What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 704

#704

Lead Us Not Into Temptation, But Deliver Us From Evil (6)

“Why, am I wrong? If that little girl is truly the Second Princess, we should immediately mobilize Marquis Dhiem to send her to the main camp. She’s of a different caliber than Leopold Lasso, a member of the royal family’s collateral line.”

“Truly… a picturesque family.”

Seeing His Imperial Highness Crown Prince Cedric Riester, the little sun of the Empire, and Duke Jibril Diop, shining as the third in line to the throne, saying such things side by side, this humble servant has not a single worry in his heart for the future of our nation!

“…Even if we send her away, shouldn’t we at least have a conversation? There might be information we can glean from her. And the child is quite startled.”

*Does anyone not know the current war situation?* I grumbled, lowering my voice.

Lynn looked at me and smiled, her eyes crinkling.

*At least someone’s having fun.*

“That’s a keen observation, but considering your track record, there’s no guarantee that your personal feelings toward that kid won’t come into play.”

“…Besides, that one is the eldest grandson of Count Roseharder of the Royal Court and will become the head of the family in the future. He’s also Sant’s grand-nephew. He might be able to help with our Lord Lasso’s castle operation. Since those children said they wanted to cooperate first, we should hear them out.”

As I rattled off words like a machine gun, Cedric and Diop turned to each other and raised one eyebrow in unison.

*I wish you wouldn’t make your shared bloodline so obvious.*

“Are you planning to take the Princess as a prisoner of war, youngest uncle?”

Just then, Lady Iseul Roseharder, who had been silent, suddenly asked.

I thought she wouldn’t have heard our hushed conversation, but Cedric’s voice was too loud after all.

The child was very mature and composed for her age, but she looked somewhat nervous at this topic.

“…Huh? Huh? Uh…”

Startled, Sant cried like Tete. Tete fluttered his flipper-feet in his arms.

Iseul frowned, and I quickly changed the subject.

“We will prioritize your well-being above all else. We won’t let you get hurt, no matter what. I promise in the name of Duchess Juliette.”

“That’s not important. Where’s my brother?”

“Huh?”

“Brother… People said my brother was resurrected. I read it in a flyer. Look at this.”

Before I could answer, Cornélise busily rummaged through her luggage and pulled out an old booklet.

I saw a tattered piece of paper, worn out from being read so many times.

It was a flyer from the ‘Clair & Adrien Printing House’ that we knew so well.

The memory of the day we hung it on the Divine Palace and shot it out was vivid, and yet we were already at the doorstep of the Divine Nation’s capital.

The Princess spoke clearly in a stuffy voice. But I clearly saw the child’s hand trembling.

“‘Prince Yeser Venetian has been resurrected!’ It’s written here.”

“…I’m sorry, Cornélise. That’s only half true.”

“What?”

“Don’t try to deceive us, Marquis. I have learned that ‘half true’ means false. Aren’t you attacking the Divine Nation right now?”

*Oh dear, Iseul is incredibly smart.* I drooped my eyebrows and gave a troubled smile.

With no other choice, I turned to Sant, who readily nodded and entrusted Tete to Diop— “Hey, why me?”—and left the tent with the phantom children.

Saying he would pour aether [a magical energy source] into the children, take them for a walk, and help stabilize them with a circle [a magical formation], so we shouldn’t worry.

The little ones seemed a little embarrassed but soon followed, each holding an apple.

Soon, the tent was filled with silence. I glanced at my friends and opened my mouth with difficulty.

“…Do you remember the day we met the uncle in the desert?”

“I’ll never forget it. He looked like my brother.”

The Princess sobbed.

But thanks to Iseul holding her hand tightly, the child bravely held back her tears.

I nodded almost imperceptibly.

“The uncle borrowed the Prince’s body at that time. It wasn’t by his own will, and perhaps the Prince had no power to choose. So, unfortunately, he didn’t recognize Cornélise that day.”

“…Borrowed his body?”

The young Princess’s mouth fell open. Lynn and Iseul also blinked.

I tried to explain in an easy-to-understand way.

“Yes. The body is the Prince’s, but the uncle’s soul was inside. In other words, only the ‘vessel’ changed. I guess it was by the will of the Chief God.”

“Then why is the voice the same? Even now…”

“…Well. Maybe the Prince and the uncle have a special connection.”

*‘Why are you so wary of me?’*

*‘There’s no way. I admire you.’*

Suddenly, the conversation we had in the worldline flashed through my mind.

I tried not to think deeply about it right away.

I struggled not to recall the Prince’s last greeting as he faded away.

Cornélise looked up at me with confused eyes.

Her bloodshot eyes looked so pitiful that I felt like I would burst into a sigh.

“Then… It’s not that my brother was resurrected, but that Marquis Serenite…”

“The Prince is asleep in Juliette Palace.”

I calmly continued. Cornélise gripped the flyer tightly. *Rustle.*

“He’s in a very deep sleep, so he can’t wake up. But the uncle will do whatever it takes to wake him up.”

*Because I promised him. That I would let him meet you and Elissa again.*

“…Really? Is my brother in the Empire?”

“It’s the truth without a single lie. He’s sleeping peacefully. I’ll make a vow if you want.”

“…”

The child looked at me with trembling eyes.

She moved her lips as if she wanted to say something more, but in the end, no voice came out.

Iseul could only look at the Princess with a pitiful expression.

After a long time, Cornélise shook her head.

“…I don’t need a vow. I’ll believe you.”

“Thank you.”

“Then the Marquis is pretending to be my brother now?”

“That’s right. The uncle has been impersonating him all along.”

“Serenite.”

The Crown Prince growled as if he had heard something he didn’t like at all.

