Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 264

‘Have you arrived?’

Siaosi, who had been guarding the Magic Department alone, greeted his masters. Ian and Jin looked a bit more tired than when they had left, but what was wrong with Beric’s condition? His side wound had reopened, and he was muttering curses under his breath.

‘Jairut, you son of a bitch, aagh-‘

It must have been the work of Commander Jairut. If so, it was likely the result of Beric’s own rudeness.

Siaosi skillfully took out a first-aid kit from the cabinet. As Ian’s nosebleeds had become more frequent, the doctor had placed one in the office.

‘Shut up, you! Is Commander Jairut your friend?’

‘He’ll be my friend when I become a commander!’

‘Oh my, the commander should have pinched the other side too.’

‘Does this look like a pinch to you? He tore at me! Aah! It hurts! Please apply it gently.’

Romandro took the ointment from Siaosi and tended to the wound. Fortunately, it didn’t seem serious enough to call the doctor again.

While the two were bickering, Ian, as always, immediately checked the desk in his office. It was a gesture to see if any documents had been submitted during his absence.

‘Nothing has been submitted.’

‘I see. Everyone was gathered in the conference hall, so there wouldn’t have been any progress reports.’

That was good. Honestly, Ian was also a bit tired, so he was relieved that he could rest until tomorrow morning. He rummaged in his inner pocket and gestured for Siaosi to come closer. Then, Jin pulled a chair closer and rested his chin on his hand, as if waiting for something interesting to happen.

‘Sia, you can read, right?’

‘Yes. Thanks to Your Highness, I dare say.’

‘Here. This is for you.’

A crisp, high-quality paper was neatly folded. Ian urged Siaosi to take it, gesturing with his hand as he hesitated. As he carefully received it, Romandro also stopped treating the wound and watched Siaosi’s reaction.

‘Read it.’

‘…Welcome to the people of the Great Bariel Empire.’

A very sentimental phrase for an official document adorned the beginning. It detailed the permission to live as a person, not someone’s private property, and the rights and obligations that came with it.

However, Siaosi was captivated by the first sentence and couldn’t move on.

‘Sia, what’s wrong?’

Aren’t you happy? He had expected a bright smile, but instead, he looked like he was about to cry. Siaosi gave a bitter smile and shook his head.

‘No, it’s just-‘

It was because the lives of countless people flowing in his blood came to mind.

His mother and an unknown father. And then his mother’s mothers and his father’s fathers. Perhaps siblings. All of them had lived and died miserably because they couldn’t obtain this one piece of paper.

Wasn’t it truly futile? He was no different now than before receiving this paper, yet he had become a completely different being due to the permission of some formless entity.

A person. A person whose existence as an individual was acknowledged.

And a citizen of the Great Bariel Empire.

‘I’m relieved that I can cut it off at my generation. Thank you.’

The lineage of slavery that had continued for countless years was severed at this moment. Siaosi read the certificate without missing a single word, repeatedly murmuring his thanks.

‘Enough with the thanks. As I said, I didn’t do it out of mere kindness. Fifty gold coins. It might be a heavy sum for a tenant farmer with a large family, but it should be suitable for you, Siaosi.’

It meant he could pay it back slowly. The monthly salary of an average commoner was one gold coin. Fifty coins was an amount that would take nearly four years to save without spending a single penny.

However, Siaosi was currently Jin’s only right-hand man, and he would have opportunities to work in the Imperial Palace in the future, so he could expect more income. Above all, what expenses would he have when he was being fed and housed?

‘If I pay it back, what will happen?’

Siaosi looked back at Jin and Ian and asked. If he paid it back, would he no longer be able to be with them? If the master-servant relationship and the debt disappeared, where would Siaosi go? He had been bound by others his whole life, so a sudden sense of unease washed over him.

Ian seemed to understand his concern and answered as he hung his coat on the back of the chair.

