What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 903

The End and the Beginning (5)

“My child has come!”

“Your Majesty!”

“God of the Stars, thank you…!”

-Whack!

Her Majesty Aurelia hadn’t changed at all during that time.

Her warm eyes, soft touch, and gentle tone when she treated me were all the same as before.

I was worried that her body might have been hurt by the war, but thankfully, she hadn’t lost weight or her face hadn’t become rough.

After hugging me deeply, my teacher held my cheeks in both hands and carefully turned them this way and that, kissed my forehead, and rubbed the back of my hand with her thumb, unable to speak, overcome with emotion.

Seeing her eyes moist with tears, my throat felt choked up as well.

I just smiled, trying my best to show the expression my teacher liked the most.

My nape was hot and my Adam’s apple kept trembling, but it was all evidence of pure joy.

Her Majesty looked me in the eye and asked kindly.

“I heard the story from the Prince. Did you have a good visit to your family home?”

“Yes, yes.”

The desert wasn’t hot at all. I felt like this place was as warm as my own home.

“And your older brother and younger siblings are doing well?”

“Hahaha. Yes, of course.”

“And your mother?”

“…She’s been sick for a long time, but she’s been much better recently. Thank you.”

Then, my teacher closed her eyes and kissed each of my fingers for a long time.

“It’s a blessing from God. Thanks to our Palace Lord, the continent has regained its moon and language.”

“You’re welcome.”

The fact that language was communicating again was thanks to the God of the Stars—that is, the gaze of our readers—rather than me…

As Sir Johann once said, not everyone needs to know all the secrets.

At least, there’s a pace that suits each person, and some might be better off knowing the secrets of the world last.

I smiled softly and leaned my cheek against my teacher’s palm. It was then.

“Give me all the accessories over here.”

“Yes, Benjamin.”

“Hmm?”

While Her Majesty and I were enjoying our reunion, the servants who seemed to have brought her were busily moving around.

I realized that the situation was very complicated when Ganael carefully took the carry-on bag.

From afar, Ms. Gain and Sir Johann were talking with serious faces, and the troublemakers were unusually quiet.

Over there, Francois, who had discovered us, was smiling brightly and striding towards us.

Cedric, Duke Dioph, Isabelle, Carme, Martyr, and the children were nowhere to be seen.

“Ganael? Benjamin?”

“Your Majesty, Palace Lord. I am very sorry to interrupt your joyful reunion, but the second trial of Duke Sneider will begin soon in the Royal Capital. Most of the great nobles who will have their names on the verdict have arrived at the scene. To arrive at the courtroom on time, the Palace Lord’s preparations must begin now…”

“Oh, that’s right.”

“Oh dear. The schedule was tight.”

I quickly nodded and took a step back.

At the same time, the Imperial Palace servants surrounded me with gorgeous clothes and decorations.

My teacher said, ‘Please take good care of the two children,’ and then smiled and received Ganael’s assistance.

…Wait, two children?

“Because I’m your partner today.”

“Huh.”

From a completely unexpected direction, I heard a very familiar voice.

I blinked my eyes hastily and turned around.

The purple eyes I met curved beautifully like a crescent moon on a holy night.

Prince!

“I’m looking forward to it. Please take care of me.”

“Ah, yes! I’ll do my best too…!”

I didn’t know what I had to work hard on yet, but anyway, it seemed like today’s schedule was with Prince Yeseo.

I nodded my head quickly, determined not to be a burden to him.

The servants led us to a spacious reception room and diligently held up various fabrics near my face.

As I was doing that, I suddenly thought…

“Excuse me, but why do I have to dress up? Isn’t today’s schedule just attending the trial?”

“Hohoho.”

I couldn’t help but ask that question, but the servants laughed it off as if they had heard a very funny joke. What is it? Why are they laughing?

Everyone seemed busy, so I didn’t want to pry, so I just went to get fitted quietly.

I’ll find out naturally soon, so there’s no need to be fussy.

