Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 126

‘Arsene.’

After moving the Emperor to his bedroom, Dilayna looked down at her son, taking a moment to catch her breath. Her eyes, usually gentle, were unusually stern. However, Arsene just rolled his eyes and smiled brightly.

‘Yes, Mother.’

‘What was that reckless behavior earlier?’

‘Were you very angry?’

She had told him not to even breathe loudly when Marib and Gale were around, yet he had not only stepped forward but also demanded that Baron Ian Hiel show his magic. If the other children of the Imperial Family hadn’t been there, it would have been a truly difficult situation.

‘Arsene, I truly don’t understand you.’

‘I’m sorry. But Mother, you saw it too, didn’t you? How beautiful Baron Ian’s magic was. When I heard I could see it up close, I couldn’t help myself.’

Arsene smiled playfully and rubbed his face against his mother’s arm. Dilayna had been determined to scold him severely, but when Arsene acted like this, she always gave in.

‘Haa.’

He had been a painful finger [a source of constant worry] since the moment she received the oracle. Because he was born with misfortune, she had always kept him close and held him in her arms during his infancy. Perhaps because of that, Arsene was not afraid of his mother, Dilayna, and neither was the frail Emperor.

Click.

‘Lady Dilayna, Prince Jin is here for his meal.’

At the servant’s message, Dilayna sighed and turned around. Jin, who entered with a dignified air, always had perfect posture. It was the complete opposite of Arsene, who was sprawled out on the sofa.

‘If it weren’t for the oracle…’

Dilayna bit her lower lip and barely managed to utter words of encouragement.

‘Jin, you’ve worked hard today.’

‘No, Mother. You’ve worked hard preparing for the New Year’s celebration.’

Jin took off his gloves and placed them on the corner of the table. It was a sign that all of today’s official events were over. Arsene, as if amused, crunched on a candy while looking back and forth between his mother and Jin.

‘And Jin, please tell your brother, Arsene, again what we mean to Marib and Gale. I was so scared earlier. I feel like I won’t live to see my days out.’

Dilayna hugged Jin lightly and lamented. How could siblings born from the same womb be so different? If Arsene had even half of Jin’s personality, she wouldn’t have any worries.

Knock knock.

‘Lady Dilayna, His Majesty requests your presence for a moment.’

‘His Majesty? Very well. I’ll be there soon.’

At the servant’s call, Dilayna adjusted her dress and left the reception room.

As the door closed, only the ticking of the clock in the quiet night could be heard. Arsene rested his chin on his hand and turned his eyes to Jin.

‘Brother, are you going to nag me as Mother said?’

Jin just stared at Arsene. Unable to bear the short silence, Arsene tapped his toes and muttered sullenly.

‘No answer. Why, don’t you want to talk to me?’

‘It’s not that. You know very well that you were wrong this time, Arsene.’

Was the Third Prince’s fall truly an accident? Jin knew very well. The Third Prince had met his death because his gaze had met Marib and Gale’s head-on.

‘It’s only a matter of time before our older brothers stop looking out for us because we’re young.’

As Jin spoke carefully, Arsene’s expression openly showed his annoyance. The child rested his chin on his hand and looked at Jin with a sulky gaze.

‘Mother has repeatedly said that it’s not because of Father’s position as Emperor, but entirely because Marib and Gale don’t pay attention to us that we’re living so comfortably.’

Arsene jumped up and pushed his head close to Jin. As he had done to his mother, the child buried his head in his younger brother’s neck and murmured softly.

‘Jin, you have to say it right. It’s not because we’re young, but because of the oracle.’

Besides the publicly known oracle, ‘The one born later will harm the one born earlier,’ there was another hidden one.

‘And if the one among the siblings closest to the throne dies, the Imperial line will be completely cut off.’

Arsene said it proudly, as if it were a magic spell protecting him. Jin just stared at his brother. Although it didn’t specify which sibling it was, everyone assumed it was Arsene.

‘The younger brother will harm the older brother, and if that happens, the Imperial line will be cut off.’

Jin barely managed to reply through his teeth, as if refuting it.

‘Arsene, oracles aren’t always right.’

‘But they’re not always wrong either.’

A sweet candy smell came from the brother who had come closer. Arsene kept rubbing his head against Jin, and Jin, as always, patted his brother.

‘Jin, I really like you.’

‘…Me too.’

The oracle related to the Imperial line was known only to a very few. Dilayna, the Emperor, and a few of the princes.

‘How could I ever harm you?’

Jin had no intention of doing so, but whenever everyone around him treated him that way, he felt like he was suffocating. He hadn’t done anything, but it felt like he was already a criminal.

‘Jin, so, don’t kill me.’

‘Stop making jokes like that.’

‘Ahaha. Okay, okay.’

Arsene laughed and ate another candy, and Jin naturally took off his brother’s gloves. Today, the day felt particularly long.

* * *

Ian, who had returned to the second-floor banquet hall, met Gale, who was waiting for him. He was flushed, probably from drinking wine. Most of the Imperial Family had already moved to the first floor to socialize with the nobles, and only they remained here.

‘Ian, did your father leave safely?’

‘Yes, he did.’

‘Hmm. Is that so?’

Ian sat across from Gale and observed him. He wondered how he could be so unmoved when his father had been carried out coughing like that. Noticing his gaze, Gale smiled and shrugged.

‘My father has been like that for a while. He often gasps for breath in his sleep, but then he wakes up fine the next day. It’s not the first time, so I’m more curious about Marib. Why is he making such a fuss? It’s as if he thinks Father is going to die this time.’

‘No matter how used one gets, worry is not easily erased.’

