Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 313

“Your Majesty—”

Ian’s words trailed off. Judging by the subtle sounds outside, it seemed Romandro was attempting to approach Timothy.

“—Do you not think so?”

The Emperor, the embodiment of a great nation’s dignity, was said to be steadfast, yet Vergos was finding fault. His face, a mix of amusement and displeasure, chilled the atmosphere.

Damon tilted his head, signaling a non-confrontational stance.

“I believe he should be steadfast. However, with all three kings gathered at the Imperial Palace and not even a glimpse of him to be seen, I spoke out of concern.”

“While I appreciate your concern, unnecessary worries incite anxiety. I must request that you refrain from such remarks.”

It was a polite yet disrespectful act. No matter how high a minister of Bariel he was, Damon was still a king. How dare he speak of restraint? The king gnawed at his cheek with his molars, swallowing his anger along with blood-tinged saliva.

*Swoosh.*

Ian keenly observed Damon. The king’s violet eyes were filled with a fierce spirit. It was said that he had suddenly gotten out of his carriage and caused a commotion, but no one knew the reason.

If so, there were two possibilities.

‘He was either drunk, or it was related to a secret.’

If it was a secret of King Damon, what else could it be besides what Ian knew? It was related to regression [a return to a previous state or time]. There was a high probability that he had seen the Gypsy.

If that were the case, Ian would have much to do. It meant that the old woman was walking freely in the center, evading the Imperial Palace’s pursuit. This was not just a matter of the whereabouts of a strange being, but also directly related to the credibility of the elite investigation team.

“Anyway, I apologize for the misunderstanding. It seems I will not be able to meet your expectations.”

“Are you not supporting His Highness the Crown Prince?”

“Of course. If you are curious, ask him directly. What it means to support His Highness.”

Ian even added a light cough as he turned his head. His physical condition was not good, and if he had come for a trivial purpose, it was a gesture to leave.

“Hmm.”

To start the game, they had to show their cards, but much would change depending on who revealed them first. Ian was determined not to give up the initiative in the conversation, even if it meant being rude.

Damon leaned back on the backrest with an indifferent gaze.

‘Look at this.’

It seemed that it was no coincidence that a low-born illegitimate child had risen to become an imperial minister. Looking at it now, everything from sitting to greet him to wearing light clothing was a calculated move.

Ian smiled, holding up a bell.

“Shall I tell them to prepare the carriage?”

Throw the first topic. Like a thirsty person digging a well, or a person in need taking a step forward, it meant to come in bowing. Even the smile seemed to say, consider who would lose if the conversation ended here.

Damon lightly pressed his temple with his fingertips and closed his eyes. Then, slowly, as if having made a decision, he spoke. It was a thin, heavy tone, like a sigh.

“…According to the Imperial Palace’s investigation, the Gypsy was said to have crossed into another country. But she was right in the center.”

Indeed, Damon had met the Gypsy.

Ian put down the bell and raised his chin, signaling him to continue. Because of the sofa and desk, there was a difference in eye level between the two.

“Are those who stepped forward for Vergos not elites? I feel considerable regret.”

The Gypsy held Ian’s secret. A secret with the imperial aura that transcended time. Damon had already given everything, so he could no longer examine what was inside her belly.

‘Still, just in case, when that person returns—’

He thought it would be good to check for leaks while whispering to himself, but then Ian realized.

Damon would have done what he was about to do.

That person knew that his secret had been leaked.

Recognizing that, Damon’s actions became even more meaningful.

“Well. Anyway, the matter has been resolved, so I will express my gratitude.”

“You are welcome. I am ashamed.”

It was certain that he had met the Gypsy, but did he catch her? He had not received a report that there was anything unusual in the carriage? Was she being secured outside rather than being brought into the Imperial Palace?

All sorts of questions swirled in Ian’s head.

*Tap.*

Then, Damon flicked his fingertips, drawing Ian’s gaze. As if asking him to focus on him.

“It’s not much of a reward, but I will tell you why the Imperial Palace could not catch the Gypsy.”

Damon took out a small dagger from his pocket. It was stained with sticky blood.

“That person is as light as the wind and as elusive as water. Therefore, the only way is to cut her off as soon as she is in your grasp. The reason she has no legs is the hardship she has endured over a long time.”

Inflicting pain so that she could not escape the moment they met.

Ian frowned and looked at Damon.

“Perhaps because the wait was so long, I couldn’t control myself. I made a mistake. I felt life being cut off at the tip of my sword. She will probably die within a few days.”

“…Is that so?”

Ian clearly remembered the moment he met the Gypsy. She was not afraid of death, but rather seemed to welcome it.

“It seems you also want to cut open my belly. But remember why I am still alive.”

If his belly was cut open, the secret that was festering inside would flow out into the world, creating a river of chaos. Those who had traded with him would also be swept away by that river, and it was unknown what dangers they would face.

There was no way King Damon would not know this, and since there was no special report, it was reasonable to assume that his claim was false, but…

‘There is a possibility that cannot be ignored.’

The Gypsy did not currently have Damon’s secret. So, even if his belly was cut open, what would it have to do with him?

Above all, Vergos had intentions to threaten Bariel. Since his secret had been revealed, he would have guessed that a corresponding secret had been taken. There was nothing as suitable as the weight of the Imperial Family.

In other words, he might have acted under the judgment that cutting open the Gypsy’s belly would reveal the weaknesses of the Imperial Family.

‘The problem is that I am not the only one who traded with the Gypsy, but His Highness Jin also gave a secret. If I react here, it means admitting that the Imperial Family is involved, and if I ignore it, I will get through it for now, but I will be carrying a risk factor.’

