Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 223

“I heard the Magic Department and the Justice Department had a big fight?”

“A big fight? What big fight?”

At Gail’s residence, as the sun was setting, a soldier, who had always been as straight as an arrow, muttered to himself. He was unbearably bored, realizing that his shift was almost over. He responded, sensing footsteps approaching from afar.

“It’s a mess, they say. Everyone says it’s the first time they’ve seen mages fighting like that, and no one even thought of stopping them. It seems like it was because of some stamp or something.”

“Was there a problem with the deal?”

“That’s why the Justice Department employees left work as soon as their shift ended, right? Honestly, the Imperial Palace is a joke. They fight like they’re going to kill each other, but then they leave when it’s time to go.”

The soldiers chuckled, then straightened up as they spotted a carriage approaching from afar. The flag indicated it was from the Magic Department. Usually, the mages who came to Gail’s residence were either healing mages or Ian.

Screech!

Neigh!

“Lord Ian, welcome.”

“You’ve worked hard. Any problems?”

“No, sir. Everything is fine.”

Ian nodded and walked up the stairs alone. He usually brought Romandro with him, but for some reason, he was with other mages today.

Ian tucked his leather gloves into his chest and walked through the palace with practiced ease.

Tap tap.

The sun was setting. The deep, stretched-out sunset was turning from orange to a reddish hue. A warm breeze. Distant shadows. The beginning of darkness pouring through the large windows. The footsteps of Ian and the mages following him echoed through the empty hallway.

“Ah, Lord Ian.”

“It’s Lord Ian. What brings you here?”

The warriors of Cheonryeo, who had been lying on the lawn in the garden, greeted Ian. They were all chewing on blades of grass, enjoying the leisurely greenness. Ian simply returned their greetings with a small smile.

Swoosh.

“Is something the matter? Where’s Lord Romandro?”

“Yeah, but the more I look at him, the more he looks like Philea, right? That’s why bloodlines are so important. If Lord Nersarn has a child, we should pray that they look like Philea.”

The warriors dismissed it as nothing and lay back down on the grass. They didn’t know when they would return to the desert, but this kind of luxury wasn’t bad.

Squeak.

“Lord Ian, greetings.”

“Is His Highness Gail inside?”

“Yes, he is. He is currently having a meal.”

“Open the door.”

At Ian’s command, the inner door leading to the bedroom slowly opened.

Gail, who was eating at the table next to the bed, frowned. Surprisingly, Philea and Nersarn were with him.

“Oh, Ian!”

“Mother is here too.”

“Ah, well, that’s…”

Philea looked troubled and didn’t know what to do. She was flustered, worried that she might be criticized for overstepping her bounds.

Gail glanced at Philea, then loudly put down his fork.

Clack.

“I requested their company because eating alone was boring. But the soldier guarding the front is clumsy and rude. Letting guests in without informing me that I’m eating.”

But unlike his words, Gail’s knife was pointing at Ian. It was a protest that his actions were rude, knowing that he was eating.

However, Ian simply ignored it with a glance and asked Philea.

“Please leave me alone with His Highness Gail for a moment.”

“Ah, yes, yes. Okay.”

Philea hurriedly tidied up and disappeared into the next room with Nersarn. Gail scanned Ian up and down, then nonchalantly cut his steak.

“Since you’ve chased away my dining companions, you should sit down instead. By the way, I like being fed.”

Seeing him joking so playfully, it seemed like he was doing a bit better.

The mages placed a small glass bottle in front of Ian and left as well. Gail kept eating and looked down at it. Even without Ian saying anything, he could sense what it was.

“…I don’t eat dessert.”

It was a potion that brought death. With the power of magic, he would completely give his breath to Ian. He could now feel that the last chapter of his life was truly beginning.

“Soon, rumors will spread.”

“Rumors. Rumors, you say.”

Clink, clink. The sound of cutlery clashing quietly echoed. Gail was silent, turning things over in his head, and soon came up with an answer that was close to the truth.

“Is it a rumor that I’m defecting?”

“…That is correct.”

“That’s absurd. By whose permission are you using the prince’s name? I didn’t think you were so careless.”

Ian was inwardly surprised, but he didn’t respond. He didn’t seem to want an answer either.

“Your Highness, you just need to stay as you are now.”

“Ah, I see. So, I just stay still, stand trial, prove Hyman’s corruption, and follow Marib. And if something goes wrong in the middle, I can die without any problems.”

Thump!

Gail slammed the table hard, then pointed his knife at Ian’s neck. He wanted to slice that white neck like he was cutting a steak.

“I’m already waiting for death anyway. Taking this potion is nothing. But what did you say? Defect? That I would abandon Bariel and go to a foreign country? To beg for my life?”

Where else could there be such an insult? He was not a coward who would beg for his life by abandoning his homeland. Gail gritted his teeth, but Ian didn’t care and pushed the potion forward.

“It’s just a rumor. A rumor that will disappear without a trace at any time.”

“My honor will disappear with it.”

“I am sorry, Your Highness, but your honor has already disappeared since the rebellion began.”

Crash! Clang!

Gail overturned all the dishes on the table.

He didn’t want to believe it, but it was reality. He was in a situation where he couldn’t even take a step outside the palace, and even if he did, he would meet a terrible end due to Hyman’s assassination.

The two glared at each other with cold eyes.

