Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 431

“So, should we put the flowers on, or not?”

“I don’t think we should. The atmosphere is off.”

“No, how long has it been since Lord Ian and the mages arrived? How can their attitude change like flipping a palm?”

“Still, wouldn’t it be better to decorate with flowers? There’s such a thing as courtesy.”

The servants, who were preparing for the banquet, stopped what they were doing and looked at each other awkwardly. They could feel the air, which had been heated by the return of the war hero, cooling down. The night after the Grand Assembly was supposed to be filled with laughter and celebration of Bariel’s victory.

They glanced at the half-placed flower decorations and shrugged.

“Those who care so much about courtesy are usually the first to go. It’s not just anything, it’s about the Imperial family’s lineage. How can they close their eyes and ears? For His Highness the Crown Prince Jin, this is no small matter.”

“I know, but didn’t His Highness visit the Magic Department earlier? Didn’t he announce that there were no problems?”

“You only heard half of it. They say he came out furious. And did you hear about Idgar? You know, the synthetic substance used in the past rebellion. It turns out that Lord Ian was also involved in that!”

“What are you talking about?”

“What am I talking about? It’s the sound of the Magic Department falling apart.”

The servants kept chattering, repeatedly attaching and detaching the flower decorations. And then, they sensed movement from outside. It seemed the officials were beginning to arrive at the Grand Assembly Hall one by one.

They peeked through the door to assess the overall atmosphere. It was clear that there was a problem, as the energy was completely different from when the Magic Department had first arrived.

“Gasp. It’s Lord Ian.”

Unlike the officials who were entering with dark expressions, Ian looked relatively calm. Was it because of his white skin and golden hair? The dozens of mages following him all seemed to be looking around with complicated feelings.

Accorella moistened her lips and whispered to Ian.

“Lord Ian, are you really going to be alright alone?”

“How am I alone? You all are here.”

“Well, that’s true, but it seems like Romandro-nim is the most suitable to assist you. There will be many questions, and we weren’t in the Magic Department, so we’re in the same position as you, Lord Ian.”

There were definitely things that only Romandro, who had been in charge of the Magic Department’s administration, could help with. But Ian lightly turned his body and looked back at the mages.

“Everyone, there’s no need to worry. Just focus on what’s certain. We are war heroes, the ones who brought victory to Bariel. Everyone will have no choice but to be friendly to you.”

As Ian said that, the mages’ eyes turned into triangular shapes. Wasn’t the one they were worried about Ian, not themselves? He was at the center of all the incidents. As if he noticed their gaze, Ian smiled and walked ahead again.

The Grand Assembly Hall was half-filled. As soon as the Magic Department entered, all eyes focused on them, and the surroundings became quiet.

Swoosh.

Ian went and sat at the seat with his nameplate as if showing off, and soon the mages split to the left and right, guarding Ian’s back. After a moment of silence, some commotion followed.

“Lord Ian, I heard that something happened to King Damon.”

“Yes. He is currently undergoing treatment, so he will not be able to testify at this meeting. Has an envoy arrived from Vergos?”

“No, not yet. It seems there is some kind of problem within their ranks as well.”

“There must be internal strife among the nobles. King Damon paid quite a price to unite the nobles.”

“Then let’s see, would it be okay to change the order like this?”

“I am fine with it.”

“Then we will do it this way. Lord Ian.”

“Yes, Prime Minister.”

The Prime Minister adjusted his glasses and coughed a few times. They were only exchanging work-related conversations, but his back was itching intensely. He whispered to Ian.

“His Highness seems to be in a disturbed state of mind. What happened at the Magic Department?”

“…It seems that I was inadequate and caused His Highness concern. There was nothing special.”

“Lord Ian, and about the rumors. It seems that we cannot avoid mentioning them. If there is a direction you want, please tell me. I will cut it off as much as possible within the limits that do not go against His Highness’s will.”

At the Prime Minister’s words, Ian raised his eyebrows as if surprised. Wasn’t he the one who had been assisting the Crown Prince in the Imperial Palace and leading the charge to keep the Magic Department in check?

It seemed that now that the Imperial Defense Department was stabilizing and its head, Tweller, had become Jin’s and his own man, he was trying to ease up on the checks.

“Don’t look at it that way. It’s just that I think it’s too early to pursue the truth right now. The people of the Bariel Empire are intoxicated with joy, so how can the Imperial Palace pour cold water on them?”

“I didn’t know. I didn’t know that the Prime Minister was thinking about public opinion and approval ratings.”

“I just judged that the timing was bad.”

Although Bariel did not suffer great damage, some people died. If they could not fully enjoy the victory they had achieved over death, he thought its meaning would be diminished.

“His Highness Crown Prince Jin is entering!”

Screech!

Thud!

At that moment, an announcement of Jin’s arrival echoed loudly in the Grand Assembly Hall. The Prime Minister looked back and forth between Ian and the back, and eventually returned to his seat and organized the documents.

Jin entered with a stiff face, his robe fluttering. Everyone in the Grand Assembly Hall stood up and saluted Jin.

Swish.

“Everyone, please sit down, and Prime Minister, proceed with the Grand Assembly.”

“Yes, Your Highness. First, there is the matter of naming the war between Clifford and Vergos. The two countries have had many wars before, but this time it was a great war in which Bariel, Luswena, and even the northern minorities participated. Therefore, it is right to decide on an appropriate name and record it in history.”

