Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 191

Knock, knock.

Delaina, who had been in the middle of a conversation, paused. Duke Hyman did the same. He set down his cooled teacup and nodded to his escort knight. It was an important meeting, and he had told everyone not to disturb them.

They gripped the swords at their waists and walked to the door.

‘What is it?’

‘I am Chielonia from the Administrative Department. I have come to deliver an order decided at the Grand Council to Lady Delaina.’

‘An order?’

Delaina murmured involuntarily as she stood up. Wasn’t the Prime Minister’s Grand Council supposed to be for the Imperial Palace’s recovery? But an order was being issued to her. She was puzzled and uneasy because she couldn’t guess what it was about. Arsen stared at his mother’s face for a moment, then whispered.

‘It would be better to move to another room to hear it.’

It was a meeting where they had just joined forces with Duke Hyman to plan for the future. But if an unfavorable order for Delaina suddenly came from the Imperial Palace, problems could arise.

Delaina nodded and asked Hyman and Melania for their understanding.

‘I’ll be excused for a moment.’

‘Of course. Please don’t worry about it.’

Arsen also smiled and followed his mother.

Chielonia, an official from the Administrative Department who mainly delivered the Emperor’s orders. She was holding a golden letter with her back bent. Since the Emperor was frozen and lying down, it must have been issued by the Prime Minister, who was acting on his behalf.

An order using the Emperor’s authority, not the Prime Minister’s. Delaina took a deep breath and led the way.

‘Follow me. I will receive it in the side room.’

Squeak.

Upon arriving at the side room, Delaina turned gracefully and looked at Chielonia. As if to say, ‘Let’s hear what this order from the Grand Council is.’

‘It is an order to partially restrict parental rights regarding His Highness Jin.’

‘……!’

As Chielonia carefully conveyed the message, Delaina’s lips tightened sharply. The chin she had held up arrogantly dropped, and the knuckles of her fingers gripping the hem of her dress turned white. Her bewildered state was evident, but Chielonia read the letter impassively.

‘-The concubine Delaina was aware that the main culprits who disturbed the Imperial Family were Princes Marib and Gale. It was also possible to judge that this was a crisis for the Imperial Family. Therefore, it is clear that handing over Prince Jin’s custody for any reason was a mistake.’

‘……!’

‘-Therefore, at the request of Prince Jin himself and the attendees of the Grand Council, the partial parental rights granted to Delaina are temporarily restricted indefinitely. The items are as follows: rights regarding protection and status, property management, and the right to delegate orders, among nine major clauses. In addition, any authority that affects the prince’s custody will be restricted immediately.’

Rustle.

Chielonia, having finished reading the letter, bowed. She suddenly noticed that Arsen was staring intently at her, and she felt awkward because he seemed to be smiling.

Delaina, who had been trembling, couldn’t hold back her shout.

‘This can’t be happening!’

‘Please calm down, Lady Delaina.’

‘Jin, Jin is my son! Who, who has the authority to take away my parental rights? This, this can’t be! Summon the Grand Council immediately! Order a reconvening!’

‘I am sorry, but you cannot refuse.’

‘Where is the Prime Minister right now?!’

Did someone who knew that His Majesty was frozen make this decision?!

Delaina felt like she was losing her mind with the anger rising to the top of her head. He was her son, whom she had given birth to in pain. Her son, whom she had held in her arms since the moment he was born!

‘Hic…….’

Delaina eventually collapsed and covered her face. If possible, she wanted to turn back time. To before she let go of Jin’s hand, to before she met Marib in the backyard, or even further back to the days when the Emperor was healthy.

Swoosh.

Arsen cast a glance at Chielonia, telling her to leave, and embraced his mother. Although he was a child, his actions seemed strangely mature. Chielonia quietly left the room, gathering the letter.

‘Mother.’

Even at Arsen’s call, Delaina continued to cry. Arsen’s voice, as he held her tightly, was gentle. But the expression reflected in the window was nothing but cold. Delaina, with her head down, couldn’t notice it.

‘Mother, you did nothing wrong. Who would have known Jin would do this? We thought we were family, but it seems Jin didn’t think so.’

As Arsen’s consolation reached her ears, Delaina suddenly felt dizzy. Was it because she had suddenly burst into tears and was feeling dizzy? Her vision was blurred, but Arsen’s voice gradually became clearer in her mind. Each tone seemed to seep into her blood and stir her whole body.

‘Arsen, I, I…….’

‘I know, Mother. I know. Saving me was the way to save Jin, wasn’t it? That foolish brother, not knowing Mother’s heart.’

‘What should I do? It seems Jin has completely fallen for Sir Ian. He can’t turn around like this in an instant. Jin, Jin…….’

‘You must come to your senses now. Mother, we must win to save Jin. If I solidify my position, Jin will also be safe, you know that, right?’

At the warm, melting consolation, Delaina nodded repeatedly. Arsen, patting his mother, smiled slightly.

‘And there are many who witnessed that moment. It was something that would be revealed someday, and it was bound to happen. Don’t be disheartened. Even if Jin abandons us, we will not abandon Jin. Someday, our sincerity will reach him.’

Delaina wiped away her tears and hugged Arsen tightly.

The Emperor was gone, and Jin was gone. Now, all that was left was Arsen. Only Arsen would bring the peace that Delaina desired.

‘Tidy up your tears. You have to finish things with Duke Hyman. Soon the gates will open, and every moment will be a crisis, an opportunity, and a result.’

Delaina dabbed her tears with a handkerchief and took a breath. She wanted to rush out immediately and object to the Grand Council’s decision and meet Jin, but she needed to be patient.

‘Now, what should I do? What did Hyman say?’