“Stay still and don’t cause trouble. If you do, at least you won’t end up like Marib.”

The end of being stripped of the royal family’s name, erased from history, and hanging by a thread while the nobles applauded. Ian whispered quietly, as if to soothe him.

“I will also protect your mother’s tree in my name. Please do not forget that all of this is my consideration.”

It was a reminder of what he had promised Gail. After all, if Ian had wanted to, he could have given him the potion without anyone knowing.

Gail frowned and snatched the potion.

“Ha. Consideration?”

And without hesitation, he drank the potion in one gulp. A dull and spicy taste enveloped the tip of his tongue. This was death, Gail roughly wiped his mouth and threw the glass bottle against the wall.

Clang!

“Yes. This is the consideration you want from me.”

“Since our understanding of each other has reached its peak, there is no better cooperation than this.”

“You’re not going to heaven either.”

“If I can make Bariel heaven, I’ll go anywhere.”

Ian replied elegantly, and Gail burst out laughing. A hot energy permeated his body. Now his breath was entirely up to that bastard. As his chest tightened, the soldiers outside reported.

“Lord Ian, are you alright?”

“I’m fine. Everyone, step back.”

“Ah, yes, yes. Understood.”

They were worried that there might be a problem because of the loud noise. Of course, even in this situation, no one was worried about him. As Gail stared blankly at the ceiling, Ian got up from his seat. He had finished his business.

“Other than a slight fever, there will be no problem with your daily life. You can just forget that you drank it.”

“When will I die?”

“…There will be a perfect time in the eyes of God.”

“I’ve been thinking about it for a few days.”

An unexpected preamble. Ian was about to ignore it, but he stopped and turned to look at Gail. If there was no one to listen, the words spoken would only exist as sounds and scatter. It was the last sigh of a man facing death, so it wouldn’t be bad to just listen.

“When I first received Wesley’s curse.”

“Wesley’s curse?”

“Actually, I didn’t think much of it. That I wouldn’t be loved, or whatever, I thought there wouldn’t be much change from before.”

Because that’s how it had always been. They whispered sweet nothings, but it was always within a thorough relationship of mutual benefit, and the other party was the same. Wesley had also gained a lot from meeting Gail.

Was that true love? It didn’t seem like it would be any different from before, so what was the curse and what was the problem? Gail had certainly thought so at first.

“But now that I think about my situation, I understand. The words that I wouldn’t be loved. That included Bariel.”

Gail himself had made ardent appeals to Bariel, but in the end, he was not chosen and was not loved. Ian crossed his arms and looked down at him. As if they were brothers, he was saying something quite similar to Marib.

“Shall I record it? That His Highness Gail was rejected by Bariel.”

“I wish you would go out and die, Ian.”

“I can’t die, but I can go out. Enjoy it. There’s not much time left.”

Gail chuckled and muttered a light curse. As Ian stepped out of the door, Philea and the soldiers who were standing close by jumped back in surprise. They seemed worried about the commotion.

“I, Ian! Are you okay? I heard the sound of dishes breaking.”

“I am fine. However, the floor will need to be cleaned. Let the servants in.”

“Yes. Understood!”

“…The swelling on your cheek has gone down a lot. That’s a relief.”

Ian glanced at his mother’s cheek and nodded. There were still some scratches left from being slapped by Arsen, but they had healed to the point where they were barely visible.

“Hey, Ian. If you have time, would you like to take a walk in the garden? There’s something I need to discuss with Lord Nersarn.”

“Hmm, yes. I suppose so. That much is fine.”

Romandro and Hale had not yet returned from outside. He believed that they had stamped the seal on time, but he couldn’t do anything until he saw it with his own eyes. There was a bit of time left.

“How is life in the palace?”

“It’s too, too much for me. I’m grateful just to have had this opportunity in my life. But, you know, I think it’s time for us to start looking at the date we should return.”

Ian estimated the date. Come to think of it, it had been quite a few days since they had arrived here. The minority group with a base had suffered quite a bit in a place where the climate didn’t suit them. Ian put his hand on his chest and expressed his gratitude to Nersarn.

“If you wish, I will prepare a carriage and a journey. The Imperial Palace has escaped a crisis with the help of Cheonryeo, and I will engrave this deeply in my heart.”

“What are you talking about? We are allies. We have a duty to share both joy and hardship.”

“I am truly grateful for your words.”

“So, about that…”

So, about that? As Ian raised his head as if to say, ‘Tell me,’ Nersarn closed his mouth tightly, looking nervous. It was unlike him. Nersarn requested very slowly, but with sincerity.

“Before we leave, I would like to have a small engagement ceremony with Lord Ian. We will hold a separate wedding ceremony when we return to Hielo.”

“Ah.”

Philea’s face turned as red as a beet. It was so cute to see her asking her child for permission. Ian let out a short exclamation and immediately agreed.

“Of course. However, there is too much work right now, so how about we do it after His Highness Arsen’s magic confirmation ceremony and other urgent matters are finished? I will make the preparations.”

“Ian? Make the preparations?”

“I will do my best.”

Philea was so happy that she was about to stomp her feet. Nersarn also seemed relieved, his expression much lighter.

They were talking about the engagement ceremony in the garden when a mage rushed over and whispered to Ian.

“Lord Ian, we have just received a message regarding the Carbo Temple. It seems you need to go out.”