Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 253

So, this is what it means to be at a loss for words.

Seroh’s face contorted as he stared at the butler. It was as if he had misheard something. His eyes were asking for it to be repeated.

The butler glanced at the drawing room at the end of the hallway, where the guests were gathered, and lowered his voice again.

‘It’s not true, is it, young master?’

‘Is that even a question?’

There’s a limit to rumors! Now, when his family was about to rise, they were saying he was related to Haiman?

Seroh was about to rush to the drawing room but quickly turned and went upstairs. Then, he ordered the butler, who was hurrying after him, to bring his sister, Alena.

Tap tap!

Bang!

The office door was thrown open roughly to both sides.

He strode inside. Bookshelves covered in white dust lined the walls. Every time he ran his fingertips over the documents, clear marks were left. Chetur, Chetur, Chetur…

‘Ah, found it.’

Seroh checked the lease documents related to the Chetur district and flipped through the papers. They were yellowed, the edges were torn, and they had a distinct musty smell. Judging by the traces of time, it was clear that his father had handled this when he was still in his right mind.

‘Still, I’ve managed all the recent income. If there was money coming in under the name of Haiman, I would have known. What is it? It’s too specific for a baseless rumor, which is ominous.’

Seroh frowned as he read the text quickly.

The family currently owned only one building in the Chetur district. A small to medium-sized trading company was located there.

However, they had been under contract for ten years, and there were still three years left. It was a place he had known for a long time. He was confident that it had nothing to do with Haiman.

Rustle.

As he flipped through the papers hastily, one fell to the floor. Seroh paused as he was about to pick it up. It wasn’t a lease, but a sales certificate. He slowly unfolded the document.

‘Ah, damn it.’

A building in Chetur District 3.

His father had sold the building to a man named Koaru Kobill a few years ago. He was from a famous blacksmith family in the center and was also a cousin of the leader of ‘Ko&Ko’. The same ‘Ko&Ko’ whose black armor materials were confiscated by the Imperial Guard.

As Seroh groaned in annoyance, he heard a commotion behind him.

‘I’m really not!’

‘Lady Alena, please calm down.’

‘Alena!’

‘Brother!’

Seroh’s sister, Alena, stomped her feet in anger. Her exposed shoulders were red, indicating how heated she was. The fact that the person involved had heard the rumor meant that everyone had already heard it.

‘You, did you meet Haiman’s second son?’

‘This is driving me crazy! No!’

She even showed both palms to assert her innocence. Seroh carefully folded the sales certificate and put it away before getting up.

‘Not even acquainted?’

‘How can I not be acquainted? I’m eighteen years old.’

‘Confess everything without hiding anything. I trust you know how sensitive it is to be involved with Haiman right now.’

‘I danced with him exactly twice. And had a glass of wine afterward. But you know? At parties, everyone does that unless they have nostrils on their ears.’

It was common to change partners while dancing, and drinks and food were essential at parties. Alena muttered in disbelief, touching her forehead.

‘If something had really happened, I wouldn’t feel so wronged.’

‘Alena!’

‘What! Why! Honestly, there are tons of people who are worse than me! Should I name them?’

Honestly, and definitely, that was true. The truth was too weak to support the rumor.

Which central noble hadn’t traded with the Haiman family? Who hadn’t met at social gatherings? Absolutely no one.

‘This is so annoying. I think they’re trying to test us. They know what will happen to the Seroh family once things calm down. They’re trying to tarnish our reputation by spreading baseless rumors.’

Alena gritted her teeth, her voice rising. She didn’t forget to say that whoever it was, she wouldn’t let them get away with it if she caught them.

Seroh fully agreed. The problem was, who was it? If they traced the rumor back to its source, they might find the starting point, but whether they had the time was another matter.

‘Haa.’

Seroh sighed, tilting his chin. Then, Melania’s departure from the palace suddenly came to mind. The truth was insignificant, but the rumor was huge and spread quickly.

This was proof that those spreading the rumors had a subtle conviction. A conviction? There was no evidence, so that meant the person involved had testified directly…

‘Melania?’

What was she trying to achieve by keeping Seroh in check? A family that was about to be ruined.

‘Ah. Maybe it’s because we’re the family replacing Haiman, so she’s trying to create a flaw to break us apart?’

Seroh was being discussed as the next in line after Haiman, and he was facing them head-on. He had gathered signatures and confirmed the trial schedule, so the justification was plausible.

Was this what Ian meant by a shield?

He rummaged through his inner pocket and took out a cigarette. Still, wasn’t it manageable? A formless rumor was no different from cigarette smoke. Even if Haiman, who was stuck in the mud, grabbed his pant leg, he could just shake them off.

‘Alena, you should also look into it.’

‘What? The rumor?’

‘Yes. You have more presence in social circles than I do.’

‘That’s true. I’m more popular than you. Okay, wait. I’ll go see the others. But-!’

Alena told the butler to prepare the carriage and turned her head sharply.

‘Next time, you have to let me meet Sir Ian.’

‘It’s not about meeting him, it’s about now-‘

‘I know! I know! I know what it means to be involved with a ruined family. Do you think I’m stupid? I’ll go. Whoever it is, I’ll deal with them first if I catch them.’

She muttered that she would tear out all their hair. That included Haiman’s second son. What was there to be afraid of when they were going to die with their honor tarnished anyway? Alena clicked her tongue and left the office.

‘What should we do, young master?’

The butler glanced at the direction Alena had disappeared and asked. Alena would handle the outside matters, so he had to take care of the inside matters, right? Seroh stood in front of the mirror and straightened his collar.

‘I’m going to the drawing room.’

He would jump into the center of the rumor and scatter all the impurities. If there was a problem with Seroh, the other nobles wouldn’t be free either.

