Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 438

“It’s been a while, Your Highness. And Envoy May, as well.”

Ian personally poured tea, gesturing for them to sit. It was their first time venturing so deep into the Magic Department, despite having spent a few days in the palace for Jin’s Crown Prince Inauguration Ceremony.

The ivory buildings and gold decorations were more majestic and imposing than they had imagined. Separately, the chaotic atmosphere was also quite striking.

“I’m surprised. It’s a bit different from what I expected the Imperial Palace to be like.”

“I’m also unfamiliar with it. Perhaps everyone in the Imperial Palace feels the same way. But thanks to that, I was able to personally greet Your Highness and serve you tea like this, so it’s a unique charm in its own way, wouldn’t you say?”

“Can you really see it that way? The mages outside that window seem to think differently.”

Noah took a sip of the tea Ian had poured, glancing out the window. Several mages stood like trees in the back garden of the Magic Department, which was clearly visible. It was a kind of protest, and the wooden signs they held had drawings that seemed to depict Ian.

“With the major events over, everyone is guarding the Imperial Palace instead of going on vacation, so I welcome it.”

With the war over, the public praised the mages, and no one within the Imperial Palace dared to condemn the Magic Department. It was all possible because Crown Prince Jin had taken his place.

There was no need for checks and balances, so the Imperial Palace seemed to treat the mages’ deviations as a mere happening. They weren’t firm in their resolve either, so even if they were on strike, they were still doing their jobs adequately. It was a strange phenomenon where no one was complaining.

“Last time, they said they weren’t interested in a pay raise, so it seems like everyone will go without negotiations next year. The administrative department was singing songs about the taxes going to each mage. It’s a good thing, isn’t it?”

“Hmm.”

Prince Noah mumbled, taking a sip of his tea, as if he couldn’t understand at all. The vast majority were united in their strike, but it didn’t seem to affect Ian much.

If anything, it was just ‘inconvenient’?

“Beric, please take the box on the right to the administrative department.”

“Again? How many times are these papers going back and forth?”

“They’ll send a reply, so bring it back right away.”

“Aaaah. How many times have I walked the same path since this morning? At this rate, I’ll memorize all the paths in the Imperial Palace!”

“You should have memorized it by now, considering how much you’ve walked.”

“What else do you need? It’s better to get everything done while I’m out!”

“Hmm, change the blankets to new ones, and fill the inkwells.”

To be precise, it was Beric, who took care of everything from A to Z, who was inconvenienced.

May looked around and asked. She understood that the mages were disrupting Ian’s work, but where was Romandro?

Ian, understanding her gesture, smiled.

“Romandro had a daughter a few days ago. He’s taken a long vacation, so he won’t be coming to the palace for a while.”

“Is that so? Please congratulate him for me. Separately, it must be more difficult for you to handle things, Sir Ian.”

“Yes. I’ve realized even more now how many people were working hard for me. The mages have managed to win over even the servants, so it’s come to this.”

Ian smiled playfully and put down his teacup. Then, he took out his pocket watch and checked the time.

Jin must have already been informed of Prince Noah’s arrival. If it was too late, there might be some noise. Like, seeing a guest before the Crown Prince. What kind of fault wouldn’t they find to point out his impudence?

“Since you need to go greet His Highness the Crown Prince, I’ll get straight to the point. As you can see, the Imperial Palace is intact and running smoothly. Except for the small commotion in the Magic Department.”

“I heard there was some commotion with Sir Ian as well.”

“That’s also true. It’s difficult to go into detail, but I was planning to step down from my position as Minister and go to Clifford to focus on investigating and repairing the rifts.”

May clenched her fingers tightly in her sleeve. Had there ever been words that gave both hope and despair at the same time? It wasn’t just any mage, but Ian himself, who was going to help Clifford from the front. And that was after stepping down from his position as Minister of Bariel.

For Clifford, this was like a god-sent opportunity. If Ian could be tied to Clifford, even if only for a limited time, they could fill the gap of the past decades without mages in an instant.

“The expression ‘was planning to focus on repairing’ implies that there’s a problem now, Sir Ian.”

“Yes. Unfortunately, it seems that no one except Beric is particularly happy about me going to Clifford. Lord Romandro said he respects my opinion, but I haven’t actually met him yet. His wife just gave birth, so how could he leave her side even if the world were to split in two?”

Clink.

Noah and May exchanged glances. The ‘maybe’ was turning into a ‘definitely’. If they didn’t support Ian now, it would be a huge loss for Clifford.

“What about investigating the rifts while maintaining your position as Minister?”

“Envoy May, I appreciate your suggestion, but it’s not possible. The Minister of the Magic Department is a key position in Bariel. I don’t know how long it will take, and I can’t hold onto it because of my own small desires.”

Small desires? Noah wanted to add that it was by no means small, nor was it a desire.

But that would be a self-defeating move. In a position where they needed to get Ian to come down to Clifford, Prince Noah had to be careful with every word he added.

This was truly a matter of national importance. A major crossroads in history with even greater repercussions than the war with Vergos.

“…So, Sir Ian, you have the will to investigate the rifts?”

“That’s right.”

“…Why?”

Noah asked quietly.

It was an incomprehensible move from a common-sense perspective. Wasn’t it a blessed life to live in peace and contentment until death in the comfortable cradle of Bariel?

