What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 85

#085 Not Exactly a Villain (3)

Cedric Liester sank into the sofa.

Seeing his posture, which seemed to urge her to continue, Christel went on without hesitation.

“I’ve been studying a bit. As you know, my memory isn’t perfect, so it took some time to learn.”

Her blue-gray eyes sparkled intelligently. Of course, she hadn’t studied solely on her own.

Crown Prince Yeseo seemed very uncomfortable ordering people around and preferred reading, but she was different.

Christel successfully grilled the tutors and servants of the Sarnese Duchy to find the information she needed.

Sitting in the library all day and flipping through books was not her style.

“A religious partner is a relationship established when a member of the Imperial Family and a priest make a ‘Twin Star Covenant’ [a sacred agreement]. This is a custom unique to Liester. Once the contract is concluded, the Guardian Saint cannot share their soul with anyone other than the Covenant Master. In other words, they cannot share their Ether [spiritual energy] with anyone else.”

“Do you think I wouldn’t know that?”

“But there is virtually no limit to the number of Holy Knights and priests who can be paired.”

The Crown Prince’s sunset-colored eyes narrowed slightly.

His intense gaze seemed to melt the Duchess across from him.

Christel grinned and moistened her lips with the iced Americano that David, the servant, had brought.

Indeed, the coffee at Romero Palace was incredibly delicious.

Could it be because it was the home of a man obsessed with espresso?

“······.”

“······.”

A suffocating silence pressed down on the drawing room. Christel sighed inwardly.

She didn’t expect him to urge her to speak quickly, but she was surprised that he wouldn’t drop his guarded posture.

The man’s fire-attribute Ether was as fierce as ever, but it still showed no sign of trying to overwhelm her.

Christel maintained her smile and spoke again.

“I looked through historical records from the war era. Such records appear rarely. A Holy Knight of the Venetian theocracy used to travel with two priests as partners.”

The Crown Prince slowly began to drink his coffee.

“Usually, two people are a pair, but things can change when the situation is urgent. No special contract or soul binding is required to become partners. It’s a relationship where practicality is the top priority.”

“Holy Knights and priests are different.”

Cedric pointed out sharply. There was truth in his words.

A Holy Knight on the battlefield was always at risk of Ether depletion, so it was not unusual to have two priest partners.

However, a single priest partnering with two or more Holy Knights….

“Yuliter.”

Christel’s clear voice echoed in the room.

The Crown Prince’s movement, as he brought the coffee cup to his lips, stopped abruptly.

He only raised his eyes to look at her.

Christel de Sarnese felt his ‘Etheric pressure’ for the first time since entering Romero Palace.

The air grew hot as if invisible flames surrounded her.

Even that was at a very restrained level.

She endured the pressure, creating white frost on her fingertips.

If they clashed now, the two of them might destroy part of the palace.

“The lover who betrayed the late Emperor Romero and brought the theocracy’s army into the Imperial Palace. The priest who was the owner of the Juliette Palace. I heard she’s called the greatest villainess in the Empire?”

“······.”

“According to the records, when Yuliter crossed through the Imperial Palace portal, she had Holy Knights on either side of her. There was also a statement from a knight who saw her sharing Ether with both of them. The three of them must have been partners.”

“That would be just one person’s statement.”

“That’s right. But isn’t it better than nothing for Your Highness and me?”

If there was even one precedent, it would be easy to create a second. The Crown Prince did not answer.

Christel crunched on the ice.

She didn’t want to twist and turn her words, hiding her true feelings like any other aristocrat, at least when it came to this topic.

That was something she had experienced enough in her ‘previous life.’

Her clear eyes stared directly at the Crown Prince.

“To be honest, I would like Crown Prince Yeseo to be my priest partner. He treats me without any greed. He’s a kind person and a good friend.”

Silence.

“Besides, his Ether is really amazing. Even the Archbishops didn’t have such clear and pure energy.”

“······.”

“You feel that way too, don’t you?”

“The Crown Prince is as noisy as a lark and eats like a squirrel. He’s not a welcome companion.”

*What is he talking about?* Christel frowned. The man’s Ether had already subsided.

“Then, am I allowed to ask the Crown Prince to be my partner, ah!”

Christel snapped irritably.

She really didn’t intend to get openly angry with the Crown Prince. But this was too much!

-Fwoosh······

“That’s the third one, handkerchief. How are you going to repay me?”

Christel pulled out the remains of the handkerchief from her jacket pocket.

Her ice-imbued fingers were unharmed by the red heat and soot.

She opened her eyes sharply.

“So, you don’t want me and the Crown Prince to be partners.”

*And that meant that the Crown Prince was also considering Crown Prince Yeseo as a partner.*

Christel was confused whether she should pity or admire herself for having figured out this man’s way of speaking to some extent.

So, she decided to just say what she had to say.

“Then, I’ll assume that we’ll only participate in the annual prayer meeting formally. When I ask the Crown Prince to be partners, we have to say it together. No calling him out separately to appeal to him.”

In any case, the Crown Prince wasn’t the type to bow down to anyone first.

But being on the same side was much better than being rivals.

Christel forced herself to accept it and reached out her right hand.

A pinky promise was too much, and a handshake… the contact area was too large and annoying.

After much deliberation, she made a small fist and held it out to him.

The Crown Prince frowned, not understanding the meaning.

*

“······Duchess Blanquer, please do not think such things.”

I stopped there. I was cautious.

Eva had been suffering from the poor-quality brainwashing of her brother since she was four years old.

It seemed that she didn’t even realize that it was brainwashing.

I was nervous that I might hurt her if I said even one sentence wrong.

As I hugged Demi and organized my thoughts, Lady Elisabeth, who had been listening to my conversation with Eva, said casually.

