What Happens When the Second Male Lead Powers Up

Chapter 196: Purple Tulip (3)

Chapter 196: Purple Tulip (3)

‘This......’ This was my mistake. I reflected on my actions and buried my lips in my teacup.

I could feel the Imperial Crown Prince’s piercing gaze on the side of my face.

“The little Sarnez girl will soon become the young Duchess.”

“Yes, your Majesty. My father has said so as well.”

“That’s good.”

Empress Frédérique offered a future and Christelle immediately answered.

‘The future?’

It wasn’t that I thought I was useless.

I was the partner of the main character of < I quit my job and ended up as a noble young lady in another world > as well as her future husband’s partner.

I decided not to be the second male lead, but I still had a role that was just as important.

I was also no longer just a diplomatic hostage. I was one of the Empress’s marquises, given some territory, and the Empire’s one and only Cardinal was my teacher.

I also had friendships with Riester’s four major noble families.

Furthermore, I decided back in Sérénité to accept my own feelings.

I like the people I met here and I wanted to be with them.

“Mm.”

I looked toward the pond in order to calm my chaotic mind.

Sir Johann was teaching Eva something.

“Put it in like this and pull, my young Duchess. If you make a small circle, it becomes a clover ring.”

“And if you make it a big circle?”

“Then I guess you could use it as a bracelet.”

“...Sir Geens, you are more useful than I thought. This is great.”

“Hahaha.”

...That was why it really was my mistake.

I was so focused on the things that I needed to take care of and didn’t think deeply about what kind of existence I would become to others.

I liked Riester, but I wanted the prince to be able to see his siblings in the Holy Kingdom as well.

At the same time, I needed to go home.DiiScôver new stories on

I was so focused on these three things that were contrary to each other that I did not focus on external factors at all.

What am I supposed to do if my friends want to do things with me in the future?

“Élisabeth, you will probably take over the position of Margrave when your mother retires as well.”

“Yes, your Majesty. But it seems like she will easily keep it for another twenty years.”

“Hmph. Caroline would definitely do that.”

“Do you have any plans on getting married?”

The Empress chatted with Vice Captain Élisabeth as well.

Cardinal Boutier brought up a topic that you would normally expect from your extended family during the holidays.

The young Countess turned red and said that nothing specific has been set in stone.

Christelle chimed in loudly.

“The Vice Captain said she will wait until her fiance is twenty years old. But he seems ready to marry her at any moment.”

“Oh my.”

“Haha.”

My teacher acted shocked in order to play along with Christelle.

I felt like I could hear a teasing tone playing in the background.

I laughed at the two of their cruel joke.

The people who were from this place naturally were planning for the coming days and dreaming of their future.

That was as obvious as breathing. I was the same way in my house with Eunseo and my brother.

“... Anyway, don’t just stay like hermits inside the Imperial Palace and your house.”

The Empress looked at us and proclaimed. The Cardinal added on.

“It’ll be hard for you to go out even when you want to once you ascend to the throne in the future.”

“Go out and have fun while you can and see the lives of your people. If I ever make a mistake, your jobs are to tell me about it.”

“Yes, your Majesty.”

The crown Prince’s orange eyes calmly sparkled. My teacher gently patted the back of my hand.

“You worked hard this time too, my little prince.”

“It was nothing, your Eminence.”

“To be honest with you, I brought it up to Frédérique first. I told her that we should leave the Madame Victoire issue to you guys.”

I blinked my eyes.

I was well aware of the Empress and the Cardinal being one mind and body, but I had no idea that it was my teacher’s idea.

She had made it sound like the Empress randomly thought of it when we were there. ‘That was all just an act?’

“If our hypothesis would have been correct, it was an extremely personal act of revenge. I thought using force would not have allowed Victoire’s story to come to light. It would have just ended as a thief running wild before feeling the iron mace of the Empress.”

“We did not want that. We were also able to learn of the nearby territory lords’ arrogant actions thanks to that commoner. I hate owing a debt.” The Empress quietly grumbled.

Basically, she purposely did not use force against Victoire.

There would have been no benefit to the thief getting caught early, and she also wanted the thief’s situation to be revealed in a more dramatic fashion.

However, they had not expected Victoire to be two people and not one. They also never expected Old lady Pomme’s tuberculosis or the carriage accident.

As the Cardinal mentioned, it was because the two of them could not go out to the scene of the crimes.

