Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 53

Crunch, crunch.

The sound of dry branches breaking echoed with each step Ian took. It was the time of year when insects announced the arrival of summer with their loud cries. Wiping away sweat, he called out to Beric.

“Beric, are you sure this is the right way?”

“…I think so?”

“‘I think so?’ Is that all you can say….”

“Yeah, yeah. There’s a black stone here. Uh-huh. It’s right.”

It was a remote forest, not even a proper path. They couldn’t ride horses and had to walk on foot, and it had already been hours. It felt like they had crossed the territory border.

Beric, who should still have a hole in his side that hadn’t fully healed, seemed to have completely recovered. It seemed that the rest he had been getting for the past few days, under the guise of treatment, had been effective.

“We were told to hide well, right? I doubt anyone could find us here.”

Surrounded by the colors of nature, a strange color suddenly caught his eye. Far away, a light purple skirt was hanging from a branch. Beric snapped his fingers and shouted that he had found it.

“It’s here. Great!”

Beric led the way, hacking through the undergrowth with his sword. After walking a short distance along a steep ridge, they reached a flat area. There was an old cabin and a small plowed field in front of it.

“You managed to find a place like this.”

“A long time ago, an old woodcutter lived here alone, but he went crazy after coming to sell wood and forgot the way back, or so the tavern owner told me. If that’s true, there should be a house nearby. I don’t have a house or anything.”

The cabin looked like it would collapse with the slightest breeze. However, the warmth emanating from various places indicated that someone was living there.

“Is anyone there?”

Beric looked around, searching for Philia. The kettle was boiling, so she couldn’t have gone far. Ian also slowly examined the cabin, checking if there were any more red flowers or Silask [a type of flower].

‘None here.’

The luggage they brought from the village didn’t seem like much. Well, what could she have had anyway?

“Wh-who is it?”

Then, a trembling voice was heard from outside the door. Ian opened the door and was immediately met by a woman with golden hair and green eyes, who looked just like him.

“Ah!”

Philia, as if she hadn’t expected it, dropped the flowers she was holding and hugged Ian tightly. Her small, frail body had a surprising amount of strength, a very strong hug.

“Ian! Ian!”

“…Have you been well?”

“Ian! Ahhh! Thank you! Thank you!”

Philia sobbed, cupping Ian’s face in her hands. She cried uncontrollably, tears streaming down her face. It was a natural reaction, seeing her son, whom she had no hope of seeing again, right before her eyes.

“Ian…. How did this happen? Huh?”

Philia was still beautiful. She looked more like Ian’s sister than his mother. He smiled gently and brushed the woman’s disheveled hair back.

“It’s a long story, Mother. Let’s sit down and talk.”

“Are you eating well? Do you have enough to eat?”

“Just look at the owner, isn’t he doing well?”

Beric retorted, dumbfounded, and pulled out a chair. Philia also looked healthy. Ian murmured, looking at the neat and tidy house.

“I’m glad it seems like you’re adjusting well to life in the mountains.”

“It was hard at first, but being in that basement… it’s nice to wake up with the sun in the morning, and the cool valley is nice too. If you just look around a bit, there are all sorts of fruits.”

Ian patted Philia’s hand, comforting her. She burst into tears again. It was overwhelming to see her son, whom she had only met after disguising herself, with her own eyes.

“Ian, tell me your story. How did this happen?”

Ian briefly explained what had happened. The deal with Molin, crossing the Great Desert and living with the Cheonryeo [a nomadic tribe], Derga’s condemnation, the battle, and his execution. Philia was shocked to hear that Bratz had been destroyed.

“Count Bratz is dead?”

“Mary and Chel are likely dead as well.”

“Oh my, Ian. I must offer a prayer to the gods.”

She seemed genuinely happy. And she seemed to understand why Ian was safely here.

“So, Mother, I have something to tell you.”

“Anything, my dear.”

Ian smiled sadly. She didn’t know that her angelic son was Emperor Ian. A strange feeling arose at her innocence.

“Derga’s flag has fallen, but there are still many things left to do. People are coming down from the center again.”

“Yes. I see.”

“I plan to go up to the center with them later.”

Tsk. Beric clicked his tongue while pouring tea. It was because despair had returned to Philia’s face. Her eyes welled up, but she knew her son hadn’t finished speaking and waited.

“I’m telling you that I can’t be sure if I’ll be able to be with you.”

“But….”

But? What was she trying to say?

Philia looked at Ian with teary eyes.

“But if you want, I can still see you, right?”

“…Of course.”

“And it won’t be dangerous?”

“It will be so.”

“Then that’s enough. That’s enough for me. I don’t really want to go down. I’m very satisfied with life in the forest. If you don’t die and we live at the same time, that’s enough for me.”

Since it was the path her son had chosen, how could a mother have any other feelings? She was just grateful that he had returned alive.

“If things settle down soon, you’ll be able to live freely, Mother. It won’t take long. Before I leave, I’ll prepare a place for you in the village.”

“It’s okay, Ian. I’m really okay.”

Derga was dead, and Ian had returned alive.

If she asked for more than that, it felt like the gods would punish her.

“And I have something to ask you.”

“Yes. What is it?”

“The red flowerpot you gave me in the park.”

The red flower, called Silask, that never withered. It was extraordinary enough, but there was even a jewel necklace buried underneath.

“Do you remember where you got it?”

“Of course. Wasn’t it the payment I received for doing errands for the merchant guild?”