“Duchess, have you ever thought about becoming independent?”

“Independent?”

“I thought it would be good to get a mansion and live in the Imperial Capital. The estate is a bit stifling, isn’t it?”

I raised my head sharply. Lady Elisabeth was right.

First, I had to get the young Duchess out of the clutches of that trashy Young Duke and release her into a free environment.

I looked at Eva’s face. The child’s face, which had been a little gloomy, brightened up quickly.

“I already have a mansion!”

“Yes?”

Lady Elisabeth’s voice faltered.

“The Blanquer Duchy residence in the Imperial Capital is mine. Originally, it was going to go to my brother, but since I can’t become the Young Duke, I begged him to give me the house.”

“Wow.”

I exclaimed briefly. Lady Elisabeth, who had glanced at me, also clicked her tongue.

While being tormented by the villain’s brainwashing, the power-hungry young Duchess had been diligently taking care of her share.

It was very impressive and commendable.

As the Young Count patted her shoulder as if praising her, Eva smiled and dangled her legs.

“Will the Duchess accompany the Young Duke when he returns to the estate?”

“Yes, I always have. My parents were reluctant to leave me, a minor, alone in the Duchy residence. Even though there are servants and knights.”

The girl pouted at my question. I quietly pieced things together.

The Duke and Duchess of Blanquer were not close to their children, but they seemed to take care of the basics.

They were also generous enough to give their daughter the Imperial Capital residence as soon as she asked for it.

If I could just separate her from the Young Duke, who only spewed nasty words instead of embracing his 9-year-old sister, the situation would improve a lot.

“Since you became an adult last week, things might change in the future.”

I said. Eva blinked at me.

“You said you wanted power, Duchess. The Imperial Capital is the center of power. If you stay here, you can get news of the nobles residing in the Imperial Capital in real-time, and you can also access the trends of the Imperial Family and the latest fashions. Social activities will be much easier.”

The girl’s mouth opened in a circle.

“I’ve thought about that too. But······. I don’t think my brother will leave me behind. He said, ‘If someone like you is alone, other nobles will laugh at you.'”

Lady Elisabeth jumped up. I quickly grabbed her arm.

A quick whisper passed between her and me.

‘I’ll just stab him once and come back.’

‘Please bear with it.’

‘Then I’ll just stab him twice and come back.’

‘The number has increased.’

Barely managing to seat Lady Elisabeth, I recalled what Christel had said once.

‘I want the people of Ryuka Village to have the new life I’ve gained. Preferably in a way that they can stand on their own.’

It wasn’t that I liked the Young Duke, so I was stopping Lady Elisabeth.

I even thought that I should have let the Crown Prince kill him on the day of the duel.

But if someone stepped in now, they would only be charged with murder or assault.

Christel was right. Eva’s wounds had to be repaid by Eva herself.

She didn’t even know what she had been through now, but she would realize everything someday.

Until then, I could take care of the child, even as a hostage.

Besides, I wasn’t alone.

There was Lady Elisabeth, Ganael and Benjamin, and Cardinal Boutier.

…Christel and the Crown Prince wouldn’t let it go if they knew the situation.

A smile naturally appeared. I opened my mouth.

“No one will laugh at you. No one thinks you’re mean. Unless you do something bad first, there’s no reason for them to feel that way.”

“But my brother······.”

“The Young Duke says that because *he* is that kind of person.”

About that time, Demi dug deeper into my arms. I gently stroked the back of his waist.

“There are many who know their shortcomings but turn their arrows on others without trying to fix them. They fill their self-esteem by belittling and manipulating others.”

“······I don’t understand what you’re saying. It’s difficult.”

Eva frowned deeply. Lady Elisabeth and I ended up laughing out loud.

“You can learn slowly. You’re still young, and you’ll be staying in the Imperial Capital for a while and making new friends.”

“Me?”

The child looked at me with a puzzled expression. I lightly raised the corners of my mouth.

“You have to be punished for causing trouble for me. You didn’t think you could just get away with it, did you?”

“Eee······.”

Her red and voluminous curly hair seemed to droop. I continued with a pleasant feeling.

“Stay at the Duchy residence in the Imperial Capital and go to work at the Imperial Palace. You can send a letter to your parents saying that you’re helping His Eminence the Cardinal and me. You’ll have to take care of cleaning the temple for a while.”

“Cleaning? I’ve never done that before!”

“There’s a first time for everything. You spilled water like that on the floor, so you need to see things from the perspective of the person who has to wipe it up.”

“······I hate you. You’re an angel only in appearance, Your Highness. You’re a tyrant!”

The young Duchess shrugged her shoulders and looked like she was about to die.

But she was good because she didn’t say she wouldn’t do it.

Lady Elisabeth looked at me and whispered, ‘You’re good at handling children.’

I struggled to hold back my laughter.

“What else are you good at? Or what do you want to do in the Imperial Capital?”

I asked teasingly. Eva rolled her black-brown irises back and forth and fell into thought.

“I’m good at a lot of things. I play the viola well and dance quite well. I’m not good at magic, but… I have the best Ether in the family.”

I nodded.

If she was ordained as a bishop at the age of sixteen, she must have had a genius-like talent.

It was unexpected that the Blanquer bloodline, a famous magician family, was clumsy with mana, but genes don’t always work hard.

“When I was four years old, I saw the ‘Shrine of the Trees’ directly in the jungle of the estate. A sacred object. When my brother touched it, there was no reaction, but when I stroked the bow, it shone brightly!”

“······What did you say?”

“I remember my brother’s face turning blue and jumping up and down. He told me not to tell anyone, and he shouted that he wouldn’t let me get away with it if I did. It was noisy.”

I immediately raised my eyes.

Lady Elisabeth’s gray eyes were also rippling complexly.