What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 814

814. We Meet Each Other Anywhere (1)

Cedric Liester shot up, the cot groaning beneath him.

“……”

His magic wand was clutched in his hand.

He held it so tightly, as if it were his lifeline, that the knuckles of his hand were red and white.

He wasn’t breathless, but he felt like he had been running.

Why?

“Your Highness, did you have a nightmare?”

“……”

Blue dawn light filtered in from the east side of the barracks.

He remained sitting for a while, listening to David’s voice.

The moon hadn’t risen last night either, and he’d had a restless sleep.

To be precise, he had tried to sleep countless times, but each time he woke up with a similar dream.

He hadn’t told anyone, but David, the Crown Prince’s loyal aide, seemed to have noticed early on that he was suffering from insomnia and nightmares.

Of course, the middle-aged man didn’t bring it up first.

It was one of the long-standing rules that aides in Romero Palace were expected to learn: observe and only speak when spoken to.

“……It’s the first day of April. I will bring you several reports while you prepare. First, regarding the disappearance of His Majesty Hanan Lumayan during battle……”

“……”

‘Clang.’ As he put his hands in the basin, the distorted water reflected the Prince’s weary face.

Cedric started his day feeling unrefreshed.

For some reason, the scent of the sachet [a small perfumed bag] and soap felt sickening.

Beyond the curtain of the makeshift cot, priests and aides were quietly moving around.

The dark barracks were lit up again, and new firewood was placed in the subtly burning stove.

“……To commemorate the remarkable achievements of His Majesty Hanan, His Majesty Frederick wishes for a ceremony honoring him to be held in the Imperial City. As events to repatriate the remains of the fallen soldiers and commemorate them were already planned, commanders, including those at the ministerial level……”

After finishing his morning wash and putting down the towel, a priest’s hand immediately reached out from between the curtains to take the tools away.

Cedric silently watched the scene.

Soon, David, holding new clothes with both hands, came in to attend to the Prince.

“The Temple of Vigilance has had purple smoke rising for well over a week now. It is clear that a Pope has finally been chosen for the continent… Some cardinals of the Holy State have requested permission from His Imperial Majesty to leave the country in order to participate in the election to be held at the Vatican. However, opinions are divided. Grand Proctor Ronald Lüpert has unilaterally declared a postponement of the vote, and Her Highness Orel, who is still staying there……”

A white cloth slid down Cedric’s shoulders, reaching his wrists.

The crimson vest with its intricate embroidery and the fine cravat were all the work of the Imperial tailor.

As the bejeweled cufflinks were fastened one by one, David’s topic slowly changed.

Meanwhile, the priests and aides moved silently, preparing a meal on one side.

The smell of bread and soup brushed past the Prince’s nose.

It was, as always, a meaningless sensation. He wondered if this was an aftereffect of the war.

“Also, news has arrived that a group of Suer interpreters have arrived at several large garrisons, including the Yeriho Garrison. The war crimes trials are also expected to pick up speed. Wilhelmina Schneider, the captured Duchess, suffered severe injuries from Ropi [a type of magical attack], as you know, and there is much debate about her chances of survival……”

“……”

Cedric silently adjusted his cuffs.

David carefully checked his attire and continued his report.

“…Court Count Etzard Roseharder saved her this morning. He said he would make sure she lived to be judged. Duchess Schneider has passed the critical point.”

“……”

“Marquis François Duhem brought Count Arno van Roy from his convalescence in the Raso Territory, and others who will testify at the trial are being summoned from other regions. Our non-combatant mages are researching solutions for those afflicted with black magic or curses, and the Valentin baronetcy is cooperating……”

A sleek, long-necked boot encased the Prince’s calf. David delicately brushed a few specks of dust from the toe of the boot.

Cedric then sat in the chair prepared by the aide and received a short brushing of his hair.

Finally, the staff silently approached, lifted the curtains, and bowed before their master.

The sharp line of the Prince’s high nose rose between his deep eyes, ran down his philtrum [the vertical groove between the upper lip and the nose], and drew his full lips.

His jawline was sharper than usual, and there was a hint of nervousness at the end of his dark eyebrows.

His gaze was still fixed on one of the priests.

“The cleanup of the Schneider family’s logistics warehouses, which remained throughout the royal capital, also seems to be nearing completion. Hundreds of bodies of ‘the Corrupted’ have been found near the harbor and in some basements over the past four days……”

“……”

The Prince’s long eyelashes counted back to the not-so-distant past.

He knew the name of that priest. Her name was Agate. She was a stenographer attached to the Navy…….

“……The Divine Beasts do not seem to have recovered yet. Demi seemed to wake up briefly this morning, but soon fell asleep again……”

“……”

Clearly, there had been something between him and her in the past.

The man frowned slightly and glared at her.

But his memory was trapped in the dawn forest, unable to move like a lost person.

No—in fact, there were clearly pulsating fragments.

For example, the northern coast of the Holy State, the Sea Dragon Military Academy, the Guild Assembly Hall, the temporary military camp… And he had a brief altercation with someone.

“……”

What is it? Did that really happen?

“Your Highness, your wand.”

David held out his weapon with both hands.

Cedric quickly snatched the magic wand that he had briefly put down to equip his dagger.

The aide prepared his sword belt with an unchanging expression, changing the subject.

Even as the belt made of high-ranking monster leather familiarly wrapped around his waist, the Prince continued to feel a sense of unease.

It was strange. This was something that defied common sense and shouldn’t be happening.

“……”

He remembered everything, yet he remembered nothing.

The things he had experienced were engraved in his muscles and bones, unforgettable, yet he could not remember something most crucial.

Whenever he tried to recall ‘it,’ his mind became foggy as if shrouded in mist.

