Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 309

‘Long live His Highness the Crown Prince!’

‘Congratulations, Your Highness, please look this way.’

‘Glory to Bariel! Glory to His Highness the Crown Prince!’

The golden carriage slowly moved along the central road. Amidst the scattering flower petals, Jin smiled radiantly, as if the weight of the golden crown was nothing to him.

As a noble person looking down upon the world, he did not bow his head. Jin continuously waved his right hand and occasionally raised the Crown Prince’s scepter, eliciting cheers from the citizens of the Empire.

‘Waaah! Your Highness! Your Highness!’

‘We are in your care, Your Highness the Crown Prince!’

Wasn’t all the laughter and joy of the past few days for this very moment? The crowd showered Jin with flowers and continuous congratulations, which were swept away into the air by a magical barrier disguised as wind.

Thus, truly, all around was a paradise, a land of flowers.

Boo-ooo- Boo-

The sound of a water buffalo horn echoed from the end of the procession.

It was a signal to turn back and return to the Imperial Palace.

The citizens of the Empire, though regretful, moved along with the carriage, trying to capture Jin’s image in their eyes until the very end. Amidst the strange harmony of the military band and street musicians, more and more people began to dance.

‘Sir Ian.’

‘Prepare.’

At Ian’s command, the mages took flight all at once. A massive darkness formed around Jin, and it quickly spread along the path the carriage had come from and was about to take.

It was a pitch-black color, as if it would erase everything.

The watching crowd murmured and stepped back.

‘Whoa, look down there!’

‘The entire central road has turned black!’

‘Daddy, hold me! I’m scared!’

‘It’s okay. The mages are probably going to show us something amazing.’

Ziiing! Ziiing!

Paat!

The mages created darkness, and Ian created stars. In an instant, a distance spanning several kilometers transformed into a galaxy.

At the sight of this unprecedented spectacle, people were left speechless. The flow of the universe unfolding in broad daylight, the golden carriage traveling along it, and their Crown Prince.

Everything was wondrous, beautiful, and perfect.

‘Wow…’

‘Oh my, it’s so amazing.’

The festive atmosphere that had been boiling over calmed down.

The birth of a new leader was something to be enjoyed, but what should be the foundation was, without a doubt, awe. The military band played music that was even louder, more intense, and grand.

Squeak.

This continued until the procession arrived in front of the Imperial Palace. Before entering, Jin rose from his seat and waved both hands, and the citizens of the Empire responded with a hymn.

Ba-riel!

The golden carriage disappeared inside the palace.

The cavalrymen who had been following behind also vanished one by one.

However, the song being sung in unison grew louder and burned like a flame. As the Imperial Palace completely closed, the galaxy that had been traversing the capital of Bariel disappeared like a mirage.

‘Your Highness. Are you alright?’

‘I’m fine.’

The carriage stopped in front of the main palace. The Prime Minister greeted Jin and asked with concern.

To endure the heat from a large crowd was a difficult task even for an adult. Moreover, the opponent was thousands of citizens of the Empire, and the one alone was a child.

The Prime Minister continuously checked on Jin’s condition, but the child simply waved his hand and requested a report.

‘What about the dignitaries and nobles from the three nations?’

‘They have moved to the banquet hall and are socializing.’

Jin took off his cloak and entered the main palace chambers with the Prime Minister. It was to see his father, the Emperor, after a long time. The attendants were left behind, and the officials began to wrap things up, organizing the carriages and soldiers.

‘…Ugh.’

‘Phil, are you feeling unwell?’

‘Sorry. I used too much magic power.’

‘That’s why I told you to step back. Sir Ian, please take care of Phil first-‘

In particular, the aftermath for the Magic Department was chaotic. Covering a distance of several kilometers with magic was no easy task. They had exhausted themselves to the point where they wouldn’t be able to cast even a simple magic circle for a few days.

‘Sir Ian!’

‘That’s enough. The commotion.’

Ian lowered his head and covered his nose with his sleeve. Although it was hard to see because of his dark clothes, the bloodstains on his pale skin were clear.

‘Oh my goodness. Where did you put your handkerchief? Romandro! Look at Sir Ian. Oh, what should we do?’

‘Huh? What’s wrong, oh! Ian!’

‘Romandro, please quiet everyone down and take care of the cleanup. The mages and I will go to the Magic Department first.’

‘Don’t worry, and hurry inside. Bring out the Magic Department’s carriage first! Oh my, is the bleeding still going on?’

‘What!? Ian is bleeding!?’

‘Be quiet, Beric, you rascal!’

‘I came because I heard Romandro’s voice! Who are you telling to be quiet? Ian, look here. Is it a nosebleed?’

Ian laughed, saying it was a pointless question. Then, the flustered mages, as well as Romandro and Beric, smiled in relief.

‘Your Highness?’

In the hallway leading to the bedroom.

Jin paused for a moment at the noise coming from outside and looked back, but that was all. At the Prime Minister’s urging, he turned his head and continued walking.

Swoosh.

‘…Is there any improvement in His Majesty’s health?’

Jin felt a chill at his fingertips and was puzzled. This place, which should be the most cozy and peaceful in the Imperial Palace, was not only cold but also desolate.

They had faithfully followed the medical staff’s recommendation to not allow any outsiders for the purpose of absolute stability, but if he had known it was like this, he would have looked into it sooner and pointed out the shortcomings.

‘…Regrettably, no.’

‘Yes. He is quite old after all.’

Squeak.

The Prime Minister opened the bedroom door himself. To be precise, he unlocked the lock that was in place.

At that point, Jin realized that something was wrong and stepped back. His wary expression was fierce.

‘Prime Minister?’

