Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 297

‘Let’s go in with Lusweena at the forefront.’

Inside the carriage heading to the Clifford Palace, Romandro recalled the conversation in the reception room. He would never forget the silence that fell the moment Ian said those words. Nor would he forget what Romandro and Jin had exclaimed simultaneously.

‘You’re saying we should conduct a dragon abnormal reaction test?’

‘That’s right. Didn’t His Highness mention it to Lusweena earlier? It’s perfect. I’ll send someone there right away to conduct the test. Then, Clifford won’t have any grounds to refuse.’

The offer to send a doctor from the Imperial Palace was just that—an offer. The authority to refuse lay with Clifford, so there was no way to force them if they refused to let anyone in.

But what about the test?

‘He’s someone who postponed meeting His Highness due to illness. He won’t come out of the palace, so it’s better for us to go in. This way, we’ll have maintained some semblance of decorum and courtesy.’

If they continued to refuse the test, it would be possible to suspect an abnormal reaction and enforce it, leaving them no choice but to accept. Being dragged out would be an unprecedented humiliation, but it was not a matter on which they could raise diplomatic objections.

In the Imperial Palace of the great Bariel Empire, not cooperating while harboring the risk of a contagious disease was tantamount to threatening the Emperor.

‘Besides, if Prince Noah is indeed a beastkin [a person with animal features], it would be a very difficult situation. It would be nice if they thought, ‘It’s all because of Lusweena.’ Especially at this point when the alliance of the three nations is just beginning.’

Romandro crossed his arms, muttering in admiration. Ian’s gentle smile as he said those words was stuck in his mind.

Once again, he hoped that his child with Vivianna would resemble Ian. He had seen him often in the womb, so it wasn’t entirely impossible.

As Romandro nodded seriously, Ian, who had been looking out the window, turned around. He had a smile that suggested he was curious about what Romandro was thinking.

‘Are you still worried? Perhaps that something might go wrong?’

‘Huh? No, no. With you here, what is there to worry about? When our Vivianna comes to the inauguration ceremony, please give her a lot of well wishes. And say a word to the baby too. I’m asking you.’

Ian tilted his head. Such a strange request. Then, Beric, who was sitting next to him, raised his hand.

‘I can do that too!’

‘…Beric. You’re fine.’

‘Huh? Why?’

‘No. It’s just that you’re fine.’

Just as Beric was about to say something, the carriage stopped. The mages who had arrived earlier were seen laughing and chatting with the Clifford people.

Ian slightly opened the curtain and watched them. If Prince Noah was a beastkin, he was in a dire crisis. Yet, they seemed so relaxed?

‘Either he’s not a beastkin, or it’s likely that only his closest aides know.’

Ian took out his pocket watch and clicked it. By now, the inspection of Lusweena’s detached palace would be nearing its end. Even if the Clifford side tried to verify the truth, there was enough time. Romandro also looked around and muttered.

‘Did we come too late? Maybe we shouldn’t have gone to Lusweena first. We should have just sent the mages from the start.’

‘No. The order is important for justification. It’s right to go to Lusweena first and thoroughly inspect it.’

It was unlikely, but if King Eriphony somehow noticed this entire plan, there was no telling what kind of mischief he might pull.

That was why Ian had gone directly to the Lusweena detached palace to finish the inspection of King Eriphony and his aides. He had left the rest of the cleanup to the mages.

‘Even so, it doesn’t look like they’ve been able to get inside yet. If they stall and try to buy time, it’ll be a disaster.’

‘You don’t have to worry about that either. If it were a problem they could solve with tricks, they wouldn’t have postponed the meeting with His Highness Jin. There must be an unavoidable problem that made them give up on the first step of diplomacy. Now, let’s go.’

Squeak.

Ian, Romandro, and Beric got out of the carriage and entered the detached palace. The mages and Clifford people bowed and greeted them.

After walking a bit, the commotion grew louder. It was the sound of Envoy May confronting the mages, with her guards in front.

‘…Is it perhaps because it’s us?’

‘I, I apologize.’

‘There’s no need to apologize.’

Ian approached, listening to the conversation. They were clearly cornered with no way out. To bring up status in front of mages who were blessed with divine power.

The possibility of him being a beastkin grew stronger. Even if it wasn’t that, there was something they were desperately trying to hide.

‘If I find out what it is, Bariel will have a chance to intervene in the political situation of the three nations.’

Ian immediately cut in and took out his gloves.

‘I will conduct the test myself. Would that be alright?’

He smiled brightly to show that he had no ill intentions.

At the same time, May’s expression darkened.

‘M, Minister Ian.’

‘I’m sorry. It seems we made a mistake. In Bariel, mages serve the Imperial Family, so we had no idea that the Clifford Royal Family would be reluctant. Please understand that this is due to cultural differences.’

Even without titles, they were Bariel’s most precious talents. It was surprising that the prince would refuse the mages who supported the Imperial Family.

When Acorella first broke out, most of the investigations were handled by lower-ranking members of the administrative department. In the midst of such a busy time, the fact that the mages themselves had moved was a sign of respect.

‘No! It’s absolutely not that. Please don’t misunderstand. I know the mages’ nobility very well.’

May strongly denied it, waving her hands. It was just a gap she had instinctively tried to exploit. What words wouldn’t she use to protect Prince Noah’s secret?

The problem was that she didn’t know Ian was waiting inside that gap.

‘Mage. My intention was simply that the prince is uncomfortable with strangers. It seems there was a misunderstanding due to cultural differences. I apologize if I have offended you.’

Cultural differences, a truly useful phrase. Especially in sensitive matters like this, it could draw out leniency.

