Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 443

“How many Clifford envoys did you say there were in total?”

“Excluding Prince Noah and Envoy May, who arrived earlier, there are about twenty in total. Not including the escort knights.”

“I heard that the number of escorts allowed into the palace is limited to five per royal family member. Did you receive instructions on that?”

“Yes, yes. I did. The remaining escorts will be housed outside the palace, in temporary accommodations.”

“Hello! I’m from His Highness Crown Prince Jin’s chambers.”

“What is it? If you need to confirm the schedule, there’s a newly written one on that desk over there.”

“What about the Clifford envoys?”

“They have fifteen. They said they wouldn’t bring all their escorts. I’ve instructed that those entering the palace should have their weapons thoroughly checked. The gatekeepers at the main gate will take care of it.”

“Ah, this is chaotic. Really.”

“Next? We need a list of Bariel officials who will attend the meeting. I put it here, but where did it go?”

“I just took it out. They said they’re sending servants to each residence, so you don’t need to worry about it.”

“I’m in charge of that, who went?”

“Huh? Ah! I’m going crazy. I guess the paper changed!”

Shwaaak!

A faint order amidst the chaos.

The servants working in the Imperial Palace were frantically moving about, passing documents and such, and piles of things were collapsing here and there.

However, the administrative department was running so busily that no one could manage to clean up. The scattered papers were left scattered, kicked around by people’s feet. It was no wonder, as they had to prepare for guests that had been planned for months in just a few days.

It was a meeting as important as Jin’s inauguration ceremony. A massive meeting that the Gaia Continent was paying attention to, bringing together Clifford, Luswena, Burgos, and even minor forces from the north. With the agenda being war damage and reconciliation, the servants’ hands were busy to match the importance of the event.

Taptaptap!

“Move! Move!”

“Oh my, what a mess.”

“Berik! Why are you here?”

“Why else, Ian sent me on an errand.”

“Ugh! Those magic department bastards who can’t tell the sky from the ground, when are they going to stop wearing those rags on their heads? We should be the ones going on strike!”

The administrative department employee yelled while looking at the documents Ian had brought, and at the same time, Quintana’s sharp eyes flashed.

“Quiet. Are you working with your mouth?”

“Ah, no, I’m not.”

“We’re busy to death, so don’t even mention the word ‘strike.’ Those who are infected will have to pay me back every single penny of my damages. If you’re unhappy, go to the magic department! No one will stop you!”

Do you think mages are mages for nothing? Their existence alone is valuable, and each individual possesses immense power. In fact, it would be fair to say that they have an independent position within the magic department. They are irreplaceable. They are not like ordinary people who worry about losing their jobs if they leave their posts.

The employee shut his mouth and received the documents from Ian. Berik brushed away the papers flying around with one hand and said,

“By the way, the King of Luswena just arrived at the main gate.”

“What? Already?”

“Does the king of that country have no dignity? Why is he coming so early? The Burgos envoys arrived yesterday at dawn, and then the King of Clifford this morning, and now Luswena right after?”

“They must be feeling the heat,” someone said.

“I bet that was Commander Acorella.”

“Oh! How did you know?”

“Quintana-nim! I’ll submit this without intermediate approval. Please check it right away!”

“Pass it here.”

Clang! Bang!

Taptaptap! Clang!

Quintana put on her glasses and began to furiously tap on her calculator. Every time a stamp of approval was placed, the subordinate next to her transcribed the report with perfect precision. It was as hot as a smithy, only the tools were different.

Berik sniffled and waited for a reply.

“Where is the Clifford’s grape harvest data from last year?”

“I gave it to you earlier?”

“That was from the year before last! I told you to make detailed data divided by month, didn’t I? We need to calculate the average value for the past five years to estimate the damages! Do you think I’m just tapping on the calculator for fun!?”

“I’m sorry! I’ll find it and bring it right away.”

“Tsk. Berik!”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Quintana, who had become extremely sensitive with numbers, called Berik irritably. Berik, who rarely got nervous, straightened his posture and raised his head.

“Take this directly to Ian-nim.”

“Understood.”

“Ah, and one more thing.”

Quintana grabbed Berik, who was trying to run away, and turned him around. But she couldn’t easily speak, only making a groaning sound with her mouth. Looking at Berik’s round, innocent-looking eyes, she felt it was pointless.

“Yes?”

“No, it’s nothing. Hurry up and go.”

With a half-dismissing gesture, Berik grinned and left the administrative department.

Quintana, holding the papers cluttered with numbers, recalled Crown Prince Jin’s call. It was a few nights ago, when the schedule was just getting busy.

‘I’m going to proceed with the construction of the magic department’s annex right away, so it would be good to secure immediately available cash flow.’

Not the Minister of Magic Ian, but the Crown Prince himself was trying to proceed with the construction of the magic department. What was going on?

Wouldn’t the imperial family have nothing but reasons to oppose it? That was why it had been dragging on until now. Seeing that the Crown Prince had directly instructed Quintana, it seemed that the matter would soon be settled.

Quintana rubbed her throbbing head and closed her eyes.

“Haa.”

Where would be a good place to get the money to be used for the annex construction? Since they were about to have a negotiation meeting, it might be good to look into that first.

Quintana, as if she had made up her mind, drew a bold circle with her pen.

* * *

“Father!”

“Noah?”

Prince Noah ran towards his father, who he spotted entering the main palace from afar.

