Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 201

‘Big trouble, big trouble!’The aide, who had burst into the Prime Minister’s office, slipped and fell sideways. How could someone who usually barely made a sound be in such a fuss?The Prime Minister, as well as all the high-ranking officials gathered for the report, paused and turned their heads. Quintana was among them.’Compose yourself.’The Prime Minister scolded, taking off his glasses. He was already overwhelmed with the messy documents. Unless the Imperial Palace had collapsed, decorum had to be maintained. Those gathered here were the cream of the crop.’Th-that, His Highness Gail, His Highness Gail has harmed His Highness Arsen. Fortunately, his life is not in danger, but he has fainted and been carried away.”What? His Highness Gail harmed His Highness Arsen?”How did that happen? Isn’t His Highness Gail currently being treated at his residence? Did he go outside?’It was more like confinement than treatment. Even they couldn’t approach him under Ian’s orders, so how Gail and Arsen had met was a mystery.The aide shook his head at Quintana’s question.’No. It seems His Highness Arsen entered His Highness Gail’s palace. The medical call came from there.”Ahem. This is quite something. Haha. Why would he do that?”Indeed. I think we should wrap up the meeting here and go check it out.’Some officials rolled their eyes and coughed awkwardly. They were the ones who supported Arsen. Since Arsen had colluded with Haiman, it was clear he had tried to eliminate Gail for his sake. It was a clear cause-and-effect situation.Just as they were organizing their documents, the aide stammered and delivered the most crucial piece of information.’His Highness Arsen is a mana user.’Everyone stopped moving.It was as if time had frozen. Some were bent over, and others had their coats half on. A teacup belonging to someone who was in shock spilled over.’What, what did you just say?”His Highness Arsen used mana!”His Highness Arsen…”Mana…’For the most prominent leaders of the Empire to have the same expression at the same time was quite a sight. They muttered as if they couldn’t understand, and then fell silent.But that was only for a moment.Thump! Clatter!’Ouch, that hurt.”Excuse me, excuse me. Just a moment.”I’ll go first. Please come slowly.”Prime Minister. Let’s discuss this matter later.”Outside! The carriage! Prepare the carriage! Hurry!’Those who had grasped the situation quickly rose to their feet.If Arsen was a mana user, he would win without having to compete with Jin. In a situation where the authority of the Magic Department was already inflated, this was like the sound of a trumpet on the battlefield. A trumpet announcing victory.’If His Highness Arsen is a magician, then this!”It’s the will of the gods. It couldn’t be more perfect. The Magic Department will be kept in check at the same time, we’re saved.”Let’s go to Lady Delilah right away. His Highness Arsen, not His Highness Jin, is the successor. Damn it, damn it!’Those who had pledged their allegiance to Jin changed their course and rushed to Delilah, while those who had gathered around Haiman put their heads together to discuss their future path.’Since he tried to harm His Highness Arsen, let’s execute Gail immediately. No need to go through a trial like Marib. This is our chance.”Yes, yes. That would be good.”Let’s go! Hurry!’It seemed they were moving even more frantically than when a rebellion had broken out. Quintana sighed and organized the documents.’Aren’t you going?”I am a person who calculates taxes. Even if His Highness Arsen is injured, what can I do?”You may not be able to do anything, but you can think. What do you think? About His Highness Arsen being a mana user?’Quintana sighed softly at the Prime Minister’s question. She was reminded of Jin, who had attended the Grand Assembly. It was heartbreaking to think that the child who had been abandoned by his mother would now be abandoned by the officials.’…If His Highness Arsen is a mana user, it is a blessing for the Empire, and a joyous occasion.”I’m not so sure.”What do you mean?’Squeak.The Prime Minister answered with silence, and then he too left the office. He was probably going to Ian to grasp the exact situation.Quintana was left alone, holding her forehead.’…Damn it.’For some reason, Jin’s expression when he held her hand tightly was vivid. If Arsen ascended to the position of successor, Jin would naturally become a target for elimination. In the power struggle, defeat meant death.Jin would die by his mother, die by his vassals, and die by the throne.Quintana had no choice but to stay in her place for quite some time.* * *’Siaosi, this is your name.”Sia, O, Si.”Yes. Try writing it. You have a calm personality, so your handwriting is straight. When Beric wakes up, I will tell him too. You must keep your own name in your heart as you live.’Jin was teaching Siaosi how to write his name. Siaosi had lived as a slave his whole life, but he was so bright that he quickly grasped everything he was taught.While the two were studying together, the outside became noisy. It was as if something had happened, with mages running around.Tap tap!’Did I just hear that right?”Lord Ian has just departed from His Highness Gail’s palace. He’s finishing things up there, so he told the heads of each department to gather in advance. Move it. Orders will be given as soon as he arrives.”I’ve never heard such news in my life, huh!”So, what’s going to happen now?’When Ian’s name was mentioned, Jin and Siaosi pricked up their ears at the same time. The voices of the mages running down the hallway faded, but the last conversation was clearly audible.’If His Highness Arsen is a mana user, he’ll join us here. We can’t split up the few mages we have.”We’re screwed, really. Especially Lord Ian, he’ll be in the most trouble.’Thump, Jin felt his heart drop to the floor.Was he hearing things? Arsen was a mana user?The child turned to Siaosi with a greatly shaking gaze. As if begging him to deny it. But Siaosi also looked clearly surprised.’