Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 315

“So, what happened next?”

“Is there a next? She was so embarrassed that she ran away to the countryside. There’s been no news of her since.”

Eriphony half-reclined on the plush sofa, flicking off a long ash from her cigarette. Smoke curled with a low chuckle. Alenara, sitting opposite her, had just told a rather amusing story.

It was all the same, she thought. Whether it was Bariel or Luswena, the social circles of the nobles were a mess. As Eriphony swept her hair back, the quick-witted Alenara promptly relit the embers of her cigarette.

“Alenara, for a noble lady, you’re quite diligent.”

“Thank you.”

Eriphony blew smoke at her, as if to show off.

It wasn’t an empty compliment, but genuine. From the night of the banquet, when she had desperately tried to rise, she had been subtly pleasing. In many ways, she was quite useful. She seemed to chatter on, but within her words were pieces of information that a foreigner wouldn’t know.

“So, Hyman’s assets were broken up and transferred to ten banks. Which one is handling the largest portion?”

“The Lacshire family. As I mentioned earlier.”

“Ah, the second son who tore his groin while riding a horse?”

“Yes. He took his anger out on the horse for his short legs. A merchant who couldn’t bear to watch bought it as a stud, and its offspring have been winning races in the national horse races.”

“Hahaha! That’s quite something. Not only his groin but his pride must have been torn as well.”

Alenara felt a sense of relief every time Eriphony laughed out loud. It was as if her value was being proven.

It seemed the King wasn’t interested in her brother, so it would be better for her to become someone meaningful to the King.

“Your Highness.”

“Hmm?”

Elderte, who had been waiting outside, appeared. A guest had arrived. There weren’t many who would seek her out at the Imperial Palace…

“King Damon has come to see you.”

“Hmm. Is that so?”

She had heard that Damon had visited the Magic Department yesterday, so she was curious. What was the reason he had seen Ian? Eriphony hummed, a sound of uncertainty, and glanced at Alenara.

“I will take my leave then, Your Highness.”

“No, it’s fine. Bring King Damon in.”

As Eriphony straightened up, Alenara tidied her hair. Finally, she would meet the King of Vergos. This was another opportunity she couldn’t miss!

Alenara focused her mind and looked towards the door. Soon, Damon entered, guided by Elderte.

“Welcome, King Damon.”

“Am I interrupting a pleasant time?”

“What a sad thing to say. Today is our last day together.”

“I don’t plan to stay long.”

Vergos was the first to leave the palace due to the Crown Prince’s orders. He must have finished all the preparations and stopped by briefly before heading to his own palace.

“Are you Lady Alenara?”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I am Alenara Seroh.”

“Are you alright? The cigarette seems quite strong.”

It was a considerate tone, but the underlying meaning was to ask her to leave. Alenara, who understood, was about to get up when Eriphony raised her cigarette holder, blocking her way. It was an order not to leave but to stay.

“It’s fine. We’ve been together all this time, why the sudden concern? Isn’t that right, Lady?”

“…Yes. I’m fine.”

“Anyway, what brings you here, King Damon? It’s an honor that you’ve come to see me when you’re pressed for time to see the Crown Prince.”

Eriphony urged him to get to the point, and Damon frowned. Alenara was a noble who had fallen and was trying to cling to another country, but was it appropriate for her to be present at such a meeting?

Damon considered issuing another order for her to leave, but he realized he didn’t have much time and gave up.

“I would like to reconfirm the matter that Vergos requested, Queen Eriphony.”

“Of course. It’s a transaction between nations, isn’t it? I will inform you of the progress as soon as the agreement is concluded in your country.”

What were they talking about? Alenara awkwardly lowered her gaze, her ears perked up. It seemed like they were exchanging something between Vergos and Luswena, but she couldn’t understand because they were being vague. It must be official, since it was a transaction between nations.

“And regarding Minister Ian Hielo of the Magic Department-”

Damon kept glancing at Alenara as he spoke. Would she remain still even after hearing the discussion about cutting off her own country? She seemed like a dangerous element no matter how he looked at her.

Eriphony just kept smiling, whatever she was thinking.

“-It would be better to take care of that side first.”

“Hmm. It’s the real power of the Imperial Palace, so it’s only right. But is there a particular reason you mention it? I heard you visited the Magic Department yesterday.”

“I understood after meeting him.”

“Understood what?”

“That side is easier.”

Easier? Eriphony paused for a moment before understanding Damon’s intention. In other words, it was better to start a fire from the inside than to knock hard on the gates of Bariel.

“I heard the Crown Prince has moved his residence from the Magic Department.”

“I heard. They repaired the palace that was destroyed by the rebellion.”

Damon raised an eyebrow. Was that all there was to it? It was a matter of the Crown Prince’s residence in the Empire. One could imagine how many interests were intertwined in making such a decision.

‘The Imperial Palace will start to check the Minister of the Magic Department, with the Crown Prince at the center.’

It was obvious. The flow of the political situation she had witnessed while staying in the Imperial Palace during the inauguration festival clearly showed it. The Magic Department, which had been at the center of all sorts of trivial matters. And the other departments that had no choice but to follow without question.

Alenara, who had been staring at the table, carefully interjected.

“Excuse me, but-”

“What is it?”

“I heard that the Imperial Guard had a conflict with the Magic Department. It was during the time of new talent selection, and the Magic Department tried to exert influence over the Imperial Guard and the Defense Department. Since then, there are rumors that the status of the Imperial Guard has been gradually rising.”

As Alenara rattled off information, Eriphony smiled. Look at this. Isn’t she quite useful? The pride of a noble crawling on the ground to survive. There was nothing more amusing than this.

