Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 181

‘Has His Majesty passed away?’

Ian muttered in bewilderment, looking down at the letter. Honestly, it was unexpected. He had assumed the Emperor was alive, considering Marib showed the seal instead of the body, and that he had lived long in the original history.

‘…He is alive.’

Beols answered, glancing at the painting behind him with his chin. His gaze was dark as he said he was alive.

‘But he is not living, is he?’

‘Explain in detail.’

‘Last night, Prince Marib entered His Majesty’s chambers and harmed him, while also seizing the seal. I was beside him, but it happened so quickly that I couldn’t stop it. I am ashamed as the captain of the Imperial Guard.’

The traitor Liamah. The old Emperor. A sealed bedroom. And Marib, aiming for his father’s life. Ian could easily picture the scene from that night.

‘He wrote this in the secret passage. He considered many possibilities and anticipated numerous situations, and one of them has come to pass. Therefore, I am delivering this to Sir Ian according to His Majesty’s orders.’

Ian received the letter. The tightly bound string was stained with thick blood. Probably the traces of an old man.

‘The Emperor…’

‘He is frozen.’

‘……!’

‘His physical condition was already poor, and the bleeding was severe. It was a decision His Majesty made himself.’

Come to think of it, Beols’ clothes were also stained with blood. If an old man had bled that much, his condition was obvious. Before his last breath left his body, the Emperor had confined himself to eternal time. He was a man who had meaning from the moment he was born to the moment he died.

‘He was worried that today’s situation would become uncontrollable. If the Emperor were to pass away, it would become a true upheaval.’

‘I agree. If they know the throne is empty, even the riffraff will take advantage of the chaos and show their greed. There is a risk that even a manageable spark could completely engulf Bariel.’

‘…He asked that the freeze be released when His Majesty’s death no longer threatens Bariel.’

‘There are those who use healing magic.’

‘I cannot guarantee it. The moment the freeze is released, we don’t know what will happen.’

Ian pondered for a moment, then touched his forehead. It seemed like reading the Emperor’s letter was the priority.

‘But why did he entrust it to me?’

‘More precisely, to a third party that does not side with any prince.’

The Emperor was said to have lived long, but was the other side of the original history like this? Until the moment death is accepted as death, the Emperor does not die. That was the last duty the Emperor bore.

‘Right. Come to think of it, he looked like he was about to collapse when I saw him at the New Year’s party, so it was strange that he lived so long.’

Beols gestured as if urging him to open the letter quickly.

‘I also do not know what is written in it.’

‘Was it you who spoke to me earlier?’

‘Yes. I apologize for unintentionally testing you. Please understand that it was His Majesty’s will. He was especially worried about Arsen and Jin getting caught up in the chaos.’

Swoosh.

Unlike the thick, rolled-up parchment, the content was brief.

⁝

-Marib and Gale must have their rights and wrongs thoroughly investigated in court. In particular, Marib is to be permanently stripped of his royal surname.

-Watch over Jin and Arsen carefully. One is light, and the other is darkness. When they reach adulthood, seek the Gala Shrine again.

⁝

It was no different from a will. Most of it was about the disposition of the princes, and there were brief instructions for the conclusion of various national projects he had been carrying out.

Ian folded the parchment again and looked at Beols.

‘What is the way to prove that this is His Majesty’s letter?’

‘The seal.’

‘Marib seized the seal.’

‘His Majesty has a personal seal that he used when sending letters to foreign kings. It can be verified by comparing it.’

‘What about Delilah? Should we inform her? If His Majesty is not here, the Prime Minister and Delilah will take his place for the time being.’

‘He instructed that the decision regarding the successor should be made by Delilah and a third party.’

‘Beols will be watching and overseeing that whole process.’

Ian placed the letter on the table and pondered. If so, after this situation is resolved, the conflict between Jin and Arsen, that is, Ian and Delilah, will divide the Imperial Palace.

Currently, Ian, who saved their lives, has more power and authority.

Knock knock.

At that moment, a knock came from outside. Ian hid the letter in his chest and gestured to Beols.

‘First, let’s end this day’s nightmare.’

‘Yes. Just managing the situation is a big task. There is no time to delay. Once the palace is organized, we will move the frozen His Majesty.’

Click!

When Ian opened the door, Romandro stepped back in surprise. He had clearly heard voices from inside, but how could only one person be coming out?

Ian passed him, wrapping himself in his robe.

‘I have received His Majesty’s letter. We will begin to organize the Imperial Palace, so prepare yourselves.’

‘Yes? His Majesty’s letter? Where is he now?’

‘Romandro, there is something I want to ask you before that.’

‘Yes, yes. Please ask.’

Romandro used honorifics, aware of the surrounding gazes. He had been curious before, but it wasn’t important, so he had let it pass.

‘Where is Delilah’s family home?’

Both Marib and Gale had mentioned Delilah’s family home once. She had risen to the position of a concubine, so it was assumed that her power was considerable, but today was the day when all the nobles of the center had split. However, there was no mention of the forces that followed Delilah.

‘Delilah? She is the daughter of the Carbo family.’

‘Carbo? Are you talking about the Carbo Temple?’

‘Yes. That’s right.’

