Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 515

Thud!

“Oh, watch where you’re going!”

“My apologies.”

“Move it! Move it, mister!”

“Geez. You move aside, kid!”

“Beric, don’t do anything reckless!”

Ian kept his eyes fixed on Jin’s back, while tugging at Beric’s sleeve. Just as they were following Jin, Jin was following the woman without any hesitation.

It was difficult to even take a step with the constant flood of people, but Ian was able to move forward smoothly under Beric’s protection. He was so small that it would have been difficult without Beric.

“Why is he like that? Seriously!”

“We can’t let him out of our sight.”

“Yeah. Don’t worry about that.”

Besides Beric, the Imperial Guards were hidden like shadows in the surroundings. However, with so many people, they were also limited in their movements. It would be difficult to respond if something happened.

Beric shouted at Jin as if to ask him to stop.

“Master! Aish, seriously! Hey!”

At that moment, the woman turned into an alley. Jin also turned to the side, and Ian and Beric quickened their pace as if it was a good thing.

Inside the alley. It was much quieter than the main street, but the side streets were like a maze, so it would be a problem if they lost track of her even for a moment. Ian noticed that the presence of the Imperial Guards nearby was fading, and he ended up shouting loudly.

“Brother!”

Jin, who was turning the corner, stopped abruptly.

“……”

Then, his gaze was blankly fixed on the air. It was a face that looked like he was half-returned from being possessed, and the subtle look in his eyes was mixed with too many emotions.

Regardless, Beric tilted his head back and poured out his annoyed complaints.

“No, what are you doing all of a sudden? You should know better, really. I almost got my head cracked by old man Jerrut… Huh? What is it?”

As Beric approached, firing off words, Jin slightly turned his head. Behind him was the side of a building with no windows, a dead end. At the same time as Ian’s call, Jin had stopped because he realized he had lost the woman.

“Where did the woman go?”

“…I lost her.”

“Is she even human?”

“I don’t know. I wonder if I took the wrong turn.”

As Jin leaned against the wall and frowned, Ian focused his senses to check for any remaining traces of magic.

But there was no special flow to be felt. He might have simply taken the wrong turn, or maybe she was a gypsy, not magic. Like that guy who eats secrets.

“What is the matter, Your Highness? If you need to track someone, please give the order right away.”

Ian checked that no one was around and restored the honorific. He didn’t know why, but even if Jin wanted to catch that woman, there was no reason for him to move directly like this. It was the right and efficient way to just order and wait.

But Jin just crossed his arms and remained silent for a moment, then shook his head.

“It’s fine.”

“Your Highness. May I ask what’s going on?”

“…A long time ago.”

“Pardon?”

Tap tap!

Faint footsteps were heard from far down the alley. It was probably Siao Xi, or another Imperial Guard. Jin stared at one spot as if rummaging through his memories and muttered.

“So, Ian, after you disappeared into the abyss, I couldn’t meet Lord Riversaid.”

“Riversaid?”

The ancestor of the Carbo Temple, which was connected to Jin’s maternal family. If he just read the scriptures, he would always appear in Jin’s dreams and give him various advice, a transcendent being.

“I had so many questions to ask, but he cruelly didn’t appear even for a single night.”

When will Ian return? No, before that, can he return? Is he dead, or is he alive? Can I survive in the Imperial Palace without him? So many things happened, what would Ian have done in this situation? Is the Emperor’s seat really mine…?

…It was around the time when the questions and whining he couldn’t bring himself to say piled up like a mountain in the middle of his chest. One day, Jin had a strange dream.

“In the middle of the field where I met Lord Riversaid, a woman began to appear.”

A woman sitting with her head bowed, with a beautiful figure.

Jin just watched her. The brown hair fluttering in the wind, shining golden in the sunlight. In the recurring dreams, the woman remained there without showing her face.

Jin also didn’t try to see her face. The other world, cut off from the outside, was so peaceful and precious that he enjoyed it with all his heart every time it came without notice.

“Earlier, I thought it was strange that my eyes were drawn to her. The moment I turned around, that scene from my dream came to mind.”

“Is that the woman?”

“It became clear as I chased her. She is definitely the one.”

“Hmm.”

“Huh?”

Unlike Ian, who was pondering, Beric just sniffed, as if he didn’t understand at all. So, what’s the conclusion? Should we catch her, or not?

“If she is someone who has entered the field where you met Lord Riversaid, Your Highness must also be feeling it. Whether she is a harmful person or not. In my opinion, she seems to be someone who will be helpful to Your Highness, like Lord Riversaid.”

Jin just shrugged and smiled. He had left behind the puppeteer who had insulted him and the Imperial family, and instead chased after the person who had defended him, only to lose her. The situation had become very strange.

Beric scratched his ear and asked.

“Should we send people? I roughly know her appearance, so I think we can do something. She must be around here.”

“It’s fine.”

However, Jin waved his hand, telling him to stop. He had chased after her familiar back, but what would he say if he actually faced her? Why did you appear in my dream? From the listener’s point of view, it would be beyond embarrassing, it would be absurd.

Tap tap!

“Your Highness.”

“Siao.”

“Huff, huff, huff-!”

“Lord Romandro. Are you alright?”

“Ah, I, I’m not okay, there’s a bit of a problem.”

At that moment, Siao Xi and Romandro appeared around the corner. Unlike Siao Xi, who was breathing normally, Romandro was leaning against the wall, retching as if he was about to faint. The sweat dripping from his chin was a bonus.

