Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 446

Amidst the shouts and the Prime Minister’s calls for restraint, the delegations from each country whispered in their native tongues, not the common Bariel language, while the officials were busy shuffling through documents.

Whose harsh words, filled with discontent and anger, were those? The Burgos delegation, at the center of the controversy, remained unfazed by the commotion.

Swoosh.

Then, Ian gracefully raised his hand, his sleeve elegantly held. It was a very quiet movement, yet there was something about it that drew people’s attention. In an instant, silence enveloped the surroundings, and Ian patiently waited until everyone was looking at him.

The Prime Minister adjusted his glasses and then, striking his staff, granted Ian the floor.

“Minister Ian Hielo of the Magic Department, you may speak.”

“I have just received some new information.”

“Information? What is it?”

Just as Timothy had recognized Bania, she seemed to have recognized Timothy as well.

The same went for the delegation standing behind her. Some of them had worked closely with Timothy, some had stabbed him in the back, and some had stood by and watched as his family was buried in the ground.

Eriphony subtly flicked her fingers, as if telling her subordinates to be quiet.

“Representative Bania, are you perhaps a descendant of the Burgos royal family?”

“Sir Ian, what are you talking about?”

“Are you saying that Representative Bania is related to King Damon by blood?”

The officials, unaware of Timothy’s ledger, were horrified to hear such words.

It was Ian, of all people. By mentioning ‘descendant’ instead of ‘royalty,’ it implied that she was a descendant of the former king and queen. The officials, who considered themselves seasoned, seemed quite flustered by the sudden gap in information.

Bania hid her fingertips in her sleeve and then raised her chin.

“…I don’t think that’s a matter to be discussed here.”

She spoke with a semblance of dignity, but she was helpless before Ian. He shook his head, disagreeing.

“If you share blood with King Damon, you are qualified to challenge the throne. It means you could become the King of Burgos. Such a person is trying to determine the fate of Burgos with a false identity and position as a delegation representative before even ascending to the throne. Bariel cannot condone this. A person without trust, what can we believe in to negotiate? It would be cleaner to proceed without the Burgos delegation.”

His clear, powerful voice echoed through the conference hall.

Bania slightly turned her head, glancing at Damon and the delegation sitting quietly. She wished they would give her some indication, but they were all looking at Ian.

“Your Highness.”

But Ian was looking at Crown Prince Jin. Ian placed his hand on his chest and pleaded.

“Representative Bania of Burgos. I believe it is right to verify her qualifications before proceeding with negotiations. Please allow the use of the Truth Serum.”

Ian and Jin’s gazes met in an instant. And Timothy cut through the space between them. As the three who knew the secret of the ledger, the meaning they exchanged was clear without any special signals.

Jin frowned, touching the end of the scar on his chin. He had been feeling resentful towards Ian lately, but seeing him work like this made it hard to stay resentful.

Jin nodded and ordered Bania.

“Bania. As the Crown Prince of the Great Empire of Bariel, I command you. If you wish to negotiate, speak the truth with the Truth Serum. Otherwise, the Burgos delegation must leave this place immediately, and the soldiers of Bariel will personally guide your way.”

It was a warning that if she did not comply, they would abandon negotiations and impose military sanctions.

As the young prince uttered words that could shake history, Clifford and Ruthwena focused, holding their breaths.

On the other hand, Burgos seemed surprisingly calm. Bania raised both hands, showing her compliance.

“As Bariel wishes.”

“Sir Ian, prepare the Truth Serum.”

“Yes, Your Highness. Acorella!”

“Yes? Ah, yes, yes! Just a moment! I’ll bring it right away. Five minutes, no, three minutes will do!”

Acorella dashed out, and the conference hall buzzed with uncontrollable chaos.

The unexpected appearance of a Burgos heir. But why was Damon so nonchalant? It was astonishing, questionable, and suspicious. And there was also the opportunity to see the Magic Department’s Truth Serum, which they had only heard rumors about.

The atmosphere did not easily calm down until Acorella came in, her hair flying. The Prime Minister couldn’t even think of stopping it.

Squeak!

Thud!

“Here it is!”

Acorella placed the Truth Serum right in the middle of the huge table. The liquid shimmered brilliantly. That small thing, small enough to fit in the palm of a hand, would reveal the depths of the deepest secrets.

Ian gestured to Bania, as if recommending her to drink it.

“It’s not a pleasant taste, so drink it all at once.”

“Just one thing, please make it clear.”

“What is it?”

“That what comes out of my mouth is not manipulated, but pure truth.”

At Bania’s words, Ian paused. He had found a very small thorn in her statement. Logically, Bania’s words were quite unnatural.

She would be forced to reveal the truth against her will, as if she were about to vomit, so why would she willingly comply, knowing what questions Bariel might ask?

If an important and unfavorable secret were to be revealed, it would be necessary to portray it as a trick and manipulation by the Magic Department.

‘But, she’s going to block her own escape route?’

It was unnatural. It was an action she couldn’t take from her position. Why?

