Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 188

As Ian’s carriage arrived at the Magic Department, the mages who had been waiting inside rushed out. They seemed to have a mountain of reports and approvals to handle, so no one hesitated to be the first. They followed Ian, who was striding forward, each throwing out a word or two.

Taptap!

‘The Prime Minister will be holding a Grand Council in an hour.’

‘Understood. Each department should pass their data to Romandro.’

‘Sir Ian, the disposal of all the bodies in the Imperial Palace is complete. Those who have been identified have had their lists distributed to each department, and those who could not be identified have been destroyed. It seems we can investigate again with the responses from the departments and the reports coming in after the gates are opened. Oh, and the necromancers have requested that we hand over a few intact bodies.’

Ian received the reports while walking. He seemed to be glancing over them, but he accurately read all the important details. Ian signed the documents with his pen and returned them.

‘Denied.’

‘Yes, I figured as much. Considering the circumstances.’

‘And we have recovered five mana sealing stones from His Highness Gail’s residence. They are only in sizes of 10 grams and 50 grams each, which is less than the officially registered mana sealing stones. It is presumed that some were lost during the battle with His Highness Marib, that is, when Commander Liam was killed.’

‘Prince Marib must have had a small one as well.’

‘We are currently searching his residence and office, but there is no news. Please allow us to interrogate Prince Marib when he wakes up. Here is the approval document.’

‘Very well. Also, request that the Administrative Department check the records. There must have been an adjustment of authority regarding the management of mana sealing stones during Wesley’s tenure. It hasn’t been that long.’

Since Wesley had handed over most of the mana sealing stones to Gail, it wasn’t difficult to trace the flow. Ian signed to indicate his approval and repeated the same action until he reached his office.

Click.

As they heard the sound, Beric, Siao Shi, and Jin, who had been waiting for him inside, turned to look at Ian at the same time. The three were gathered around a piece of drawing paper, drawing something. Unfortunately, it was still unrecognizable.

‘Didn’t you sleep?’

Ian said, looking at Siao Shi. He had ordered her to stay with Arsen, but the reason she was here was clear. Taking advantage of his absence, Delilah had taken Arsen away.

‘W-well, I woke up.’

Jin smiled, making a dimple in his cheek. Then, Beric made a horned shape with his fingers behind him, making all sorts of menacing faces. It seemed that the commotion Delilah had caused was quite intense. The child silently scribbled with his colored pencils again. The shape was becoming even more blurred.

‘Are you leaving right away?’

At Siao Shi’s question, Ian nodded. Then, after thinking for a moment, he changed his robe and called out to Jin.

‘Your Highness.’

‘Yes?’

‘If you can’t sleep, would you like to join me?’

‘Outside?’

‘I will be attending the Grand Council. If you wish, you can come with me, or if not, you can take a night walk. Beric and Siao Shi will be with you, so you don’t have to worry. It’s only been two days, but if you stay indoors all day, your sleep will be disrupted, and soon your day and night rhythm will be broken.’

Jin blinked. He had suggested a night walk, but it was as if he had understood what Ian wanted. Let’s go to the Grand Council, Ian was saying.

‘Isn’t Mother there?’

Jin had a vague idea. If Marib and Gail were removed from the succession, the next would be Arsen and himself. Therefore, judging from Ian’s attitude, he might have to face Arsen head-on someday.

But he hadn’t expected to enter the political arena so quickly.

‘No. She is not there.’

Delilah would be busy meeting with Duke Haiman. Above all, the Grand Council being held now was a place to discuss the direct recovery of the Imperial Palace, so there wasn’t much for Delilah to be involved in. Perhaps it would be more efficient for her to gather forces and join forces with Haiman than to attend that meeting.

‘Aren’t you curious? How the officials of the Imperial Palace discuss, decide, and handle state affairs?’

He had been steadily receiving imperial education, but most of it was about etiquette, knowledge, or culture, and political aspects were intentionally excluded.

Partly because the twins were still young, but mostly because Marib and Gail were firmly in place above them. To them, state affairs were like forbidden fruit, something they could only look at.

‘It will be interesting.’

When Ian smiled brightly, Jin jumped up. His eyes were unusually lively. Sparkling, the child clenched his small hands and shouted.

‘I, I’m curious!’

‘Please change into your outdoor clothes. Is anyone outside?’

At Ian’s call, a servant entered and bowed. Jin quickly followed him, and Siao Shi also naturally followed behind. Only Beric was half-lying on the sofa, lazing around. He was holding up the shapeless drawing to the light.

‘Ian, look at this? The Prince drew it for me?’

‘Beric, get ready to go out too.’

‘Huh? Me too?’

‘How can you enjoy yourself alone when all the masters are going out?’

At Ian’s laughter-filled command, Beric tilted his head back. He hadn’t been able to eat properly since the Imperial Palace incident. It was natural since he couldn’t leave a place with limited supplies.

Knock knock.

‘Ian, where is His Highness Jin going this late at night?’

At that moment, Romandro knocked on the open door, making his presence known. He was carrying a pile of reports he had received from outside.