My hand felt damp and my lips started drying.

I was a hopeless fool who would have destroyed a country if I was transmigrated as the main character of a story.

‘Jung Yeseo, how can you use such a Korean term just because you were angry? Especially when the main character next to you is from Korea?! Have you forgotten about that this whole time?!’

“I asked Vice Captain Élisabeth and she said that the Empire does not have such a term or movement. That was why she was shocked while watching you scolding the nobles, your highness. I was shocked as well. Because you were so stern.” She squinted and mischievously added on.

She must be a bit drunk as she slurred her words a bit.

Christelle seemed to not think of it as a big deal, but I was at a loss for how to respond.

I wanted to lie that it was something from the Holy Kingdom, but...

“...”

Sir Johann was across from me. ‘This is driving me nuts!’

“Maybe it is the way the Venetiaan Royalty trains their soldiers?”

The white-haired Holy Knight broke the silence at that moment. I dropped my jaw in shock.

“I’ve never been to the Royal Palace, but I’ve heard rumors about how the training there is extremely difficult, to the point where many people give up. In return, their special forces are as strong as your average low-grade knight.”

His mint-colored eyes curled up as he looked at me.

I nodded my head like a broken robot before drinking some water.

My mouth would have said, ‘thank you very much for helping me,’ to Sir Johann had I not consciously thought about not doing it.

Christelle said something about how she knew that had to be it before chuckling as she took another sip of the armagnac.

‘Thank goodness she’s drunk...’

“I’ve heard the stories of how the Holy Kingdom runs even their untrained soldiers to the ground as well. How interesting.”

The Empress commented once the topic of soldier training was brought up. This was an unexpected flow of conversation.

I was basically binging the plum sherbet that came out because I was worried they would ask me something when Laura quietly came over and bowed to whisper something in her master’s ear.

The Empress heard the Chief of Staff’s report before looking toward the entrance of the rear garden.

Everybody looked toward the same spot.

‘Huh?’

“It is Marquis François Duhem.”

“Tsk. Is it already that time?”

The Empress clicked her tongue and got up.

I tried to get up as well but she waved her hand to stop me. ‘That time?’

“I’m going to go chat for a bit.”

“Give him my regards as well.”

“Okay.”

The sword master placed her sturdy hand on the Cardinal’s shoulder before walking away.

I was curious about what they would talk about as the Empress went to him instead of the Marquis coming to her.

However, my teacher didn’t seem to think much of this situation.

Her face that was visible under the magic light seemed a bit sad. It seemed like a personal issue so I decided not to ask about it.

The Empress walked quickly and was already patting Marquis Duhem’s arm.

– Boom.

I flinched and turned my gaze.

I saw that Christelle had slammed her head on the table and was asleep.

I was surprised she lasted this long as she was basically having a drinking contest with the Empress with an extremely strong alcohol.

It wasn’t cold thanks to the magic on the pergola, but our friendly neighborhood Sir Johann pulled off his coat to cover her.

Seeing her mouth open as she lay there made me chuckle. ‘The main character is pretty even when she’s so drunk she knocked out.’

“Did you have fun?”

My teacher suddenly asked. Her wrinkled beige-colored eyes were looking at me with a warm gaze.

I smiled and took another spoonful of plum sherbet.

“Yes, your Eminence. It was informative and fun. Her Majesty especially told us many wonderful things. Her advice about making sure to always pay attention to our power and authority whenever we are starting something new or investigating something, in order to not be a tyrant, was especially memorable. Of course, I will never ascend to the throne, but...”

“You could have a different role.”

She gently butted in. I slowly swallowed the sherbet.

I finally realized that the Cardinal was talking about more than just tonight when she asked if I had fun.

“Your Eminence, I...”

“I hope that you continue to have fun here, my little prince. I mean it.”

She touched my cheek affectionately with her hand. Yes, this was the problem since earlier.

“If it is what you want...”

If my friends here wanted a portion of my future, how much am I allowed to give them?

“The purple tulips will only grow at your feet, my little prince.”

My teacher finished her comment almost in a whisper.

Beyond her shoulder, I could see a young man standing stiff at the center of the purple rear garden.

A pair of small suns were looking right at me. My eyes slowly opened wide.

‘Wait... What did I just hear? Get the author here right now.’

—

Translator’s Comments

Jesse has a bone to pick with the author now!