Margrave’s Bastard Son Was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 213

“Your Highness?”

Quintana lowered her head, drawing Jin’s attention.

They were on the garden path leading to the outdoor opera theater where the execution would take place. Nobles were gathered in small groups, chatting on the palace lawn. They pretended to shield themselves from the sun with fans and hats, but their eyes kept glancing at Jin.

“Ah. Yes.”

“Are you alright? Shall I prepare a carriage?”

“It’s not that far. And the weather is nice.”

“…If that’s what Your Highness wishes.”

It seemed that facing the nobles without Ian was quite a burden. Jin had never met the central nobles privately before, and most of them were older than him, so their interests didn’t overlap. Without Ian to act as a bridge, it was inevitable that he felt more nervous.

Quintana and the ministers walked in step with Jin, observing his complexion.

“By the way, Your Highness. Who is that person behind you?”

“Siaosi?”

“Is he someone Lord Ian assigned?”

The red-haired magic swordsman was famous as Ian’s subordinate. They had never heard of an odd-eyed man named Siaosi. He looked decent, so he was probably a knight brought in from outside through Romandro.

Quintana whispered to Jin, wary of him.

“Could it be that he is monitoring Your Highness’s every move?”

“Quintana, I am truly grateful that you’ve been worried about me since last time. But there’s nothing like that. Siaosi is my escort. Ian is the same.”

“That’s a relief.”

Quintana then relaxed her guard a little and smiled. Even though Arsen was a magic user, Jin seemed as bright as ever, which was a relief.

“This way, please.”

“Your Highness, this way.”

More than half of the nobles had already filled the opera theater. The atmosphere was like that of people who couldn’t hide their excitement before a famous performance.

Just as the imperial power and divine power were inversely proportional, the nobles also welcomed the moderate downfall of the imperial family. Moreover, today’s protagonist was none other than the First Prince, Marib. It was the day that the man who had ruled the empire for over a decade would die, so what better performance could there be?

“The gallows are bigger than I thought.”

“This is Your Highness’s first time seeing it. The stage platform is high, so it looks that way. And the higher it is, the deeper the sin of the criminal.”

Jin, Quintana, and the ministers, including Siaosi, leaned back in their chairs. They were in the best seats, closest to the stage.

Shortly after, Ian, who had finished the site inspection, returned.

“Did you enjoy your walk, Your Highness?”

“Ian! Come sit here quickly.”

“It will start soon. If you wish, you can close your eyes.”

Ian was considerate of Jin, saying that just attending was enough. As soon as Jin nodded, the head of the execution department went up to the stage with the verdict.

“Originally, His Majesty the Emperor should have written it, but due to his poor health, we have borrowed the imperial family execution verdict from 21 years ago.”

At Ian’s explanation, the head of the execution department gave a polite bow. The murmuring hall instantly fell silent. Finally, the execution of the First Prince Marib was about to begin.

Boo-ooo-

The water buffalo horn trumpet sounded clear and loud. The head of the department solemnly unfolded the parchment and stood in front of the magic tool that amplified the sound.

“In the name of His Majesty the Emperor, I shall now announce the crimes of the convict Marib.”

It was a part that had been repeated countless times in the courtroom. No one welcomed it, but the nobles applauded gracefully.

The atmosphere was completely different from when Derga was executed in Bratz Territory. Back then, stones and filth were thrown, and they were busy controlling the surroundings, but now it was calm, as if they were waiting for a performance.

‘Is that why? It’s rather bizarre.’

An execution is when a criminal pays for their sins with death. Since there is inevitably a victim in a crime, the anger of the crowd was a very natural phenomenon.

But now? No one is angry.

“…Therefore, the honor and glory of the imperial family shall be forever stripped from Marib. By the order of the Emperor, Marib is sentenced to death by hanging.”

The verdict, which had been listened to sporadically, ended. Then, Marib walked out from behind. He was blindfolded and gagged. He looked calm, but the shackles on his feet rattled loudly.

Boo-ooo-

The trumpet sounded again. The purpose of the hanging was to shame him until the very end. The execution department removed Marib’s blindfold, making him aware that he was kneeling before numerous nobles.

“Put the rope on him.”

“Put the rope on him!”

Creak. Creak.

The execution department standing next to him lowered the rope. Marib kept his gagged lips still. He seemed to have given up, resigned to offering his neck.

The thick robe tightened around his neck.

“Oh my. Goodness. How cruel.”

“I still can’t believe it.”

“Oh dear, tsk tsk.”

At the gesture of the execution department, Marib’s body slowly rose into the air. But he didn’t struggle; he calmly relaxed his body. He swayed slightly in the wind, but Marib did not resist.

“Raise him higher!”

Creak! Creak!

In his last moment, Marib looked up at the sky. It was a clear blue sky without a speck of dust. It was clearer and purer than his own blue eyes. It was like a silent revelation that even if his life ended, Bariel’s time would continue to flow.

“Huk… !”

His long hair swayed slightly. And tears flowed against his will. Who would even see the tears dripping down his chin?

In his fading vision, Marib thought of his mother. If he met his mother in death, he would embrace her first. Although he had failed, he would tell her that he truly loved Bariel and did his best.

‘And if I am given another life, I will not let it end like this.’

It was his last vow. An impossible will that would vanish like a midsummer night’s dream.

Marib eventually let out his last breath and met his death in the skies of Bariel.

“He’s dead.”

“Prince Marib is dead.”

“Oh, he’s dead! Marib is dead.”

