Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 235

“Your Highness Gale. Are you finished?”

Philia muttered, upset. The imperial chef had poured his heart into making the meal since dawn, but its intended recipient hadn’t even touched it, refusing it outright.

It seemed he hadn’t even picked up a knife or fork. It was obvious the doctor would throw a fit, saying he couldn’t administer the medicine.

“Yeah.”

Whether he was aware of the anxious hearts around him or not, Gale lay on the bed, just smoking his cigarette. Each time he exhaled, a long trail of white smoke scattered.

His gaze hadn’t left Philia since she entered the room. Philia was well aware of this and tried to ignore it, but…

“…Ah, no, it won’t do.”

She gave up, defeated by his persistent and tenacious nature. When Philia suddenly said that, Gale shrugged nonchalantly.

“What? I didn’t say anything.”

“You’re asking me to go with you to the magic identification ceremony, aren’t you? I can’t. I don’t have the authority. I can’t help you unless Ian allows it. I’m sorry.”

“Philia. Do you consider your son above the prince? Impressive. As the mother of such a person, you must be so precious that I can’t even look at you.”

“N-No, that’s not what I meant…”

As Philia stammered, embarrassed, Gale chuckled softly. Could this woman, who couldn’t even take a simple joke, really be the one who gave birth to Ian? If they didn’t look so alike, he would never have believed it.

At that moment, Nersarn appeared, having heard the commotion.

“Philia.”

“Nersarn.”

It was a call to wrap things up and leave. Philia put down the dishes and turned to look at Gale. It was time to go. In the meantime, he was lighting a new cigarette.

“Hey. Desert Warrior.”

“…Yes, Your Highness Gale.”

Gale rarely called Nersarn directly. There was a difference in status between the emperor of the empire and a minority from the borderlands, but Philia was there to act as a bridge.

“Ian said my half-brother is a demon, didn’t he?”

“That is correct.”

“And he declared that one of us would die today.”

Philia felt her heart drop. It was a truly frightening and terrifying statement. She still couldn’t believe that Ian had risked his life to kill someone.

She wondered if the imperial palace was always like this, but on the other hand, she felt sorry for him, thinking that he must have something so precious that he would risk his life for it. Just as she cherished Ian, Ian must cherish something as well.

“That is also correct.”

“Arsen is my half-brother. If Ian doesn’t die, Arsen will die, so don’t I have the right to see the end of my family?”

Nersarn pondered what to say. The political situation in the imperial palace changed almost daily. There must be a reason why Gale was acting like this, but he couldn’t figure it out. They were confined to the detached palace under the pretext of protecting Gale and because it would be problematic for the imperial citizens to see him. Unless Ian told them, their information was limited.

“I’m sorry.”

So, there was only one conclusion. Refusal.

As Nersarn and Philia were about to leave the bedroom, they heard the sound of a desk drawer opening. Gale stretched his upper body and waved his hand as if looking for something.

Clatter!

“I understand that you’re doing this for your son’s safety.”

“Thank you for understanding.”

“I also understand that you’re drawing a line, saying no, because the imperial palace is not as easy to understand as the borderlands.”

“……”

“Not just Arsen, but I also have business with Ian.”

“Then please tell me. I will convey every word without fail.”

“Hmm. I can’t do that. Do you know what this is?”

Small pieces of paper were pinched between the prince’s index and middle fingers. They were crumpled, and on top of that, they were covered in food stains.

Nersarn looked at Philia, but she shook her head, indicating she didn’t know either.

“These are the traces of the turncoats that Ian weeded out by using my name.”

As soon as the rumor spread that he would defect to Luswena, the reaction was immediate. There were notes hidden in the food at every meal, and messenger birds were constantly trying to visit through the windows.

“Some have revealed their names, but others have not. However, if we check the handwriting or have the Magic Department investigate, we can easily find their owners.”

Gale deliberately burned one of the notes with his cigarette. The paper quickly caught fire and turned to ashes, crumbling away. His smile was like that of a child playing with fire.

“If you don’t take me, I’ll burn all of this.”

“Your Highness. This is very troublesome!”

“Philia. Don’t worry. Ian will be the most troubled, as he has to trust his back to a comrade who might be holding a knife.”

It was a threat using his son. Even if Ian returned alive from the magic identification ceremony, what good would it do if there were turncoats around him? He would soon face another crisis.

*Ting!*

Gale flicked a jewel at Philia. Instead of her, who couldn’t react, Nersarn caught it in the air.

“I’ll give you jewels if you want. Even though I’m confined here, I’m still a prince of my empire. There’s no problem with providing as much wealth as you two want. Desert Warrior, you’re the leader of your tribe, right? You know how warm a plentiful national treasury can bring.”

“I don’t need such things. I just want my son-”

“Hahaha! Your face is red.”

“I want what my son wants.”

“Yes. This is what your son wants.”

The scraps of paper fluttered from Gale’s fingertips.

Reflection, as long as God allows, was a unique and inviolable sanctuary for humans. Identifying turncoats was an act of invading that space and searching it thoroughly.

It was a difficult, arduous, and tricky task to read the minds of allies, not enemies. Wasn’t it?

“Why do you think Ian did this? The Magic Department knows how to neutralize the Siltham potion. I benefited from it a bit. So, if it’s not these papers, it seems like you’ll have a hard time.”

