Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 477

Neigh!

Vivianna, who was brewing tea, turned her head towards the window. She had heard the sound of a carriage arriving. The long-awaited, precious guests from the far end of Bariel! Vivianna put her arm around her daughter Vivi’s shoulder, gesturing for her to come out with her.

As she flung open the door, she met the eyes of a radiant blonde woman. Her precious friend, whom she had seen off too hastily ten years ago. Vivianna was so overjoyed that she shrieked.

“Madam!”

“Lady Vivianna!”

“Oh my, it’s been so long! You must have had a hard time coming all this way. How is it that you haven’t changed at all? It’s like I’m the only one getting older.”

“You haven’t changed either, Lady Vivianna. And neither has the mansion. Nothing is different from my memories. It’s wonderful.”

“Nersarn! Come in. Oh my, is this Roel? Hello? It’s nice to meet you. I’m Vivianna.”

“Thank you for the warm welcome, Madam!”

As Vivianna greeted her, Roel replied politely with formality. They said she was a female Ian, but it wasn’t just about her appearance. The aura she exuded was a complete carbon copy.

Vivianna couldn’t help but smile as she brought her daughter Vivi in front of Roel. The first meeting between Roel and Vivi. Vivi, looking very shy, blushed with her shoulders hunched.

Philia, seeing this, waved her hands from side to side, not knowing what to do.

“That baby has grown up so much! It’s so amazing and wonderful. Nice to meet you, Vivi. I’m Philia.”

“Ah, hello!”

“This is my daughter, Roel. Roel is a year younger than Vivi. I always hoped the two of you would meet someday, and today it has come true.”

Vivi smiled brightly and reached out her hand to Roel. Although it was their first meeting, they had a considerable inner closeness due to the long bedtime stories their parents had told them and the letters they had often exchanged.

Roel noticed that Vivi’s eyes were sparkling a bit too much and glanced at Philia and Nersarn. It seemed like she had no choice but to hold her hand in this atmosphere.

“…Nice to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you, nice to meet you! Roel!”

As Vivi tried to give Roel a cheek kiss, Roel firmly raised her hand to block it.

“I’m not used to the imperial greeting.”

“Oh, is that so? Sorry, sorry! Would you like to come inside? I’ll show you around the rooms. My room is on the second floor. While you’re here, let’s sleep together. Do you like books? How about drawings? Oh, I have some pressed flower petals, would you like to see them together?”

Vivi jumped up and down, pulling Roel along. Roel sent a silent signal to her mother and father for help, but both of them were too busy laughing and chatting with Vivianna.

‘Haa, I guess I have no choice.’

As she was being dragged by Vivi, something caught Roel’s eye. It was red hair.

“Ah.”

It was the first time she had seen it, but she knew it instantly. The roughly disheveled hair, the obnoxious-looking eyes, the sneering mouth, and the scars all over his skin.

“…Uncle Beric?”

“Uncle Beric?! Where, where?”

Beric was entering the mansion with Romandro. Or rather, it was Romandro pushing Beric, who was resisting because he didn’t want to go.

“Ah, why are you doing this? I told you I’m busy?”

“What difference does it make if you’re an hour or two late?”

“Of course, it makes a difference! Romandro-nim has short legs so he can’t go far, but I have long legs, so I can pass three more villages in an hour or two!”

“What is this guy saying? You’re just showing off! You’re fast because of your mana, why are you talking about your leg length? Oh, it looks like they’ve arrived. Hey!”

Romandro waved his hand while tightly grabbing Beric’s collar. Roel thought that was somehow familiar, and when she looked closely, it was exactly like Vivi’s behavior.

‘I guess that’s Romandro-nim next to him.’

“Ah! Paa!”

As Vivi ran over, Philia and Nersarn also turned towards Romandro. It had really, really been a long time. Romandro and Beric, who hadn’t changed at all. Philia felt tears welling up in her eyes. In that short moment, she remembered the hardships they had gone through together ten years ago.

While Romandro and Philia were hugging and sharing the joy of reunion, Beric was just scratching his head and frowning.

“Romandro-nim! How have you been? Have you been well?”

“Oh my, Madam. What is there to say?”

“That’s right. What is there to say? You’ve gained more weight.”

“I haven’t!”

“Beric, you’ve grown so tall. But you’re still the same. I’m so, so glad to see you. How have you been? Come here. Let me hold your hand.”

Philia stroked the back of Beric’s hand, making an indescribable expression. It was admiration, joy, and at the same time, sadness.

If, if Ian hadn’t disappeared, he would have certainly grown up with Beric. Beric’s growth reminded her of Ian’s growth.

“Ah, really.”

Beric muttered, pushing his hair back as if he knew this would happen. Just as Philia looked at him and thought of Ian, Beric couldn’t help but think of Ian when he saw Philia. How radiant her blonde hair was, how deep her green eyes were.

“Roel. This way.”

At Philia’s call, Roel slowly walked over. Romandro gasped, covering his mouth at the child’s presence, which was far more than he had imagined.

On the other hand, Beric looked down at Roel with a nonchalant expression. The two of them were silently sizing each other up. Then, Beric was the first to leave an impression.

“Damn, …she’s totally Ian.”

And then Roel.

‘…Dog.’

Philia, who was watching this, was inwardly surprised. How many people could call Ian’s name so casually? But her surprise was short-lived, and she soon burst into laughter and hugged Beric.

“Where are you going? I heard you talking about going outside the central area. The Crown Prince’s coming-of-age ceremony is soon. You’re not going far, are you?”

