Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 186

In a small room of the detached palace where Gale was being treated, a faint, warm light continuously seeped through the door cracks. Clothes and towels stained with blood were scattered haphazardly on the floor, and servants were fetching warm water around three mages.

‘Wipe this area more thoroughly.’

‘Yes, Mage.’

‘The bleeding isn’t stopping. Apply more magic to the pressure points. Just a little more, a little more.’

‘If we add more here, his breathing will be affected.’

‘Why did he have to slash his neck…’

‘Okay, okay. Just like that.’

Sweat trickled down the mages’ noses. When it came to self-harm, people usually cut their wrists, but Gale had stabbed the point where his neck and collarbone met.

‘Make more blood. More, more.’

‘Hey, go get some blood-boosting medicine from Commander Acorella. Ask for everything they have, regardless of the type.’

‘Yes, I understand.’

While the three mages were managing the bleeding and creating new flesh from the inside, the doctor meticulously stitched the torn area and administered a sedative.

Ziiing. Ziiing.

The room was stuffy, whether from the heat of magic or the medical staff. Once Gale’s condition stabilized, the mages wiped their sweat with blood-stained towels and took a breather. They had done their part by keeping him alive.

‘That should be enough.’

‘Inform us immediately if His Highness regains consciousness or shows any unusual behavior. We’ll be resting in the next room. Doctor, you should stop as well.’

At the mages’ command, the servants bowed and replied that they understood. They had heard of the greatness of magic, but they hadn’t imagined it would be to this extent. Not only did they save someone with a torn neck, but they also stabilized him. It seemed that the pinnacle of magic being healing magic wasn’t an exaggeration.

Squeak.

‘You’ve all worked hard.’

‘Sir Ian.’

At that moment, Ian entered the room. The stench of blood and disinfectant was overwhelming. Gale had bandages not only on his neck but also on his waist, arms, and shins.

‘He’s still unconscious.’

‘Yes. But he has a strong constitution, so he’s accepting the magic well. He should recover quickly.’

‘I heard he was sleep-talking.’

‘Ah, about that.’

The mages chuckled awkwardly and glanced at Gale. Although he was a prisoner, he was still a prince. As if aware that they were being frivolous, they lowered their voices as much as possible to report.

‘He was calling out Lady Melania’s name and saying something. It was hard to understand properly because of his neck injury, but it was roughly about blaming her for betrayal. He also mentioned something about a curse.’

Ian pulled a chair and sat next to the bed. Then, checking his watch, he instructed the mages.

‘Rest. I’ll leave in about two hours.’

It had already been three hours since Duke Haiman had entered the Imperial Palace and was under a kind of house arrest. Ian wanted to take advantage of the moment before Duke Haiman’s patience ran out and he rebounded with resignation.

If Gale regained consciousness during the remaining two hours and even leaked information about Lady Melania, that would be perfect.

‘Haaam.’

‘Lord Romandro, the reports.’

Romandro, who had followed with swollen eyes, sorted and handed over the reports to be processed. The sound of the pen scratching quietly filled the bedroom again.

Clack!

‘…’

‘Ha, ha-ha. Please don’t mind it.’

Except for the occasional sound of Romandro slapping his cheeks to chase away sleep, it was so quiet that it was almost peaceful.

How much time had passed?

Ian noticed Gale’s fingertips twitching.

‘Prince Gale.’

‘…Ah.’

Gale frowned, making a strange metallic sound. His neck felt stuffy, and he tried to scratch it with his hand, but only the bandage threads came loose. Ian lightly stopped him with his pen and said,

‘I’m glad you woke up on time. We have a lot to discuss, but considering each other’s circumstances, let’s keep it short. First of all, your final destination will be the courtroom, not your bed.’

In other words, he was telling him not to think about committing suicide for an honorable death. Gale frowned and looked up at him with faded blue eyes.

‘Duke Haiman and Lady Melania are currently in the palace and waiting. If you have anything to say, I will pass it on.’

Gale chuckled at Ian’s words. The omission of the magic armor that the Haiman family had promised to provide had clearly determined the outcome of the battle. That was why he was lying here now.

‘…You want me to have something to say.’

The voice, slow and labored, was precarious. But Ian simply nodded without any particular reaction.

‘Of course. If you have nothing to say, I will say it myself.’

Now that a third force had taken control of the Imperial Palace, everyone knew that the Haiman family would deny any connection with the two princes, especially Gale. Therefore, Ian had no choice but to create an opportunity to attack under the guise of Gale’s testimony.

‘If you hand over the evidence of the Haiman family’s collusion, I promise you a more honorable death than Prince Marib.’

Gale laughed softly at Ian’s proposal. The best situation left for him was just such a death.

‘And one more thing.’

‘…What is it?’

‘I will protect the tree in His Majesty’s chambers.’

The peach tree that the Emperor would stare blankly at after dreaming of Gale’s birth mother. The peach tree that his mother had cherished so much, where her remains were buried. Gale covered his eyes with his arm and sighed.

‘You can find the collusion data if you want to.’

‘Because I have so much to deal with, thanks to someone.’

‘…Were your eyes always like that?’