Delaina felt like the plans she had discussed with the Duke all night were foolish. She couldn’t remember them even when she tried. She didn’t know if it was because of the shock of Jin leaving her or because of the continuous dizziness. Arsen held his mother’s trembling body and pointed it out.

‘Duke Hyman said he would plant people among the citizens when the gates open.’

‘Ah, yes.’

The truth is complete in itself, but it is easily stained by lies. It was the perfect situation to portray Ian as an opportunist who had gotten mixed up in Marib and Gale’s rebellion. Since Jin’s parental rights had been taken away, the rumors would gain even more power.

‘First, we, we said we would sway public opinion and watch the situation.’

Delaina didn’t seem to realize that her teeth were chattering. Arsen, who was watching her calmly, quietly added.

‘But Mother, the Duke’s proposal is not bad, but I’m not sure about it.’

While Delaina and Hyman were talking, Arsen hadn’t said a single word. He had just sat upright and observed. The Duke also didn’t bother to ask for his opinion. He was a child, and it seemed that all decision-making power was in Delaina’s hands.

‘Duke Hyman’s plan is more effective when the gates are closed. Because they don’t know what’s going on inside, they touch on the most sensational part they can imagine. But considering the progress of the recovery and Sir Ian’s will, the gates will open soon, won’t they?’

If that happened, those who entered the palace would have the ability to judge the situation by seeing and hearing it directly. On the contrary, just as the status of the Magic Department had risen in the Imperial Palace, it could give a positive impression among the citizens.

‘No matter how much they shout everywhere that Sir Ian has seduced Jin, most people won’t care. He contributed to the recovery of the Imperial Palace, so it could be seen as a natural reward.’

‘Then?’

Delaina asked blankly. The dizziness was gradually subsiding. Arsen’s voice seeped into her ears more clearly.

‘We have to cross the line.’

‘The line? We?’

‘No, Sir Ian.’

Far beyond the window, the Bariel flag was waving majestically. Arsen, who had it in his eyes, swallowed a laugh and murmured.

‘What if Sir Ian kills one of Marib and Gale?’

It would be even better if it was before the trial.

Delaina frowned, not understanding, then let out a small gasp and whispered.

‘Kill them?’

‘Mother. Be careful with your words. I’m just saying, ‘What if Sir Ian’ did it.’

If that happened, there would be plenty to talk about. They died from torture-like interrogation, the princes were actually innocent but were killed to cover it up, the princes were killed after being deceived by Ian’s schemes, and so on.

‘Besides, Sir Ian wasn’t close to both Marib and Gale, was he? It’s very suitable to ignite the spark.’

If blood is mixed into the lies to stain the truth, it will not be easily erased. Because it is a very intense paint that has taken someone’s breath.

Delaina was silent as she looked at her son’s face, which was shining in the sunlight.

‘And there is no greater recognition of power than the right to dispose of Marib and Gale being transferred to Sir Ian. We will kill them before Sir Ian does.’

‘Arsen.’

‘Yes, Mother.’

How did you even think of that?

She couldn’t bring herself to ask. How could the words to kill his brothers come so easily from the mouth of a ten-year-old child? It was all a tragedy created by the situation.

Delaina hugged Arsen and made a promise.

‘Let’s end it. Let’s end it quickly and save Jin.’

‘Of course, Mother.’

Arsen, who answered that way, was smiling even more brightly. The warm sunlight was shining down, but his blue eyes were flashing coldly.

* * *

‘Sir Ian. A magic sealing stone was found in His Highness Marib’s residence. Two of them, one 3 grams and one 5 grams each. They match the records registered in the Administrative Department. We have also collected the letters exchanged with the merchants. There are quite a few, so it will take some time to analyze them.’

‘How many are there?’

‘Since they are connected to the major merchant groups that regularly travel to and from Bariel, we have roughly estimated about fifty names. We are still tracking the source of the amber-colored gemstones.’

Ian nodded in satisfaction and approved the documents. The door to his office had been wide open for hours, showing no sign of closing. As people came and went endlessly, Ian sorted through the mountain of documents while feeling the cold breeze.

‘I’ve seen that look somewhere.’

Unlike the hectic Ian, Beric was lying on a sofa, watching him. Romandro, who was moving his pen so fast that his arm was a blur, shouted.

‘I’m busy to death, help me out!’

‘Ah, I remember! When a famous wandering band comes, everyone lines up to get autographs. It’s just like that, that. Hehehe.’

‘That guy, really!’

‘I can’t read, you know? I was just carrying luggage until now, and now I’m lying down?’

‘What luggage? Are piles of paper luggage to you?’

Beric stuck out his tongue and lay back down. At that moment, a voice confirming something to Ian was heard from far down the hallway.

‘Sir Ian! Is the gate opening at five o’clock today?’

‘Yes. That’s right.’

Five o’clock. It was just past ten in the morning, so there was still some time. Ian pointed at Beric, who was lying down, with his pen and ordered.

‘Don’t lie there, get up, Beric.’

‘Me? Why?’

‘The gates open at five, so go out first and say hello to Vivianna, and deliver this. Then Vivianna will ask you to go to the press, so escort her well and make sure there are no problems.’

Ian threw a short note, and Beric caught it lightly with one hand. He couldn’t read the letters, so he didn’t know what was written on it.

‘What is this?’

‘You don’t need to know. Go to Vivianna first.’

‘Okay, okay. I was bored anyway, so this is good.’

Romandro, who was listening from the side, frowned as if he didn’t trust him.

‘You, you know the way, right?’

‘Ah, of course! I may not know anything else, but I know my way home!’

‘I’ll still assign a guard to you.’

Beric drew a circle with his finger and grinned. Through the gap in his hand, the contents of the note that Ian had written were briefly visible, and Romandro rubbed his eyes as if he had seen it wrong.