……”Arsen is, a mana user……’The child put down his pen and muttered. He couldn’t believe it. They were born on the same day, from the same womb, yet how could Arsen have everything?He took his mother’s love, and he also took the glory of the gods. And not only that? He would also take those who supported him, and Ian’s loyalty as well.His brother, who was taking everything, everything away, was now frightening. Why was Arsen shaking his fate so much?’Haa.’Jin covered his face with his hands. His heart was tightening and aching. When he realized that the opponent he was facing was an insurmountable being, a terrible sense of powerlessness consumed his entire body. And at the end of it, there was sadness.Jin mumbled, tears streaming down his face.’…Lord Ian told me not to cry.’What should he do? He was already worried that Arsen might make them doubt his abilities, and if he showed them his crying face, it would be a disaster.Jin kept wiping his eyes with the back of his hand, but his tears were like an endless sea.’I will cover my eyes and ears.’It was Siaosi’s comfort, saying that he wouldn’t see or hear, so he could cry as much as he wanted. The child quietly shed tears and stared into the air.’I want to win now, I don’t want to lose anymore.’Only that determination echoed in Jin’s head like a voice in the void.He suddenly jumped up from his seat and ran out the door. Siaosi followed right behind him.Tap tap!’Oh my, Your Highness Jin?”Your Highness, you’ll fall.”Please be careful!’Jin ran through the mages. He ran mindlessly, only looking at the entrance of the Magic Department’s main building. Ian, who had gotten out of the carriage in the distance, was walking up the stairs. He looked the same as usual, discussing something with Romandro.The only difference was that the mages were surrounding him, asking about Arsen.’Ian!”Your Highness?’Ian was surprised and looked up at Jin’s sudden call.The child, who seemed to have made up his mind, was biting his lip. He then ran down the stairs and grabbed Ian’s sleeve. The mages standing around stretched out their hands, worried that Jin might fall.Whoosh!’Oh, Your Highness, it’s dangerous!”What if you get hurt!”Lord Ian, listen carefully.’But Jin didn’t care and looked straight into Ian’s eyes. The height of the two was roughly the same due to the stairs.’I heard that Arsen is a mana user.”The news travels fast, Your Highness.’Ian smiled faintly and nodded. He had realized what Jin was trying to do.’Arsen and I are twins who share everything. If that child is a mana user, I might awaken at any time as well. So, don’t make hasty judgments.’It was persuasion, appeasement, and a strategy to maintain power. It was clumsy and awkward, but Jin’s intention was clear. Ian held the child’s hand as if telling him to continue.’Above all, if Arsen enters the Magic Department, your position will naturally be difficult. So, so……”So?”It would be better to hold onto me than Arsen.”Is that so? If His Highness Arsen is a mana user, it is a joyous occasion for the Empire. Isn’t it the will of the gods residing in the Imperial Family?’Jin bit his lip at Ian’s retort. At that point, Romandro and his subordinates also stepped back and observed Jin.The little emperor was now, for the first time, fighting for his position.’That doesn’t guarantee the best future. The previous emperors who led the great revival of Bariel were not all magicians. And if Arsen is a magician, you should be just as disappointed as I am.”It seems you have a plan.’At Ian’s question, Jin glanced around. Then, everyone deliberately stepped back and lowered their heads. It was a consideration to let him speak his mind, as they wouldn’t listen.Jin whispered softly, only loud enough for Ian to hear.’Falsely announce that I am also a mana user. Since we are twins, everyone will easily believe it. That way, I can oppose Arsen, and you will have one of my weaknesses, so no one will lose.’It was bold. That made it even clearer how cornered Jin was. Ian patted the child’s shoulder and smiled brightly.’Excellent.’It was rough and immature, and he still had a long way to go, but it was a very high score for a first attempt. Jin blinked at Ian’s praise.’However, a lie begets a lie. If you can’t handle it, it will strangle you. It’s better to deal with lies indirectly than directly.”…Lord Ian?”It would be better to see it for yourself than to hear it. His Highness Arsen will probably show you himself. What is the end of someone who has escaped with a lie. Shall we go inside first? Your Highness. The wind is cold.’Ian took Jin’s hand and gestured towards the top of the stairs. Arsen would show the end of someone who had escaped with a lie?That meant……’Is Arsen lying?’Jin looked up at Ian in bewilderment, but he couldn’t meet his gaze again.They arrived at the main building and immediately entered the conference room. The heads of each department, including Acorella and Captain Hale, were all waiting. As the matter was serious, the atmosphere was heavy.Squeak.’Minister. Have you arrived?”Everyone, take a seat.”I heard that His Highness Arsen used mana, is that true?”Oh, ah, this is quite something. How did this happen……’Everyone couldn’t hold back their questions, and Ian calmly took off his robe and nodded.’His Highness Arsen did use mana.”Damn it!”We will hold a mana verification ceremony soon, so prepare quickly. The light of the oracle? Is it currently in the Imperial Palace?”Ah. No. After using it at the New Year’s party, we returned it to the Neanil Temple. We will request it again.”No. This time, bring it from the Carbo Temple.”Yes? Carbo?’Carbo was the temple on Jin and Arsen’s mother’s side. He didn’t know why they were asking for it from there, instead of a closer temple.’And order the priests who received the oracle when the twin princes were born to bring it directly. This is an official order from the Magic Department.”Ah, yes. I understand.”And the doctor who was in charge of the delivery.’He was probably residing in central Bariel. The investigation orders that were being issued had nothing to do with Arsen showing his mana.’Bring that doctor to me as well.”…Yes, Minister.’Ian smiled at Jin, who was looking puzzled. If Arsen’s mana was real, he was destined to disappear completely from the history of the Imperial Family.’Please hold on a little longer, Your Highness Jin. You can regain everything that Arsen has taken.’If the mana wasn’t real, he would have to explain what he had shown. Mana that wasn’t magic was mostly of unknown origin, and it would fall to the bottom in an instant.