Margrave’s Bastard Son Was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 193

Squeak.

When Ian opened the interrogation room in the Star Tower, Marib was looking out the window. A single ray of light shone into the dark room. Even as the wizards moved stacks of documents, he remained fixed on the outside, as if he couldn’t believe the future he hadn’t envisioned had arrived.

‘Your Highness, please sit down. We will begin the interrogation.’

Unlike Gail, whose neck was torn, he was completely unharmed. Though there was some dirt on him, he looked quite noble for the main culprit who had thrown the Imperial Palace into chaos. Most of his aides and key figures were dead, their limbs mangled.

‘You yourself?’

Marib turned around. His eyes, both smiling and disappointed, were calm. Ian wondered where he had seen that look before, and then realized it was the same look Gail had when he was lying in bed. They were desperate to kill each other, but their bloodline was certainly the same.

‘Yes. I will treat you with respect, so please cooperate.’

‘Interrogation, what a waste of effort. If it were me, I would never do such a bothersome thing.’

The victory was already lost. He had stabbed his father, the Emperor, stolen the royal seal, and tried to kill his brother. He was even being stripped of his royal status, so his end would surely be beheading. Without a trial, the outcome was clear, so why waste time with an interrogation?

But Ian just flipped through the documents indifferently.

‘You may be like that, Your Highness, but I am not.’

All procedures for the trial would be carried out accurately and precisely. That was the only way to restore the discipline of the Imperial Palace that the two princes had disrupted, and to establish the legitimacy of the next Emperor, Jin, and the foundation of centralized power.

‘First, regarding the attempted assassination of His Majesty the Emperor. There are records that His Majesty has been experiencing breathing difficulties during sleep for several months.’

‘Ah, he did have trouble sleeping. He even saw dead people. But what does that have to do with me?’

Thud.

Ian presented the documents that Gail had given him. The ones he had received in exchange for turning a blind eye to the Wesley curse [a type of magical affliction] and neutralizing the Shildam potion [a powerful magical concoction].

At the gesture to read it, Marib slowly turned the pages. Judging by the faint chuckle, he seemed to have realized something.

‘So that’s why you were cozy with Gail.’

He understood why he hadn’t taken a clear stance between himself and Gail. Marib couldn’t deny that Ian had been in control of all the circumstances.

‘To a bastard from the border, like this, haha. Ha.’

‘If you have anything to say in your defense, please do so.’

As he said that, Ian leisurely scanned another document. It meant he was ready to refute any defense.

‘These will be presented as evidence in the trial, so it would be best to do as much as you can.’

Marib leaned back and met Ian’s gaze. He had vowed every moment that he would be born a prince and die an emperor, and he had believed it.

Is this the end? Is this really the end? Marib muttered, looking at the sunlight pouring in. The victory was lost, but his neck was not yet broken.

‘Isn’t it all because of you, Sir Ian?’

Stop. The wizard who was recording the interrogation in the corner flinched. The observers also frowned at Marib’s sudden remark.

‘Me?’

‘Yes. Sir Ian, you urged me on.’

‘Your Highness, I was in Hiel territory at that time.’

‘You are a wizard, you had a way.’

Ian realized Marib’s intention and smirked. It was a ploy to drag out the trial by making absurd statements during the interrogation, and to create an opening for any opposing forces in the Imperial Palace who were against Ian to seize upon.

When the scribe put down his pen, Marib shouted.

‘Why are you tailoring the historical record to your liking? Don’t leave out a single word.’

It was a petty threat that he would act up in court if they did.

Ian gestured lightly for the recording to continue. After all, anything that didn’t make sense could be dismissed without needing to be explained.

‘It’s fortunate that this mess happened now. If Your Highness had ascended to the throne, it wouldn’t have been the Imperial Palace that was ruined, but Bariel [the name of the kingdom].’

Ian said that he was not only unqualified but also utterly despicable.

Marib’s temple throbbed, but he just kept laughing. Humiliation for the sake of opportunity was nothing. If he could just live, if he could just let the gods know of his plight, he would do anything.

‘The act of wielding a sword against His Majesty the Emperor was witnessed and testified to by Beols, one of the three great generals. There is no need to question this. The stolen royal seal is still missing, what did you do with it?’

‘I colluded with the Magic Department and handed it over. Isn’t that why they spared my life?’

Clang!

‘Sir Ian. I can’t bear to listen to this!’

A wizard, unable to listen any longer, protested loudly. Marib smirked, and Ian frowned, telling him to restrain himself. As if there was no need to get angry at such a pathetic trick.

‘Do you know Rutherford?’

‘Ah, the merchant guild?’

‘How did you start trading with them?’

‘When was it? It’s been a while. I crossed the Hawan Kingdom on my way back from the Grand Tour [a traditional journey for nobles]. That’s when I met Rutherford. Ian, you were with me too, weren’t you? It was when we were in Bratz territory, so it must have been around this time.’

The Grand Tour was a journey taken by the privileged class. A short trip of several months to visit neighboring countries to learn about their culture, economy, and society, and to broaden their knowledge. Because they traveled with dozens of carriages, it was more like a procession than a trip.

