Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 203

The setting sun had fully descended upon the Imperial Palace. Lights flickered on everywhere, and the hurried footsteps of those who had been rushing about became more subdued.

However, they did not stop completely. For them, the distinction between day and night was meaningless for the time being, and opening the palace gates was just one step in the process of returning to normalcy. They had only just passed through one checkpoint.

Ian was no different.

Click.

‘What’s next?’

‘Here is a list of policy measures to regulate the Haiman family. Deputy Minister Quintana of the Administrative Department and their subordinate departments have actively cooperated to readjust them. There are many more taxes to squeeze—no, to impose—so they are very welcoming.’

‘What about the other departments?’

‘Well, surprisingly, the Ministry of Culture is also very determined. It seems they own quite a few artifacts from the Haiman family.’

‘Have items 4 and 5 been supplemented?’

Ian pressed the bridge of his nose and passed Romandro’s report. At the corner of the huge round table, Acorella was slumped over, asleep as if she had fainted. Hale, sitting next to her, was mechanically munching on a sandwich, his expression clearly showing that he had no appetite but was forcing it down to survive.

Ian glanced at them, then habitually tapped the leather file. It was a signal to wake up.

‘Ah, aoh. Sss.’

‘Eat this and wake up.’

As Acorella wiped away drool with her eyes closed, Hale shoved a sandwich into her mouth. She seemed to be very exhausted physically.

‘After Prince Marib’s execution, let’s formally propose it at the Grand Assembly. Prepare and send a summons for the Haiman family. And what about the list of central nobles who did not participate in this incident?’

‘Here it is.’

The Haiman family’s financial lifeline was like a river flowing through Bariel. How could they dam the river by checking them? However, changing the owner was the primary and fastest way.

Ian murmured, carefully examining the list of nobles.

‘Serio…’

The Serio family. Ian remembered the young lord of the Serio family he had met at the New Year’s party. He was the first noble he had spoken to, and he was also there when Beric had his outburst during his duel with Jaylott.

The family itself was not very powerful, but Ian remembered that they had remained unscathed and without any issues even a hundred years later.

‘They’re suitable to use appropriately.’

How many families were being pushed from the center to the provinces? The fact that they had held their position for a hundred years proved their reliability to some extent.

They either rode the tide well, or they were well-centered enough not to be swayed by the flow. In Ian’s judgment, the Serio family belonged to the former. Their power was too weak to be centered.

‘Commander Acorella.’

‘Hup, yes, yes, I wasn’t sleeping.’

‘Prepare a commercial sample of the Sildam potion by tomorrow.’

‘H-how many? I think five is the maximum.’

‘That should be enough.’

Romandro nodded, meticulously recording Ian’s instructions. It seemed he was planning to bring in Serio as a temporary shield against Haiman.

Hale scratched his head and asked back.

‘…A meat shield, is it?’

‘You could say that.’

Ian smiled and closed the file. No matter how skilled they were, Haiman was a noble. To deal with a noble, they needed a card of equal standing.

‘Essentially, it’s a confrontation between His Highness Jin and His Highness Arsen. However, if the Imperial Palace directly pressures Haiman, it could escalate into a power struggle between the Imperial Family and the nobles. This is to prevent other nobles who were bystanders from supporting Haiman simply because they are nobles.’

Arsen and Dilaina were also holding their ground, but it was clear that Ian was the one who had seized real power in the Imperial Palace. Suppressing a noble, especially the overwhelming Haiman, suggested that other nobles could also face the same fate.

That’s why they were putting Serio in place of the Imperial Palace.

‘What if Serio refuses?’

‘Well, then we’ll move on to Haiskanen, then Deven.’

Although he had backup plans, Ian thought Serio would accept the offer. Opposing someone implied that they had equal power. It was an opportunity to expand their family with the help of the Imperial Palace, so there was no way they would give it up.

At that moment, they heard footsteps outside.

Knock knock.

‘Sir Ian. The doctor has arrived.’

‘A doctor? Has Beric woken up?’

Ian asked as he stood up, but Romandro shook his head.

‘No. It must be the doctor who was in charge of the twins’ birth. Is it the doctor who came from outside?’

‘Yes. That’s right.’

‘He says he opened a small clinic after leaving the palace. It seems he came as soon as he heard the order to enter the palace. He’s faster than I thought.’

‘Let him in.’

Squeak.

As Ian’s permission was given, the door opened. The doctor seemed to be unwell, as he entered with the support of his disciple. As Ian stood up to greet him, he bowed with difficulty.

‘Greetings. I am the doctor, Gabid.’

‘Welcome. Thank you for coming. I am Ian Hielo, the Minister of Magic. Please, have a seat.’

‘Sir Ian, then we’ll be going.’

‘I’ll be reviewing the documents again. Call us if you need anything.’

At the arrival of the guest, Hale and Acorella discreetly organized the documents and went outside. It was as if they were glad to have a chance to lie down and sleep.

Ian gestured for the door to be closed tightly and looked at the doctor.

‘Gabid?’

‘Yes, Minister.’

‘Is it true that you were in charge of Lady Dilaina’s delivery? I am asking if you are the doctor who delivered His Highness Jin and His Highness Arsen. This is a serious matter, so if there is even the slightest doubt, we will use the Sildam potion [a truth serum]. Please answer knowing this.’

