Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 247

Melania’s eyes narrowed slightly. What on earth was that question? To refer to himself as if he were a third party.

However, Ian, unconcerned, kept looking at the amber gemstone. It was very similar to the gemstone Marib used during the rebellion and the one that was under the Silask [a flower that never fades] flowerpot.

‘On the surface, it looks like Idgal. I should probably investigate it more closely.’

Didn’t Acorella say that? That an artificial gemstone would show a geometric pattern when cut in half. That it was a trace of an alchemist’s making, a unique pattern.

If this was indeed made by the illegitimate son Ian, it would show a completely different pattern from ‘Idgal’.

“Ian.”

Ian turned his head at Melania’s call. Her eyes were filled with considerable suspicion. A persistent gaze and an ever-decreasing distance. Melania carefully asked again. Having composed herself, her tone was now formal.

“Sir Ian, do you perhaps have no memory at all?”

It was a question, but it was essentially a probe. This was a very important variable for Melania.

If Ian had lost his memory, there would be an imbalance of past information. This would be a great opportunity for Melania, who held the information.

“You were smiling. You were so happy that your face was flushed. So…”

Melania paused, about to say something. If Ian didn’t remember, it would be more advantageous to give an abstract clue rather than a situational explanation that could directly provide a clue.

Ian, realizing her intention, responded with silence. It was too risky to say he remembered, and admitting he didn’t was not a good move. To vaguely deflect the question was also, in a way, an admission.

Regarding the past, Ian was currently at a disadvantage, but in terms of the internal situation of the Imperial Palace, Melania was the one who was in a more precarious position. The longer he remained silent, the sooner Melania would speak first.

Swoosh.

Without answering, Ian brought over the pressed flower. The Silask, tinged with red in the lamplight. It was difficult to find even in the center, yet here it was again with the amber gemstone. Just like in the desert, here too.

It was clear that the Rutherford Merchant Guild was related to the flower, and that Melania’s claim had some credibility.

Idgal was something Marib had also used, but this flower, among all the people he had met so far, only Ian had a connection to it.

“Say something, please. Please. Otherwise, it feels like…”

Like he was a different person, like he was dealing with someone else’s affairs, not just that he couldn’t remember, Melania barely swallowed the absurd words and continued.

“Like I’m telling a lie. Even though the evidence proving that day is so clear.”

“Hmm.”

Ding!

Ian lightly responded, flicking the amber gemstone. He had caught a good opportunity.

Idgal had an effect similar to a mana sealing stone, making it a very threatening existence to mages. Therefore, tracking down the Rutherford Merchant Guild, confiscating it, and destroying it would be one of the long-term goals that the Magic Department would be pursuing.

But, the illegitimate son Ian, who was also the head of the Magic Department, was related to the creation of Idgal? Furthermore, he had sworn an oath to Rutherford?

“What about this note? Can’t you recognize the note either?”

Rustle, Melania pressed Ian, unfolding the old note. Just as he was about to say it was an unfamiliar script, Ian realized he had seen it somewhere.

The strange script he had seen when he first opened his eyes at Count Bratz’s residence and entered the illegitimate son’s room. He still couldn’t decipher it.

‘It’s a secret to be revealed to save the Haiman family. It must be something threatening enough to me that they judged it to be of sufficient value to exchange for salvation. I don’t know what it is, so I must be careful-‘

For the head of the Magic Department to create Idgal was a contradiction. It had no effect on those who were not mages, and it was like creating something that would only tighten their own noose. There would be extreme opposition within the department.

‘But in the current situation, it’s okay.’

If used well, it wasn’t bad.

Jin, the next successor, trusted Ian. From the Imperial Family’s perspective, Ian would be considered the right person to balance the power of the Magic Department, which would give Jin a sense of stability.

Stability meant a strong bond. It would be a stepping stone for the Magic Department to gain more trust within the Empire. In short, there would be some fluctuations, but it could lead to a virtuous cycle.

“Melania. I have repeatedly told you that I have no connection with you. You call it evidence, but aren’t they all subjective claims? What were we to each other? It seems like we were too sincere in pointing swords at each other for that kind of relationship.”

