Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 138

Romandro anxiously peered out of the carriage window. Darkness had completely fallen, and Ian showed no sign of returning. It had been several hours since he went inside.

Taptap!

In the distance, a golden-haired boy was seen descending the grand staircase. The surroundings were so quiet that even the sound of his small footsteps seemed audible. Romandro woke the dozing coachman and directed him to drive the carriage towards Ian.

“Ian, hurry and get in, h-hurk!”

“I apologize for the long wait, Lord Romandro.”

“Good heavens, good heavens! Iaaaan!”

“Shhh, it’s nothing serious.”

“N-nothing serious?!”

Though he had wiped it off, there were still traces of blood on his chin and neck, and his clothes were a mess. What on earth had happened inside? Romandro, bewildered, fidgeted, unsure whether to grab Ian or let him go.

Ian, on the other hand, casually adjusted his collar and gave a curt order to the coachman.

“Let’s depart.”

“S-should we go to the medical officer?”

“No. To His Highness Marib’s palace.”

“Yes, yes. Understood.”

Hee-heeing!

The coachman, also surprised, stuttered badly. Romandro, who had been staring at Ian with his mouth agape, soon realized that he had no injuries.

“Ian, is that not your blood?”

“It is my blood. I drank the Truth Serum inside. There’s no physical pain, but the side effects are quite severe. No wonder everyone is so afraid and against it.”

When Ian smiled, Romandro also smiled faintly, seeming a little relieved. He then noticed that the Luron box Ian had taken was missing.

“Can you tell me what happened? And why are we going to His Highness Marib’s palace at this hour?”

“I can tell you, but it would be better for Lord Romandro’s safety if you didn’t know the details. A great storm is about to hit.”

“A s-storm?”

“There’s nothing to worry about. We’ll always be at the center of it. Things went more smoothly than expected.”

When Romandro tried to wipe his face with a handkerchief dampened with saliva, Ian stopped him with a hand chop. Going to Marib now was to show him this state.

‘Go back now. After confirming whether Wesley truly researched forbidden necromancy, I will send word again.’

Even if it was a top secret within the Magic Department, it wouldn’t be difficult for the Prince to find out. If everything was true, Wesley would surely be dismissed at the high-ranking officials’ appointment meeting next week.

‘Then, I must make arrangements with Marib this time.’

Going here and there, what on earth was he doing in the moonlight? But it was something that had to be done someday. Maintaining balance was always more difficult than pushing from one side.

“How does the Administrative Department currently perceive the Truth Serum issue?”

“Since the real power of the Administrative Department lies with His Majesty the Emperor, we have no choice but to follow his will. But there is great concern from below. It’s certainly an ideal potion, but the Magic Department is… not so ideal.”

Ian thought of the departments within the Imperial Palace, counting them one by one. If it wasn’t much different from 100 years later, there would be about twenty departments in total. Among them, about ten would be close to real power….

“But Ian, if you go to His Highness Marib right after seeing His Highness Gale, wouldn’t that be a bit…?”

“It’s alright. I believe His Highness Gale is aware.”

“Aware?”

It was a kind of double agent. Even if Ian approached both sides, it wouldn’t be seen as too suspicious. Romandro, unable to grasp how the situation was unfolding, tugged at his limp hair.

Just then.

Thud!

“We have arrived, Baron.”

“Ah, yes. Lord Romandro, please wait again.”

Since there was no traffic at night, they arrived quickly. Ian checked once more to make sure the blood was still visible and opened the carriage door. The guard who approached flinched at Ian’s condition.

“Did you perhaps take the wrong path? This is His Highness Marib’s palace. We have not received any orders for visitors to come at night.”

“That’s right. I came urgently, so please send word quickly. Baron Ian Hiel is requesting an audience.”

“Please wait a moment.”

The guard glanced at Ian’s blood-soaked clothes and went inside. Still, unlike Gale’s side, their attitude towards Ian and Romandro was gentle.

“…Good heavens, Baron. Are you alright?”

“I’m fine.”

The chief steward’s expression hardened. With the intuition of someone who had lived in the Imperial Palace his whole life, it was clear that something unusual was happening. The chief steward quickly led Ian to Marib’s office.

Knock knock.

“Your Highness.”

“Enter.”

Marib looked the same day or night. He had his hair neatly tied back, wore glasses, and was examining a mountain of reports. Turning his head, he frowned.

“Baron Ian Hiel. What on earth is going on?”

“Your Highness, I apologize for the late hour, but I have something urgent to tell you. I have just come from His Highness Gale’s palace.”

At the mention of Gale’s name, the chief steward quickly turned and left. The door closed, leaving only Marib and Ian in the space.

“First, please forgive me for visiting His Highness Gale without informing you. I was certain he would use the Truth Serum, so I needed to create the truth that Your Highness was unaware of my actions.”

“Then that blood is a side effect of the Truth Serum.”

