Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 371

A soldier carrying Ian’s written orders departed from the barrier towards the royal palace.

Even though the flag of Clifford was waving, why did he feel so strange? The officer swept back his hair and put a cigarette in his mouth.

“I don’t know if this is okay.”

“You mean Sir Ian?”

“More precisely, the mages.”

It seemed everyone was thinking the same thing.

They were from Variel, and their very presence was turning Clifford into a small nation. It was obvious that their power was needed in the current war. But if their dominance grew even stronger because of it, what would they do then?

They would realize it without even having a chance. Ah, Clifford was already inside Variel’s grasp.

“Samobo, why don’t you mention it to the Prince?”

The officers’ gazes focused on one man. Samobo, a close friend of the Prince since childhood, the most personally close among them, and a man with a lineage close to royalty.

Samobo chewed on his cigarette for a moment, then nodded and let out a sigh. It was a sensitive issue, so it was quite difficult to bring up. The cigarette smoke mixed with his sigh scattered behind Samobo as he walked towards the strategy room.

Knock knock.

“Your Highness.”

“Come in. Has the letter departed?”

“Yes. It just left. He’s a skilled man, so he’ll arrive quickly. But, there’s something I’d like to say.”

Noah raised his head to look at Samobo, as if to say he would allow it if he had something to say. Samobo opened and closed his lips several times, carefully offering his opinion.

“First of all, please know that I care for Clifford more than anyone else. Also, I respect and love Your Highness more than anyone else.”

“Of course, I know. A warrior who has shed blood for the country and offered his life. There is no greater heart than that.”

“How about we clearly establish boundaries with the mages at the front lines? Right now, Sir Ian is not just acting as a minister of Variel, but also as a leader. It may be helpful right now, but it could bring greater danger to Clifford in the future.”

Noah’s face hardened. This was akin to saying he lacked ability. He was aware of it, but hearing it from a subordinate made the shock and humiliation feel doubled.

Noticing this, Samobo placed his hand on the back of Noah’s hand.

“Noah, right now, I’m speaking to you not as an officer, but as your friend and a citizen of Clifford. Please understand my concern.”

He knew. He knew well enough, and he could understand. Hadn’t he felt it first? Through the gazes of the people looking at him, and then looking at Ian.

Noah closed his eyes for a moment to organize his thoughts.

“…Samobo, I also had concerns about that. No, I still do.”

Samobo let out a sigh of relief, as if he was relieved. Then, Noah’s hand patted his shoulder.

“But right now, Variel, or rather, Sir Ian’s help is essential. There is no other choice. When I see him, it’s like seeing my own limitations. But the safety of Clifford is more important than my frustration, and I believe that after the Vergos situation is resolved, we will have grown. Both me and all of Clifford.”

It was painful to breathe alongside someone who made him feel frustrated and defeated.

However, enduring that pain was also Noah’s job, a kind of hardship to protect Clifford.

Samobo, realizing his will, nodded.

“Of course. Your Highness has been good at everything since you were young. You will surely grow more through this opportunity.”

“You’re calling me Your Highness again.”

“I thought I would be scolded if I didn’t call you Noah earlier.”

The two exchanged light jokes and laughed. With May gone, Noah felt like he was facing the enemy alone. So, he thought he had to stop them, that it was his mission.

But somehow, while talking with Samobo, he realized. He wasn’t standing in front of Clifford, but together with Clifford.

“Let’s think of it as a blessing. A blessing that the gods have given to Clifford. If Sir Ian went to the Vergos side, I would really be in trouble.”

“That would be quite terrible for me too.”

“Right? So, let’s not worry about the future and do what we have to do now. If we bring down Vergos, that power will flow into Clifford to some extent. We can use that as a stepping stone to move forward.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“There’s no need to think differently. We are using Variel, and we are the ones benefiting from it. Make sure to tell the other officers that as well.”

Of course. Samobo shrugged and smiled. And then, after glancing back and confirming that the door was completely closed, he whispered.

“But Sir Ian, isn’t he a bit of a pain in the neck?”

With his incredible beauty, being a mage, the youngest minister, and even his clever way of handling things. He was so flawless that it made one wonder if he was even human. Noah clenched his fist as if to immediately agree.

“He’s the most annoying person I’ve ever met in my life.”

“If I meet him twice, I’ll die. Seriously.”

“I know, right? It’s irritating.”

The two burst into laughter at the same time.

They had never met anyone like that before. They didn’t know what the two dead princes of Variel were like, but they must have been less annoying than Ian.

Noah smiled as he traced the map with his fingertips. It was the expected supply route that Ian had told him about.

“The path leading to the Red Forest is closer to us, so let’s send some soldiers there.”

“Yes, I understand.”

“As we get closer to the Vergos side, it will be harder to gauge the situation, so we will annihilate them immediately upon discovery, and if unavoidable, report and then raid with reinforcements.”

The reinforcements at this time would probably include mages. Because nothing was as important as cutting off the supply route.

The officer who received Noah’s order saluted and left the strategy room, and Noah, left alone, covered his forehead and closed his eyes. He was doing well, he was doing well, he whispered as if hypnotizing himself.

* * *

Eriphony was lying on the sofa, having her long hair groomed.

A sparkling amber gem. She turned it this way and that against the light seeping in from the ceiling, then muttered as if she couldn’t understand it at all.

“How can this lump of stone break the power of the gods?”

