Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 54

Romandro

“That bastard Ian brought in the Cheonryeo [a nomadic tribe] and claimed his rights. He’s occupying and managing the territory under the pretext of an alliance with Bratz… I have no way to stop it.”

Molin clenched his teeth. Originally, there was no reason for him to come down here. Erica was supposed to organize and govern the territory, then transfer the private soldiers. Wasn’t that a very simple and clear plan?

But the appointment of the lord was indefinitely postponed, and Ian, who should have been in the Great Desert, was brazenly here?

‘By now, a messenger bird must have reached Erica.’

Marib’s interference was very unsettling. Molin guessed that there must have been a scheme by Ian, and he was on his way down to deal with him directly.

Since he had the blood of Derga, he was a body fit to be a slave. Although he was said to be clever, he had to be firmly told what his end would be if he acted recklessly.

‘I don’t know why the Cheonryeo are taking Ian’s side, but that kid isn’t worth it.’

How far had his sweet tongue charmed the beastmen? Did he know his mother was alive? Or that he was of illegitimate birth?

Molin continued to grind his teeth, his sharp eyes flashing. He didn’t even know that his letters had crossed paths with Erica’s.

Clatter, clatter-

“We’re almost there.”

At the coachman’s words, Romandro pressed his face against the window. In the distance, a building that appeared to be the Bratz mansion came into view. From the outside, it looked so peaceful that it was hard to believe a battle had taken place. And it hadn’t even been a month.

“It’s more lively than I thought.”

“Indeed.”

Romandro murmured hopefully. At this rate, he might be able to return to the capital much sooner than expected. He reminded Molin of his position.

“As an advisor, are there any customs of the former Bratz territory that I should be aware of?”

“Well, they border the barbarians, so most of them are dirty and rough. And it’s barren, and there’s always a shortage of food.”

Molin muttered, dredging up fragments of memories. As unpleasant emotions took over, kind words didn’t come out of his mouth.

“Stop! State your affiliation and purpose!”

The carriage, which had been speeding towards the mansion, came to a halt. They had reached the entrance to the territory. The coachman told the gatekeepers that they were from the Imperial Palace, and they opened the gate as if they had been waiting.

Creak.

As they passed through the village, Romandro rubbed his eyes, wondering if he had seen things. People in exotic clothes were mingling everywhere.

Foreigners, not Bariel people? If they were foreigners here, who else would there be besides the bordering barbarians?

“Are, are those not the Cheonryeo?”

“It seems so. The Cheonryeo are stationed here.”

“What is this! Shouldn’t we turn back? I didn’t receive a report about this!”

Unlike Romandro, who was in shock, Molin was calm. It was a given. The Imperial Palace, especially the First Prince Marib, shouldn’t know about this, so you wouldn’t know either. It was only a matter of time, but it was something that could be resolved within that time.

“Where are the investigation team and the central army….”

“It seems we’ve arrived at the mansion.”

“Sh, shall I open the door?”

As Romandro held tightly onto the carriage door, the coachman asked in a fluster. Soon, the door opened slightly, just enough for a hand to fit through. What he faced was a man who was younger than he had expected.

“Who are you…?”

“Ian Bratz.”

It was Molin who answered. He threw the door open and muttered as if chewing each word.

“He’s the bastard of Derga.”

“Greetings, Lord Molin. Oh, and Lord Mac and Lord Degore are here as well. I was quite disappointed that you returned to the center without saying goodbye back then.”

Ian raised his hand to his chest and gave a formal greeting. And he firmly corrected them.

“Please be careful. There is no one here who uses the Bratz name.”

Molin frowned as if displeased, but Romandro felt relieved. At least there was someone who observed formalities among the barbarians. And it seemed that he held a rather important position among them.

“The distance is far, so the timing of the letters must have been quite off. Please come inside. I will explain everything.”

“Hmm, then….”

Ian led the guests. The mansion, which had become quieter with fewer people, maintained its warm atmosphere. Ian, Romandro, and Molin’s group entered the reception room.

Click.

“Kakhantir-nim [a title of respect], we have guests from the Imperial Palace.”

“You’ve come a long way.”

“Ah. Yes, well….”

“This is Kakhantir-nim, the chief of the Cheonryeo, and his younger brother, Nersarn-nim.”

Romandro lightly shook hands with them, but Molin lay down on the sofa without responding. It was presumptuous for lowly beings from the outskirts to be in the same place as the central administrators.

Romandro had crossed many borders and been in many wars, so he didn’t have much aversion to status.

“Bratz and the Cheonryeo are allies who have made peace. When I was in the Great Desert, I heard news that a major battle had taken place in the territory and that they were in trouble. So, the Cheonryeo stepped in to keep their loyalty, and they learned of the former Count Bratz’s crimes.”

The explanation was for Romandro, but Ian’s gaze was fixed on Molin. As if to say, listen carefully to what I’m about to say.

“It was the state’s punishment, so it couldn’t be helped, but the pain of the territory is another matter, isn’t it? The investigation team was only to carry out the investigation, and there was no force to manage it. So, the Cheonryeo helped as neighbors.”

“That… Well, the outskirts are indeed far. It’s not in the report.”

“Is that so? I thought that Chief Erica would have reported it immediately since it was an important matter.”

