Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 128

The Aftermath

In front of the window where moonlight poured in, Wesley stood like a stone statue, her hand on her forehead. All the important plans for the New Year’s celebration had gone awry. They should have suppressed Ian’s magic to the fullest extent to break his momentum…

‘Wesley, my lady.’

‘Bareto.’

Wesley turned her head at her aide’s presence. After pushing back the light of the oracle [a magical artifact or spell], she had checked the magic circle and found bloodstains on it. It seemed that was the cause of the error, but it was impossible to check in detail while the banquet was in full swing. She had no choice but to wait with her eyes open until the nobles were tired of playing and all returned home.

‘The banquet hall has been cleaned up. The remaining nobles have also moved to other party venues.’

‘Okay. What about Gail?’

‘…His Highness Gail has also joined the party.’

After the imperial family’s gathering ended, Gail immediately participated in the social gathering. Unlike the First Prince Marib, who was directly checking the nobles, he was able to approach the nobles more naturally. That would become Gail’s strength again, his foundation.

‘Any other messages?’

‘There were none.’

‘Even though I told you there was blood on it?’

‘Yes, that’s correct.’

Wesley frowned and chewed her fingernails. She had expected some kind of reprimanding message or instruction, but there was no reaction. With each click of Wesley’s shoes, her black hair flew wildly.

Thud! Bang!

When she opened the back door of the banquet hall, the cleaning servants were startled and turned around. But soon, seeing Wesley’s murderous expression, they just lowered their heads.

Whirr. Whirr.

Wesley placed her palm on the magic circle where the light of the oracle had been and released her magic. Every time she blinked, sparks flew from the purple aura surrounding her. When a servant who saw magic for the first time stood still and watched her, the aide blocked him with his body and nodded.

‘Get back to work.’

‘Ah, yes, yes. I’m sorry.’

Whirr!

Wesley’s gaze followed each formula of the magic circle intently.

‘…No matter how I look at it, the position of the bloodstains is exquisite.’

Without having to touch anything else, it covered only the core part of the control. The aide, who was watching from the side, cautiously added his opinion.

‘But isn’t Ian a newcomer who just came up from the border? He also stayed outside the palace, and it was the first time he saw the magic circle on the day he entered the palace. It’s impossible for him to modify it right away after seeing what Wesley and the main force of the support department made.’

‘Then do you think this is a coincidence?’

The aide shook his head. It couldn’t be a coincidence. After all, the modification was perfect, and the result was perfect as well.

‘Upon checking, there is someone who saw Nakina contacting Ian.’

‘Nakina?’

Wesley’s eyes narrowed even more. Wasn’t Nakina a magician under Captain Hale of the Magic Operations Department? Unlike the Magic Support Department, which was mainly an internal position, the Magic Operations Department was an external position that went directly to the field.

‘There shouldn’t be any contact.’

That’s why there was a subtle power struggle between the two departments. Wesley was naturally the superior of everyone as the head of the Magic Department, but since she was using the Magic Support Department as her hands and feet, it was inevitable that the balance of power would be skewed.

‘…Put someone on that side.’

‘Yes, I understand.’

Could it be that they helped Ian to check the Magic Support Department, or even herself? The misunderstanding caused by Nakina’s meaningless favor continued to tangle in Wesley’s head.

Swish.

‘I’m going to see Gail.’

‘Madam Minister, that’s not a good idea.’

‘As soon as the sun rises tomorrow, I have to send an admission request to Ian. We need to discuss it and come up with a plan for the future, don’t we?’

Wesley moved without hesitation, parting the cleaning servants. The south annex, where the detached palace was located, was brightly lit. The laughter of the nobles, who were playing as if there was no tomorrow with music, dancing, and alcohol, was boisterous.

‘Oh my, Your Highness Gail. What do you mean by that?’

‘Does it sound like a joke?’

‘Of course! Everyone here will think it’s a joke!’

‘Your Highness seems to adore Lady Melania. Haha.’

Gail was chatting in the center of the nobles, constantly wearing an outward smile. When the aide carefully approached and whispered in his ear, Gail’s slightly loosened eyes found Wesley.

‘Excuse me. Just for a moment.’

‘Ah, where are you going? You have to come back soon.’

‘I’ll bring the wine I’ve been saving when I come back.’

Click.

The two people who came out onto the terrace simultaneously reached for their cigarettes. The cheerful expression of Gail, who had been laughing and chatting at the party, disappeared, and he stroked his chin as if he was bored and lit her cigarette.

‘What about the magic circle?’

‘I just came back from checking it again. It’s true that it was caused by bloodstains, and it’s also true that someone intentionally modified it. It seems like there’s someone helping Ian.’

Gail frowned. The cool night air felt like it was cooling his head.

‘I don’t think that’s very likely.’

‘Why is that?’

‘Because of Marib.’

Wouldn’t the meaning of Marib pushing Ian so loudly be diminished?

‘If someone from the Magic Department helped Ian, it would either be a personal favor or an instruction from Marib. In the former case, we can just say that the situation was bad without much problem, but in the latter case…’

Wesley, who had been exhaling smoke, swept her hair back. She understood what Gail was saying.

‘Indeed. If there’s a magician who shares Marib’s intentions, it would be right to instruct them not to get involved with Ian.’

Because the hidden card could be revealed. It would be a more stable method to deceive Ian with outward words and move other magicians behind the scenes.