In Clifford’s history, it would be recorded as the Clifford War, but in Bariel, it would be recorded as the Bariel War. Therefore, the Prime Minister and the officials wanted to first establish the name of the war by exchanging opinions.

“Hmm. We cannot ignore the opinion of the Magic Department, which played an active role on the front lines of the war. Lord Ian, do you have any opinions?”

“No, I do not. The war is over, but the aftermath has not ended due to the rifts that have occurred. It would be better to prioritize the interpretations of future generations.”

“The rifts, how, how much have they widened? Is there no sign that they will close soon?”

At the words of one official, the mages simultaneously turned their heads. Did they think that the cracked earth would mend so easily, as if it were a wound healing? Everyone had a dumbfounded look.

“When the Magic Department and I last checked, the activity level was at stage 3. Please check the attached documents for the stages of the rifts. The Magic Department defines stage 3 as the appearance of formless monsters, Dust.”

Rustle, rustle.

At Ian’s words, the sound of papers turning could be heard simultaneously. It was a concept established a long time ago, hundreds of years ago, so no one was sure if it was still valid.

Jin scratched his brow and kept his mouth shut. He wanted to point it out, but if he did, everything would flow according to Ian’s intentions. Ian would surely argue that a rift investigation was necessary for re-establishment, and Ian and the mages of Bariel would head to Clifford again.

‘Lord Ian. You made a mistake.’

Jin thought so and glared at Ian. If he didn’t know, it would be one thing, but he knew exactly what Ian was thinking. Jin was not one to be easily defeated.

Someone raised their hand and asked.

“According to the records, it was established hundreds of years ago, is it still valid?”

Who is it? How dare they?

Jin frowned deeply and retorted instead.

“I have heard that hundreds of years in the history of magic is like a fleeting moment. Unlike other knowledge, magic is closer to the truth the deeper its age. Do you not know that?”

“I, I apologize.”

As Ian was about to say something, Jin cut him off and answered instead.

Is His Highness Crown Prince Jin protecting Lord Ian? Is that the atmosphere? Everyone rolled their eyes and shut their mouths. They thought there would be a problem based on the strange rumors, but it seemed that was not the case.

“No, Your Highness.”

Ian was silent for a moment, then carefully retorted. The clear voice of the angry child was truly pleasant to hear. In a way, he was making such a big noise for his sake.

“The question is valid. It is the standard of the Magic Department that has been passed down for hundreds of years, but there is no record of who established it. For a more certain response, it is true that the Magic Department itself needs to investigate.”

“Lord Ian!”

“Your Highness. Have I said something rude?”

When Jin shouted in an angry tone, Ian calmly retorted. This was the Grand Assembly Hall, and they were currently exchanging agenda items in front of the officials.

Keep your dignity, Ian said indirectly, and Jin bit his lip tightly. The mages who were watching from behind were whispering among themselves, stirred by Ian’s remarks.

“The Magic Department’s own investigation? Does that mean we have to go back to Clifford?”

“How are we going to investigate the rifts?”

“I don’t know. Lord Ian must have a way.”

“Hey, get your head straight. We just returned to Bariel. If they tell us to go back to Clifford, can we go?”

“Shh! Shhh! Everyone, shut your mouths.”

“Accorella-nim!”

Ian ignored the whispers from behind and spoke.

“However, rift investigations are inherently dangerous. For Bariel, each mage is a precious and valuable being, so I cannot proceed with my own unilateral decision. I believe that other departments will also allow this. How can I force my subordinates into a death trap?”

“What, what are you trying to say? Lord Ian?”

“I will receive resources. I will recruit those who will respond to the rift investigation and form an investigation team.”

“Will there be anyone who will go? I wouldn’t go if I were them.”

“If there are no recruits, I will go.”

Silence descended again for a moment.

The officials were so surprised that their eyes looked like they would pop out, and Jin covered his forehead again. The mages were the same. They froze in the same way they had been whispering, staring blankly at the back of Ian’s head.

“Ah……”

“Why would Lord Ian go there? Is he crazy?”

“Accorella, restrain yourself.”

“No, where in the world does the head of the department go himself? Seriously. If the Magic Department is empty, who will take care of the work?”

“Commander Accorella! Be quiet!”

Bang! Bang, bang!

The Prime Minister struck the gavel as a warning, but he could not control the excited Accorella. The mages held her limbs, looking at Ian with a look that seemed to ask what was going on.

“The investigation is something that should be done, and if there are no volunteers, I should go. Isn’t that the role of a superior?”

“N, no, that’s not it!”

“What do you mean, no? Accorella. If you raise your voice disrespectfully again, I will have you removed.”

“I, I-!”

Accorella gritted her teeth, feeling the absence of Romandro. If she wanted to give Ian advice without hesitation, there was nothing as effective as going through Romandro’s mouth.

Ian continued, looking at the documents again.

“This is not yet confirmed. There are also mages in Luswena and the North, so I plan to make a proposal to them as well. I will make a decision that minimizes the loss of Bariel’s mages, so please do not worry too much.”

Isn’t Ian’s absence the biggest loss? The mages looked at each other blankly, feeling like their throats were blocked.

“Lord Ian. It is truly exemplary that you are trying to fulfill your duty as the person in charge, but honestly, I cannot help but feel that you are being a bit unreasonable. Is there any other reason?”

At that moment, one of the officials raised a question. He judged it to be a kind of move to deal with the strange rumors that had taken over the Imperial Palace.

Ian raised his eyebrows as if it was a very appropriate point.