‘He will be going to the Grand Council with me. Please prepare him.’

‘Oh, that’s good. The officials will be more relieved if they see that His Highness is safe.’

Haiman’s side was mindful of fabricated rumors, and Delilah had not been able to meet her son. This meeting of the two would lend credence to the claim that Ian had forcefully seized control of the Imperial Palace. To counter that, it was necessary to act little by little.

‘That’s also true, but His Highness Jin will grow up and lead state affairs himself someday. It’s good for him to get a feel for it in advance. This kind of situation is not common, so it will definitely be helpful.’

It was a statement that took into account the full-fledged education of the prince. The emperor, his father, was frozen and lying down, and his mother only cared for his brother, so who else would teach him this?

In a way, it was an opportunity for Jin. The emperor was the one who would guide him step by step. What could be more certain than the path of the emperor taught by the emperor?

‘…I was betrayed and even had my neck cut, so I also know the worst path I shouldn’t take. I have a lot to tell Jin.’

May Ian’s experience become Jin’s wisdom.

He smiled as he organized the documents.

* * *

The carriage sped towards the Grand Council building.

Jin, along with Beric, pressed his forehead against the window, looking at the night of the Imperial Palace. He had always lived a regular life, so it was his first time out so late at night. Fortunately, the half-destroyed Imperial Palace looked decent in the dark.

‘It’s amazing. This time is not as dark as I thought.’

‘Your Highness.’

At Ian’s call, Jin turned his head. His silver hair shone bluish in the moonlight.

‘There is something I need to tell you before we go in.’

‘What is it?’

Romandro cleared his throat and lowered his eyes. Judging by the atmosphere, it didn’t seem like a pleasant message.

However, Jin straightened his posture and fixed his gaze firmly. Among the things Ian had said so far, none had been harmful. Whatever it was.

‘Lady Delilah is currently the only protector of Arsen and His Highness Jin in the Imperial Palace. Legally and morally, no one can deny this.’

‘But Sir Ian is also here.’

Ian smiled slightly at Jin’s answer. He was a protector at heart, but to outsiders, it would not seem that way at all. He was defenseless against the blatant attack that he was trying to monopolize the power of the Imperial Palace by putting forward a powerless prince.

‘If Lady Delilah wishes to see His Highness Jin, like today, I will have no choice but to step aside.’

In an instant, a shadow fell on the window. It was because the moon had hidden behind a cloud, but Ian felt as if Jin’s complexion had darkened.

‘Anyway, Lady Delilah is His Highness Jin’s mother. We will soon finish the repairs and open the Imperial Palace, and then there will be no justification for protecting His Highness Jin.’

‘Then what on earth…’

‘There is one way. But this is also a burden for His Highness Jin, so I am asking for your opinion in advance.’

Jin easily recalled the midday of two days ago.

Marib facing him in his residence. The cool breeze. Someone’s head rolling. Arsen whispering. His mother letting go of his hand.

‘Are you saying that my mother handed me over to Brother Marib?’

Ian nodded briefly.

She begged for her life from a traitor who would be recorded in history and handed Jin over. Although it was to save Arsen, Jin was also of noble imperial blood. As a protector, she had made a choice that she should never have made, and this was the only justification for separating Jin from Delilah.

‘If you allow it.’

It meant that if Jin allowed it, he would reveal it and get him away from Delilah.

As the child closed his mouth, only the sound of horses’ hooves could be heard in the carriage. Ian waited for an answer but did not rush him. He was the one who would become emperor. Each choice needed to be made on his own.

‘Sir Ian.’

‘Yes, Your Highness.’

‘I want to live.’

The child’s answer, given after a long time, was concise. He touched the wound that had not yet healed and also touched that day through the window.

‘But if I stay with my mother now, I feel like I will die. Whether it’s my breath or my soul.’

He couldn’t completely abandon her. She was his mother, after all.

The name ‘mother,’ which countless people in the world revered just by its name.

‘So, when I think I can endure it on my own, I will try to see my mother. At that time, even if my mother doesn’t hug me, I wonder if I can hug her.’

Also, when Arsen’s whispers no longer bind his heart.

He needed a little time. So he could endure that much. He could endure even if everyone gossiped that he was an abandoned prince.

‘That is a wonderful will.’

‘Sir Ian, please help me.’

Squeak.

The carriage stopped. When the door opened, Ian got out first and offered his hand to Jin. It was an answer in action. He would always hold his hand like this.

Thud!

Jin, who had lightly stepped onto the ground, barely calmed his pounding heart and looked up at the Grand Council building. The carriages of high-ranking officials were lined up, and the middle managers of each department were also gathered, sharing information in a chaotic manner.

‘Your Highness, please remember this night.’

Jin, holding Ian’s hand, climbed the stairs one by one. People recognized Ian first, and then they recognized Jin next to him. The crowd parted to the left and right, bowing to Jin.

‘Today is the first day that Your Highness has attended the Grand Council.’

Then he smiled and whispered very softly.

This was a place that even Arsen had not been able to come to. It was one step further ahead on the path to the emperor’s throne.