Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 322

The mages’ footsteps echoed heavily as they entered the Magic Department. They were as unaccustomed to starting work as they were to leaving it. They had completely forgotten the simple joy of sleeping in a bed instead of on a sofa and eating at a table instead of a desk.

Philic stopped abruptly as he opened the department door. It was bright outside, so why did it look like dark clouds were gathering inside? Seriously.

“Hello. Good morning.”

“Yeah. I can’t relate.”

“What’s with you guys? You all went home yesterday, didn’t you? Did you work even after going home?”

“No, I rested. But after resting, sitting here feels like torture.”

“Philic, how are you feeling? You look tired.”

“No. I’m fine, thanks to you.”

“He had indigestion and had to rest after the inauguration ceremony. It would be unfair if he wasn’t okay. Okay, hurry up and sit down. There’s a lot of stuff on your desk.”

Philic smiled and checked his desk. There was a pile of documents and items that had been passed on from various places, but the most noticeable was the summons. It was from the Minister’s office, ordering him to report immediately upon receipt.

“A summons?”

“Yep, yep. You can go straight to the office.”

“Does anyone know why?”

Philic asked casually, glancing at the back of the summons. His eyes keenly scanned his colleagues, but everyone seemed focused on starting their work. There was nothing unusual.

“Looks like you have something to do. Don’t you know the office is open every day? It’s nothing new.”

It wasn’t a figurative expression; it was literal. So many people came and went that the door was almost never closed. Someone sitting in the corner added,

“I heard you’re going on an outside assignment, and you’ve been selected for it? I heard about five or six people are going together.”

“…Where to?”

“I don’t know. Go and hear it yourself.”

The mages gave curt answers and then focused on their work. Philic just stood there, staring at the summons.

“Did I do something wrong?”

“Huh?”

“I’m asking if you did something wrong. You’re just standing there when you’ve been called.”

“Whatever. I’ll be back.”

Philic casually packed his things and left the office. The mages watched him go, exchanging puzzled glances and shrugging their shoulders.

“Philic. Hello.”

“Oh, yeah.”

In the hallway leading to the office, colleagues greeted him, but Philic couldn’t help but ignore them. He was flustered.

There had been summons before, but those were clear interactions based on work. There was no reason to call him separately like this, and why now of all times….

‘Clifford, it seems that’s already been found out.’

An investigation team. What could be the reason for suddenly forming an outside assignment? It was clear that the incident that happened on the outskirts of Bariel had leaked to the Imperial Palace.

How fast. Philic leaned his back against the corner and chewed on his fingernails.

‘But why call me? Is it okay to go in? Even though the Minister is sharp, this is earlier than expected.’

“What are you doing?”

“Ah.”

Philic was startled by the voice calling him and turned around. Barsabe, dressed in the Imperial Guard uniform, was scanning Philic up and down. She was a mage, but her actions were suspicious.

Swoosh.

She passed Philic and knocked on the office door. If she knew he was standing here, she would think it even stranger. Philic quickly followed Barsabe into the office.

“Excuse me. Commander Jeyrut told me to come-”

“Ugh.”

Something tripped Barsabe. It was Beric, sprawled on the floor. She pushed Beric’s side with a very displeased expression.

“Why are you lying here?”

“Oh, it’s my tooth. Ah, why am I here?”

“You’re crazy. You smell like alcohol!”

Beric had also been drinking heavily all night and had been brought to the Imperial Palace by a servant sent by Jeyrut due to an urgent morning call. Or rather, he was carried in.

Beric rolled onto the sofa while lying down. Drinking with the warriors was fun, but the aftermath was a real problem.

“Ugh. Are those guys’ livers made of muscle?”

“What are you- Ah, Ian.”

“Yes. You’ve arrived.”

Ian, who had changed his clothes in the inner room, greeted Barsabe. Philic, who was standing awkwardly behind her, was also there.

Philic bowed his head and looked at Ian. He was wearing outdoor clothes, so it seemed the outside assignment was real. Then, what was the atmosphere? Was there anything different? But there was nothing special. A business-like, even dry look. He also looked a little tired.

Romandro, while organizing Ian’s clothes, explained instead.

“We’re going to meet the Clifford envoy who’s going down to the border. Originally, only mages could go, but Commander Jeyrut is particularly concerned about safety. So, two members of the Imperial Guard are going with us.”

“Two? Me too?”

“Then what are you going to do here?”

“I was going to sleep. I really like the sofa here. It’s so soft.”

Beric looked annoyed, and Barsabe looked disgusted. It was clear that they would rather go alone.

Ian sat at his desk, fastening his sleeve buttons.

“Sit down. Philic. It’ll take some time.”

“Ah, yes.”

“Except for Beric and Barsabe, there will be several of us, including me, but two haven’t arrived yet. Check the list separately, and when everyone is gathered, design a magic circle in the garden behind the building.”

Ian handed over a piece of paper. They were all familiar names.

“Aren’t you going, Romandro?”

“Me? I have to stay and work in place of the Minister.”

“I see.”

As Romandro grabbed Beric by the scruff of his neck and lifted him up, Barsabe supported him. They were going to change his alcohol-soaked clothes.

There was a small commotion in the back, but Ian didn’t react and flipped through the papers. Philic, who was wondering what to say, raised his head at the sudden question.

“Is the address listed in the center your family home?”

“Pardon?”

“I know you’re unmarried, I was just curious.”

Rustle.