She looked at Alenara with affection, as if she were looking at a dog she had trained, with a satisfied expression.

“If the Crown Prince has separated his residence, it will be easier for the opposition, who have been lying low, to react. I don’t know if it will work out. Minister Ian, he’s not an easy opponent.”

The Crown Prince was too young, and the Magic Department had no equal. It was doubtful, but there would be those who would want it to happen and would rush in. Like the Imperial Guard that Alenara had just mentioned.

“Honestly, from the perspective of Vergos and Luswena, wouldn’t it be easier to deal with the Crown Prince Jin than Minister Ian?”

“That’s right. I find Crown Prince Jin cuter too.”

The idea was to push Jin’s side if the whirlwind of checks and balances came. It wouldn’t be as much as the officials pushing, but it would be enough to help or cut off the flow at a crucial moment. If they helped Bariel cut off its own arms and legs, they could devour it when it couldn’t move…

“It seems easier than I thought.”

“Yes. That’s what I mean.”

Eriphony tapped her fingernails on the table, pondering. For example, they could officially invite the Magic Department at a national level to disperse their manpower, or they could raise the price of magic stones.

Then, the Imperial Palace could adjust the supplies of the Magic Department with justification to discuss the appropriate level. There were countless other ways.

“But didn’t Vergos sign a magic stone trade agreement with the Magic Department? Is it falling through?”

“No. That will proceed as planned. It seems like that’s the trigger.”

She had heard that the conflict between the Imperial Palace and the Magic Department was centered around the construction of the annex. So, naturally, they had to add fuel to the fire.

“First, I understand your intentions.”

The opposition in the Imperial Palace, centered around the Crown Prince, would point their swords, and on the other side, other countries would aim their arrows at Ian’s back.

What should she do, the poor thing? Eriphony sneered, recalling Ian’s haughty figure.

‘Right. If Ian has no place in the Imperial Palace, I can bring him to Luswena. He’s a bit of a pain, but his skills are said to be historical. He far surpasses the previous Minister Wesley.’

As the days went by, the number of those who wished for Ian’s downfall increased. Both inside and outside the Imperial Palace.

Click.

Damon checked his pocket watch and stood up. It was a truly short moment that had been allowed.

“Then, I will write to you in detail after returning to my country.”

“Are you leaving already?”

“I heard the Crown Prince is attending the Grand Council. Thanks to that, I had a brief moment, so I must leave before it gets too late.”

It was to say goodbye before leaving the palace. Eriphony exclaimed as if she was disappointed, but she saw him off with eyes that were not at all disappointed.

Go away quickly, she thought. She would chat with Alenara.

“Then, farewell.”

“Yes. Please leave the palace safely, and let’s meet again.”

Timothy, who had been guarding the door, bowed to Eriphony. After exchanging a look, the Vergos delegation disappeared.

Alenara sat back on the sofa and lit Eriphony’s cigarette. The King had left without giving her a single glance, so things had gone wrong.

“But Your Highness.”

“What is it?”

“What will happen if the Crown Prince fails to check Minister Ian?”

Fail to check? Then what was there to think about?

Thwack! Eriphony slammed her cigarette holder on the marble table and laughed.

“A truly new era will begin. With chaos.”

The fog that chaos would bring would create a path for foreign powers, and that would be a good thing for other countries, one way or another.

“Your Highness. But Luswena will also be leaving the palace soon, won’t it?”

“That’s right. We’re the last to leave.”

Alenara wondered how to bring it up.

Even during her meeting with King Damon, she hadn’t been dismissed. She had clearly gained quite a bit of trust in a short time, but she hadn’t been given any promises.

Like going back together when they returned to their country, or a promise to call the Seroh family after returning.

“I’ve never been to Luswena. I’ve heard it’s very beautiful…”

Please take me with you. Or give me any kind of token. As Alenara said this, Eriphony exhaled smoke.

“Ah, yes. I was going to say that anyway.”

“Please command me, Your Highness.”

“I will invite you after returning to my country, so until then, stay in the center and send me letters every day.”

She needed an ear to plant in the center.

As Eriphony smiled brightly and gave the order, Alenara paused. Until when?

“Can you do that?”

“Y-yes, Your Highness. It’s an honor.”

“Before you come, I must carefully check if there is a place suitable for you in Luswena.”

A feeling of unease spread through her hopeful heart. But Alenara tried to ignore it and composed her expression. She knew very well that there was nowhere else to fall.

‘Hmm. Cute.’

She had gained a useful pair of eyes and ears, so how could she let them go back? She had to keep them here no matter what.

Eriphony scanned Alenara with her three-white eyes, thinking so. She didn’t seem to realize that she resembled a snake playing with its prey.

* * *

Meanwhile, in the carriage speeding towards the main palace. The coachman’s whip continued to crack to meet the tight schedule.

Ian, even amidst the violent shaking inside, continued to sign documents without faltering. The festival was over, and it was finally the day the first guests were leaving. The ending was as important as the beginning, so Ian’s work was still piling up.

“Romandro, please give me the next document.”

“Okay, here it is. And Ian, the Seroh family’s daughter has gone to Queen Eriphony’s annex again.”

“Is that so?”

“I don’t know if we should just let this go. No matter how I think about it, isn’t it a bit disrespectful?”

Unlike Romandro, who was worried, Ian only raised an eyebrow.

“It’s left that way so that it can be disrespectful.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“Queen Eriphony is not a private person, and she will not sincerely get close to those who cling to her.”

If they were seen as eyes and ears to keep in the center, then they should be seen the same way. As eyes and ears to look into Eriphony.