“The merchant guild?”

When Ian asked again, Philia seemed rather flustered. It hadn’t been that long ago, so how could she not remember?

“It was a pretty big merchant guild. I don’t remember the name, but they said they were short-handed, so I went with you. But the guild leader gave us a generous payment and even gave us the flowerpot.”

“Is there anything else you remember in more detail?”

“Hmm…. Ah! They said there was a very important person in the guild. Ma, Ma….”

Philia frowned as if her throat had locked up. She tilted her head and recalled the events of that day, lost in her memories.

“Ma what was it. Anyway, I remember you were incredibly happy that day.”

“I see.”

Although there was nothing certain, it was clear that the owner of the Silask and the jewel was related to that mysterious merchant guild. Judging by its size, there would probably be someone in the village who remembered it.

Ian got up as if he had enough.

“Are you leaving already?”

“I have some things to take care of.”

Philia couldn’t hide her disappointment. It hadn’t been long since they had tea. Ian felt a little sorry and added.

“I’ll send you some chickens through Beric. You’ll be lonely alone in the forest, so try raising them.”

“Oh my. That would be great!”

“If you need anything, please tell me anytime.”

“Ah! Ian, do you need any Gula?”

Ian paused at the unexpected words. Philia opened the door to the inner storage room with a light step and took out two large sacks.

“You told me to collect Gula seeds when I had time. There are two more sacks outside besides these.”

There were small, tomato-sized seeds. There must have been hundreds of them. It seemed like she had picked all the Gula in the area….

“Where are the Gula without the seeds?”

“I threw them off the cliff.”

Beric also ran his hand over them and was so surprised that his mouth fell open. It was unbelievable that she had collected so many useless Gula seeds, and that she had done it alone.

“It seems you have a talent for gardening.”

“After eating three meals a day, there’s nothing left to do but pass the time, so I did it as a pastime.”

Indeed, Philia had disappeared before Ian crossed the border. He had been so caught up in the whirlwind of events that he hadn’t realized it, but here, peaceful and quiet months had passed.

“Do you need them?”

Philia carefully looked at her son’s face as she asked. She had done as she was told, but she seemed worried that his reaction wasn’t as enthusiastic as she had hoped.

“No, Mother. You are truly amazing.”

Ian smiled at Philia as he tied the sack. He had only mentioned it in passing, but she had remembered and done it. Philia smiled brightly, as if she had received a reward for her son’s praise.

“The timing is perfect.”

“Really? I’m so glad.”

It was summer, when farmers should be sweating in the fields. But they were busy elsewhere rebuilding the village. Besides, the crops that had sprouted in the spring had all been trampled by military boots.

“Mother, actually, this Gula is edible.”

“Huh? What are you talking about?”

“The poisonous component isn’t in the seeds. You can roast them, bake them, or boil them.”

Was her son joking? Philia looked at Ian’s face, but he didn’t seem to be. Beric also narrowed his eyes and asked Ian.

“Did you get heatstroke?”

“They taste good even raw.”

Instead of answering, Ian picked up a seed and popped it into his mouth. Beric and Philia were horrified and rushed towards Ian at the same time.

“Oh my, I-Ian!”

“Spit it out! Spit it out quickly! What are you doing?”

Crunch. Crunch.

But Ian calmly chewed the seed, enjoying the savory flavor. He looked at the number of seeds in the sack and gave instructions.

“Beric, you’re going to have to work hard.”

“Wh-what… what do you mean?”

“Judging by the fact that you’re using honorifics, it seems you’ve caught on.”

“You want me to move this down…?”

“Yes. Secretly, discreetly. Hide it in the mansion’s storage room.”

“Haa….”

Crunch.

Ian answered and ate another Gula seed. Philia was flustered, not knowing what to do. And Beric was slumped in despair, swallowing curses.

Ian smiled and looked down the ridge at the distant land that ‘used to be’ Bratz, which was clearly visible.

* * *

Meanwhile, Romandro, who had been dispatched as a reconstruction expert and advisor, was frowning as he looked out of the carriage. He wanted to jump out and go back to the capital right now.

‘This is driving me crazy. Really.’

It was not only because it was a remote area, but also because the situation was not normal. The battle between their own people was one thing, but above all-

“Are you feeling unwell?”

“No. My back is just sore.”

The biggest problem was the presence of that man, Molin, from the administration department.

He wasn’t his direct superior, but in terms of rank and position, he was higher than Romandro. He had come along to help Romandro adjust to the border, but it would have been better if he hadn’t come at all.

‘Marib, you’re too much. How long has it been since I came back from the temple earthquake recovery? And now you’re sending me here… Haa… I want to go home….’

And as if Molin’s accompaniment was unusual, Marib had secretly ordered him to monitor his movements and report them separately. He hadn’t even arrived yet, but he already wanted to go back to the capital.

“What do you think the situation is like in the former Bratz territory?”

“Yes? Well… according to the report from Commander Erica, it’s pretty bad. I don’t know how the recovery is going, but I’ll be lucky if I don’t get hit by a rock when I get there.”

Romandro muttered involuntarily.

Only Molin knew that Ian and the Cheonryeo were stationed in the Bratz territory. If this were to become known, the imperial palace might send a large force, and their plan to use it as a base for rebellion would be ruined.

“Yes. I hope there won’t be any surprises when we get there.”

Molin turned his head, thinking of Bratz in the past. Then, he touched the letter from Erica that he had put in his pocket.