Around that time, Francois, who had kissed the Prince’s hand, began to explain about the portal that had been temporarily opened, so I didn’t even guess what today’s schedule meant to us (I was really out of it).

So, a few more hours passed…

-Kugung…!

“Silence!”

“Lord Yeseo, the Palace Lord of Juliette and Marquis Serenite, and Prince Yeseo, the First Prince of the Theocratic Nation of Phenetian, enter!”

-Kugugugung…

“Gulp…”

I really didn’t imagine that it would be the ‘debut’ where the Prince and I would stand together in an official setting for the first time.

This wasn’t just being a spectator—!

*

Late afternoon, the Royal Capital of the Theocratic Nation of Phenetian.

The Pantheon.

-Bang, bang!

“Silence, silence!”

Here, the trial of the century that would go down in continental history was taking place.

“…That’s all. I hope that the great nobles who uphold the will of God will take my testimony into consideration in their judgment.”

“No, Duchess Wilhelmina Sneider is honorable and noble. She simply responded to the demands of the times!”

“She did not commit treason. In fact, many testimonies have poured out from the battlefield that Princess Elysee’s mind is not sound, and someone had to make a decision…!”

“Everyone, take your seats!”

‘Bang, bang, bang!’ Marquis Leon Cisse, the chairman of the Riester Aristocratic Council, was sitting on the highest seat in the courtroom—right below it on the platform.

The old man was well-built and a famous general who had been widely known for his martial arts since his youth.

Anyone would be intimidated by his white beard, large head, thick neck, and shoulders, but the nobles who guaranteed the identity of the criminal remained upright throughout.

Most of them were blood relatives of the Sneider family, and they were literally betting their lives on the outcome of this trial.

The Riester and Phenetian nobles who filled the audience seats in layers looked at their side and constantly whispered.

“How could someone who knows honor do such a terrible thing?”

“That’s what I’m saying. They should be digging up and offering evidence that doesn’t exist, but they’re still protecting Sneider!”

“Isn’t that the Duke’s family whose power pierced the sky? Rather than admitting their guilt and plunging into the mire, they’re trying to maintain their dignity by holding out to the end.”

“Oh dear, does someone who had their limbs torn off by the Divine Beast still have dignity left?”

“Oh!”

Numerous fans fluttered busily.

The commotion spread like an eerie song to the high ceiling, and the audience seats were so full that even the standing room was packed.

Then, if you move your gaze along the procession of baby angels in the ceiling mural…

“Excuse me, I’ll be passing through!”

“There’s no place to park the carriage, so the coachmen are just circling the outskirts of the square, sir. What should we do?”

“No, you haven’t been able to park the carriage yet?”

The servants attending to their masters were lined up near the entrance, holding luggage and water bottles.

The small heads of the errand boys repeatedly popped up and disappeared.

Hundreds more servants and maids who had not yet entered were gathered in the huge lobby leading out of the courtroom.

In addition, the Pantheon was filled with resident priests, commoners under their care, and knights guarding them.

Moreover, the outside of the temple was also crowded with people who had gathered to hear the results of the trial.

Those who had crossed over from the distant Empire through numerous portals, those who had heard the news of defeat from the remote areas of the Theocratic Nation, Imperial soldiers, native residents of the Royal Capital, wandering merchants…

The Pantheon had been used as a reception hall, chapel, cemetery, and court for the past hundreds of years, but there had rarely been a day as crowded as today.

The Irene Pope’s fountain in the center of the square was offering its last prayer to the sky.

The forehead of the statue, bathed in the sunset, flickered with gold.

-Clatter, clatter, clatter…!

“Oh, there comes the Imperial carriage! It’s the Imperial carriage of the Empire!”

“Don’t push! Ah, I said don’t push!”

“Look, it’s going to the Pantheon! Someone from the Imperial Palace must be coming!”

“Wow…!”

Admiration, pointing, and countless gazes and attention were instantly focused on one place.

People who had been camping out in the Pantheon area since the early hours of the morning reacted enthusiastically to even the slightest bit of new news.

However, the carriage, escorted by the Riester Imperial Guard, was undoubtedly carrying someone of high rank.

