Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 433

“Vivianna!”

Romandro practically tumbled into the mansion. His coat was a mess of dirt, as if he had fallen in the garden.

Warriors signaled him to be quiet, but Romandro was beyond noticing. His eyes were brimming with tears, and he couldn’t see anything clearly. He was about to rush into Vivianna’s room when the warriors, startled, grabbed him.

“You can’t go in right now. The midwives are helping her with her breathing because the baby is about to come.”

“Yes. We understand your feelings, but please sit here so you don’t disturb her. Besides, you’re covered in sweat and dirt. Is this how you want to meet your baby for the first time?”

“Did you come from plowing the fields at the Imperial Palace? Go wash up and change your clothes.”

“H-how is our Vivianna? Huh? Is she okay?”

“Aaaah!”

No sooner had Romandro’s question left his lips than Vivianna’s pained scream echoed. A tearing, beast-like cry. Romandro was startled and covered his mouth, tears welling up again.

“Oh no, my love is dying! Vivi! I’m here!”

“Please be quiet.”

“Hwaaa! Vivi! Just a little more! Please!”

“Should we knock you out? Huh? If you can’t stay still, we’ll help you.”

At the warriors’ warning, Romandro bit his lip and swallowed his sobs. Tears, snot, and even drool streamed down his face. It was quite a sight.

The warriors crossed their arms and prayed to the gods with solemn faces, while Romandro checked his watch every minute, wishing this painful moment would pass quickly.

How long had it been? Just as Vivianna’s screams began to subside, a strange cry reached Romandro’s and the warriors’ ears, making them perk up.

“Ah!”

The baby’s cry. A small song from a newborn, declaring the start of life.

The midwives were laughing, as if something was very funny, and Romandro clutched his pounding heart by the door. Please, someone open this door. Please.

Creak.

“Lord Romandro!”

“P-Philia. Is Vivi okay? How is our baby? Are all ten fingers and toes safe?”

“Yes, yes. It’s a little girl who looks just like Vivianna. Congratulations. You’ve begun your life as a father.”

“Waaaah! Thank you! Thank you! Vivianna! Can you hear me? Can you hear my voice? You worked so hard, and thank you so much! Vivi! I love you! I’ll be really good from now on!”

“Vivianna fainted right after holding the baby. Come this way. The midwife will show you the baby soon.”

“Congratulations, Lord Romandro. It’s a relief that the baby looks like your sister-in-law.”

“Is that why the midwives were laughing?”

“Congratulations! You have a beautiful daughter!”

“Ugh, thank you. Thank you!”

While the warriors were congratulating Romandro, Philia went to the washbasin and washed her damp hands and forearms. The room was filled with tension and heat, and she was covered in sweat. Philia looked at her haggard face in the mirror and suddenly thought of Ian.

“Lord Romandro, how is Ian?”

“Huh? Ian?”

“Yes. I heard through Beric. It seems he got caught up in some unpleasantness at the Imperial Palace. Is he okay?”

“Ah, yes. There should be a grand council about that right now. It’s absurd that he’s related to the Imperial Family.”

“So, there’s no problem?”

“Yes, well. It seems there was a disagreement with His Highness Crown Prince Jin, but I don’t know the details.”

“A disagreement?”

Philia wiped away her sweat with a towel and asked again.

“His Highness the Crown Prince visited the Magic Department and seemed very angry. But in the end, it was based on affection. You don’t need to worry too much. Once the grand council is over and I receive the report, you’ll have a better idea of what to do, Philia. Wouldn’t it be better for you to go down to the border before it gets too hot? Your belly will be getting bigger as time goes on.”

Sniff! Romandro said, wiping his nose repeatedly. Philia kindly handed him a towel, and then the door slowly opened. An old midwife appeared, holding a baby wrapped in a clean cloth.

“Is the baby’s father here?”

“Here! I’m the baby’s father!”

“Oh, good. You came just in time. Here, a cute little girl.”

Romandro slowly looked inside the swaddling clothes with expectant eyes. He had imagined fair, soft skin and delicate features, but reality was a little different.

“Why, why is she so swollen?”

“That’s how all newborns are. But she’s a very pretty little girl. She looks just like her mother.”

Romandro, who was a little shy, slowly held the baby in his arms. She was so light and fragile that tears welled up. Looking at the tiny newborn, all sorts of emotions swirled in Romandro’s heart.

‘I can’t die.’

Unlike the past, when he had simply lived because he was alive, he now had a firm resolve that he could never die. At least until the child became an adult, until she could forge her own path, he would be a pillar of support and stay by her side.

Romandro sniffled and greeted the baby.

“Nice to meet you. Please take care of me from now on. I’m an inadequate father, but I’ll try to be the perfect father for you. I’m so happy to meet you… I think I’ve been waiting for this moment so much. My heart feels like it’s going to burst, it hurts so much.”

The warriors also gathered behind him, peering at the baby over Romandro’s shoulder. A new life. A sacred being descended upon Gaia.

The midwife wiped her hands with a towel and asked for the baby’s name.

“Vivianna said that you haven’t decided on a name yet.”

“Ah, yes, yes. We were going to decide together, but I’ve been too busy. I have some ideas, so I’ll decide when Vivi wakes up.”

“Okay. It’s good to give a name quickly. It’s like not existing if you’re not called by a name.”

The midwife took the baby back from Romandro and turned towards the baby’s room. Romandro was about to follow her when Philia grabbed his sleeve and whispered.

“Lord Romandro. I’m going to the Imperial Palace for a bit.”

