Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 166

The morning in the center of Bariel was as chaotic as ever.

Shop doors, tightly shut all night, were opening, and the citizens of the empire were rushing about to get to work. The carriages of nobles were stuck, unable to move amidst the transport vehicles, and carrier pigeons flew between them, squawking loudly.

‘Extra! Extra!’

‘Oh my, what are we going to do here?’

‘Aren’t you going forward!? What are you doing from the morning!’

‘Just a moment, wait! I’m sorry, can you help me a bit!’

Ian’s carriage was no different. Ian, Romandro, and Beric had been stuck on the road for several minutes. Unfortunately, the wheel of the carriage directly in front had fallen off, leaving them with no idea when they would move again.

‘Extra! It is said that His Highness, the Second Prince Gale, was attacked during the night!’

Thwack!

A child wearing a flat cap scattered papers as he weaved through the carriages. The news was so shocking that people willingly stopped their busy feet and picked up the papers.

‘What did you just say?’

‘His Highness, the Second Prince Gale, was attacked!’

‘Are you crazy? An attack in the Imperial Palace?’

‘Oh my, what is this!’

‘He is suffering from severe bleeding, but his life is not in danger!’

Ian frowned at the added words. Before the child passed, he slightly opened the carriage window and offered a copper coin. Like a bird finding food, the child’s eyes sparkled as he rushed over and shoved newspapers, extras, and advertisements inside.

‘Thank you! Sir!’

‘But is that true? That he’s bleeding severely?’

‘I heard from the newspaper company that it will be published after noon. Do you have a specific newspaper company you read?’

At the child’s words, this time Romandro opened his pouch. It was a silver coin. The child’s chapped lips curved into a satisfied smile.

‘It seems there was an intruder. All the central nobles entered the palace early, and there are rumors that they entered with the knights. Things are not going as usual.’

Whispering, the child lowered his voice as much as possible, afraid that the information might leak. The horse, bored with waiting, began to kick its hind legs. Seeing that the car in front that had the accident was slowly moving, it seemed like it was time to move slowly.

‘But isn’t the Second Prince very close to Miss Melania of the Hyman family these days? There are rumors that someone moved an assassin to check this.’

‘We’re moving!’

‘Push it! Attach it!’

‘It’s, it’s His Highness Marib!’

Neigh!

As the carriage wheel came out, the coachman hurriedly whipped the horse to make up for the delayed time. The child bowed towards the carriage that was getting further away, then shouted again as he ran through the streets.

‘Extra! Extra! His Highness Gale was attacked during the night!’

When the window closed, the cold wind stopped abruptly. Romandro muttered, looking at the extra paper with a puzzled expression.

‘Ian, hey, isn’t this a problem?’

He had clearly ordered Siaosi not to cause a disturbance. To stick the knife in the pillow, but not to confront anyone.

‘If His Highness Gale is bleeding, we don’t know how he will react in the future, even if it’s not now.’

‘That Sia guy, he seemed so smart. He’s a simpleton!’

‘Be quiet, you! How many times have I told you not to act like you know Siaosi!’

‘Isn’t it okay since it’s just us here?’

The signal flare had gone off. It had gone off too loudly, causing an unexpected situation, but anyway, the mission was done.

‘Siaosi seemed to have a repulsion to blood. Maybe it wasn’t him, but Gale himself who made the wound. To get a pretext against me.’

He would find out the details when he met Siaosi.

‘But the newspaper company is amazing. How did they know what happened in the palace overnight?’

‘Gale leaked the information himself.’

‘Oh? Really?’

‘Yes. It’s beneficial for Gale’s position to have it known that he was almost killed, and why he was almost killed.’

Gale’s curse is tied to Bariel. And Bariel is the people of the empire. If it is revealed that Gale’s life is related to the rise and fall of the empire, public opinion will turn in Gale’s favor.

