Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 122

Ian, who rarely panicked, couldn’t help but be at a loss for words.

Twins? If they were different genders, or at least fraternal, it wouldn’t have been so shocking. Even from a distance, the two princes looked exactly alike, like mirror images.

‘Surprising, isn’t it? Rumor has it that even their mother, Lady Dilaina, gets confused sometimes. But their personalities are so different that it’s not a big problem. I can tell who’s who right away,’ Romandro said.

‘What are their names?’ Ian asked, still trying to recall. Had there been an Emperor with twin brothers a hundred years ago? He couldn’t remember well. The Emperor’s brothers were often losers in power struggles, so they were often intentionally excluded from the records.

‘The fourth prince is named Arsen, and the fifth prince is named Jin,’ Romandro murmured.

Ian frowned at Romandro’s words. Usually, twins have similar names, but the fourth prince’s name sounded noble, while the fifth prince’s name sounded like something commoners would use.

‘I know you’re curious, but this isn’t really the place…’

‘Let’s step out for a moment.’

This wasn’t something to hear later. It was clear that one of them would become the Emperor, so there was no need to delay.

At Ian’s signal, Romandro glanced around and subtly moved back. Beric did the same.

‘Excuse us.’

They left the grand arched entrance and went to the opposite corridor. Unlike the grand banquet hall, it was a place where relatively young and dissolute nobles gathered to socialize, not interested in the Emperor’s New Year’s address. Some glanced at Ian, but that was it. They were focused on teasing each other and having a good time.

‘Oh, they’re kissing over there.’

‘Beric, stop talking nonsense and come here. Romandro, I know this is a blasphemous question, but is the current Emperor the 13th Emperor?’

According to Ian’s memory, he should be. He clearly remembered the words ‘Verosian the 13th’ written below the portrait. But Romandro looked around, perplexed.

‘Be more careful with your words. It hasn’t been long since that matter was settled. The current Emperor is the 14th.’

Ian sighed softly. He immediately understood what Romandro meant. There was such a big difference between looking at history from the distant future and living within it.

‘The late Emperor’s father, who died due to the previous rebellion, was recognized as legitimate. So, he was the 13th until last year, but now he is the 14th.’

When someone seizes power, they often rewrite history to justify their legitimacy. Especially when branches of the family diverge, they want to be recognized as the direct line for political reasons, and since they can’t change the blood flowing through their veins, they have to change history.

‘What does that even mean? Did they find some hidden parents or something?’ Beric asked, scratching his ear as if he didn’t understand. How could he be the 13th and then the 14th when the Emperor didn’t die and get reborn? Ian rubbed his forehead and answered as if muttering to himself.

‘History changes depending on who writes it. It’s about dethroning or restoring the previous Emperor. The current Emperor is the 14th, but he was the 13th until last year, and who knows what will happen next year.’

Either way, it suggested that one could not gauge the depth of the storm in the midst of the flow of history. He could only rely on faces to figure out the path forward.

‘When I received the lord’s appointment in the borderlands, I already heard the Emperor’s name but didn’t know it. It seems like the next one will be the same…’

‘But why are the twin princes’ names so different?’ Ian asked, trying to organize his complicated thoughts. There had to be a clue in the names Arsen and Jin, which had quite a gap in atmosphere.

‘A prophecy was given when the twins were born.’

‘A prophecy? Officially?’

‘Yes. The details should be in the records. It’s been ten years already, but it was quite a stir at the time.’

The princes are ten years old, Ian thought, nodding as if to say, ‘Tell me more.’ Romandro lowered his voice as much as possible and whispered through his teeth.

‘The child born later will bring great misfortune to the child born first.’

‘……!’

Ian’s eyes widened. Like a prophecy, there were many ways to interpret it, but it felt like a huge milestone for Ian. Romandro twisted his beard and made an awkward ‘hmph’ sound.

‘So, they couldn’t even share the same bedroom when they were babies. It was feared that there might be a power struggle in the future, but since the grown-up princes Marib and Gail are still around, that’s not a concern. Anyway, they were given ordinary names to prevent the devil from playing tricks.’

It was a superstition that if they lived mixed in with ordinary names, they could avoid the devil’s tricks. Either way, if either Marib or Gail became the next Emperor, Arsen and Jin were destined to live as if they were dead.

‘But as with prophecies, they’re not always right, are they? After watching them for ten years, it seems like a bust.’

‘Is that so?’

‘They’ve been thoroughly educated since they were young, and Prince Jin takes great care of Prince Arsen. He doesn’t hesitate to respect and cherish him. Sometimes, it feels like the older and younger brothers have switched roles.’

As a result, Arsen, the older brother, had a bright and cheerful personality and always wore a smile, while Jin, the younger brother, had a calm, composed, and dignified demeanor. Although they looked the same, everyone in the imperial family had no trouble distinguishing between the two.

‘I see.’

Ian turned around, thinking that he should meet the two princes. The sound of the imperial orchestra’s music was gradually getting louder from inside. He could guess that the Emperor’s speech and the investiture ceremony were over, and there was a brief intermission.