Was that a question that required an answer? The attendants paused for a moment, but they all silently continued their grooming. It seemed like a wise choice. Soon, the Queen threw the Idgal [a gem with magical properties] towards the table as if she was annoyed.

Eriphony tilted her head and stared at the ceiling for a moment, then closed her eyes. To gauge how the world was turning, except for Luswena.

Knock knock.

“Your Highness, it’s Lord Eldert.”

“Let him in.”

Eriphony maintained her position, only turning her head to greet Eldert. A golden tray in his hand. And letters placed on top of it. Eriphony immediately recognized what they were and dismissed the attendants.

“Are those letters from Vergos?”

“Yes, they are.”

“Bring them here.”

She said there was no need to be cumbersome and picked up the paper herself. Her turquoise eyes moved keenly as she read the letters.

Eldert also watched his lord’s expression, wondering what the letters contained.

“It says that the Vergos army broke through Clifford’s barrier and entered. They passed through Baki Village and set up camp in front of the barrier leading to the capital, and are currently in a standoff. It seems mages are involved.”

“I will send word immediately. We should also move on our side.”

A war had broken out. What had been a precarious tightening of each other’s throats was now openly brandishing weapons and calling for blood. Eriphony smiled as she continued to read the letters.

“Yes. It says that Vergos is sending additional troops while they are in a standoff in front of the barrier. Send 500 soldiers armed with black armor to the border with Clifford immediately. That should be enough.”

It was just a move to grab attention. To put pressure on both the front and back of Clifford, and a show of force against the involvement of mages.

If they could send only a small number of mages, that would be even better. Then she would capture them alive and use them as a foundation for Luswena. They would continue to produce magic power until they died, researching and developing it further. Thus, she would achieve a glory as dazzling as Variel, or even more so.

Eriphony snapped her fingers and corrected herself.

“No. 300 would be better. The smaller the number, the more likely the opponent is to be careless.”

“Understood. I will prepare and move immediately.”

“And it’s time to send the Dragon Scales to Vergos.”

Eriphony gestured with her hand and ordered a map to be brought. Because there was so much talk about the Dragon Scale epidemic in Variel, she had conducted an investigation as soon as she returned, and what do you know? She was able to find an illegal farm that had actually traded with the Hyman family.

But what did that matter? This was a situation where the balance of power in history was about to change.

The promises of the previous generation could not stop her from moving forward. Eriphony organized the operators and then ordered the farm to be managed directly by the royal palace.

“There are several roads leading south. This area is rugged and has no country, so you can choose the appropriate one. In my personal opinion, it would be better to move along a road that is a bit far from the Clifford border. It will take longer, but it will be safer.”

Eriphony’s gaze followed Eldert’s fingertips. She rested her chin on her hand, making a displeased expression.

“You said Sir Ian is in Clifford, right?”

“Yes. The fact that mages are involved suggests an alliance, but since Crown Prince Jin is in the Variel Royal Palace, it will only be temporary.”

“Then that won’t do. I don’t know about the royal family of that country, but Sir Ian will surely know about the existence of supplies. Wasn’t he the one who purged the Hyman family?”

“Then what should we do…”

Tap tap, Eriphony laughed as if amused and pointed to the map. It was Variel.

“Let’s go through Variel, then.”

“Pardon?”

“Why are you so surprised?”

It was a route that was completely absent from Eldert’s calculations.

To go from Luswena to Vergos, one had to go through the northern monster zone or through Clifford, but of course, the north was too dangerous, so it was excluded. So, he thought that the only way was to go through Clifford and follow the southern road.

But now, the Queen was saying to cross through the middle, Variel.

“We won’t send them in black armor. Sort out all the items needed for the scales and manufacturing. The light and easy-to-transport items will go around the side where there are no border guards, and the ones that need wagons will be packaged separately and distributed with the cooperation of the Luswena merchants inside Variel.”

“There will be a product suitability inspection.”

“Look, Eldert. Even Hyman, a mere noble, did it, so how can I not do it? Huh?”

She was right. Even in Variel, not all border lines were guarded by border guards, and when you looked at the items needed for manufacturing one by one, they were not prohibited items.

“We just need to smuggle in the scales. I think if we go around this forest, it will be similar to going south of Clifford, or maybe even faster?”

“I expect so too. Then I will contact Vergos. To change the location where they receive the supplies.”

“Yes. It would be good to hurry before they move from the Variel Royal Palace. Don’t miss any reports coming up from Vergos.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

She fanned herself again and smiled.

Even Ian wouldn’t have thought of this. There was only the involvement of mages, but there was no official position from the Variel side, was there?

Using that to use that route. It was reckless and bold, and furthermore, it was something that no one would have thought of, which made her feel good.

Just as Eriphony was about to light a cigarette.

Tap tap tap!

“Your Highness!”

“What’s all the commotion?”

“There, it’s a big problem. A letter has arrived from Variel saying that they are suspending all trade with Luswena.”

Eriphony frowned, wondering if she had misheard.

“Say that again.”

“So, to be precise, they, uh, say they will not import from Luswena.”

She threw the cigarette down in disbelief, and Eldert quietly turned his head towards the map.

Even if there were no mages in the royal palace, it wasn’t completely empty.

Not long ago, there was Crown Prince Jin Verosian, who had endured that fierce storm of blood and was officially appointed.

“…Your Highness. You will have to re-establish the supply route.”