As his head, which had been raised, drooped down, the nobles cheered and applauded. Then, the magicians who had been waiting below the stage confirmed that Marib’s breath had completely stopped and activated the magic circle.

Ziiing. Ziing.

Swoosh!

“It’s magic!”

“No, why magic?”

“It seems they are trying to dispose of the body.”

“Well, even though he was expelled from the imperial family, they could at least give him a final courtesy. Minister Ian, I didn’t think you were so considerate.”

“It’s not consideration, it’s unavoidable.”

“What do you mean?”

The nobles glanced at Ian at the sudden magic. But Ian kept his gaze fixed on Marib’s body, watching his last moments.

“Isn’t his status ambiguous? He’s not a member of the imperial family, so we can’t follow the law, and is he a noble with a title, or a commoner? It’s ambiguous, so it’s better to get rid of him.”

“That’s true, but if we build a tomb outside the palace, the imperial citizens who don’t know the situation will mourn him. Mourning a criminal is absurd. If the mourning becomes unexpectedly strong, it will be a burden on Your Highness, the next successor. It’s better to cut off the bud.”

The nobles added their own words and whispered. On the surface, it was a way of showing courtesy, but if you looked at their intentions, their motives were clear.

“…Indeed, he is an interesting person.”

“It hasn’t even been half a year since he came up from the border. Look at the position he’s standing in. Isn’t it scary?”

“I heard he’s trying to keep Duke Hyman in check.”

“If the Hyman family falls, it’s obvious what will happen next. It will be a threat to all of us central nobles.”

“Shhh. Let’s be quiet for a moment. There’s a rumor that magicians’ senses become more sensitive when they use magic.”

Even though it was a sound as small as a yawn, the nobles coughed unnecessarily and checked Ian’s expression. But since only his back was visible, there was nothing to check.

Swoosh!

A beautiful ripple like an aurora occurred on the stage. It wrapped around Marib’s already cold body from his toes, and then completely covered him.

“Oh ho!”

“It’s a butterfly.”

Marib’s form blurred from his toes and turned into a white butterfly. Hundreds of butterflies fluttered their wings and flew into the sky. They scattered in all directions in a short moment and flowed wherever the wind took them.

Now, no one in the world would see Marib’s complete body.

“Ian.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“……”

Was this Ian’s courtesy to beautifully decorate Marib’s last moments, or was it a way to not leave a single trace of his body? Jin was curious and turned to look at him, but he didn’t ask. It seemed like both were the answer.

Swoosh.

When the aurora disappeared, only the rope hung there, swaying in the wind. The head of the execution department, with the help of the magicians, expanded the reception range of the magic tool. Now, the news of Marib’s death would be officially conveyed to Bariel.

“Ah, this is a message from the imperial palace. Marib Verosion, the former First Prince, has been stripped of his imperial family name and executed by hanging for the crime of treason. Anyone who threatens Bariel will meet the same fate. The citizens of the great empire should keep this in mind and erase Marib from history. I repeat, Marib Verosion, the former First Prince…”

While the head of the execution department was announcing it to the entire empire, the nobles rose from their seats, celebrating the end of the event. The brief applause and excited expressions seemed to indicate that it was a truly satisfying performance.

“Lady Delilah, Prince Arsen. Shall we have a cup of tea?”

“That sounds good. Before that, may I ask for a handshake? It is said that good luck comes from shaking hands with a magic user.”

“Of course. Let’s move our seats.”

“It would be nice to have a table in the garden since the weather is nice.”

Arsen’s side was making a fuss, gathering their forces. Arsen smiled brightly as if to show off and left the theater with the ministers, while Jin stared blankly at the empty stage.

“Your Highness, are you alright?”

“Yeah. I’m fine. It’s just, how should I say it? My heart aches a little.”

They weren’t close, but they were still brothers by blood. Jin had a feeling that he would remember Marib’s last words in the courtroom forever.

That he loved Bariel more than anyone else.

“Lord Ian, are you going straight to the Ministry of Magic?”

“No. I’m going to have a meeting with the Serio family for a while. Would Your Highness like to join us?”

“Is that alright?”

“Of course, there’s no reason why not. It’s all for Your Highness’s future. But the meeting will be long, so please feel free to say if you’re tired.”

“Okay, okay. I will. Oh, and the doctor said that as long as Beric doesn’t swallow the meat, it’s okay to put it in his mouth little by little.”

“I don’t think Beric will just keep it in his mouth.”

Ian frowned and smiled with disbelief. But Jin clenched his fist and showed his enthusiasm. Making Beric recover quickly was the closest goal for the child.

“Quintana, what about you?”

“Your Highness. I’m sorry, but I’ll be with Lord Ian for a while.”

“Ah, I see. Then I’ll go look at the flowers with Siaosi for a while. You all talk.”

As Jin stepped back with Siaosi, Quintana gave a look that suggested they move their seats. While Ian followed her around the garden, Jin squatted down in the flower garden and told Siaosi about various things.

“When these bloom, it’s a sign that spring has come, everyone… oh?”

Swoosh.

At that moment, a white butterfly landed on Jin’s fingertip and Ian’s shoulder at the same time. Jin carefully curled his hand and whispered-

‘Farewell, brother.’

Ian lightly flicked his hand and sent the butterfly into the sky.

‘Farewell, Marib.’

Behind the hundreds of butterflies that had risen from the imperial palace, the last two also disappeared. They would be somewhere, but no one would know. Just like Marib’s traces.