Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 310

“His Highness the Crown Prince is a bit late.”

Officials sipped their wine, noticing Jin’s absence. It had been hours since they heard he had finished the procession and returned, yet he had not shown his face. Some shook their glasses, muttering pointless remarks.

“He must be tired from the morning’s efforts. It’s not an official schedule, so he can rest a bit.”

“That’s true, but with his seat empty, I worry there might be complaints about the treatment of our honored guests…”

Their gazes went to the upper floor. The movements of the attendants were faintly visible through the curtains. The leaders of the three nations were gathered without the interference of the Imperial Family.

They had been careful to avoid overlapping schedules throughout the festival, yet a gap had appeared at the very end.

“And there are hardly any mages around.”

“I heard a couple collapsed after entering the palace. Someone even bled. Ahem. Anyway, don’t worry. They’ll take care of things. We should just enjoy this grand celebration.”

“That’s right. This is the Imperial Palace, after all. There are no secrets that can be shared in secret.”

“Oh, then I take back what I said earlier. Haha!”

“Me too. Haha! Oh, hello there!”

“It’s been a while. Did you get back safely on the banquet day?”

The commotion was no different from outside the palace. After all, all the troubles in the Imperial Family had arisen because there was no official successor. Although Jin was still young, he had firmly established himself with his legitimacy, so it was clear that he would grow into a great leader as time passed. How could they not be happy?

The nobles, however, had a different perspective.

‘They’re having fun.’

Eriphony was looking down from behind the curtains. To see them laughing and chatting as if they had forgotten their dignity in the middle of the Imperial Palace. It was certainly a festival.

Tap.

Unlike this tense place.

Damon moved a chess piece made of jewels forward, tilting his head. As if daring anyone to respond. Noah’s flexible eyes narrowed even further, and a prickliness could be felt in the hand that continued the game.

Eriphony whispered to Eldert, frowning.

“Why are they acting like that? They’ve been like that since they came in, and they’re still like that.”

“They’re from countries that don’t get along well…”

It was an answer that suggested there were many possible reasons. Eriphony supported her temple with her fingertips, looking back and forth between the two men.

The problem was that she had missed their last moments because she was having a secret meeting with the daughter of the Seroh family that day. Since then, she hadn’t even seen their shadows due to the Imperial Palace’s intentional schedule distribution.

They had finally met, finally gathered, but the atmosphere was like this. If this were Eriphony’s palace, she would have broken the chessboard in half and smashed it immediately.

“Listen here.”

Tap.

The moment Eriphony couldn’t hold back and spoke, Noah roughly placed a chess piece down. A smiling face that contrasted with his actions. Her three-eyed gaze was filled with annoyance.

“Yes, Queen Eriphony.”

“The investiture ceremony is over, and you will soon be returning to your respective countries. This meeting is precious. How can you be so engrossed in chess?”

“Would you like to join us?”

“…What did you say?”

“Please come closer, Your Majesty.”

Eriphony frowned as if she couldn’t believe it. Who did they think they were, telling her to come over?

However, Damon on the opposite side, and their aides, were also looking at the Luswena side with unusual gazes. Eriphony roughly folded her fan and approached the two men.

If necessary, she would really smash that damned chessboard…

Tap.

“……!”

As Eriphony sat down next to him, Noah moved a piece again. Then, the lines on the board shimmered, and faint letters appeared in the empty spaces.

“What is this?”

They were having a silent conversation. It seemed to be a secret technique prepared by Vergos as a countermeasure against the mages’ eavesdropping.

Eriphony frowned, unable to hide her displeasure, and Damon spoke soothingly.

“You came in the middle of the game.”

That’s right. She was late because she was talking to Lady Alenara for a while.

“Chess is originally something that only two people can fully enjoy. If you had said something, we would have given you a seat.”

Eriphony had arrived late and had been looking down at the lower floor without saying anything. So they had continued their conversation. There was nothing wrong with what he said, but that didn’t make her feel any better.