‘Sia. Freedom will be sweeter than your worries. Let’s meet again in a few years. Remember yourself now. Perhaps the you of the future will be very surprised by the you of now.’

It was like watching a child dipping their toes in the water for the first time. He was hesitant and afraid now, but soon he would be free from all constraints and pursue his own will.

Siaosi carefully folded the certificate and held it tightly in both hands.

‘It is said that the Imperial Guard and the Imperial Defense Department will be selecting personnel soon. Beric says he will apply-‘

‘Of course! I’m going to crush them all! Ugh!’

‘Sia, will you apply too?’

Siaosi knew that there was intention behind all of Ian’s actions. Giving him the emancipation certificate now, and not on any other day, was to prepare for the personnel selection. After all, slaves would likely be excluded from the recruitment.

‘Yes, I will.’

If he had become a free citizen, he had no choice but to earn his own living. It was time to show his worth as a person, not as a slave. He had no choice but to perform well in the personnel selection, as his masters wished.

Ian nodded in satisfaction, and Romandro continued to tend to Beric’s wound while praising him.

‘Good. You thought well. If you do this and that, you will find what you truly want. Look at Beric. He may be rough and clumsy, but he has a clear goal, so he seems to enjoy life, doesn’t he?’

‘What are you saying to someone whose side wound just reopened?’

‘This is also something you got while doing what you wanted. Accept it humbly.’

Thump!

Romandro gave Beric a light knock on the head, as if telling him to stay still.

‘It seems there will be a lot to prepare, such as weapons and protective gear. Sia, let’s go out together soon. It’s been a while since I went home, so I can see Vivianna too. Hmm, hmm.’

‘Me too! I’m going to apply too, why aren’t you preparing for me?’

‘You have the Black Sword!’

‘Ian! Give me some pocket money too!’

At the mention of the two going out, Beric raised his hand and shouted. Pocket money? Ian narrowed his eyes and carefully examined Beric.

‘What do you need it for?’

‘I want to buy protective gear-‘

‘You’re going to buy meat, aren’t you?’

‘Ah, of course! I’m going to buy meat too! Hup!’

Beric covered his mouth and held his breath.

That guy, is his mind always full of thoughts of food? Romandro clicked his tongue and put away the first-aid kit, while Jin, who had been listening quietly, carefully grabbed Ian’s sleeve.

‘Um, Sir Ian.’

‘Yes, Your Highness.’

‘I, I also…’

Jin hesitated, swallowing his words. Ask me anything, Ian said gently, bowing his head, and Jin shouted.

‘I want to go sightseeing outside too!’

‘Oh, Jin, Your Highness, ask Ian for pocket money too.’

‘You fool, Bariel is His Highness’s. Who is asking whom for pocket money…’

Except for being born in the temple and spending his infancy there, Jin had never been outside the Imperial Palace. There was no reason to go out, nor was it necessary. The Imperial Palace was vast, had everything, and there were still many unknown places.

‘Indeed. Marib and Gail would have gone out naturally to meet nobles and gauge public sentiment in various parts of the center. But there is hardly any justification for a young prince to go out. Delilah’s contact with her family has also been cut off.’

Jin gripped Ian’s sleeve tightly, his eyes sparkling. It was as desperate as Siaosi’s grip on the certificate. He had already met the people of the empire in the courtroom and had come to know that joy. If he didn’t know, he wouldn’t have known, but now that he knew, how could he not want it?

‘Sir Ian. Please? If I become the successor, I definitely won’t be able to go out. I’ll be buried in studies and training every day. Now is the most leisurely time of my life!’

A ten-year-old child talking about life, Ian smiled and patted Jin’s hand.

‘Your Highness. Romandro and Siaosi are going out for personal business. If you wish to accompany them, you must disguise yourself and hide your identity. If you are to go out officially, there will be a lot to prepare.’

‘Of course, I know.’

‘And if Your Highness goes, I will go too.’