The king’s eyes seemed sunken due to his grueling schedule, or was it just his imagination? Noah looked at his father with sparkling eyes, and the king noticed that something was different about his son.

“Your Highness!”

“May!”

“Ah, Your Majesty! You’ve arrived? I apologize.”

The king hugged the back of his much taller son’s head and winked at May. Although it was covered by the Clifford traditional hat, he could definitely feel it. Under the cloth, a strange ear popped out. Moreover, instead of a sweet smell, there was a soil smell that reminded him of a forest.

Noah grinned and hugged his father’s shoulder tightly.

“…Oh dear. This is a big problem, Noah.”

“It’s okay for now. I missed you. And there’s a lot to discuss.”

“Let’s go inside. Not all the carriages could enter. They said they’ll only return the ones that have been approved after inspection, so it will take a while.”

“This way, Father. It’s been a while since you’ve been to the Bariel Imperial Palace, hasn’t it?”

“Yes. When you were very young. It’s the first time since then.”

The king had the servants move away and stepped onto the stairs leading to the main palace. Noah was excitedly showing off his elated movements. And May was watching him with concern.

The king closed the door to the reception room and whispered to May.

“What happened? May.”

“The curse has manifested. I thought it would happen soon, but I didn’t expect it to happen so suddenly. I apologize.”

“Has it not been discovered in the Imperial Palace?”

“Crown Prince Jin and Sir Ian know the secret, so I have informed them of the situation. Other than that, it hasn’t leaked out. Clifford is already busy with reconstruction, so would adding to their worries be helpful?”

“Yes. That’s right. If the royal family member we’re trusting is a beast, who would be happy to follow? Moreover, they have experience with monsters due to the war and the rifts. It must never be known. I heard that you received help from a mage last time?”

“Yes. I requested it again this time. But it only temporarily suppresses the symptoms, and the side effects are significant. His Highness is still fine, and Your Majesty will be here soon, so he hasn’t taken it yet.”

Noah sat perfectly still and nodded his head repeatedly.

Looking at him, the king smiled faintly. He was just a child, even though his body had grown. It was a curse and a sign of the royal family, so he couldn’t easily laugh or cry.

Knock knock.

“Your Majesty. The carriages have entered after inspection. We will move the documents brought from Clifford and do the final preparations.”

“Alright. I’ll be there soon.”

The war of blood fought with swords and shields had stopped, but now they had to fight a war that would have an even greater impact. A war of tongues, fighting with their respective positions and arguments as weapons.

“May. What about the palace guide?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. If you go down the hallway a little, there are accommodations and preparation rooms prepared for the envoys. The agreement will continue for a maximum of five days, until there is a ‘somewhat’ satisfactory result.”

Of course, the standard of ‘somewhat’ was Bariel. There would be a line that Bariel considered appropriate and sufficient. Burgos and Luswena would try not to cross that line as much as possible, and Clifford’s goal was to maximize the benefits they were forcefully pulling in.

May handed the report she had prepared with Noah to the king and explained.

“Your Majesty. And you need to know a little about the current atmosphere in the Imperial Palace. It’s about the magic department……”

Whisper, whisper, May told the king everything they had seen and heard. The wave of red headbands of the strike and the defection of the Luswena mages. And Ian’s position and attitude, etc. The king’s kind-looking eyes narrowed, and he clicked his tongue as if it was complicated.

“This is troublesome.”

“Therefore, how about we argue this at the meeting? It’s just a small opinion from His Highness and me, so please tell us if there are any shortcomings.”

Rustle.

The King of Clifford read May’s report as he turned down the hallway. The more he understood the words, the more he groaned as if it was okay. Let’s go with this strategy, the King of Clifford was about to say, when.

At the end of the hallway, a woman with eight feet of turquoise hair appeared. It was Eriphony, the Queen of Luswena.

“Ahem.”

The king straightened his shoulders and faced Eriphony with dignity. If they had any conscience, shouldn’t they come and apologize to them right away?

But they seemed to think it was not a good strategy, as they also held their heads high and passed by the king. Even treating someone like an invisible person wouldn’t be this natural.

“Hey!”

“May. It’s okay.”

May, who was furious, tried to confront them, but the king stopped her with his hand. A coldness settled on his gentle face.

“We don’t need to get angry for no reason. They’re the ones who will soon have their necks bent. Let’s just wait and see.”

“…I’m so angry, Your Majesty.”

“Hehe. Me too. I’m fuming.”

The king patted May’s shoulder and told her to continue on their way.

Finally arriving at the accommodations. The envoys were so engrossed in preparing for the negotiations that they didn’t even notice the darkness outside the window, and they barely came to their senses when the Imperial Palace servant called them.

Knock knock.

“Excuse me. It’s time to go to the conference hall.”

“Has it already come to that?”

“Yes. It’s right next door, so you can walk there.”

“Let’s all go. Prepare thoroughly. And Noah!”

“Yes, Father!”

“You come with me too.”

The king held Noah’s hand tightly, as if gaining strength. And then, he followed the servant into the conference hall where the negotiations would take place.

The first thing he saw in front of him was the Burgos envoys. A woman was sitting next to Damon, who was a mess with wounds.

Is that the representative of the envoys? As the king was wondering, Damon opened his mouth and showed his tongue.

“……!”

A raggedly cut surface. Not knowing what it meant, the king flinched and froze.

Seeing this, Damon grinned and closed his mouth as if nothing had happened.