Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 451

An overwhelming sense of pressure.

For the first time in her life, Eriphony felt an oppressive weight.

Wasn’t she the queen of a nation, reigning over everyone? From the moment she was born, she had a noble lineage. She was the rightful heir to a dynasty that had lasted for hundreds of years.

No one, not even her parents, could treat her carelessly. They knew Eriphony would become the queen of Ruthwena.

Yet, this small child, merely by being the Crown Prince, ordered Eriphony herself to kneel. A humiliation she had never experienced even in war, right here in the heart of the Bariel Imperial Palace, with representatives from all three nations watching.

“…Your joke is excessive.”

“Does Ruthwena exchange such jokes?”

Eriphony’s smile twisted.

The child was resolute. There was no hint of jest in his words that he would cut off her legs if she didn’t kneel here.

How could he utter such cruel words? The officials swallowed hard, observing the unfolding situation, while the mages also froze with perplexed expressions.

It was a battle between their lords. The Crown Prince and the Queen, their tensions taut. It was a fight where one side would inevitably have to yield, but Jin’s approach was too harsh to predict the outcome.

To order ‘the’ Eriphony to kneel. From the perspective of a dignified queen, she could not do it, even if she wanted to.

“Shall I repeat myself? The one who brought the teacup is that young one from the Magic Department. Although she is from Ruthwena, she is a traitor who caused a rebellion and destroyed the royal palace. Sir Ian says she is now his subordinate. Therefore, it is only natural that the matter of bringing tea falls under the jurisdiction of the Magic Department. Is that all?”

Eriphony approached Jin, who stood stiffly, and growled. She wanted to tap that round forehead and correct the bad habits of the child.

“The one who brewed the tea was the representative of the Vergos delegation. Ruthwena was not involved in any of this process. Yet, you demand that I kneel? Even if we are a defeated nation, is it truly befitting of Bariel’s wise ruler to exercise power in matters that are unrelated?”

If she had been told to kneel and kiss the ground when they lost the war, she would have gladly done so. The leader of a defeated nation carries the souls of the fallen soldiers on their back, so kneeling would not have been difficult.

But now? If she were to kneel, the lives of the surviving Ruthwenan people would crumble along with her. The national dignity would fall completely to the ground. It would be better to die than to even slightly lower her head in this situation.

“So, Vergos was also involved. Representative Bania.”

“…Yes.”

“You shall kneel as well.”

Bania, who had been watching from the side, flinched and looked around. She felt as if everyone’s gaze was piercing through her. Eventually, Bania, at the urgent glances of the Vergos delegation, slowly adjusted her clothes and knelt.

Though royal blood flowed through her veins, she had spent half her life under Rutherford. There was a hierarchy beneath the tongue [a saying referring to the power of words and social status], and sometimes her position felt heavier than that of a slave who roamed freely. So, what was kneeling to her?

As Bania obediently bowed her head before Jin, Eriphony sighed deeply, as if she were going mad.

“Haa, damn it.”

“How is it, Eriphony? Vergos, who was present at Ian’s death, has knelt and submitted to Bariel’s authority. Yet, your gaze… is still above mine.”

If Bania had refused and resisted, Eriphony would have had some face, but with her acting like this, there was no room for Eriphony to retreat. The Ruthwenan delegation seemed to have decided it was better not to look, completely turning their heads away.

On the other hand, the others focused their gazes even more intently. As if they were curious when and how Eriphony would bow before the Crown Prince.

“I apologize, Your Highness. Unless Your Highness comes of age, my gaze will remain here.”

Eriphony finally made a decision. Rather than sully her honor and have her dignity trampled, she would rather die. Rather than crawl on the ground to preserve her life, she would face it head-on, even if her head were to be broken.

Objectively, the Crown Prince’s order was unreasonable, so Eriphony had secured a certain degree of justification. The head of the Magic Department had suddenly collapsed and died, and without any investigation, how could they make the queen of a nation kneel?

Jin slowly nodded, as if to say he understood.

“Yes. But I do not have much time. Before Sir Ian’s body grows colder, I will place you below me and question you. From below, one cannot see above, but from above, one can see below. That is also true for the truth.”

Swish.

“Eek!”

“Y-Your Highness!”

“You cannot do this! We are a delegation here for negotiations! Please uphold the dignity of the Empire!”

“E-Everyone, step back!”

At Jin’s gesture, Siao Shi drew his sword. The terrified attendants retreated silently, and the Ruthwenan delegation stood in front of them, unarmed.

“The leniency is over, Eriphony. Everyone here will witness the blood you spill. You must be fully aware.”

“Ha!”

So, he was going to go all the way, was he? Eriphony’s patience, like Jin’s, had run out. She shouted, as if for everyone to hear.

“A shadow fate I never knew existed, the lowest of the five princes is acting so arrogant! You did not achieve and rise, but gained the position of Crown Prince through your brother’s death. Do you think that is your own ability? Foolish and ignorant! You are acting so arrogant because you have risen to a position that is too much for your abilities!”

“……!”

“Your skill in handling a defeated nation is quite something, so as long as you are in that position, the integration of Bariel and other nations will never be achieved. Will you kill and kill again, dragging the defeated nations along soaked in blood? Someday, Gaia [a reference to the world or the planet] will be filled with those born cursing Bariel!”

“Shut that mouth!”

Clang!

