Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 290

It was puzzling. In the mere ten or so minutes that Ian had been away, the atmosphere in the reception room felt as if it was about to break apart.

Of course, since the Luswena delegation were newly arrived guests, they wouldn’t be lingering for long. It was just a matter of exchanging customary greetings, presenting gifts, and discussing the upcoming official schedule.

However, this was too soon.

Romandro whispered quietly, just loud enough for Ian to hear.

‘The, uh, the King is more aggressive than I thought.’

It was a very brief statement, but it contained everything.

What was particularly noteworthy was ‘more than I thought.’

Indeed, she was more imposing than expected, her presence was more considerable than expected, and she was giving them a more blatant gaze than expected.

Ian dismissed Romandro and approached Jin.

‘Lord Ian.’

Jin’s face briefly brightened, then faded. The atmosphere, which had seemed on the verge of collapse, was renewed by Ian’s appearance.

First of all, Eriphony leaning back in her chair was a sign of this. She simply placed her hands on her knees and smiled, as if waiting for Ian to be introduced.

‘Is there no problem?’

‘Yes, Your Highness. I apologize for causing you concern.’

‘It’s nothing. Please greet King Eriphony. This is Lord Ian Hielo, the Minister of Magic of the Great Bariel Empire.’

As Ian placed his hand on his chest and bowed, Eriphony responded with a nod. She had heard about him from Eldert, but still. The future of the empire was in the hands of these young ones. She covered her mouth with a fan and praised Ian.

‘The praises of Lord Hielo have reached even Luswena. They say you are a genius magician who, at a young age, overcame hardships and contributed to the empire.’

‘You flatter me. I too have heard of Luswena’s reputation. They say it is a land of opportunity for magicians.’

The Prime Minister, who was caught in the middle, lowered his gaze, trying to hide his embarrassment. It was as if they were shaking hands while stabbing each other.

The ‘hardships’ Eriphony mentioned included the fact that he was born a bastard from the borderlands, and the ‘land of opportunity’ that Ian mentioned meant that there were few magicians, which hindered development.

The various factions surrounding the reception room stirred slightly, exchanging glances.

‘Even if he is young, a magician is still a magician, it seems.’

‘Isn’t he the real power behind the current Imperial Palace?’

‘I heard he was of common birth.’

From his actions of responding without hesitation or fear, one could feel Ian’s presence and confidence.

Eldert glanced at Eriphony and closed her eyes. Unlike the ten-year-old prince, Ian was not to be taken lightly. Therefore, she should stop provoking him.

‘I had to leave for a moment because there was a problem with the Magic Department, and I interrupted your conversation. Please forgive my rudeness.’

Ian bowed to Jin with a subtle smile. It was like laying the groundwork so that the child could directly explain the current situation. What had happened, and what difficulties Jin was facing.

For example, like this:

‘No. King Eriphony was just presenting gifts, aside from the tribute.’

‘Oh, is that so?’

‘However, it seems it will take a long time to show sincerity, which is a shame.’

At Jin’s signal, a servant opened the lid of a case containing a bow. It was a huge bow, comparable to the recipient of the gift. Ian quickly grasped its meaning and raised an eyebrow.

‘Hmm, look at these two?’

However, Eriphony was also discerning the subtle emotions of Ian and Jin. A complex and subtle relationship that could not be defined by one color.

It looked pink from one angle, purple from another, and then blue for a moment. It was truly meaningful.

‘…It was a commonly used bow, so I made a mistake. Your Highness, please do not be angry and tell me if the bowstring loosens.’

Eriphony threw another stone to see Ian’s reaction.

Despite being insulted twice, Jin still hesitated, lost in thought. He had many options in his hands, but he was cautious, fearing that one wrong decision could lead to irreversible consequences.

Ian looked down at the back of the child’s round head, fiddling with his fingertips.

‘It’s not a noble from his own country, but a king from another. If diplomatic relations are strained, the people of the empire will suffer the most, so Jin has no choice but to feel burdened. He did meet Eldert, but only once. Compared to his experience, the opponent is indeed formidable.’

Moreover, the King of Luswena was so unrestrained that even Romandro was surprised. Jin was bound to be flustered because there was no one to tell him, ‘It’s okay to push this far, but this is a line you shouldn’t cross.’

It was because the king’s attitude was a sharp variable that was difficult to prepare for with the refined information within the Imperial Palace.

‘Your Highness.’

Ian called Jin gently. His blue eyes seemed to be seeking an answer as he looked at Ian.

However, at the same time, his beautiful brow was slightly furrowed. Once the inauguration ceremony was over, the child would become the true successor of the empire, and what could be more painful than facing his own shortcomings? Ian smiled and suggested.

‘Still, since the King prepared it herself, how about responding to the gift?’

‘What…’

Jin trailed off, not understanding. If he were to respond, it meant he should try shooting the bow…

‘Is there anything to shoot?’

Eriphony also added with a wry smile. In this place, how, and for what, could one possibly shoot a bow? To her question, Ian answered politely.

‘Oh, my. King Eriphony. I do not know what Luswena is like, but there are no unruly beasts in the Bariel Imperial Palace.’

‘…!’

‘…!’

Everyone in the reception room held their breath. It was true that there had been a tense exchange of attacks, but such a blatant remark was a first.

The King immediately reacted, lifting herself from the backrest and clenching her lips tightly. Her eyes, dripping with venom, were like those of a viper. Ian pretended not to notice and took the bow from the case, examining it.