The mage bowed his head and accepted the apology.

‘No. As you said, we are aware that there are cultural differences.’

To be honest, he was upset, but since his superior, Ian, had stepped in, it didn’t matter anymore. Ian gestured for the mage to step back, and the mage smiled with trust and turned away.

Ian smiled and placed his hand on his chest.

‘Since the Clifford envoys have attended and helped with His Highness’s inauguration ceremony, we also want to treat you accordingly. As a way of greeting the prince, I will conduct the test myself.’

Ah. May felt like her vision was darkening.

This was clearly a warning to behave properly. Depending on their attitude, the treatment would change, so if they didn’t step aside and caused a commotion, they would take appropriate measures. It was a statement that assumed coercion.

A prince being dragged out by soldiers from another country.

And in his beastkin form?

‘If I had known this would happen, I would have let that mage in earlier.’

She had tried to avoid a deer but had met a tiger. Standing in front of Ian, the mage from before seemed so easy. She felt like she could have gotten past him somehow.

‘Excuse me, Envoy May. Please introduce me to Prince Noah.’

Lead the way. Make way yourself.

Under Ian’s pressure, May involuntarily took a step back. The guards also hesitated and retreated, and she reluctantly grabbed the doorknob.

‘Haa.’

Her mind felt hazy, but she would do everything she could. Wasn’t this a moment that determined the fate of the Clifford Royal Family? It was too early to give up.

She mustered all her strength and knocked on the door.

Bang bang!

Was she trying to break it? Romandro flinched and grabbed Beric’s arm.

‘Prince Noah! Minister of Magic Ian Hielo has arrived. It is said that an abnormal dragon reaction has been found at the source of Lusweena, and he is here to test for it. It won’t take long, and, uh, please just lend him your hand for a moment!’

She was shouting at the top of her lungs. She was clearly telling them to prepare thoroughly inside. Seeing that, Romandro and Beric exchanged glances.

‘Th, there’s definitely something going on.’

‘It’s serious, really. Have you ever been scammed? Why are you so distrustful?’

While the two were muttering to each other, May pressed her forehead against the door, trying to gauge the sounds inside. It was unsettlingly quiet, and damnably silent.

She bit her lip and slowly opened the door.

Squeak.

‘…Prince?’

Prince Noah was lying on the bed, covered in every piece of cloth in the room. It looked like a thick mound had been built.

Ian passed May and approached him.

‘Greetings, Prince Noah. I am Ian Hielo, Minister of Magic. I am here to conduct a simple test to check for the contagious disease in Lusweena. It may be difficult, but please lend me your hand for a moment.’

Fidget. A finger peeked out from the edge of the blanket.

‘…P, please.’

Then, again, wriggle wriggle. The prince showed his wrist.

Ian stared at it for a moment, then turned to May. He needed to confirm who the subject was for the test to be meaningful, but how could he know who was who if they only showed their hand?

He was about to ask them to pull back the blanket, but he changed his mind. After all, it was easier to ask for forgiveness than permission.

‘Then, excuse me. You might feel a little something, but it won’t hurt, so don’t worry.’

Zhiing. Zhiing.

As Ian released his magic power, a breeze blew through the enclosed space.

May stopped biting her nails and took a breath. If it was just this much, it was a bit suspicious, but they could get through it without any major problems. The moment she prayed inwardly.

‘Ah. That’s right.’

Beric, who was standing right behind Ian, realized something and muttered. He could smell it clearly now that he was closer. It was the smell of animal hide he had smelled in the market. Especially the musty smell of wet fur on a humid day.

‘Animal smell.’

Twitch. Ian realized that Prince Noah, whose hand he was holding, was reacting. Beric just scratched his ear and muttered to himself.

‘Are people in the Grape Country used to this? Everyone seems not to know. Romandro, can’t you smell it?’

‘I don’t, I don’t know-‘

Flap!

‘Grape Country! It’s Clifford!’

Prince Noah, who had been silent, shouted angrily, and Ian, seizing the opportunity, forcefully pushed his magic power under the blanket.

Zhiing! Zhiing!

As if pulled by the wind, the things the prince was wearing were half-removed. For a fleeting moment, they saw vertically slit pupils and pointed ears.

‘……!’

‘……!’

Romandro and May stood frozen with their mouths agape. Beric just waved his hand and laughed.

‘Ah. Sorry. Cream Grape [a playful nickname for the Clifford people].’

‘Uwaaaah!’

Prince Noah roughly shook off Ian’s hand, hugged the disheveled blanket, and hid. He curled up and turned his back.

‘Th, there, just a moment-!’

‘Yes! Yes, yes! That’s right! Just a moment!’

‘So, that, that-!’

May was in a state of extreme panic and flustered, but only Romandro was responding. Beric opened the window wide to ventilate and shouted loudly that he was right.

‘Mwahahaha! See! I’m not crazy!’

‘Th, that person is actually Prince Noah! No, actually, he’s not. Th, that is, everyone, please calm down!’

‘C, c, calm down. Yes, yes! It’s my first time seeing a beastkin, so, oh my. Oh dear.’

‘He’s not a beastkin! What are you talking about?!’

‘Mwahahaha! I was right, wasn’t I? I was right!’

Crash! Bang! Everyone was in chaos.

Ian looked down at the trembling Prince Noah and apologized softly.

‘Prince. I’m sorry. It seems I startled you due to my lack of control over my magic power.’

‘……’

There was no answer. It seemed he just wanted May to hurry and take everyone out.

Ian hesitated for a moment and smiled.

‘…But Prince. Your tail, it’s showing.’