“Ah. Chief Erica is….”

“She has obtained information that the wife and son of Derga have escaped and is pursuing them.”

Thud.

At that moment, Molin took out a document from his pocket. It was an order to dispose of Ian. It was not stamped with the Emperor’s letter, but issued by the department in charge.

“Aren’t you also a child of Derga? Did Chief Erica leave you alone? According to the national law, you should have been reduced to a slave, but you are living so well. Unless the chief has gone mad, the only explanation is that you used force.”

Ian glanced over the order and then lightly threw it down on the table. Mac and Degore’s eyebrows automatically furrowed at the sight.

“I am someone who has crossed the border. My heart is in Bariel, but officially, I reside in the Great Desert. If you intend to dispose of me, I will have no choice but to return to the desert.”

“Return? Who said you could?”

“The owner of the Great Desert. The territory life has been normalized to some extent, and the Cheonryeo are gradually returning to their garrisons. Leaving only a minimum number of people behind.”

A minimum number of people, what was that minimum for? It was the manpower to safely bring Ian to their area.

A distance that could be reached in just three days if they ran. But it was not a path that those who had only seen the desert in pictures could follow.

“Well, there’s no need to make a hasty decision.”

Then Romandro intervened between them. Since Chief Erica was not here, if they had managed the territory, their help was essential from the advisor’s point of view. And above all, since he didn’t know what Molin’s intentions were, it was right to oppose him for now. Yes.

‘His Highness Marib told me to be wary of Molin. The Ian that Molin is wary of must be useful at least.’

“If the advisor says so.”

Ian smiled and lightly bowed his head. It was a greeting that pointed out that Romandro was the main figure in this group.

“I have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of reconstruction experts from the Imperial Palace.”

“From what I saw on the way, the situation is better than I thought.”

“Everyone united with hope and overcame it.”

“Hey, Romandro!”

Thump!

Molin, unable to contain his anger at being ignored, slammed the table. At that moment, Ian noticed. Molin and Romandro were in opposing positions.

“Is this something to look at calmly? Just bringing the Cheonryeo into Bariel is enough to be considered treason! How can you think of putting the territory under the influence of foreign powers, especially barbarians?”

“Treason?”

At Molin’s words, Ian burst into laughter. He didn’t say it directly, but weren’t their actions preparations for treason? Ian gave a look as if asking if he could say this.

Romandro interjected.

“People are dying and living, so what does it matter if it’s the Cheonryeo’s help or not? There’s no problem.”

“The advisor is right. I repeat, the Cheonryeo were allies with the former Bratz. They offered their kindness according to their friendly relationship, but if you speak like this, they will be upset. It’s a clear diplomatic discourtesy.”

At Ian’s words, the two men focused on Kakhantir. There was no change in his expression, but it was clear that he was uncomfortable. Romandro swallowed hard and changed the subject.

“Y, yes. Thank you for your help.”

“But I would like to ask, is Romandro-nim a candidate for the next lord?”

At Ian’s question, he shook his head. Then he took out the letter he had been carrying for fifteen days. It was an appointment letter stamped with the seal of the General Assembly.

“My main task is to rebuild the territory. My goal is to manage the public sentiment and meet last year’s tax amount by this winter. I expected it to be difficult, but coming here, I see that it’s possible.”

Managing public sentiment.

The Imperial Palace was clearly acknowledging the special nature of the outskirts. If this place were closer to the capital, they would have immediately appointed a suitable person without worrying about public sentiment.

Since they could not immediately suppress foreign invasions or rebellions by the territory’s people, it was important to appease them with the perception that they were citizens of Bariel.

‘Marib is postponing the appointment of the lord, and Gail sent Molin along….’

Ian pretended to know nothing and asked.

“Is this the will of the First Prince?”

“Oh. How did you know? It seems that His Highness Marib is very interested in this place.”

First Prince Marib. The mountain that Second Prince Gail had to overcome.

It was a very fortunate thing for Ian. All power must have balance to be harmonious.

“I see. It is an honor. I sincerely hope that the grace of the Imperial Palace will descend. We will do our best to help Romandro-nim.”

“No.”

It was Molin who denied it immediately.

Looking at it, Ian’s trickery was not insignificant. Even if it became a little more difficult to manage the territory, it was important to drive Ian out first. That was the only way Erica would return, wasn’t it?

“Ian. If you want to be on the land of Bariel, you must follow the laws of Bariel. Even if you return to the Great Desert right now, I have no choice but to enforce the strict national law.”

“Lord Molin.”

“Romandro! You do your job! I will do mine!”

Ian crossed his arms and pursed his lips. And then, he tapped, as if thinking about something, and then smiled.

“It will be a bit difficult for you if I return to the desert.”

“Did you say Kakhantir? I will certainly inform the Imperial Palace of the Cheonryeo’s help. Don’t fall for the cunning schemes of a lowly bastard, and it would be better for both of us if you withdrew from here. As Romandro said, the reconstruction has progressed considerably! There is no reason for you to be here anymore…!”

Molin, who had been shouting in excitement, stopped abruptly. It was because he had met Ian’s eyes sitting across from him.

Zzzing.

The gold that was slowly spreading from his green eyes. Ian unfolded his arms and repeated it again.

“I clearly said that it would be difficult for you if I returned to the desert.”