If Arsen hadn’t been a demon, Jin and Ian’s positions would have been not just precarious, but on the verge of collapse.

And if this was truly a threat to Ian, she would have pulled this card out long ago. Especially when the correlation between Marib and Rutherford was discussed in court, there was clearly an opportunity to implicate Ian.

“Even if we were something to each other, do not force your memories on me as if they were my own. I will confiscate these. It is not something that can be easily overlooked, so wait for the disposition.”

Click. Ian put the items in the jewelry box and then closed the lock.

As if she had expected it, Melania stared intently at Ian. Since there was no change in his expression even after seeing the note, it was clear that he had truly lost his memory. Otherwise…

“Rutherford will enter Bariel before autumn. When you meet him, Ian, you will not be able to defy fate.”

As far as Melania knew, an oath was perpetual and unique. It would not disappear just because the subject did not remember it.

“Melania. I want to treat you in a more humane way for the dignity of Bariel, but…”

It was a warning not to provoke him in vain. He could torture her to make her talk, but this was the last consideration for the achievements Haiman had made. It was true that Bariel’s currency circulation was smooth thanks to them.

However, Melania did not back down.

“You can cut off my hands and feet as much as you want. However, I will cut off my own tongue.”

It was a response that she would not easily open her mouth no matter what he did. Melania changed her expression and approached Ian, pleading pitifully.

“I will hand over the Haiman’s bank shares. And I will also bear all the taxes to the extent that I can afford. I will also humbly accept the demotion of my title. I don’t want anything else. Survival, only that. Please, I beg you. Then, I will awaken all the things from that day that Sir Ian cannot remember. The destruction of Haiman may be meaningful to the Imperial Family, but it is not good for Sir Ian at all.”

Ah. Ian looked at her, then turned his gaze to the side of his ear. Outside the window, the branches of the trees were swaying coolly.

Arsen had said something similar before he died. Meaningless words that made him choose between Bariel and himself. Then and now, Ian’s answer was always decided, and there was no hesitation.

“Melania. What is meaningful to Bariel is meaningful to me. Wait quietly. Otherwise, your family will be separated from you forever.”

“Sir Ian!”

If she wanted to meet her family, she should be quiet. Ian left those words behind and exited the reception room.

The attendants who had been waiting outside the door glanced at the jewelry box in Ian’s hand. He handed over the amber gemstone from inside and instructed.

“…Send this to Captain Acorella to check if it is the same as Idgal.”

“Yes. I understand.”

“And-”

Ian paused, tapping the window frame. He was overwhelmed with things to think about due to the sudden influx of information.

First of all, he needed to find out what the oath that Melania was talking about, the one that was on the illegitimate son Ian’s body, was.

‘It is unacceptable to let those who have committed treason go unpunished. If a precedent is set, it will surely be bad for future generations. Not to mention, the discipline of the Imperial Palace will become lax.’

“Keep a close watch on Melania in particular. And ask my mother and Nersarn to see me in the evening.”

“Yes. I understand. Shall we escort you to the Magic Department?”

“What about Jin? Is he in the Magic Department?”

“No. He is at Lady Dilaina’s residence.”

Ian, who was heading outside, checked his pocket watch. Quite a bit of time had passed since they had parted. He probably went straight to his mother, but he was still there. There was no particular message from Siao-si, so there was no problem, but it was strange.

“Let’s go there. I will escort Prince Jin and return to the Magic Department.”

Swoosh.

At Ian’s command, the attendants split to the left and right and busily walked ahead. They were preparing the carriage.

Ian briefly looked back at Melania’s tightly closed reception room and turned away without regret. Even the death of Gale, who would be erased from history, was known by God and himself.

But, would Melania be the only one in the world who knew about the illegitimate son’s oath?

‘I just hope it’s not troublesome.’

Ian thought so, unfolded the note, and then carefully folded it again.

The illegitimate son Ian. What on earth was this person’s identity? He had traces of mana and even the talent for alchemy. Before eating in the backyard of Count Bratz’s residence, what kind of life did he live?