If there was another way, what did it matter if Ian was disgraced by magic or not? It was best to make sure that Gail and Wesley didn’t suspect anything.

‘In my opinion, it’s either the former, or Ian fixed it himself.’

Gail smiled, lightly chewing on his cigarette. It was because he remembered Ian’s appearance at the second-floor banquet hall. The more he looked at him, the more he seemed cheeky and bold, and it seemed like he was not an ordinary guy.

‘That’s impossible. How could someone who just came up from the border…’

‘It would be difficult even for you, right?’

‘…’

To be honest, it was difficult even for Wesley to see through a magic circle with so many magicians’ formulas, like the light of the oracle, and fix it at once. But Wesley immediately corrected her gaze and shook her head.

‘Your Highness. I’m Wesley.’

‘Haha. Yes. I misspoke.’

Because she didn’t want her value to be diminished in Gail’s eyes. Gail gently stroked Wesley’s neck and asked.

‘The light of the oracle that Ian showed. How much magic power would you say that is?’

‘…It was quite good for his young age. It was better than expected.’

Wesley avoided Gail’s gaze and answered. All departments of the Imperial Palace would be like that, but especially in places that only focused on skills, such as the Magic Department and the Guard, there was a lot of checking on newcomers.

‘Is that so?’

Gail answered without saying anything else and lowered his hand. Silence continued to the point where the music from the inner party hall could be heard faintly.

‘If Ian fixed the magic circle and his magic power is also excellent, then he’s a card that should not be given to Marib.’

Then, a woman appeared in the window. It was a noble named Melania, who had been laughing and chatting with Gail earlier. She was the only youngest daughter of the Hyman family, famous for their banking business, and a woman with royal blood from a country bordering Bariel.

‘We have to send an admission request to Ian when the sun rises.’

‘You said that earlier. That you would follow the will of the Minister of Magic. Even if you say that, Marib might say something behind the scenes if you confirm and tell him. It would be good to include a few departments that can see the reaction, including the Magic Support Department, as options.’

Gail said that and rubbed his cigarette on the railing to put it out. Then, he left a light kiss on Wesley’s cheek and nodded. It meant that he had to go back to the party.

‘Gail.’

Wesley called his name, but he only frowned as he turned around. As if telling her to use the proper title.

‘…Your Highness Gail. I’ll see you later.’

‘Take care.’

Thud!

When the terrace door closed, the shadows of the two people completely disappeared. Wesley leaned her elbows on the railing and covered her head. It was so throbbing that she felt dizzy.

‘…Haa.’

‘Would you like another one?’

The aide, who had been watching from the side, took out a new cigarette. Wesley only turned her head and put it in her mouth without answering. The moment it was lit, it seemed like flames were also rising in Wesley’s black eyes.

* * *

‘Greetings, Baron Ian Hielo.’

The public official from the Magic Department greeted him politely. Ian noticed that the parchment in his hand was quite thick.

‘The magic power confirmation ceremony you showed at the New Year’s celebration yesterday was truly impressive. We thank you for showing us such a beautiful sight. Furthermore, with the desire that Baron Ian Hielo will use his magic for the Great Empire of Bariel and His Majesty the Emperor, we have brought the admission request for the Magic Department.’

Clatter!

He confidently unfolded the parchment and read the preamble in an elegant tone. It was mostly about the history of the Magic Department, but it finally ended when Beric, who had been listening with interest, yawned widely.

‘…Thus, the Magic Department is the most honorable department in the current Imperial Palace. This is the treatment condition for Baron Ian Hielo, and below are the departments that Minister Wesley has selected and recommended. Please think carefully and reply as soon as possible.’

‘Okay. You’ve worked hard since morning.’

‘It’s nothing. Ah, if you don’t mind, may I ask for a handshake?’

It was the last chance before joining the Magic Department. At the official’s request, Ian readily shook his hand, and he once again bowed politely and left a greeting.

‘I’ll be waiting for a good reply. Thank you.’

Tap!

And with a disciplined step, he got into the Imperial Palace carriage and left the street. Ian, who had unfolded the parchment, smiled slightly at the unexpected content.

‘They’re more polite than I thought.’

‘Even if they’re checking you, aren’t you a newcomer who’s entering the Magic Department for the first time in a long time? They have to do this much out of courtesy. And I don’t think the Magic Support Department does this kind of work?’

First of all, the salary and welfare benefits assigned to Ian were written in detail. A whopping 10 gold coins a month. It was huge compared to commoners, but it was almost starting from the bottom compared to other members of the Magic Department.

‘Putting that aside, the departments that Wesley sent as recommendations are as follows. Magic Support Department, Magic Operations Department, Magic Research Department…’

It wasn’t much different from the system of departments that Ian knew.

‘I clearly said at the second-floor banquet hall yesterday that I would pass the choice to Minister Wesley. Gail heard it, so Wesley would know it, but she’s sending the list again?’

Isn’t it a bit strange? She gave up the right to choose, but it’s coming back again? It was the opposite of what she had tried to do to take the lead in the magic power confirmation ceremony.

‘Then, it seems like she wants to see what I choose… What is she guessing?’

‘Ian? What are you thinking about so much?’

‘I’m thinking about what this means.’

‘Ah, right. You wouldn’t know. The Magic Support Department is…’

While Romandro was explaining diligently, Ian was tapping the edge of the parchment and pondering. And soon, when Romandro finished speaking, a smile was on his lips.

It was a smile that meant he roughly understood.