Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 45

“I wish you were dead.”

Mary kept muttering, almost as if she had lost her mind. Chel, shocked by his mother’s state, stood frozen behind the bed, not moving an inch. Ian glanced at her and spoke to a warrior.

“Bring Chief Kakantir and Nersarn.”

“Yes, Ian.”

“I wish you were dead. I wish your flesh was torn to shreds, and that it would be forgotten that you were ever born into this world.”

“Mother, it would be best if you kept quiet. The investigation team is still in the mansion. If they were to find out, we would have to hand you over without a fight.”

Mary paused at his words. Was it because the blood rushed to her head? It was as if Ian was saying he would save her.

“Ian, are you going to save us? What about Father?”

“Chel, you look terrible. Father has already been captured by the central army, so there’s nothing we can do. Do you have any luggage to take?”

Upon hearing that Derga had been captured by the central army, Mary collapsed, her legs giving way. Chel was the same. It was hard to see in the dark, but he was clearly shocked and on the verge of tears.

“I, I will save Father.”

“Pardon?”

The content didn’t match her trembling voice at all. As soon as Ian asked, the Cheonryeo [a group of warriors] warriors just chuckled faintly. Who was going to save whom, really.

“Chel, get a grip. Can’t you understand the situation? Deoh died, the butler died, and most of the mansion staff are dead. And that’s not all. The people of the territory resent Count Derga because of the damage from the battle. If you and your mother want to live in Bratz, this secret space is the only place you have.”

It seemed like he couldn’t believe the harsh reality that was being thrown at him. Chel kept flinching, looking around at his mother and the dark room. To live here for the rest of their lives? Absolutely, absolutely not.

Ian turned his head at the sound of people outside.

“Ian, Kakantir and Nersarn have arrived.”

“Alright. I’ll be out soon. Mother, and Chel.”

Ian pondered for a moment, then snapped his fingers as if he had decided on a destination.

“It seems your only place to go is your family home. Prepare to leave with the warriors. We will depart as soon as it gets late into the night.”

“Ian, where is this woman’s family home?”

“Hmm? I don’t know either.”

Mary was shocked once by being called ‘this woman,’ and again by Ian’s nonchalant attitude. Instead of the speechless Mary, Chel answered.

“…Pon, Pontrol.”

“Pontrol? Ah. It’s north of Bratz. We’ll have to go around Merelov, so it’ll take about fifteen days. It’s not just the distance, but there’s also a rough mountain range.”

“Why go around Merelov? We can stop there and get some clothes and food…”

“Merelov has completely closed its gates. They’re the ones who killed the butler. They’ve issued a self-imposed lockdown until the situation is resolved because they don’t want to get involved.”

At Ian’s words, Mary turned her head in disbelief.

It was understandable that they didn’t help during the standoff with the central army. If things went wrong, they could also be implicated as rebels. But the fact that they killed the butler was something she couldn’t accept.

“Merelov, killed the butler…?”

“What’s wrong, Mother?”

“That woman, she shouldn’t have done that. She shouldn’t have done that to me…”

The way she gnawed at her nails and muttered was so bizarre it was creepy. The warriors looked at Ian with uneasy expressions, but he had no idea why either.

“…I’m going to go to Merelov.”

Mary nodded as if she had made a decision.

“Ian, before we leave Bratz, I need to go to the main house.”

“Have you lost your mind, Mother?”

It was an implication to stop talking nonsense. But Mary didn’t back down and strongly expressed her intention.

“If we go, Merelov won’t be able to easily chase us away. We can borrow some funds and get some help…”

He couldn’t read her mind, but it was clear that it was a mess. Ian watched with his arms crossed, as if to say, ‘Go on, say some more nonsense.’

Mary suddenly stopped talking and asked back.

“My husband, Derga, isn’t dead yet, is he?”

“That’s right. The execution has been postponed thanks to you and Chel.”

At those words, Mary’s face brightened. Only Derga and Mary knew about the fact that they had sent a letter to the first prince, Marib. If they could just survive until the imperial palace responded, there might still be a chance.

“Yes. Yes, yes…”

“If you understand, hurry and prepare.”

“Ian, let’s go to Merelov! To Merelov…!”

“Mother, if you don’t shut up, I’ll gag you.”

Ian turned his back as if he had nothing more to hear. The investigation team was stationed in the main house. How was Mary going to get in and out of there? Chel’s lack of understanding of the situation was just like his mother’s.

“Stay here. I’ll go see Kakan for a moment.”

“Yes, yes. Take your time.”

“Hey, you brat. You really don’t have any luggage?”

“Uh, uh, no… and I’m Chel Bratz…!”

As he listened to the pathetic conversation behind him, Ian went up the stairs. Kakantir and Nersarn, who had rushed over after hearing the news, held Ian’s hand as they entered the entrance disguised as grass.

“Were they inside?”

“They’re doing very well.”

They were moving the innocent Kushile [a type of horse] to this side to avoid the investigation team’s gaze. It was under the pretext that the stable was too small, but fortunately, the investigation team didn’t seem to care much since they could occupy the horses.

