Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 513

The Abyss.

A tiny spark flickered in Damon’s eyes at the sound of that word. A sign of life had appeared in his faded purple eyes. It was the moment when the last thread of hope he had barely clung to in his endless despair was severed.

Damon tried to jump up and attack Ian, but he was immediately restrained by his straitjacket and the soldiers.

“Now you look more like a human.”

Thud.

Ian, with his legs crossed, tossed the paper and pen back in front of him. Damon didn’t pick them up. Ian added quietly,

“You must think you’ve lost everything. Nonsense. It’s not over yet, Damon.”

For the past ten years, Damon had only yearned for ‘death.’ Enduring this dark and damp solitary cell, his desire to end his own life countless times was solely for the sake of the ‘next life.’

Reincarnation. It would have been more valuable to him than any treasure he had ever held as king.

“There have been countless deaths in the Abyss. And that’s not the death you desire. I won’t beat around the bush. Reveal every secret about your reincarnation and your bloodline. Otherwise, today will be your last day in Gaia.”

Damon had lived as he wished until now. Since his goal was death, Jin could not harm him in any way. He could use his severed tongue as an excuse to remain silent.

But not anymore. With Ian, who had crawled up from the Abyss, his death was no longer a bargaining chip or a hope.

“Write it down.”

At Ian’s nod, a soldier placed the pen in Damon’s hand. His fingers slowly gripped it, gaining strength. Swish, swish. Damon threw the paper and pen down, just as Ian had done, and glared directly at him.

-Reincarnation was thanks to Rutherford, and offering the bloodline was the price.

“What a waste of paper. This is your last chance. Remember that this is also imperial property.”

He would, of course, later calculate and bill Burgos in detail for the cost of detaining King Damon.

Damon swept his hair back with the pen, and the soldiers behind him flinched. It was a clear indication of the kind of trouble he usually caused.

-In my first life, when my brother killed me, and I, in turn, killed my brother, becoming soaked in blood, I heard a revelation. I would be given a next life, and it was all thanks to the royal blood on my hands.

Revelation. Ian frowned, feeling a sense of déjà vu. Before he could pinpoint what it was, Damon’s confession continued.

-That’s why I needed many bloodlines. For the next life, I needed the sacrifice of those who shared my blood.

“When did you meet Rutherford?”

-I didn’t meet him, I welcomed him. Like a predetermined fate. He was the owner of the voice that gave the revelation.

No. The one who gave the revelation must have been the Underworld God. Rutherford was a mere mortal without magic, and his reincarnation and Damon’s regression had similar characteristics.

The royal bloodline. And their deaths were necessary? Suddenly, Ian realized what the déjà vu was about.

‘The Arsen incident comes to mind. The royal family, monsters, and bloodlines.’

If the Underworld God controlled the rifts, it could be assumed that all monsters were born from his breath. To bring down Bariel, the foundation of faith and divine blessing, destroying the imperial family would be the most effective method.

‘But then, why Burgos?’

Is it because Burgos is also a piece of Gaia? Or perhaps, according to the Underworld God’s standards, ‘noble’ blood had a special effect.

“Hmm.”

As Ian tapped his toe, lost in thought, Damon picked up the pen again.

-All the bloodlines went to Toolun. Because Rutherford was there. I didn’t receive reports on what happened to those who were sent, but they must be dead.

“What about your half-sister? Why was Vania still alive?”

-Rutherford must have thought she was useful. Whatever her role, I didn’t need to care or know about what left my hands.

He seemed to believe that he would have a next life, having already offered countless bloodlines.

But was that really the case? If everything, like with Rutherford, happened under the guise of coincidence and fate, all in the hands of the Underworld God, would he really have a next life?

“…Is there something like a divine blessing in the Burgos royal family?”

Damon frowned at the sudden question.

But it was a rather important question for Ian. The Underworld God was targeting Bariel because Bariel’s faith formed the axis of God’s existence. So, if the Underworld God needed the blood of the Burgos royal family, there must be a reason.

Damon chuckled and scribbled.

-There’s no such thing. Your Bariel side is always talking about divine blessings because they are the chosen ones, but Burgos has always been alone.

Ian’s eyes narrowed.

So, there was something in the Burgos royal family’s ‘blood’ itself that the Underworld God wanted. Ian stood up as if he had heard enough and instructed the soldiers.

“Keep a close watch on him, just like now.”

“Yes, sir.”

Clang!

As Ian was about to leave, Damon moved his body violently again. It was a protest, demanding to know what would happen to him. It was also a desperate struggle, screaming that he couldn’t go to the Abyss.

Ian simply turned his head and looked back at him calmly.

“His Imperial Highness Crown Prince Jin does not wish for you to live a third life. He wishes for Bariel in the world you will live in to be firm under endless glory. He does not want even the slightest flaw to be made by your tricks. But-”

Screech.

Ian grabbed one side of the iron door and muttered coldly.

“On the other hand, I don’t want you to have a peaceful death. Because on the other side of death, there are my comrades you killed.”

Selena, who died in the war without even closing her eyes. The hands that greedily reached out to claim the bodies of the mages falling from the sky. The trick of daring to play with the lives of comrades as a means of propaganda.