It was like that every day, from the moment he opened his eyes at dawn until just before he struggled to fall asleep.

The scenes he saw in his dreams every night were also like riddles buried in the darkness.

‘…Fairy?’

A faint voice heard beyond the twilight…….

-Click!

“Therefore, His Imperial Majesty wishes for Your Highness to leave this place……”

“……”

The Prince, awakened from his reverie, lowered his eyes.

As this pattern repeated, he naturally became sharp and sensitive.

If this was a problem with his body or ‘vessel,’ he would have to start a lifelong fight to prove himself once again.

The throne had never been a given for him.

“Then, I will serve you breakfast.”

“……”

In short, Cedric suffered from an endless sense of loss, not even knowing what he had lost.

He had no appetite, but he ate solely out of a sense of duty.

“Thanks to the presence of the Spirit, we can receive fresh crops, which pleases the chefs. However, the Divine Object has been falling asleep frequently recently……”

“Send the priest out.”

The Prince spat out coldly in a subdued voice.

The smile on David’s face also slowly faded.

“Your Highness.”

“I don’t need Aether [a magical energy]. It would be better not to bring her into my barracks in the future.”

“……”

“……”

The priests and aides exchanged glances, unsure of what to do.

The chief aide stirred his lips, trying to calmly persuade his master.

Rumors about the Prince had been spreading for the past few days anyway.

For the time being, it could be glossed over by citing fatigue, but at this rate, it was only a matter of time before it reached the ears of the Emperor or the great nobles.

But if he refused even the pure Aether that was supplied every morning…….

“Your Highness, please, as a Holy Knight of the Liester Empire……”

“Don’t make me say it twice.”

The suppressed bass was seething. Pisis, the Holy Sword, reacted to his emotions and emitted a bright red blood color. ‘Ooooong…….’

“Get out.”

“Good heavens……”

Agate’s face, having heard harsh words from a member of the Imperial Family, turned white.

The startled aides covered their mouths and bowed their heads.

David closed his eyes for a moment at the dizzying sensation.

It was at that moment.

“Ah, Your Highness. Please watch your words. Do you think everyone else doesn’t know how to swear, so they’re having a hard time with their social life?”

“……”

“……”

‘Flap!’ A knight opened the tent entrance and swaggered in.

The horrified staff scattered busily in all directions like a swarm of bees that had lost their hive.

Pink hair was rushing in like a wavy tsunami.

David quickly held out his palm towards her.

“Lady Rambouillet, good morning. If you’ve come to pay your morning respects to His Highness……”

“Morning respects, my foot. You know we’re not on those terms. I heard that our Crown Prince has been showing off his temper in all directions these days.”

“……”

“I had to come and replace the observation camera from the crack of dawn to find out what’s going on. I had to get up three hours early because of this. The side dishes look good! Aren’t you eating?”

Christel Rambouillet, with one hand on her hip and her legs crossed, scanned the Prince’s table with sparkling blue eyes.

The eyes of the man staring at her seemed to be burning with fierce flames.

“Lady Rambouillet, please……”

“Why, did you suddenly lose your appetite?”

“…Get out now.”

“No way. Anyone would think you were the only one who fought in the war. Anyone would think you were the only one who saw people dying and the only one who killed people.”

“Oh, my god.”

David removed his hand and touched his forehead. A strong sense of déjà vu arose.

The staff, standing far away, swallowed hard and watched the two Holy Knights’ war of nerves with bated breath.

“Teacher Johann hasn’t shown his face yet, so I can understand why your precious Highness is having a hard time. I really do understand. There’s no one in our military camp who doesn’t know that.”

“……”

“But emotionally venting it on subordinates is a completely different matter, isn’t it? Especially from someone who is supposed to be the heir to the throne?”

“Shut your mouth.”

“I don’t want to? Try to shut it yourself.”

-Zhiiiiiing……!

The Prince immediately deployed a magic formula in response to her mocking answer. ‘Oops!’ The finally terrified staff rushed out of the barracks.

The priest Agate looked back several times, but recognizing David’s gaze as permission, hurriedly left the scene.

The man surrounded by red rays let out a hollow laugh in disbelief.

“Ha! What is this? You’re not even going to use Aether anymore? You’re just going to fight with magic? With me?”

“…Even after the war, you still.”

Cedric spat out each word as if he were going to break it.

“Don’t know your place and crawl up.”

“……”

Then the woman’s gaze turned as cold as midwinter.

This was clearly a statement that crossed the line, even for David to hear. The two were friends.

The aide prepared himself for a moment.

He, too, was feeling a great sense of deprivation in this situation.

“Who allowed the likes of you into the barracks?”

“Why you little sh–”

“You two! Please calm down!”

Before the woman could say something irreversible, the middle-aged man finally stepped between the two men and women, stretching out his arms to mediate.

Even if they were like water and fire, they had no choice but to pause when an ordinary person with no force intervened.

“…If those who have to go on a long journey together start fighting like this before the departure, wouldn’t it be difficult in many ways.”

“…What are you talking about? This is the first I’ve heard of it.”

Then the woman made an exaggerated face as if she had heard something she shouldn’t have.

David looked down at the slowly rotating magic formula and tried to remain calm.

It was truly lamentable that even his master, the Crown Prince, was making a face as if he was hearing it for the first time.

“I reported it to His Highness the Crown Prince a little while ago. His Imperial Majesty……”

“……”

“His Majesty is planning to send the two of you and some soldiers to the Imperial City. For the post-war stability of the Empire and the capital.”

“……”

A silence that seemed to want to kill someone flowed for a while.

So David couldn’t bring himself to add that Jibril Diop would be accompanying them as their escort.