Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 163

Squeak.

Ian’s expression as he exited the reception room was peculiar. The head attendant, while guiding him, glanced at the firmly closed door. Just before Ian’s arrival, Marib’s frantic screams had been echoing continuously.

Yet, why was it so quiet now?

This, in itself, was frightening.

‘Lord Ian, are you alright?’

‘What do you mean?’

‘…Nothing.’

The head attendant carefully examined Ian’s cheeks, hair, and attire. Everything was as it had been when he entered, without a single disarray. Considering the servants who had been carried out like the living dead, it was indeed a fortunate outcome. Still, as the Minister of the Magic Department, it seemed His Highness had maintained his composure.

‘Um, Lord Ian. Forgive my intrusion, but may I ask you something?’

‘You have my permission.’

As the head attendant opened the carriage door and asked, Ian nodded lightly. His calm tone was striking. It was as if Marib’s frenzy in the palace had nothing to do with him.

The head attendant quickly regained his senses and bowed.

‘It’s nothing much, but I was wondering about the condition of the servants inside. The physician is on standby, but he cannot provide treatment if His Highness is present. Also, has His Highness seemed tired or sleepy?’

Ian stared at the head attendant. He had said it was an intrusive question, but wasn’t it truly intrusive? It was the head attendant’s role to resolve issues between the lord and his servants. However, Ian, recalling the people who had been trembling and cowering, casually let a few words slip.

‘They didn’t seem seriously injured. And isn’t it almost sunset? He’s someone who works late, so it’s not yet time for him to retire to his chambers.’

‘His Highness’s sleep schedule is irregular, so he often catches a nap whenever he has a chance. Thank you for your words.’

Contrary to his polite greeting, the hand closing the carriage door was hurried. As if urging him to leave this place quickly. Ian frowned as he watched her return to the palace.

‘Irregular sleep schedule. Indeed, Marib has so much work to handle that there are even rumors that the lights in his office never go out.’

Could this be the reason he came into contact with sleep-inducing hallucinogens? Perhaps he had sought them out to solve his sleep problems, leading to his involvement with a particular merchant group. Or perhaps he had obtained them from a place he already had ties with.

‘Where shall I take you, Minister?’

‘To the Magic Department.’

‘Yes, sir. Understood.’

Ian chuckled as he looked at the darkening outside. The arrogant Marib, whose pride had been wounded, had made a very interesting move. In truth, the attempt to kill Gale was nothing special, but the fact that he was the one who ordered it made the situation amusing.

‘This is truly a blessing for me.’

Currently, Marib and Gale were sharpening their knives, each aiming for the other’s throat. However, since they could lose everything with a single blow, they were carefully watching for an opening, waiting for the right opportunity.

Waiting for an opportunity, in other words, is a lack of justification, or, in other words, the absence of a signal flare. If only a reason for them to attack each other could be created….

‘One of them will die. And the other will be fatally wounded and fall. If I wait for the right moment and cut off the remaining one’s breath, things will become easier.’

Gale had the reality of the curse and the suspicion of treason, while Marib had the suspicion of assassinating the Emperor. Ian tapped his knee to the rhythm of the rattling carriage wheels.

‘I’m changing the destination.’

‘Yes? Where should we go?’

‘To His Highness Gale’s palace.’

Ian ordered the coachman to turn the horses. The plan that had come to mind was satisfying, so it would be good to inform Gale before Marib’s suspicion of assassinating the Emperor was revealed. Fortunately, the carriage did not have to travel far.

Neigh!

‘The Haiman family’s carriage.’

It seemed Melanie was with Gale at his palace. As Ian got out of the carriage, the guards saluted him with precision.

‘Are you not Minister Ian Hielro?’

‘Yes, it’s me. It’s good to see you again.’

‘I will inform His Highness of your arrival.’

Before, they had added that he was just a mere Baron, but now they didn’t ask any questions. He had arrived, so they would inform him and let him in.

Knock knock.

‘Your Highness Gale, Minister Ian has arrived.’

‘Oh, yes. Let him in!’

It seemed they were in the middle of a toast, as the smell of alcohol wafted out as soon as the door opened. Melanie was half-closing her eyes, smoking a cigarette that Gale had offered her. It was quite a sight. The elder brother was causing chaos by smashing things, and the younger brother was causing chaos with his debauchery.

‘Minister Ian Hielro! What brings you here?’

‘I have something urgent to tell you. If the timing is not right, I will come back later.’

‘No, no. It’s fine. Come here.’

The hand patting the sofa was full of joy. Instead of sitting down, Ian looked at Melanie and bowed lightly.

‘Lady Melanie. You seem to have a fever.’

Go get some fresh air, in other words, please leave. She smiled gently, arching her eyebrows. There were many rumors about her being a commoner’s illegitimate child, but her way of speaking was no different from that of a noble from any family.

‘Oh my, it would be good to get some fresh air. Excuse me for a moment.’

Melanie readily left her seat, and Ian sat facing Gale. The hand flicking the cigarette was somewhat rough. Ian realized that his eyes had changed. As soon as Melanie left.

‘What is it?’

The voice that had seemed drunk quickly became clear, his acting was top-notch. It seemed he had his own difficulties in trying to get along with Melanie.

‘I am coming from seeing His Highness Marib.’

‘You are always going back and forth between my brother and me.’

‘I don’t want to, but you keep calling for me.’

Gale burst into a low laugh at Ian’s nonchalant reply. He put out the cigarette and asked.

