Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 262

‘You are the Empire’s blessing. The first noble mage! It’s a pleasure to meet you. I am Naum Ovia. Please, call me Naum.’

When the original Ian was fifteen, Naum was the first person he met and exchanged names with upon entering the Imperial Palace.

It was a summer day’s meeting that everyone considered a blessing, never suspecting how it would sway their lives.

‘I’ll call you Ian, then. I’ve been waiting for you at the Magic Department. It’s been years since we had a new colleague! You haven’t seen the whole department yet, have you? Let me show you around.’

Like his long, soft, brown hair, his smile was gentle.

The mages averted their eyes, pretending not to notice Naum’s movements. Most of them were of common birth, having experienced the hardships of the lower classes. Their gazes were filled with resentment towards the nobility, worry that a hierarchy would form in the Magic Department, which had been without class distinctions, and suspicion that Ian would harm the department by asserting his noble identity.

Naum waved his hand at them with a smile.

‘Everyone’s eager to meet Ian. Sorry, but I’m in charge, so step back and go do your work. You can greet him at the induction ceremony.’

Ian had never seen anyone as naturally good-natured as Naum. Among the always haughty, noble, and dignified nobles, it felt like entering a new world. Of course, the Magic Department was an unfamiliar place, so it was a natural feeling.

Anyway, was that why? Following him felt natural. Not just on the paths of the Magic Department, but also on the path of life.

Naum was undeniably a reliable colleague, an excellent teacher, and an indispensable friend. The difference in age was merely a concept. Definitely.

‘Naum. I am deeply grateful to you.’

A simple study inside the Magic Department’s annex.

Ian and Naum enjoyed visiting the place to read whenever they had time. Ian, who had turned his gaze from the book to the window, suddenly said that. It was the season when the fresh summer leaves were turning autumnal.

‘For what?’

‘…’

For what? Could he count them one by one?

Since it was an endless answer, Ian remained silent. Naum also observed the changing seasons.

‘Ian, did you know? This window is the largest in the Magic Department’s annex.’

‘Why?’

‘When the annex was first built, this space wasn’t originally there. But the ancestor in charge of the construction felt it was a shame and created it. Since it wasn’t planned, they replaced the wall with a window.’

‘Was his name Timothy?’

‘Yes. You saw him at my house last time, right?’

Naum smiled proudly.

Timothy, he said, was an immigrant from the Burgos Kingdom. The Bariel Empire citizen certificate he received when he naturalized was cherished by Naum’s family. To commemorate the gratitude for allowing them to live as citizens of the Bariel Empire, not the declining Burgos Kingdom.

‘Perhaps Timothy didn’t know either. That you and I would use it so preciously in the future.’

‘It’s not like we only use the study here.’

‘Hmm. Is that so? But there’s something we can only do here.’

Ian pretended not to know and slightly turned his head.

Did he get caught coming here whenever he was having a hard time? Just as Naum was about to turn a page with a silent smile, footsteps echoed loudly from somewhere.

Tap tap!

It was the innermost space of the annex, where people rarely came. Since it was not a common occurrence, Ian and Naum simultaneously looked towards the door.

The door opened roughly, and a cold wind rushed in. The pages of the book fluttered, the mage’s face flushed, and his heart pounded strangely.

‘Ian, Naum! Damn it, I’ve been looking for you!’

‘What’s wrong?’

‘His Majesty the Emperor has passed away.’

Ian sensed that he would never forget that moment. He felt with all his senses what a turning point in life was.

‘Ian. You’re being considered as the next Emperor.’

‘…’

‘Did you expect it?’

It would be a lie to say he didn’t expect it. In fact, he had been guessing from the moment he entered the palace. The Emperor was on his last legs, there was no heir, and Ian was a distant relative of the Imperial family and a sacred mage.

Moreover, he was young. For the powerful officials who found it difficult to ascend the throne themselves, it was a perfect condition. However, because it was a serious position, Ian intentionally tried not to be conscious of it.

‘Croni is looking for you.’

Naum frowned at the name Croni. Ian’s nephew, the Deputy Minister of the Imperial Defense Department, the son of Ian’s guardian who had replaced his parents. And the one who urged Ian to hide his magical powers.

As Ian tried to stand up, Naum grabbed him.

‘You don’t have to meet him just because he’s looking for you, Ian.’

He always knew that Ian came here after meeting Croni. Naum shook his head, trying to swallow his words. He didn’t know what kind of nonsense he would use to stab the child’s heart this time.

‘It’s okay. As you said, I expected this moment. So, I’m meeting him now because I’m needed.’

Ian stood up. Then, his pale blue eyes and platinum blonde hair shone even more brightly in the sunlight.

Naum also thought that he would never forget that moment. It was the moment when Ian moved forward on his own at a turning point in his life, and he realized that the end of it was the beginning of the next Emperor.

‘Naum.’

‘…Yes.’

‘I tried not to think about it, but I kept thinking about it. I realized that I can’t ignore what I truly want.’

The Emperor, the pinnacle of Bariel, the one who could support and change the world.

The reason why the spark of thought did not easily go out was probably because of the smiles and tears of the people of the Empire he had met while working as a mage.

Ian lightly touched Naum’s shoulder.

‘And you deserve the position of Minister of the Magic Department.’

‘Ian.’

‘I hope for your help in the future, just like now.’

The next minister, that is, if Ian became the Emperor, it was like a kind of cabinet had been decided. The mage pretended not to hear and bowed his head as he went out the door. Ian also had no hesitation.

