Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 466

The space behind the painting, where his father, the Emperor, had hidden, was stranger than Ian had imagined. It was filled with darkness, yet tiny holes pierced through, allowing light to filter in.

A flat world where the concepts of up and down, near and far, were blurred. The holes were only about the size of a finger, but when you looked closely, you could see detailed views of the palace as if you were standing in various locations.

“I wonder, was this part of the plan?”

“Could it be that the god you follow is only half-baked?”

“Even though I, Jin, am within the body of the bastard Ian…”

Thus, Jin witnessed everything. From Ian kneeling to standing again. From calling himself the bastard Ian to asking Rutherford about the abyss.

The child’s blue eyes, peering through the hole, wavered aimlessly. Does Ian have another self? Is that the Ian Jin knows? If not, who is the Ian he knows, and where did he go? In the first place, can he even say he knows Ian?

“Your Highness.”

Jayrut, having grasped the situation, spoke cautiously. Jin’s gaze was completely fixed on Ian. Judging by the lack of questions that should have been asked, it seemed better for him to point things out.

“Previously, there was the matter of Lady Melania disappearing before her execution. Although there is no proof, there are circumstances suggesting that Sir Ian released her.”

“…Commander Jayrut.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Who exactly is Sir Ian?”

Jin muttered without taking his eyes off the small hole. The lady, whose past glory had faded, was not an important figure to Jin now.

Or was she? He had heard before that she had a connection with Sir Ian from their childhood in Bratz. If so, she could be an important clue in uncovering Ian’s identity.

“Listen carefully. With me, from the abyss.”

The surroundings were shrouded in shadow due to the black moon. As the World Tree extended from behind Ian, Jin shouted without realizing it.

“No!”

He couldn’t let him go like this. Hadn’t he told him to use him as a stepping stone to reach higher places? He wanted to hold Ian’s hand, take a step up, and then say goodbye.

Whenever he returned safely. By then, he would be looking down at Bariel from that high place, so he wouldn’t have to worry. He wanted him to dream of a perfect Bariel with him, without any tricks of fate.

“Your Highness! Hold on!”

“Sir Ian! Sir Ian is trying to leave!”

“You cannot go out! You must not go out! Your Highness is the sole heir of Bariel and the one who protects the Imperial Family. How can you show yourself before Rutherford?”

“You can come with me!”

“No! It is impossible! I cannot allow anything that endangers Your Highness’s safety. If you must go, then kill me first.”

Jin struggled with all his might, but Jayrut’s restraint prevented him from moving forward. The bright light was almost within reach. If he could just grasp it, he could meet Sir Ian right away. Jin frowned deeply, and his vision blurred. It was because of the tears he couldn’t hold back.

“Let go of me! Please!”

“It’s not just about Your Highness. Think of Sir Ian!”

He was burning with the desire to deal with Rutherford. But if Jin suddenly appeared? It would create a variable, and his sacrifice could become meaningless.

At the cry to think of Ian, Jin’s body slumped. The child kept his gaze fixed on the small light, tears streaming down his face. Ian was sinking into the black moon with Rutherford.

“Follow Rutherford!”

“What about the Second Imperial Palace?”

“What can we do on our own? Shut up and follow! Or be torn apart by Bariel!”

Was it right to say they made a good decision? If they stayed in the Imperial Palace, their end would be annihilation. So, following their leader, Rutherford, whether it was into a rift or the abyss, was statistically a better choice.

Rutherford’s group willingly stepped forward and jumped under the moon, while the Imperial Palace mages were at a loss, stamping their feet.

“Commander Acorella, should we-!”

“We can’t! Are we in the same position as those bastards?”

“But, Sir Ian-!”

“Shut up and catch the ones trying to escape! That’s how you help Sir Ian! You son of a bitch! You cut my stomach earlier, didn’t you?”

“Rutherford’s gang is trying to escape! Catch them!”

“Bring reinforcements from outside! Don’t let them get away!”

Each time the moon devoured the World Tree, it shrank. Realizing that the portal was about to close, the conspirators each grabbed an Imperial treasure and threw themselves into the darkness.

As the barrier completely lifted, soldiers rushed in with perfect coordination, turning the scene into chaos.

‘Ah.’

And so, faintly, the black moon completely disappeared. Jin remained frozen, watching Ian sink to the end. A silent loss, unable to even breathe properly. It felt like their eyes met, but he couldn’t be sure. The moment Jin wiped away the tears and blinked.

“He’s gone.”

“…The moon has disappeared.”

Like a dream one day, it disappeared without leaving a trace. Only the corpses and blood scattered on the floor, along with the Imperial treasures, testified that all of this was not an illusion.

Ian was gone.

Ian had disappeared.

Ian…….

“Your Highness.”

Jayrut patted Jin’s shoulder, who was sobbing quietly. Although he had always been suspicious, Ian was clearly someone who sacrificed himself for Bariel. As a member of the Imperial Palace, a citizen of Bariel, and as a person, this was an undeniable fact. He sighed and muttered.

“I am sorry.”

“…I will resent you. Someday, I will resent you for blocking my path. I couldn’t say goodbye to Sir Ian……”

“Yes. I will accept it. I will consider that part of my duty and will not abandon it.”

He would resent him someday, but he would also acknowledge that Jayrut’s judgment was correct. Jin was saddened by this and cried even louder. Because it was just him and Jayrut here. No matter how loudly he cried, the people of the empire would not see it.

