Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 209

D-5

The grand mansion of the Haiman family, often called the small imperial palace of the center, was truly a sight to behold.

Its scale and splendor were so immense that it could rival the imperial palace itself. It was so grand that foreigners visiting the capital for the first time often mistook it for the actual palace.

Duke Haiman was smoking a water pipe, watching the small fountain flowing in the reception room.

“So, you’re saying they clashed with the Imperial Guards in the Chetur district?”

“I apologize.”

“And that Jerrot, the captain, was directly involved.”

“Currently, access to the inner Chetur area is restricted. The bridge is flooded, and the other side is blocked by the Imperial Guards, who are checking IDs. According to reports, most of the magic armor was damaged, and the ones stored in the warehouse were also confiscated…”

Clack!

The aide couldn’t finish his sentence. The long water pipe had struck him squarely in the face. However, he remained silent, his gaze fixed on the floor.

“I clearly told you to keep a close watch on the underlings.”

From the beginning, those wearing black armor had been causing trouble. It seemed that they were not formal knights of the Haiman family but mercenaries hired under contract.

The aide bowed deeply and apologized again.

“I apologize.”

“If they’re taken as witnesses, what happens next? You’re smart, you know well. What do you think will happen? Huh? With Gale still alive, do you think Ian will leave us alone?”

Haiman’s black eyes gleamed, like those of a crow. The gaze, devoid of any white, made the aide shrink further.

“More than half of them died on the spot due to the Imperial Guard’s attack. Those who were taken to the imperial palace for treatment are being treated, but their lives are not guaranteed.”

Haiman didn’t know how many people in the imperial palace were on his payroll. Anyone with a shadow, anyone who knew the gleam of gold, became Haiman’s eyes and ears, reporting information.

Did Ian notice? That Haiman’s gold had also rolled into the Magic Department.

“Clean it up. Neatly.”

“Yes. I will make sure of that.”

They were men whose lifespans were uncertain. If he helped them when they were on their last breath, the cleanup could proceed without suspicion. Haiman exhaled the unusually hot smoke.

“And the materials from Chetur were confiscated?”

“What should we do?”

The magic armor was the core of Haiman’s power. Originally made for guarding banks, there were countless of them stored within the family. However, the suspension of the supply of ‘that’ material was a bit problematic. Haiman twisted his beard and muttered.

“Commander Acorella must have started her research.”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

If they claimed the magic stones were the Haiman family’s property, they would have to take responsibility for the nighttime battle. Clashing with the Imperial Guards was a serious crime without any room for argument. But to lose it with their eyes open was like a bolt from the blue.

“If it’s Commander Acorella, she’s skilled, so she’ll figure out its identity soon. That’s not bad in itself, but the problem is the ownership.”

Even if it belonged to the imperial palace, if Arsen could seize power, they could take it back. But with Ian and Jin standing in the way, and Acorella, that crazy researcher, wouldn’t leave it alone. She would surely use it for all sorts of research.

“It seems that other than Prince Arsen being a magic user, nothing is going right. What about Gale’s side?”

“They keep trying, but the security is considerable.”

“I wish someone would just stab him openly. Once Marib’s trial is over, the Haiman family will be the main topic of discussion.”

Haiman scratched the leather handle with his fingernails and called the butler.

“Butler.”

“Yes, Master.”

“I will write a letter to Luswena. Prepare it.”

Luswena was the oldest of the border countries adjacent to Bariel. A strong, prosperous country with fertile land, knowing no lack.

And it was also the country ruled by Melanie’s relative. The butler immediately prepared high-quality paper and a pen for Haiman.

“Will you send it by carrier pigeon?”

“No. With proper respect, directly.”

“I will prepare someone who is good at riding horses.”

Squeak.

Haiman stared at the blank paper for a long time, as if trying to organize his thoughts. It was only when the candlelight was about to die out that he elegantly picked up the pen and began to write the preface.

-To the Queen of Luswena. Please help the Haiman family.

* * *

Hee-heeing!

As the sun was setting, Romandro arrived at the Magic Department with the Imperial Guards. He was so tired that his shoulders cracked every time he turned them.

“Sir Romandro! You’ve worked hard.”

“Oh, yes. It feels like it’s been a long time.”

“Didn’t we see each other yesterday? Are these all the things confiscated from the Chetur district? Greetings, Imperial Guards. Please unload the luggage. We’ll move it.”

About half a dozen small boxes were unloaded from the back of the carriage.

Half of what was found after searching the Chetur district was given to the Magic Department. Research was the priority, and since the Imperial Guards and the Magic Department were both involved in the incident, it was distributed evenly. Later, through a formal agenda, the items stored in the Imperial Guards would also be moved to the Magic Department.

‘The sun is setting. Finally, tomorrow, the trial…’

The moment Romandro stretched, he met a sharp gaze from above the stairs. On closer inspection, it was Acorella’s research goggles reflecting the light.

“Sir Romandro!”

“Oh my, you startled me.”

Taptap!

Whoosh!

It was Acorella. Instead of walking down the stairs, she leaned against the railing and slid down. Her subordinates followed behind her.

“Why are you so late?”