“You are correct.”

They said the research wasn’t complete, but it was truly a sight to behold. And they wanted to commercialize it like that? They were insane.

“While examining the information about the Luron Stone you mentioned before, it was revealed that the expected deposit is located in the current Hiel territory.”

Ah, Marib inwardly exclaimed. So that’s why Gale was so eager for it. That was the reason he was bothering him with the Truth Serum issue. Ian continued, observing the Prince’s expression.

“Therefore, His Highness Gale summoned me and ordered me to supply the Luron Stone to the Magic Department. It seems difficult to refuse.”

“That cannot be. Supplying the Luron Stone would give them an excuse for the Truth Serum issue.”

“Your Highness, isn’t the biggest reason for opposing the Truth Serum the Magic Department itself? Since its head, Wesley, is Gale’s man, it seems there is no trust in the potion itself.”

Who knew if they would be telling the truth, and who knew when and how they would die from some unidentified liquid?

Marib adjusted his glasses and then calmly asked.

“And?”

“If Minister Wesley is removed and the owner of the Magic Department changes, there will be no problem at all.”

Minister Wesley removed?

It was absurd, but if it happened, it would be the best opportunity for Marib. It would be the same as Gale’s main forces being dismantled.

‘But how? Wesley would never step down on his own, and the only way would be for Gale to get rid of him, but how would that guy abandon Wesley?’

Then, Marib suddenly thought of the youngest daughter of the Hyman family. Recently, Gale had been putting in so much effort, could it be that he had a dispute with Wesley because of that?

The youngest daughter of a great family that monopolized the banking business in Bariel, with royal blood from a neighboring kingdom, and a woman who was praised for her beauty in society. There were rumors that she had spent the New Year’s party closely with Gale.

Ian slowly observed his expression and continued.

“If I may be so bold, do you know how they select someone in the Magic Department if the Minister’s seat becomes vacant?”

“The Magic Department, above all, values skill, so surely…”

As Marib’s words trailed off, Ian sat up straight and nodded. He had thought he was unusual at the mana identification ceremony, but he didn’t know it was to this extent.

“It seemed that His Highness Gale was greatly impressed by my mana during the mana identification ceremony.”

Marib also thought he was beautiful, but he didn’t recognize it as ‘how much compared to Wesley.’ He just thought that a lucky noble from the border was useful.

“Therefore, it seemed that he was looking for potential candidates for the next Minister. That’s why I predicted that His Highness Gale would get rid of Minister Wesley.”

“There must be a hidden motive behind it. Under normal circumstances, Gale would never, never abandon Wesley.”

“I don’t know about that, Your Highness. If the Minister is removed and I get a chance…”

What was this person saying? A newly joined magician was talking about the Minister’s position. But Ian spoke without hesitation.

“I think you can proceed with the Truth Serum issue. To gather forces internally, an external collusion factor is needed. If you approve the Truth Serum, I might be able to gather people with it.”

How many departments were involved in the Truth Serum?

Mana Stone Management Department, Potion Research Department, Magic Experiment Department….

“Can you do it?”

“I will do it. If Your Highness helps me a little, it will surely be easier.”

Marib thought.

If Gale were to remove Wesley, he would surely have a successor in mind for the Magic Department. But the opportunity would be given fairly to everyone. Even though Ian was a newbie who had just joined, he was still a magician belonging to the Magic Department. It wasn’t something that could be definitively said.

“Ian, it’s all good. It’s all good, but I still don’t feel that Gale and Wesley will split. It feels like a nonsensical delusion from a dream.”

Would Gale really abandon Wesley? No, in the first place, was Wesley a woman who could be abandoned? Marib narrowed his soft eyes and glared at Ian.

‘The way he’s urging me to proceed with the Truth Serum… could it be that he’s sided with Gale?’

Ian noticed his gaze and lowered his head. That’s why those who are quick-witted are tiring.

“The reason I mentioned the Truth Serum is because I will be the major supplier of Luron Stone. Currently, the only major issue related to Luron Stone is that, and since all departments except the Magic Department are opposing it, I judged that if the agenda is passed, the Magic Department could greatly establish its position.”

It wasn’t entirely illogical. Marib used his pen to lift Ian’s chin, signaling him to raise his head.

His younger brother used a sword, and his older brother used a pen.

“I understand. But first, Wesley must be removed, and then Ian, you must show your potential in the Magic Department.”

“Don’t worry, Your Highness.”

Zhiing. Zhiing.

Ian confidently answered, releasing his mana. His green eyes turned gold, and a light of mana surrounded him. He was second to none in this, if nothing else.

“I swear, this light is definitely for Your Highness.”

“Alright. I’ll look forward to it.”

Marib lightly moved Ian’s chin and then stood up. Whether it was a trick or not, removing Wesley from his position would be meaningful.

Ian lightly stroked his neck and gave a faint smile.