Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 171

Arsen was always a smiling child. His clear laughter had the power to make anyone who heard it smile along. He was such a child, so lovely to look at, yet Delilah felt a chill run down her spine.

‘What’s going on? So early in the morning.’

It must be the situation. The Emperor was missing, the princes were fighting for power, and even the nobles were getting involved. With unknown knights rampaging through the palace, it was practically a state of quasi-war.

‘No. It’s more dangerous than a quasi-war.’

In a war, there would at least be soldiers to protect them. If even the Minister of the Imperial Defense had joined the fray, it was a hopeless situation with no solution in sight.

A crisis of a lifetime. As Delilah bit her lip blankly, Arsen tilted his head and approached his mother. He gently nestled into her arms and greeted her.

‘Mother. What’s wrong?’

‘…Arsen, this is no time for that.’

‘Is something the matter?’

‘Jin. Change your clothes.’

Not into comfortable clothes, but into something that would allow them to escape at any moment. Delilah knelt down and firmly grasped Arsen’s shoulders.

‘The Emperor is missing. Marib and Gale have raised their forces to secure the seal. I don’t know if they’ll come here, but-‘

‘Ah.’

‘…Arsen?’

Arsen smiled even more brightly and patted his mother’s hand. As if to say everything would be alright, not to worry.

‘Of course, they’ll come here. While Gale might not, Prince Marib will try to kill us. You know that you sided with Gale, don’t you?’

But the words coming from his mouth were cruel, accurately pointing out the reality. Even if it was to balance the two princes, from Marib’s perspective, Delilah was on Gale’s side. Killing them all and cleaning up now would be better for the future.

‘Arsen.’

‘But don’t worry. Forces that didn’t support the princes will help us. First, let’s change our clothes. Jin, what should we wear today?’

Arsen turned to Jin and smiled brightly. He was fully aware of the situation, yet his actions didn’t match at all. Jin bit his lip and stared at Arsen.

‘Arsen. This is not something to laugh about.’

‘Why? I think it’s not bad. Mother. Isn’t there a saying that a crisis is an opportunity? The audacity to cause a disturbance in the Imperial Palace will surely punish the princes.’

The one who survives among the two princes will be the victor.

But the word victory inevitably implies sacrifice. As fiercely as they clash, their forces will be diminished, and if they handle it well, they might unintentionally seize an opportunity.

‘What will happen if the princes are gone, and even Father is gone?’

Arsen and Jin. In terms of succession, the two of them had a high chance of becoming the next Emperor. Jin grabbed Arsen’s arm as if it was absurd.

‘That’s only after surviving. Isn’t that why Prince Marib is trying to kill us, to prevent that?’

‘…Us?’

‘Lady Delilah! Just a moment!’

‘What is it?’

As Delilah went out the door at the head maid’s call, Arsen hugged Jin and whispered. As if he didn’t know why he thought of ‘us’.

‘If the one closer to the throne among the twin brothers dies, the Imperial line will be completely cut off.’

‘…….’

‘If I die, the Imperial line will be cut off? Would the prince kill me?’

Jin felt a lump in his throat at Arsen’s whisper.

‘Gale’s curse is also related to Bariel.’

‘I know. That’s why they’ll try to capture Gale alive. Then, whether it’s true or not, they’ll announce that the curse has been lifted and then deal with him. The trial process for treason will be surprisingly short.’

Arsen hugged Jin even tighter. Jin awkwardly placed his hands on his waist and hesitated. He could push him away, but somehow, he couldn’t.

‘Jin. My poor brother, Jin.’

‘Arsen.’

‘Listen carefully to what I’m about to say. This is for you. Furthermore, it’s to save Mother, and even further, for Bariel.’

Arsen murmured, carefully examining Jin’s face, which looked just like his. A brother who was born with a fate to harm him. So, a brother who always lived in the shadows.

‘Move for me.’

So, stay in the shadows like that.

‘Do everything you can to save me in the situation that will unfold. Considering the hierarchy and the oracle, I’m the only one who can resolve the situation and turn things around. If I live, you live too. And Mother lives too.’

Arsen caressed Jin’s face and emphasized again in a low voice.

‘The fact that Prince Marib has seized the seal is proof that Father is still alive. Showing Father’s corpse is a more certain way to solidify the succession than the seal.’

There’s no need for the officials to acknowledge it or not. If they move on to the next succession and accuse Gale of treason, it’s over. But the fact that they’ve joined this dogfight means the situation is quite complicated.

And that’s an opportunity for those other than Marib and Gale.

‘Jin. You have to prove to everyone that you’re not someone who would harm me. Now is the time. If you don’t do well, everything will be over.’

Arsen smiled as he touched Jin’s hair. It was an intention to save him and care for him by any means, if he wasn’t trying to kill him. Jin looked at his brother with calm eyes.

‘I won’t harm you.’

‘But the problem is that others don’t think so.’

‘…Arsen. Do you know something I don’t? It sounds like it.’

Thud! Bang!

Just as he was about to say something again, a commotion was heard outside. Arsen turned his body as if to say that was enough and entered the dressing room.

‘Then shall we change our clothes? Let’s wear the same clothes today.’

Usually, they would make slight differences, but today it would be better to be identical. That way, the blade aimed at Arsen might get confused and go to Jin instead.

Bang! Bang!

They were about to change their clothes, but no servants came even when they called. It meant that the commotion outside was not ordinary. Arsen, who had finished preparing first, grabbed Jin’s shoulders and smiled brightly.

