Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 208

“There, Ian. We’ve arrived.”

At the coachman’s announcement, Ian opened his eyes. Aside from his head slightly leaning against the window, his posture was straight. He let out a faint sigh as he saw the scenery outside the window had changed. He didn’t even know when he had fallen asleep. There was a reason why Romandro had strongly insisted on Ian resting.

“Thank you for your hard work.”

“It was nothing.”

The coachman, who had bowed deeply, glanced back. In fact, it had been thirty minutes since they arrived at the Magic Department, but they were waiting because of the Magic Department members’ hints. He wondered when he would get home, but thankfully, it didn’t take too long.

As the carriage door opened, the mages who had been loitering nearby all approached.

“Ian, you’re back?”

“Where’s Romandro?”

“He’s out on assignment. Is there something urgent?”

“No, I think it can be handled later. The urgent matters are on my desk in my office. By the way, I heard the Imperial Guards had a fierce battle last night. Is that true?”

As Ian ascended the stairs, someone draped a warm robe over him. Those who had escorted the Barsave [a person’s name] and the armored legion to the Imperial Palace had quickly informed them. Ian gratefully accepted the robe. He felt a chill all over his body after waking up from a short nap.

“Ian, you’re here.”

“It’s good to see you, Commander Acorella.”

“Huh? Me? Why?”

As she passed through the lobby, Acorella was about to pass Ian while greeting her subordinates. However, she stopped immediately at his call. Acorella herself didn’t seem to know, but her bangs were frizzled and singed. It must be the aftermath of a failed experiment.

Tap!

“Huh?”

“Do you know what this is?”

Ian took out a mysterious magic stone from his pocket and tossed it. Acorella caught it lightly with both hands and immediately brought it close to her nose, peering deeply. Her subordinates standing behind her did the same. They huddled together, their breaths almost touching, examining the magic stone closely.

“It’s pitch black…”

“Absolutely…”

“…First time?”

Acorella’s face gradually relaxed. Her eyes widened, her jaw dropped, and her nostrils flared uncontrollably. As if her breath had caught in her throat, Acorella couldn’t speak properly.

“W-w-what is this?”

“I’m asking because I don’t know either.”

Acorella didn’t know. Her subordinates didn’t know either. Ian said he was asking because he didn’t know. This meant it was a magic stone that had been discovered for the first time, didn’t it? Acorella couldn’t help but scream.

“…Kyaaaaak!! Aaaah! Ack!”

“Commander! Commander! L-let’s go together!”

“You’re going to fall. Just a moment, slowly!”

“Open the lab door quickly, you guys!”

Thud! Bang! Crash!

As researchers and mages, they couldn’t help but be excited. She practically rolled down to the basement, and her subordinates followed behind.

“Magic Stone Management Department, it’s okay, right? I don’t need to stop them, do I?”

“Well, it’s not like it’s the first time. Ian, if there aren’t any more samples, you should tell us in advance. Commander Acorella always ends up breaking them at the end.”

“It’s fine. Soon, they’ll be coming in boxes. When the Imperial Guards arrive, guide them to Commander Acorella.”

“Why would the Imperial Guards bring magic stones?”

“They were confiscated from the Chettur District. It’s related to the Haiman family. Fragments of black armor will also be coming, so everyone should focus on the Magic Stone Management Department and help with all your heart.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Black armor! The armor that killed the Three Great Generals, Liam. The mages, who knew about Ian’s political relationship with Haiman, understood the seriousness of the situation and realized it.

Ian casually flipped through the incoming reports and asked again.

“How’s Beric?”

“Ah! Ah! That’s right. Beric has woken up.”

“He’s woken up, huh? So he can’t move.”

“If he could move in that state, that would be a bit…”

Ian smiled faintly and turned the corner towards Beric’s quarters. Many mages followed him in a rush. After seeing Beric, they would go to his office and ask him to handle their reports first.

“Is he talking well?”

