Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 561

Melania and Clark looked at each other simultaneously.

When the gypsy said she would meet with Rutherford, what advantage did it give them?

‘None at all.’

The gypsy was a dealer of secrets. If she were to regurgitate Ian’s secrets instead of devouring Rutherford’s, it would be absolutely disadvantageous for Ian, no matter what the secret was.

Melania tightly grabbed the hem of the gypsy’s robe, and Clark also stepped in front of her, drawing his sword.

“Why are you doing this?”

“Please don’t go.”

“What, do I need your permission to make a living? This is why they say not to take in humans. I saved you from the abyss, and now you’re pointing a sword at me!”

“We are not trying to harm you, but to stop you. Wouldn’t it be better to go to Lord Ian?”

“I told you! He’s no longer needed!”

The only thing left was the contract between Rutherford and Ian, but Ian, one of the parties involved, said he couldn’t remember it. And Melania didn’t seem willing to tell them.

So, wasn’t it inevitable to go to Rutherford? If she went there, she could also pick up other things, which would help refill her slowly fading satiety.

“Okay, I’ll tell you instead. So, please don’t go to meet Rutherford. There are other reasons, but honestly, it’s dangerous.”

Melania finally shook her head as if she had given up.

The gypsy’s eyes narrowed, and she looked at them with suspicion.

“Are you going to spout nonsense again after saying that?”

“Knowing that the battle is tomorrow and Rutherford is right in front of us, how could I do that?”

“Hmm. Then, whisper it to me.”

The gypsy plopped down and gestured with her hand. Melania hesitated, then leaned closer and whispered to her.

“All of this was told to me by Ian.”

* * *

Young Melania was quite exhausted.

How could a child who had lived luxuriously near the Royal Palace of Luthweena handle the journey to Bariel through Hawan? Even just sitting in the carriage, she felt her energy draining. The wedding of her cousin in Hawan was quite a sight, but it wasn’t enough to cope with the child’s constant mood swings.

“Miss, are you feeling unwell?”

“Yeah, it’s boring and kind of…”

“Then, would you like to go out for a bit with me? The central area is safe, so it would be good for sightseeing.”

That day was different from usual. The usually strict nanny had suggested an outing. Melania readily nodded, and she went to the noisy central area with her.

Tap!

And there, she met Ian.

His clothes were dirty, and his hair was a mess, but his green eyes were so deep and beautiful. He was short and thin, so at first, Melania thought he was a girl like her.

“Hey! You should watch where you’re going!”

“Nanny, I’m fine. Are you okay?”

Ian smiled brightly at the question of whether she was okay. Melania realized for the first time that a person’s smile could be so radiant.

“You must be a child from the merchant guild.”

“I’m sorry, but you’ll get scolded if you call me that when other people are around. I’m a noble of Bariel and a royal of Luthweena. Even the prince who is with the merchant guild can’t treat me carelessly. Really.”

“Ah, okay, okay. Do you want to try this?”

“Hmm. It’s safe to eat, right?”

Although their status and circumstances were different, the two often bumped into each other. Once was a coincidence, twice was a connection, and the third time was fate? They became quite close friends, and from some point on, they would set a time and place to meet and then say goodbye.

That was how it was, a week before the merchant guild was to move again.

Tap tap!

“Why aren’t you here yet?”

“Melania!”

Ian came running from afar, carrying a lot of things.

Melania, who was about to complain, raised her eyebrows in surprise. What was that flowerpot?

“Haa, haa…”

“Why are you so late? And what’s with that flowerpot?”

“Finally, finally, I met him! Rutherford.”

“Ah, the guild leader?”

Melania touched the red petals, seemingly uninterested. What was this? It was a flower she had never seen before.

“What did you do after meeting him?”

“Look at this.”

Whirr. Whirr.

Melania’s eyes, which had been focused on Ian’s palm, widened instantly. A cluster of light gathered, and an amber gemstone was formed within it.

Melania stared at Ian with her mouth agape.

“Th-this is…”

“I helped him make it, and he really liked it. He said I have talent.”

“Wh-what is this?”

At Melania’s question, Ian smiled softly and whispered.

“The Balance’s Weight-”

“What?”

“…or so the guild leader said.”

Ian’s smile was as bright as ever, but Melania couldn’t shake off a strange feeling.

Ian handed her what he had made and said.

“I’ll give it to you as a gift. You’ll need it someday.”

“…Thank you.”

Melania fiddled with the gem and then casually suggested.

“Hey, why don’t you come to the capital with me? You’ll be hungry and have a hard time here. I’ll give you a room in my mansion, so let’s go up together. You can live much more comfortably than now.”

The wind seemed to flow through Ian’s golden hair. The child looked at Melania with a subtle expression for a moment, then shook his head.

“Sorry. I have to stay here.”

“Why? Because of your mother? Of course, she can come up with us too.”

“Melania, thank you for your words. But it’s not because of that, I just have a reason to be here.”

“I don’t understand what you’re saying.”

“I can’t explain it now. Anyway, that’s why I made a contract with Rutherford.”

“A contract?”