His heart began to pound. Was he facing a dangerous situation as soon as he became the Crown Prince? He was the only one here. There was no Siao Shi, nor Sir Ian…

‘Oh dear, you were surprised, I apologize. But there is nothing to worry about. This is to maintain security, and I swear it was all His Majesty the Emperor’s will.’

‘His will.’

The nuance was reminiscent of a will, no matter who heard it. As the Prime Minister gestured, Jin slowly followed him, still on guard.

A vast bedroom. It was exactly as Jin remembered the Emperor’s bedroom. Through the large window on the wall, a peach tree was planted. If his memory was correct, it was related to Gale’s birth mother.

‘…Father?’

Jin approached the Emperor, who was lying down. He looked no different from his last memory. Deep wrinkles, white hair, and a dry, withered hand.

‘……?’

It was strange. There were small wounds on his hands. Since he had difficulty moving, there shouldn’t be any reason for him to move much. When Jin looked back at the Prime Minister, the truth was revealed.

‘His Majesty the Emperor is currently in a state of suspended animation. During the rebellion, he was fatally wounded by Marib’s sword, and he made that decision out of concern for the chaos that would result from his passing. The wounds all over his body, as well as the stab wound in his abdomen, have not healed.’

‘What, what does that mean…’

‘His Majesty wanted an official successor for the stability of the Imperial Family. That position has been returned to Your Highness. I am finally, daringly, handing over the weight of the secret I have been carrying until now.’

The child blinked blankly, holding his father’s hand. It was no different from being in a state of near death, but the shock was great because it was something he had never imagined.

‘Who else knows besides you?’

‘Beols, the former three commanders, and Lady Dilaina-‘

All of them were silenced by death.

‘And Sir Ian.’

‘…Sir Ian too?’

‘Please do not be upset that I did not tell you. It was a major issue and His Majesty the Emperor’s last message.’

The child did not answer. He simply hid in the dark shadows of the bedroom, only looking at his father, who was neither dead nor alive.

What was he thinking? The Prime Minister tried to guess what was going on in the Crown Prince’s mind, but he realized it was futile when he heard the child’s words.

‘…It seems like Sir Ian will walk a different path from me.’

‘What do you mean by that?’

‘Literally. It means that the path Sir Ian and I will take is different.’

He understood, but he couldn’t comprehend it. Originally, Jin and Ian were different from birth, so their paths would also be different.

Perhaps…

‘Has Sir Ian overstepped his authority?’

He had intentionally condoned Jeyrut’s checks out of concern, but deep down, he seemed to have a strange trust in Ian.

The Prime Minister knelt before Jin with a shocked expression. If that was true, it would become serious. Currently, there was no one in the Imperial Palace who could balance against Ian, the Minister of the Magic Department.

Jin shook his head firmly.

‘Absolutely not. It’s just that I’m worried about what you were just worried about. So, I think it would be good to prepare so that I can walk alone even if our paths diverge.’

It was a statement to adjust Ian’s increased presence, power, and dependence. The Prime Minister calmed his startled heart and swallowed hard.

‘That is a wise decision. Anything that leans too much to one side is bound to fall. I will do my best to help.’

‘I seek your advice.’

‘Well, let’s discuss the details after the dignitaries from the three nations have left the palace, and how about we just move your residence for now?’

There was no precedent for the Crown Prince to reside in the Magic Department. Since Dilaina’s renovation of the Imperial Palace was almost complete, it was suggested that he return to his main residence. First of all, regaining physical distance was the beginning.

Jin nodded briefly.

‘I understand. I will do so. Please go out first.’

‘Yes, Your Highness. I will be far down the hallway.’

He was a distant Emperor, but he was also a father. Now that he knew he was in suspended animation, his grief would be immense. From a national perspective, it was a day of celebration, but for the child, it was also a day of tragedy. The Prime Minister left the bedroom, being considerate so that he could grieve to his heart’s content.

Squeak.

Although he was left alone, the child did not look back at the Emperor. He simply sat on the sofa and covered his head.

Shaking shoulders and tears flowing down his nose. He tried his best to suppress the sound, but he couldn’t stop the sobs from escaping. He couldn’t catch water with his hands, so how could tears be any different?

‘Sir Ian knows about Father’s condition.’

It was certain. If Ian had other intentions, that wise man would not have left him alive. Before, he had also considered the possibility that the Emperor was alive, so he would put himself forward as the rightful heir due to a will or other variables.

But his father, the Emperor, was already half-dead. If he had wanted to, he would have already taken everything. There was no need to make him the Crown Prince and share the secret of the suspended animation.

‘Then, the reason why Sir Ian is doing that is-‘

A pillar. A safe value where the distance is appropriate, so that even if one collapses, the other can withstand it.

Jin shed tears and expressed his frustration. He wanted to say that he didn’t want to, but the weight of the golden crown was too heavy to move.

Swoosh.

Jin dabbed at his swollen eyes with the handkerchief Ian had given him and sniffled. He remembered Ian’s expression when he had asked him to keep helping him, and there was no answer.

He had told him not to cry, but did Ian know what kind of expression he had on his face at that time?

‘I understand. Sir Ian. I understand.’

Jin took a breath and muttered. If he was stepping back to create distance, he would also help. Since it was hard to step back ten steps alone, he would step back five steps.

That way, it would be easier to return.

Both sides.

‘I just need to become stronger. It was a matter of being able to stand alone.’

It was an easy yet difficult problem.

Jin put his hands together and prayed, just like during the inauguration ceremony. He hoped that ten steps would be enough. That they wouldn’t get too far apart. So that even if they were a little apart, they could still look at each other.

As the wind blew, the withered leaves of the peach tree rustled.