Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 124

Delilah and the other women of the Imperial Family simultaneously pulled out their opera glasses. Although magic confirmation ceremonies were rare events, they were always closely associated with the Magic Department. They were the ones who had always witnessed the spectacles of great magicians, including Wesley, at every important event…

‘Look at that.’

‘It’s unbelievable. Oh my goodness, it’s so beautiful.’

‘It’s the true Light of the Prophecy!’

Everyone, forgetting their dignity, had their mouths half-open and couldn’t take their eyes off Ian’s gestures. Every time his right hand drew an arc, light filled the surroundings as if blessings were raining down.

‘…It’s truly divine.’

Delilah murmured involuntarily. Everyone there could feel it. This was a fantasy that would never happen again in their lives. And so, they had encountered a true fantasy.

Swoosh!

Ian calmly continued to create the Light of the Prophecy. It overflowed from the platform to where the nobles were standing, and then it seemed as if it would engulf the entire Imperial Palace.

Thump! Thump!

‘Recoretio!’

At that moment, the conductor of the Imperial Palace orchestra, who had stopped in surprise, flicked his baton, signaling them to regain their senses. The pianist reflexively pressed the keys and resumed playing, and the cellist and violinist also immediately focused on the ensemble.

Whether the sound was floating along with Ian’s waves, or whether the magic was coming alive in response to the sound, it was hard to tell.

Swoosh!

Thump! Boom!

‘Recore-! Tio!’

Due to the visual stimulation, the conductor led the music more passionately than usual, and the performers were also in a daze from the ecstasy they felt after a long time. The banquet hall seemed to be showing exactly what a ‘perfectly beautiful moment’ was.

‘Ohoh!’

‘…Unbelievable.’

‘This is magic! Amazing, amazing!’

The nobles reached out their hands to the magic that permeated among them, lightly moved away, or turned their heads as if they were bewitched. As the orchestra’s music intensified, a deep blush bloomed on people’s faces.

‘Your Majesty, can you see well?’

‘Hmm…’

Delilah suddenly came to her senses and held up the opera glasses for the Emperor. The Emperor, unable to see well, just kept mumbling and didn’t react. Delilah, holding the glasses, suddenly turned to look at the princes next to her.

‘Ha.’

Marib’s reaction was no different from the nobles below. He had even placed his hand on the railing and couldn’t take his eyes off the Light of the Prophecy and its beauty, while Gail, on the other hand…

‘…Wesley.’

His gaze was fixed on Wesley, who was standing next to Ian, looking flustered. Delilah lightly covered her face with her fan, glancing at Gail repeatedly.

‘How can that be the gaze of a man looking at his lover?’

It wasn’t her place to say, as she had the Emperor as her husband, but Delilah was always taken aback by Gail’s ferocity. Occasionally, she was overcome with anxiety that his sharp energy would harm her sons.

‘Mother.’

‘Yes?’

At that moment, the fifth prince, Jin, who was sitting on the opposite side, lightly pulled on his mother’s arm. His silver hair shone as white as snow, reflecting the magic light of the banquet hall.

‘Arsen’s opera glasses are not working well.’

Delilah glanced back. The fourth prince, Arsen, was looking down at the first floor through Jin’s glasses. She gently stroked Jin’s hair and smiled.

‘Yes. You gave way to Arsen. You are very kind.’

And then she turned back to focus on assisting the Emperor. That wasn’t what he wanted to say, but as always, his mother ended the conversation by praising his younger brother Jin’s sacrifice.

‘That Ian is truly amazing.’

While Arsen kept muttering in admiration, Jin stared blankly into the air. He felt like he was in a different world all alone.

* * *

Meanwhile, Ian felt a slight sweat trickling down his back. Releasing magic was like releasing the energy of his entire body. He slowly withdrew his magic and glanced at Wesley.

‘I…’

Her expression of not knowing what was going on was truly pleasing to see. Her bewildered and troubled face was raw and unfiltered. Ian swept his slightly sweaty hair back and gave her a bright smile. As if to say, ‘Isn’t this enough?’

Swoosh.

Ian took his hand off the surface of the light and straightened the Light of the Prophecy. The magic was losing its power, but it was leaving traces like a slowly disappearing mist. Seeing that, the conductor matched the beat and slowly finished the music.

Thump!

The moment the excited pianist struck the keys, Ian chanted.

‘For the glory of Bariel.’

‘For the glory of Bariel!’

As Ian placed his hand on his chest and bowed, the nobles cheered and applauded without anyone leading the way. For such noble people, their welcome was fervent. It was a praise filled with soul, incomparable to what Wesley had induced earlier.

Clap, clap, clap!

Ian approached Wesley and extended his hand. She bit her lip tightly, barely suppressing the urge to grab Ian by the collar. She wanted to demand how he was able to break the magic circle’s formula, but…

‘…Baron Ian Hiel. That was truly a wonderful magic.’

What could she do? Right now, everyone in the banquet hall, including the Emperor, was watching them. She showed the back of her hand to Ian.

‘I will be waiting for your application to join the Magic Department.’

Ian kissed the back of her hand and then stepped down from the platform without any regrets. As soon as he came down, young nobles surrounded Ian, unable to hide their excitement.

‘Baron Hiel. That was a truly wonderful illusion!’

‘Let’s shake hands first, huh? You’re not a magician yet, right?’

‘You’re not a magician until you’re assigned to a department. By the way, where will you go? With that much power, you could choose where to go.’