“Ha, so who’s winning right now?”

“I don’t know. It’s hard to make a move.”

Tap.

It was Damon’s turn.

-If Clifford has the will to form a three-nation alliance, please acknowledge that they have no rights to the collateral jewels and issue a certificate. This is something that will be kept secret from Bariel.

They had the actual jewels, but they were asking for a document stating that they had no rights to them. This would allow them to overcome the opposition of the Vergos nobles. It implied that they could get them back as soon as they opened the gates of the Bariel Imperial Palace.

However, Noah stroked his chin as if he was troubled.

-We have the will to form a three-nation alliance. But I believe you will understand. The custodian has a duty to manage and supervise the collateral with all their heart until the owner reclaims it. There is no duty without rights. If we issue a certificate of waiver of rights as you wish, it means that Clifford is disobeying Bariel’s proposal-

Tap.

-It’s like handing the knife to Vergos, but isn’t our history too clear for that?

An alliance was good. But issuing a certificate was an act of hostility towards Bariel. What if Vergos used this as a weakness to stab them in the back?

History was not just words written on paper. It was a guide to gauge the opponent, and the voice of ancestors telling them not to forget the past.

-You are saying that you have no intention of forming an alliance.

-I’m not saying that. I’m asking for a safeguard for issuing the certificate. Allow us to import high-grade fertilizer at half the current price, remove the tariffs on the wine we export, and double the quantity.

That wouldn’t be easy. They didn’t have warehouses full like Bariel, and the anti-Clifford forces within Vergos wouldn’t stay still.

Damon looked at Noah, fiddling with a chess piece. Judging by his attitude, it was clear that Clifford’s participation in the alliance was off the table.

-It seems you haven’t recovered from your journey yet.

That day, he thought Noah’s condition was bad, so they couldn’t talk, but it seemed he was still the same, since they still couldn’t communicate.

Noah’s brow furrowed, though he was still smiling.

-That can’t be. Isn’t it said that the eyes are the windows to the soul? It seems that you are uncomfortable, King Damon, so I look uncomfortable.

-Prince Noah. The three-nation alliance is a matter that will be recorded in history books much more deeply than today’s Crown Prince’s investiture ceremony. It’s a national issue that will change the landscape, but you’re only taking unreasonable positions. It’s truly regrettable.

Tap.

Eriphony shook her head, looking at Eldert, who was puzzled. She understood why they were playing chess so fiercely. They had been having an endless conversation like this.

Knock knock.

“Excuse me.”

Then, an unfamiliar voice was heard from outside. Damon’s hand, which was about to move a chess piece, stopped.

“We have been informed that Crown Prince Jin will not be attending due to health reasons. He added that the honored guests should feel free to proceed with their schedules to ease their disappointment. If you need anything, please feel free to ask.”

“Oh, dear.”

If Jin wasn’t coming, and the three-nation alliance was also failing, there was no reason to stay. Damon sighed, overturning the chess pieces.

“Prince Noah. I’ll let you win. It was a fun game. Clifford is indeed a country that knows how to enjoy itself. However, it’s a bit of a shame that you only know how to enjoy it. Even when enjoying, it’s better to play a winning game.”

There was no change in Prince Noah’s expression, but Mei’s lips, who was standing behind him, were tightly set. It was the same as disregarding Clifford’s national character.

“Queen Eriphony. Will you be staying?”

“No, not really. It’s a virtue of a monarch to distinguish between places where they should be and where they shouldn’t be.”

Eriphony also rose from her seat at Damon’s question.

It wasn’t a festival involving three nations, but just a festival of Bariel. What was the point of staying? It was better to go out and take care of the unfinished business.

“Let’s go together. It seems Vergos will be the first to leave the palace. I can’t just sit idly by. It’s better to finish the magic stone transaction with the Magic Department.”

“I also have things to do. Prince Noah. It was nice to meet you.”

