Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 228

Time seemed to have stopped.

Everyone stared at Ian, having forgotten to breathe at his shocking statement. It was a formality, as the resolution was impossible, but wasn’t it still an official meeting?

Ian had gone mad. Or else, they were the ones who had gone mad for hearing such words. The ministers could only gape, speechless.

Thump!

“Sir Ian!”

Quintana was the first to shout. She slammed her hand on the desk, truly enraged. Beols, jolted back to his senses by that, stood up as well.

Jairut, a close friend of the three commanders, simply tilted his head back and groaned.

“Sir Ian. You’ve crossed the line. You, of all people, can’t do this!”

Wasn’t he one of the few who knew the Emperor was frozen?

Had he forgotten the Emperor’s last words already?

Beols had a duty to mediate the overheated succession dispute. He couldn’t let Arsen die because of such absurd accusations.

“You all seem quite tired. You’re all shocked without even hearing me out.”

Tap, tap! Ian snapped his fingers, telling them to calm down. He was as composed and indifferent as ever.

Unbelievable. He had turned the entire assembly upside down, yet he was the only one who could be so relaxed? Quintana’s lips twisted as she rummaged through her inner pocket.

Flick.

“…Excuse me.”

It was irresistible. She lit a cigarette and tossed the lighter roughly onto the desk. It was a signal that anyone who needed it could use it.

Jairut, unable to calm his own bewilderment, lit his cigarette with Quintana’s lighter.

“Continue. Even if he’s a heinous criminal, he has the right to speak. But remember this. The moment I leave this place, I will accuse you. I can’t leave even His Highness Jin in your hands.”

Ian only nodded with a smile. As if telling her to do as she pleased. At that, the smoke Quintana exhaled grew deeper and thicker.

“I will reiterate my request for cooperation. On the day of the mana confirmation ceremony, I will kill Arsen. If he is a demon, that is. And if he is not a demon, I will die.”

“…Ha!”

He was stating the price for insulting and attempting to assassinate a member of the Imperial Family. It was a clear-cut responsibility. Quintana added, not even noticing the ash falling from her cigarette.

“If His Highness Arsen is a mage, isn’t Sir Ian as good as dead? That’s a given. If His Highness enters the Magic Department, the Minister will naturally be replaced.”

“On that day, point your sword at me. I will not evade it.”

Ian turned to Beols and Jairut, the three commanders, and replied. He conveyed his determination to risk everything, without any personal agenda.

At that point, some of them thought it was necessary to listen to Ian’s words. Someone who risked everything always spoke the truth.

“Continue.”

“From now on, I will explain why His Highness Arsen must be killed on the day of the mana confirmation ceremony. You can see it in the report.”

Rustle.

The sound of papers turning was heard simultaneously. Quintana, who had put out her cigarette, also followed the paragraphs with her eyes, albeit belatedly.

“Time is on Arsen’s side. As his body grows, the vessel to contain his power will grow, and his wicked schemes will surpass the human realm. It is safer and more reasonable to eliminate him as quickly as possible.”

“But-”

As someone tried to interject, Ian lightly stopped them with a gesture. He murmured softly, as if asking them to be quiet.

“Are you trying to cut off the criminal’s defense?”

“My apologies. Haha. Well, alright. I’ll ask later.”

“Above all, Arsen’s ability is the problem. I suspect he can manipulate human psychology. Those blessed by the Imperial Family have nothing to worry about, but it’s different for the rest of you.”

No one could guess what tricks Arsen would play when cornered at the mana confirmation ceremony.

What if he tried to manipulate everyone in the assembly, even destroying everything? That would be as fatal to Bariel as the deaths of the princes.

“Brainwashing? Is that believable? I’ve heard that even mages find mental domination extremely difficult.”

“That’s why we’re thankfully having a conversation with clear minds right now. But this is only temporary. When Arsen grows up, everyone in the Imperial Palace who voices their opinion will disappear. My mother, Philia, is a witness who experienced this firsthand.”

“That’s grounds for dismissal in court, Sir Ian.”

“Yes. Fortunately, this isn’t a court.”

There was a lack of external objectivity. The Prime Minister flatly refuted him, but Ian didn’t yield.

Dismissed in court? That meant it could be accepted here, didn’t it?

“Anyway, the biggest reason is that we don’t know what Arsen will do if his identity is exposed. Before you are brainwashed and harm His Highness Jin, I will kill Arsen first. I formally request your ‘cooperation’.”

“…What kind of cooperation?”

“You’re not asking for soldiers, are you?”

“Do you think there’s anything else? That’s treason, a rebellion! I can’t do it. I refuse in advance.”

Voices of refusal erupted, jumping to conclusions.

The Marib and Gail situation hadn’t completely calmed down yet. If they gathered soldiers again, it would be recorded as the greed of someone who coveted power.

Ian lightly shook his head.

“Don’t you know about demons? We don’t need soldiers. It’s too inefficient when a dozen ordinary soldiers can barely catch one demon. Arsen is an evil that has existed since the founding of the nation. The Magic Department will take action.”

“Then? What do you want?”

Ian first turned to Beols and Jairut. While it was the same for other departments, the roles of those magic swordsmen were the most important.

“If something happens, the Imperial Guard, including Lady Delilah, should prevent Haiman from interfering. It’s different from when we faced Marib. Since the opponent is a demon, even the slightest disruption can cause problems. I believe that’s something you can do for the safety of the Imperial Palace.”

“You’re asking us to evacuate.”

“In any way possible. And-”

“And?”

Tap, tap. Ian paused for a moment, looking at the officials. The light in his green eyes deepened. What was he measuring? Everyone held their breath, trying to guess Ian’s unknown intentions.