Siao Shi swung his sword as if to cut off Eriphony’s words, and Eldert blocked it. Eldert’s forearm, which had taken Siao Shi’s attack. The fabric tore, revealing gray armor underneath.

Was he wearing protection? As Siao Shi narrowed his eyes, gauging the situation, a fist flew in from between Eldert’s fluttering long hair.

Thud!

In that gap, Eriphony snatched her golden bow from the wall in an instant. There were no arrows, but it was sturdy enough to be used as a weapon.

“Drop your weapon!”

“Everyone, calm down, calm down!”

“Aaaah!”

“Subdue Ruthwena! Bind all those from Ruthwena!”

“Your Highness, please retreat this way!”

“Queen Eriphony! Drop your weapon! Otherwise-! Aaaah!”

Eriphony struck down a guard who was charging at her with her bow. Blood spurted like a fountain, and the white wall was stained with red.

The mages surrounded Ian, protecting him, and waited for Jin’s orders. In the absence of the head of the department, the only one they would follow was the owner of the Imperial Family.

“Your Highness. What shall we do?”

This was the center of the Imperial Palace. There was little chance that the Ruthwenans, who had no proper weapons, could accomplish anything. It felt like watching a small animal struggling in a cage. Jin, protected by the mages, continued to glare at Eriphony.

“Capture them alive. As long as they are breathing, it doesn’t matter.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Your Highness Eriphony! Be careful!”

“Damn it, damn it!”

The Ruthwenan delegation resisted fiercely, but their limits were clear. One by one, they were forced to their knees on the floor, just as their lord had been unable to do, and were bound with their faces bruised. Eriphony quickly turned her gaze away as she saw her subordinates falling.

“Eldert! Who is it?”

Among the Ruthwenan mages who had defected, there was someone who was in contact with Eldert. It wasn’t that they had clearly taken a side, but they were just in contact, but for now, that was the only reliable option.

If necessary, she could reveal to the world that the defector and Eldert were in contact, putting pressure on them. They would not be able to live in the Bariel Palace, so they would have no choice but to help Ruthwena.

“Tell me quickly!”

However, Eldert quickly scanned the mages and frowned. As if there was no one familiar.

“I apologize, Your Highness. It seems they are not here.”

“That’s absurd!”

Besides the Bariel mages, there were a considerable number of Ruthwenan mages gathered with Zaira. And yet, they couldn’t find anyone among them?

Eriphony, filled with rage, continued to swing her bow, blocking the guards from approaching.

Swish!

“Don’t even think about coming closer. If possible, shoot an arrow or something.”

If she had just one arrow, just one… she could pierce the heart of that arrogant brat in front of her in an instant.

As the standoff, which was close to a war of attrition, continued, Jin spoke.

“Eriphony. You are truly foolish. If you had knelt earlier, it would have been less pathetic. Your pride has ultimately endangered your subordinates. Not only that, but the people of Ruthwena as well.”

“If the proud Ruthwenans find out that I was humiliated like this, do you think they will stay still? They will fight to the end. They will rise. And so, everyone will shoot arrows into the heart of Bariel!”

Whack!

Eriphony stabbed a guard in the neck with her bow again and yelled. But she also knew. There was no way forward.

Now, all that was left was to die in the most intact form possible, but judging by the situation, even that seemed difficult.

“Eldert!”

“I-I apologize, Your Highness!”

“Damn it!”

The moment Eriphony muttered a curse.

Whoosh!

Thwack!

An arrow grazed past her neck.

It hit the wooden decoration right next to her.

Who shot it in the chaos? She looked around, but even the Bariel guards seemed to be unaware of the source. They were just looking at each other, bewildered.

Clench!

It didn’t matter who shot it. Eriphony reflexively pulled out the embedded arrow and, with a familiar sensation, loaded it onto the bowstring. Soon, the bowstring was drawn. Everything was as natural as breathing, and it happened as quickly as a blink of an eye.

Eriphony’s arrow was aimed directly at Jin’s head. Like the scar that split his face in half, this arrow would also split his life.

Whoosh!

The bowstring snapped. A split second in a split second. Eriphony awakened the senses she had honed in countless hunting grounds. The distance, the defenseless target. And the perfect sensation felt at her fingertips. The same sensation she had only felt when she had accurately pierced the neck of an animal.

In that moment, it felt as if a path was opening up behind her, where she had been cornered. If she could just deal with Jin and Ian and return safely, then all of Bariel’s future glory would fall into the hands of Ruthwena.

Clipoford, ruined by the rift. Vergos, with a king whose tongue had been cut off. The only one who would move forward, surpassing the two nations, was me, Eriphony, who would reign over Ruthwena!

“Your Highness!”

Swish!

Thud!

Cries of shock erupted from all around. Eriphony, panting with joy, looked at Jin.

But…….

“Huh?”

The arrow she had shot was nowhere to be seen, and only Jin’s bewildered face was vivid. Eriphony’s eyes wandered, lost, and-

Thud!

Pain surged from her chest, as if it were burning. Eriphony’s head slowly tilted downwards. And then, she saw it. The familiar arrow that was piercing her heart.

“What is… this……”

It was the golden arrow she had shot in the battlefield. Eriphony trembled as she tried to pull out the arrow, but she couldn’t bring herself to exert any force due to the magic power wrapped around the shaft.

“…Your Highness!”

Only then did Eriphony realize that the call was from her subordinates.