‘But I do know one thing.’

The fact that Emperor Ian had opened his eyes as the illegitimate son Ian. There were more causes and effects mixed in than he had thought.

Ian held the jewelry box carefully and got into the carriage.

* * *

A dim bedroom.

Faint light seeped through the thick curtains, but even that would soon be gone. It was almost time for the sun to set.

Ian entered the small room that led to Dilaina’s bedroom. Siao-si, who had been sitting on a chair, got up to greet him.

“Where is the Prince?”

“He is inside.”

“Still?”

“Yes.”

Creak.

Surprisingly, there was a smell of impending death. This was different from when Beric had been carried in, battered and bruised.

The acrid smell of blood was rather a reminder of life, but the faint smell of medicine that floated around like this gave the feeling of barely prolonging life.

“…Are you doing?”

A short space connecting the room where Siao-si was and the bedroom. Ian stopped walking after hearing Jin’s muttering.

The child was kneeling next to the bed where Dilaina was lying, talking to her affectionately.

“When I first received a tutor. Actually. At that time, it was me who was praised for literature. I was too foolish to say it.”

“…”

“What if I had caught the moments that went slightly wrong in advance? Mother. At least you wouldn’t be lying here like this, would you?”

“…”

The mother did not answer, but the child did not stop. He sobbed, caressed her withered hand, and imagined her answers alone. Then, he buried his forehead on her shoulder again.

Jin would shed tears, and then if he thought of something else, he would gently offer it.

“I think of you when I see yellow flowers, Mother. Do you know? Yellow suits you very well.”

“…”

In this way, repeating and repeating, he was having the conversations he had not been able to have for the past ten years.

Ian leaned against the wall and quietly waited for him. The more intense the sobbing became, the more Ian thought of his own birth mother. Did I cry like that when she passed away? He couldn’t remember.

“…Ah.”

“Mother.”

Jin heard his mother’s groan-like call and listened carefully. Ian could not hear it. Tears welled up in the child’s blue eyes, and he frowned sadly, rubbing his lips against his mother’s forehead.

“No. No. There’s no need to. I will live a long life. I will live so long that I won’t even remember the memories of the past ten years. So, please don’t.”

Dilaina weakly raised her hand and brought her fingers to her son’s wound. And she slowly moved it along, as if measuring the wounds that Marib and she had inflicted.

Thud.

And in an instant, she lost her strength and dropped her hand. Jin, startled, quickly grabbed her wrist, but he only felt it for sure.

“Mother?”

Dilaina had breathed her last. Jin shook his body and only let out choked screams. It was so desperate that it was doubtful whether it was the child who was making the sounds. That was because Jin was now truly alone. His father’s existence was distant from the start, and he had lived here with his mother and siblings…

“Ah, ah, no. No! Mother, just a moment!”

“Your Highness.”

“Sir Ian! Sir Ian!”

Jin, who was about to call for help, inhaled. But, as if his breath had stopped, tears flowed endlessly.

“Your Highness. I will call for someone.”

“Hic…”

I will call for someone. At Ian’s words, the child wiped away his tears with his sleeve. He curled up his body to cut off the endless sadness. A noble person should not show tears, Ian had told him so.

“Your Highness.”

When Ian reached out his hand, Jin hid in his coat and covered his face. Siao-si, hearing the commotion, briefly checked inside. At his low call, the outside became chaotic.

“Call a doctor. We need a declaration of death.”

“Oh! J-just a moment!”

“Wait. Outside! Is anyone out there?”

Tap tap!

“…Cover him. Sir Ian.”

“Yes. Your Highness. I will cover him.”

“And, stay here.”

“Yes. I will stay here.”

“Here, keep…”

“…”

The attendants and the doctor rushed in, but Ian covered his mouth with his finger as if telling them to handle it quietly. They passed by Jin as if they hadn’t seen him and diagnosed Dilaina’s condition.

“…We, we need to prepare a black cloth.”

Jin’s mother had passed away like that.