“On the day of the confirmation ceremony, we will divide the area to the left of the stage with a mana sealing stone. I don’t know if that will neutralize Arsen’s abilities, but I would like those of you here to watch the ceremony from there.”

They weren’t difficult requests. They weren’t directly involved in any danger, and there was nothing burdensome about them.

Quintana sighed, rubbing her forehead as if she had lost all her energy. She felt foolish for being so tense.

“Is that all?”

“Yes. That’s all.”

“But I have a question.”

“Who are you? Speak.”

“I’m Sabo from the Ministry of Culture. About revealing His Highness Arsen’s identity. If we knew the specific method, it would be more helpful for trust.”

Sabo from the Ministry of Culture? Quintana frowned in annoyance at the words of the unknown person. Would they even understand if he explained? If they understood the language of mages, they would be mages, not ordinary people.

But Ian smiled as if he had been waiting for that and explained. Very kindly, so that even a passing child could understand.

“Do you know that a magic circle is drawn under the light of the oracle? I also held a ceremony on the magic circle of the former Minister Wesley during the New Year’s party. It helps to activate the light of the oracle with even the minimum amount of mana.”

“Hmm. I guess the main purpose is to provide entertainment while checking mana.”

Of course, it was the opposite for Ian. He still vividly remembered Wesley’s tricks to break his spirit.

“With the help of the priests, we will modify the magic circle. The reaction will be different if a demon’s presence is present.”

“Oh, so mana can be activated even without a magic circle?”

“It can. But the mana must be that strong.”

The man named Sabo nodded repeatedly, scribbling something down.

Ian looked around as if asking if there were any more questions. Most of it was written in detail in the report, and the night was growing late. The troubled officials clearly wanted to leave the meeting as soon as possible.

“Alright. Then let’s adjourn. If you have any questions, please contact the Magic Department.”

“Alright, let’s hurry out.”

“I’ll go first. Ahem!”

The Prime Minister also brought the meeting to an end, banging his gavel. Some people quickly left the meeting hall. They were trying to get away from this vortex, even for a moment, to organize their thoughts.

The meeting was adjourned in a quiet atmosphere, almost the same as when they had entered. Ian was also gathering his reports when he was about to leave.

“But Sir Ian. I have one last question.”

It was Quintana, still rubbing her forehead in thought. Ian looked down at her, fastening the buttons of his robe.

“Anything, I will answer with all my sincerity.”

“What confidence do you have to say all this? Whether His Highness Arsen is a demon or not, it’s a dangerous thing for you.”

“If Arsen is not a demon, it doesn’t matter. I would be happy, even. Since I’m going to die by my own mistake. And if he is a demon-”

If he was a demon…

“He would try to kill me, wouldn’t he? If I die before the mana confirmation ceremony, please protect His Highness Jin in my stead, Quintana.”

“I didn’t want to hear such a pointless joke.”

“Was it pointless? That’s a shame.”

Ian stopped as he was about to turn away.

“I have a question for you too.”

“What is it?”

“Do you still intend to accuse me?”

“…”

It was a question that pointed out how Quintana had raged about accusing Ian the moment she left this place.

Quintana let out a hollow laugh, and Ian nodded before passing her. Romandro followed behind him, assisting him.

“You’ve worked hard.”

“Did you see it earlier? The one who called himself Sabo from the Ministry of Culture?”

“Yeah, yeah. I saw him too. He was a bit unsettling.”

Ian and Romandro whispered secretly as they went down the stairs. If Arsen was a demon, he would do anything to avoid his identity being revealed at the mana confirmation ceremony.

For example, planting someone in the Grand Assembly that Ian had not canceled, or having a mage in the Magic Department tamper with the magic circle, and so on.

‘Let’s see what happens.’

The two quickly got into a carriage and headed to the Magic Department. The night had deepened, and it was almost dawn. What always came at the end of a long night was morning.

Ian looked back at the Imperial Palace, shrouded in darkness.

* * *

Meanwhile, at that time.

Jin tossed and turned, feeling uncomfortable in his sleep. He eventually opened his eyes, but his vision was blurry due to his drowsiness.

A blurry gray hair…

Was it Siao Shi?

“Siao?”

But as the moonlight fell through the window, Jin realized it was silver hair. He couldn’t tell if it was a dream or reality. Jin felt his toes stiffen and gasped.

“Jin.”

It was Arsen. Arsen was looking down at him. The more Jin tried to close his eyes, the brighter his smile shone.

“Jin. Shhh.”

“A, Arsen.”

“If you make a fuss, I’ll leave?”

“You, what are you…”

Arsen rubbed his face affectionately against Jin’s shoulder, just like he used to.

At that moment, Ian’s voice echoed in his head. Arsen was a demon, an ancient curse that had come down to harm him and Bariel.

Perhaps sensing Jin’s face turning pale, Arsen whispered sweetly.

“Jin. Soon, it will be revealed that I am a mage, and I will receive the support of the entire Imperial Palace. Then, not only you but also Ian will die. Like Marib, you will disappear from the world without a trace. Ah, my poor brother.”

“…”

“So, I’m giving you one last chance.”

“Please, stop…”

“Will you kill Ian for me?”

Pause.

Arsen chuckled softly, noticing Jin’s body flinch. Even as he laughed, Siao Shi didn’t move.

Ah, this was a dream.

“Then I’ll give you back your mother. How about that? I’ll tell your mother to love you. I’ll give you back the embrace you couldn’t have all this time.”

A demon who looked just like him.

Jin bit his lip and glared at him. The moonlight shone even more brightly.

“…It’s better for you to die than for Sir Ian to die.”