What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 915

The Fifth Season (7)

Some seasons feel as fresh as if all the world’s hopes are sprouting.

-Yesuh, it’s Mom! My pretty second daughter. Are you with Dad’s friends again today?

“Ah, yes! Auntie and Great Aunt are here too!”

Considering it’s Dad’s memorial day, Mom’s voice was surprisingly bright.

I answered with a happy face, raising my phone up.

Then, my aunt, great aunt, and uncles widened their eyes and rejoiced, pausing from refilling their beer glasses.

The screen of the video call showed Mom in her patient gown and caregiver Lee Jong-hee.

Jung Hyun-seo, who was toasting dried filefish in the air fryer, chuckled softly. Eun-seo, who had been munching on a Korean melon [a type of sweet melon popular in Korea] given by the adults, suddenly stopped eating.

It’s Mom!

“Oh my, Seon-ah! It’s been so long!”

“Seon-ah, how are you! You look so much better than the last time I saw you!”

“We saw you during visiting hours this spring. You look much brighter than then!”

“Mom, here are Auntie and Great Aunt!”

The already boisterous living room became even more lively.

I turned the camera to my aunt and great aunt, who were sitting side by side, mixing rice with the remaining spicy braised monkfish.

Auntie smiled and waved at the lens, and Great Aunt quickly removed a large bone, saying, ‘Sister-in-law, Hyun-seo has become a monkfish braising master, it’s so good!’ while munching.

From beyond the screen, we could hear Mom and the caregiver enjoying themselves.

Around that time, I realized that the caregiver also had a phone in her hand.

“Mom, is the caregiver also on a video call? I can see the screen.”

-Yes! Grandma in Seoul is joining too. Mom is on a double video call right now. Say hello to Grandma and Grandpa!

As soon as Mom finished speaking in a playful voice, the caregiver held out her phone towards us.

Then, Grandma and Grandpa on the other side of the screen waved their hands a couple of beats later.

Only their foreheads and cheeks were barely visible, but that made it even more joyful and welcoming.

Eun-seo, who had devoured two Korean melons by herself, said, ‘Mom, I’ll teach you how to do group video calls next visiting hours!’ and then started attacking the grilled eel again.

I laughed out loud and turned to look at Mom.

“Mom, what about dinner?”

-I already ate, Mom is eating very well these days. I don’t leave even a single soybean.

“Good job. The side dishes there are supposed to be good. What about the caregiver?”

-Her daughter came by earlier and they ate out together! Ssambap [Korean lettuce wraps]. And Vienna coffee for dessert.

“Good job. You ate well. I thought you weren’t taking dairy products these days.”

-But I have to drink Vienna coffee to feel refreshed.

-Hehehe. I have good news today, so I made a video call to tell you!

Mom, back on the screen, said with a bright smile.

Grandma and Grandpa in Seoul, visible through the caregiver’s phone, also looked exceptionally happy.

At that moment, a conversation suddenly came to mind.

‘Grandma and Grandpa in Seoul will go to Mom’s hospital this weekend.’

‘Is something bad happening?’

‘It’s not bad. It could be the opposite. Grandpa will meet the attending physician directly on Monday.’

“······.”

I slowly blinked my eyes.

For some reason, my heart was pounding and I felt like ether was overflowing. Could it be······.

-Yesuh, Eun-seo. Mom, you know······.

As Mom lowered her voice as if whispering a secret, the gazes of my aunt, great aunt, and uncles were magically fixed on the screen.

Soon, Mom’s gentle tone swirled softly around the living room.

The first person to burst into tears was our aunt, followed by Tae-hee Uncle, Dad’s best friend.

Soon, our house turned into a scene of enthusiastic applause and cheers.

My brother, who had seemed calm in the kitchen, ended up spilling two glasses of plum tea, and I blankly spaced out before finally smiling broadly and congratulating Mom after a long while.

Eun-seo seemed to be the bravest of us siblings, but my aunt caught her with several walnuts on her cheek, and she received affectionate teasing from everyone.

“Aww, Eun-seo is crying. Our baby is crying!”

“Jung Eun-seo, why are you crying? It’s a good thing, why are you so sad.”

“Waaah, waaaaah······!”

“Come here, come here.”