“I’m going to Toolun.”

“Toolun? Why so far?”

“There’s information that Rutherford has appeared, so I’m going to check if it’s true. If he’s there, there’s a high chance that Ian is there too.”

There’s a high chance that Ian is there too.

At these words, Philia’s eyes widened as if they would fall out. She was clearly speechless with surprise. She couldn’t ask any questions, just kept staring at Beric’s face, as if asking if she had heard correctly.

“And a separate residence will be built within this year. The time is slowly coming. The time when Ian will return.”

“B-Beric?”

“But they keep telling me to eat before I go. Honestly.”

“When else will you get a proper meal if you leave? We’re just trying to feed you well before you go!”

“Do you know that you’re the only one who worries about my meals, Romandro-nim? Everyone else is telling me to stop eating.”

Beric waved his hand as if to say he was done. He had seen Philia and her family’s faces, so there was no reason for him to stay here any longer. He would hurry to Toolun, and if Rutherford was there, he would beat him to death and bring Ian back. And…

“Hmm?”

Suddenly, Beric realized that Roel was staring intently at him and raised an eyebrow.

“Why?”

“You’re going to Toolun?”

“Yeah, you know?”

“I know… never mind.”

How boring. Beric stretched and turned his body, walking away without any regrets.

Philia stared blankly at his retreating figure, then suddenly heard Roel’s mutter.

“It’s not Toolun.”

“Huh? Roel, what did you say?”

“But it doesn’t matter. He’ll get lost anyway.”

What do you mean? Philia asked, tilting her head, but Roel kept her mouth shut. As if she didn’t want to say anything more. The child was led into the mansion by Vivi’s hand, and the adults remained silent, staring at the place where Beric had disappeared for a long time.

Ian is coming back. That which had remained only as a wish, felt like it was rapidly approaching reality. Thanks to Beric, who casually said he would go get Ian.

“Shall we go inside then? You must be tired from your journey, so please rest well today. Mini has cleaned the rooms very carefully.”

Vivianna whispered, hugging Philia, who was half-collapsed. Instead of staying here, let’s go inside together, share the sadness, and comfort each other.

* * *

Bright light. Idgal [a place or concept]. The waves of the Undergod. Rutherford’s pupils.

All the scenes he had seen in the abyss swirled together, confusing Ian’s mind. Ignoring the throbbing headache, the pungent stench was agonizing. Ian frowned and opened his eyes, pausing at the damp sensation that enveloped his entire back.

A roughly patched ceiling… Is this a stable?

‘What is this?’

As he moved his body slightly, all the muscles in his body screamed as if they were tearing apart. It seemed that only his eyes were fully functioning.

Ian slowly looked around to figure out where he was, and soon he was able to confirm it. It was a warehouse that had been used as a stable.

“Ah.”

Judging by the sunlight that was seeping in, it seemed to be daytime, but why was he here?

Ian clearly remembered the last moments in the abyss. Every single moment when he tried to kill Rutherford, who was protected by the Undergod.

In the end, a bright light had engulfed his surroundings, and it seemed that only a warm feeling remained. What was it? Just as the Undergod protected Rutherford, had he also received the protection of a god?

‘I wonder if Rutherford knows that the entity he follows is the Undergod.’

Whether he knew that the entity was the Undergod, or whether he was completely deceived like the priests of the Carbo Temple.

In fact, neither of them mattered much to Ian. Either way, it was clear that he had to cut down and deal with the existence that he had to deal with for Bariel and for the will of God.

‘However, it will be a guide on how to organize Toolun when I return. It seems that the Rutherford Merchant Group had stayed in Toolun for a certain period, and their influence was also considerable.’

Haa, Ian first took a breath and closed his eyes. There was a mountain of things to do, and he wanted to move quickly, but he couldn’t even move a finger. The only things he could hear were the sounds of birds singing. And-

Rustle.

‘Footsteps.’

Ian’s eyes snapped open. At the same time, the warehouse door opened. Although his appearance was not clear due to the backlight, it was a thin man who looked to be around forty years old. He had come to check on Ian’s condition, and immediately exclaimed.

“Oh, you’ve come to your senses!”

He had a human appearance. Judging by his shabby clothes, he seemed to be of a low social class, and it didn’t seem like he had received any special education.

Nevertheless, judging by the fact that he spoke the Bariel common language naturally, it suggested that this place was somewhere in Bariel. Judging by his unique accent, it seemed to be in the outskirts.

“I was wondering what to do if you didn’t wake up today. Open your mouth.”

Just as Ian was about to say thank you for saving him and ask where exactly this place was, he closed his mouth. The words were very strange for someone who had just woken up after fainting. Usually, wouldn’t they ask if you were okay or what your identity was?

Ian looked at the man with wary eyes, but he didn’t care and held out a bowl of thin porridge. It seemed like he was just offering warm water, not trying to kill him, but the words that followed were still harsh.

“I said open your mouth? Ah, maybe you can’t understand me? You look like a Bariel person though?”

Bariel, that’s right. He had returned. As Ian stubbornly kept his mouth shut, the man scratched his head and muttered.

“This is a big problem. It’s going to be hard if you can’t understand me. Come on, ah-! Ah! Open your mouth! Like this!”

The man kindly gestured, using his hands, feet, and even tearing his own mouth to demonstrate.

“If you don’t wake up by today, the master said he’d sell you at the slave market. Sell you! Do you know what that is? A slave! Squeak! You have to get your strength back and greet him! Otherwise, you’ll be sold!”