What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 77

#077 Knight’s Honor and Middle-Aged Romance (1)

“Are you saying that the Duke and Lady Sarnese both need a lot of Ether?”

I suppressed the sharp words that threatened to spill out and asked a more appropriate question.

Sir Johann Haynes nodded.

“Since the Lady absorbed a Divine Object, she won’t be satisfied with the Ether of an ordinary priest. As for His Grace….”

He gestured slightly in the air.

Once again, a transparent chamber that enclosed the four of us was created. (This is likely a magical barrier or privacy measure.)

His mint-colored eyes gleamed sharply.

“It’s a truly unique case. It seems that the ‘Comet Sword of Mars’ replenishes his Ether, but in my opinion, there is a fundamental depletion.”

“······.”

A chill ran down my spine at the pointed remark.

I could feel the air around Cedric becoming heavy.

I tried to avoid Sir Haynes’ gaze and checked on the collapsed Sant.

I laid the young priest on the mat that Benjamin had quickly placed and activated a healing circle for ‘mental and physical stability.’

It was one of the basic circles that was easy to memorize, so I didn’t make any mistakes.

But even as I used my healing power on Sant, my mind was racing.

‘It’s only natural that Christel, the protagonist of ‘The Retired Master,’ who is on a cheat-like path, would feel hungry for the Ether of a priest-level cleric.’

However, the Prince was different.

Although I didn’t know the details, he turned into a child when he lacked Ether.

He had even come to me as a child after obtaining the Comet Sword.

I thought the Prince wanted the Divine Object to cure that symptom, but it seemed it hadn’t been completely resolved.

‘Fundamental depletion’ might be the exact words to describe his condition.

“Will the situation improve when the Duke’s new teacher and priest arrive?”

I asked.

Strictly speaking, Sir Haynes and Sant had come as Christel’s teachers, not to be in charge of the Prince’s education as well.

“The Holy See is currently minimizing personnel changes. It’s a time when unity is needed because the Pope is vacant.”

Sir Haynes said, sweeping back his falling hair.

“Probably no additional teachers will be dispatched. And as for priests, well… you shouldn’t expect them to send a bishop-level or higher priest to an unordained Holy Knight.”

I bit my lip slightly.

So, Sir Haynes would continue to teach the two of them, and another priest would come, but it was likely to be a priest-level like Sant.

That would only mean one more victim.

I looked up at the Prince. Our eyes met as if he had been waiting for it.

The reason why ‘Saydi’ had never made a priest partner was clear.

He was a Prince and would be Emperor in the future.

Ether depletion that couldn’t be completely cured even with a Divine Object was too big of a weakness, so it would have been difficult to trust an external priest rashly.

Cardinal Boutier was already the Emperor’s religious partner, so he couldn’t give him Ether.

There might have been a way to form a relationship with a decent Archbishop and get a confidentiality agreement….

“Do you have something to say?”

“······.”

I didn’t think he would easily let anyone near him with that personality.

‘Don’t touch me.’

I remembered Saydi reacting sharply to me the first day we met at the Imperial Palace confessional.

He was the type to suffer because he couldn’t bend his stubbornness. A small sigh escaped.

“The two of you will attend the annual prayer meeting this month.”

“Yes.”

Christel answered obediently to my words.

The quick-witted girl seemed to sense that my mood had changed.

“By His Majesty’s order, you have decided to find a priest partner there.”

“That’s right.”

She nodded. Sir Haynes was watching us with interest.

I paused for a moment and then declared clearly.

“Then, until then, I will help with Ether supply.”

“Heok, jackpot.”

Christel hurriedly covered her mouth with both hands.

Her large eyes looked like they would spill over at any moment.

The Prince’s orange eyes also widened slightly, a rare sight.

I wanted to laugh at the two people who were openly delighted, but I held it back.

I opened my mouth with as stern a face as possible.

“But there are conditions.”

“Speak.”