“Huh? But-”

“Actually, I was going to go earlier, but Vivianna went into labor, so I couldn’t. My son, who survived the battlefield, is at the Imperial Palace. How can I just stay here? I’d be happy just to see his face, Lord Romandro. Please lend me a carriage. I beg you.”

Romandro scratched his head, looking troubled. He hadn’t been informed of Ian’s intentions or future strategies, so he couldn’t predict how Philia would be received if she went to the Imperial Palace. But-

“Please be as quiet as possible. You must take my carriage to the Magic Department and meet Ian. Even if Ian is in another building, you must not move and wait in his office. Anywhere else besides the Magic Department is dangerous in many ways.”

Romandro had just become a parent by holding his child in his arms. His child had survived a near-death experience on the battlefield, so how could he just wait from afar? He could fully understand her feelings, so he couldn’t refuse.

Philia gave Romandro a light hug, then grabbed her coat and hurried to get ready to go out.

“Where’s Beric?”

“I told him to guard the carriage while the coachman is being replaced. I was worried he’d make a mess if I let him inside, given his personality.”

Romandro could picture Beric with his mouth hanging open. Philia chuckled and nodded, then left a kiss on Nersarn’s cheek and ran outside.

Creak!

Taptap!

“Beric!”

“Lady Philia! How’s the baby? Is it born?”

Beric, who had been half-lying on the coachman’s seat, using the coachman’s lap as a pillow, jumped up and shouted when he recognized Philia.

“Yes. Vivianna and the baby are both healthy and safe. Now, I’m sorry, but we’re going back to the Imperial Palace. Lord Romandro officially gave me permission, so there’s nothing to worry about.”

“Ah, I want to see the baby!”

“After we come back. Now, hurry up.”

As Philia got into the carriage, Beric stretched and frowned. But that was only for a moment. He urged the coachman to turn the horses towards the Imperial Palace.

* * *

As the sun began to set.

Philia arrived at the Magic Department and immediately ran up the stairs, her robe pulled over her head. Unlike before, the inside of the Magic Department was brightly lit.

It was a moment that made her realize the mages had returned. Just a few days ago, when she had come to deliver supplies to Romandro, it had felt like a ruin. Now, the presence of people everywhere made her feel at ease.

Taptap!

“Oh? Lady Philia?”

“Hello, it’s been a while. Where’s Ian?”

“Lord Ian is in his office right now. But, haa. Lady Philia. It’s good that you came. Please go and scold Lord Ian.”

Philia, who had been smiling and about to turn away, stopped abruptly. She hadn’t noticed it in her joy at seeing her son, but the atmosphere among the mages was quite subdued.

Philia took off her robe and tilted her head, wondering what was going on.

“Did Ian make some kind of mistake?”

“I’d understand if he had made a mistake. It’s driving me crazy. He caused a huge incident at the grand council. His Highness the Crown Prince even stormed out in the middle.”

“Huh? His Highness?”

“He said he’s going back to Clifford just one day after arriving in Bariel to investigate the rifts himself, and it’s driving us crazy. And-”

The issue of the Imperial bloodline and Idgar was also overwhelming, but it wasn’t something to mention in front of Philia, so the mage quickly shut his mouth.

“R-rift investigation? What is that?”

“It’s literally going into the rifts to investigate, which is quite dangerous and takes a long time. If possible, please try to stop Lord Ian. I really don’t know what he’s thinking.”

Philia looked around with surprised eyes for a moment, then quietly nodded. She then slowly turned and moved towards the office.

Knock knock.

There was no one in front of the office. Not even a servant to open the door. It seemed Ian had dismissed everyone. Philia made a sound to announce her presence and slowly pulled the door open.

Creak.

“Ian?”

Ian was slumped over his desk. Only his golden hair, bathed in moonlight, flowed down naturally. Was he sleeping? As Philia approached cautiously, Ian asked.

“Why have you come, Mother?”

“Ian. Are you okay? What’s wrong? Are you sick?”

Ian didn’t raise his head, muttering with his face buried. Philia went closer to her son and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. Then, she knew instinctively.

A muffled voice. And a stubborn refusal to raise his head. Ian was disheartened. She didn’t know why, but.

“Ian, lift your head. Huh? What happened at the grand council?”

“…I’m just a coward.”

“What are you talking about? There’s no one as brave as you.”

“I made a decision, but my wavering heart is like a reed, cold and brittle. I’m afraid of walking an unseen path, but it’s the path I must take, so I feel lost. I believe there’s someone I want to meet at the end, but can’t faith always be betrayed by fate?”

Philia didn’t understand what Ian was saying. But one thing she was sure of was that a storm was brewing inside Ian right now.

Philia hugged her child tightly and sang softly.

“The little moon above the hill, shines brightly on my child’s neck. Ah- don’t cry, don’t cry. My little child, greet the moon with a smile instead of tears.”

It was a song she had sung almost every night when she lived with Ian. When she patted his back and sang, Ian would hum along. It was also the song she had used as a code to reach Ian when he was imprisoned in the Bratz mansion.

Philia buried her face in Ian’s shoulder, and Ian slowly lifted his upper body. Then, he gave a faint smile to Philia, who was looking at him with concern.

“The song is nice, Mother.”

At that moment, the moonlight brightly illuminated Ian’s green eyes. Philia felt her heart drop. Why was he acting like he was hearing it for the first time?

If it was Ian, her son Ian, it was a very strange answer that he couldn’t give. Philia unconsciously took a step back and stared at Ian, then murmured.

“…Ian, you don’t know this song very well?”

It was the first time she had uttered such a trap-like statement. Was that why? Philia’s heart was pounding like crazy.

Ian hesitated for a moment, then nodded nonchalantly.

“Yes. I’m familiar with it, but I don’t know it very well.”