While the merchant guild stayed, he would make as many amber gemstones as possible, and in return, he would receive the red flower. He would have his freedom until he turned sixteen. After that, he would serve Rutherford as his master and work diligently. Everything would be contracted with magic to prove their faith, and so on.

Melania frowned as she listened.

“That’s such an unfair contract. Don’t you know how mages are treated in the capital?”

“But I had no choice. If I didn’t give it to him, he looked like he would put me in a box and take me away right then and there.”

“Do you think I would let that happen?”

“Oh, Melania. Rutherford is a scarier person than you think. We’re still too young. We need a little time.”

While Melania was thinking about how different the treatment of nobles and commoners was, Ian showed her his hand and added.

“And it’s okay. The me after sixteen will disappear anyway.”

“Why are you saying such strange things today?”

“Just because. I’m happy.”

What for? Melania silently questioned him with her eyes, but Ian just smiled, holding up the amber gemstone.

“Because the Balance’s Weight has finally been made. I’m happy too, like Rutherford.”

* * *

The gypsy’s eyes widened and narrowed repeatedly as she continued to listen to the story.

Having already learned about Ian’s identity as a bastard in the abyss, she was able to fill in the gaps in what Melania had told her.

“Oh, so that’s how it was.”

“And that’s why I haven’t seen Ian since then.”

“I see. Now I understand a bit.”

Gills were opening and closing.

Melania finished her story and looked at the gypsy. Was that enough? She had given her what she wanted, so she hoped the gypsy wouldn’t think about going to Rutherford, that was her look.

However, the gypsy was too busy savoring the secret with her eyes closed.

“Hmm-nyam.”

But, something was strange? It was a secret, but it wasn’t that delicious? The secrets related to Ian in the abyss had shown an unbelievably blissful taste.

The gypsy tilted her head in confusion, smacking her lips several times.

‘Has it faded a bit?’

Or, could it be that it was no longer a secret?

The gypsy was silent, touching her cheek as if she was disappointed.

Melania, realizing that her condition was strange, grabbed the hem of her robe again.

“No, don’t go.”

“What? It’s my business where I go!”

“Think about it from Rutherford’s perspective. Right now, Ian’s secret is in your belly, do you think Rutherford will leave you alone knowing that? Especially with the battle right around the corner? He’ll bare his teeth to get even the smallest weakness.”

It was no different from walking into a den of thieves with a treasure chest. A deal? Did she think that such a fair and social agreement would work with Rutherford?

“Hmph. What do you take me for? Even that great Ian couldn’t catch me, you know.”

“That was then! You don’t know what might happen now, do you? Look, you’ve been tracked down several times by me and Clark, who have no abilities.”

“Several times! It was only twice!”

Melania felt the blood rushing to her head and briefly touched her forehead. The war was just beginning, but the situation was clear. No result other than Bariel’s victory could be expected.

Wouldn’t it be the same for Rutherford? Cornered as he was, the gypsy’s appearance would be a salvation for him.

“I’ll give you one more secret.”

“What secret?”

“Promise me. If you eat this, you won’t meet with Rutherford.”

“Let’s hear it first.”

“Promise me first!”

The gypsy reluctantly nodded at Melania’s shout. She paused for a moment, then turned the inside of the gypsy’s robe.

“I put a royal palace jewel in here.”

“What? Where?”

“It’s a jewel with a tracking function. I’ve been using this to find you until now.”

The gypsy frantically turned the cloth over several times, but she couldn’t seem to find it easily.

Poof! Melania finally tore the cloth herself and showed it, shrugging her shoulders.

“Got it?”

“Geez, putting something like this here… I swear.”

“Tomorrow at dawn, the Bariel army will push into the wall. Then it will be too noisy and chaotic to move easily. So-”

Tap!

The gypsy seized the opportunity and dashed around the corner. She didn’t even have legs, but how could she move so fast? Melania grabbed her robe, but she couldn’t overcome the speed and fell helplessly.

“Get lost! You leech-like humans! Ahahaha!”

“Ugh…”

Clark quickly chased after her, but her figure disappeared the moment he turned the corner. She was a being that could not be chased by human abilities.

He shook his head, and Melania brushed off her scraped palm and muttered.

“…Damn fish.”

It wasn’t the kind of language that should come from a noble lady’s mouth, but Clark deeply sympathized. He helped Melania up and said.

“Did you recover the jewel?”

“Yes. The gypsy will go to Rutherford, right?”

“That’s likely.”

Clark looked to the left, and Melania looked to the right, then they nodded to each other. They realized that their goals had been updated.

“I will also go to Rutherford’s side. Since I have a previous connection, it will be easier to infiltrate his side.”

“I will go to the Bariel camp. I’ll go and convey the situation and meet Lord Ian. And, this.”

The jewel that had been attached to the gypsy went into Clark’s pocket. If he succeeded in approaching Rutherford, it would be used to reveal his location.

Clark would infiltrate Rutherford’s side and look for an opportunity, and Melania would convey the entire situation to Ian. Those were their new goals.

Tap tap!

The two shook hands lightly, then without hesitation, they split up and ran.

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