‘Neither Marib nor Gale are very important to the people of the empire. They are people they don’t even know what they look like. No matter who becomes the next emperor, tomorrow is guaranteed. But what will happen when they realize that Gale’s death is the decline of Bariel?’

‘They’ll pray he doesn’t die!’

‘That’s called ‘support’.’

Oh! Beric’s eyes widened as if he had realized something. Praying he doesn’t die is support! He grabbed Romandro’s hand and muttered resolutely.

‘Support him. Romandro.’

‘Oh my. I guess I should say thank you.’

‘Support him. Ian.’

‘…I’ll support him too.’

Ian chuckled and agreed. Sometimes Beric had such amusing sides. Romandro patted Beric’s hand as if telling a mischievous child to be quiet and sighed.

‘Since His Majesty has issued a gag order regarding the curse, this is how he plans to break through.’

‘He’s clever. It seems he has a hold on the press as well.’

‘Most of the newspaper operations are funded by nobles, so there must be connections here and there.’

‘Gale was attacked,’ this single sentence could arouse countless curiosities. Why? Who? How?

If they peel away the layers while satisfying those questions, the mention of the curse would surely leak out. What else leaks as easily as words through the cracks?

‘If they say the bleeding was severe, we can guess the atmosphere in the Imperial Palace.’

It probably wouldn’t even compare to the day of judgment that revealed the curse before. Back then, it was a tension based on despair, but this time, it would be a tension based on the threat to survival.

‘Beric. When we go in, be careful and stick close to me.’

‘Master. When have I ever wandered off?’

‘You haven’t been careful. Romandro, let’s try to contact Siaosi as soon as we go in.’

‘Alright. I understand.’

As expected, the interrogation would have already been hastily concluded. Since it was a process of creating the truth, those related to Siaosi were already decided.

‘If it spreads that Marib is involved, there will be rapid changes in the Imperial Palace. Forbid the mages from going out and call back all those who have left the palace.’

‘Even those who have left the palace?’

‘When the storm is strong, you must stick together to survive.’

‘That’s right. You must be strong to not fall easily.’

Romandro wrote down the orders in a small notebook, nodding repeatedly. But judging by the way his pen-holding hand was trembling, he was quite nervous. On the other hand, Beric was humming and leisurely looking out the window.

‘Hmm, hmm. I like holding a sword. It’s fun. Chop chop the people in the palace. Hmm hmm.’

‘What kind of bizarre lyrics are those!’

‘Huh? Is it a bit much? Okay, okay. I’ll change it to ‘clang clang’. Hmm hmm.’

It would be better not to listen at all. Romandro tried to ignore Beric’s humming and asked Ian.

‘By the way, Ian. What kind of changes are you talking about?’

‘First of all, Marib’s side will be the most immediate.’

If it spreads that the night attack was Marib’s doing, he would immediately want to check on Siaosi. But Gale’s side would not want to show him.

First, a primary clash was expected from there.

‘One side will demand that the investigation process be revealed formally, and the other side will refuse to investigate under the supervision of the mastermind. If the confrontation continues, the more urgent one will make a move first.’

That was Marib. He was cornered, so he would do anything to get out. Whether that was force or another card he had hidden, he didn’t know.

‘Gale’s side will raise their voices, saying that he tried to kill Gale, who shares his fate with Bariel, so it’s treason and all sorts of serious crimes, and Marib’s side will be busy defending themselves.’

‘Don’t you think you should tell His Highness Marib?’

‘That Siaosi is my slave?’

‘Yes. After all, wasn’t it His Highness Marib who ordered it? He said to prove the truth.’

‘It’s best to speak at the right time. The signal flare has gone off, but what’s the point if none of the players run?’

Since Gale had bled, Marib needed a process to follow.

‘Besides, from Marib’s perspective, I failed. He ordered me to kill Gale, but my slave was captured and even gave him a pretext, didn’t he? Revealing it now is poison, an act that would destroy trust. There will be a chance to reveal it, like letting it flow into the water.’