It was like a sword thrown by Damon.

He could avoid it, but he could also catch it and stop it.

In the former case, it would be fine if he did well, but if not, Jin, who was standing behind him, would be in danger. In the latter case, he would give up one hand, but he could definitely protect Jin, who was standing behind him.

“To me…”

Ian tapped the desk with his left hand.

Yes. What was so difficult about giving up this one thing? When he weighed everything on the scale, it was wise to choose a light risk.

“Will you show me the Gypsy?”

“What for?”

Damon smiled, and Ian smiled as well. They had different thoughts, but they wanted the same thing. To find out the hidden truth.

‘Who in the Imperial Family took my secret?’

‘Is the Gypsy really dying?’

This time, it was Ian’s turn to take the lead. Damon’s black bobbed hair flowed down as he tilted his head. In response, Ian extended one of his hands and knocked away the sword.

“I have something I received from the Gypsy, and I’d like to return it.”

So that it would not go to the Imperial Family. So that Damon’s gaze would fall to his feet.

“It’s been heavy for me to keep holding it.”

Damon’s expression twisted strangely. A satisfied look that he had finally found it.

He got up from his seat and approached Ian. He leaned his arm on the desk and looked into his absinthe pupils as if looking into his soul. Whispering, as if telling the truth.

“Even the stars in the night sky cannot overcome death once and fall, let alone twice. It is natural that you cannot bear the weight.”

Foolish king, you are the only protagonist in the world. If he knew that there was another person who could bear it, he wondered what kind of expression he would make. The smile on Ian’s lips turned into a sneer, but Damon did not care and muttered.

“Indeed, such rumors do not arise by chance.”

Ian, who had been pondering for a moment what he was talking about, soon realized. Damon was mistaken about Ian’s secret. The secret of birth that had been raised by the Haiman family, the rumor that Ian was a member of the Imperial Family.

‘It’s not entirely wrong, but it’s appropriate. Perhaps Alenara told Eriphony, and Eriphony told Damon.’

“In fact, you were more likely than the prince. How much of a secret could that young one have?”

“King Damon. It is true that we are bound by a meaningful relationship, but you are being quite disrespectful. Please refrain yourself. His Highness Jin is Bariel, and you are Vergos.”

When Ian sternly told him to stop, Damon made a puzzled expression.

Ian was a member of the Imperial Family. And he knew the future.

Naturally, it was right for him and Ian to join forces, wasn’t it? The fact that the real power with imperial blood was stepping back like this clearly meant that there was a hidden problem.

“Sir Ian. We can have a relationship that is more than you think. If a new bloodline is to sit on the throne, regardless of legitimacy, what is more certain than the power of a foreign force?”

Let’s cut off Bariel. Then Vergos could grow, and Ian could bloom.

Ian, who had heard Damon’s proposal, chuckled and shook his head.

“I know why Your Majesty was looking for the Gypsy. In the previous life, the fate of Vergos, including Your Majesty, was truly harsh.”

It was the same in the past, and it was the same this time.

Only the person who was killed and the person who did it had changed, but the fact that family members shed blood had not changed.

“Therefore, you are dreaming of a different future. A prosperous era, fertile land, and a prosperous country.”

Damon slowly got up and stepped back. He realized that Ian’s attitude was not favorable. They were tied by a secret, but he could not understand why he was acting like this.

It was a sure opportunity, joining hands with him!

“But, do you know that?”

The table reached Damon’s back. A vase that was slightly shaking. Ian smiled sadly and gave a curse that was like a declaration.

“Ah. You probably don’t know. You were looking for the Gypsy to find out.”

“…What are you trying to say?”

“The Gypsy said so. King Damon will walk the same fate as in the previous life.”

*Crunch.*

Damon’s molars clenched tightly. Nonsense! Many things had already changed, and more would change in the future.

“To be precise, it is the fate of Vergos. So, even if King Damon knows the future, it does not appeal to me that much.”

“Nonsense.”

“You can ask the Gypsy if it’s nonsense or not. She’s about to breathe her last, so you should hurry and ask.”

When Ian pointed to the door with his chin, Damon glared at him fiercely. What did he know to utter such presumptuous words? What had he done for the new future of Vergos?

Just as there could not be two suns in the sky, if Vergos were to take glory, Bariel’s would naturally fade. Ian was not one to stand by and watch that happen, but Damon did not properly grasp it, as if trying to fit an empty puzzle.

“Interesting. What kind of situation do you think you will face when the Crown Prince finds out your identity?”

“It will not be possible to prove it. And as you said, ‘we’ are tied by a secret, aren’t we?”

If his secret was leaked, Damon would not be safe either. Was he not the one who slandered and killed his mother and father? Moreover, there were many illegitimate children left in his home country. If this behavior was revealed, it was clear that his royal authority would be threatened.

In a situation where it was unknown where the nobles’ trust would flow due to the jewelry collateral incident, Damon threw the vase he was holding at Ian.

*Clang!*

The glass shattered into pieces as it hit the desk. Ian slowly got up from his seat and smiled.

“Your Majesty. Are you not hurt?”

“……”

“If your precious body is injured, I will be in trouble.”

“Is that so? I like that. If I can make you like that by drawing blood.”

Ian walked past the shards and sat opposite Damon.

Now, the first thing he wanted to know was one thing.

Whether Jin, who was standing behind him, was safe, that is—

“I need to see with my own eyes if the Gypsy is dying. I will have the Vergos envoys investigated, so please cooperate.”