Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 304

The atmosphere was unusually quiet compared to the floor below. The leaders of the three nations and their aides were silent, desperately trying to gauge the situation. From each country’s perspective, it was necessary to fully understand and calculate how the current flow was turning, especially with Bariel at the center.

There was no need to wait for the coronation ceremony. Tonight, right now, most of each country’s gains and losses would be determined, all revolving around Bariel.

‘Prince Noah, isn’t His Highness asking you something?’

Eriphony was the first to speak. She probed, urging Noah, and the prince immediately sharpened his gaze.

It was not Luswena’s place to interfere. Who was being exposed because of whom right now?

‘Perhaps it’s too heavy?’

The Emperor had said it was precious, so she was asking if he was burdened with managing it. Noah bristled and immediately retorted.

‘Queen Eriphony, Clifford bears the fate of more people than Luswena.’

He meant not to speak nonsense. Clifford had a significantly larger population than Luswena. That didn’t necessarily mean greater national power, but still. He wouldn’t tolerate being ignored like that.

‘Hmm.’

Eriphony only let out a meaningless sigh and frowned. How foolish. She had tried to help because he seemed troubled, but his unnecessary pride had blocked any opening. Well, if Luswena were in Clifford’s position, they probably would have said the same thing. But who cared?

‘Of course, Prince Noah. All of Bariel has no doubt about the strength of Clifford’s walls. We will deliver the jewels to you on your way back. Please, take good care of them. On the day of Prince Jin’s coming-of-age ceremony, please send them with the wine.’

As expected, she knew it. Eriphony clicked her tongue inwardly and fanned herself as if she were getting tipsy. Like a crocodile snatching its prey, Ian had devoured Clifford.

‘…Excuse me, Sir Ian?’

‘Yes, Prince Noah.’

Why are you doing this to me?

Prince Noah almost said that without realizing it. It was a panic beyond mere embarrassment. If it weren’t for May, who was standing beside him, his ears might have popped out. As Beric would say, ‘pop’.

‘Shall we have a toast?’

Ian, pretending not to know, smiled and grabbed a wine bottle. Knowing Prince Noah’s secret, he couldn’t openly oppose Bariel.

If you can’t avoid it, enjoy it.

Ian seemed to be saying that as he filled the glass.

Swoosh.

‘Excuse me. Just a moment.’

‘What is lacking? King Damon?’

‘The flavor of Clifford’s wine is so great that I couldn’t restrain myself. I’ve become a bit tipsy, Your Highness.’

King Damon rose from his seat. Eriphony’s head followed him. She also fanned herself lightly and followed him.

‘I’ll also get some fresh air for a moment.’

Noah fidgeted and looked towards the entrance. With the Emperor present, all three guests couldn’t leave. He wanted to send May, but his own condition was unstable, so that was impossible.

While Noah was forced to stay, he couldn’t stop glancing outside.

‘Your Highness, are you alright?’

‘Do I look alright?’

‘The effects will wear off in a couple of hours.’

Ah, that.

Noah glared and touched his head. Fortunately, he didn’t feel anything, but he awkwardly made eye contact with Jin.

The child looked a little surprised. As if he had just realized that Noah was a beastkin.

‘I, I apologize.’

‘It’s alright. It’s hard to imagine. If there’s a chance next time, don’t hesitate to show me.’

Was that a genuine consideration? Or was he trying to gain complete dominance in his relationship with Clifford?

Before the banquet, he might have considered the former, but now it could only be interpreted as the latter. His skill in disrupting the three-nation alliance was superb.

‘…Your Highness, you are the future of Bariel. Even without collateral, Clifford will surely prepare fine wine. If you wish, we can send it to you immediately upon our return.’

Ian shook his head and smiled faintly.

They still didn’t fully understand the meaning of the jewels. The jewels were the materialization of the agreement between the King of Vergos and the nobles, and if they knew that, they wouldn’t react like this.

‘Are you worried that a mage might have put some device on the jewels? Don’t worry.’

‘It’s not that—’

Did he think that a little bit? As if he had been hit on the mark, Noah shook his hands strongly from side to side, denying it.

‘Then there’s no need to feel too burdened. We won’t hold you responsible if they are scratched or even damaged. Instead, just keep them from going to another country. That is the only duty Your Highness has to Clifford.’

At Ian’s instruction, May hesitated. It was such a strange order. She realized that something they didn’t know was swirling beneath their feet.

‘Your Highness, it will take a long time for the guests to cool down. Let’s have a drink among ourselves.’

Whether they knew it or not, nothing would change.

Ian bowed his head gently and asked Jin for a toast. His eyes were kind and certain, praising him for doing so well in front of everyone.

Clink!

The moment Jin smiled awkwardly and clinked glasses.

May was startled and looked at Noah. She realized that something that had been swirling had grabbed Clifford’s ankles.

* * *

‘Your Majesty.’

Timothy called Damon cautiously. The commotion inside felt distant on the terrace. The chiffon curtains fluttered gently, and Damon’s bobbed hair was also disheveled. He was staring at the distant spire with a calm gaze, unconsciously chewing on his lips.

‘Your Majesty, you’re bleeding.’

‘It’s better than expected, and more than I thought. Isn’t it?’

