Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 160

‘There is a way to break the curse.’

There was no need to shout or gesture for attention. Ian’s quiet words were enough to draw everyone’s gaze to him.

Nakina felt the atmosphere come alive for the first time. It was like a massive energy, shifting this way and that according to Ian’s intentions.

‘Minister Ian Hielo, you say you can break the curse? It was created by two mages burning their souls. Is that even possible?’

At the noble’s shout, Ian looked at him calmly, as if asking what was so surprising.

‘There are no other options. It is possible, and it must be made possible. We cannot leave His Highness Gail like this, can we? This is a matter of Bariel’s and the Imperial Family’s fate, so the Magic Department will do its best to resolve it.’

His firm answer was full of power. It was a conviction that there would be only one outcome: the removal of the curse.

Gail chuckled to himself and swept his hair back. They didn’t even know what his real curse was, yet they were making quite interesting moves.

‘That’s very kind of you to say.’

‘Your Highness Gail, it is my duty.’

Ian placed his hand on his chest and saluted. He seemed relaxed despite the sudden situation, having achieved everything he wanted today. He had turned the curse into a shield and announced the support of the Haiman family, hadn’t he? He had successfully taken the noose from Marib’s grasp.

‘Sir Ian Hielo, then report. How can you break His Highness Gail’s curse?’

The Prime Minister gestured lightly, urging him on. The Emperor and Delilah were also watching Ian. It was hard to believe that the future of Bariel depended on this small, beautiful boy.

‘First, I would like to inform you that the curse on His Highness Gail is a forbidden magic. There will be many trials and errors.’

Ian flicked his fingers, creating a small magic sphere. The surroundings brightened, and at the same time, deep shadows fell on Ian’s features.

‘The curse is this shadow. Like the two sides of a coin, the yin and yang of magic, they move with the same mechanism.’

The caster’s magic, the spell, the target, and the result it would bring. Even a curse was ultimately a subset of magic.

‘What will you do to remove the shadow?’

‘To remove the shadow? Either shine a stronger light on it—’

‘That’s right. It’s a method of neutralizing the curse with a stronger power than the forbidden magic cast by Wesley and his aide.’

Even Wesley was not easy to deal with, so how could they handle the power of two mages who had cast forbidden magic? It was impossible even for Ian. No, to be precise, even if the entire Magic Department were to tackle it, they couldn’t be sure. As the mages murmured, the audience also whispered with unease.

‘Or, there is also a way to cover the shadow with another shadow. But let’s put that aside… I ask you, Your Highness Gail.’

‘Anything.’

‘Did Wesley impose any conditions? If there are conditions attached to the curse, there may be a way to resolve it by fulfilling them.’

‘Gail, you are—, so you will be—forever.’

Gail suddenly recalled her last words. Though days and nights had passed, each memory was strangely clear. He shook his head indifferently.

‘…No.’

‘I see. It’s fortunate that Wesley was a mage. If she had been a shaman, we wouldn’t even have been able to attempt it.’

Ian stepped forward to the Emperor and bowed again, asking for his opinion.

‘Your Majesty, I humbly request that this matter be kept an absolute secret within the Imperial Palace and not be leaked to the outside world. It should not be known to the people of the Bariel Empire, nor to neighboring countries.’

There were many who were waiting for Bariel to decline. If rumors spread that Gail’s life was connected to it, it would cause chaos. From assassinations to wars. The Emperor nodded in deep agreement.

‘Also, the Magic Department will apply and adapt common curse-solving methods to find a way. For a smooth investigation, please grant the Magic Department full control and command of this matter.’

Because he had taken office in the middle of the crisis, authority was scattered. The Imperial Guard who were at the scene, the administrative department that kept the previous records and approved documents in place of the Minister of Magic, and so on.

Delilah hid her deeply embarrassed expression behind her fan.

‘He is certainly not ordinary. Are all mages like that? Wesley too, they are like beasts.’

It was the moment when the status of the Magic Department, which had been declining, was revived. It was a statement that made everyone realize what they had overlooked: that Bariel would not exist without them. There was no reason for the Emperor to refuse. Nor was there any reason to do so.

‘Your intention is right. From this moment on, all command regarding the Wesley incident is entrusted to the Minister of Magic, Ian Hielo. All those who obey my orders shall cooperate with the Magic Department, follow their instructions, and resolve this matter swiftly.’

At the Emperor’s command, everyone sitting stood up and placed their hands on their chests. At the same time, the Emperor coughed violently and leaned forward. Delilah was horrified and supported the Emperor’s arm.

‘Your Majesty!’

‘…Let’s stop here for today.’

‘That would be best. Prime Minister!’

At Delilah’s call, the Prime Minister slammed his staff down hard. It was a signal to end all meetings. The Emperor left with the support of his vassals, and the meeting hall instantly became a mess.

‘Your Highness Gail!’

It was then. Melanie ran to Gail, clutching the hem of her voluminous dress. Her tearful eyes seemed so pure.

Clatter! Crash!

‘Oh my, heavens.’

Melanie stumbled as if she had stepped on her dress and broke the Sildam potion on the table. Marib’s mouth was set in a tight line, his expression one of disbelief.

‘What should I do?’

‘It’s alright. Are you hurt?’

‘I’m fine. Minister Ian, I’m sorry.’