Left alone, Naum covered the book that Ian had opened, with his hand on his forehead. Of course, he too would always stay by Ian’s side if he could.

Like covering a book, taking care of the aftermath and leading the Empire’s brilliant future together was also an unparalleled honor.

But before that-

‘Ian, becoming Emperor is abandoning yourself.’

It was just heartbreaking.

What kind of place was the Imperial Palace? It was a place where the wind of blood was suppressed, aiming for the other’s neck, and where countless desires gathered to form a deep pit.

Could a child standing alone really endure it?

He could endure it. But he might break.

‘Haa.’

Swoosh.

Naum also organized the book he was reading and stood up. When Ian, who had met Croni, came back here, it would be better if he wasn’t there.

If he had decided to dedicate his life to Bariel, he had no choice but to join him. Even one connection was a miracle, but the two had formed a bond as teacher and student, friend, and colleague.

‘May God’s blessing be with you.’

Naum unconsciously drew a small magic circle on the window. With the hope that Ian wouldn’t be too distressed when he came here to relieve his sadness.

* * *

The ministers and officials of each department gathered at the Grand Council, exchanging awkward glances. There were mountains of things to discuss, and stacks of documents were placed at the back of the vast conference room. It was a situation where they didn’t have enough time even if they proceeded quickly, but two key figures were spacing out.

‘Now, then, the next item. It’s from the Ministry of Culture. Out of the 105 paintings received from the Hyman family, 30 will be displayed at the Imperial National Art Museum, 17 will be kept in the Imperial private collection, and the rest will be auctioned off. Minister Jin. Have you checked the list?’

‘Huh? Ah, yes. I checked it.’

One was Jin-

‘Then, do you agree?’

‘…I don’t think the official appraisals have all been submitted yet.’

The other was Ian.

As Jin answered in a fluster, Ian added while flipping through the documents. On the surface, he looked no different from usual, but Romandro and a few other officials knew. Ian was constantly lost in thought. If it were normal, he would have told Jin before he answered like that.

The Minister of Culture continued his report, glancing at the two of them.

‘The Hyman family has been conducting separate art appraisals every year. We intend to proceed based on that instead of the official appraisal. However, there are so many, it will take a long time.’

‘I object. We cannot trust the Hyman family’s appraisals. Some may have deliberately lowered the value to evade taxes, and others may have raised it for profit.’

‘Well, that… the appraiser was someone who worked at the Imperial Palace until two years ago. It was considered that there was no problem with trust.’

‘Then, it would be easier to appraise the appraisal documents than to appraise the artworks. What do you think, Your Highness?’

Ian turned his head to the side and asked Jin’s opinion. Then, Jin, who had been staring blankly at him, was startled and turned his head.

‘Oh, it seems right.’

‘Then, it would be good to do that.’

What is it?

Quintana fiddled with a dry cigarette, tilting his head. Minister Jin’s attitude was definitely strange. Wasn’t he the minister who usually looked at Ian with sparkling eyes and followed his every move?

But now, he felt uncomfortable and awkward.

It was like he was suffering alone…

‘Ian is definitely different too.’

How could he not notice? Jin’s attitude was clearly different, and it was wrong that he didn’t notice it.

‘Okay. We will handle the appraisal documents that way. Next item.’

Bang bang!

The Prime Minister banged the gavel without delay and moved the meeting forward. It would help to shorten the meeting time even a little if they quickly concluded the less important items.

If Ian and Jin continued in that state, the meeting would probably continue until the next day.

‘It’s about the distribution of authority regarding magic sealing stones. It’s an agenda from the Magic Department. Hmm, regarding the total quantity identified, it is proposed that His Majesty the Emperor receive 50%, other Imperial family members 30%, and the Magic Department 20%.’

As the Prime Minister recited, Jin was startled and looked down at the documents. The officials of other departments were the same. Magic sealing stones were the only means to control mages, weren’t they?

It was a way to bring those close to the power of God down to human level, and they were handing over more than half of the authority to the Imperial family. Even Wesley, who had a deep connection with Gale, had not done this.

‘Is the above ratio correct? Minister Ian Hielo?’

‘Yes. As the Minister of the Magic Department, I felt many things while experiencing the civil war. First of all, it is necessary to conduct a thorough investigation and ensure proper management of the magic sealing stones, and it is also necessary to have a balanced relationship with absolute power. For the peace and stability of the Imperial family, this is considered appropriate. Currently, the only Imperial family member other than His Majesty is His Highness Jin, so it is right to grant His Highness Jin 30% of the authority over the magic sealing stones.’

Jin’s eyes widened. It was no different than handing over a knife with the sharp part facing the Magic Department.

‘Hmm. What about Idgal?’

‘…The Magic Department is conducting its own investigation. It seems that tracking and eliminating them would be a way to reduce the chaos.’

‘I see. Your Highness Jin. What is your opinion?’

‘Me?’

Arsen’s whispers, Hyman’s discord, and Ian who knew the passage that only the Imperial family knew. Everything was confusing and complicated, but surprisingly, he felt clear-headed. Jin nodded blankly.

‘…I agree.’

Ian, who was facing him, raised an eyebrow and smiled. As if asking why. He had finally noticed Jin’s strangeness. Then, Jin smiled as if to say it was nothing.

Quintana quietly watched the two of them, then tucked the cigarette into his pocket. It seemed that it was something that needed to be investigated deeply.