“Lord Romandro, what’s the problem?”

“That, the puppeteer was no ordinary person. He disappeared in an instant, and I couldn’t find any trace of him. And more than anything… I need to investigate in detail, but all the puppets used in the puppet show seem to be made of human skin.”

“…Human skin?”

Ian paused at the unexpected word. Not just anything, but a puppet in the shape of a human. Moreover, it was a puppet named the Crown Prince. To make such a thing out of human skin? The intention was so impure and evil that it was a problem that could not be overlooked.

“If they were targeting the Crown Prince, shouldn’t we return for your safety?”

“That means the schedule of our outing was leaked. Is that possible?”

The only ones involved were the Magic Department and the Imperial Guard. Even then, the Magic Department, except for Ian and Romandro, didn’t even know the detailed schedule. They only knew that the Crown Prince and Ian were leaving the palace for a while for work-related reasons.

Siao Xi, who had been pondering, turned his gaze to Ian. Ian, who understood the meaning, bowed his head to Jin and spoke first.

“I will investigate the Magic Department first.”

In fact, it was unreasonable to suspect that there were traitors in both departments, but it was better to say so for the sake of formality.

But Jin just waved his hand, meaning not to worry about it. It was meaningless. Judging from the fact that he had met the woman in his dream, all of this was a product of inevitability, the beginning of fate.

“It’s fine. It’s been a long time since we’ve gathered again. Especially the Magic Department. Don’t make an issue out of something uncertain. There are already many who are aiming for our necks.”

“Yes. I will look into it appropriately on my end. And that puppet too-”

“It would be good to investigate that thoroughly.”

“I will also deploy guards near the plaza to prevent the performances of insolent people.”

“…The benefits of the outing are great.”

Jin roughly dusted off his coat, then took the lead, meaning it was time to move.

“Shall I prepare the carriage to return to the palace?”

Jin hesitated for a moment at Siao Xi’s question. He looked around at Romandro, Ian, and Beric, and couldn’t easily open his mouth. It was the first outing with Ian in ten years, and it felt like a shame to go back like this. Ian noticed Jin’s intention and suggested.

“Or, how about going to Lord Romandro’s residence? Since it’s on the way, it would be good to take a break and check the situation.”

“Hmm. Romandro, is that okay?”

“Yes? Yes, yes. Of course. If Your Highness comes, my big Bibi, no, my wife and daughter will be very honored. Mrs. Philia is also there, so let’s have some refreshments together after a long time.”

“Then, I understand. Let’s go to Romandro’s residence.”

“I will send the puppet to the Imperial Palace first.”

“Okay.”

It was a bit of a shame that he couldn’t have honey beer, but it was better this way. He would be able to eat more comfortably inside the residence than outside.

With Jin in the lead, the group left the alley. Immediately after, a woman crossed the alley on the opposite side, carrying boxes in both hands. It was the woman Jin had been chasing earlier.

Thump.

“Ugh, I’m tired.”

“Eileen. You carried this all by yourself again?”

“It’s manageable if I carry one crate at a time. Please open the door.”

“Okay, okay.”

The tavern owner opened the back door and took the luggage from Eileen.

“By the way, you said a strange man was chasing you earlier?”

“Yes. I shook him off well. I don’t know who he was, but he was following me so obviously that it was ridiculous.”

“Since he lost you in the alley, he must not be from this neighborhood. Be careful, Eileen. There are more foreigners before the coronation ceremony.”

Eileen stacked the boxes neatly and smiled brightly.

“You should be careful, boss. How are you going to get your IOUs when I leave soon?”

“Are you really leaving? I wish you would keep working here, Eileen. I’ll give you more salary.”

“Eh, it’s okay. I’m not going for the money in the first place.”

“Well, that’s true. Who would go to the battlefield for money, except for those higher-ups.”

Eileen placed her hand on her chest, gave the Imperial salute, and laughed playfully.

“Honor and glory.”

“Yeah, yeah. For the country.”

“I’ll only be here until next week, so let’s settle our accounts before then, boss. Bring the ledger.”

“Anyone would think you’re the boss. Wait!”

“Okay.”

Eileen sat on a chair and looked around the old tavern. It was located in a remote part of the alley, so business wasn’t great, but it was a grateful place that had allowed her, who had been abandoned on the streets alone without a family, to survive.

It’s really not much time left now. Eileen tied her long hair tightly and vigorously swung the broom.

* * *

Meanwhile, the puppeteer arrived near his hideout, panting. He checked his surroundings until the very end to see if anyone was following him, and after wandering for a while, he carefully entered.

A musty smell and dim lighting. All the windows were covered with wooden boards, so sunlight only entered through small gaps the size of fingernails. The puppeteer sat down on a chair and immediately clasped his hands in prayer.

“Ugh… Please forgive me. I have lost the precious puppet that the gods have given me. Please have mercy and forgive me, forgive me.”

In the space without a single breeze. Starting with the trembling of his fingertips, the puppeteer’s whole body began to shake like an aspen. The wooden floor creaked loudly, and the candle flickered.

Seeing that, the puppeteer turned even paler, and he prostrated himself on the floor, dripping with saliva and sweat. Prayers poured out of his lips without ceasing.

“…Please forgive me, please forgive me, god of the underworld. P-please forgive me……”