‘…It’s alright, Lady Melanie. It’s enough that you’re not hurt.’

His smile was chilling. He had clearly broken the remaining Sildam potion to prevent further conflict. It was a truly aristocratic move. Ian clicked his tongue inwardly but outwardly only smiled with Melanie.

‘Sir Ian.’

‘Yes, Your Highness Marib.’

Marib frowned as if he couldn’t stand the sight of it and called out to Ian. His gaze was slightly softened. He had realized his emotional mistake from earlier.

‘Come to the palace later.’

‘Understood, Your Highness.’

What Marib currently lacked was the Emperor’s trust. But since Ian, the Minister of Magic, had gained the Emperor’s support, he couldn’t lose him due to unfounded suspicion.

‘Your Highness Marib, I’ll see you again.’

‘…Very well, Lady Melanie.’

Melanie greeted him as if to show off, and Marib reluctantly nodded. The disgust was evident in his actions. As soon as Marib disappeared, she wiped the smile off her face and grabbed the hem of her dress.

‘Your Highness Gail, I’ll go to the carriage first.’

‘I’ll follow soon.’

Behind them, Gail’s followers were passionately discussing the situation. As Melanie disappeared, Ian organized the documents and asked.

‘Do you have something to say?’

At the question, Gail lowered his voice and laughed. And he whispered so that no one could hear him over the noise.

‘To say they’ll break my curse. It’s ridiculous that they’re trying to find an answer without even knowing what the problem is.’

He was truly good at hitting the mark. Since he knew the curse was fake, even if they said they had solved it, there was no way to prove it. If that happened, the Magic Department would gain great power for saving Bariel, without any cost or sacrifice.

‘I’m glad I could provide you with a small laugh. Since Your Highness said it was a personal curse, isn’t it okay not to know what the problem is?’

And since he could solve Marib’s problem as well, it would be easier to gain trust. All he had to do was solve the curse with the right timing and the right acting.

‘Please keep your promise. The information on the drugs and the trading company related to Your Highness Marib. If you hand it over, I will do my best to accommodate Your Highness.’

Gail took out a cigarette and raised an eyebrow. He looked amused.

‘Of course. I’ll hand it over soon.’

‘Thank you.’

‘But I don’t know how much that will help you.’

Gail let out a low laugh and exhaled smoke. When his followers couldn’t hold back and called him, Gail turned away, casting a look that said he would see them again. He disappeared with his subordinates, who were worried about how to act in the future.

‘Minister Ian, let’s go too.’

‘Yes. You’ve done well today.’

‘No, we were just sitting there. Anyway, the immediate fire is out, so we’ll have some time to relax.’

Nakina muttered, gently kicking the broken glass shards with her foot. Ian walked out with them, pondering Gail’s words.

‘He doesn’t know how much the information will help?’

Ian frowned. He guessed that a troublesome hypothesis kept popping up in his mind.

‘Although I’ve put it aside, the situation is still precarious. The fact that Gail mentioned the trading company to Marib is proof of that. I thought it was almost his last card, but he showed it…’

It meant he was going into full-scale war. The intertwined checks and balances were tangled and filled to the point of explosion. Now was an opportunity and a crisis for both Marib and Gail to deal with each other.

He felt the beginning of an irreversible clash.

‘I could expose Marib’s information.’

Then it wouldn’t be just Ian who knew, and Gail’s words that it wouldn’t be of much help would be correct. Marib was also sharpening his knife behind the scenes. If Gail came out like that, it was obvious what would happen.

Swoosh.

‘Minister Ian, what’s wrong?’

‘I need to reschedule the entire Magic Department’s schedule.’

‘What? Why?’

Offensive magic or defensive magic. It would be good to develop the power to hold the center when the storm rages. Even if there were no major results right away, it would be better than doing nothing.

It was when Ian continued walking without answering.

Tap tap tap!

Footsteps quickly approaching Ian. Nakina and Tommy were surprised and tried to block him but stopped. The face of the man running with his red hair flying was familiar.

Whirr! Thud!

‘Ouch!’

‘Why do you stop building the barrier?’

‘Because it’s Beric. Beric, is your nose okay?’

‘Agh, agh! Seriously! Damn it!’

He had smashed his head right into the barrier Hale had created. Beric collapsed forward, clutching his nose, and Ian noticed that he was holding a letter in his hand.

‘Beric, I told you that you would get into trouble if you rushed around the palace like that.’

‘I don’t know, I don’t care. Just look at this quickly. It’s a letter from Hielo, and the carrier pigeon was Vivianna’s, so they accidentally opened it.’

The reply was quite fast. Ian recognized the neat handwriting on the envelope as Hanna’s. It seemed she hadn’t been neglecting her studies.

Beric rubbed his reddened nose and added.

‘And she wants to get married.’

‘Married? Who?’

‘Agh, damn it. My nose hurts so I can’t talk. That, with the Cheonryeo tribe.’

Married to the Cheonryeo tribe?

Ian recalled Hanna’s tearful face when the Cheonryeo tribe left the border. It seemed she had someone in mind.

‘Isn’t Hanna too young to get married?’

He wasn’t her parent, and if she wanted to, he wouldn’t stop her. At Ian’s mutter, Beric just sniffled.

‘Not Hanna.’

‘…?’