Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 226

“Ugh! Are you kidding me right now?”

Romandro, who had returned after stamping the accusation, waved his hand dismissively and laughed. It was as if he had heard a truly absurd joke. In all his life, even the combination of words seemed crazy. A prince a demon? And a devil at that?

“Puhaha! Oh, really. Don’t say that outside. You’ll get arrested for insulting the Imperial Family! Even a minister wouldn’t be spared. Ahem. Instead, let me go home. It’s night, and my shoulders and knees are aching all over. Captain Hale went in first, and this is the last thing to finish!”

Ta-da! Romandro’s eyes sparkled as he presented the final report. However, Ian didn’t seem inclined to approve it. He simply sipped his tea calmly and smiled. Romandro’s lips slowly drooped.

“…No way, could it be, oh my god, is that possible?”

“Arsen is indeed a demon.”

Romandro instinctively covered his mouth with both hands. He felt his neck stiffen with shock. He also instinctively looked around, worried that someone might hear. Although, there were only Ian and himself in the office.

“The circumstances are clear. The name of the demon that Riversaid last dealt with was Arsen. It seems he borrowed that name.”

Ian explained to Romandro what had happened. From the different oracles to Delilah’s visit, in detail. The more he spoke, the wider Romandro’s mouth opened, until it was wide enough to fit a fist.

“I, if that’s true, if that’s true, we shouldn’t be sitting here like this? We should go and cut off his head right now. A demon. A demon has infiltrated to bring about the decline of Bariel!”

Romandro cautiously exclaimed through his teeth. It was enough to make one go crazy. Such a bad omen for the great empire of Bariel! Unlike Romandro, who was making a fuss, Ian calmly sharpened his pen.

“Of course, we will. But we can’t do it now. Arsen’s position in the Imperial Palace is at its peak, isn’t it? We can’t turn him back with just circumstantial evidence.”

Riversaid’s dream that Jin had? The priest’s ten-year-old memory? The vague claim that the voice of God is different? All of them were things that could not be seen with the eyes. It was far from enough to bring Arsen down.

“Then, what, what do we do?”

Going home was not the issue. Romandro pulled a chair and sat in front of Ian, looking at what he was examining. They were documents related to the temple, oracles, and demons, stored in the Imperial Palace.

“I have something in mind, but I’m trying to see if it’s feasible.”

“You’re going to look through all of this by yourself?”

“If I had a lot of time, I could, but unfortunately, I don’t think I will. Delilah’s attendants have left the palace with the mages. They should arrive here as early as tomorrow, or at least the day after.”

Ian smiled and handed the documents to Romandro. It was an invitation to look together. Since there was a traitor mixed in with the Magic Department, he couldn’t carelessly ask for work support.

“Okay. What should I look for?”

“From here to here. Please sort out anything that seems even slightly related to Arsen and pass it on to me.”

Romandro pressed his eyes and nodded. Not sleeping for another day wouldn’t kill him, and yes! It was worth sacrificing for Bariel. His eyes felt a little moist, but he sat next to Ian without complaint and flipped through the papers.

Scribble.

“Ian. Listen to this. This, doesn’t this also apply to His Highness Arsen?”

-If a demon undergoes physical growth, it is also possible for its innate abilities to grow and for it to acquire new ones.

Ian took the paper from Romandro. If the above was true, now was definitely the right time. It was right to cut off the bud before it grew bigger. Ian was about to put the paper down when he focused on ‘acquiring new ones’.

“Come to think of it…”

“Come to think of it? Why?”

“At the New Year’s party. Arsen was very curious about my mana sphere. He even touched it. It could be an act, but according to His Highness Jin, he couldn’t hide his excitement even when he went back to his residence.”

Could he have touched the mage’s mana at that time, remembered it, and copied it? Ian tapped the paper with his fingertips. Little by little, the stage for Arsen was taking shape.

“…Lord Romandro?”

“Don’t call me that. I get a little scared every time you call me that.”

“About the rumors using His Highness Gale. Let’s push that a little harder. If His Highness Arsen’s identity is revealed, it will create a crack in the political situation I predicted. Especially, I can’t be sure how the Hyman side will react right away. So, if possible, it’s better to sort it out before that.”

“It won’t be easy, but I’ll try.”

“Good.”

The two focused on the documents again. As time grew later, Romandro bit his lip and chased away sleep. One of the princes was a demon. And one who came down to swallow Bariel! He absolutely couldn’t fall asleep. In fact, he still couldn’t quite believe it, but since Ian said so, he was trying to accept it. His choices had never been wrong before.

Knock knock.

“It’s Vivianna. I brought more tea in case it got cold.”

“Come in.”

However, Romandro had already stayed up all night the previous day. Just as his head was about to fall back, he heard a noise from outside. Startled, he straightened up with a jolt.

Creak.

Vivianna peeked her head in worriedly, holding a tray. Next to her, Jin was also peeking in, sticking close to her side. Ian was surprised and put down his pen. It was the early hours of the morning, and he wasn’t asleep yet?

“Your Highness?”

“He said he was staying in front in case he was disturbing. It seems he can’t sleep. He should drink some tea that’s good for sleep with me… Lord Romandro! What happened to your face?”

“Vivi! Haa, I fought with the people from the Ministry of Justice today.”

“Oh my. Oh my goodness.”

Romandro took this opportunity to run and hug Vivianna. It was to receive the comfort of a lover who would wash away all his grievances at once. While the two were hugging, Jin looked at Ian hesitantly.

“Lord Ian.”

Ian examined the child’s condition. His eyes were red, and his complexion was not good. When he glanced at Siao, he lowered his gaze and shook his head. It meant that he couldn’t fall asleep at all.

“It’s too late. Your Highness.”

“That is, a little…”

“Come here.”