Damon leaned against the railing and flicked his fingers. He was someone who always avoided things like cigarettes to maintain a perfect image. When he asked for something to burn, it meant his mind was very complicated.

Chik.

As Timothy lit it, Damon let out a deep breath. White smoke, like his pale cheeks. He pressed his temples and muttered.

‘If the tribute is transferred to Clifford, how do you think the nobles will react?’

‘…They will be perplexed, but there won’t be any major issues. Under the belief of the three-nation alliance, it’s fine.’

‘Timothy, I didn’t ask for your hopes.’

The nobles had reacted to the king’s will to carve up Bariel. Vergos was barren and stagnant, so they had no choice but to go outside for development.

The king had told the nobles to create a path to enter Bariel under the guise of deception, and that they would be the first to eat the carved-up pieces.

But to transfer that to Clifford?

‘There must have been some incident between Clifford and Bariel, mediated by an unusual reaction from the dragons. It’s the imperial palace where the aging Emperor resides, but we haven’t received any word about the inspection.’

‘That alone is not enough to confirm the facts.’

‘There’s nothing to confirm. It’s important that I suspect it.’

If he hadn’t noticed the difference in the inspection, there would have been no problem at all. It would just seem like the young Emperor had used his wits to get revenge. Because Clifford could receive the jewels and pass them on to Vergos.

‘Did you see Prince Noah’s distress earlier? It proves that he can’t disobey Bariel’s order to keep them for ten years.’

It wasn’t easy. If they didn’t find out something between Bariel and Clifford, it wouldn’t be easy to get the tribute back. This also made it difficult to calculate how the nobles would react.

‘Was the original Bariel like this too?’

Damon bit the cigarette and frowned. It was a great empire, but in the Kingdom of Vergos, they couldn’t easily hear rumors about the young Emperor. The imperial palace had been closed several times, the grown-up emperors had died, and then that young one had risen to the top of Bariel.

The only difference was that he had shown his presence at the coronation ceremony, not at the heir appointment ceremony.

A scar across his face.

Surely, the person hadn’t changed….

‘The flow of history is the same. But the branches are different. Has my action influenced this far?’

Damon had faced a different future from the one he knew several times, not just now. But that was a ripple created by the variable of himself, and eventually, it subsided.

So he kept shaking it. For the change of Vergos, and for his new destiny. He wanted to ripple and ripple until a self-moving wave was created. He wanted the vast sea of Vergos to fill the world.

‘The night breeze is very cool tonight.’

Then, Eriphony’s voice was heard from the terrace entrance. When they were sitting and facing each other, he didn’t feel much discomfort, but standing, she was quite tall. As a woman, she was a little taller than Timothy.

‘When you’re drunk, even a moderate breeze feels cool.’

Damon replied, putting away the cigarette, and Timothy stepped back. It was clear that the king was willing to talk to Eriphony. Timothy made a brief eye contact with Eldert and left the terrace.

Squeak.

‘Well, shouldn’t you have presented your tribute while carefully watching the situation? The Emperor is angry, so you’re in this cold situation.’

‘You’re also getting the same breeze.’

‘Hmm. I just came out, so I’m fine.’

Unlike Vergos, which had been completely deprived of its tax exemption opportunity, Luswena could enjoy the benefits for the remaining period if they returned and quickly produced bows.

‘Or, are you going to go back and ask the Emperor for some warm tea? Since he’s young, he’ll give you something very sweet.’

She was asking if he would bow his head and go in. It was the same as saying that if they returned and presented a new tribute like Luswena, they would receive the same benefits.

Damon looked up at Eriphony and twisted his eyebrows.

‘There’s nothing that makes you rot inside as much as something sweet.’

‘Hahaha. I agree.’

The three nations, which had been unable to escape Bariel’s gaze for a long history. The reason they could gather this time was entirely thanks to Vergos, which had taken the lead.

Since they were turning their backs on Bariel and forming a new force, Vergos, as the main body, needed to show some unspoken action as proof.

Just like presenting the nobles’ tribute today. It was one of the actions to strongly inform Luswena and Clifford of Vergos’s sincerity.

‘Things are a bit chaotic from the first day.’

‘But that’s how all beginnings of history are.’

But from the first day they had gathered for that resolution, problems had arisen. Eriphony folded her fan lightly and whispered.

‘Are you in trouble because of the jewels?’

‘…….’

‘For the tribute to be transferred to another country on the same day. Even if King Damon isn’t upset, the nobles must be upset.’

How shrewd.

Damon only glared and remained silent.

‘Instead, why don’t you talk to Clifford calmly? Weren’t there many cases like this between those two countries?’

She was referring to the large and small wars and battles. If Clifford didn’t release the jewels, she was suggesting that they should deal with them first before touching Bariel. It would not only expand their power but also reduce the number of mouths to share Bariel with.

‘That’s the only way I can think of right now….’

He couldn’t do that.

Leading the division of the three nations was exactly what they wanted. If Vergos antagonized Clifford, it would be as Bariel intended.

‘If you move according to the opponent’s intention, you will walk off a cliff with your own feet.’

Damon ran his hand through his disheveled hair and smacked his lips. His purple eyes shone even more brightly.