Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 419

Eriphony glared at Ian, clutching his burning palm.

How dare a mere minister, even in an empire, injure the king’s hand? If this were Rusweena, Ian would have been discarded like a corpse, left to rot on the ground.

But Ian didn’t care. He knew better than anyone the weight a defeated nation had to bear, and a little bit of his rudeness wouldn’t even register to Rusweena.

“Please, sit down, Your Majesty,” Ian said, pulling out a chair and guiding Eriphony back.

Just one step outside would lead to freedom, but the king knew he couldn’t. The northern reinforcements were also ignoring him, pretending not to see the king’s injury. Reluctantly, Eriphony perched back on the edge of the chair.

“We still have much to discuss. We’ve only just touched on the war reparations, haven’t we? We need to clarify the responsibility for the rifts within Clifford. Rusweena cannot be excluded from this. The northern reinforcements also have no say in this matter.”

In the end, the rifts had occurred. The monsters they had so desperately wanted had flooded in, which was a welcome sight for the barren northerners, but for Clifford and its neighboring Bariel, it was nothing short of a disaster.

“What can be done to mend the rifts that have already occurred? If it were possible, the north would have tried it long ago. The only way is to distribute power, which is why they participated in this war.”

Eriphony clicked his tongue in annoyance, and the northern chieftains shrank back. They felt like they were walking on thin ice. One wrong move, and they would be thrown into the icy depths. They all remained silent, waiting for Ian, Eriphony, and the King of Clifford to speak.

“The land is cracking and rifts are forming, but it is possible to control the speed. In the meantime, relocation and evacuation are the last opportunities God has granted us.”

“So, how?”

“Send the Rusweena mages to Bariel.”

“What?” Eriphony asked, dumbfounded.

But Ian’s face remained calm, without a hint of change, and that serenity pushed Eriphony further into a corner. Perhaps it was the sense that everything would go as Ian intended, as he said, that made him feel so cornered.

“It’s time for all the mages of the continent to join forces to find a solution. Unlike Rusweena, Bariel has a long-established magic department and a considerable number of mages. There is no better environment for research than here. If Clifford had mages, I would have asked them to be sent to Bariel, but unfortunately, they disappeared long ago. Rusweena’s cooperation is essential.”

“Absolutely! Absolutely not!”

He would rather give away a piece of land than give up his mages!

Eriphony had personally experienced the impact of mages on national power during this war. If he sent even the few he had to Bariel, the balance of power would be completely shattered.

Moreover, the support from other countries, including Hawan, largely depended on the presence of Rusweena’s mages.

“I believe the mages are not under the direct control of the royal palace. Frankly, I don’t think Your Majesty’s opinion is particularly important. Where one is born is fate, but where one lives is a choice. They certainly have the right to choose.”

He wanted to shout at him to shut up, to stop his scheming, but the faint remnants of his royal composure barely managed to control his anger.

Unlike Bariel, Rusweena had a weak connection to keeping mages in the royal palace. They were barely managing to secure their support by holding their families hostage. Defection? He didn’t want them to go, and he couldn’t let them.

Ian turned his head, ignoring the trembling Eriphony.

“There must be mages in the north as well.”

Some of the chieftains nodded. They weren’t part of their forces, but there were certainly mages roaming the north, like Efdram.

“It is your duty, the northern reinforcements, to gather them. Now that rifts have appeared here, the energy of the northern lands must be less than before. The restrictions on your activities must have been greatly eased. I believe you will succeed.”

“Ah, yes. There are many who handle monsters, not just the Atan tribe. We will ask for their help.”

“Yes. Ask. We are demanding it, though.”

Ian smiled faintly. Whether they asked or begged, it was their problem, he made it clear.

“If the rifts worsen, Rusweena will not be able to escape the consequences. Supporting the gathering of all mages to put their heads together is a way for Your Majesty to erase the traces of defeat as much as possible.”

“Now-”

“And give up some of Rusweena’s territory. The area adjacent to Bariel would be good.”

Ian pointed to a part of the map with his pen. Eriphony stared at him, dumbfounded, and Ian raised an eyebrow.

“We expect refugees from Clifford. Bariel will temporarily open its adjacent borders for humanitarian reasons, and at the same time, we will be compensated with that much territory from Rusweena. In fact, His Highness the Crown Prince will make the final decision, but even if all the ministers of the royal family put their heads together, they would not come up with a significantly different result. It is my small consideration that you should know this in advance.”

Money, slaves, and territory.

The defeated side in a war always paid the price with these three things. The Burgos side was out of the question for now, as their king was captured.