Ian looked up at the Imperial Palace, which was getting closer. As usual, the Bariel flag was flying majestically. Just like the child who was handing out the extras said, the nobles had clearly entered the palace with their knights. The entry permits were being delayed three or four times more than usual.

‘And honestly, I’m worried about something else-‘

He was about to say something when the entry guard recognized Ian’s carriage and approached first.

Knock knock.

‘Are you Minister Ian Hielo?’

‘That’s right.’

When Ian showed his face and nodded, the guard ordered the coachman to turn the horse’s head.

‘It was urgently ordered from above. When the Minister of Magic enters the palace, he is to go directly to the First Imperial Palace. We will open the back door for you, so please enter that way.’

The First Imperial Palace was where the imperial family’s residences and the officials’ offices were located. It was the same as saying that an emergency meeting had been called.

Ian’s carriage passed the long line and entered the palace leisurely under the escort of the guard.

‘Ian, what were you going to say earlier?’

‘Yes?’

‘You said you were worried about something else.’

‘Ah. Yes, that’s right.’

The carriage was now speeding as if it was running. Ian straightened his swaying body and answered.

‘It’s about His Majesty the Emperor.’

‘His Majesty the Emperor?’

‘Even though he is old and weak, he is the center of the world and the dignity of the Imperial Palace. I can’t guess how he will react when such a situation occurs.’

It was a kind of variable. Judging by the fact that Gale, who had the Emperor’s favor, had come this far, it was highly likely that he was tacitly agreeing to remove Marib.

‘He’s not aiming for the throne, it’s a fight over the position of successor. Is he thinking that it’s okay to give that much to the one who wins?’

The Third Prince had fallen and died. Only God knew if that was the truth. Although Gale was born of a concubine, if Marib was not there, he was the closest to the legitimate line among the existing princes.

‘If Gale informed the Emperor of Marib’s attempted murder, the Emperor would push Gale even more.’

Ian pressed his temples with his wrist. When someone who has everything in their hands is driven to the brink of losing everything, what would they do?

‘Look at that, Ian.’

‘Ooooh! Amazing!’

At Romandro and Beric’s words, Ian turned his head to the window. Armed knights were gathered like clouds. Each holding their family’s flag. The colorful fabrics were rippling on the palace floor.

‘…It seems like it’s really starting.’

The forces were confronting each other, holding their positions. It was a fierce atmosphere, as if they would throw spears at each other if someone shouted. Ian’s carriage passed through them and arrived at the First Imperial Palace.

‘We, we have arrived.’

The coachman made a hoarse sound, probably because he was nervous. Ian quickly got out of the carriage and went up the stairs, followed by Romandro and Beric.

Tap tap!

The First Imperial Palace. A place where the residences of the imperial family and the offices of the officials were gathered. So many people had gathered that the door of the conference room was half open. Those who recognized Ian turned their bodies to the left and right, opening a path.

‘What are you saying? Your Highness Marib!’

Buzzing, the inside was not clearly visible due to the backs of the officials. Instead, only voices could be heard.

‘Are you saying that His Highness Marib is managing His Majesty’s seal?’

Ian’s eyes widened at the sudden words. He pushed through the crowd and stepped forward, and Marib, with his hair tied tightly up, was sitting in the Emperor’s seat.

Those who knew, knew.

That was the hairstyle Marib wore when he went hunting.

‘Oh, Minister Ian Hielo!’

Marib smiled brightly and waved his hand. In front of him was a huge golden seal.

‘Welcome.’

It was the Emperor’s seal.

Ian quickly turned his mind to grasp the situation. The Emperor’s seal was in Marib’s hands, and it was Gale who had gathered the armed forces last night…

‘Those confronting each other at the entrance were all armed.’

Ian realized. Marib had foreseen that Gale would plot an assassination and launch a preemptive attack.

How he himself was used in that, depended on the actions he would take from now on.