‘Even if there are many ways to fix a bow, the length of the arrow is a particular problem. Your Highness, right now, in Bariel, flower petals are fluttering to celebrate your inauguration ceremony. Would you like to add your strength to it?’

Zhiing. Zhiing.

As Ian released his magic, the Luswena delegation all flinched and stepped back.

Magic. The magic of the Minister they had only heard about!

There were magicians in Luswena, but they were very few, and it was questionable whether they could even be considered part of the royal court. The difference in skill was a matter that went without saying.

‘Lord Ian.’

Between Ian’s hands, a long, thin light appeared. It shimmered beautifully in pink, and soon, it gradually took shape, forming the appearance of an arrow.

‘Jin, don’t be afraid. If the King of Luswena provokes you, don’t worry and accept it. You are allowed to do so. This is Bariel, where you are allowed to do so.’

Ian lightly moved his fingertips, refining the light beam. Then, he slowly handed it to the child and asked.

A shimmering warmth. It was the same feeling as when he had touched Ian’s magic orb before. Jin looked down at the particles crackling within the light.

‘…Open the large window.’

Swoosh.

At Jin’s command, the servants moved busily, pushing open the huge window on the wall. One side opened wide, revealing a panoramic view of the Imperial Palace’s vast garden.

A cool breeze rushed in. Eriphony grabbed her swaying hair with one hand and crossed her legs. Daringly, even in front of the prince.

‘I will hold the bow for you. Just pull the string.’

Ian held the bow with one hand, and the child took a stance, pulling the bowstring with all his might. The bowstring stretched smoothly, curving into a flexible arc.

Ian’s magic arrow was caught on the tip of the small hand. The bowstring hummed near his ear, creating a faint rhythm.

Weeing. Weeing.

Jin aimed at the blue sky and released the bowstring. It was a very small force, but the arrow shot straight up into the sky as if it had a will of its own, and then exploded. The shattered, sparkling pieces blended into the flower petals that were scattered all day long and disappeared.

Swoosh!

Poof! Bang!

A strong wind swirled following Jin’s hand that had released the bowstring. At the same time, the bowstring snapped.

Peeng!

No matter how many times a master craftsman had twisted it, it was naturally impossible for it to withstand the magic.

Jin looked at the bowstring, which had been stretched out by the sunlight, and turned to Eriphony.

‘Eriphony, it seems that bowstrings don’t only loosen with age.’

Instead of answering, the King looked at the flower petals that were constantly falling behind the child.

Were the stars that poured down in broad daylight like this? She felt like she understood why poets praised and sang of the beauty of magic. She shrugged her shoulders and smiled.

‘I apologize, Your Highness.’

‘There is no need to apologize. However, I hope you will keep your promise to replace the bowstring. Take it back and have it repaired and sent back.’

It meant that he would accept the gift, but he wanted them to take it back and bring it back in the right size. Now that they knew Jin’s size, they wouldn’t be able to just send back a new bowstring.

Eriphony nodded gracefully and said she would. She had not expected the situation where she would have to take back the gift she had brought, but what could she do? They had shown sincerity, and it was her turn to show sincerity.

‘Then, after organizing the tribute…’

Jin stopped, about to give an order. The child smiled brightly and asked for the King Eriphony’s understanding.

‘I think we need to do some inspection first.’

‘Inspection? What do you mean?’

‘Recently, a person who showed a hypersensitive reaction to the dragon antigen antibody was reported, and an investigation is underway in the Imperial Palace. There is an opinion that its source is from Luswena’s goods. It will be a simple quarantine procedure, so it will be quick. I would appreciate your cooperation.’

Eriphony looked back at Eldert. As if she didn’t know what that meant.

But Eldert wouldn’t know either. The outbreak of Acorella was something that was only whispered about within the Imperial Palace.

‘First, please rest well, and we will arrange a separate meeting regarding this matter. You have worked hard to come here.’

Jin gestured as if to say they could leave, and the servants carried the tribute out one by one.

Eriphony straightened her hair, bowed to Jin, and left the reception room. The delegation followed the King in an orderly fashion, exchanging puzzled whispers.

‘Dragon antigen antibody reaction?’

‘Isn’t that a contagious disease? It’s been quite a while since that disappeared, so why suddenly?’

‘There is a dragon breeding ground in Luswena, but is there none in Bariel?’

Tap tap!

Eriphony got into the carriage and only looked out the window. An Imperial Palace official began to ride ahead on horseback. It was to guide them to the detached palace where they would stay during the inauguration ceremony.

Eldert, who was sitting across from her, cautiously called out to the King.

‘Your Majesty.’

‘A dragon epidemic. Have you heard of it?’

‘No, I have not.’

‘It doesn’t seem like they made it up…’

‘I will look into it separately when we arrive at the detached palace. But, Your Majesty.’

Why do you keep calling me, Eriphony turned her head sharply.

‘I think you were a little too harsh on Prince Jin.’

‘Really?’

‘No matter how young he is, he is the future emperor.’

Eriphony just raised one corner of her mouth and muttered.

‘…He was cute.’

‘You have a poor taste.’

She gestured for Eldert to be quiet and continued to look at the scattering flower petals. She didn’t know if they were the ones Jin had shot up, or if they had always sparkled like this.

Anyway, what was certain was that the Imperial Palace was truly desirable.