Still holding up the phone, I hugged my younger sister tightly with my other arm.

A refreshing night breeze blew in from beyond the closed balcony door.

Some aunts shouted ‘For Choi Seon-ah!’ and raised their glasses again, and the uncles hurriedly left the entrance, saying they should buy a cake from a nearby bakery.

I patted the back of the youngest, who was now sobbing loudly, and bloomed a smile as big as the little one’s share.

Only then did Mom show the frame placed on the bedside table with an innocent face.

-Look at this!

It was a spring flower.

Probably drawn by Mom herself during art therapy, a tulip painting with five colors.

-I drew it well, right? The teacher didn’t rank them, but honestly, in Mom’s eyes, Mom seemed like number one.

“Yeah, our Mom must have been number one. Really.”

I chuckled, trying hard to hold back the tears welling up in my eyes.

And I thought, making eye contact with my brother who was already beside me.

Even if our season sometimes feels like an eternal winter······.

“It’s so pretty. Isn’t it, Hyung [older brother]?”

“······Yeah, it’s pretty.”

Spring will surely come someday.

*

And also our clearest and hottest summer.

“Yes, really! The doctors’ opinions are also like that, and above all, the brain MRI results are so good. She will be transferred to outpatient treatment soon.”

“Oh my, that’s so great! What should I do! Your Highness, congratulations! Awesome!”

June 1st, according to the Great Leister Empire’s time, Memorial Day for the War Dead.

Inside the Imperial camp in Claire Square, the capital.

‘Waaaaah!’ Gaine couldn’t contain her joy and excitement and stomped her feet, and we almost hugged each other, but barely suppressed the impulse considering today’s attire.

Instead, my partner held my hands and expressed her overflowing happiness by tiptoeing in place (she closed her mouth tightly and jumped, thinking she shouldn’t shout any louder).

Her pink hair under the crown, her watery eyes, and the blue water mirror rippled like summer waves.

Then, Chief of Staff Laura, who was shocked and approached, rearranged Gaine and my attire again!

“Lord Rambouillet.”

“I’m sorry. I did wrong.”

“······Princess Yesuh, you are now a dignified Cardinal and will soon ascend to the Papal throne. Please······.”

“I’m sorry. There’s too much good news at home. It was a joyous occasion.”

I looked at Laura, unable to control the corners of my mouth.

My mom is finally being discharged from the hospital!

They said it’s a miracle-like case, and if it were a university hospital, it would definitely be a paper topic. Really!

“Oh. Congratulations.”

Laura, who didn’t know the details, congratulated me in a calm voice, but still with as much sincerity as possible.

While she was arranging the gold and purple mixed ceremonial robe for me—I heard that the Vatican sent it and the costume shop quickly quarantined and repaired it—I looked around, suppressing my laughter.

Just in time, Lord Johann, who had finished preparing, was approaching this way with Herrit.

The two of them already had smiling faces, as if they had heard our story from across the banner.

“Congratulations from the bottom of my heart, Princess. I should visit your mother soon and say hello separately.”

“Yes. Mom will really like it if Lord Johann comes. Herrit too!”

“Okay!”

The child shouted excitedly.

This time, I grabbed Herrit’s hand and rejoiced, but was pointed out by the passing attendant Natalie.

She rearranged my headdress and politely said, ‘You must show yourself before all the people with His Highness the Crown Prince soon, Your Highness.’

In other words, our funeral procession was five minutes away.

Only then did tension begin to overtake happiness and run.

Soon, Ganael approached and handed me the scepter, and told me that the beautifully dressed Arumahart was waiting at the entrance.

I nodded and looked around the inside of the camp for the last time.

Dazzling sunlight was turning the pure white cloth red.

I could see the troublemakers in neat attire getting on the open golden carriage.

-Kkia, kkia

“······.”

Gaine and Lord Johann, wearing long cloaks as great war heroes, also exuded a much more serious and dignified atmosphere than usual.

On the other side, Camille’s army was holding the gorgeous fleur-de-lis emblem and mounting horses.

The imperial family and nobles who participated in this war, including Marquis François Duhem, also wore the emblems of each family and stood in line.

Thump, thump, thump, thump······.

“······Ah.”

I thought I heard the sound of drums outside already, but when I listened again, it was the sound of my heart pounding in my ears.