It had already been ten years, but for Ian, it was still as vivid as if it had happened just recently. Of course, it wasn’t a memory that would fade with time.

“I’ll think about your disposal. It won’t take long, so wait as if you’re dead, just like you’ve been doing. Soon, there will be a war between Bariel and Burgos, which means that all the history that has led to you will be cut off.”

Isn’t it truly amazing? That countless links of parents and children are spread above you, and that you exist because of them. But that wonder would not be allowed for Damon, who did not leave behind any children. The legitimacy would end here.

“You should see that before you die, right?”

Thud!

Ian’s taunt, mixed with laughter, was effective on Damon. His eyes were turning red. The soldier who was restraining him re-secured his right arm, marveling at Damon’s change, which he had never seen before. He hadn’t shown any reaction to His Highness Jin.

“Good work.”

“Yes, please go ahead.”

Ian left the tower, escorted by the soldiers, and Romandro followed closely behind.

“Ugh, why does it smell so musty inside? It’s a bit much. Right, Ian?”

“Romandro, there’s something I need you to look into.”

“Huh? What? Just say it! The divine blessing bestowed upon Burgos? I wonder how we can find out about that. Hmm.”

Romandro took out a small piece of paper, ready to write, but Ian shook his head.

“That would be good too, but that’s not what I’m asking you to do.”

“Then?”

“It’s about Miss Kayla of the Hollin Duchy. Please find out if she has any blood ties with Burgos. She has seven children, but I haven’t heard much about the Duchess.”

Come to think of it, Romandro didn’t remember hearing anything either. It seemed that because Miss Kayla was taking on the role of the mistress of the house, he hadn’t noticed the absence. It didn’t seem like she had passed away.

“Hmm. Okay. I’ll inquire about it. But why?”

“It suddenly occurred to me that King Damon and Miss Kayla have the same eye color. The same goes for their hair color. It’s not common in Bariel. I’m suspicious whether the Hollin Duchy’s trade of military supplies with Burgos is just a coincidence.”

“Well, yes. It’s not a common eye color. But, hmm. I don’t remember any major issues during the bidding process for the business rights.”

“Yes. As a confirmation, please.”

“Okay. I’ll bring you everything related, whether it’s a royal family trait or anything else! But by when?”

I already have a mountain of work, you know that, right?

Romandro blinked his eyes pitifully, waiting for Ian’s instructions. But as always, the answer he received fell short of his expectations.

“By this week. It would be good before the details of the payment become clear.”

“You, you really have a long way of saying ‘bring it as soon as possible.'”

First, I need to go back to the Magic Department and wipe away my tears. Romandro nodded, acknowledging the task, and added it to his to-do list.

“But Ian, let’s talk more about that puppet of the Hollin family you mentioned earlier.”

“Um, it’s just as I said. Transferring the territory to someone else. To someone like a puppet.”

Since the imperial palace keeps eyeing it, it’s a way to completely let go of it. The ownership of the territory itself could be transferred, or a special contract could be made with a lease agreement. It could include clauses that prevent termination or impose enormous penalties for breach of contract. The important thing is to create a suitable justification to reject the imperial palace’s trade proposal.

“It can be used as a last resort, and it would be troublesome to handle, so it’s best to keep a close watch on it. There won’t be anyone from the central nobility who would dare to interfere, so we need to be careful of foreign forces. A fictional character is also a possibility, but that would be too easy to break down and meaningless.”

A similar example is Mrs. Mereloff. Because the Mereloff heir, who was supposed to inherit the family, disappeared to Toolun right before the succession, she is stuck in a situation where she can’t do anything, and the wife is currently ruling the territory. Only nominally, of course.

The same goes for the Hollin Duchy. The ownership is with someone else, but the influence can be maintained.

“If it’s a member of the Hollin family who is not in the central government, or whose whereabouts are unknown or close to missing, that would be perfect.”

“Is that, by any chance, about the Duchess?”

“No. I was just giving an example.”

“Huh. Okay. I’ll… especially… look into… the Duchess… more… Hmm, hmm. I’ve written it down!”

While discussing work, they arrived at the Magic Department. Ian paused at the sight of the more chaotic lobby than usual, and Romandro, who was only looking at his tattered paper, stumbled into his back.

“Ah, Ian!”

“Where have you been? We’ve been looking for you!”

“What’s going on?”

“There is, and there isn’t. Please approve these documents first, the data you asked for last time is in your office, and the report is currently being transcribed. I’ll bring it within an hour, no, thirty minutes.”

“I’m next! I’ve been waiting since earlier!”

“Are you kidding me? I’ve been waiting since way earlier!”

Ian stepped back, overwhelmed by the commotion, and raised one hand. It was a signal for everyone to calm down. He knew they were always working frantically, but why was it like this all of a sudden?

Romandro, also realizing that something was wrong, asked,

“What’s wrong with you all? Are you crazy?”

“Romandro, you don’t have time to be doing that either.”

“Me? Me, why? What?”

“His Highness Jin has issued a special order. You have to finish all the work by the day after tomorrow. And you’re going somewhere with Ian, right?”