“We safely returned the captured mages and continue to claim that we were tricked into participating by Burgos. Yet, the responsibility we bear is the greatest among the participating countries. It’s like being branded as the instigator of the war. Don’t you think it’s too much? The numerous kingdoms of Gaia will be focusing on this situation, and they will see the empire’s mercy as a mere mirage. If possible, I would drink your Siltham potion. If it would prove my innocence, I would do anything-”

“Where is there mercy in war?” Ian cut off Eriphony’s words firmly. He was claiming his innocence, even willing to drink the unknown substance from Bariel, but that was a minor issue.

The important thing was that Bariel now had the opportunity to completely break Rusweena’s spirit.

“Your Majesty Eriphony, were you so merciful when you shot your arrows, pierced the hearts of your soldiers, and watched as mages fell into the abyss of hell? Were you so benevolent that you held the families of mages hostage in the royal palace, dragged children to the battlefield, and told dying mages not to share their magic? That is truly remarkable. So remarkable that it brings tears to my eyes.”

Ian’s anger, pressed into each word, was palpable.

Eriphony realized that he had nothing to gain in this tent and closed his mouth. It was better to wait quietly until the meeting was over and then return to the palace to plan for the future. He realized that provoking Ian, who was on edge, would not lead to a better outcome. That thought finally crossed Eriphony’s mind.

“And if the numerous kingdoms of Gaia learn of this situation, it will be a good example to remind them of Bariel’s great national power. This is not something Your Majesty Eriphony should worry about.”

Ian gestured to the mages, and those who still had magic left stepped forward.

“Based on what we have discussed, we will make a simple contract magic. Everyone must enter the Bariel Imperial Palace within fifteen days and have a meeting with His Highness the Crown Prince. Otherwise, your lives will come to a very sudden end.”

Zzzing. Zzzing.

The mages activated their magic, and the northern chieftains nodded as if they had no choice.

The problem was Eriphony. She was biting her lip as if she couldn’t accept it, and Ian saw that and snapped his fingers.

“Ah. Your Majesty doesn’t have to do it yourself.”

“…?”

“Bring Eldert in. I will make the contract with him.”

Eriphony frowned. Why Eldert and not her?

Even the King of Clifford looked at Ian with a questioning gaze, but Ian simply calmed the king with a look. He had a plan, so just follow along.

“Eldert!”

Eriphony had no reason to refuse. He was her closest aide and the second most powerful figure in the royal palace, but he was not the king. If she could put his life on the line instead of her own, anything was fine.

At Eriphony’s call, Eldert rushed in.

“Yes, Your Majesty! Are you alright?”

Eldert had been anxious since the flames had erupted at the tent entrance, but the mages had prevented him from approaching. He saw Eriphony clutching his palm and his face hardened, but the atmosphere inside the tent was colder than he had expected. And above all, the look in his lord’s eyes told him to be cautious.

A mage held out his hand to Eldert. His golden eyes, proof of his magic, were gleaming.

Zzzing. Zzzing.

“Eldert, make a contract magic on behalf of your king. Everything we have discussed so far is known to the King of Rusweena, Your Majesty Eriphony, so you only need to put your life on the line. Will you do it?”

He didn’t need to know the details, he was just being asked if he was willing to sacrifice himself for his lord. Eldert was flustered, but he didn’t hesitate. He rolled up his sleeve and took the mage’s hand. Soon, magic swirled between their hands, and a huge concentric circle of contract magic surrounded them.

Ian sat on the table and nodded to Eriphony.

“You have a very trustworthy subordinate.”

“…”

It was clearly a mocking tone, but she couldn’t even retort because she couldn’t understand Ian’s intentions.

Why didn’t he make a contract magic with her? Even if she was the king, given the atmosphere just now, if he had continued to push, she would not have been able to escape.

Unable to shake off the uneasy feeling, Eldert’s contract magic ended. Seeing the magic subside, Eriphony kicked her chair back and left the tent, and the King of Clifford watched her leave in disbelief.

“He deserves to die.”

Prince Noah was slightly surprised by the king’s muttering, his eyes darting around. He had never seen his father, who was a king before being a father, use such harsh words. Ian seemed to understand his feelings and nodded with a smile.

“He does deserve to die. But there is no need for Your Majesty and me to kill him. If we do, it will give the opposition in Rusweena a cause, and it will hinder the cultural integration by persuading their vested interests.”

Just as Prince Noah was about to ask Ian for more details, a commotion was heard outside. It was Eriphony’s shout, who had gone out first.

Prince Noah slowly peeked his head out and soon found Eriphony yelling at a soldier.

“Why did you handle things like that!”

“I, I apologize.”

The news that the mages had left for the royal palace without his orders. To be precise, it was that troublemaker Zaira and some others. Eriphony gritted her teeth and pulled on the horse’s reins.

“Return to the main camp immediately.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Hee-ing!

Alenara.

It was a fate that would lead to the worst if she fell. Thinking that it was time to grab even a rotten rope, Eriphony spurred her horse.