“We can send them away as early as tonight.”

“Alright. Let’s do that. Who is the best at riding horses?”

At Kakantir’s words, the warriors rushed to ask to be sent.

“It’s me, Kakan.”

“Just leave it to me.”

They had to trick the central army and escape out of the territory. And they had to do it with a woman and a child.

Not only that, but they also had to lure the central army far away, so they needed to be good at riding horses and have a good understanding of the situation.

“Shul and Naru. You two take charge.”

“Don’t worry, Kakan!”

“Wow. Are we finally going to use our swords?”

“Don’t be reckless, go as far as you can and get rid of Mary and Chel. Bury them in the sky and the earth so that no one can find them.”

They couldn’t hand them over to the central army. That would mean Erica would get the credit, and it could positively affect the imperial palace’s evaluation of her.

But what if they secretly got rid of Mary and Chel?

“Let those central army bastards wander the outskirts for a few years.”

They wouldn’t be able to return until they found the bodies. Since Mary and Chel were rebels, they couldn’t give up on them just because they ‘missed’ them. Even if the operation was suspended, their credibility would hit rock bottom, so it was a win-win situation.

“The sun will set soon.”

Kakantir nodded, looking at the red sky. The warriors who would be in charge of Mary and Chel were packing water and food and changing into Bariel clothes.

“This is so uncomfortable, why do we have to wear this?”

“I know, it’s going to rip.”

It was obvious that it was too tight because of their bulky bodies, but there was no choice. They had to completely hide that they were Cheonryeo warriors. If it was revealed that the Cheonryeo were involved, they could be implicated for treason and everything would be ruined.

“Bring Mary and Chel.”

“Yes, I understand.”

The warriors went down to the basement and dragged the two out. The two looked shocked at the mansion’s scenery, which had completely changed in just a few days. The annex was burnt to the ground, and there were Kushile and Cheonryeo everywhere. They seemed confused as to whether this was really Bratz.

“It’s been a while, Mary and Chel.”

At Kakantir’s greeting, the two turned their heads sharply. Mary’s eyes narrowed sharply as she hugged her son.

“It’s a shame that things have turned out this way.”

“The Cheonryeo…!”

Mary swallowed a sigh, barely holding back the curse she was about to throw. Derga was still alive. She had to survive somehow until she received a reply from the first prince, Marib.

She knew that these people weren’t helping them with pure intentions, but she had no choice but to stick her head into the tiger’s mouth.

“I believe you understand that we all have our own circumstances. You should know that this is our last act of kindness.”

Mary bit her lip. Was this what it felt like to step forward knowing there was a trap? She nodded, holding her son’s hand tightly.

“Alright. Cover your faces with the hoods.”

“Come this way.”

“Hurry!”

Ian moved closer to Mary and Chel, who were moving towards the horses, and whispered.

“The warriors will guide you to Pontrol, but they won’t risk their lives for you.”

It meant that they should cooperate as much as possible and keep their heads down. It was the same as saying that they could abandon the two at any time if they thought their own safety was at risk. When Mary glared at him, grinding her teeth, Ian just smiled.

“If you don’t like it, you can quit now.”

If they didn’t go outside, they only had two options. To live like earthworms in the secret warehouse and die miserably, or to be caught by the investigation team and be executed with Derga.

Chel grabbed his mother’s arm as if to hurry her along.

“Ian, you…”

“I will never forget the warm love you have shown me, Madam. Thank you. But I don’t think I particularly want to see you again.”

“……”

Mary regretted it. She should have just killed him when she found out about his existence. Or she should have cut off his limbs, burned his eyes and ears, and sent him to the Cheonryeo. There were so many regrets in the opportunities that had passed.

“Alright. Now, leave.”

“I, Ian. What about Father…”

“Chel!”

Mary glared at her son as if to tell him not to talk to Ian anymore. Mary and Chel put on their black hoods and got on their horses.

“The investigation team has started dinner and their meeting.”

“Now is the time. Open the main gate.”

“Yes, I understand!”

Hee-heeing!

The horses carrying the two galloped fiercely through the center of the mansion. Some soldiers reflexively turned their heads at the sound of the horses, but that was it. Horses were going back and forth dozens, hundreds of times a day.

Clatter, clatter!

The two horses quickly entered the village and sped down a quiet road. Some of the people of the territory glanced at the figures in the dark, but they didn’t pay much attention.

“What’s going on that they’re going so fast?”

“I know. It’s getting dark.”

The people’s interest was buried in the darkness and quickly disappeared without a trace. The Cheonryeo who remained in the mansion watched the horses run smoothly and quickly focused on cleaning up.

“Set up the grass naturally.”

“Should we put a rock on it?”

“No. That would make it more suspicious. Restore it to how it was before.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Meanwhile, Ian looked at the lit annex. He was trying to guess why Mary had to return to her room even in this situation.

‘What is it… that made her think Merelov would help her?’

But currently, Commander Erica was using that place. Soon, when the investigation team left following Mary, he would have to search that place.