Marib nonchalantly measured the height of a child with the edge of his hand.

‘Hmm. Or was it this tall?’

‘Your acting is superb.’

Marib had indeed gone on a Grand Tour, but no one in the interrogation room believed him. The scribe sighed and pressed down on each letter, thinking, ‘So this is what they’ve been calling a prince all this time.’

Swoosh.

It was then.

Marib saw a flash of silver hair pass by the window of the door behind Ian. If it was that height, it must be a child, but how many children with silver hair who could enter the interrogation room were there in the Imperial Palace?

‘Arsen?’

No. It must be Jin. He had clearly seen Jin being held by Ian in Dilaina’s palace. And he had confirmed the bond between the two at the Magic Department, where he had gone to kill Jin.

If it was Ian, who had played with him and Gail, he would surely aim for central control through Jin.

‘But it’s strange.’

‘What is it?’

‘Ian, I don’t understand why you sided with Jin instead of Arsen. I can understand everything else, but that one thing I don’t understand.’

The wizard who had been standing still flinched.

Oh, Jin must have tugged on his sleeve. It seemed he had hit the nail on the head with the child’s doubts. Why Jin and not Arsen? Everyone would think the same thing.

‘The remaining card that can at least rival Arsen, the card that Dilaina picked up.’

‘You don’t need to know.’

Ian replied, suppressing his rising annoyance. The nonsense was getting out of hand. There was a mountain of things to clean up, and he was being interrupted by meaningless arguments.

The wizards glanced at each other, biting their lips at his lowered tone.

‘Please, Your Highness, just shut up.’

‘It seems like Sir Ian is about to lose his temper.’

‘If supporting Jin is just for show, then yes. There may be no reason. He is the one who manipulated me and Gail, so it’s no problem to coax a child like that. Do you think I don’t know your intentions?’

Thud!

Finally, he had reached his limit. Ian slammed the documents shut and crossed his arms. He was being so ridiculous…

‘Your Highness Marib. Please, just shut up.’

Thump!

At the same time, something hit the door.

When Ian turned around, Jin was squatting down, rubbing his forehead. He had pulled the doorknob too hard in his nervousness. Siao Shi was pale as she checked Jin’s forehead.

‘Your Highness?’

‘I, uh, well, I was trying to make a noise.’

Ian immediately got up and gestured to the wizards. It was an order to continue Marib’s interrogation in his place.

‘Your Highness, is your forehead alright?’

‘It is, but…’

‘Jin, the wound is deep.’

Marib called out to his half-brother, resting his chin on his hand. The wound he had inflicted was cutting straight across his face. Not knowing that it was the mark of the Emperor.

‘It missed your eye, so be grateful to me.’

‘Please leave. This place is foul.’

Squeak!

Thump!

The door closed without a moment’s hesitation. It was as if they were treating him like something dirty. Jin kept rubbing his forehead and looked up at Ian.

‘Sir Ian. I’m sorry for interrupting your work.’

‘It’s alright. I was about to stop anyway, as there was no progress.’

‘…Um, you know.’

‘Yes, Your Highness.’

Jin, who was leaving the Star Tower, stopped walking.

‘I want to make sure I know for certain.’

‘What is it?’

Ian met Jin’s gaze and bent his knees. He must have heard all of Marib’s nonsense. He knew Jin was there. Instead of listening to it all, he should have told him to shut up earlier.

‘The reason why you follow me.’

‘Hmm.’

Jin clenched his fist tightly. It was something he had to address eventually. Whether now was the right time was another matter, but anyway.

Why did Ian help him? Why did Ian value him? Was he really just seeing him as one ‘card’ to oppose Arsen?

If so? What should he do?

‘Your Highness.’

Ian smiled slightly. It was clear that all sorts of thoughts were swirling around in his small head. He explained them one by one.

‘I understand that you are confused. But in times like these, you must calmly assess the situation and use it to your advantage.’

A place where there are no eternal enemies or friends.

The Imperial Palace was such a place.

‘Accept the essence itself, and don’t judge right or wrong.’

If Ian held Jin’s hand out of sympathy, was that right, and if he held it with an ulterior motive, was that wrong? Either way, it was beneficial to Jin, and it was right.

‘But if you know the essence, it will be easier to prepare for future changes in the situation.’

‘So, you’re saying that no matter what Ian’s intentions are, I should use him first?’

‘Yes. And when Your Highness’s authority is stable, take a breath and look at me again. Then you will have a different perspective.’

Siao Shi, who was listening from the side, looked at her master with a puzzled expression. To be so willing to say to use and discard. She knew that Ian was sincere towards Jin, but would Jin know?

‘…It’s too difficult.’

‘It’s alright. You will learn it yourself.’

‘The essence, you said to know it.’

Jin gripped Ian’s sleeve tightly. Then, he opened his eyes boldly and met Ian’s gaze.

‘Then answer my question from earlier.’

‘The reason why I follow Your Highness?’

Ian tilted his head and smiled.

‘Because you carry a great wound.’

The mark of the Emperor.

The curse of the oracle.

And the fate of being abandoned by his mother.

Everything was a great wound. Ian took Jin’s hand off his sleeve and asked.