Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 286

‘Huh?’The magician who came to deliver the documents paused, looking puzzled.A tightly closed office and a servant guarding the front. It meant that Ian’s office, which never had its lights off even at dawn, was empty.Where did he go in the middle of the night? A visit to another department? As the magician stopped in the middle of the hallway, the servant greeted and guided him.’He has gone out for a while.”O-Out, you mean outside the palace?”Yes, that is correct.”Damn it! You should have told me sooner!’The Minister wasn’t in the palace! If he had known this, he would have told his night shift to go to hell and gone home.No, now the word ‘escape’ would be more appropriate than ‘go home’. Why would he waste his life making reports when his superior wasn’t even there?The magician immediately turned around and ran out of the hallway. His colleagues, who were lounging in the lobby, clicked their tongues at the sight.’Look at him run. He’s got good stamina. Did he play all day?”Minister Ian isn’t in the palace! He went home!”Are you crazy? You’re putting a lot of effort into nonsense… What?!”The office is empty, go check it out.”The Minister doesn’t have any outside appointments today?”That’s why he went home. I’m leaving first. Bye.’He was fine just this afternoon? The magicians exchanged glances for a brief moment and then stood up at the same time.It was time to go home. They would go home and get a good night’s sleep. Even if there was work left, it didn’t matter. There was no one to approve it in the office, so what could they do?Clatter! Clatter!Hee-ing!It was the moment the magicians were running down the main building’s stairs. Carriages lined up and stopped right in front of them. And there were familiar faces.’What are you all doing?”Huh? Is something going on?’Beric and Romandro, and Ian following behind them. Some of their magician colleagues also appeared from the other carriages.Ah, those guys. They hadn’t gone home after all.’…Is there a problem?”O-Oh, you’re here? I was eager to deliver the report. Haha. I came out to greet you. It seems you were out somewhere.’Ian smiled faintly as he saw that the magicians’ hands were empty. But he just pretended not to notice and gave instructions as he passed them.’If you have anything to bring, bring it. I’ll wait. It seems like I’ll be up late tonight, so anytime. Those who went out on business are dismissed.”Yes, Minister. See you tomorrow, no, in the morning.”Good work.’The magicians who had tried to escape were dragged back into the Magic Department following Ian, and the group arrived at the office.Creak.As soon as the door closed, Romandro, who had been standing upright, collapsed and buried his head in the sofa. He let out a groan-like sigh.’Ian, what do we do? He was already hard to find, but now he’ll be even more cautious and hide himself.”He found out that the Imperial Palace was involved in the pursuit. He’ll probably leave Bariel soon. It would be good to tell the border guards to be even more vigilant.’Ian also expressed his regret as he took off his coat.The magic barrier was useless. The magicians monitored the sky, and the soldiers turned the alleys upside down, but they still missed him. How could he disappear so completely, as if the darkness was a part of him?’Beric, when you saw him in the morning, you said he was crawling?”Huh? Yeah, yeah. Because he doesn’t have legs.’Beric, who was messing around on top of Romandro, replied. He was pressing down with all his might. Romandro struggled to get him off, but he didn’t care.’It seems his mobility changes at night.”That’s why I told Beric to meet me at night. In case something happened, I could run away. Ugh, get off me! You rascal!’He was a man with the dangerous temptation of secrets. It was becoming clear how such a man had survived until now.If they had had more time, they could have gathered information and prepared. Romandro scolded him, stretching Beric’s cheeks from side to side.’If you had told me sooner, huh? Sooner!”Ugh, isn’t it good enough that I didn’t forget!’Yes. It was good enough that he didn’t forget and told them early. As Ian pressed his temples and looked tired, Beric carefully examined him. Was it because he went out for the first time in a while? He looked more tired than usual.’Ian, are you okay?”…What do you mean?”Your face is pale. Did the old lady do something to you?”Come to think of it, the conversation was long. Ian, what did you talk about?’Even Romandro joined in and approached Ian. Ian waved his hand, saying they were too close.’…I found out the secret of the former King of Burgos. It wasn’t known to the public, but it seems their relationship was very unstable.”Are you talking about the predecessor of the current King Damon?”Yes. It seems there are hidden bloodlines scattered everywhere besides King Damon. I think that’s why the King was trying to find the gypsy.’When a suitable truth meets silence, a lie is created. Ian cut out the fact that the King of Burgos was a regressor [someone who has returned to the past] and only told them the fragments.The more people who knew, the more loopholes there would be. It was better for only Ian to know this.’Information about the future will be clearer and more certain for him.’Because he was living the same era twice. No matter how much Ian was a person from a hundred years later, there were disadvantages.However, now that he knew who the opponent was.That in itself balanced things out.’When was King Damon scheduled to arrive?”Three days before the official appointment ceremony, so just a moment.’Romandro counted the days on the calendar.There was a little less than two weeks left. Since the leaders of the three countries would be staying during the same period, it would be difficult to approach them individually.Ian was silent, his chin resting on his hand as if he was deeply contemplating something.’About the alliance of the three countries.”Huh? Why that?’It was a question of who had proposed it first, taking advantage of the opportunity to unite while Bariel was in chaos.’I think it would be Luswena. Wouldn’t she have been faster at getting news than other countries through Haiman? The envoys also visited the Imperial Palace in the middle.’From an overall perspective, that was correct. But now that he knew that the King of Burgos was a regressor, he couldn’t rule him out.In two repeated lives, wouldn’t he have judged that now was the right time to form an alliance? If so, it was proof that now was a crisis for Bariel.’