Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 120

Ian, his hand snug in his leather glove, felt Mini’s gentle touch, carefully smoothing back every strand of his hair. He glanced behind him, attaching the tassel that came with his uniform to his chest.

“Ahaha. Doesn’t it suit me perfectly?”

“Indeed. It seems there’s truth to the saying that clothes make the man.”

“Romandro, you look a bit better than usual too.”

“Oh? If you give a compliment, it should come back in full, how dare you cut it in half?”

Berik, who usually wore his hair down, had also neatly tied it up and buttoned his shirt all the way to the top. The old sword scabbard at his waist stuck out awkwardly, but it didn’t matter since all weapons had to be checked at the entrance anyway. With Romandro also properly dressed, it really hit home.

‘Today is really the day.’

Mini turned around, as if to say he was done, and smiled brightly. Mrs. Vivianna, who had been helping a little from the side, also nodded in satisfaction.

“Oh my, I don’t know how you can be so radiant.”

“You flatter me, Madam.”

“I mean it. You’ll probably be the most dazzling person at the party, Ian. I’ve heard that the son of the Earl of Ralton is handsome, but he can’t compare. Not at all.”

Vivianna was constantly admiring Ian’s dignified posture and smiling, as if he were her own nephew. Berik suddenly poked his head in and asked.

“Vivianna! What about me?”

“Oh, Berik, you too. You look very handsome.”

“Oh, the words lack soul…”

“Alright, alright. Let’s stop now and hurry up and leave. There will be a line of carriages entering the Imperial Palace. It’ll be more congested than usual, so it’s better to go early. Besides, Ian is the main character of the New Year’s party, isn’t he? There will be many things to be instructed.”

Romandro waved his hand, separating Berik and Vivianna. Hasha, who was curled up on the sofa, grinned.

-Have a good trip.

“Yes. It’s going to be late, so Hasha, you rest too. Berik! Let’s go. Walk with good posture so your clothes don’t get wrinkled.”

The three men got into the carriage, seeing off Vivianna and Mini. Unlike usual, the carriage seemed to be filled with a fragrant scent.

Squeak!

“We’ll be back!”

“Vivianna, I’ll be back.”

“Please be careful, Ian. Congratulations again.”

Neigh!

As Ian lightly waved his hand, the carriage departed. The road to the Imperial Palace seemed to be lined with more luxurious carriages than usual. Berik, entering the Imperial Palace for the first time, had his face pressed against the window, his eyes sparkling.

“This is insane.”

“You’re going to drool, Berik.”

The carriages running alongside them were all flying flags with the insignias of their respective families. There was nothing more prideful than showing who you were and where you came from, the majestic aura of the nobles.

Tap tap!

But Ian was the main character of this special New Year’s party. While other nobles were going through the entrance procedures step by step, Ian’s carriage was guided by an Imperial Palace official to a side path, turning directly towards the main banquet hall of the First Imperial Palace.

Squeak.

“Welcome, Ian. Romandro. I am Karl, the official in charge of the investiture ceremony for the New Year’s party.”

As they got out of the carriage, the Imperial Palace official bowed politely to greet Ian.

It was only natural for the main character to appear later. The plan was to wait in a separate room inside the banquet hall and then slowly enter when the atmosphere was ripe.

“There seem to be more carriages than I expected.”

“It seems that many nobles are looking forward to this New Year’s party.”

Not only was a commoner from the border a magic user, but he had also caught the eye of Marib and instantly seized the position of head and lord, so everyone was rushing to ‘see’ Ian.

“As Romandro has already informed you, I will reiterate. When the New Year’s party begins, the light of the oracle will be ignited. At that time, you will enter, wait for a moment, receive your title and family name, and then proceed with the magic confirmation ceremony.”

The words were simple. Simple, but the key was whether they could mingle well with the nobles during the empty time in between. In a way, wasn’t that the most important time at the New Year’s party?

Whether he knew it or not, unlike Romandro, who was very nervous, Ian plopped down on the sofa and casually rotated his shoulders with a relaxed posture.

“Does the light of the oracle also verify magic?”

“Yes, it does.”

Though it sounded grand, it was actually just a magic illusion made for decoration. It reacted like a ripple depending on the power of the magic user, and it was characterized by a flashy spread as a performance to enhance the status of the magic department.

In other words, it was a showy event.

‘Hmm. If they plan to humiliate me, that would probably be the perfect time. They could set it up so that it doesn’t react to ordinary magic.’

If the light reacted to his magic and spread out grandly, he could seize the atmosphere, but conversely, if it just quietly scattered as if nothing happened, there would be nothing more laughable.

“Ian. Can you do it well?”

“You don’t have to worry about etiquette.”

“I’m not the one doing it, but I don’t know why my heart is pounding so much. Ugh. Really.”

Romandro was biting his nails and shaking his body. On the other hand, Berik was just looking around, as if everything was amazing. Because of the strange combination, the official just watched them from a slight distance.

Knock knock.

How much time had passed? When the sun seemed to be setting little by little, the sound of people could be heard from outside. It meant it was the perfect time to appear. The advisor politely opened the door and guided Ian.

“This way, please.”

“Berik. You just follow Romandro.”

Berik smiled, giving a thumbs up as if to say he could trust him. It was his usual playful smile. With each step down the long corridor, the murmuring seemed to grow louder. In the distance, below the central staircase, numerous carriages were lined up.

“This way. You will enter now.”