“Your Highness. It would be best to go outside and manage the Imperial Palace. Many are worried.”

Jin raised his head. Light was seeping in from all directions. He could see officials gathering to assess the situation, armed soldiers standing by tensely, servants running urgently, and the people of the empire gathering at the main gate of the Imperial Palace.

Jin felt like he was suffocating from the countless moments waiting for him. Wouldn’t everything pouring in under the guise of light eventually burn him?

“Your Highness.”

At that moment, one place was particularly noisy. The Magic Department. The mages were fighting against the intruders targeting Damon. Jin, who had been quietly watching, muttered.

“Damon……”

The leader of the enemy nation, and a regressor connected to Rutherford. Hadn’t Ian told him? That he was living a second life.

Jin’s blue eyes shone coldly, even savagely. It was impossible to imagine that he had been shedding hot tears just moments ago.

“Commander Jayrut. It is an order.”

“Yes, Your Highness. Give your command.”

“Immediately deploy all the Imperial Guard members to the Magic Department and secure King Damon.”

“All of them, you say?”

“I will go as well.”

Jin muttered, biting his lip. He wanted to tear him to pieces, but for now, he had to use Damon to properly investigate Rutherford.

Jin slowly stepped out of the painting and roughly threw open the door to the reception room.

Clang!

“Your Highness?”

Siaoshi and Romandro, who had been waiting at the door, turned around in surprise, but the child didn’t even glance at them and ran towards the Magic Department.

What was going on? Siaoshi slowly followed behind him, and Romandro kept glancing at Jayrut, asking for an explanation of the situation.

“His Highness is going to the Magic Department.”

“The Magic Department? Damon is there, why there? Your Highness! Oh my, you’re walking so fast. It’s dangerous, how can you move like that?”

“Romandro.”

“Yes?”

Jayrut lightly grabbed Romandro’s arm and told him.

“Sir Ian is gone.”

“…What do you mean?”

Romandro asked back with wide eyes. Where could Ian possibly go? Leaving the Imperial Palace in danger?

“He went to the abyss with Rutherford.”

“I, I don’t quite… understand.”

“I will inform the Magic Department, Romandro, you inform Ian’s family and friends.”

“Hey!”

Jayrut left those words and passed by Romandro.

The abyss? Ian? He wasn’t the type to leave so irresponsibly. Was he joking? No. Jayrut wasn’t one to joke. It didn’t make sense at all. But more than anything, did Ian even have any friends?

Tadat tadat!

A horse was running from afar. It was Beric. As soon as Romandro saw Beric, he had a small realization. That’s right. If he had to find someone, Beric was Ian’s friend.

“B, Beric!”

Romandro waved his hand listlessly, and Beric roughly pulled on the reins.

“The black moon appeared, what happened? Where is Ian? Is he okay? No, damn it. Ephdiram, he said that Ian went somewhere else……”

Beric couldn’t continue his words when he saw Romandro’s blank expression. Something was wrong. An eerie silence followed, and Romandro began to stammer and ramble.

“C, Commander Jayrut said that Ian went somewhere.”

“…Where to?”

“But, I don’t know if that’s a place where the word ‘went’ can be used. I don’t know what happened to Rutherford. His Highness Jin went to the Magic Department?”

His words were jumbled and unnatural. Beric got off his horse and grabbed Romandro’s shoulder.

“Tell me clearly.”

Clench. Perhaps it was because of the rough touch. Romandro frowned deeply and began to sob.

“Ian, he’s gone. To the abyss.”

* * *

The Imperial Guard surrounded Jin as they ran.

Jayrut kept glancing at Jin’s tightly clenched fist. It felt like he wanted to grab a sword and swing it himself, that kind of resentment was palpable.

The red-rimmed eyes and wet cheeks hinted at the child’s tears, but no one could easily acknowledge it. The Crown Prince’s blue eyes were burning fiercely.

Tadat tadat!

“Capture them alive. It is fine if all of Damon’s limbs are cut off. Kill all the intruders as well. As long as Damon is alive, anything is fine.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“And immediately inform King Clifford and Prince Noah to send word to Clifford’s capital, Prodohna. Whether a black moon has appeared near the rift.”

“Understood.”

“If it has, investigate what happened to those who came out of it. If manpower is lacking, draw from the Imperial Palace.”

Jin gritted his teeth and entered the Second Imperial Palace. The sounds of the mages fighting could be heard from afar. Jin gestured to hurry, and the Imperial Guard members, including Jayrut, activated their magic and flew up.

Ziiing!

Taat!

‘I don’t know what happened to Rutherford, who followed Ian, but even if he died, his forces wouldn’t collapse in an instant. They will try to take advantage of the vacant throne of Vergos, so Damon must be kept alive at all costs.’

If so, the forces backed by Rutherford and the royalists who value legitimacy would clash, causing endless civil war in Vergos.

If they occupied Vergos, it would be easier to delve into Rutherford’s shadow. To do that, Damon, the justification for the royalists, had to be alive.

‘Damon. Stay alive and watch clearly. How your country is torn apart and collapses. How the nation of Vergos falls into a hellish pit because of your existence. There can be no greater tragedy for a member of the royal family.’

Kwaaaang!

Poong!

A huge explosion erupted from the Magic Department.

It was the sound of the unprecedented Imperial Palace invasion coming to an end, and furthermore, it was the signal flare of Bariel, who would dominate the chaos in the turbulent times.