…It would be good to prepare well for the guests.”Of course. Everyone in the Imperial Palace is doing so.’Knock knock.At that moment, when they heard a sound from outside, Romandro opened the door. It was the magician who had failed to escape, coming with a pile of reports.As Romandro stood at the door and talked to him, Beric peeked his head out.’Ian.”Yes.”You gave the old lady a secret, didn’t you?’He seemed curious about what he had given. But now he was in a position where he couldn’t even say it if he wanted to. Ian organized the documents and replied playfully.’I told her you ate a lot of delicious things while you were sleeping.”You’re lying. Jin said that if you eat a secret, you can’t talk?”Are you asking even though you know? You’re more amazing than I thought.”I want to give a secret too and hear something fun. But the old lady said I don’t have any secrets. So I’m asking. Do you know if I stole meat from the restaurant?”It’s not just once or twice, which time are you talking about?’Beric shrugged and sprawled out, saying it was fine.The night outing to capture the gypsy was coming to an end. Beric fell asleep as he was, and Romandro, who was helping Ian, also went to the next room and collapsed.Ian was the only one left, using the silence as music, processing the remaining documents. As dawn broke, a very faint footstep was heard.Swoosh.Ian stopped what he was doing and looked towards the door. It seemed like someone had stopped in front of the door, but they seemed hesitant because of the time. A magician wouldn’t be like that. Ian realized that it was time for Jin to wake up and spoke first.’…Is that Your Highness?”Sir Ian.”Please come in. You woke up early.’He was wearing comfortable clothes, as if he had come right after coughing. Jin peeked his head in and smiled sadly.’Surely you haven’t slept?”I have a light schedule this afternoon. What brings you here?’Ian turned his body from the chair to greet the child, telling him to come closer. If he had woken up from sleep, he would read him a book. It was the moment he was about to add a kind word.’Didn’t you say you were going to catch the gypsy in the middle of the night? I was curious about what happened. Since he is someone the King of Burgos is concerned about, I am also concerned.’Ah. He was a child with the qualities of an emperor. He was so worried that he couldn’t sleep.Ian stroked Jin’s protruding hair and smiled bitterly. He had no other way to express his embarrassment.’I apologize. The gypsy was truly extraordinary, and we missed him. He will probably leave Bariel soon, and the border guards might be the last chance.”He was a mysterious person. Was there no other gain?’Ian told him exactly what he had told Romandro and Beric. The child’s blue eyes were fixed on Ian.Since some time ago, Jin had wanted to look deeply into Ian. He wondered what was in his head, what he was seeing, and what he wanted to see. He became curious and pondered, and then he became even more doubtful.’Why are you doing that, Your Highness?”…Sir Ian.’The child smiled carefully and called him. It was a low voice that resembled the dawn.’Is there a separate intention for proceeding with the construction of the Magic Department’s annex?’Ian paused at the unexpected question. He looked directly at the child and then asked back. There must be a reason why he suddenly brought this up.’May I ask the reason for your question first?”The number of magicians has decreased, and the Magic Department has become even larger. The reason why there should be an annex is ambiguous, so your actions are suspicious. Although it is being funded by Sir Ian’s funds, that is why even more so. You don’t seem like someone who would waste time and effort on unnecessary things.’Jin was careful, but he couldn’t hide the underlying signs of opposition. Ian raised his eyebrows as if he was surprised for a moment, then nodded. As if telling him to continue.’And I heard that the trees in the garden have received the blessing of the fairies. I’m a little worried that something bad might happen if they are cut down.’Are you worried? Then I won’t do it.Jin wanted Ian to say that. Then Jin would say this as well.No. It just meant that it would be good to persuade everyone.’Your Highness. That is an unrecorded rumor in the literature.”…Is that so?”Yes, that is correct.’But Ian’s answer was different from what he expected. It was kind but somehow felt distant. What would he do if I opposed it? The words lingered on the tip of his tongue, but the child held back well.Not yet. No matter what Ian’s answer was, the right time was when he himself had no problems. The young lion’s claws twitched.’I understand. Now, please rest. I don’t feel good that you might collapse again.’Jin held Ian’s hand tightly. The warm warmth mixed with each other, and it felt like the coldness of dawn was disappearing. Ian hugged the child in response.’Please be at ease, Your Highness. Your peace is everyone’s peace.’The child smiled brightly and left the office, and Ian stared blankly at his still warm palm.Jin had begun to harbor doubts and opposition. It was admirable but also a subtle feeling. He gently stroked the table with his warm hand.’The vigilance that was raised since the Haiman incident. It wouldn’t have subsided and suddenly flared up, so is there a trigger?’The child mentioned the trees in the garden. This was one of the main arguments of the opposition to the construction of the annex. It was clear that someone on Ian’s side had told him.Was it Barsabe?Or…….’But Your Highness burned one of the papers. I was going to try to save at least half of it, but it was completely reduced to ashes.’While looking at the traces of the paper he had burned, Ian suddenly remembered Philia’s words from a long time ago.When Gail handed over the traitor, he said he had blown away one of the papers to threaten him.