“Hoo.”

It was Romandro who let out a breath. Ian straightened his collar and nodded. Servants opened the huge doors on both sides.

Squeak.

“Oh my, hello, Madam.”

“It’s been a while since the tea party last week.”

“Oh. You must be Lord Charlotte.”

“It’s an honor to meet you.”

“I heard you recently returned from the military?”

“Your dress is truly beautiful today, Lady.”

The gap was gradually widening. The conversations of the nobles spilled out through the gap.

Unlike the soft lighting of the corridor, the inside of the banquet hall was bright and dazzling like daytime. Hundreds of spirits, floated by magic, were swimming in the sky, providing a spectacle, and the perfect and elegant melody of the orchestra seemed to fill everything seamlessly.

Thud.

The moment Ian took a step into the banquet hall.

The nobles closest to him stopped their conversations and turned their heads. The eyes of the ladies, who were covering their faces with fans, widened, and the men lightly moved their chins, telling each other to look at ‘that’. Like dominoes falling, a strange current in the banquet hall spread out, centered on Ian.

“Berik. This way.”

“Huh? Already?”

At the same time as his entrance, Romandro stepped aside with Berik. Romandro was just a commoner advisor here. He was not in a position to connect Ian with the nobles.

“Look at that. It’s him.”

“Ah. The illegitimate son of the Count of Bratz?”

“My goodness. He’s younger than I thought.”

Ian, alone on the red carpet, scanned the nobles. He stood still, his gaze moving slowly and deliberately.

“That’s right. How can a young one be so ruthless as to kill his father… It’s scary, really. And they say he’s close to the barbarian tribes of the border, so you can tell a lot from just one thing.”

“Sister. Isn’t he kind of cute?”

“Are you crazy? Get a grip. He’s from a commoner background.”

“They say he’s a magic user? But how is he with Marib…”

It was blatant, even stinging. They didn’t hide their condescending gazes, as if a strange spectacle had appeared. Romandro, who had retreated to a corner, was biting his lower lip as he watched.

‘I knew it would be like this, but seeing it with my own eyes is even worse.’

How could he break the haughty momentum of the established powers alone? Romandro could only hope that His Majesty the Emperor would appear soon and promote Ian as the main character.

Swoosh.

But at that moment.

Ian lightly lifted his chin and smiled. It was a graceful and confident smile, as if he was born with it.

‘Smile, Your Majesty.’

Ian recalled the banquet he had attended for the first time as Emperor, along with Naum’s words.

It wasn’t much different from now. Compared to the snakes who were swarming to devour the young Emperor, this was a rather mild situation.

‘Inner strength is so great that it is conveyed to the other person without words. Consider yourself the center. Then the other person will consider you the center and approach you.’

Ian began to walk on the carpet. His straight back, soft jawline, and truly relaxed gaze were things that could not be considered those of a commoner from the border.

‘And always smile. When Your Majesty smiles, the world smiles. But if Your Majesty cries, the world will laugh even louder.’

Swoosh.

Ian made eye contact with a noble who was standing on the carpet. He was blocking the path he had to take. When Ian smiled without a word, the man was flustered and took a step back.

“Ah, my. I apologize.”

“It’s alright. Are you perhaps the young master of the Serio family?”

Ian glanced at the insignia on his chest and spoke. It was a slight probe, but it was a familiar pattern he had seen before his regression. The flustered man nodded involuntarily and said his name.

“I am Marlon Hoff Serio.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I am Ian. Since I am receiving my family name today, it’s a shame that the name I can tell you is short.”

“Ah. Yes. That’s right. You are Ian.”

“Hello. The weather is very nice, isn’t it? I am Alenara Serio.”

Seizing the moment, a woman next to him introduced herself. It was a very brief moment, but the woman’s gaze swept up and down Ian.

Ian also welcomed them with a smile. They were not influential people, but they were not bad as the first people to mingle with. Ian knew well that targeting peers first, rather than old, stuffy nobles, was one way to break into the atmosphere.

“I heard you are a magic user.”

“That’s right. After receiving my title today, there will be a magic confirmation ceremony.”

“Then, would you shake my hand? They say it’s good luck to meet a magic user. Before you get the title of mage.”

“Of course, Lady.”

“Oh my. Me too…”

Ian succeeded in naturally infiltrating their group. Besides the people of the Serio family who were chatting noisily, other groups were also listening with their ears open, while pretending to be talking.

“Serio, why don’t you introduce us too?”

“Ah. This is from the Hyman family…”

“Hello, it’s been a while. Is this Ian?”

As a few curious and sociable nobles approached, the atmosphere rapidly reversed. The beginning was difficult, but once the flow was caught, the reaction proceeded very naturally.

Boo woo woo.

While Ian was having various chats among the nobles, a heavy trumpet sounded, and the orchestra stopped playing. At the same time, the ladies grabbed the hems of their dresses and lightly bowed, and the men put their hands on their chests and lowered their heads.

Ian did the same.

‘It’s the Emperor’s entrance.’

“His Majesty the Emperor is entering! Everyone, show respect!”

Ian focused his senses on the sound of footsteps entering the banquet hall and ascending the platform.

‘Emperor, who are you?’

If he could just see his face, and if his vague memories became clear, Ian would be able to recall the next future Emperor as well.

One by one, the nobles finished their greetings and raised their heads.

“Ah.”

The moment he raised his head, Ian paused and let out a small exclamation.