Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 140

“Say that again.”

Wesley, who was listening to the report, unknowingly dropped her cigarette ash. It had been two days since the letter from the Karenna market was brought up in the meeting. The aide put down the report and added,

“It’s highly likely that Baron Ian Hielro passed through the area during the time of the bandit suppression in Karenna. After all, the road from the Hielro territory to the center is limited, and passing through the triangle of Karenna and Rongin is the safest and fastest route.”

If only there hadn’t been any bandits. Wesley quickly stubbed out the cigarette and frowned. If the mercenary who suppressed the bandits was Ian, he would surely have harbored suspicions about the undead.

‘Did he notice the traces of necromancy? Before that, how did the bandits even have undead? That Ian might be investigating separately. Did he enter the archives after joining the Magic Department?’

Her mind was a mess. More than anything else, the forbidden necromancy must never, ever be discovered by Gale. As she chewed on her fingernails, the aide gently stopped her.

“We’ve sent a messenger to Karenna for details, so we should get a reply soon.”

“Check if Ian accessed the archives.”

“Yes, I understand.”

“…Did he come to work?”

“He came to work from dawn. It seems he has a lot to learn, going around the Magic Operations Department and other places.”

She felt like her insides were turning and blood was rushing to her head. She felt like she needed to call Ian out right away and shout to calm down. Was it you who suppressed the bandits in Karenna, what did you see there, what did you find out?

Wesley was about to lose her temper and reach for another cigarette when she heard a knock.

Knock knock.

“Lady Wesley, this is a message from His Highness Gale.”

“From His Highness? Come in.”

She probably didn’t realize it, but her hand had stopped shaking. The aide silently watched her, gathering the documents to one side. On days when there was a message from Gale, work was always put on the back burner.

“He said to come to the palace when you have time.”

“Really? I understand. I’ll go soon.”

Wesley immediately grabbed her coat and got up from her seat. There was not a moment of hesitation. It had been so long since he had called for her.

After rumors spread that he was associating with the daughter of the Haiman family, contact had naturally become infrequent. The daughter of Haiman was clearly someone who could help Gale’s achievements, so she had tolerated it, but she was slowly reaching her limit.

“Oh, and there’s a witness who saw Baron Ian Hielro entering Marib’s palace with blood on him a few days ago.”

The aide followed her, delivering the rest of the minor reports verbally. Wesley’s footsteps echoed through the empty hallway, a little hurried.

“To Marib’s palace?”

“I don’t know the reason, but it was late at night.”

Gale’s palace was not a surveillance area that Wesley had to keep an eye on, so she hadn’t noticed that Ian had seen Gale first. She frowned and got into the carriage.

“What about the mansion?”

“He’s currently staying at the mansion of Lord Romandro of the Administrative Department, and there’s no movement, including guards. It seems to be just a pregnant woman and a servant.”

“Really?”

“He doesn’t often return home due to work.”

“Then, reduce the surveillance of the mansion to a minimum.”

“I’ll redirect the rest to Ian.”

Wesley nodded, looking at Gale’s palace getting closer. It was the sight of her lover after a long time. Feeling her heart pounding, she ran up the stairs at once.

Knock knock.

“Your Highness Gale.”

“Wesley, you’ve come. I’ve been waiting.”

“It’s been a long time. You’ve been so busy lately that it’s hard to see your face. I guess you’re not going to see the flowers with the daughter of the Haiman family today.”

Gale just sat languidly on the sofa and smiled. The smoke from his cigarette scattered with his laughter. He gestured for her to come closer.

“Come here.”

And then he grabbed her wrist and made her sit on his lap. Wesley naturally hugged him, wrapping her arms around his neck.

“Wesley, I’ve been so insensitive all this time.”

“Your Highness, why are you suddenly like this?”

A smile bloomed on Wesley’s face. It was so warm and beautiful that it was hard to believe that he was the dignified head of the Magic Department, who was usually so cold. Gale opened a small jewelry box and whispered.

“Open it.”

Click.

It was an earring studded with diamonds. The jewels sparkled as if they were capturing the light, and Wesley slightly opened her mouth. It wasn’t because it was precious. In terms of wealth, Wesley, the head of the Magic Department, was also one of the most powerful in the empire. But this was…

“Your Highness, did you do something wrong to me?”

“Of course not.”

‘It’s my first gift. The first one Your Highness has given me.’

Instead of answering, Gale gently brushed the woman’s hair back and put on the earring. As he touched her earlobe, Wesley felt like tears were about to spill.

Yes. No matter how much the daughter of the Haiman family was there, Gale still had her…

“You’re the one who did something wrong, Wesley.”

It wasn’t the voice full of affection. Wesley read a strange emotion in Gale’s gaze, which was so close that their noses were almost touching. Disgust and contempt. Where had the man who had just been caressing her ear gone?

“Your Highness?”

“I’ve been so insensitive to you.”

“Wh, what do you mean…”

Gale held Wesley tightly in his arms and took out a document from the table. Wesley could easily tell what it was. It was a report on the results of necromancy research, stamped with the Magic Department’s top-secret seal. Her spine tingled with the feeling that her heart was falling.

“I didn’t know you were doing such tricks behind my back.”

Gale buried his face in Wesley’s neck and let out a low laugh. She struggled to get out of his arms, but she couldn’t overcome the man’s strength.

Squeeze.

