Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 616

“The imperial flag?”

“It’s newly hoisted. When His Majesty enters the palace, we’ll raise it to the highest point.”

“If there are any items that haven’t been brought up yet, hurry. The sun will set soon, so it’s best to finish before then.”

“Yes, Sir Ian. Don’t worry. If necessary, we’ll move them ourselves. Oh, and we’ve also secured carrier pigeons. They seem to be the same ones used in the Burgos Royal Palace, and they’re in excellent condition. I was thinking of writing a letter to Lord Romandro while we’re at it.”

Ian nodded, flipping through the papers.

This was the royal palace of the Burgos capital, no less. The Emperor’s entry was as significant as the end of a war, so there were many things to check and take care of.

While surrounded by mages, listening to their opinions, someone called out to Ian from afar.

“Excuse me, is Minister Ian here? Pardon me.”

“I’m here. Who is it?”

As Ian turned his head, the mages moved aside, clearing a path. A soldier rushed through the gap.

“This is a message from Officer Siao Shi of the Imperial Defense Department. There seems to be a problem, and he requests your urgent presence.”

“Siao Shi? Now?”

Ian closed the report and asked, puzzled.

Just a moment ago, he had seen him busily moving to secure the palace and the royalist recruits. What could have gone wrong?

Jin hadn’t entered the palace yet, so it couldn’t be related to that…

“Lead the way.”

Siao Shi was a direct subordinate of Minister Tweller. But for him to ask Ian for help, it must be a problem involving the Magic Department.

As Ian nodded to the soldier, the mages followed, asking,

“Sir Ian, should we proceed as you instructed?”

“Yes. If any problems arise along the way, report back.”

“Yes, I understand. But what on earth could have happened?”

“Oh, there….”

The mages, including Ian, stopped abruptly. One of the pillars in the outer corridor leading to the annex was shattered.

A woman was sobbing amidst the debris, and Siao Shi was looking at her with a troubled expression. And-

“Commander Acorella?”

“Commander! W-what are you doing there?”

“Oh? Everyone’s here? Heh heh.”

Commander Acorella only gave an embarrassed laugh.

The mages instinctively knew that this crazy mage had caused some trouble. They rushed to her before Ian, grabbing her shoulders and collar. Acorella just kept smiling.

“Oh, no, right? Huh?”

“Heh heh, what is it?”

“Please, tell me the Commander had nothing to do with it. That you were just passing by!”

“Oh, right. Actually, I was just passing by.”

“Liar! Ugh!”

“Why ask me to say it if you’re not going to believe it? Funny.”

While the mages were screaming and shaking Acorella, Ian examined the woman on the ground. Siao Shi, who had been hesitant, carefully explained the situation.

“This is Lady Chloe Davion. She seems to have made some sort of deal with Commander Acorella, and her physical condition is not good.”

“Chloe Davion?”

“What? Lady Davion?”

The mages, who had been tearing at Acorella, widened their eyes as if they would pop out. It was Davion, who was politically entangled with them. The Davion who had been providing supplies from Bariel!

“That crazy mage!”

“Commander! Are you really out of your mind?”

“No, listen to me! It’s not like I was the one who suggested it first? The Lady asked me with tears in her eyes, how could I refuse? That’s why I even got this written agreement!”

“Still! There are things you shouldn’t do!”

Acorella showed the agreement and protested, but it didn’t work. The mages took this opportunity to shake her by the collar, bite her head, and hit her back.

“Lady, are you alright?”

Ian ignored the commotion and first checked Chloe’s condition. Chloe was sobbing while lying on the ground. She slightly turned her head and looked up at Ian. Her face was flushed red.

“Are you feeling very unwell?”

“Hic, I, uh, what, what should I do?”

“If you tell me your symptoms in detail, the healing mages will take action. First, can you stand up?”

“No, it’s not that….”

Chloe lightly tapped the floor with her trembling hand. It was a very weak gesture.

But surprisingly-

Crack!

Crack, crack!

A crack several meters long appeared on the marble floor. Acorella clenched her fist at the sight of Chloe and then cheered.

“That’s it! That’s the one!”

“C-Commander. What, what did you feed her?”

“Wow, the effect is much better than I thought. Lady Chloe, try jumping in place. Let’s see how far your physical abilities have increased.”

“Please, shut your mouth, mouth! This damn mouth.”

“Mouth? Do you want to die?”

“If you don’t stay still, Commander Acorella will die.”

“Read the room, you crazy Commander.”

The mages whispered to Acorella, glancing at Ian. Ian was watching Chloe with a calm expression, without any change.

