What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 772

The Sub-Male Lead Goes on Strike – Episode 772

Maehyeong (11)

In the early hours of the next day, the 33rd Cavalry Regiment reunited in the Pantheon lobby.

Gaine, Cedric, and Sir Johann greeted us.

“…You went to find Yeff and witnessed Werner Fenetian? With the national seal?”

“Yes. We narrowly missed him right in front of us, but the Duke completely destroyed his blue carriage. Whatever help it was giving him, it won’t anymore.”

-Kki-eung.

“…”

I spoke in my usual voice, and Leah, who had become much braver, chimed in confidently.

Yeff, nestled in my arms, had fallen fast asleep, finally relaxed.

His small, white hand clutched the mercenary guild ‘Somac’ contract, signed by Dorothea herself.

Jibril Diop was carrying the unconscious Raggedy Girl a few steps behind, and it was fortunate it was late at night, or he would have been met with harsh glares from everyone.

My friends were silent for a moment. I adjusted my glasses and continued calmly.

“We considered chasing him to the end, but vigilantes started patrolling the area, so we had to take cover. Instead, as soon as the sun rises, we’ll hand Yeff and Raggedy Girl over to Hilda, and if we secretly provide information so the Valentine family can do their part…”

“So that’s why.”

Gaine said abruptly. I blinked. “Huh?”

“…So that’s why you suddenly thought of the Palace Lord. So that’s why lightning suddenly struck from a clear sky.”

“You… thought of me?”

I asked, surprised, but she only examined my appearance silently.

Forehead, eyes, cheeks, chin, hands… Even the crumpled clothes and the cheap bag with dry leaves stuck to it.

Finally, her watery eyes looked at me intently. Her voice was slightly wet.

“Palace Lord must have been scared, right?”

“…”

…Ah.

“That bastard. If I had been there, I would have never let him go and beaten him half to death.”

“…”

“You’ve worked hard, Yeseo.”

Slowly, her arms reached out and embraced my shoulders tightly.

Only then did I feel like I could breathe, and blood flowed through my body as if by magic.

‘Haa…’ I closed my eyes as if I had been waiting for this moment all along. The coolness of her body was refreshing.

It felt like my body, which had been stuck in the mud, was finally being washed with clean water.

A pure aura flowed through my heart and brain, purifying everything.

“…”

Almost crushed by Yeff and Gaine, I barely managed to reach out one arm.

Soon, a shoulder with familiar warmth came within reach.

Only when I grabbed his arm did my heart feel completely at peace.

I looked up at Cedric, whose forehead veins were bulging, and smiled faintly before slowly looking for Sir Johann.

The man’s mint-colored eyes were sometimes as cold as a winter that had forgotten spring, but when he smiled at us, they turned into a field full of green. I watched him, not letting go of the warmth of Leah clinging to my leg.

“The royal palace infiltration operation is three days away.”

“…”

The Cardinal said quietly.

I nodded silently and buried my face in Gaine’s shoulder.

If I rest like this for a moment and then get up, I will soon be fine again.

Because I have friends by my side who I would give everything to.

The wide skylight of the Pantheon poured pure white moonlight over us.

When the morning of March 19th dawned, Christiana Fenetian had become a monarch who had conquered more than half of the royal palace barefoot.

It goes without saying that the royal palace was originally her property and the exclusive possession of the royal family.

“Your Majesty, I have brought you shoes. They are creased because I brought them in a hurry, but…”

“Thank you, Dris.”

A man hurriedly brought silk shoes and placed them in front of the king.

Christiana roughly shook off the dirt from her bare feet and put on the shoes.

While tidying up her appearance, she tightened her loose belt and pinned up her falling hair again.

Dris carefully looked at his master and swallowed hard.

He was a young commander of the royal guard and one of the king’s men belonging to a minority faction within the castle.

Some politicians collectively called such people ‘royalists,’ but the king’s close aides never called themselves that.

For someone born in the Holy Kingdom, serving a family born with the blood of God was only natural.

Christiana immediately recognized the young man’s gaze.

“Why, are you afraid that I will go crazy again?”

“That is… Yes.”

“Hahaha.”

When Dris answered with a blank face, the king laughed out loud and then took a step, using her long sword as a cane.

There were dozens of guards and servants following her.

Deaf servant girls also followed the king with hurried steps.

When Christiana first broke through the entrance of the castle tower and appeared before everyone, the entire royal palace was turned upside down.

Terrified servants ran away in all directions, and nobles trapped in the castle hid in the deepest guest rooms.

But she was the king of a country.

Even though she had suffered from madness for a long time, there were still those who remembered her past self, and there were those who believed in and followed her when she occasionally regained her sanity.

There were those who called what she had to do ‘grace’ and did not forget it, and those who instinctively shunned and feared someone’s shadow seeping into the royal palace… Those who relied only on the faint light of the king.

Christiana took up her sword for them.

It was too late, but it was better than never acting at all.

