Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 167

That Night

Unlike Gale’s dark palace, which was preparing to face intruders, Marib’s space was as bright as ever. That night was no exception. However, the only difference was that he, who would usually be sitting at his desk, was now lying on the sofa, just counting the time.

Creak.

‘Your Highness. Aren’t you sleeping again today?’

Marib’s aide, Paal, asked cautiously. He had lost count of how many days it had been. He wasn’t getting enough sleep even normally, but lately, it had been excessive. His superior was becoming increasingly sensitive, sharp, and often seemed to be spacing out.

‘…I dozed off during the day.’

‘It was just for a moment. Your judgment will become clouded.’

‘Yes. I think so. I feel like I want to kick you out right now.’

A faint smile escaped, devoid of any strength. He merely gestured towards the cold teacup with his head, and Paal sat opposite him, taking out a stimulant.

‘If something happens, you won’t be able to handle it properly.’

‘My patience is reaching its limit. Shut up and watch.’

‘…It is reported that all the lights in His Highness Gale’s residence are off.’

‘…All of them?’

‘Yes. Every single one.’

The fatigue that had been consuming him vanished at his aide’s report. Marib put the stimulant in his mouth and straightened his head. He felt a chill down his neck.

‘Even if it were anywhere else, Gale’s palace shouldn’t be like that. Any movements?’

‘None.’

The Haiman family had completed the magic armor, and the movements of the nobles’ forces who had been in contact with Gale were suspicious. Days were filled with tension, with the possibility of a sudden attack at any moment. Gale, like Marib, should be cautious at night, so why would he turn off all the lights?

‘…If you close your eyes, you can’t avoid a flying knife. You won’t even know who threw it. Issue the order to mobilize.’

‘Are you sure?’

Paal didn’t move at the order. It was just that the lights in the residence were off. If they moved rashly, Marib could be in trouble. If it were a signal flare, they should move faster than anyone else, but running out before that would be like a false start. Besides, his superior was currently sleep-deprived and his judgment was impaired.

‘What if it’s a trap set by His Highness Gale?’

‘Even if it’s a trap, would it be a hole big enough for everyone in the palace to fall into?’

The chief of staff, sensing the movement, approached and tidied up his dignity. Marib willingly accepted the help and muttered. His gaze towards Paal was becoming increasingly fierce. A silent urging to carry out the order.

‘Will you take responsibility if our departure is delayed because of you?’

‘…I apologize.’

Tap tap!

The aide had no choice but to run outside to mobilize the forces.

In the now quiet office, Marib looked at his own eyes in the mirror and thought of Gale. They didn’t resemble each other at all, but this alone proved that they were brothers.

‘Gale. This day was bound to come.’

He couldn’t even remember when it started. It was a bad relationship inherited from their respective mothers, a fate that had been in place since they were in the womb.

Marib felt his heart pounding. He didn’t know if it was because of the stimulant, or the excitement of being able to end Gale. Or maybe it was the tension before the big event.

But what was important was that this wasn’t a bad feeling.

‘Your Highness, those who were in the palace, centered around Minister Taiha, have all gathered. The nobles from outside will enter the palace as soon as the message reaches them.’

Marib went outside while receiving Paal’s report. It was still a time when the moon was shining brightly. Those who had been enduring the night with him, by his order, had gathered and were waiting in front of the palace.

Minister Taiha of the Imperial Defense Department approached Marib and whispered.

‘There was an intruder in His Highness Gale’s residence.’

Minister Taiha, who often had arguments with Wesley. It was thought that his reappointment would be impossible, but he was able to be reappointed by the skin of his teeth after the New Year’s greetings meeting. It was because the next Minister of the Imperial Defense Department was particularly close to Wesley.

‘I knew it.’

Turning off all the lights in the palace must have been to face the intruder. A bitter smile appeared on Marib’s lips.

‘We offered to handle the intruder, but were initially rejected.’

‘What is there to interrogate? They will call my name. It’s Gale’s self-made drama. Minister Taiha. You focus on securing the intruder. Use security as an excuse to blockade Gale’s palace.’

‘However, there’s something strange.’

Marib’s eyebrows furrowed. As if urging him to quickly say what it was.

‘His Highness Gale’s condition is not good. He was taken to the medical room due to severe bleeding, and I heard that all the doctors on duty are currently working to stop the bleeding.’

Marib’s steps, which had been striding forward, stopped. Judging by the situation, it was clear that Gale had staged this himself to secure a justification. But his condition was like that?

‘Are you sure?’

‘My subordinate saw it directly.’

Marib stopped abruptly and looked up at the fluttering flag. The circumstances were clear. It seemed something had gone wrong in the process. Marib suddenly thought of a child.

‘Ian.’

A child whose intentions he couldn’t fathom. He had ordered him to kill Gale, but he didn’t think he would carry it out so straightforwardly.

In fact, at that time when he failed to finish Gale at the judgment, Marib felt that Ian was not a piece on the chessboard, but a participant sitting next to him.

‘Did Ian do it? Did he approach Gale with the self-made drama as bait and try to eliminate him?’

‘Your Highness Marib. What should we do?’

Paal asked worriedly, as his lord, who should be moving quickly, was not moving. At that moment, a cold wind blew fiercely. Marib’s long hair fluttered, and his complicated thoughts, which had been intertwined, disappeared with the wind.

‘Follow me.’