I looked up at him and smiled bitterly.

*But it’s true that your friend is a first-class con artist.*

“…I’m sorry. I’ll sincerely apologize to you, Cornélise. I haven’t always done only right and good things in the Prince’s name… But at least I don’t think I’ve done anything shameful in his eyes. And I’ll try to continue doing so. So…”

“…”

“I’ll… make sure you meet your brother again.”

*‘In good health.’* As I added that, the child, who couldn’t hold back her emotions any longer, burst into tears.

My heart ached at her tightly closed eyes.

Cool, clear water poured out from the tips of the child’s fingers.

I was startled and stiffened.

“Ah, come to think of it. The Second Princess has awakened as a water-attribute paladin [a holy warrior].”

“Ugh!”

“That’s right! Why are you saying that now!”

“You forgot about it yourself, but you’re getting angry.”

“Cornélise, Uncle will help—”

“It’s okay. I’ll take care of it.”

As I hurriedly tried to release aether, Iseul, who had been silent, stepped forward.

The child glared at me once—*oops*—grabbed the Princess’s hands, and opened a small sanctuary [a safe space created with magic]. *Swish…*

“Iseul, Iseul is a priest. You two must be partners.”

I said with an awkward smile. Lynn watched the two girls with interest.

Then Cornélise replied with a tear-stained face.

“Yes. Heung. Iseul will be my future consort [a royal companion or spouse].”

“Con, cough! Heok! Cough, cough!”

“Aha. These little ones are quite something.”

-Woowoong

I choked immediately at the bombshell, and while I was shaking my shoulders, Jibril Diop crossed his arms and snickered. Even baby Tete seemed quite impressed.

Lynn was asking, ‘What’s a consort?’ but I was in no state to answer!

“Cough, cough! Oh, cough!”

“…Indeed. A female consort.”

Cedric, why are you taking it so seriously!

-Flutter!

“Good morning. Did you all sleep well?”

Then, our protagonist with frog eyes appeared.

It was the first time I had seen her face since we parted ways last night.

I gave an exaggerated smile and hurriedly greeted her.

“Welcome, Sir Christel! Cough!”

“Did you just say Sir Christel?”

However, Cornélise’s expression was unusual.

The child began to carefully observe Gain with her big, clear eyes. She looked very surprised for some reason.

Like magic, her crying stopped, and now only loud hiccups were coming from the Princess’s throat.

Her youthful gaze passed over her wavy pink hair and clear, watery eyes and went to the blue whip stuck in her waist.

I cleared my dry throat and watched.

*Why is she like that? The atmosphere is strange. Is something wrong…?*

“I heard about the precious young ladies from Duke Lasso. It seems like our operation scale is getting bigger and bigger? But it’s always like that.”

“Li, hic, Li…!”

As Gain spoke brightly, Cornélise suddenly raised her voice.

*What is she trying to say? Don’t stand, sit down? You’re distracting?*

“Please sign here! Liberator Christel Rambouillet!”

What a surprise! The child shouted with flushed cheeks.

A white hand that suddenly popped up was fluttering the cover of .

Cedric immediately narrowed his brows, and the lightning magician whistled and chuckled.

I readjusted the squirming baby in my arms.

“…Ah. Am I a fan?”

As soon as Gain said with a smile, Lynn hugged my neck tightly. *Keheok!*

*

Meanwhile. In the puppeteer’s heavenly path.

-Kwaaaang…!

“Your Highness! Crown Princess!”

Beyond the explosions, screams, and the sound of something collapsing, a desperate cry was tearing through the air.

But there was no time to answer.

‘Thwack!’ Elissa kicked a knight who had come right in front of her with her booted foot and spun half a turn. Her hair moved smoothly, and the tip of the golden spear mercilessly cut down the rebels. ‘Kwaaaang!’ With a terrifying shockwave, dozens of enemies behind her coughed up blood and fell. The moment her fierce eyes flashed, a dagger was drawn from the Crown Princess’s thigh like lightning. It was aimed precisely at her blind spot. ‘Thwack!’

“Ugh!”

“Damn it! Thank you, Your Highness!”

-Spot!

Imperial Knight Elizabeth Mute, who had received her help by chance, shouted.

A paladin of the Sneider faction, who had been aiming for her back, was collapsing with a sword in his spine.

It was a common assistance on the battlefield.

Elissa dealt with dozens more before she could confirm the identity of the person approaching, stirring up dust.

“…Lavinia Valentine.”

The Divine Nation’s Baron, who was over eighty years old, was panting and riding his horse with rough breaths.

The Crown Princess briefly lowered her spear while being guarded by her subordinates.

A brief dizziness struck as she suddenly stopped moving.

She had mainly received aether from priest-level priests after using the Saint Mark, and she hadn’t rested for even a few hours, so it was only natural.

Nearby, Sneider’s rebels, the Imperial Army, and Elissa’s Divine Nation army were still intertwined, stealing each other’s lives.

-Heeheeheehing!

“What is it, Baron?”

“Your Highness, word has come that thousands of Sneider’s private soldiers in the capital are heading south!”

“…What?”

Elissa’s blue eyes shook greatly. Baron Valentine continued to shout.

“It must be a strategy to disperse the forces of Grand Duke Caminga. They believe he will withdraw from here to protect his territory!”

“Then…”

The young man quickly calculated, but the old man’s judgment was much faster.

Valentine turned his horse and roared.

“I will lead my private soldiers to block the path. You two must break through the heavenly path and advance to the capital!”

*‘Be sure to annihilate the rebels, Your Highness!’* The Baron’s desperate plea faded into the sand.

Perhaps that was the loyalist’s last greeting.

Elissa gritted her teeth. She tasted thick blood.