‘I suppose that’s your value. So, what did he say? My brother, Marib? Even if he tries to maintain the dignity of a prince, pretending to be noble and elegant, he can’t hide his temper. Did he turn the palace upside down?’

Still, having been close to each other for their whole lives, they seemed to have some idea of each other’s personalities. Ian replaced his affirmation with silence and got to the point.

‘…He ordered me to kill His Highness Gale.’

‘Haha. That’s a very welcome thing to hear.’

‘Is that so?’

‘I am publicly cursed, which is related to the fate of Bariel, and internally, I am the son favored by the Emperor. For Marib to try to kill me, it proves that he is quite cornered, doesn’t it?’

Perhaps the attitude Marib’s faction had shown at the meeting was decisive. To show that the unity of his faction was a mess in front of Gale, of all people, must have been a shock and a crisis for Marib.

‘That’s right. It’s proof. And it’s a justification that has rolled right into His Highness Gale’s lap.’

Gale seemed to have caught on to what Ian was trying to say. He smiled slightly, opened a drawer, and took out a thick stack of documents. It was the material related to Marib’s suspicion of assassinating the Emperor, which he had promised to give to Ian.

‘Justification. I really like that. In the palace, it’s above the law. Even my father’s orders lose their power without it.’

Ian received the documents with a respectful gesture. They were unexpectedly heavy. He had thought he would only know about the source of the drugs, the suppliers, or those involved.

‘So, are you satisfied?’

‘It means that His Majesty the Emperor’s shadow is deep, which is lamentable.’

‘Hahaha! You are someone who should have been born in the palace, no matter how I look at it.’

Ian carefully placed the documents next to the sofa and then faced Gale directly. He was smiling brightly. With eyes that seemed to know everything that was going on in his head.

‘His Highness Marib told me to prove the truth, so I will do so soon.’

‘It would be an honor if you did it yourself.’

‘You seemed to want the side effects of magic, but that is also a burden for me. Fortunately, I have a few slaves with me.’

He would attempt assassination with slaves. And he would consider it a signal flare for the struggle and enter into an all-out war. The blades that had been aiming for each other’s throats would now fly at each other.

‘If I intervene directly with magic, there is a chance that I will be caught later. No matter what the result is.’

To Marib, he had proven his truth with the assassination attempt, and to Gale, he had given him the opportunity by informing him of it. It was unknown who would be the victor, but regardless of the outcome, Ian had created an excuse to escape.

‘If I am defeated, Marib will gain trust from the assassination attempt itself, and if Marib is defeated, by giving this information, it shows that you do not want to be tied to Marib’s faction.’

‘Intentions can be interpreted in many ways.’

‘Good. I have no reason to refuse. Above all, since you hold the reins of the curse, I don’t really have a choice.’

With just one word from Ian, he could break one of his shields. In a situation where attacks filled with killing intent were flying, the value of a shield was the value of life.

‘I will announce that the curse has been lifted according to His Highness Gale’s wishes. However, please use this material as a last resort. It was obtained with great effort, and it would be very troublesome for me if it became useless.’

He had helped with the Siltham potion case while being suspected by Marib, but if he revealed Marib’s suspicion of assassinating the Emperor, Ian would gain nothing. What use would information that everyone already knew be?

‘If you were going to use that as a signal flare, please don’t, and use me as an excuse. That would be beneficial for both of us.’

He couldn’t refuse. If he refused this, it would mean that he would be at odds with Ian. Gale wet his lips with the remaining alcohol and raised his neck.

‘Then I have one request.’

‘Please command me.’

‘Please make the assassination attempt after the full moon.’

‘May I ask the reason?’

‘It’s Lady Melanie’s birthday. There’s a banquet with the Haiman family that day.’

He said that, but Ian knew. The magic stone armor ordered by the Haiman family would be completed on that day. Ian nodded and stood up from his seat.

‘Then I have one request as well.’

‘Speak.’

‘Please return the slave I send, unharmed.’

‘Hahaha! How can I return someone who tried to take the life of a prince?’

‘Forgive my intrusion, but I hate losing.’

He was saying that he would not lose anything in the fight between the two. That was because Ian didn’t care who lived or died. If one of the twin princes succeeded to the throne, as history dictated, that would be enough. Of course, that was a matter for the distant future.

‘I also hate losing.’

‘If Your Highness has suffered a loss, it is not my fault, but His Highness Marib’s. So, should I just wait for the full moon?’

Otherwise, it would be Gale who would be in trouble. Before, he would have said it was rude and pulled out his tongue. Gale shrugged his shoulders, once again recognizing his situation.

‘Alright. I’ll leave the door wide open and wait.’

‘Then, I’ll be going. Excuse me.’

‘Lord Ian.’

Gale called out to Ian, who was about to leave. He poured a full glass of alcohol and urged him.

‘Please be gentle.’

‘…Of course, I will only tell them to make an attempt.’

‘Not that. You.’

It was a meaningful statement. Was he asking him to help him now? Ian bowed his head and left the bedroom. It seemed the smell of alcohol had permeated his clothes in that short time.

Swish.

‘Now I need to go back and select a suitable slave.’

‘Lord Ian.’

‘Lady Melanie.’

‘Are you done with your conversation?’

‘Yes. I hope you have a pleasant evening.’

It was when Ian was about to pass by her. Melanie grabbed his arm with a rough hand. The strength coming from her slender arm was unbelievably fierce. Her expression was not visible in the moonlight pouring in from behind.

‘Ian, I have something to say to you.’