Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 374

A court attendant hurried through the solemn and majestic imperial palace. He entered the Crown Prince’s palace and whispered something, causing the listener to frown and question with his expression.

The attendant stood there for a long time, whispering something, while the guards, though they saw it, fixed their gazes far away as if they hadn’t.

Tap tap.

“Your Highness.”

The attendant, having shared his information, made his presence known at the Crown Prince’s room. Upon receiving permission to enter, he was immediately face to face with Jin, who was sitting at his desk, flipping through documents.

‘It’s true that other people’s children grow up quickly,’ the attendant thought to himself, muttering privately. ‘How has he grown so much in just a few days?’ He lowered his head sharply.

“What is it? Has Minister Tweller contacted me?”

Minister Maxim Tweller was leading the troops south. He sent carrier pigeons twice a day, so Jin assumed this was related to him. However, the attendant shook his head.

“No, it’s a message from the border guards. They said a pass issued by Minister Ian Hielo was used, but the identity of the user couldn’t be confirmed, so they just kept it in mind.”

Jin tilted his head at the mention of Ian’s name. Siao Shi, who was listening from behind, also reacted keenly and focused on the attendant’s words.

“Ian issuing a pass? With his authority as a minister?”

“Yes, yes. And it has been revealed who used it. It’s Timothy, the envoy from Vergos.”

“Wait a minute.”

What was this all about?

Jin got up from his seat and ran a hand through his hair. If Ian had given Timothy a pass, it was unnatural. Timothy was already a high-ranking member of the Vergos diplomatic corps, so he had free passage in and out of Bariel.

Yet, he was given a separate pass? Why?

“How did you find out? That it was Timothy who used it.”

“He came to the imperial palace. He wishes to have an audience with Your Highness.”

Siao Shi slowly closed Jin’s documents and began to tidy the desk. It seemed that today’s work was done.

The fact that Timothy, who was involved in the war, had come directly to the Bariel Imperial Palace was no ordinary matter. Jin gestured for him to be brought in quickly, and the attendant hurried out. In this sudden situation, Jin seemed to be struggling to grasp the situation.

“What is going on? Why did Timothy come to Bariel? Siao, give me the note Ian sent again. Was there no mention of Timothy? Why did I think he would be in Clifford?”

“There was no direct mention, but there was a part where Vergos confronted the barrier, stating they would take an envoy, for diplomatic reasons. Given the importance, it’s possible Timothy was involved. Perhaps that’s what you assumed.”

“But why did he come to the imperial palace?”

“We’ll find out when we meet him, so don’t worry too much. In my opinion…”

Siao Shi trailed off, taking a moment to breathe. From experience and intuition, if Timothy had entered the Bariel Imperial Palace alone, there was only one reason that came to mind.

“To escape their master, they seek someone stronger than their master. Perhaps Timothy did the same.”

During his time as a slave, he had seen many try to escape. Those who foolishly ran through the mountains and fields were all caught and killed, while those who showed their worth to other powerful figures and begged for help survived and escaped. Whether that could be called escaping was debatable, but that was how it was.

Tap tap.

As soon as Siao Shi finished speaking, a presence was heard.

When Jin gave permission, the smell of hardship wafted in. It was the smell only someone who had been riding day and night could produce.

Then, Timothy appeared, his large body half-bowed, and his face was still wet with moisture. But Jin couldn’t tell if it was sweat or tears.

“Envoy Timothy.”

They had once shared tea in the magic department’s backyard. Jin was surprised by how different he looked from then. Although he was an enemy, the aura of human compassion reached him first.

Where had the wild and steadfast man gone? Why was he so defeated, like an old, weak beast that had been exiled?

“I greet Crown Prince Jin of Bariel.”

Timothy bowed respectfully. It was not a Vergos-style greeting, but a Bariel-style one.

Jin sat back down and focused on what he was holding. It looked like a pile of documents, but it was yellowed with dirt and dust.

“I have many questions, but I believe you will satisfy my curiosity on your own. You must know about the war between Vergos and Clifford. You have walked into the heart of Gaia [a term for the world or the land].”

“Yes. The heart of Gaia, the imperial palace. Though I may have lost my way, I have arrived safely. Thank you for granting me an audience.”

Jin instinctively knew that Timothy had abandoned Vergos. Siao Shi felt the same. Timothy carefully prostrated himself and recounted what had happened.

“…I have dedicated my entire life to serving. Vergos was my homeland and more, and the royal family was like the path I was meant to follow. But not anymore. I have shed everything but the memories of my family as I crossed the border, and now I want to live for Bariel.”

“I can’t believe it. King Damon did that to your family without any proof?”

“I, too, cannot believe this moment.”

A downfall due to internal whistleblowing.

Timothy insisted on his innocence to the end, tears streaming down his face. He thought he was done crying, but it seemed that as long as one was alive, tears would flow.

