Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 291

The reception room was quiet. With the Luswena delegation completely gone, most of the palace officials had left as well.

Preparing for the inauguration ceremony was a given, and there was a mountain of work to do to welcome and entertain guests from various countries. Ian glanced at the cold teacup and nodded to the servants, signaling them to clear it away quickly.

‘Your Highness, you did well.’

Jin was just staring out the half-open window. The pollen kept falling, but why did his heart feel so heavy? Jin gave a faint smile and shrugged.

‘What did I do well?’

If Ian hadn’t appeared at that moment and captured the King’s attention? The meeting would have already broken down long ago.

He wouldn’t have been able to tell them to take back the insulting gifts, nor would he have been able to retaliate in kind. It was all possible because of Ian. This was fortunate, yet regrettable.

‘Everyone was watching.’

Not just the Prime Minister, but also the ministers of each department, officials, and even delegations from other countries. Jin furrowed his brow and rested his chin on his hand.

The Prince’s mood is quite uncomfortable, Romandro quickly noticed and approached to comfort him.

‘Your Highness. No. King Eriphony was someone who exceeded expectations. Who would have known she would dare to say such things in front of Your Highness? Don’t be too disappointed. Just remember the King’s expression when she left the reception room.’

‘…….’

Jin kept his mouth shut, only blinking as he looked at Romandro. Then, he subtly turned his gaze to Ian. He was wearing a faint smile, as if lost in thought.

‘Why are you smiling, Lord Ian?’

‘Seeing Your Highness so regretful, I think you will develop infinitely in the future.’

King Eriphony was already a ruler of a nation. Even setting aside her political experience, she was a leader with more life wisdom. If such a person showed an unexpected attitude in a one-on-one meeting, it would be difficult to handle.

Ian murmured, looking at Jin’s fingertips. There were faint marks on them from gripping the bowstring with his bare hands.

‘Don’t be too disheartened. Your Highness hesitated because you love the Empire too much.’

It was a meeting with a leader. Jin’s choice would determine peace or war, the lives and deaths of the Empire’s people. Knowing the weight of that, he couldn’t easily respond.

‘It’s much better than acting rashly out of impetuosity. You did well. Remember that this is Your Highness’s first diplomacy.’

Jin followed Ian’s gaze and looked down at his right hand. Then, he rubbed his fingertips as if it was nothing. His expression was a little softer than before.

‘If Lord Ian hadn’t been here, it would have been very difficult.’

‘What’s the point of hypotheticals about the past?’

‘…How far have Vergos and Cliffopord arrived?’

His determination to never make a mistake when facing the other two countries was evident.

Ian naturally passed the question to the mage behind him, who bowed his head in embarrassment.

‘I apologize. There has been no contact yet.’

‘We are constantly in contact with the outskirts and monitoring the situation, so we will inform you as soon as we receive any news. Before that, please rest for a while.’

As Romandro gestured and guided him back to his residence, Jin sat in his place, deep in thought.

A round head, fidgeting fingertips, and constantly moving lips. Ian and Romandro looked at each other, puzzled.

‘Why, why is he like this?’

Romandro mouthed the question, but there was no way to know.

It was the moment Ian was about to say something.

‘…Is it not difficult?’

‘What is?’

‘Creating magic power.’

‘Ah.’

He couldn’t bring himself to say thank you. It was refined into concern, due to the Prince’s dignity, the eyes of those around him, and his pride.

But Ian immediately understood Jin’s intention and naturally knelt to meet his gaze.

‘Of course not, Your Highness.’

He did well. A prince should not carelessly use words of gratitude to his subordinates in such a situation. The words lingered on the tip of his tongue, but Ian also refined them and conveyed different words.

‘It was not difficult at all.’

‘Okay. Then that’s good. I’ll go first. Sia.’

As Jin called for Siao, the servants’ movements became busy. They rushed ahead to prepare for the Prince’s departure, and the few remaining officials also disappeared as if they had no business left.

In the space left only with the magic department, Romandro sat on the sofa and let out a sigh of relief.

‘Oh, the tension is finally gone. The problem is that there are two more of these events to come. Haha. No, it’s the Empire’s festival, so it’s not a problem. Ahem.’

And he crunched on a candy, clearing his throat for no reason.

The relationship between Ian and Jin was somehow different than before. The child who used to follow him around calling him ‘hyung-nim’ [a respectful term for older brother or male friend] had drawn a line, and Ian didn’t even seem to think about crossing it.

‘Hey, Ian.’

Ian turned his head at Romandro’s call. His expression was the same as usual, but somehow, it was a little different.

What was it? What was different?

‘…Did you perhaps have a fight with Prince Jin?’

Romandro said that without thinking, then covered his mouth.

The absurdity was the same for Ian. How could the description of ‘fighting’ be applied to him and Jin?

As Ian frowned, Romandro waved his hands, correcting himself.

‘Sorry, I made a mistake!’

‘Be careful. Even the portraits in the palace have ears.’

‘Right. I misspoke. Ahem. It’s not that, I was just wondering if there was something I didn’t know.’

Ian said there was nothing to answer and gave instructions to the mages.

‘…Send another message to the outskirts. Wait for another hour, and if there’s no sign, send people to the expected route.’

‘Yes. Understood.’

