Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 134

Love is Madness

The general meeting was held before submitting a case to the Emperor.

Since Marib and Gale participated due to the border issue, the meeting had never gone smoothly. They were trying to handle the issues with their wits about them, fearing that the princes might participate again if there was any noise.

Wesley watched the ministers’ discussions with an indifferent expression.

‘Okay, then we’ll decide that the administrative department will take charge of this matter. Next item. Yesterday, a report arrived from the mayor of Karenna. It says that the bandit group that was causing trouble in the area has been wiped out.’

‘Is that so? That’s very fortunate.’

‘After so much trouble, that’s good. Did they wipe them out themselves? We were about to organize a subjugation force.’

‘Hmm. If I remember correctly, that mayor wasn’t someone capable of that.’

Karenna. It was a city with deep ties to Wesley, but there was not a hint of change in her expression. The Prime Minister gestured for silence and carefully read the report.

‘Most of the bandits were annihilated during the suppression, and only the leader was captured and interrogated. However, during the interrogation, several questions arose, and we received a request for advice from the Imperial Palace.’

‘Questions?’

‘The bandits were said to have come from the north and possessed several strange items. Although the details aren’t attached, it seems to be related to the undead, judging from what was mentioned…’

Wesley’s eyes widened rapidly as she listened quietly. Undead? Now, in Karenna, of all places, undead were found?

‘What are you talking about?’

Wesley raised her voice without realizing it, but the atmosphere was that she was naturally sensitive to the undead as the Minister of Magic. A minister smiled awkwardly and casually threw out a word.

‘Minister Wesley, don’t be so on edge. We receive reports every time that the Ministry of Magic is managing necromancers well.’

‘That’s right. Did the mayor of Karenna say he had a corpse of an undead? Or did he mistake a vagrant for an undead?’

The Prime Minister lightly shook his head at the ministers’ questions.

‘There is no such mention, and it seems to be something that was identified through the interrogation of the bandits. There is no information related to that in Karenna, so we are requesting that the data held by the Imperial Palace be handed over.’

Information about the undead was under Wesley’s jurisdiction. When the Prime Minister gestured, a servant brought the report to Wesley and handed it over. She wanted to maintain her composure, but her hands moved separately from her mind. She read the letters as if she was devouring them, and she couldn’t help but frown more and more.

‘The mayor of Karenna has urgently asked a few questions, so I think it’s appropriate to send them by messenger bird and send the related information by carriage.’

‘…Questions. I see.’

Is it right to view the undead as monsters? Has a slave trading group that deals in undead been officially authorized by the central government? Is there a way to become undead without necromancy?

‘I will handle it.’

Wesley realized that the questions were quite specific. There must have been a process to get to this point. While she was biting her lip and handing over the report, someone asked.

‘By the way, did the mayor of Karenna say he suppressed the bandits?’

It was Taiha, the Minister of the Imperial Defense Department. If the bandits came from the north, it was necessary to consider the possibility that they had crossed the border. If so, wouldn’t there be grounds to hold him responsible? There was no border count directly bordering the north to take charge of the border.

‘Well, there were a couple of intrusions. It seems that the Karenna guard suppressed them. However, they received some help from outside mercenaries. Isn’t that right, Minister Wesley?’

‘Yes. That’s what it says.’

‘Outside mercenaries? It seems that even a small city like Karenna has mercenaries. Hahaha!’

While the ignorant fools were laughing, Wesley couldn’t bring herself to laugh. The existence of these outside mercenaries was truly bothersome. If they were wanderers and just happened to get involved, it wouldn’t be a problem, but…

‘If the mayor of a small local city mentions it like this, it clearly means that they played a key role in suppressing the bandits.’

Since it was a position delegated by the Imperial Palace, weren’t they the ones who were more eager for recognition than anyone else? Wesley thought that the fact that the mayor had mentioned it even briefly was not something to be easily overlooked.

‘Anyway, I will take charge of this matter. It seems like we can move on to the next item.’

Tap.

Wesley lightly closed the report and suggested. It was appropriate for her to handle it within her own capacity. However, Taiha, who had been listening quietly, intervened.

‘The bandit jurisdiction is our responsibility.’

‘However, they have already been suppressed, and what the mayor requested is an answer to various questions, including the undead.’

‘It seems that a slave trading group is involved, which is also our jurisdiction. Also, the bandit leader is still alive. Minister Wesley, isn’t it enough to just organize a clear answer and send it by messenger bird? When you think about it, it’s not something for the minister to get involved in.’

It meant that she should just answer the questions and step aside. Wesley let out an absurd laugh and tapped the table with her finger. Silence fell in the noisy conference room.

‘Here they go again.’

The Prime Minister sighed inwardly, stroking his white beard. It was obvious when they were so on edge about something trivial. It was either the New Year, personal feelings, or some other hidden reason.

‘It seems that Taiha is worried about his reappointment as minister because it’s the New Year.’

Unlike the independent and rarely changing Ministry of Magic, other departments were on edge about reappointment due to personnel evaluations. They would continue to serve if nothing happened, but was there ever a day without incident in the Empire? Especially the Imperial Defense Department, where the head changed a couple of times a year after going to war.

‘Minister Taiha, why are you trying so hard to take on work during the New Year? It will only increase the burden on your successor.’

