditioning and a bed. I bowed deeply.

Now I was starting to remember.

I went to see the Emperor with Marquis Dhiem to bring up the vacation request….

‘I would like to make that request at this very moment.’

‘Granted. Speak.’

The Emperor smiled with interest at my request, even though I didn’t expect it to be granted. Unexpectedly, she readily agreed.

It wasn’t so much that she trusted me, but more like she was being generous considering I had helped her son, Prince Cedric….

In any case, it was good for me.

‘Benjamin, please put this in my vault….’

‘Understood, Your Highness.’

Even while I was out of my mind with the heat, I stored the ‘birthday present’ the Emperor had given me on the spot in the deepest part of my room.

There would definitely be a use for it someday.

Thinking that, I felt relieved and seemed to have lost consciousness.

“Do you remember how you got on the carriage?”

“I remember saying I was going to ‘Rgo General Trading Company.’”

“That’s right. We took the imperial portal [teleportation gate] from there and crossed over to Evelyn.”

The Marquis’s figure, sticking a portal motion sickness patch on me, flashed before my eyes.

“If it’s imperial only….”

“It’s a portal that only Frederick, Cedric, and I can use. It goes directly to Evelyn. Only attendants with guaranteed identities are allowed to accompany us.”

I nodded.

In short, I had taken the portal half out of my mind, and this was no longer the Imperial Capital but Evelyn, in the north of the Empire.

I peeked out the window, and a forest path full of tall coniferous trees filled my view.

Beyond the carpet-like green, a huge mountain soared, wearing a white snow cap on its head.

In the clear blue sky, a few fluffy clouds were playing hide-and-seek, avoiding the sunlight.

When I shifted my gaze back, I saw two or so carriages following behind.

Benjamin and Ganael, along with the other attendants, were probably riding in those.

“You left early because of me. I’m sorry for the inconvenience.”

This time, words of regret flowed out.

The ‘exclusive portal’ was a magical formula that only worked when the authorized person was present.

The Emperor and the Cardinal had taken the portal at that time on purpose to send me to Evelyn.

Considering I was a hostage, it was an extremely gracious act.

“It’s not a big deal. I was planning to come this evening anyway.”

The Cardinal smiled gracefully and handed me a cold glass bottle.

Golden tea with ice floating in it shimmered. The Emperor grumbled something.

“It’s tea brewed with hawthorn berries. It’s sour, so it will stimulate your appetite.”

“Thank you.”

I was thirsty anyway.

As I opened the lid and gulped down the tea, the lesser pandas, feeling curious, grabbed my arm and tilted their heads.

I chuckled and rubbed the tips of their noses one by one.

This was another unexpected companion.

“I wondered why Lady Elisabeth left these guys behind.”

“I said I would take them. The divine creature of the North is in Evelyn, so it’s much closer than the Mute County.”

The Cardinal explained. I watched the three divine creatures rolling around, making ‘squeak’ and ‘clang’ sounds, then raised my head.

“I didn’t know the divine creature was in Evelyn.”

It had been over two months since I had possessed ‘Toegye Gong,’ but I still knew far less than I didn’t.

I was only learning about the world through fragmentary information I had picked up from Eunseo and books, and even that was mostly crammed knowledge.

When I first arrived, I had to memorize the order of using forks and knives.

“I read that ‘Biryeom’s Ark’ was in the northern part of the Empire, but there was no explanation that it was Evelyn.”

I said. It was the same in written by the Grand Duke of Evelyn.

As far as I remembered, probably….

‘There’s a divine creature in my backyard, Eve.’

‘I told you to stop talking nonsense, Nikki.’

‘I’m serious. It’s called ‘Biryeom’s Ark,’ the wings of the main god.’

Hmm. Did ‘my backyard’ mean the territory? Then I have nothing to say.

“Evelyn is a relatively recently partitioned area. Do you know anything about the Grand Duke of Evelyn?”

The Cardinal asked in a dubious tone. I answered honestly.

“I’ve read the fairy tale written by the Grand Duke of Evelyn. But I don’t know who he is.”

“Fairy tale?”

Her beige eyes widened. She immediately turned to look at the Emperor next to her.

This time, her cherry-colored eyes narrowed slightly.

“Don’t tell me, is it that Eve’s something or other?”

“That’s right. It’s the ‘Eve’s Adventure’ series, and it was in the Imperial Archives.”

“Hahahaha.”

Then the Cardinal laughed out loud.

The Emperor glared at her once, then turned his gaze back to me.

He didn’t seem to want to talk more about the fairy tale.

“The book is fine. You don’t know who the Grand Duke of Evelyn is?”

“No. I apologize.”

“There’s no need to apologize. After all, that name is only used in the territory. It’s not strange that the prince of the Holy Kingdom wouldn’t know.”

The Emperor said, completely loosening his cravat [necktie].

I pieced together the information I had heard from the two of them like a three-dimensional puzzle.

The Grand Duke of Evelyn was a member of the Imperial Family, but his territory was not old.

Since the title ‘Grand Duke of Evelyn’ was only used here, his publicly known name must be different.