The moment Ian hesitated, Acorella stepped forward first.

“Of course! The Truth Serum is one of my life’s masterpieces! I swear to His Highness Crown Prince Jin and my superior, Ian Hielo, that there is no manipulation, I guarantee it in the name of a mage.”

Acorella placed her hand on her chest and bowed to Jin and Ian.

Jin vaguely noticed that Ian was uncomfortable, but as Bania reached for the Truth Serum, he had no choice but to shift his gaze to her.

“Please focus only on my existence. That is why I am drinking this, Your Highness.”

“…Very well.”

Bania opened the stopper without hesitation and drank the Truth Serum. The sound of the liquid going down seemed particularly loud. Bania, who had emptied the glass in one go, wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, and the officials turned to Ian, urging him to ask questions.

“Sir Ian? What are you doing? Why aren’t you asking questions?”

“Isn’t there a duration for that effect?”

“It’s still okay. Calm down. Sir Ian must have a plan.”

Ian rested his elbows on the table and clasped his chin with his hands. He felt like he would fall forward if he took one step. It was a feeling he only had when facing a formidable political enemy, and it was a feeling he hadn’t felt in a long time.

“…Representative Bania. Did you come here as a blood relative of King Damon?”

As soon as the question was asked, Bania answered.

“No.”

“……?!”

What the hell was that? Everyone’s eyes widened and they paused, but the answer that followed made them gape.

“…I am a blood relative of King Damon, but I did not come here as such. Sir Ian, like you, I am here according to the will of Lord Rutherford.”

Bania looked bewildered, as if surprised by her tongue, which was not moving according to her will. Immediately after the answer, she was horrified and covered her mouth.

A deep silence fell over the conference hall. If the sound of eyes rolling had been audible, it would have been noisy, but even that was absent. The only thing that could be heard was Bania’s muffled breathing.

“What is that…”

“Did she just say Rutherford? Representative Bania. Ru, Ru, Rutherford is the one who manufactures and distributes Idgal [a highly addictive drug], isn’t he? Last time, Sir Ian mentioned it…”

“Wasn’t it said that making Idgal was not Sir Ian’s will? Bring the minutes of the last meeting!”

“What does it mean that she is here according to Rutherford’s will? Representative Bania! Make your intentions clear!”

“Yes! If you are carelessly spreading false information, you should stop. The fate of the people of Burgos rests on your shoulders!”

“Rutherford, Rutherford…”

“Your Highness, what should we do? Do you have any idea?”

“Those, those, treacherous Burgos people! It must be a lie. Even if we accept the Idgal part, ‘Sir Ian is here according to Rutherford’s will’? Sir Ian is here by the will of His Majesty the Emperor and the decision of His Highness Crown Prince Jin! It’s disrespectful! We should sew that person’s mouth shut right now!”

“Please, be quiet! Please!”

“Sir Ian, say something.”

“Did the Truth Serum really work? It doesn’t seem like it.”

“Didn’t Commander Acorella confirm it herself? That the potion’s efficacy is accurate.”

As the officials erupted like an explosion, a flustered Acorella stepped back.

This situation was different from when Damon was interrogated. The kings and delegations of other countries were watching in real-time, and this would not only be recorded in Bariel but also in their history.

“Commander Acorella!”

“Yes, yes?”

“Can you reaffirm that there is no problem with the Truth Serum?”

If Acorella admitted there was a problem, Bania’s answer would lose credibility, but the credibility of the entire Magic Department would also fall. And above all, she would not be able to avoid the blame for making a mistake in such an important place.

It was an official occasion with the Crown Prince. She couldn’t even guess what kind of punishment she would receive, so Acorella only chewed on the inside of her lips.

“Why do you ask the same question twice? Answer clearly.”

It couldn’t be helped, she had to admit it was correct even if it wasn’t. Just as Acorella was about to nod.

Swoosh.

Ian raised his hand to stop her. And he glared at the official who had asked the question again, and murmured.

“The Magic Department, the Commander, and I guarantee it. There is no problem with the Truth Serum.”

“Sir Ian. Do you know the weight of what you are saying?”

It was a tone that implied he was trying to help, so why was he refusing?

But there was no need to tarnish the credibility of the Magic Department when he could just be cut off. Ian looked straight at Bania and asked. The fingertips that came out of his sleeve were trembling slightly.

‘Is this what she wanted?’

To expose the identity of the ‘illegitimate child’ Ian in front of everyone. Judging by the signs, it seemed that the entire process of Bania drinking the Truth Serum and speaking was part of Rutherford’s plan.

Bania, trembling, continued her last statement. It was not because of the Truth Serum, but words she had spoken according to her own will.

“I heard that you, Sir Ian, serve Lord Rutherford as I do.”

Ian suddenly felt like his neck was tightening. The contract magic that Rutherford and the illegitimate child Ian had made. It felt like a leash tightening around his neck.

To Ian, who was frowning and touching his neck, Bania added.

“Because we are the ones who move according to our master’s will.”