Timothy banged his head on the floor and pleaded.

“Your Highness, I beg you, please accept me as a citizen of the Bariel Empire. Otherwise, I will become an illegal alien when my entry permit expires, and I will not be able to enter any other country. Treason is a grave crime in any country. King Damon will put out a warrant for my arrest in other countries, and my body will wander only through dead lands.”

Ordinary citizens of the empire could naturalize through the proper procedures, but Timothy’s case was a bit complicated.

First, he was from Vergos, a country at war. Second, he was a high-ranking official there. Third, his entry was not ordinary but due to a minister’s special favor. Fourth, his reason for naturalizing in Bariel was political.

It was Crown Prince Jin who could sweep all of that away at once. With just a word from him, everything would be processed smoothly, and a Bariel Empire citizenship card would be issued.

The child tapped the documents with his fingertips, looking down at Timothy’s crown.

“…What should I believe in you?”

He claimed he was not a traitor, but there was no direct evidence. What if all of this was a lie by Timothy? What if it was a bold move by Vergos to infiltrate the imperial palace? If Timothy was a real traitor, Vergos would request his extradition from Bariel.

However, there was no clear justification to refuse him either. Accepting him with no strings attached was too risky for Bariel.

Swoosh.

As if he expected it, Timothy took something out of his arms and presented it. Siao Shi picked it up and lightly dusted it off before handing it to Jin.

It was a document written in Vergosian, so it couldn’t be translated immediately, but one thing was certain. It had the seal of the Vergos Royal Palace.

“These are documents containing the details of diplomatic transactions between Vergos and other countries. It is a report detailing what they have exchanged, what they have promised for the future, and what they have agreed to forget in the past.”

“Siao, bring in someone who can read Vergosian.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Bring at least two.”

Just in case.

Siao Shi quickly informed the attendants of Jin’s orders, and the outside became chaotic. Nevertheless, Timothy remained prostrate, steadfastly waiting for Jin’s goodwill.

‘If Timothy’s words are true…’

This was incredible information.

Knowing what kind of deals Vergos had made with other countries was not just a simple indicator.

It revealed what they lacked and what they had in abundance, and by analyzing the nature of their transactions, one could understand their goals. If it wasn’t material, one could even understand the internal affairs of the country. Not just Vergos, but also the neighboring countries connected to it.

“Your Highness. These are the ones who can read Vergosian.”

“Let them in.”

Two officials entered, bowing their heads.

Jin did not show them the inner contents, but first had them read a portion of the front. Since it was important information, it was necessary to reconfirm their identities. He couldn’t show them everything so carelessly.

“First, confirm if it is an official Vergos document.”

“Yes, Your Highness. Excuse me for a moment.”

They received the documents from Jin and examined them slowly. As members of the Vergos department, they knew well how the kingdom’s official documents were written and distributed.

Their hands were busy due to the dirt and dust that had damaged the documents. But soon, they gave their answer.

“Your Highness. It is an official Vergos document. This part is the names of those in charge, and below that is the title of the report. The document’s format matches what the Vergos Ministry of Foreign Affairs uses, and the names of those in charge are familiar. Above all, the seal is also genuine. Ah, of course, that’s what it looks like to the naked eye. It would be better to call in an expert regarding the seal. But from what we see, there seems to be no problem.”

Timothy, still prostrate, did not waver. Suddenly, something was sticking out from his arms. Jin realized it was a child’s toy.

Jin ordered the officials to step back and lightly tapped the Vergos documents, shaking off the dust.

“Just one question.”

“Ask, Your Highness.”

“If you naturalize, what will you do for a living here? Someone who has been eating the country’s food all their life might not find other food to their liking.”

A Bariel Empire citizenship card was the minimum qualification to work in the imperial palace. What if he took the exam and became a low-ranking civil servant? It would be quite a sight to see. Of course, the higher-ups would take care of it, so it would never happen.

“If you grant me permission to naturalize in Bariel, I will not even go near the imperial palace. I just want to live. To live…”

He just wanted to avenge King Damon, who had killed his family in a miserable and tragic way. If the imperial palace was part of that process, it would be easier, but even if it wasn’t, there were many paths.

Timothy bit the inside of his cheek until it bled. Just thinking of Damon’s face made his heart feel like it was twisting and dying.

“There will be a process to confirm if what you have said is true.”

“I will cooperate with all my heart.”

“And you will have to stay in the imperial palace for the time being.”

Then Timothy raised his head.

How could he send away a high-ranking Vergos official who had rolled in? It was necessary to examine everything that had been imprinted in his mind for his entire life.

That was probably more valuable than these stained documents.

“…The price seems sufficient.”

Jin put down the documents and nodded. His eyes did not miss the fact that Timothy’s naturalization was a very positive variable at the moment.