But if they were going to push him like this just because he had gained Ian’s favor, he couldn’t stand it.

His pant legs were already stained with mud. Even if he got some of it on others, who would criticize him?

Squeak.

Seroh stood in front of the hallway leading to the drawing room. White smoke was seeping out from inside. It was the smoke of alcohol, music, hope, and gossip all mixed together.

‘Really? Dragon scales? I’ve never heard of that.’

‘I haven’t seen it either, but I heard that Haiman Bank’s guards’ armor is made of it. I heard that a large amount of it was confiscated in the Chetur district last time. It was a day with a lot of rain. The bridge was flooded, and the servants were in an uproar from the morning because they couldn’t get in.’

‘Ah, I remember that day. But that building belonged to Seroh? Then, didn’t Seroh know about the dragon scales?’

‘Wouldn’t he know? He doesn’t do anything other than leasing. Haha. Since it’s black armor material, he must have pretended not to know even if he did. It’s the armor used in the rebellion.’

‘I’m not sure if Sir Ian knows or not.’

‘Isn’t it obvious that he knows and let it slide?’

‘There are many questions, considering that. Why Seroh of all people? Why would he push a family with no prospects so much that he would turn a blind eye? I think Sir Aejane here is more suitable.’

‘I’m betting he doesn’t know. If he knew, he would cut ties.’

‘If he knew? If he knew, wouldn’t that mean he trusts Seroh that much?’

The words of gauging and measuring the situation were carried by the music. Seroh clenched his teeth. No matter how much they looked down on his family, there was a limit. To talk like that in the drawing room… If he had known, he would have given Sir Ian more noble names without hesitation.

Yes. That would be better.

Click.

‘Oh my. Everyone’s gathered here.’

‘Sir Seroh. You’re back.’

‘We’ve been waiting for a long time. Did you see Sir Ian?’

As Seroh opened the door and entered, the vipers scrutinized him with cunning eyes. They were curious if he had heard the rumors. Seroh smiled brightly as if he had just arrived and took off his coat.

‘Yes, I did. He seemed to be in good health. I also had an audience with His Highness Jin.’

‘His Highness Jin as well?’

The current sole heir and the most likely next emperor. The nobles exchanged meaningful glances at the mention of seeing Jin so casually.

‘He also looked well.’

‘Oh, that’s a relief. As expected of Sir Seroh. How else would we hear news from the Imperial Palace if not for you?’

‘Haha. It’s nothing. I heard that the trial dates for the seven families, including the Haiman family, have been set. Sir Ian is concerned about the rebellious forces, so he plans to conduct a more detailed investigation for the time being.’

It was a message that if there were anyone else opposing the Imperial Palace besides the seven families, they would be filtered out. Seroh, without batting an eye, asked Aejane, who was sitting across from him.

‘Sir Aejane. Now that I think about it, didn’t you receive investment support from Haiman Bank for your ships? I heard that Haiman used the ships you traded to conduct overseas business. Is that correct?’

‘…That’s true, but…’

It was a look that said he didn’t know why he was bringing up something from so long ago. His brow was furrowed, but Seroh continued to speak nonchalantly.

‘Oh, that’s right. I thought I had misunderstood.’

‘Why are you asking?’

‘Just curious.’

As Seroh smiled, the nobles inwardly gasped. This guy, he heard it. It was a warning not to spread rumors about Seroh specifically since everyone here was involved with Haiman. But this ultimately gave the skilled nobles a clue.

‘Sir Ian doesn’t know? About the current rumors.’

Wasn’t that why he was acting like that, because Sir Ian didn’t know? They sipped their wine and pondered. If Ian didn’t choose Seroh, wouldn’t there be an opportunity for them? ‘That’ Seroh was acting like he would replace Haiman, so there was no reason they couldn’t do it.

Seroh, who had pushed out Haiman, and another family that pushed out Seroh.

Swoosh.

Yes. Why should they follow Seroh like this? He was barely keeping his family alive by doing leasing.

The nobles exchanged glances with meaningless smiles. The more they did, the more passionately the pianist’s fingers flew across the keys. It was the sound of another branch sprouting from within the opposition.

* * *

‘Sir Ian.’

‘Yes, Your Highness.’

‘But there’s something I’m curious about.’

‘Please ask.’

Ian was still sitting at his desk, reviewing payment documents. Jin pulled a chair in front of him and rested his chin on his hand. The child looked at the documents Ian was reading and asked again.

‘If we divide the nobles, I’m worried that the Imperial Palace will become more chaotic. This is a time when everyone should unite and move forward. The nobles are, after all, the pillars that support Bariel, aren’t they?’

His round eyes were particularly clear and sparkling. When he was reading books with Ian, drawing pictures, and learning something like this, he was no different from a child his age.

Ian put down his pen and smiled.

‘You just said the answer, Your Highness.’

‘What answer?’

‘The more pillars there are, and the more appropriately spaced they are, the more stable and solid it is. What we are doing now is exactly that. There is no need for them to all be gathered in one place.’

‘Hmm. That’s true.’

‘The number of pillars will not decrease. If one collapses, another one will surely be erected. Your Highness is the one who decides and allows that.’

Jin pursed his lips and smiled. As always, Ian’s warm words were so pleasant to hear.

‘If the pillars are strong, the roof will not collapse. If Your Highness does not collapse, the people living below will be at peace. And above all, the pain that everyone has to endure is fixed. The more the nobles and officials suffer, the more the people will be happy.’

‘So, is that why Sir Ian is working until late at night?’

‘Yes, that’s right. I am also one of Your Highness’s pillars.’

Ian smiled faintly and picked up his pen again. Then, he signed his name clearly. He expressed his intention to participate in the Haiman family trial to be held in the judicial department.