Gale suddenly looked at Ian’s eyes and asked, puzzled. They had always been unusual, but somehow. Ian now seemed a bit more…

‘It seems like you are the master of the Imperial Palace.’

‘The prince’s throat is not in good condition to add unnecessary remarks.’

It meant to shut up and answer the questions. Gale chuckled and gave up on everything.

‘I didn’t exchange letters directly with the Haiman family. Both sides know each other well enough. If they helped me stop Marib, including the magic stone armor, they would promote Melania to Empress. In addition, tax benefits for the Haiman family, key positions for his nephews, and trade benefits for the kingdoms connected by blood.’

‘You were planning to divide it up very meticulously.’

Ian paused to organize his thoughts. Besides the Empress position for Melania, a lot more was promised to Haiman than he had thought. But why hadn’t they helped Gale in the end?

‘It seems like the Haiman family’s support was insufficient.’

‘Didn’t you close the gates?’

‘It is basic to enter the palace and prepare before starting a major event. According to the testimonies of the survivors, you received only about half of what you expected.’

Gale avoided Ian’s gaze. It was as if he knew the reason but couldn’t say it.

‘Besides, Lady Melania seemed to adore you.’

‘Adore? Me? Have you never met a woman?’

‘…’

Ian frowned. It was because he had no particular rebuttal. But if what he had seen then wasn’t the look of a lover, then what was it? They seemed to be madly in love.

‘Melania doesn’t adore me.’

Gale muttered with conviction.

‘Wesley made it that way.’

‘Why is Wesley’s name coming up here?’

‘You were curious about her curse, weren’t you?’

And then, he rummaged through the table as if looking for a cigarette. He seemed completely unaware of the wound on his neck. Ian just handed him the cigarette, and Romandro took away the fire.

‘Didn’t I tell you once? It’s a personal curse.’

‘Yes. You proved it with the Siltham potion.’

‘I will never be loved by anyone again.’

‘Gale, you were arrogant and trampled on me, so you will never be loved like me.’

‘So I knew from the beginning. That Melania wanted the position of the prince, not me. So I prepared for it. And this is what happened.’

Gale chewed on the cigarette between his teeth. So, he also couldn’t clearly define the Haiman family’s change of heart. Ian shook off his seat and got up from the chair, then took away the cigarette.

‘Take good care of your treatment. Actually, just the fact that you woke up is a good thing for me.’

He had gained a way to directly suppress, check, and pressure the Haiman family. In fact, there was no evidence as solid as Gale’s testimony.

‘What about Marib?’

‘You will meet him soon.’

In the courtroom.

Ian turned his back without hesitation and went outside, and Gale sighed and closed his eyes. Now that they knew he was awake, he would be under 24-hour close surveillance to prevent him from dying. He was in a situation where he couldn’t easily end it even if he wanted to.

Click.

As soon as Ian came out into the hallway, he firmly instructed the guard.

‘Increase the manpower and watch him without any gaps. If possible, contact the Imperial Guard as well.’

‘The Imperial Guard, you say?’

The guard asked, puzzled. They only needed to prevent Gale from harming himself, so why call the Imperial Guard? There was already a shortage of people for the reconstruction of the Imperial Palace.

‘Does an order need a reason?’

‘Ah, I apologize. I will correct it.’

Instead of explaining in detail, Ian led the answer with a scolding. Romandro followed him, and as soon as he got into the carriage, he asked back.

‘Is it because of the Haiman family?’

‘Yes. Now that the prince has safely woken up, there is a possibility that Haiman will move.’

Since it had come to this, the prince was going to die anyway. They could kill him before the trial to cut off the connection with Haiman on the surface.

And above all, if the princes were to die from an external attack here, the barely subsided chaos could swell up again.

‘Let’s go to where Duke Haiman is waiting.’

‘Yes, I understand.’

Heeheeing!

Ian announced his destination and checked his watch.

Seven hours and forty minutes.

That was the time the Duke had been waiting to meet someone after entering the palace. It must have been quite a long wait for the Duke, who was called the core of Bariel, to endure.

‘Have you ever seen Duke Haiman, Lord Romandro?’

‘Didn’t we see him once at the New Year’s party? Or was it not?’

‘I think I saw the young master then.’

Duke Haiman was not memorable. Ian remembered that the Duke Haiman he had seen when he was the Emperor was the 11th, but he was a little curious about what kind of person the current head of the family was.

‘Like father, like son, he’ll probably be similar.’

Ian thought so and rushed to the building where the Duke was detained. In the distance, he could see the soldiers guarding the entrance of the gate.

‘What is the atmosphere like outside the palace?’

‘It seems like some strange rumors are spreading little by little. Those who entered the Imperial Palace haven’t come out, so this is the first time this has happened. We will have to make a statement soon.’

It was something that couldn’t be dragged out for long. Ian vowed to finish the work roughly within three days, just three days, and looked out the window. The Haiman family’s carriage was waiting.

Squeak.

‘Is Duke Haiman inside?’

‘Yes, Sir Ian. He is waiting.’

‘Announce me.’

Ian was guided by the soldier and entered the building.

The doors of the reception room opened to the left and right.

Ian faced Duke Haiman, who was sitting upright.