‘Let’s bet! The Magic Support Department is the best, so I’ll bet on that! Baron Ian Hiel, let’s see each other often.’

‘Aha! If this is the case, aren’t you the first noble magician?’

Praises poured out like a waterfall, deafening his ears. Ian just smiled and accepted their cheers. However, as the crowd continued to gather and he couldn’t take a single step, he looked around in embarrassment.

‘Baron Ian Hiel. There is a message for you.’

At that moment, a familiar voice was heard from the crowd. It was Romandro. Ian took this opportunity to nod his head, indicating that he was excusing himself.

‘I’m sorry. Just for a moment.’

‘Oh no! You have to come back soon!’

Ian held up a wine glass that a waiter was carrying and pushed through the crowd. Holding the glass was a way of showing that he didn’t want anyone to come close. Thanks to that, the two were able to meet dramatically, and Romandro quickly cleared a path and guided him outside. Ian, relieved, sipped his wine and quenched his thirst.

‘Romandro. That was a timely call.’

‘Ian, you! Keuh!’

‘Haha. Are you crying, by any chance?’

‘Wow, I’ve never seen such a wonderful sight in my life. Our Vivianna should have seen that, huh. It was truly amazing!’

Romandro shook his fist as if he couldn’t believe it. When Ian looked for a handkerchief to wipe his sweat, he offered his own instead.

‘Oh, thank you.’

‘Oh! And do you know that?’

‘Know what?’

‘You have become the first noble magician of the Bariel Empire! It will go down in history! Congratulations!’

The first noble magician. The title didn’t feel awkward to Ian. He had been that in his previous life as well. And that had eventually led him to the Emperor’s throne.

‘…I see.’

‘Huh? Why is your reaction like that?’

‘It doesn’t feel real.’

‘The timing is perfect. It would have been a shame if you had entered without the New Year’s party.’

There were many magicians who were recognized for their magical abilities like Wesley and rose to the position of Count of the Court, that is, a minister, or received a title for their achievements, but Ian was the first to be a noble from the time of his entry.

‘Of course, even 100 years later, I was the first.’

He was the first, and he became the first again.

Ian smiled faintly at the strange feeling, and Romandro scratched his beard awkwardly.

‘Was I too excited?’

‘No. I’m grateful that you’re so happy for me. By the way, where’s Beric?’

‘Huh? Beric?’

The two just stared at each other blankly. An awkward silence hung in the air. Romandro thought that Ian had taken him, so he would naturally be with him, and Ian thought that he had gone down before the confirmation ceremony, so he would be with Romandro.

‘I, I, I’m going crazy.’

Romandro muttered, his teeth chattering as if he was terrified. The fact that a crazy bastard was alone among those noble people was shocking in itself.

‘Quickly, quickly, find him-!’

‘Ian~!’

Romandro was about to run into the banquet hall when Beric came skipping down the hallway from the opposite side. His face was particularly red, as if he had gotten some wine on the way.

‘I’m here!’

‘You rascal, where do you think you’re wandering around alone?’

‘Huh? Did I want to do that?’

‘Did you cause any trouble? Why is your finger like that?’

‘This? It’s worth a week’s worth of meat side dishes.’

Romandro, not understanding what he was saying, was anxious, wondering if it was a wound caused by some trouble. Beric proudly held out his index finger to Ian, as if telling him to remember.

Thwack!

‘I guess this is what it means to earn your keep? Not bad.’

‘I won’t forget the meat side dishes. Where were you?’

‘They took me to the passage where the Light of the Prophecy came in. I waited there until it was over. And I saw something really fun?’

‘Something fun?’

It seemed he hadn’t seen the illusion because he was in the back passage. At Ian’s question, Beric rolled his eyes and imitated a shrill woman’s voice. He had also had some drinks, so his acting was very natural.

‘Tell all the guys who drew the magic circles to come out! I don’t know how they did their jobs! Blah blah blah! Do you all want to die!?’

‘…Are you perhaps imitating Minister Wesley?’

‘Ahaha. It’s the same, right? She was catching her subordinates like mice. I was hiding and watching, and I was so scared.’

‘It’s not the same at all.’

‘Huh? Really? Should I try again?’

Romandro looked around, just in case, and covered Beric’s mouth, while Ian quietly fell into thought. Judging by the font of the Light of the Prophecy’s magic circle, it was clear that several magicians had worked together to create it.

‘I thought Wesley had secretly manipulated it, but it seems not. It means that there are more people than I thought who know that there is something wrong with the magic circle.’

However, that Nakina seemed to have a clear intention to help Ian. If she knew there was a problem with the magic circle itself, she wouldn’t have done that.

‘This means that there are factions within the Magic Department.’

Those who are directly led by Wesley and given work proactively, and those who are affiliated but are on the periphery. Well, it was natural that every department had political factions.

‘Right. If it weren’t for Naum, I wouldn’t have been able to adapt when I first entered the Magic Department.’

Ian’s thoughts went on and on, and then jumped to the future 100 years later. It was the moment when Romandro and Beric were bickering noisily.

‘Baron Ian Hiel.’

The Emperor’s chamberlain, bowing deeply, was calling Ian. Ian knew what his appearance meant.

‘Please spare some time. We will escort you to the second floor.’

It was the honor of being able to meet closely with the members of the Imperial Family, including the Emperor. This indicated that Ian’s magic had left a great impression on them. Ian handed the empty wine glass to Beric and nodded.