The Prince answered immediately. Only then did I fire off the words I had been holding back.

“I can’t stand the way you treat Priest Sant now. Holy Knights and priests are equal partners, not one who unilaterally sacrifices or serves the other. Your actions are clearly wrong. The priest is working hard for you, enduring the pain, but even if you are having a hard time, how can you be so inconsiderate? At this rate, no priest will stay by your side.”

“That’s,”

Christel’s mouth moved slightly. Seeing her troubled face, she seemed to know her sin.

“I’m sorry, it’s because my Ether wasn’t filling up enough, so I became sharp… I’m sorry.”

“It’s not a matter of apologizing to me. Apologize properly to Sant when he comes to his senses.”

“Yes.”

She answered quickly. I turned my gaze to the Prince.

“Compromise a little. Can you do that?”

His eyes narrowed.

“What else do you want?”

“······My safety.”

I replied calmly.

Suddenly, I glanced to the side and saw Ganael smiling at my serious face.

For some reason, his expression, as if he was taking my side without knowing what we were talking about, made my heart feel a little lighter.

The conversation I had with the boy a few days ago flashed through my mind.

‘I think you want to believe him.’

‘Then why don’t you give him a chance?’

······If it’s short term.

It wouldn’t be a big loss for me to give the two of them a very small chance. Probably.

“Promise me that I won’t be threatened in any way, by anyone, while I’m helping with your Ether supply.”

“I promise.”

“There’s no way anyone would bother the Prince… No, I promise too!”

The two men and women quickly gave their answers. This time, I really laughed.

This was a ‘deal’ to guarantee my safety in exchange for helping them.

I thought it was a step I had taken after much deliberation, but the two protagonists said they would do it without even thinking, so I felt a little empty.

“Interesting. The story of the three of you that I read in wasn’t entirely fiction.”

Sir Haynes, who had been silently watching us, commented.

I turned my gaze to him and frowned slightly.

“It’s presumptuous of me to say this, but I think Sir Haynes should also reflect.”

“Oh, I’m not an exception either.”

“You’ve been with the priest from the Holy See for a long time, aren’t you neglecting your colleague too much? You knew that the Duke and Lady’s attitude wasn’t desirable.”

“I admit it. However, it was to figure out how much Ether you use and how much you need… Please let it go this once.”

He smiled, gently curving his drooping eyes. I responded firmly.

“Please apologize to the priest. How much he must have suffered alone.”

-Tok tok

At that moment, Ganael gently touched the back of my hand.

As soon as I turned my head, wondering what was going on, I felt the air around me clear up.

At the same time as Sir Haynes’ chamber disappeared, a welcome voice rang in my ears.

“Prince Yeseo······.”

“Priest, are you okay?”

A sigh of relief escaped. I carefully looked at Sant’s round face.

Fortunately, he didn’t have a fever or cold sweats, and he got up right away, so it seemed he didn’t have any dizziness left.

The Ether of the healing circle swirled around him in the form of blue particles.

Sant blinked a few times and spoke with a flustered face.

“Did I, did I faint again? I’m sorry.”

“No, Priest, you have nothing to be sorry about. These three are the ones who did wrong.”

I comforted him and glared at the incompetent Holy Knights. Sant had a dumbfounded expression.

“I will continue to attend classes for the time being. I will also help with Ether supply.”

“Wow, Prince······.”

The young priest was overwhelmed with emotion and soon looked like he was about to cry.

I gave a bitter smile and patted his shoulder a few times.

When I was a sergeant, a twenty-year-old who came in as a new recruit said he wanted potato chips, so I bought him a bag.

I stayed by his side so he could eat comfortably in case other senior soldiers would notice, and the guy suddenly shed tears while chewing on the snack.

When I asked if it was because of me, the new recruit cried, saying he didn’t know I would be so nice to him and that he missed his family.

Seeing Sant on the verge of tears reminded me of that guy, and I felt sorry for him.