Ian deliberately adopted a slightly forceful attitude. For some reason, the doctor was too composed. It was as if he had foreseen everything, from bringing up something that had happened ten years ago to having him re-enter the palace.

Ian carefully examined the doctor’s complexion as he spoke.

‘Yes. I will answer with all my heart. You may use the Sildam potion. My memory is one, so what I can say is also one. I delivered His Highness Arsen and His Highness Jin. Please ask.’

‘You must know about the oracle.’

‘…Of course.’

‘Of course, it’s not always correct, but it does have a certain degree of possibility. But lately, it seems strange. Is it true that His Highness Arsen came out first? I am asking if the one you took out and named the elder brother is Arsen. Please tell me the situation at the time as you remember it.’

He paused for a moment to recall his memories. Then, slowly, he began to tell the story of that day. It had already been ten years, but the doctor seemed to remember everything, from the weather and atmosphere to the smallest details.

‘So, I was suddenly called in the middle of the night. The midwife asked for help. She said that the baby was not coming out, strangely.’

It was raining. Wheels cutting through muddy water, the sound of rain hitting the windows, servants bustling in front of the bedroom. And Dilaina’s screams of pain…

Ian sipped his tea, picturing each image.

‘When I went there, I saw that her condition was serious. Lady Dilaina’s face had lost its color, and she was gradually losing strength and even fainted. If we left it like that, both the mother and the babies would be in danger, so I decided to use a knife. At that time, a priest said something.’

‘A priest?’

‘It was a priest dispatched from the Carbo Temple to assist Lady Dilaina. He said that an oracle had been given. He said that the younger brother would kill the older brother, so we should hurry and take the babies out.’

The mother’s condition was critical, so it was unavoidable. The surgery was performed immediately, and the doctor could not forget the moment he took out the first baby’s head.

‘One of the twins was tightly gripping the other’s neck. This should also be recorded.’

‘I saw that too. But is that even possible?’

‘It was the first time I had seen it myself. It’s called a monoamniotic twin birth. It’s rare, and there are hardly any cases even in foreign countries. But…’

That alone was an amazing experience, but the doctor experienced something even more astonishing.

‘The baby whose neck was being held was opening his eyes.’

Usually, babies open their eyes after about two days, but the baby was staring at the doctor with clear eyes. The expressionless gaze was so eerie that the doctor shook his head and murmured.

‘He didn’t cry, he just kept looking at me like that. It wasn’t until I took out the second baby that he finally cried. As if asking me to pay attention to him. He cried so loudly, it was like…’

The words ‘he didn’t seem human’ rose to the doctor’s throat. But he restrained himself and continued.

‘Everything is as it is recorded. Their lives were in danger, but both were born safely, and Lady Dilaina also recovered quickly.’

‘Do you remember the name of the priest from the Carbo Temple who delivered the oracle?’

‘I don’t know his name, but she was a woman with many freckles.’

Why would the doctor know the priest’s name? It was a shame, but at least they had heard about her appearance, so they would be able to recognize her if Carbo sent someone else.

Just as Ian was about to take a sip of his tea, the doctor added.

‘And that day, I… almost made a big mistake.’

‘What?’

‘After taking out the first baby, I was about to take out the second baby, but I was too dizzy. It was a bit humid and hot that day, but it was to the point of being an abnormal reaction. So, by mistake, I almost burned the second baby’s face.’

‘……!’

The doctor confessed to Ian with a repentant heart.

Fortunately, the person assisting him grabbed his hand, or it would have been a disaster.

He almost misused the knife at the sound of the baby’s cry.

If it hadn’t ended with a scar, it would have meant death for the baby.

‘Is this Jin’s fate?’

A fate that could not help but bear the Emperor’s mark.

It seemed that he had escaped because of Arsen’s cry, but it was a fate that could not help but leave a scar again.

Ian tapped the table.

‘An abnormal reaction…’

Perhaps, was it Arsen from that time? Philia had also said that she felt dizzy and her head was spinning.

The doctor sighed, clenching his hands tightly.

‘The events of that time were a bit shocking, so I left the palace and am now focusing on other treatments. I no longer handle deliveries.’

Silence fell after his words.

Tap tap, Ian noticed a small noise coming from somewhere. It was raining. Just like the day Jin and Arsen were born.

Thump thump! Thud!

‘Sir Ian!’

Someone’s urgent voice echoed down the hallway. At the knock asking to be let in, Romandro opened the door. It seemed to be someone from the Imperial Guard. His distraught expression was wet. With something that was hard to tell if it was tears or rain.

‘Th-they say a body was found in the central outskirts.’

‘A body?’

‘They’re asking for identification, but Commander Jaylott has already gone ahead. Just in case, they told me to inform Sir Ian first…’

Jaylott went? Then that means…

‘Are you saying Barsabe is dead?’

‘W-we don’t know if it’s Barsabe or not. The body is too damaged. What should we do? I heard you were looking for evidence related to the black armor…’

‘I’m going immediately.’

Ian got up, grabbing his coat.

Barsabe is dead? It was hard to believe, so he had to see it with his own eyes.