The red velvet-lined windows were tightly closed, but that was proof of a noble.

Now the crowd began to stir greatly.

“No, aren’t all the Imperial family members inside? Is there anyone else left to come?”

“I heard that there are over tens of thousands of Riester Imperial family members, so it could be one of them!”

“Hey, there aren’t tens of thousands of Imperial family members! You have to keep your boasting reasonable!”

“Oh, just now! The curtain was lifted just now!”

-Click, click, click, click…!

For a very brief moment, the velvet at the window was lifted, and the owner of the carriage revealed their face and disappeared.

The crowd became even more excited and raised their voices.

Then, the Imperial Guard lined up in an orderly manner below the steps of the temple.

It was to escort the noble who would get off the carriage soon.

-Kuuung…!

At the same time, the main gate of the Pantheon, farthest from the people’s view, began to open its mouth.

A heavy shadow stretched out long under the steps, receiving the sunset light.

The moment everyone’s attention turned to the door again…

-Bang, bang, bang, bang—!

“The guarantors, be silent! If you cause another disturbance and disrupt the order in the court, then you will be additionally charged with contempt of court. Do not forget that His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Riester Empire is present in this place!”

“…”

“…”

At Marquis Cisse’s thunderous warning, which seemed to absorb all the commotion, the courtroom became as silent as if ice water had been poured over it.

Sneider’s guarantors looked up at the upper seat with somewhat pale faces.

“…Good, it’s quiet. The chairman should resume the trial.”

“…”

“…”

The highest seat there.

Silver hair that sparkled like a well-honed blade, and a pair of eyes that were like drops of blood beneath it.

A cool tone and emotionless eyes that leaked out between his lips.

No one in the hall drew a sword, but the guarantors could feel an enormous sense of intimidation just from the presence of Frederick Riester.

In addition, Cardinal Aurelia Boutier was seated to the Emperor’s right, and Crown Prince Cedric Riester to his left.

They were also looking with cold eyes—perhaps with contempt—at only one person…

“…I have only done what God has entrusted to me.”

A criminal who defends himself by moving his bloody lips with a face full of scars.

“…”

“…Regarding the matter of the underground passage of the late King Lillianer Phenetian… It is the first time I have heard of it. I did not know at all that the late King… was proficient in such black magic.”

Sitting upright in a wooden chair even with his left arm and left leg lost…

“The airships, yes. It is true that black magic was used on our military’s airships. But…”

Under the messy, tangled hair, a man revealing bright eyes.

“That is the result of our soldiers volunteering. They sacrificed their lives to protect the country. The puppeteer’s Cheonro [likely a strategically important location or resource] is that strategically important…”

Wilhelmina Sneider.

“Objection, the defendant is fabricating the positions of those who have already died and cannot testify!”

“I acknowledge it. Unless you have legitimate evidence or witnesses, the defendant should not borrow the mouths of the dead to defend himself.”

“…”

The Duchess was silent for a moment, and the Imperial Family’s representatives who opposed her quickly prepared the next document.

Elizabeth, who had testified about Elysee’s mental state a little while ago, was also sitting behind the witness stand with a stiff expression.

It was then.

“Aaaah…!”

Flounder. Suddenly, a shout that shook the temple erupted from outside the door.

The first to react to this was none other than Crown Prince Cedric.

As he immediately rose from his seat, the nobles in the audience began to exchange glances busily and whisper.

Then, the large door opened with a ‘Kugung!’ sound.

-Bang!

“Lord Yeseo, the Palace Lord of Juliette and Marquis Serenite, and Prince Yeseo, the First Prince of the Theocratic Nation of Phenetian, enter!”

As a servant announced the entrance in a loud voice, the silhouettes of the two people appeared in the doorway.

Everyone in the hall let out a sigh that rose from their core.

“Waaaaah…!”

—It was an angel with six wings spread and his twin.

Wilhelmina’s dull yellow eyes widened greatly for the first time.

What Happens When the Sub-Male Lead Goes on Strike Episode 904