“Chamberlain Babette Pauman has been missing all night. He must know that I am stirring up the castle like the back of his hand.”

“That’s what I’m saying, Your Majesty. Surely he must have been informed…”

Commander Dris scratched his cheek and looked around.

Christiana’s peach-colored eyes darkened to a deep burgundy.

She was not one to repeatedly ask about something that did not have an immediate answer.

The king strode towards the heart of the royal palace and asked another question.

“What is the atmosphere of the royal guard like?”

“I am sorry, but how much does Your Majesty remember…?”

“Tell me the general situation. I am not in a position to sort out and organize information right now.”

“…That… Yes. You can think of it as much more blatant than before. The commander of the guard now listens to no one’s orders except those of Duke Sneider. He has completely forbidden the entry of other royals who have come from afar, and he is not even allowing Court Lady Roseharder, who is supposed to take care of the royal palace, to enter. He claims that he must protect the castle from the corrupted who have suddenly appeared in the royal capital. So…”

“So he has imprisoned everyone here. The commander of the guard not coming to see me is for the same reason, isn’t it?”

The king calmly accepted the words. Dris quickly nodded.

After passing through a maze-like path along the round surface of a certain castle tower, the tallest and largest tower in the royal palace appeared before them.

The knights who recognized the king’s face turned pale and cleared the way, stepping aside from the entrance.

The center of the royal palace, the main castle.

“…”

Christiana stopped for a moment and looked up at the building.

The luxurious flag of the Fenetian royal family was fluttering at the top of the tower.

…Not yet.

“I hear the Riester Empire army is crossing Memphis. What happened to the Crown Princess and the Second Princess?”

“The Second Princess has long since taken refuge in the Roseharder Rose Garden, but news from that residence has been completely cut off for some time now. And the Crown Princess…”

Dris could not bring himself to answer and wet his lips.

The servants who followed could not dare to add anything and only exchanged glances with each other.

Then Christiana frowned for the first time and looked back at them.

“Why are you silent? Has something happened to my daughter?”

“…That is not the case, Your Majesty. It’s just that bad… Her Highness has fallen victim to malicious rumors. Duke Sneider’s close aides, including Marquis Citron, have been circulating thousands of leaflets these days, slandering her.”

“…”

“…There are widespread rumors that the Crown Princess attacked allies during battle.”

“…Does that mean she struck Sneider?”

“Yes.”

The young man drooped his armored shoulders and lowered his head.

However, Christiana’s reaction was different.

Her chapped lips trembled, and soon a voice filled with guilt flowed out.

“…That child has witnessed the truth.”

“Yes?”

“What her mother was incompetent and too weak to teach… The Crown Princess must have learned it herself. Yes…”

The king’s gaze turned back to the castle tower.

A conversation she had with Michael sometime ago was faintly illuminating her mind.

‘Sneider must know something important, Your Majesty.’

‘…’

‘Perhaps his family has learned the secret of the old Pope that even the Vatican does not know.’

‘You, can you take responsibility for that statement?’

I remember his brown eyes curving with a smile. Like it was yesterday.

‘I cannot take any responsibility for a precious person. Just as Your Majesty cannot promise me anything.’

An obvious proposition. That was the relationship from the beginning.

‘But Your Majesty and I. We will definitely catch Sneider.’

‘…’

‘No matter how long it takes, that is what will eventually happen.’

‘Why are you so sure?’

“Your Majesty?”

Like a sinking ship with its guiding lamp extinguished, Michael’s light quickly faded beyond memory.

The king suddenly woke up from her reverie and looked back at Dris. And said this.

“…The corrupted who have appeared in the royal capital must be suppressed by the king’s army, so the royal guard should immediately step forward to protect the people. Therefore, the siege of the fortress must be stopped immediately. You must immediately convey to the commander of the guard that this is a royal order.”

“…Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Also.”

The king raised her palm firmly. Dris and the servants stood only looking at her.

“If the Imperial Army is crossing Memphis, the Corleone Navy and a large Imperial Fleet will soon rush into the Sea of Plenty. Post notices throughout the royal capital to widely announce that I have awakened. In addition, all the royals and nobles remaining here must wear the best weapons and be brought into the royal palace. I will defend the castle with them until the very end.”

“Oh, Lord God…”

“I am deeply grateful, Your Majesty. But perhaps, in the unlikely event…”

Dris wiped his face dry and whispered. The young man’s face held clear fear.

“What if the royal guard commits an act of insubordination?”

“What do you mean, what if.”

The king adjusted the display sword and nodded.

With her arms and legs losing muscle and her skinny hands with thick bones protruding after years of illness.

“…I will have to cut them down myself.”

The strongest swordsman of the Holy Kingdom, who collapsed due to illness just before becoming a Sword Master.

Christiana was a king who was once loved by all people even though she was not born with Ether [magical energy source in this world].

Only with her effort and dedication.

“…I receive your noble command. Long live His Majesty the King.”