Wesley pointed that out and made a rather insulting remark. It was a way of saying, what would happen if he was dismissed after taking on the job? Taiha’s thick eyebrows were visibly distorted.

‘Why is Wesley acting like this? If she wasn’t so on edge, it wouldn’t be a problem at all. It’s also true that it’s not something she should get involved in, as Taiha said.’

The Prime Minister looked back and forth between the two and gauged the situation. She was such a powerful person that it was hard to tell if it was just a simple whim…

Bang bang bang!

‘Minister Wesley. Please be quiet.’

‘I will. If that person doesn’t talk nonsense.’

‘Minister Taiha’s words also make sense. Therefore, I hope that the two departments will work together to handle the Karenna case. I believe there will be no problem if you cooperate and take responsibility for your respective jurisdictions. Let’s move on to the next agenda.’

The Prime Minister sided with Taiha. Wesley made an absurd expression, but most of the ministers checked the next report as if they had expected it.

‘So, you should have stayed in line.’

The balance caused by appropriate checks was broken at the start of the New Year’s party. Due to the ‘Sildam Potion’ developed by the Ministry of Magic. They were going to make people eat a magic potion that would make them speak with sincerity and truth before appointing high-ranking officials. It was unknown what they were thinking when they made such a thing.

‘Yes, next is…’

‘I’ll continue…’

Where in the world was there someone who didn’t have a speck of dust on them? And the Ministry of Magic made it? What were they trusting in? The other departments, except for the administrative department ruled by the Emperor, had united for the first time in a long time and were actively opposing this matter.

‘It seems that the appointment of the Chief Justice of the Judiciary will be the start of it, but what are they going to do?’

Sir Hailot, the Chief Justice, who was being actively pushed by the First Prince Marib, was the nominee. He was a talent recognized both externally and internally, but the problem was that he was not on good terms with the Ministry of Magic due to his upright spirit.

Swoosh.

Wesley gestured to her aide. When he approached quietly, Wesley covered her mouth with her hand and whispered something. Everyone pretended not to care and didn’t look at them, but they were all paying attention to them with all their senses on edge.

‘Bareto, summon all the necromancers.’

‘Yes. I understand.’

‘And tell the magic stone management department to prepare as well.’

‘I will make sure there are no problems.’

After giving the instructions, Wesley glared at the ministers in the conference hall with sharp eyes. No one was looking, but they couldn’t help but feel their necks stiffen.

Everyone, as always, wished.

That the meeting would end quickly.

* * *

‘Should I have just let him die back then?’

Romandro muttered seriously while looking at the mayor’s letter. To hear such words from him, not Beric.

‘It seems you’ve been influenced by Beric.’

‘Huh? No, isn’t that right? If Minister Wesley finds out, what could be more dangerous than that? Not to mention Hasha, we can’t even guarantee our own safety, since we know the secret. She’s a woman who annihilated a whole village.’

It seemed that the reality hit him hard when he said it out loud. Romandro’s complexion gradually turned pale, and then he screamed again.

‘Aaaah! Yes! It’s a dangerous situation right now! Oh my! Should I send a message to His Highness Marib?’

‘Please calm down, Romandro. If we move rashly, we might reveal our hand. First, we need to check if the mayor’s report has entered the Imperial Palace. If it hasn’t arrived yet, we can cut it off in the middle, and if it has already been sent, we need to see what the content is.’

That meant it was time for Romandro to move. Since the general meeting was sharing issues from each department, it wouldn’t be difficult to find out with a little inquiry.

‘What’s next?’

Romandro repeatedly rubbed his palms on his shirt, as if his hands were sweating, and asked again. The next part was Ian’s responsibility.

‘Since it has entered the Ministry of Magic, I will also gather information.’

Even if necromancy research was a public matter, there would definitely be a difference between what was known externally and what was known within the Ministry of Magic. And above all…

‘Why was the research on using necromancy on the living conducted in ‘secret’?’

Wesley’s role in the Imperial Palace seemed clear. The first horse to go forward in Gale’s rebellion. However, in the history that Ian remembered, there was no case where the undead were used in the rebellion.

‘Then, maybe this is something that Wesley is doing personally. There is a possibility that Gale doesn’t know. There must be a key in this gap.’

Secret, in other words, the reason why it became a secret.

And if it was revealed again, that would be the weakness.

‘Wesley’s weakness…’

Ian pondered and unknowingly let the words slip out. Romandro, who had regained his composure, wiped away his cold sweat and reflexively retorted.

‘Minister Wesley’s weakness? That’s a bit of a misnomer.’

‘Yes? What do you mean?’

‘If you’re talking about her weakness, it’s His Highness Gale, but it doesn’t make sense that His Highness Gale is a weakness. He’s the second most important person in the Empire. Well, that’s what I mean.’

Ian quietly mulled over his words.

Everything Wesley does is for Gale…

But if Gale doesn’t know about the necromancy situation, then it’s something for Wesley.

‘No way.’

An absurd hypothesis popped into Ian’s head. To make a living person into an undead and put them under her control? Then, could it be, Gale?

‘Unless she’s crazy, there’s no way…’

‘In a way, Minister Wesley is crazy. There’s a reason why they say love makes you crazy, right?’

‘Oh my goodness.’

Romandro muttered to himself and kept scanning the mayor’s letter. When Ian looked at him with a surprised expression, Romandro was rather flustered and blinked his eyes.

‘D-Did I say something wrong?’