‘Smile. Like me.’

‘…….’

‘Hurry.’

At Arsen’s urging, Jin reluctantly raised the corners of his mouth. A dimple faintly appeared, but Arsen didn’t notice. He was just looking into his blue eyes.

‘Good. You look great like this.’

‘Don’t joke around, Arsen.’

‘Ahahaha.’

Bang!

‘Prince Arsen! Prince Jin!’

‘This way, this way, come out!’

At that moment, the servants hurriedly burst through the door. They were pale and each grabbed Arsen and Jin, then, not knowing what to do, they fled to the inner room.

‘Where’s Mother?’

Jin noticed blood on the servant’s sleeve.

‘Mother!?’

‘Arsen! Jin!’

Screech!

As they entered the annex of the annex and opened the door leading to the garden, Delilah’s voice was heard. She was running, holding her cumbersome skirt.

‘Hurry! Let’s get out of here!’

‘This way! Delilah, Arsen, and Jin are here!’

‘Control all the exits to the outside!’

‘We have to go to the Magic Department! Magic Department! Arsen! Jin!’

‘Catch them! Those who conspired with Gale! Kill them!’

‘Hurry, run!’

The shouts of unfamiliar soldiers were faintly heard in the distance. It was clear that the main gate had been breached. Judging by the sound, they must be Marib’s soldiers. Jin hugged the neck of the servant who was running with him and closed his eyes tightly.

‘The garden was this big.’

It was the first time he had run without a horse. The rough breaths of someone, the trampled grass, and the occasional cool breeze. Everything felt like a dream. Just yesterday, he had not expected this situation at all.

Swoosh.

It was then. The servant who was running hard stopped.

‘Where are you all going in such a hurry?’

It was Marib. His tightly tied hair was still the same, but it was more disheveled than he could ever imagine. His face was covered in wounds, and his clothes were a mess of blood and dust.

The servant hugged Jin tightly and stepped back. The sound of his heart beating against his chest was intense.

‘Marib! What on earth is this!’

Delilah stepped forward, protecting the princes. Although she was a concubine, in terms of relationship, Delilah was his mother. Just as Arsen and Jin were Marib’s brothers.

‘Not only did you harm the Emperor, but you are also acting so recklessly! As the first prince of Bariel, aren’t you ashamed?’

Behind them, the soldiers who had been chasing them appeared. They were surrounded. Marib in front, and those with swords behind. It seemed that they would not escape death no matter which way they went.

‘Reckless. That’s what you call siding with Gale. Are you hiding Gale?’

‘What?’

Delilah’s face turned pale at Marib’s words. Hiding him? Didn’t that mean that the tide of the battle was turning in Marib’s favor?

‘No, we have nothing to do with it. We haven’t seen Gale. Please, think of the dignity of the princes and let us pass. Have mercy on these young ones…….’

‘Nothing to do with it?’

As Marib slowly approached, Delilah reflexively stepped back. Jin pushed the servant away and stood in front of her.

‘B-Brother, please don’t do this.’

Seeing that, Arsen stood next to Jin, not wanting to lose. Expressionless twins. Marib frowned, tapping his sword. He couldn’t tell who was Arsen and who was Jin.

‘Arsen! Jin!’

Delilah hugged her two sons and crouched down. The servants were subdued by the soldiers and lay prostrate, and a cold wind cut through them. It felt like the aura of death.

‘Who is Arsen?’

‘…Why do you ask?’

Marib didn’t answer Jin’s question. An ominous silence followed. He aimed his sword at the children’s necks, as if measuring them.

‘Delilah. You must pay the price for siding with Gale. Give me one of your sons. Then, considering your family, I won’t kill you all.’

Her pupils widened. Her hands trembled, but her mind was so blank that she couldn’t even notice it.

‘Or you can all die here.’

At Marib’s words, she looked down at her two sons in her arms. With her own hands? Her sons? It was absurd, but wasn’t this whole situation already absurd?

‘Mother.’

Then, Arsen carefully called her. It was a look that told her to think about why Marib had asked ‘who is Arsen’. A being that couldn’t be easily killed because of the oracle.

‘Mother.’

Then Jin called her. Unlike Arsen, his eyes were tearful. As if he had realized the fate that was coming, he called her name with longing.

‘I’m sorry.’

Delilah finally let go of Jin’s hand. The child looked back at his own palm, which no one had held. Delilah, who was holding Arsen in her arms, was shedding tears. Arsen raised his eyebrows with the same expression as usual.

‘Hurry.’

Jin bit his lip and looked at Marib. He was shedding tears just like his mother, but unlike his usual empty gaze, a clear emotion was felt.

‘So you’re Jin.’

‘…….’

Anger. For the first time, Marib felt that Jin was alive. But what could he do? He had already gone too far to turn back, and he had no choice but to keep wielding his sword to move forward.

Swoosh!

As Marib drew his sword, Jin closed his eyes. Just as his blade was about to strike the child’s head.

Boom! Bang!

Suddenly, a loud noise erupted around them. Marib paused and stopped his attack. When he turned his head, Ian was standing there.

‘…Ian?’

Ian checked the face of the child standing in front of Marib. A scar that ran from his forehead to his chin. Blood was flowing down, but it wasn’t as thick as the tears.

‘…Put down your sword.’

The moment the twins’ fates diverged.

The birth of an Emperor.