“No, no, Your Highness. There’s a misunderstanding-”

“If it weren’t for the blessing of the Imperial Family, you might have been consumed by madness long ago. There was a reason why everyone called you a witch. Bring the shackles!”

A subordinate hidden in the shadows approached. In his hand was a thick iron chain, as if he had prepared it. Wesley, terrified, cried out involuntarily.

“Gale, listen to me first!”

Ziiing! Ziiing!

Her eyes turned gold, but no magic was released. The diamond that was shining particularly brightly in her ear in the reflection of the wine glass.

…It was a magic sealing stone.

“Shhh. Wesley.”

Gale was still holding her wrist down. He didn’t miss the moment when she hesitated in panic, and he put on the shackles, then tied her to a hook in the wall. This also had a magic sealing stone in it.

“I want to twist your neck right now, but I’m letting you live because of our past relationship, so stay still.”

“…Relationship?”

Wesley’s mind went blank. At the same time, her tongue moved on its own. Gale and she were practically one and the same. But seeing how he was trying to cut her off without even listening to her explanation, it was clear that her existence had been erased from that man’s mind.

“…You’re trying to appoint someone else as the minister, aren’t you?”

If Wesley was killed as the Minister of the Magic Department, an investigation would be conducted, and the forbidden necromancy would surely be revealed.

For the crime of harming the prince, Marib would try to reform the Magic Department’s monopolistic and unique power structure. This was a bad move for Gale in the long run, and it meant defeat.

“You’re trying to keep me from the personnel meeting, so you can put someone else in place and kill me…”

Tears flowed down her face without her realizing it. Wesley bit her lip and looked up at him, but Gale’s expression was cold.

“I can’t understand. You’re so good at reading people, but how could you do such a foolish thing? Wesley. It’s a shame. You were a good colleague in many ways.”

“No! Gale, you know. I…”

I would never betray you.

I wanted to be with your future.

That’s all.

“Really? Okay. Then I’ll give you one chance.”

Gale nodded, and a subordinate handed him a Siltham potion. The man shook the bottle leisurely and grabbed Wesley’s chin. The bitter potion flowed into her mouth as she lifted her head.

“Cough!”

Wesley coughed and vomited blood. Blood poured out endlessly. Gale knelt on one knee and met Wesley’s gaze.

“I’ll ask you, Wesley.”

Please, ask me a proper question.

“Did you try to use necromancy on me?”

Rather than asking if she had any intention of betraying him, or if she could swear eternal loyalty. Wesley pressed down on her tongue, which was trying to move on its own. But in the end, the truth poured out with the blood.

“…Yes.”

Gale frowned and got up from his seat. He wiped the blood with a handkerchief and instructed his subordinate.

“Keep a close watch on her at all times.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“What about Wesley’s aide?”

“He’s waiting outside.”

“Take care of him. And tell the Magic Department that Wesley is on a business trip for the time being. Prepare the personnel to reorganize the Magic Support Department as soon as the personnel meeting is over.”

The subordinate answered that he would obey the order and disappeared back into the shadows. Behind Gale, who was about to leave the bedroom, Wesley’s scream pierced through.

“You, you’re always like this to me!”

“……”

“Gale, I love you. That’s why I did it. I knew you would abandon me later, so I just wanted to keep you by my side! My future was always you!”

Gale glanced back. Wesley, covered in blood, bit her lip as tears streamed down her face. But Gale just chuckled.

“If you wanted to be with me, you should have known your place, Wesley. Then I would have taken responsibility for you until the end. You crossed the line.”

His gaze turned to Wesley’s lower jaw. No more blood was pouring out. The effect of the Siltham potion was supposed to last while the subject was coughing up blood.

“And, I can’t believe your words without blood.”

Slam!

The door closed without any hesitation. In the complete darkness, Wesley swallowed her tears and glared at the place where Gale had been. He can’t believe her without blood? Okay. She understood.

Crunch.

She tore her lip and glared with angry eyes. How could he do this to her? How dare he…

‘Let’s see this through to the end, Gale.’

She rubbed her face in her own blood on the floor and screamed miserably. Gale’s chief attendant pretended not to hear the faint screams and locked the door.

* * *

“Did you hear? The relationship between His Highness Gale and Minister Wesley is not good these days.”

“Because of the daughter of the Haiman family?”

“I don’t know. There are rumors going around. But they’ve been together for so long, right?”

“But Minister Wesley is on a business trip these days. His Highness Gale ordered it himself, so if their relationship was bad, he wouldn’t trust her so much.”

“Well, yeah. And isn’t Minister Wesley a capable person? Except for her bloodline, she’s comparable to the daughter of the Haiman family.”

“Then, Minister Wesley won’t attend the personnel meeting?”

“She doesn’t have to. She’ll be reappointed anyway.”

As the personnel meeting approached, people talked about high-ranking officials whenever they gathered. It was a place where the heads of the year were decided, so it was a natural atmosphere.

Swoosh.

“Hmm?”

“Why is that?”

“No, I thought I felt someone’s presence.”

“Who else would be here besides us? Don’t talk nonsense, let’s hurry. We’ll be late.”

As the group that was talking disappeared, a ripple formed in the space. It was Bareto, Wesley’s aide, who had been hiding his presence with magic. He looked at Gale’s palace with a troubled expression.

‘I will save you soon, Lady Wesley.’