Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 330

A comfortably cool temperature, a sweet scent, soft fabric, and music drifting from somewhere. The mages, who had been guided separately, leaned back on the sofa, relaxing from their fatigue.

To find themselves having crossed the border and entered Clifford’s palace was an unexpected turn of events. The mage glared at Phillip, who was still tied up and lying face down, and muttered.

“Isn’t all this suffering because of that bastard? Hey, Otrick, tell me now. What did Phillip do?”

“I don’t know the details either.”

“Don’t talk to Otrick. He’ll cry again.”

“I’m not crying! I was just surprised earlier!”

While the mages were bickering, Berik was busy eating the fruit provided by the palace. True to its reputation as a land of grapes, each grape was as sweet and tangy as honey, a real delicacy.

“If you all have time for that, fill your bellies first. Aren’t you going home?”

“A few grapes aren’t going to replenish my magic.”

“Really? Then I’ll eat them all. Ah, this place is good.”

Just as Berik was about to shove a whole bunch of grapes into his mouth, hurried footsteps were heard from outside.

And then, the doors were pushed open without a sound. A servant, soaked in sweat and fatigue, gasped for breath with a bewildered look.

Bang!

“Um, there’s, there’s big trouble.”

“…What is it?”

“Minister Ian Hielo…”

As soon as Ian’s name was mentioned, Berik threw down what he was eating and grabbed his sword. Then, he rushed at the servant as if he would attack him.

Clang!

Barsabe blocked him with her sword. The terrified servant stumbled and sat down.

“Berik. Calm down.”

“Ian, why!?”

“Th, that is…”

“Damn it, stop stuttering!”

The startled mages, realizing the seriousness of the situation, grabbed their robes. No matter how skilled they were as mages, this was Clifford, not Bariel. Moreover, Prince Noah had tried to use Idgal [a magical substance that can neutralize mages] to keep them in check.

“M, Minister Ian has collapsed!”

As the atmosphere turned hostile, the servant covered his face with his arms and shouted, as if making a last stand.

Then, Berik lowered his sword and softened his expression. He had collapsed a few times before, but he seemed fine just a moment ago?

“What? Why?”

“W, we don’t know either, His Highness told us to bring the mages as soon as possible…”

“You should have said so earlier!”

“Ah! Wait, I can walk!”

“Shut up! Everyone, hurry! Where to?!”

“Right! Turn right! Ahhh!”

Berik picked up the servant and started running. The mages followed behind him. Outside, they could see the palace staff and their assistants walking in a line. Judging by their chaotic and urgent appearance, something serious had indeed happened.

Tap tap!

The reception room was wide open.

Berik, who had arrived at the door, froze in shock. The floor was soaked with blood, forming a sea, and Ian, who had fallen to the side, was as pale as a corpse.

Slipping, Berik dropped the servant and approached him. He was speechless. Was this really the Ian he knew? Ian would never be like this?

“I, Ian. Why, why are you like this?”

“Ah…”

“Ian. Wake up.”

Ian’s eyes were wet with what seemed like cold sweat or tears. He was not fully conscious, and he just groaned and waved his hands. Berik held him tightly, but even that seemed to be lost in the pain.

“Gasp, Minister Ian! Oh my god!”

“What on earth happened?”

“The, the blood…”

“Stop the bleeding! Blood!”

While the mages rushed to Ian, Barsabe focused on Prince Noah. He also looked visibly flustered. Barsabe gripped the hilt of her sword and spoke.

“Your Highness. I know this is rude, but given the situation, you must explain what happened.”

This was separate from the Imperial Guard’s check on the Magic Department. Ian was a mage and minister of Bariel, and she had joined this investigation team to monitor and protect him, hadn’t she?

Noah raised both hands, declaring his innocence.

“I really don’t know. We were about to make a contract magic, and he suddenly collapsed like that.”

“Contract magic?”

“Yes. A contract for a friendly alliance between Bariel and Clifford. I swear, we are not responsible.”

As Barsabe glared, the palace soldiers also placed their hands on their swords. A tense confrontation. The king of Clifford, at a loss, looked at Ian’s condition over her shoulder.

If Ian died here, it would be a real problem. There had been a clash of force once over the carriage, and now the head of the Magic Department had died in Clifford’s palace?

There was no doubt. Without a doubt, they would be misunderstood. That Clifford had killed a mage to keep Bariel in check. Coupled with Idgal, the suspicion would be even more credible.

“Oh, what do we do? There’s no one who can use healing magic.”

“Let’s try to infuse him with magic. Your Highness, are there no mages in the palace?”

“…Unfortunately, no.”

Ian was spitting out blood with every breath. The hems of the mages’ clothes, who were kneeling, were turning red. They muttered curses under their breath as they held Ian’s arms and hands.

Zzzing. Zzzing.

“Everyone, squeeze out everything you have.”

“Minister Ian. Please, come to your senses.”

“That’s right. You can’t collapse like this.”

“Damn it, everyone focus!”

The flow of magic surged.

The king and prince, along with the servants, paused and stared blankly. The mages’ eyes were turning gold, their hair was swaying in the enclosed space, and a warm presence seemed to be alive, enveloping the surroundings.

“Keep going! Keep going!”