Even if elite knights were to accompany him, he was uneasy about sending Jin out alone. He felt he needed to be by his side to feel at ease.

‘…That too, I want!’

The possibility of permission was growing! Jin unknowingly stood on tiptoe and jumped up and down. Even when Ian told him to maintain his composure, the blush on his face did not fade.

‘Understood. I will set a date within this week.’

‘Wow! Sir Ian! Thank you!’

‘You’re welcome. When Your Highness grows up, there will be times when you will go out incognito. Think of it as practice in advance.’

Prince Jin’s first incognito outing. Romandro scratched his chin, thinking about what needed to be prepared.

First, he would need to inform the Imperial Guard to secretly select knights to follow, check the route, and prepare forged identification. Although it was called an incognito outing, cooperation from each department was essential for this.

‘Then, are we all going together?’

‘Beric, promise me you’ll behave yourself outside. If Jin, Your Highness, is with us, I cannot tolerate even the slightest disturbance.’

‘Yay! Ian is the best! Jin, Your Highness. I heard from Commander Hale that there’s a pub that serves beer with honey. It’s supposed to be amazing. Let’s have fun and have a drink there-‘

‘You fool!’

Thwack!

Romandro delivered the final knock on the head. How dare he mention a pub to Jin, Your Highness! He glared, telling him not to say such nonsense.

‘Why! They grow honey there themselves, so it’s supposed to be really delicious! They also sell milk! Jin, Your Highness, can drink that!’

‘Okay, okay, Beric. It’s my first time going out, so please show me around. I’m really curious about what the people of the empire like and enjoy.’

‘Don’t worry. I’ll guide you! Yahoo!’

‘Your Highness, don’t trust him. That guy is terrible with directions.’

Beric was excitedly running around, and Romandro was whispering. Jin was laughing non-stop, enjoying himself.

Ian organized the documents, watching them. Just a moment ago, Jin’s mood didn’t seem so good, but it must have just been simple fatigue.

‘He kept his conversation with Quintana a secret.’

Ian smiled slightly, recalling his conversation with Jin. Keeping secrets was the beginning of establishing one’s own identity. It was a very good sign, so he was very proud.

Above all, anyone who would ascend to the throne had to know how to stand alone.

‘And outside, be especially careful not to expose Jin, Your Highness’s identity!’

‘Aish, I know! Seriously, you’re so naggy. Then what should we call Jin, Your Highness? Huh? We’re not going to drop the honorifics, are we?’

Romandro paused at Beric’s shout. And then he glanced at Ian. That’s right? Usually, they would use a disguise when going out… They would need to decide on a new title?

Ian felt the gaze of the three men on him and raised his head. As if asking what the fuss was about.

‘Let’s say that Jin, Your Highness, and I are brothers, and Siaosi and Beric are our attendants. Romandro, you would be good as an uncle or a great-uncle.’

‘H-Brother? Sir Ian and I?’

Jin’s eyes widened to the point of popping out. Then, when they were outside, he would have to call him brother? Oh my!

‘I like it very much. I approve!’

‘Wait, why am I an uncle or a great-uncle out of all the possible relationships? Isn’t that cumbersome? An uncle would be better.’

At Romandro’s words, Beric clutched his reopened wound and chuckled.

‘Ah, Romandro. That’s perfect for a non-blood-related guardian. Your appearances are too different. Isn’t that right, Ian?’

Ah! Romandro snapped his fingers as if he had realized something, but then he understood the underlying meaning and made a gloomy face. Seeing this, Jin was flustered and took his hand to comfort him.

‘Romandro, don’t worry. Your child will surely look like Vivianna.’

‘…Your Highness, thank you for the comfort.’

‘A-Are you crying?’

‘No. I’m just sad…’

Jin comforted Romandro while continuing to laugh. What would he see when he went out, and what would he experience? If he was with them, everything would be enjoyable.

The child looked back at Ian, who was reviewing the documents, and smiled with determination. It was a determination that believed everything would be fine.