At least, he had heard that the Emperor favored Gale more than Marib. He was the son of the Empress, and it seemed like he respected that, but behind the scenes, he was more affectionate towards Gale.

‘Then, isn’t that power given to him? If the Emperor dies, Gale would be the one to feel it, so why is he so carefree?’

Ian clicked his tongue inwardly and lowered his head. He had a rough idea of why Gale had asked him to stay.

‘About the magic confirmation ceremony earlier.’

‘Yes, Your Highness.’

‘It was truly impressive. Have you ever seen a mage in the borderlands?’

Gale knew that Wesley had tampered with the magic circle. Even though he knew, Ian had perfectly emitted the light of the oracle, so the conclusion was one of two things.

‘Either Wesley made a mistake, or Ian fixed the magic circle.’

Although Wesley’s personality was fiery, she was an unparalleled perfectionist when it came to magic. Even if Ian hadn’t been there, she would have ensured that everything went smoothly for a major event like the New Year’s celebration.

‘No, I haven’t. There are many people in the borderlands who have never even heard of magic. I have seen people similar to gypsies, but I have never seen a mage.’

‘Is that so? Then, did Baron Ian shed the blood on the floor?’

He must have found the traces that had been smeared with Beric’s blood. Since he had erased the exact part of the magic circle that had been modified, he assumed that Ian had done it. If not…

‘If not, there is a force within the Magic Department that is helping Ian.’

‘No. I have not shed any blood.’

Ian answered nonchalantly, looking down at his palm. If a blood test were done, it would be possible to confirm whether that blood matched Ian’s.

‘Is that so?’

‘Yes. It seems there was a problem with the magic circle, but I’m very glad that the ceremony was completed safely.’

Gale scanned Ian’s hands, but there were definitely no wounds. Ian, who was smiling brightly, thought to himself.

‘I need to hurry and take Beric home. It would be troublesome if they examined Beric like that.’

‘What do you think of the proposal I made last time?’

‘Are you referring to becoming a true part of the Magic Department?’

At Ian’s words, Gale nodded in silence. A strange atmosphere as the cheerful noise from below gradually seeped in. Perhaps it was because he was drunk, but Gale’s way of speaking felt more direct than usual.

‘I would be honored. Of course, I will do so.’

‘Is that so? How will you prove it?’

Gale twisted his lips as if amused.

‘Will you even twist your master’s neck?’

‘Your Highness, I apologize, but there are many ears in the banquet hall.’

‘But words spoken here do not leak out.’

The power of magic he had felt while climbing the stairs. It seemed to be blocking not only a barrier but also the leakage of secrets. This was all being done under the direction of Wesley, who was in charge of magic, so it would be safe in terms of secrecy, as Gale intended.

‘…If you wish, I will prove it. But-‘

Ian carefully met Gale’s gaze and replied. Should I test him? He’s drunk, so it might be okay to test him a little.

‘I would like you to prove to me as well, Your Highness. That the path I must take is the right one.’

Gale’s eyes narrowed, and then he burst into a hearty laugh. He was clearly pleasantly drunk. Due to an inexplicable event, Ian’s magic confirmation ceremony had been successful, but if he were to become a true mage, it would be a green light for Gale.

‘Very well. Good. But we must make the order clear. You must prove it first.’

The moment Ian lowered his head, he heard a presence behind him.

‘Ah, there you are.’

It was Romandro. He had watched the Emperor leave, and when Ian didn’t return, he had come up, worried. He couldn’t enter because he was blocked by the knight’s scabbard, but they could see each other.

‘Excuse me. I have a message for Baron Ian Hiel.’

‘Romandro! Oh, Romandro!’

‘Oh, oh, it’s been a while, Your Highness Gale.’

‘Yes. You’ve worked hard in the borderlands. I was impressed. Why don’t you come in?’

His expression clearly showed that he had gotten into trouble. Romandro was Marib’s subordinate, who had completely interfered with Gale’s work in the borderlands.

‘Thank you for the offer, but I have an urgent message for Baron Ian Hiel.’

‘Didn’t you take Ian away from the first floor earlier?’

So he had heard everything. Ian looked back at Gale, slightly surprised.

‘The knight that Baron Ian brought, no, the knight…’

Beric? Ian felt a chill run down his spine. He politely greeted Gale and got up from his seat.

‘Excuse me, Your Highness. The knight came from the borderlands and is not used to such events. I am concerned that he might make a mistake and ruin the atmosphere of the New Year’s celebration. Please allow me to leave.’

Gale clicked his tongue and picked up his wine glass again. It was a sign that he was giving permission. Ian bowed his head and followed Romandro down the hallway.

‘Romandro, what about Beric? What happened?’

‘No, don’t be alarmed. I came to get you.’

‘Shhh. Everything said here goes to His Highness Gale.’

‘Oh, damn it. W-well, half of it is true!’

Romandro covered his mouth and was horrified. In the banquet hall garden where they had been earlier, Beric was squatting in the corner of the bushes, digging in the ground.

Thump! Thump!

‘Uhehe. Uhe.’

‘Beric is completely drunk. Stop him before he keeps digging. Let’s go home.’

‘Oing! Ian! Iiaaan!’

Ian felt the tension drain away and rubbed his forehead. He grabbed Beric’s hand and looked around. The wound was hidden by the dirt and was not clearly visible.

‘Yes. Let’s go home now.’

‘Yay! Let’s go! There’s only alcohol here, no meat!’

‘Shut up, you! You ate everything!’

That was enough, Ian thought, and he pulled Beric away, leaving the boisterous atmosphere of the New Year’s celebration behind. He might be caught by Gale at any moment.

‘Then it will become an irreversible mess.’

Romandro also hurriedly covered the dug hole with his foot and ran after Ian.