Nersarn sighed inwardly. The notes were one thing, but even if they turned away now, it didn’t seem like the prince would give up. What if he caused trouble outside their sight?

“Just tell me one thing truthfully.”

“Gladly.”

“How are you going to go?”

“……”

It was almost like an acceptance. Gale straightened his clothes and put on his jacket. The bundle of notes went into his inner pocket. He checked his cigarette case one last time and gave a faint smile.

“It seems to me that now is the best time, and I believe God would think so too.”

* * *

The schedule was slightly delayed due to Gale’s presence. They had to change to a larger carriage, bring warriors just in case, and dress them in imperial attire.

Gale realized it had been a long time since he had been out. There were still traces of his and Marib’s battles everywhere, but the imperial palace, which he had imprinted in his mind for his entire life, was still there.

*Neigh!*

The carriage shook, but Gale’s gaze remained steady. He just watched the ivory-colored walls, the golden patterns, and the well-laid red bricks with fascination.

Ah. The imperial palace was so beautiful. Gale bit his lip and tried to erase the memories that were surfacing. Memories sometimes create regrets.

“We’re almost there, Nersarn.”

“Huh? But everyone over there…”

“Just a moment. We should stop around here? It seems like the carriage can’t enter because everyone is out.”

Crowds of people were swarming in front of the Magic Department. Carriages, escorts, and disheveled nobles and officials were tangled together, creating a commotion.

It was a chaotic situation, but everyone was looking in one direction. Philia naturally followed their gaze and turned her head.

“What is that?”

A gloomy black aura was descending the stairs of the Magic Department. It was drawing a clear boundary as if telling people not to approach.

Philia got out of the carriage with an ominous look and looked around.

“Sir Ian! Sir Ian! Let go of me! I said let go!”

“Romandro!”

“Let me go! My mother and Ian are inside!”

“No, Your Highness. Please!”

Not far away, Jin was struggling, trying to shake off the escorts. He kicked and shouted for them to let him go, to leave him alone, but no one could do that. Now, Jin was the only remaining heir.

Philia grabbed Romandro’s arm and shouted.

“What happened? Romandro!”

“Philia! Hah, it’s that.”

“Philia! Sir Ian is inside. Arsen will kill Sir Ian. Why is everyone just standing by and watching!”

“Oh my, Your Highness, please calm down.”

Some of the soldiers who had tried to approach the building were already sprawled out. It was impossible to get close because their heads would ache and they would feel dizzy. There was no solution.

The Magic Department was trying to come up with a plan, but all the leaders were inside. This was a truly difficult situation.

“Jin.”

At that moment, Gale took out a cigarette and put it in his mouth. At his low call, Jin paused and turned around.

Why is Gale here?

“It’s noisy.”

“Wh-What is it?”

“Is Arsen really a demon?”

“…Brother.”

“Yeah. I see.”

Gale stared into the air for a moment. He felt sorry for the fate of the child who was born with a demon, just like him. He took a moment to catch his breath and then stepped into the poisonous aura without hesitation.

“Your Highness Gale!”

“Why is Your Highness here?”

“He went into the poisonous aura!”

“Oh my god, what is going on…”

It was a bit suffocating, but he wasn’t too dizzy or tired. Gale looked back as he climbed the stairs. Then, he threw the notes he had kept in his pocket to Philia and said goodbye.

“Philia. Thank you for having meals with me all this time.”

“Your Highness?”

“Tell Ian when he comes out.”

“Your Highness!”

Gale ran up the stairs. Those who had not been able to evacuate were collapsed everywhere. A desolate space. Gale bit his cigarette and walked slowly.

-You who are cursed, you will not be able to defy fate. Die for Bariel. Then, glory will be bestowed upon the world.

From the day he saw the oracle, he had been waiting for this moment. He was a prince of Bariel. Rather than returning to the wind like Marib, it was better to die under the glory of the world.

Even if he couldn’t be recorded in history, glory would remain.

“Oh, try stabbing me! If you kill me, you will die too. If you die, Jin will die soon after!”

…Is that Arsen’s voice? It’s a truly disgusting voice. He followed the sound and soon pushed open the door to the hall.

*Squeak.*

*Thud.*

“The party is quite hot from midday. Can I join in?”

The hall was filled with a mysterious light. For a moment, Gale wondered if he was in heaven.

Ian, who had raised his sword into the air, turned around, and the throbbing heart in front of him released its poison.

“What is it?”

“Do you remember the new oracle that came down?”

“……”

The cigarette flicked. It would be the last smoke he exhaled.

“It may not be Your Highness’s oracle.”

“It doesn’t matter. If I say it is, then it is.”

Gale picked up the sword that had fallen on the floor and slowly approached Ian.

“If I die here, I will leave behind glory.”

What if he didn’t die?

“If I don’t die, I will have dealt with the demon that has taken root in the imperial palace with my own hands, and that too is glory.”

The blood vessels of the heart, panting in the fluid, were particularly prominent. Gale calmly pointed his sword at its end. Ian lightly grabbed his arm.

“…No one will know.”

Could they record in history that a demon had taken root in the imperial palace? Absolutely not. They would erase everything without a trace. The blasphemous past ten years would disappear into the light without leaving a shadow.

So, even if Gale sacrificed himself in death, who would know?

“No. God knows.”

Gale smiled and brought his sword to Arsen’s heart. He gestured to Ian to activate his magic and muttered.

“And you know.”