The Carbo Temple. A historic place that was said to have conveyed the will of God to the Emperor at the time of Bariel’s founding. It was still known as a symbol of holiness because it had blessed the Imperial family.

‘Ah, it started with adopting war orphans and giving them the surname Carbo. Among them, a man named Riversides, who did not take the path of a priest, won a title in a monster battle and has continued to this day.’

Romandro added an explanation, thinking that Ian, who was born and raised in the borderlands, would not know well. A lineage that was historic and had a clear symbolism. Enough to understand why Marib said he would spare her life, thinking of her family.

‘The Carbo family has roots in the temple, but their identity is fading as generations pass.’

‘The oracles for Jin and Arsen must have come from Carbo as well.’

‘Probably. What good is a family home? It was a curse after all. By the way, what about His Majesty’s message?’

Why was Delilah’s family home so important? In this situation!

‘And I heard that Prince Gale is handing over the magic sealing stone. What are you going to do?’

Ian’s steps, which were heading to the lobby, stopped.

The magic sealing stone, the only means to control the mages. If they took it, there would be nothing to stop the Magic Department.

‘It would be safe for now. But it’s not ideal.’

Control creates balance, and balance creates peace. Ian was a mage, but at the same time, he was an Emperor. He knew well how much danger a power leaning to one side could cause.

‘Let’s distribute it-‘

First, it would be good to gather them all and then distribute them appropriately.

‘Especially to Jin.’

‘Everyone, pay attention.’

Ian called the mages. Those who were doing their own work all stopped and looked back at Ian.

‘His Majesty’s message has arrived.’

‘Yes? His Majesty’s message?’

‘Is he safe? Where is he now?’

‘…His life is not in danger. This is His Majesty’s letter, proven by a different seal, not the official one.’

Clatter.

Ian held up the letter, covering the bloodstained area with his hand. Noticing the change in the mages’ atmosphere, other officials also began to gather and murmur.

‘From now on, the Magic Department will withdraw from the neutral zone and organize the forces of Marib, who are disrupting the order of the Imperial Palace. Prepare the amplification magic.’

‘Yes, I understand!’

At Ian’s command, the magic tool production department rushed inside. It was to bring a magic tool that acted as a megaphone.

Meanwhile, Ian continued to deliver the message.

‘Gale will also be captured and put on trial. The Magic Department will show no mercy to those who resist.’

‘Sir Ian. I brought it!’

A round plate attached to a long stand. The condensed magic was rippling in the small hole.

Buzz. Buzz.

‘You can speak right away.’

‘Make sure it doesn’t reach the outside, the houses near the Imperial Palace.’

‘Yes. No problem!’

Ian carefully opened his mouth.

[I am Ian Hiel, the Minister of the Magic Department.]

Weeeeee-

His voice traveled through the magic to every corner of the Imperial Palace. The fallen soldiers, the hidden officials, the fleeing people, even the beasts that had broken free, paused at the strange sound echoing in their ears.

[All those who are alive, focus. I am announcing His Majesty’s message.]

Beric rubbed his ears every time Ian spoke. It sounded like he was speaking once in front of him, and then again in his inner ear.

[First Prince Marib is hereby expelled from the Imperial family. Those who followed him must immediately drop their weapons and surrender. Otherwise, they will be judged as traitors and severely punished. Marib, whom you believed in and followed, will be captured by the Magic Department and die before your eyes.]

He spoke of death calmly. If Marib had come to his senses, he would probably be listening to this announcement now.

[And Second Prince Gale.]

Ian looked straight ahead as if facing Gale.

[I, Ian Hiel, by the honor of the Minister of the Magic Department, have lifted your curse. The fate of Bariel has nothing to do with you. You will also have to take responsibility for this situation.]

He declared. The curse that Wesley had left was gone. So, there would be no more Gale prolonging his life using that as an excuse. Whatever the result of the trial, he would have to endure it.

[From now on, the Magic Department and the mages will organize the Imperial Palace. Those who were with Gale, remember this. It is either surrender or death.]

‘It is either surrender or death!’

‘It is either surrender or death!’

As the mages chanted in unison, the sound gradually spread.

They were the people of the Imperial Palace who had sought safety in the neutral zone. Now it was time for them to return to their places and move towards normalization.

‘Move. And bring Gale.’

‘Yes. I understand.’

‘Leave the disposal of the corpses to the mages. Romandro, identify the damaged buildings and submit a plan for reconstruction by tomorrow. The disarmament of the soldiers is a priority. Therefore, urgently bring in the high-ranking officials who have not been able to enter the palace from outside.’

It is easy to break, but it is difficult to build peace anew. Ian would put his head together with his staff for the peace of the current Imperial Palace.

[The chaos is over. All those who have survived, rejoice, and let the present flow into the past. Tonight will be different from last night.]

Ian took a breath and looked at the corpses soaked in blood. One day, a day that had been a breathless run since Siao Shi entered Gale’s residence and fired the signal flare.

[Let us all celebrate the end of the day’s nightmare.]

‘Demosha!’

‘Demoshaaa!’

They didn’t know what it was, but if it was something to celebrate, they should share the blessings of God. Starting with the warriors’ resounding shouts, the mages raised their fists. As the sunset fell on the half-destroyed Imperial Palace, the gates of the Imperial Palace opened. As if a new history was opening.