Ian moved to the sofa and patted the seat next to him. He must be shocked that his brother was a demon. And a demon who looked just like him.

At Ian’s call, Jin ran to the sofa and sat down next to him. The tips of his neatly arranged fingers were all torn. He could guess how anxious he was.

“What is disturbing Your Highness’s mind?”

“I, I don’t understand.”

“Why a demon is Your Highness’s twin brother?”

Vivianna, who was comforting Romandro, paused. What on earth were they talking about? Like her, Siao also took a step back. He judged that it was not something he should hear.

“That’s enough. It’s top secret for now, but it’s a fact that will be revealed in a few days. His Highness Arsen is a demon.”

“…Huh? Am I hearing this right, huh?”

“Vivi. You’re surprised, right? Me too. I’ll explain it to you.”

Romandro moved to the window with Vivianna to avoid interrupting their conversation. Every time Romandro whispered something, Vivianna shuddered in horror. Instead of her, Siao poured water into the teacup.

Pour.

It was fragrant flower tea. Jin held the tea with both hands and took a deep breath to calm his mind.

“Your Highness. The reason why a demon had to come out as Your Highness’s twin is very clear.”

“Because the blood of Carbo flows through me?”

If so, what was the difference from cursed blood? When Jin teared up, Ian smiled and shook his head.

“It’s because Your Highness is the future emperor, not Marib, not Gale.”

Jin put the tea to his lips and stopped. It was a reason he had never thought of.

“Just as God does, the devil must have also measured the right place. It would have been better for him to be close to Your Highness, the future emperor, than to the princes who would disappear into the annals of history, to achieve his evil purpose.”

So, all the hardships you’ve had so far are proof that the future to come will be brilliant.

Everything that was painful, unfair, and made you want to give up was like a signpost pointing to a perfectly predetermined future. Ian patted Jin and whispered.

“So don’t be too upset. Your Highness’s destiny is with Bariel. So close that the devil thought it was okay to infiltrate.”

Jin bit his lip and frowned as if trying to hold back tears. But how could he stop the rising emotions? When the child burst into tears, Ian laughed and wiped them away.

“Don’t cry, Your Highness.”

“…I’m not crying.”

“…Shall I read you a book? I borrowed the books, so you must not have had anything to read. I’m sorry. Let’s go to bed.”

At Ian’s suggestion, Jin nodded briefly. Did Arsen realize that he was a demon? If he had awakened on his own, what about his mother? What should he really do about his mother?

‘I should ask Lord Riversaid.’

If he fell asleep after reading a fairy tale, Lord Riversaid would surely come to see him. He had to ask for a way to save his mother. Jin returned to his bedroom with that determination. Under the soft light, Ian’s blonde hair shone warmly.

“Once upon a time…”

The voice reading while leaning against the head of the bed was particularly kind. Before even a few pages of the fairy tale were turned, the child fell asleep without realizing it.

* * *

Meanwhile, at that time.

“Oh God. Oh God, who judges fate and connects lives. Here is a weak believer who desires wisdom and guidance. Please, please, if my small groan is heard, please comfort me. I, I…”

Avidiel was constantly calling out to God with her head buried in the corner. Macael looked at her anxiously from behind.

The two had been given the reception room of the Magic Department at Ian’s recommendation. They would not be able to leave here until the light of the oracle descended from the stone mountain, or at least until another priest who had received the oracle arrived.

“Avidiel.”

“Please, please…”

Avidiel was shedding tears under her veil. One part of her denied Ian’s theory, but another part of her could not help but admit that it contained a considerable possibility.

Was what she heard that day really not an oracle? She had lived for ten years with the glory of hearing the will of God engraved in her heart. But, if it was the voice of a demon? What should she do?

“Macael. I-!”

Avidiel completely collapsed and curled up into a ball. She felt like her whole body was defiled. She was disgusted with herself for worshiping the demon’s voice as God’s.

Macael patted her back and comforted her.

“It’s not certain yet. Calm down, and let’s discuss the problem when everyone arrives.”

He couldn’t bring himself to say that it wasn’t her fault and not to worry. No matter what Avidiel’s position was, the responsibility would not disappear. She mumbled without even removing her wet veil.

“Why, why didn’t God tell me?”

“Avidiel. Please calm down.”

“That it was wrong, that it was the voice of an evil one! If you had any pity for me, you could have told me! But why! Why!”

Creak.

“He did tell you.”

A voice was heard behind her as she cried out. It was Ian, who was returning after reading a book to Jin. Because the night was so quiet, her prayer echoed loudly in the hallway.

“Today, through my mouth.”

“It’s been ten years. It’s been too long.”

“Ten years is a long time from a human perspective. It wouldn’t be so from the perspective of God, who governs eternity. He must have chosen the most appropriate time in the long flow, and that is now, so believe that.”

Macael paused as he wiped Avidiel’s tears. It was because Ian had completely opened the door. A gust of cold air from outside poured in at once.

“…Why don’t you come to my office with me and explore the truth?”

About the ancient demons, about Riversaid, about the temple, and about the oracle. Anything was fine. Even a rebuttal that Arsen was not a demon was welcome. Whatever it was, knowledge would become wisdom.

“The tragedy that began at the Carbo Temple.”

There wasn’t much time left. If Arsen successfully passed the mana confirmation ceremony and gained absolute support, there would be no greater obstacle.

“It’s not too late yet. There’s still a chance to stop Arsen, so if it’s resolved, it means you’ve taken responsibility, and if you can refute it, it means you’re free from responsibility. It seems more effective than prayer right now.”

Clatter.

Ian shook the fairy tale book lightly and nodded.

Avidiel and Macael suddenly thought that it might be God’s answer. To go, to help Ian, and to save Bariel, an unspoken answer.