‘Let’s go in. We can talk about the details at the mansion.’

‘Details? Isn’t what we’ve talked about so far detailed enough?’ What else is there to be curious about? Romandro scratched his chin, but Ian just nodded and led the way. Beric followed right beside him, smiling.

Taptap!

‘Ian, by the way-‘

‘Master.’

‘Ah, Master. By the way, what about food?’

‘It’s still a long way off. The dinner party won’t start until the magic confirmation ceremony is over.’

More important than being corrected on his honorifics, the fact that dinner was still far away made Beric look shocked. If he had known, he would have eaten more. It was a mistake to listen to the advice to eat lightly because of the uniform.

Swoosh.

When Ian returned to the banquet hall, the atmosphere had definitely changed. The Emperor and the princes had gone up to the second floor to watch the remaining schedule, the music had become more lively, and the spirits were busier than ever.

‘Lord Ian Hielo.’

Then, a voice called out to him from behind. When he turned around, a man in the Magic Department’s uniform was bowing politely. He seemed to be an office worker from the Magic Department in charge of the event.

‘I would like to explain the magic confirmation ceremony that will be held soon. Please come this way. Minister Wesley will speak directly.’

Wesley. Gail’s lover and the head of the Magic Department. As far as Ian knew, all the current wrongdoings revolved around Wesley. Ian signaled Beric to follow him.

‘Alright, let’s go. Lead the way.’

‘Yes, this way.’

He went behind the platform and immediately recognized the woman named Wesley. Her black hair was tied up in a single braid, her skin was pale white, and her lips were as red as if they were painted with blood. Above all, she was wearing a cape that only a minister could wear.

‘Greetings, Minister Wesley.’

She, who had been directing the confirmation ceremony, turned around. And as soon as she saw Ian, she twisted her lips into a strange smile. She was beautiful, but the subtle sense of intimidation she exuded was immense. Perhaps it was because Ian knew all of Wesley’s true colors that he felt that way.

‘Oh my! Who do we have here? A noble lord from the borderlands, born of a lowly bastard. Lord Ian Hielo?’

Wesley even clapped her hands and raised her voice. The surrounding magicians also glanced at him and snickered, trying not to show it. Beric frowned in annoyance, but when he met Ian’s gaze, he patiently looked away.

‘It’s a pleasure to meet you, Minister Wesley. If you don’t mind, may I ask for your family name?’ Ian asked, pretending to be nonchalant, and smiled as he offered Wesley a handshake. It was an attack that targeted the fact that most magicians were of commoner origin. No matter how high she was in the imperial palace, Wesley wouldn’t have anything that could be called a family name.

Her lips stiffened, and at the same time, the laughter around her quickly subsided.

‘Lord Ian Hielo. I am a minister, a position equivalent to a Count of the Court.’

It wasn’t an actual title, but it meant that she had the honor and authority equivalent to it. Ian nonchalantly pulled his hand back and smiled.

‘Ah, I apologize. I was ignorant and thought I hadn’t heard Minister Wesley’s family name.’

It was an implication that she didn’t have a family name, so why was she making such a big deal out of it? Ian didn’t avoid the magicians’ blatant and hostile gazes, but met them one by one. There was no reason for Ian to back down.

‘If you get too cocky and end up as a slave, it’ll be quite a sight to see.’

‘Thank you for your concern. Unlike the rumors, the Minister of Magic is very kind.’

He didn’t have to worry about his status being lowered because he couldn’t pay the 10,000 gold tribute. Rather, he had become free because of it, so wasn’t it something to be grateful for?

If that happened, joining the Magic Department would be Ian’s choice.

‘Leaving aside Marib’s orders, the construction of the annex, and all that.’

Wesley stared down at Ian, her eyes sharp. She didn’t like the way that little kid was acting up just because he had received a noble title.

‘Ian, the magic confirmation ceremony will begin soon. Therefore, if it is confirmed that magic flows through your body, the Magic Department will send you a formal request to join by tomorrow.’

‘Oh, it’s an honor, Minister.’

‘That’s a rather trite greeting. Do you have a department you want to join?’

Wesley’s lips twisted into a smile. She was clearly plotting something. Instead of answering, Ian chose silence and observed the atmosphere of Wesley and the surrounding magicians.

‘She’s definitely up to something. Could it be what I expected?’

‘Well, what would a country bumpkin know? Someone next to you would have to tell you how to answer.’

She was referring to Marib. It meant that she knew that Marib was planting Ian as a spy.

‘But the Magic Department needs results based on ability above all else. We don’t treat those who just sit around and waste taxes. I don’t know how much magic you have, but you will be assigned to a department that suits it.’

Ian couldn’t help but smile slightly. It was what he had expected when he first entered the New Year’s party. To put a spell on the light of the prophecy so that there would be no reaction.

‘Ah, is that so?’

Ian replied nonchalantly, but Beric, who was standing next to him, noticed the smile in his voice.