“Then, goodbye.”

The two kings looked down at Noah, who was sitting, and turned away without any hesitation. Without even a moment’s pause. Timothy collected the chessboard, and Eldert also disappeared, following the two men.

Noah watched them silently. He rested his chin on his hand and let out a meaningful groan.

“Hmm.”

“Your Highness. Are you feeling unwell?”

“No. I’m not unwell, but I’m concerned.”

“Don’t worry too much. It’s not like Vergos has been spitting venom for just a day or two.”

“No. Not them. Luswena.”

“Yes? Why Luswena?”

Mei handed Noah a cool glass and asked back.

Eriphony hadn’t added a single word while they were talking through chess. There was no action that could have offended her. Rather, she had found out about the secret of the chessboard late, so it was something she should be displeased about.

“There was no reaction at all.”

“…That’s why I’m concerned.”

Bariel versus the three nations.

Clifford’s economic power and national strength were not enough to overwhelm the two countries, but that was why they were even more necessary.

It was a gathering of similar countries to oppose Bariel, and it was easy to guess how big a hole the absence of one country would create.

Damon was the one who led the alliance, so it was understandable, but wasn’t Luswena worried?

“Looking at it, it didn’t seem like Luswena had any intention of breaking ties with Vergos. They must have guessed that Clifford was getting closer to Bariel, so it was only a matter of time before the existence of the alliance was revealed.”

It was proof that they could offset the risk by maintaining the alliance with Vergos alone, without Clifford.

It seemed that the two countries had made some kind of deal outside on the night he was cursed…

“There’s a secret that Vergos and Luswena are keeping. It’s unsettling. It would be good to find out about it.”

“I’ll move on that first. We don’t have much time since we’ll be leaving the palace soon. It’s definitely suspicious. If I were the king of Luswena or Vergos, I would have immediately broken the three-nation alliance. To continue it is suspicious.”

Mei nodded, understanding. And calculating the time with the kings who had gone ahead, she also rose from her seat. Although they had turned their bow towards Bariel, they were not close enough to enjoy a seat without its owner.

* * *

Clatter clatter.

A carriage swaying quietly.

Timothy looked out the window at the Luswena carriage moving away. Until Damon, who was thinking about something, called him.

“The head of the magic stone management department is a man named Acorella?”

“Yes. He’s the one who left the palace due to the dragon epidemic. Are you really planning to see him?”

“Didn’t they say he was almost cured? Since he can’t come in, we have no choice but to go out.”

“I was worried it would be troublesome for you.”

They were trying to export magic stones needed for the construction of the annex, but there was an issue that had not been discussed because the authority was not currently in the palace.

They were going to meet Acorella to deal with this. Of course, with a mage in tow.

“Nonsense.”

“But it’s a real problem. Clifford’s position was decided much earlier than expected.”

“…Still, it will be confusing. They thought it wouldn’t work without them, but if the alliance continues, there will be more to think about.”

Squeak!

The carriage stopped in front of the Magic Department. As Timothy was about to get out, a guard approached and spoke through the window.

“I apologize, but the mage who was supposed to accompany you has already left. It seems there was a misunderstanding as the person in charge was changed.”

“Oh, dear. Is that so?”

“I’ll tell the coachman the address, so you can leave right away. Then.”

They said that some mages had collapsed due to the procession, and it seemed to be true.

The coachman received a note from the guard and immediately whipped the horses. Accordingly, the Vergos guards also turned their horses and began to follow.

The carriage ran and ran, going out of the Imperial Palace. The streets were a little less crowded than when they first came in. It was probably because the residents who had enjoyed themselves for several days had exhausted their energy.

Clatter clatter!

The carriage was running along the side of the central road, and the chaotic crowd was a scene that quickly passed by. Among them, there was an old woman who caught Damon’s eye.

‘……?!’

Deeply sunken cheeks, a body like a sack of barley.

The gypsy who ate secrets was smiling and looking at the carriage.