Even if it was something that affected their country, it wasn’t something they had to do to this extent. From the perspective of the Minister of Bariel, that is.

So, ‘why’ was important. This was not only Noah’s purpose to understand the reason, but also a pure curiosity. What was pulling Ian so strongly, holding him so tightly? Even if there was a conflict of opinion with the Imperial Palace, it wouldn’t be a problem if they knew this.

“You can think of it as a sense of responsibility.”

“Those who hold Vergos nationality are the ones responsible. Even if all the mages of Vergos were conscripted, the allied forces of Gaia wouldn’t be able to strongly object. Bariel, and Sir Ian, have done more than their role, so why talk about responsibility? Sir Ian, I’m sorry, but I’m not Beric.”

It was a statement that would have made Beric jump up and down if he had heard it, but he was out the door carrying a box. However, as if sensing something strange, he soon poked his head back in and scanned the office.

“Ian, did you call me?”

“Hmm. No.”

“That’s weird. My ear was itching. You don’t need anything else, right? I’m really going to the administrative department? If you tell me to go again after I come back, I’m running away?”

“Even if you run away, eat some meat first. It’s almost mealtime.”

“Is it already that time? Okay, okay. Just wait.”

Thump!

Beric closed the office door with his foot, a box on one shoulder. As he disappeared without any fuss, Noah cleared his throat and apologized.

“Was I too harsh?”

“No, the person in question seems happy, so it’s fine.”

“Anyway, Sir Ian, I’d like you to be honest. Why are you trying to give up everything and do that? You’re someone who wouldn’t do it if His Highness the Crown Prince didn’t want you to. You must have something important in mind. If I know that, I can help you even more, right?”

Ian smiled, slightly lowering his eyes. The previous statement was truly fox-like. The person who would be most welcoming and happy if Ian went to Clifford was acting as if they were helping him, wasn’t he? Moreover, it was as if he was coaxing him to join forces.

But if you looked closely, there was something to be careful about. What was so important to Ian that he would put aside national affairs could soon become his weakness.

‘It doesn’t seem like it, given the nature of the Clifford royal family, but…’

But there were no exceptions.

Ian shook his head, trailing off.

“It’s truly a sense of responsibility. And for my identity as a mage. The rifts are an unknown world just by their existence, so I believe they will be a passage through which I can at least guess the meaning of magic, monsters, and the will of God.”

Even though they were sitting face to face and talking, Noah could feel Ian slipping away. He was like an eel. Judging by the commotion in the Imperial Palace, it seemed like they could find out if they just pried open a small gap.

‘Right?’

‘Yes, that’s right.’

Noah and May exchanged signals with their eyes again. The voices opposing his resignation were so loud. Ian would have to give a reason that could convince not just the two of them, but the entire Imperial Palace.

‘It’s better to keep a close eye on him. Hmm.’ As Noah thought this to himself, Ian spoke.

“How is the rift recovery going in Clifford? I’m worried because there are no mages in your country. I’ll be ordering the mages I left behind to return soon.”

“We are truly grateful for the many people, including the mages, who are helping us. But separately, the damage caused by the rifts is not being contained. Like a broken bowl that leaves cracks even when put back together, the dead land does not come back to life.”

“You must be very worried. I wish I could go and help, but I’m also concerned that I might be a burden to the current situation in Clifford. If I resign as Minister, the new Minister of the Magic Department will come up with a new plan for rift recovery, and I don’t know if the forces of the former and current Ministers will work together in the field.”

Ian subtly tested Noah. His self-deprecation, which had a basis, was stronger than ever. He was checking how much power a simple question like ‘Should I not go?’ had.

The result was obvious. Just by looking at Noah’s expression, who had immediately shut his mouth.

“No. The more mages, the better. Isn’t that obvious?”

“Is that so? Then, Prince Noah, you can help me as you said.”

It was a small warning not to use fox-like rhetoric, since he knew he was a fox. To take the initiative, that is.

“His Highness Jin will surely ask that my entry into Clifford be denied. You can think of it as an order. Or he will try to delegate the jurisdiction of that territory to Bariel for a certain period, and bring the authority over the rift investigation to Bariel.”

“To prevent your resignation?”

“Among various benefits, that’s just one of them.”

“…Clifford is in trouble. We’re too tired to face the winds blowing in the Imperial Palace.”

“That’s why I asked to meet you first. In any way, Clifford will have no choice but to give up that authority. The King is on his way, isn’t he? The King has signed a contract magic with the Magic Department.”

Noah irritably scratched the end of his ear. The curse manifestation was rapidly advancing due to anguish and stress, but he didn’t notice it. There were no symptoms yet. Only Ian noticed Noah’s habitual gesture.

“And also, the royal family owes me a debt besides Bariel, right?”

As soon as Ian said that, Noah leaned back on the sofa and sighed. This Bariel. How could they shake him down from both sides like this as soon as he entered the Imperial Palace?

“What, again, what? What, what? So what are you trying to say?”

As Noah shouted in frustration, the door burst open.

Screech! Bang!

“Since the guests weren’t coming, I came here myself.”

“Your Highness Jin.”

“It’s been a while, Prince Noah.”

Jin, who had arrived with Siao Shi and his attendants, crossed his arms and glared at the office with narrowed eyes.