Ian was looking at Philic’s personal information. He hesitated for a moment and then shook his head.

“No. I’m from the provinces. As you know, most mages are like that.”

“I see. Me too.”

“…That’s not what I meant.”

“It’s okay. It’s the truth.”

Most mages were from commoner backgrounds. Ian also had the honor of being the first noble mage, but his beginnings were tainted by the stain of being a commoner from the border.

Romandro, who was combing Beric’s hair, kept glancing at Philic. Ian was acting as if nothing was wrong, treating him very well, but….

‘Commander Jeyrut is suspicious? Wait, wait, I’m a bit tired because of my hangover. Ian.’

‘You know that Melania is looking for the Rutherford Trading Company to entrust herself. I don’t know who is in the middle, but Philic heard about it. The fact that Melania is alive.’

‘And that we’re watching over her?’

‘Please refrain from using the word “we.” It was my doing.’

“Ouch!”

Beric shouted in surprise. Romandro, lost in thought, had pulled his hair too hard.

“Oh, sorry. Does it hurt?”

“Gently, gently!”

The words asking him to be gentle echoed in Romandro’s head and then disappeared. Ian’s statement that it was ‘his’ doing, not ‘ours,’ was too intense.

Sending Melania alive was against the Imperial order to destroy her family. It was a grave crime, so Ian was drawing a line that it was solely his doing.

He was suddenly aware that they were in the middle of a storm.

‘So, you told Commander Jeyrut about that? Philic?’

‘I think that’s the only inference for now. There’s no way the shadow we attached was exposed.’

‘How much does Commander Jeyrut seem to know?’

‘It wasn’t a certainty, he was subtly checking. Given his personality, if he knew I had sent Melania alive, it would have been obvious what would happen.’

‘Y-yes, that’s right. He would have immediately made it public and overturned it.’

‘We need to investigate Philic further. I don’t know why he acted without regard for his own safety.’

‘If he had stayed still, he would have gone halfway. Tsk, tsk.’

‘The goal is the same. Some want me to step down because they are worried about His Highness Jin, and others want me to step down so that their department can rise. Philic is the same. He just used Commander Jeyrut.’

At the time, Jeyrut was rapidly emerging as a force to check Ian, so he chose him.

Romandro’s eyes narrowed even more as he glared at Philic. He was like a common thug! Even if it was another department, another person, a mage shouldn’t do that! What kind of person was Ian!

“Romandro. Did I do something wrong yesterday after drinking?”

“Huh? Oh, oh, sorry. Sorry.”

“Use words, use words.”

Beric was whining, and Barsabe was looking at him in surprise.

Romandro came to his senses and looked down at his hands. He was tightly gripping the red hair with both hands, making it look like a lion’s mane.

Philic glanced back and straightened his posture again.

“But Ian, why me….”

Ian took his eyes off the documents and looked at Philic. As if he didn’t understand the meaning of the question at all. Then Philic waved his hand and made an excuse.

“Magic circles aren’t my specialty. And I don’t have much experience with outside assignments. Haha.”

“You’ve been resting since the inauguration ceremony. I thought your physical condition would be better than others. Perhaps, you haven’t recovered yet?”

Ian asked nonchalantly. He had been off work since the end of the inauguration ceremony, so what was the problem, his eyes seemed to say.

“No. Not at all.”

“Then that’s good. Actually, you looked unwell when you came in, so I wondered if there was a problem while you were resting.”

Romandro’s gaze sharpened again. A problem? There would be! If it was related to the Clifford envoy incident, it meant he had been going back and forth between here and there alone? And he had done something there too! He must have used his magic, so it was definitely a problem.

This time, Barsabe tapped Romandro’s arm.

“Romandro. That, Beric… his cheeks are going to tear.”

“Huh? Oh, oh!”

Beric’s cheeks were stretched wide to the left and right. He had given up and was now half-opening his eyes, glaring at Romandro.

“…I made a mistake. I made a big mistake yesterday. Tell me, what did I say when I was drunk? Did I call Romandro fat? Or short legs? Did I say I wanted to pull out his beard?”

“You, you always thought of me like that!?”

“Or what!? What’s with you? It hurts!”

“This guy, really!”

“I got it! Romandro, I told Vivianna about you embezzling the extra allowance last time, and you got caught!”

“Y-you said that? You, you…! Come here. I can’t let this go. I’ll sew you up instead of tearing you.”

Thump! Thump!

It was very noisy with just one sofa between them. So much so that no one could hear any sounds from outside.

A mage poked his head in and called Ian.

“Ian, the other two have arrived. You should head to the garden soon….”

“Okay, let’s go. Philic. Get ready.”

“Ah, yes. I understand.”

“Romandro, it will take some time to design the magic circle, so please prepare. Beric, wash up and come out.”

“Save me! Ian, save me! Ah!”

Ian led Philic out to the garden. The mages who were writing down the basic formulas bowed their heads and greeted Ian. He rolled up his sleeves and then put his hand on Philic’s shoulder.

“The location is south, the border closest to Clifford.”

“Yes. No problem. Will you be putting in the magic power, Ian?”

“No.”

Ian lightly patted his shoulder.

“Philic will lead and put in the magic power. You’ve rested the longest among us, so there shouldn’t be any problems. Right, Philic?”

“Ah, yes….”

Pushed forward, Philic hid his embarrassment with a smile.

The clock was passing through the middle of the sky. Soon, they would be able to see the sun and the black moon together.