Perhaps my excitement with Gaine earlier was also a manifestation of excessive tension.

This morning at the Gigolt Caravanserai, Benjamin said to me while arranging my wings and feathers.

‘If the last trial was the event where Prince Yesuh’s twin and the Chief Angel of the Main God first appeared, today is the day when Your Highness the Princess stands before everyone as the Guardian Saint of the Empire and the Noble Cardinal.’

‘Please do as usual, but don’t make mistakes.’

‘······Yes, Benjamin.’

······I was so excited about Mom’s discharge news that I spilled all the virtues like ‘moderate tension’ or ‘calm attitude’.

I’m belatedly trying to pick them up, but I wonder if I’ll be able to do well even after going out······.

“Someone should bring Juliet some honey milk.”

Heh. I raised my head sharply at the familiar low voice.

The Crown Prince, wearing a luxurious black ceremonial robe with a crown and scepter, was looking down at me with a bitter smile.

The watch on his right wrist sparkled particularly brightly today.

“No.”

The man added quietly.

“It seems like there’s a spilled bowl here. Would it be faster to call an attendant.”

“······Yes?”

As I frowned, not understanding right away, Gaine, who was bringing Doria from behind, giggled and interpreted, ‘He’s teasing you that you’ve become chewy noodles, Your Highness.’

Only then did I get angry and turn to look at the Crown Prince. Hey······!

-Swish, swish!

“Your Highness, I would like to explain the section where nine magic formulas unfold once again.”

I was about to retort that it wasn’t quite chewy noodles, but Cedric was already waving his staff and loosening his hands.

Then, the non-combatant magicians of Bangsel Palace rushed to his side and unfolded the map.

“······Here, when you arrive at the altar installed in the center, there is a large tombstone embedded in the floor.”

“This is the cornerstone of the war memorial to commemorate the war dead, and you can unfold the magic formulas in order around this······.”

“The casting speed is very slow, so that all the people can clearly witness it······.”

“······.”

I stared at them blankly for a moment.

When I thought about it, the responsibility that Cedric shouldered today was, of course, incomparably greater and more important than my role.

Today, he was going to announce to the people that he had become a great magician, commemorate the spirits of the fallen soldiers on behalf of His Majesty the Emperor, and comfort the bereaved families.

So, if it’s tension, that guy must be much more nervous than me······.

“Since His Highness the Crown Prince is at the forefront, Your Highness can calm your mind.”

“David.”

The Chief Attendant of Romero Palace, who had already approached, personally took me next to Areum.

Only when I got close to the entrance of the camp could I hear the sound of the crowd.

Different from what I heard in the Pantheon of the Venetian Theocracy······.

Really completely different. I swallowed hard.

“Starting today, Your Highness will become an existence that no one on the continent can dare to approach.”

“······Yes. I will do my best.”

“Hahaha.”

Then David smiled kindly and held the stirrup so that I could ride.

Finally, the sound of a horn echoed from a distant place—

-Pooooooo······

-Neigh

-Clatter, clatter, clatter······

Starting with Cedric Leister and Charlemagne, who were dragging their crimson cloaks, the grand procession of the Memorial Day began.

The entrance of the camp was lifted and brilliant sunlight poured down on our heads.

I followed the Crown Prince along with Gaine, then suddenly turned around.

My jaw dropped at the belated realization.

Goodness, no wonder there hasn’t been anyone picking on me since earlier······!

“David, wait a minute! What about Prince Dioph? Now that I think about it, I don’t see the Prince—!”

“Goodness.”

*

Around that time, near the Gigolt Caravanserai.

The place where the march of the Great Leister Empire army stopped.

“······Jibril. Why are you staying here?”

“Can’t I be here?”

“Huh.”

The Emperor, who had finally packed up the long-term camp and set out on the way home, scoffed as he looked at his fifth cousin who had come to greet her.

He already knew what the guy was thinking, so there was no need to ask any further.

“······I already know that you’re only used to throwing things away.”

“······.”

“You’ll have to learn how to hold on to things soon.”

With those words, the Emperor passed by his cousin.

Orelly turned to look at him with a meaningful smile.

Jibril frowned and followed a beat later.

What Happens When the Sub-Male Lead Goes on Strike – Episode 916