It’s been over a year since I contacted him, I wonder if he’s doing well.

“First, Lady Sarnese has something to say to the priest.”

I said.

Sant, who was rummaging through the handkerchief he had borrowed from me, was startled and looked up at her.

Christel was approaching with a very sorry and embarrassed expression.

She was definitely around my age, but maybe because she was possessed by the body of a nineteen-year-old, she often showed an innocent face like a child.

“Um, Priest. I’m sorry. I was sensitive….”

Christel opened her mouth slowly. Still, it was good to see her sincerely asking for forgiveness.

The refreshing wind of the North swirled greatly through her pink hair and everyone’s clothes.

Benjamin smiled softly and poured a cup of licorice tea for Sant.

His tear marks slowly dried.

The summer at the detached palace was pretty good.

*

Emperor Frederick, the Cardinal, and the Prince returned to the palace after their summer vacation.

The Prince of the Holy Kingdom who had accompanied them was also with them.

“Was it that good? It must have been good. You’re grinning from ear to ear. Anyone would think you got a lover.”

“······.”

The servants who were busily walking down the Imperial Palace corridor glanced at the Prince at Elizabeth’s words.

He was the same as usual.

His uniform, without the slightest disarray, and his cold, emotionless jade face were exactly as described by the modifier ‘Ice Prince.’

I couldn’t tell from where he was grinning from ear to ear.

It seemed there was something only childhood friends could recognize.

The lower ones started moving their feet again as if they had never glanced at the precious one.

“You even went down to the beach, huh? I heard it all from Ganael. You even went into the water?”

“I didn’t go in, so stop it.”

The Prince answered bluntly. But Elizabeth continued to nag.

“It must have been fun. I wanted to play with Lady Christel, Prince Yeseo, and our Ganael too. I got scolded a lot by my mom alone….”

The Count stretched his arms this way and that, stroking his back.

He continued to grumble, ‘Have you ever been hit on the back by a Sword Master? I thought I was flying all the way to the capital.’

Cedric quietly listened to her complaints.

It was because he knew what she was worried about, who was so talkative today.

Even though he thought he was past the age where this kind of encouragement was needed, the reason why he didn’t stop her was perhaps because he had become accustomed to someone’s personality over the past few months.

With a strange feeling, he frowned slightly.

As he reached his destination and turned the corner, there was a commotion across the street.

“Does that make sense? The Prince is a hostage. Who in the world would believe the words that he entered the palace as a confessor? Even a passing peddler would laugh.”

“Duke Blanquer, lower your voice. This is the Imperial Palace.”

“Why should I be mindful when I’m saying the right thing?”

The Prince stopped walking.

Then, Elizabeth, as well as David and the servants who followed them, stood in their places all at once.

The voice continued to be heard.

A young man was excited, and it seemed that there were two or three people trying to stop him.

The Prince’s eyes sank like cooled lava.

“Isn’t the Prince the one who brought all kinds of scandals even in the Holy Kingdom? His Majesty and His Eminence Boutier are being deceived.”

“Duke. I understand your concerns, but the Prince is also in the ‘Great Subjugation of the Demonic Beasts’,”

“That’s what I’m saying could be a scheme. He’s trying to gain the Prince’s trust and infiltrate the Liester Imperial Family.”

There was no hesitation in the man’s words. The Count frowned. Blanquer’s brat again?

“His Highness’ Ether assistance is absurd. No matter how much the King gave birth to him, half of the Prince is a commoner. A person with an unclear origin who has a priest as a father dares to,”

“Stop.”

A chilling bass voice fell.

The Prince stepped forward without hesitation and appeared before them.

The three men and women who had been making a fuss hurriedly bowed and paid their respects.

The voice that stammered the greetings trembled.

However, only two of the three turned pale.

The Prince indifferently looked down at Robert Blanquer, the son of Duke Blanquer, who was standing tall alone.

Then, he took off one of his black gloves and threw it at his feet.