‘Hey, Ian. I may not know anything else, but I have a great sense of intuition. That’s how I survived as Vivianna’s husband, you know!’

‘The Cliffopord delegation is larger than Luswena’s. It will take three hours to reach the palace once they are visible from the outskirts. Keep that in mind when proceeding with the schedule.’

‘Communication, that’s really important!’

While Ian was giving various instructions as he walked out of the reception room, Romandro hovered around him, chattering. Because Ian was blatantly ignoring him, there was no response.

‘Why is Lord Romandro acting like that again?’

‘I don’t know? Did he do something wrong?’

‘Never mind, everyone hurry up! We need to be relieved!’

Tap tap!

The mages also sparkled with curiosity, but after seeing Ian’s reaction, they ignored it and scattered.

Even while walking along the outer corridor connected to the garden, Romandro kept talking about the importance of communication and building trust in the early days of marriage.

Ian, who had been listening with one ear, suddenly stopped walking.

Swoosh.

‘I saw earlier, King Eriphony was no joke.’

‘She was so arrogant, as if this was her own palace. Did you hear the way she asked His Highness about the black gem?’

‘Yeah. She treated him like a common child.’

‘It’s all because there are no adults in the Imperial Family. Even if the Emperor is old, the absence of the two princes is too great.’

‘No. It’s not that. The absence of the princes is natural, but the problem is that His Highness Jin is too young to fill that gap.’

‘It can’t be helped. The two princes were in that state because of the civil war, not anything else.’

Romandro widened his eyes and leaned his head out over the railing. The officials who had left earlier were gathered in small groups, smoking cigarettes. The moment he was about to warn them, Ian grabbed Romandro’s arm.

‘Lord Romandro.’

‘No, but-‘

It meant to leave them alone. Ian lightly stopped him and continued on his way.

Romandro, who had been looking back and forth between the railing and Ian’s back, followed his superior and began to chatter again.

‘Ian, why are you leaving them alone?’

‘It’s normal to criticize the ruler when he’s not around. Even if we cut off their conversation, we can’t cut off the truth. Even if His Highness Jin did well for the first time, the external evaluation is inevitable. These are things that His Highness Jin must endure.’

They bite, they cut, and when wounds appear, tough skin grows. They were also adding a word or two out of concern for the current situation.

‘Enduring is a very good way to grow.’

Perhaps those were the softer of the criticisms. Everywhere, the child’s immaturity, his momentary look of panic, and Eriphony’s rude attitude would be the talk of the town.

In addition, his own name would be added to it.

‘Because of me, Jin barely managed to finish the situation…….’

It would be fortunate if the rumor spread like that. Didn’t he even shoot a magnificent magic arrow? It might be twisted and spread that he had defeated Eriphony.

If that happened, even more pressure would be put on Jin and the opposing forces. The more they were provoked, the more intense the reaction would be, and the wider the range they could move.

‘Perhaps, I might not hear words of concern from Jin in the future.’

The child had cut and cut his words of gratitude for a long time before finally conveying them. It was proof that he was quite conscious of the eyes around him. That was what Ian wanted.

Not standing on just one leg, but taking another leg that could balance him as part of himself. The more people there were to share the weight of the crown, the better.

‘Ian.’

Romandro blocked Ian’s path.

‘I’ve thought this before, but you’re too light.’

‘…Me?’

‘I mean you’re so light that it feels like you’ll fly away soon. If there are people around you, hold on to them. Don’t just think about enduring, share it, you know?’

A faint smile appeared on Ian’s usually expressionless face. And he quickly brushed past Romandro, telling him to move aside.

‘Thank you for saying that, Lord Romandro.’

A carriage that had been waiting for Ian and Romandro to come out was visible below the stairs. Ian gestured to the coachman, ordering him to prepare for departure.

But at that moment.

Tap tap!

‘Iaaaaan!’

A very familiar voice.

Beric was seen riding a horse from afar. Even after rolling and rolling, he was still a member of the Imperial Guard, and his messy, haphazardly worn uniform was particularly fluttering.

‘Why is Beric coming here?’

‘The Imperial Guard has a separate schedule, I believe.’

‘Yeah. I think so too. Huh! Did he get fired?’

He was always breaking, tearing, and destroying things, so he must have been kicked out! Romandro turned pale and quickly ran down the stairs.

Neigh!

‘Hey, why did you come?’

‘I’m on an errand? Did the Luswena King arrive safely?’

‘Yes. We just finished organizing the gifts and guided them to the palace where they will stay. But why? An errand, what are you talking about?’

He was a member of the Imperial Guard, yet he was running errands? Romandro felt sorry for Beric and grabbed his arm. But regardless, Beric sniffed and nodded to Ian.

‘Ian. The old man wants to see you?’

‘Commander Jayrut?’

‘He said it’s very urgent. So he told me to bring you quickly. What did he say? Popo! It’s something related to the Popo country.’

Ian lightly frowned.

Popo country, what in the world.

Could it be.

‘…Cliffopord?’

‘Yeah. That. He said he’d give me food if I brought you within twenty minutes. Let’s go quickly!’

It seemed Jayrut had figured out how to handle Beric.

Ian gestured to the coachman, changing his destination.

‘I’m going to the Imperial Guard building.’