Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 287

It was a bright, sunny morning.

The magicians were moving through the main building, stretching their stiff necks. At this point, the distinction between night and day really seemed meaningless.

As they passed through the hallway, yawning widely, one magician nudged his colleague’s shoulder.

‘Look over there. It’s His Highness Jin.’

Beyond the huge glass window, Jin seemed to be having a lesson with a private tutor. A huge chalkboard, the kind magicians used for analyzing formulas, was filled with foreign writing.

The magician rubbed his eyes and frowned. Was it the sunlight? His Highness’s silver hair was sparkling like gold.

‘He looks exactly like Ian.’

‘I know, I was startled for a second.’

The way he rested his chin on his hand and looked ahead with an indifferent gaze, the way he wrote neatly as if he was just letting his hand flow, and even the way he tapped the desk intermittently.

‘…You’d believe they were related by blood. At this point.’

‘It’s like there are two Ians.’

‘Do you want to die? Learn to watch what you say.’

‘Ah, was I too much? Sorry.’

The magicians exchanged trivial jokes and hurried on their way.

From the outside, it just looked like a normal lesson. But if you opened the door and took just one step closer, you’d realize the reality was different.

‘Haaah.’

Squeak.

Jin’s sigh made the teacher’s writing on the board falter. Even the chalk broke, but she could only hold back her tears. It was the tenth sigh in just one hour of class. She had asked if he wasn’t feeling well, but he only replied that he was fine, so she was at a loss for what to do.

Siaosi, who had been watching from behind, checked the time and raised his hand.

‘Teacher, an hour has passed. How about taking a short break to help with concentration?’

‘Yes! That’s a very good idea!’

‘Has it already been an hour? I’m fine though.’

Jin tried to refuse, but Siaosi approached and shook his head. It seemed like the nervous teacher was about to collapse first.

The child reluctantly got up and went straight out to the garden.

Click.

Even though it was a large window, the difference between the outside and inside was clear when the door opened.

Jin put his hand on the glass and frowned for a moment. If only Ian’s inner thoughts were this transparent.

‘Your Highness.’

Siaosi put a coat on the child. It wasn’t exactly affectionate, but it was a very straightforward gaze. Jin stared at Siaosi and then mumbled.

‘Ian is acting strange.’

‘…….’

It was an impulsive remark. He had been agonizing alone, and it had become too heated and just blurted out. Jin bit his lower lip slightly and looked around the garden. In the distance, the problematic trees were visible.

‘Ian…’

‘……?’

‘It might be that he has changed, but it could also be that the viewer’s perspective has changed.’

It was as if the ‘I’ who used to call Ian ‘master’ and the ‘I’ now were completely different people.

Jin inwardly agreed. He too was incomparable to when he had just been wounded and now.

He didn’t know if Ian had changed. But it was certain that he had changed. So, a change in perspective was something to consider.

Jin smiled, a little surprised, and added.

‘Sia, no one would believe that you couldn’t read until recently.’

‘…You flatter me.’

Jin watched the branches swaying in the breeze. Ian was standing still, but was he looking at the swaying branches?

Was that why he couldn’t get a grip and his gaze was wavering?

‘What if not?’

What if it wasn’t swaying, but reaching out?

Jin suddenly approached the tree with a question in mind. What if the branches grew over the fence and one day couldn’t bear the weight and collapsed on him?

The child whispered softly, just loud enough for himself to hear. The cool breeze blew and instantly erased the sound.

‘Before that, I’ll have something to do. Right?’

Jin felt the branches with his fingertips. His expression was so solemn and serious that Siaosi held his breath and stood by his side.

At that moment, the teacher was seen peering through the glass window. As if she had something to tell them. At that call, Siaosi turned around alone.

Click.

‘What is it?’

The teacher had an expression that was neither smiling nor crying. It was already a burden to be in charge of the prince’s education, but now an even greater guardian had come to visit.

‘Ian.’

‘I heard it was break time. Has the schedule changed?’

‘Well, um, it happened while I was teaching.’

Ian looked over Jin’s notes with a faint smile. Then, noticing the teacher’s trembling voice, he tilted his head in confusion.

‘I’m not blaming you, it’s a genuine question. It’s class time now. Are you the new foreign language teacher?’

‘Yes, I am!’

‘I look forward to working with you. His Highness is fluent in foreign languages, so I have no worries.’

‘Yes. He certainly has talent. His linguistic sense is excellent. But his pronunciation needs some correction! Ah! I’m not saying that to criticize him!’

Ian looked at Romandro with a puzzled expression. Judging by the teacher’s attitude, it was as if she was facing a ruthless tyrant.

But even he, who was well-versed in rumors, shrugged his shoulders, saying he didn’t know anything. Ian closed the notebook and muttered.

‘…His Highness has good pronunciation though.’

‘Yes, of course!’

‘Teacher, how about we take a break and have some tea? You seem too nervous, I feel sorry.’

It was a request to give him some space, along with consideration. The teacher thought this was her chance and immediately bowed before leaving the door.

‘Sia.’

‘Yes, please speak.’

Ian was about to say something but stopped. His gaze was fixed on the outside of the glass window. Romandro and Siaosi also turned their heads, following his gaze.