Swoosh.

Paal and Minister Taiha, high-ranking officials from each department, and even knights and soldiers. All of them followed Marib, who was at the forefront, and walked quickly. The torches they held increased one by one.

A huge river of light dividing the imperial palace.

A wave that would change history.

‘We are going to His Majesty the Emperor’s residence.’

‘We are going to His Majesty the Emperor’s residence!’

‘Close Gale’s palace and prohibit the Haiman family from entering the imperial palace.’

Every time Marib gave an order, the subordinates who had been following him on the left and right split apart, and the standing guards were flustered, not knowing what to do, and cleared the way. It was clear that something unusual was happening, but they didn’t seem to know what was going on.

Swoosh.

‘Your Highness Marib. What is going on?’

Marib arrived at the Emperor’s palace. Blocking him was Beols, one of the commanders of the Imperial Guard. Normally, he wouldn’t have interfered with Marib’s entry, but the atmosphere was too ominous. What were those people gathered behind him, and what was the sword firmly attached to Marib’s waist?

‘I have come to see His Majesty the Emperor.’

‘That is not possible. It is too late at night, and I cannot allow it under these circumstances.’

He was resolute. It was his duty to protect the Emperor’s safety. Marib muttered, looking at the approaching dawn.

‘Beols. If I cannot see His Majesty the Emperor now, His Majesty’s safety will truly be in danger.’

‘What do you mean…’

The ‘seal,’ which symbolized the Emperor’s authority and decided all the major and minor affairs of Bariel.

If he didn’t obtain it by sunrise, or rather, before the intruder and Marib were officially linked, Marib would have no choice but to take drastic measures.

‘Beols. Step aside.’

‘Oh my, Liamah!’

A woman appeared from behind Marib. It was Liamah, one of the three commanders. At the sudden appearance of his comrade, Beols reflexively grabbed his sword hilt.

‘His Highness Marib is not trying to harm His Majesty the Emperor. He just has business to attend to. If you block him now, we will have no choice but to cut off your head.’

‘…We? Did you just say we?’

‘Step aside. Nothing will harm His Majesty the Emperor. I guarantee it. Your Highness Marib, please speak.’

Everyone in the imperial palace knew the power of the three commanders. Jerrot, who had fought against Beric, Beols, and Liamah. There was no one who could defeat these three individually.

‘I swear. A son has come to see his father. If you wish, of course, you may join us.’

Marib smiled and raised both hands. He showed his will to break them if necessary, even though he couldn’t defeat them. If the commanders were to draw their swords against each other, it was impossible to guess how great the damage would be.

‘Above all, with Jerrot not here, if I’m not here either…’

It was as if there would be no one to protect His Majesty the Emperor right by his side. Beols, having finished his calculations, slowly released his grip on his sword hilt.

‘Only His Highness Marib may enter after disarming.’

‘I will. If you promise not to harm me.’

‘Look at the situation now, Your Highness. Who is harming whom?’

Marib gestured for everyone to wait and walked past Beols. Beols glared at Liamah and then immediately followed the prince.

Tap tap!

The two disappeared into the darkness. Marib’s forces frowned, looking up at the sky, which was now completely bright. A new history was about to be written that morning.

* * *

‘His Majesty the Emperor handed over the seal to His Highness Marib? That’s absurd!’

‘Why do you think it’s absurd? The proof is right here.’

‘You know very well what it means to hand over the seal!’

‘I am currently the only successor to His Majesty the Emperor. His Majesty’s health has deteriorated, and he cannot oversee state affairs. It is regrettable, but I will take the seal instead. I don’t know why you are raising your voice like this.’

‘Your Highness Marib!’

The conference hall was a mess. It was no wonder, as Marib had secured the Emperor’s seal overnight and was now claiming his authority. The officials were all shouting at the top of their lungs.

‘Let us have an audience with His Majesty the Emperor!’

‘I refuse. His health is very precarious.’

‘Is that really true? Your Highness, now-‘

‘Are you saying that I have imprisoned my father?’

At Marib’s words, an official couldn’t finish what he was saying. If he was accused of insulting the imperial family, he would undoubtedly be at a disadvantage. Everyone was buzzing, feeling confused and unsure of what to do.

‘An intruder entered Gale’s residence last night. His Majesty has collapsed, and this is an unprecedented crisis in the history of Bariel. Those who add to the confusion should be prepared.’

At Marib’s words, the atmosphere gradually calmed down.

It was a coup. This was, without a doubt, treason and rebellion. Marib proudly stroked the seal and called for Ian.

‘Does the Minister of Magic agree with this?’

‘Your Highness.’

‘The Ministry of Magic is involved in the entry and security of the imperial palace, so I don’t know how an intruder entered Gale’s residence. I think the Minister of Magic also has something to report regarding this.’

Explain about the intruder. That was the meaning.

Ian looked at the golden, shining seal and felt a throbbing headache.

Putting aside everything else…

‘Indeed, the seal is not the seal I know.’

It was definitely different from the one he had used when he was the Emperor. He had felt it when he received the appointment letter as a lord in the border region, but it was clear that the seals from 100 years ago and now were different.

‘Why?’

Marib tapped the seal, as if urging Ian to answer.

It was then.

Thump-!

A loud noise from outside. Everyone flinched and turned around.

Gale, with a sword in his hand, was entering the hall.

His hands were covered in what looked like someone’s blood.