He had written a fairy tale for his child, and the Emperor and the Cardinal seemed to know something about it.

…I still don’t know. There were too many possibilities.

The number of collateral lines of the Imperial Family and nobles of the Empire was said to be in the millions if counted broadly.

I already had a headache with just Prince Yeser’s family tree, so I didn’t have the luxury to grasp the Imperial Family tree.

“Then you probably don’t know who the Duke of Evelyn is either.”

The Emperor asked. I nodded.

“Yes. But if he’s a Duke, he must be the Grand Duke’s child.”

“That’s right.”

The corner of her mouth quirked up.

It was a little ominous, in a different way from when Christel’s eyes sparkled.

The three lesser pandas nestled in my arms like a bouquet of flowers.

“The Duke is probably patrolling the outskirts of the territory, catching pirate riffraff. You’ll be able to meet him in a few days. It’ll be quite a sight.”

What, what will be quite a sight?

“Frederick, don’t tease the innocent child.”

“I’m not teasing. Real teasing is like this.”

The Emperor swept back his silver hair and smiled languidly.

The crumpled cravat was in the Cardinal’s hands.

“From this moment on, no one can tell Prince Yeser about the Grand Duke or Duke of Evelyn. This is an imperial order.”

*

“Lady Christel! To the left!”

“Yes!”

Christel shouted loudly and rode her horse.

Elisabeth’s dark green hair fluttering across from her looked like a part of this place.

The two of them raced like the wind through the northern forest, full of trees above and brown pine needles below.

A prey was sprinting between them with all its might. It was a magical beast.

-Bieeeee!

At first glance, it looked like an ordinary elk, but its iron horns were as sharp as well-honed knives.

Every time it screamed, the ordinary soldiers covered their ears in pain.

It was inevitable that Elisabeth, an 8th-grade swordsman, and Christel, an apprentice paladin, would step forward.

The magical beast was too fast and scratched people’s nerves by shooting out irritating sound waves.

Even the county’s skilled archers, Elisabeth’s daggers, and Christel’s streams of water couldn’t hit it at once.

The only remaining method was herding.

-Clatter, clatter, clatter!

“Doria, my sister will use water soon. Don’t be surprised.”

Christel whispered kindly, stroking the horse’s head.

She didn’t forget to make small water sounds in its ear so that the horse could adapt.

The fine horse ‘Doria’ slightly fluttered its head at the ticklish splashing.

Christel stared straight ahead again.

The strikingly blue North Sea came into view.

Right in front of her was a steep cliff.

“Lady, I will fall back!”

“Yes, leave it to me!”

Elisabeth slowly slowed her horse, blocking the magical beast’s escape route.

‘Heut!’ Christel made a threatening noise.

The magical beast, unaware that the viscountess had disappeared from its left, increased its speed even more.

It seemed very excited, feeling threatened. Gray saliva dripped from its snout.

-Bieaek, bieeeee!

Whoosh! The forest ended, and the vast sea revealed itself.

The magical beast, surprised by the sudden change, raised its two front hooves.

The moment it tried to quickly change direction with its sharp hooves,

-Whooshing!

A wave like an avalanche covered the magical beast. There was nowhere to escape. It was instantaneous.

-Kheuheung, bieeeeeek!

-Crackle!

Christel cracked her whip in the air, and the seawater froze like dominoes in that direction.

The magical beast turned into a huge ice block on the spot without any resistance.

This not only instantly cut off its breath but also prevented its bodily fluids from seeping into the ground or spreading around.

Although it wasn’t as sure a method as a fire-attribute knight, Christel quite liked this finish.

“You’ve worked hard, Lady! It was clean this time too.”

“Thank you. Lady Elisabeth, you worked hard too.”

The viscountess, who quickly rode her horse over, smiled brightly.

Christel felt a liberating sense of relief and smiled back.

The open sea, the cool and salty wind, the subtle scent of pine needles, and a good friend.

She hadn’t had this much fun since possessing this body.

In the distance, the knights of the county, belatedly riding their horses, were visible.

The people of the Sarnese Ducal Family spared no effort to protect her, and half of them still looked at her with pitiful eyes.

To ‘Ham Gain,’ who had hardly any memories of receiving parental love, such attention was both welcome and burdensome.

Everyone around her was so kind and affectionate, as if they had all planned it, that it was sometimes scary and eerie.

It felt like being part of a stage play.

The people were natural yet unnatural, and a strange dryness lurked within the nameless kindness.

There were only a few people who didn’t give her such a sense of alienation.

For example, Lady Elisabeth standing here, and her mother, Marchioness Mute.

Emperor Frederick. Cardinal Boutier. Her ‘disciple,’ Prince Cedric.

Prince Yeser, who possessed pure aether….

Among them, the prince and the prince were very special cases. In other words,

-Kwaang!

A loud noise erupted. Christel quickly turned her head and looked towards the sea.

The viscountess shouted even faster than she could grasp the situation.

“Pirates! Immediately inform the Marchioness. Gather the soldiers and assemble on the beach!”