“Ugh…”

Blood trickled down from one mage’s nose. They were already reaching their limits. They couldn’t even open a portal because they had no magic left, and now they were pushing themselves to the limit, causing them to strain.

The mage just wiped the blood off his hand without a word and continued to infuse magic.

“What are you all doing? Move!”

“Ah, yes, yes! Bring warm water and new cloths!”

At Barsabe’s shout, the doctors also moved quickly.

The king of Clifford watched the scene with a sense of wonder. He knew the power of magic was great, but seeing it performed by many made him feel like he was witnessing a miracle.

Noah grabbed his father’s arm and whispered.

“Father. Perhaps you should leave first.”

What if Ian died now? The king’s presence alone was enough to cause problems. Above all, if those mages and swordsmen got agitated and a clash of force broke out, the king’s safety could not be guaranteed.

However, the king of Clifford patted his son’s hand and shook his head.

“Noah. I understand your concern, but I cannot do that.”

“But, Father.”

“The events that happen in Clifford’s palace are my responsibility and duty. Don’t worry and go be with your siblings. They will be anxious because of the commotion.”

At the king’s command, Noah reluctantly took a step.

The door of the reception room slowly closed. The last thing he saw was the mages coughing up blood, Ian lying in the middle as if he had fallen into an eternal sleep, and Berik kneeling with a tearful face.

Squeak.

Thud!

As the door closed, Noah paused for a moment, rubbing his forehead in thought. Should he inform Bariel about this? Hadn’t Ian already sent a messenger bird from the border?

However, he couldn’t guess the content. He couldn’t predict how Bariel would react if he informed them of Ian’s condition.

“This is driving me crazy.”

Noah muttered, hitting the wall. Was this how things were going to get twisted, just because he tried to get Idgal to keep the mages in check? He turned around with angry steps and asked the servants.

“The mage who came tied up, that guy named Phillip. Where is he?”

“He should be in the reception room where the guests were.”

“Follow me. I’m going that way.”

Passing by the palace attendants being summoned by the king’s order, Noah headed towards Phillip, who was being left unattended.

* * *

Jin was looking out the window, resting his chin on his hand. All of his morning and afternoon schedules had been canceled due to the emergency meeting that had been called since dawn.

It was only last night that Philia’s engagement ceremony had taken place, but it felt like a very long time ago.

What were they doing now? He had heard that the celebrations of the Cheonryeo tribe didn’t end in a day or two. They were probably having a good time with drinks and meat tonight as well. Were the kids from the village there too?

Knock knock.

“Your Highness.”

Jin, who had been lost in thought, was startled and turned his head. A bookshelf that was not even half-finished. Jin quickly shuffled through the papers and responded.

“What is it?”

“A messenger bird has arrived from the border. It seems to be from Minister Ian, would you like to check it? The Prime Minister has also just arrived after hearing about it.”

The outside was getting dark. He thought it was getting late, but a message from a messenger bird. Something must have happened. Jin closed the book and allowed them to enter.

Squeak.

“Your Highness. I apologize for coming so suddenly.”

“Nonsense. Minister Ian sent a messenger bird?”

“Yes. Here it is.”

At the Prime Minister’s gesture, a servant handed over a note on a gold tray. It was crumpled, suggesting that the situation when it was written was not easy.

-I have made contact with Clifford’s carriage. There was no bandit attack, but there was a problem with the carriage. In the process, a jewel was lost, and I am crossing the border to meet with the King of Clifford to recover it. Please receive and review the documents I left with Romandro. It is about the alliance, please revise it to be more favorable to Bariel and prepare it.

The jewel would mean the golden diamond presented by Burgos.

“Is it Burgos after all?”

“No, Your Highness. If that were the case, Minister Ian would have clearly pointed that out. There is a second page, please take a look.”

-An investigation into the merchant group that manufactures Idgal is absolutely necessary. I don’t know what their intentions are yet, but they were trying to supply Idgal to Clifford for a near-free price. We must also be careful of Burgos and Luswena.

Jin was the one who had clearly witnessed the effects of Idgal during the rebellion. The mages who had been neutralized by Marib’s arrows. If Idgal was supplied to neighboring countries, it would be the same as losing one of Bariel’s great powers.

“Idgal… I heard that the Magic Department was researching it, but it seems that the merchant group is operating on a wider scale than I thought.”

“We should call Romandro. Is anyone out there? Siao!”

“Yes. Your Highness.”

While Jin was ordering Siao, the Prime Minister was looking down at the note with a serious face. The deep wrinkles in his eyes, etched by time, moved slightly as he followed his gaze.

“Your Highness.”

Jin, realizing that his gaze was unusual, turned his head. The Prime Minister made a very careful suggestion.

“Instead of leaving the Idgal investigation to the Magic Department, how about forming your own investigation team and having Your Highness lead it directly?”

“What do you mean?”

“The Magic Department will try to eradicate the Idgal manufacturers. That is only natural. It has the same effect as a magic sealing stone, and the more it increases, the more burden it will be for the mages.”

The one who holds Idgal holds the lifeline of the mages.

This was a fact that everyone living in the Imperial Palace knew.

“It is absolutely unacceptable for it to be supplied to other countries. But if the Imperial Palace manages it directly, wouldn’t that be a different story?”

“…Prime Minister.”

“Your Highness must control it. It will be a very good way to keep the Magic Department in check.”