“I wondered what kind of guy he was.”

“Haha, I see.”

It seemed like he had caused a bit of a commotion. When the mage’s expression soured, Ian couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

This had happened before. When they were returning from the Great Desert to Bratz, he couldn’t even walk, but his temper was still the same, so he was carried like a piece of luggage behind Kusile.

Tap tap.

The door to the quarters was slightly ajar. What leaked through the gap was not just voices. There was a distinct smell of meat.

“No, this is really too much! Your Highness Jin!”

“Beric, calm down. Your stitches will burst. The doctor said that if you eat anything now, you’ll really die.”

“I’ll die anyway!”

“It’s okay. You won’t die.”

“Wow, I’m going crazy. Siao! Try to persuade His Highness Jin!”

“…”

“That, that bastard, he’s not even answering because he’s eating meat?”

“Now, now, Beric. Don’t be like that, just keep smelling it.”

“Aaaah! Ian!”

Sizzle.

It was quite a sight. Next to Beric, who was lying motionless in bed, Siao and Jin were grilling and eating meat. A pile of bright red, high-quality beef was stacked on one side. When Beric cried out for Ian, Siao recognized him first.

“You’ve arrived.”

“Oh! Sir Ian! You’re here?”

“Ian? Ian!”

The greetings poured out at the same time. Ian pushed the mages back and closed the door. Beric, who couldn’t move below his neck, was only blinking his eyes like crazy, expressing his joy.

“Your Highness, why are you eating here? Why don’t you eat in the dining hall? It’s a bit chilly, but the sun is warm in the afternoon, so you can eat in the garden.”

“Sir Ian! Listen to me. As soon as Beric woke up, he was nagging the servants to get him meat, you know? I told him that he absolutely couldn’t eat because his insides were all injured.”

“Is that so?”

“He even threw a tantrum at the doctor, so it reached my ears. I rushed over to stop Beric!”

Jin looked up at Ian with sparkling eyes. With a look that asked for praise, Ian lightly patted Jin’s shoulder.

“You did well.”

“I did well? Huh? Eating meat next to him, that’s cheating! It’s torture! Your Highness Jin! You’re really too much!”

“Didn’t you ask to at least smell the meat?”

“No… Ha, really. Ian, you know how I feel, right?”

He probably intended to snatch it as soon as it was brought to his nose. Jin didn’t even know how to use a fan. Ian sat on the edge of the bed and carefully examined Beric’s condition.

“…How’s your body?”

“It’s fine. So just one bite.”

“Hold on a little longer. Even a healthy person would be burdened if they ate meat right after waking up, how can you do that?”

At Ian’s words, Jin came closer and nodded repeatedly. Regardless, Siao was just calmly chewing what was in his mouth.

“Ah. I, really. Ha.”

“Barsave also returned alive.”

“What? The molar is alive?”

Ian changed the subject and smiled. How simple-minded, the guy who was just crying changed his mood as soon as he heard about Barsave’s survival.

In fact, Ian didn’t know if Barsave considered Beric a close friend, but he was probably one of the few close acquaintances Beric had. Ian nodded.

“He’s a bit injured, but he’ll recover soon. So Beric, you focus on your treatment. If you do, I’ll feed you whatever you want.”

“Ah! Okay, okay! Call the doctor! Tell them to treat me quickly! Apply the medicine!! Keep applying it!”

Jin fanned him repeatedly as a form of comfort, wafting the smell of meat. It was a relief to see that he was fine even though he couldn’t move. Ian looked at the black sword placed next to the bed and asked.

“Beric.”

“I couldn’t help it! If I hadn’t used magic, I would have really died.”

Beric preemptively said, assuming what Ian was going to say. He was told not to put magic into the black sword, but he had fully opened it and fought against the enemy. It was a sword that summoned monsters, so it was fortunate that there were no monsters nearby, otherwise, the secondary damage would have been significant.

“That’s not what I’m going to scold you for.”