“Me? Do you have reports to process?”

“We’ve been waiting! Really!”

With that, she immediately opened the box. Black raw stones piled up. Acorella was grinning, with a nosebleed, without realizing it. Was that a human? It was so incredible that he wondered if he was hallucinating from exhaustion.

Acorella turned her head, and Romandro flinched and took a step back.

“Can I take this to the lab right away?”

“Please do. Anyway, no one in the Magic Department except Commander Acorella can touch this.”

“Kyahho! Muyaho! The one Ian gave me earlier was ruined because I did something wrong. This amount is no problem. Hmm, very good. So good!”

Acorella gestured to her subordinates to move quickly, and the Imperial Guards were glad to roughly finish up the back of the carriage.

“Sir Romandro. Then I’ll be going.”

“Ah, you’ve worked hard. I’ll contact you again.”

“Hard work, hard work! Thank you so much! Ahahaha!”

Hee-heeing!

Until the carriage left, Acorella waved her hand enthusiastically. Romandro asked as he climbed the stairs with her.

“By the way, is there any progress in the research?”

Acorella, who was walking ahead, suddenly stopped and turned her head. Romandro was startled and almost fell, but she didn’t care and her eyes sparkled.

“Sir Romandro. Even the most outstanding researcher knows nothing with just one sample. Do you know how long I’ve been waiting for this?”

“…”

“But you know what! But-!”

She seemed very excited. She was crazy as usual, but now she was almost out of this world.

“Who am I? I’m Acorella?! Ahahaha!”

“Commander, let’s have a normal conversation.”

“I’ve found a few peculiarities. First of all, the crystals are strangely jumbled. In this case, it’s not something that was formed as a raw stone, but something that was refined somewhere or made through a complex synthesis process…”

Romandro narrowed his eyes and looked up at Acorella. He had no idea what she was talking about, even though they were speaking the same Bariel language.

She stopped talking and smiled.

“I guess it’s a result of an organic combination process. There aren’t many organic materials in the world that are sturdy enough to withstand the Imperial Guard’s attack. And with such a beautiful bituminous coal color!”

What was she talking about? Romandro sniffed and nodded. In the distance, Vivianna was approaching with Mini, holding a blanket.

“I’ve been running around in the rain all day, without eating, so I’m not in my right mind. Even if you explain it, I won’t understand, so please write it nicely in the report later.”

“I will! I’ll write it with a colored pen!”

“I refuse.”

With that, Romandro hugged Vivianna. Vivianna welcomed her husband, who was damp from the rain, with pity. Seeing that, Acorella shouted loudly and ran down to the lab.

“Have a great love! Ahahaha!”

She was in a good mood. It was so much that he suspected she had been drinking. Romandro clicked his tongue and entered the office with Vivianna. While Romandro was away, she had sorted the documents in order of urgency and placed them on the desk.

“Thank you, Vivi. Where is Ian?”

“He fell asleep after dinner and hasn’t woken up yet. His Highness Jin is with him.”

“Oh dear, they must be tired. I’ll take care of the rest, so let’s not wake them up and let them sleep until tomorrow. Anyway, the trial mediation is done by the judiciary, so we only have to organize the testimony.”

Rustle.

Tomorrow, the first prince of Bariel will disappear from history. To think that someone who everyone suspected would be the future emperor would fall like this. It seems that it’s true that you can’t see an inch ahead in life.

Vivianna sat next to Romandro, flipping through the documents and muttering.

“…Was it the year before last? Before I took a leave of absence.”

She, like Romandro, was a consultant who went around the imperial palace to handle work. Naturally, she had the opportunity to see Marib and Prince Gale several times.

“At that time, the two princes were really, really beautiful. Apart from their appearance, I could feel that both of them loved Bariel fiercely in different ways.”

However, Marib and Gale, whom she saw after entering the imperial palace, had changed remarkably.

One was a prisoner awaiting trial, his wrists bound by chains, and the other was lying in a disheveled state, unable to move.

“I don’t know where it went wrong.”

“That’s why tomorrow’s trial will be held in private for the imperial citizens. It’s a consideration to maintain the dignity of the prince at least until the end. Even if he disappears from history, he will continue to live in Bariel for a while.”

He wouldn’t deny it. Marib was the one who had led Bariel well, replacing the aging emperor. Romandro patted Vivianna’s hand and looked down at Marib’s name written on the document.

And it wasn’t just the Magic Department that was reminiscing about Marib and Gale’s past glory.

‘It’ll be a new day soon.’

‘His Highness Marib, in the end…’

‘They’re all leaving like this. I can feel that I’m in the middle of history.’

The employees who were taking down the photos of the princes in the lobby of the imperial palace, the servants who were cleaning up Marib’s residence, and the guards who were guarding him in front of the prison, all recalled his glorious days while waiting for Marib’s last moment.

It was the same for Marib.

“…Ah.”

He tilted his head back and looked up at the black ceiling. The days he had lived in the imperial palace were vividly flashing before his eyes.

When he was very young, he never thought his death would be like this.

Ding-dong- Ding-dong-

At the sound of midnight, Marib finally closed his eyes.