Jin was talking to the magicians in the garden.

‘Someone told His Highness Jin about the trees in the park. Do you have any idea who it might be? It’s about the blessing.’

‘…I don’t know.’

‘Then, which magician has His Highness Jin been particularly close to lately? Even someone he meets often by chance is fine.’

Jin had been staying in the Magic Department since the day of the rebellion. Now he knew the place as well as the magicians, and there were no unfamiliar magicians.

The question was puzzling, but Siaosi pondered it carefully and gave an answer.

‘The magicians I see him encounter often are mostly from the Magic Support Department. It’s because it’s close to the space where His Highness studies. Other than that, there were no magicians that particularly stood out.’

‘Then, from now on…….’

From now on was fine too. He was telling them to remember well and be wary of anyone suspiciously lingering around Jin. That was the truth.

But a new figure caught Ian’s eye. The magicians who had been talking in a group had gone their separate ways, but only one remained, staying by Jin’s side.

‘Ian?’

The way they were talking looked quite familiar. Ian frowned and immediately ended the conversation.

‘From now on, keep a close watch on His Highness Jin and report any suspicious individuals to me. There are still traitors left.’

‘Understood. To His Highness…’

Should I tell him?

Siaosi was about to ask but quickly changed his words.

It wasn’t something he should ask. Now his master was Jin, and there could be no secrets related to him.

‘I will tell him.’

‘Good. Thank you for your hard work.’

‘Sia, good work. We’re going to the main building for the inauguration ceremony preparations. Contact us there if you need anything.’

‘Yes, Romandro.’

Romandro patted his shoulder as if to say good work and left a nod to Barsabe, who was guarding the door.

Click.

‘Sia. It seemed like someone came by earlier.’

Shortly after, Jin returned from the garden with a few flowers. In that short time, his cheeks were flushed red from the sunlight.

Siaosi pulled out a chair and nodded.

‘Ian and Romandro came by.’

‘But why didn’t they call me?’

‘They were busy with the inauguration ceremony and didn’t stay long.’

‘Is that so? What did they want?’

The flower petals were placed between the pages of a book. He hoped that one day, when the time had passed, he would find them and remember today.

‘…They said that there are traitors left in the Magic Department, so they told me to take special care of Your Highness.’

‘Traitors?’

Jin’s beautiful brow furrowed instantly.

Traitors, the very name was an annoying existence.

But the fact that he knew this now was even more concerning. If there were traitors in the Magic Department, it was highly likely that they were magicians, right?

It was as if Ian was saying it indirectly.

To stay away from the magicians.

‘Ah, really.’

In the past, he would have accepted it without a shred of doubt. But now that his vision had been opened once, he couldn’t do that.

Questions continued to churn in his head. Was it true? Or was Ian lying to keep me in check?

Because if the magician’s power and he became close, the central role of the minister would become unnecessary.

‘…Your Highness?’

‘It’s nothing. Let’s start the lesson quickly. We’ve wasted too much time on break. Bring the teacher.’

‘Yes, Your Highness.’

Jin blinked his eyes as if to come to his senses and grabbed his pen. His small, adorable fist was quite firm.

At the servant’s call, the teacher, who had been drinking tea, rushed over, and Jin showed a level of concentration that was incomparable to before. It was as if he was trying to erase his distracting thoughts.

Hee-ing!

Meanwhile, Ian, who had gotten into a carriage with Romandro, looked out the window and said.

‘Romandro, about the person who was with His Highness in the garden earlier…’

Ian’s words were drowned out by the rattling of the carriage. When Romandro smiled as if to ask him to repeat himself, Ian clearly recited it again.

‘About the person who was with His Highness in the garden earlier.’

‘Ah, yes. What about it?’

‘It would be good to recheck their personal information. And have them keep an eye on him.’

He was ordering surveillance.

Romandro scratched his mustache and replied that he understood.

* * *

The dawn had broken.

The soldiers who had been looking at the sky from the ramparts checked the time and waved the flag. It was to announce the start of a special morning.

Five strong men who received the signal pulled out a huge log with force. And they struck the bell with all their might so that the sound of the bell would ring throughout the center.

Deeng-

Children sitting by the window, merchants setting up tables, young men throwing newspapers around, and old people sitting on the steps in front of their houses in simple clothes. Everyone who heard the bell put their hands on their chests with joy.

It was early, but the streets were already bustling with activity.

‘The inauguration ceremony is starting!’

‘Mom, I can hear the bell from the palace!’

‘Waaah! It’s a festival! A festival!’

‘Come on, let’s hurry! It will be more crowded around lunchtime!’

‘Which country is arriving first?’

‘Rumor has it…….’

The day when guests from each country arrive in the center of Bariel before the main ceremony. It was the beginning of the festival, and for a few days, the eve would prevent night from falling in Bariel.

Poof! Swish.

Flower petals were constantly pouring down from the sky.

The whole world was dyed with sparkling things.

For the duration of the inauguration ceremony, the center would be more beautiful and fantastic than anywhere else.

‘It seems like Luswena will arrive first!’

To celebrate the arrival of a new history called Jin in Bariel.