“Huh? Really? Never mind then.”

Should he tell him that Beric might be an Atan [a type of person with special abilities]? While Ian was pondering, a piece of meat suddenly appeared in front of him. It was Jin who had offered it.

“Sir Ian. You haven’t had lunch yet, have you?”

“That’s right, Your Highness.”

“Have some. Beric ordered too much meat. I don’t know how he was going to eat it all by himself.”

“Ha! Your Highness Jin. I eat all of that in one meal, you know?”

“Lies. How can a person eat more meat than me? You’re teasing me, Beric.”

“I’ll show you. Put it in my mouth.”

Jin pursed his lips and shook his head. He had a firm stance that he absolutely, absolutely could not give him meat. Ian took the meat Jin offered and ate it.

“Is it delicious?”

“…Beric. You ordered something expensive.”

“Of course! Ian is rich! Special grade! The most expensive one!”

Ian called a servant and pulled up a chair to sit down. The moment he ate a piece of meat, it occurred to him. He didn’t know when he had last eaten a proper meal. He had only been appeasing his hunger with Gula [a type of food] and the like, and a meal like this had long disappeared from his memory.

Swoosh.

When Siao got up from his seat, Ian gestured for him to sit down.

“The bedroom is small. It’s okay, sit down.”

“Yes, Master.”

“Siao, try this again. It’s very tender. Do I have to keep telling you to eat?”

“No, Your Highness.”

Siao looked down at the meat that Jin had placed on his plate with a troubled expression. He had eaten it earlier, but he wondered if this was really right. A slave eating at the same table as his master? And with royalty? As he hesitated to pick up his fork, Ian pointed out.

“Siao. When cutting meat, you should hold the knife in your right hand and the fork in your left. Keep your elbows on the table so that the blade doesn’t go too far.”

Jin followed Siao well. Since his nature was trustworthy, Siao would continue to serve Jin unless something special happened. So it was good to learn basic dining etiquette.

“Aaaah! Siao! Even you!”

“…”

Beric let out a desperate cry as he watched the three people eating. It was a sound that felt even more pathetic because no one paid any attention to it.

“Sir Ian, did you see the drawing?”

“Are you talking about the yellow cow? Did Your Highness draw it?”

“Beric asked me to draw it, so I did.”

“Your skills are improving, you’re amazing.”

The sound of cutlery clinking along with the friendly conversation was pleasant to hear. When it suddenly became quiet, Ian turned around and saw that Beric was sleeping with his mouth wide open. Even though he seemed lively, his body was in such bad shape that he could lose consciousness quickly.

“By the way, Sir Ian. Do you know that tomorrow is Marib’s trial?”

“Of course. The Magic Department is preparing meticulously. Regarding his attempt to harm Your Highness Jin, he will surely pay the price.”

“My mother and Arsen will also come.”

“That’s right. If you haven’t made up your mind yet, you don’t have to attend.”

It was about his resolve to meet his mother. Jin bravely put a piece of meat in his mouth and shook his head. It was a short nod instead of an answer, in accordance with dining etiquette.

“No. I’ve realized one thing. Resolve isn’t something that’s built in an instant, but something that’s created by building up day by day. So I will also attend the trial.”

Ian smiled and placed a piece of meat on Jin’s plate. If he had seen a successor in his previous life, and if he had a child, he would want a child like Jin.

“I understand. I will prepare without any problems.”

“Okay. I will do so too.”

“Please eat more.”

Clink, clink. Ian smiled as he watched Jin bravely devour the meat. Beric woke up and grumbled from time to time, but even that felt like peaceful noise. The day after the rain was so cozy and warm. Ian unknowingly fell asleep after finishing his meal.

Creak.

“Gasp. He’s sleeping.”

“Oh my, what should we do?”

“Let’s come back in another hour.”

The bedroom, which had been filled with the smell of blood, was now filled with the smell of meat and the sound of soft breathing, along with Jin, Siao, and Beric.