Then, Acorella made eye contact with him. She flinched and naturally averted her gaze. That’s right. Getting beaten by the kids now was the cheaper option. She instructed with clumsy ventriloquism.

“Hit me more. Hit me more.”

“Putting aside the hitting, just stay still for a bit.”

“Sir Ian! Leave the crazy Commander to us! We’ll tear her to pieces!”

Ian didn’t respond and just stared intently at Lady Chloe. She kept shedding tears like chicken droppings and mumbled.

“I did want to become stronger, but I didn’t know it would be this much. Earlier, after drinking the potion for the first time… my heart was pounding and I felt dizzy, so I grabbed a pillar? But suddenly, it broke….”

“Calm down, Lady. If you are confused and lose your mind, it could cause even greater harm to you.”

“Y-yes, I will calm down. But my heart keeps pounding and I can’t control it.”

“Is this also a side effect, Acorella?”

“Ah! Yes! To be honest, I don’t know! It wasn’t something I expected.”

The shattered pillar and the cracked floor. Ian pressed his temples. Since the Lady had wanted it, the Davion family probably wouldn’t raise any objections later, but keeping such a powerful person in the palace was dangerous. What if she lost her mind and went on a rampage, destroying the palace? For the Emperor’s safety, Chloe needed special management.

“…Acorella.”

“Yes, Sir Ian!”

“Since you caused this, you will clean it up. Stay by Lady Chloe Davion’s side for the time being and make sure no more safety issues arise.”

“Of course! Since it was a smaller dose than the standard, the effect won’t last long. I’ll take care of it!”

She was already planning to observe and record her closely, so this worked out well! As Acorella saluted and smiled, Ian’s eyes narrowed slightly. He wanted to say something right away, but he held back, knowing his subordinates were watching.

“Lady, I will help you up.”

“But, what if I hurt your hand?”

“I will protect it with magic, so don’t worry.”

“Then, just for a moment….”

Whirr! Whirr!

Chloe grabbed Ian’s hand and barely managed to stand up. As she finally took a breath and turned her head, she made eye contact with Siao Shi again.

“Ah!”

“What’s wrong?”

Thump, thump, thump. Chloe’s heart began to beat even faster. A strong pain rising from the bottom of her chest, a feeling she had never experienced before.

“My heart feels so strange.”

“In what way? Bring a doctor too.”

“Ah, yes, yes. I understand. Please wait a moment!”

“It’s, it’s beating non-stop… and it feels ticklish. Above all, I feel strangely hot.”

“Lady….”

“Yes?”

“You’re also having a nosebleed.”

Trickle. Blood flowed from her right nostril. Chloe touched her nose with her fingertips, then lost consciousness and fell to the side.

She had fainted from embarrassment, but others didn’t notice. They just thought it was one of the side effects of the potion.

Thud.

Ian grabbed her left arm, but it wasn’t enough. Siao Shi, who was standing on the opposite side, inadvertently caught the Lady’s body as it fell.

“Acorella.”

“Yes, Sir Ian!”

“Take the Lady to the annex. And stay by her side. His Majesty will be entering the palace soon, so there must be no safety issues.”

“Yes. I understand. Can I tie her hands?”

“Decide for yourself.”

“Sir Ian. Are you angry?”

“Decide that for yourself too.”

Ian said this, handed Chloe over, and gestured to the mages. It was a signal to return to their places and do their jobs. The mages were horrified and whispered to Acorella.

“Commander, you’re in big trouble.”

“What trouble? He told me to decide for myself. I’ll think that Sir Ian isn’t angry. Mwahahaha!”

“It must be nice to live so carefree.”

“Go and stay still without causing trouble. I’ll clean up and go.”

Whirr! Whirr!

Acorella winked and waved her hand, telling the mages to go. Then, she floated the unconscious Chloe with magic and moved her. The passing soldiers looked at the scene with curiosity, but no one dared to approach.

And-

Swish.

Siao Shi was left alone in the corridor.

He checked his watch and noticed that the back of his hand was sparkling. He rubbed it and found it was still damp. It seemed to be a tear stain that had rubbed off when he was supporting Chloe.

“…….”

He silently pulled his sleeve to cover the back of his hand and turned around. He had to move quickly to find the remaining royalist remnants.

For a moment, the image of Chloe shedding tears flickered in his mind, but Siao Shi dismissed it as a result of the recent commotion.

* * *

“Lady Chloe Davion?”

Jin frowned upon receiving the report.

She was a presence he had completely forgotten. He had thought she would quietly return to Bariel, but she had suddenly delivered news like a bomb, which was surprising. The content was also shocking.

“How did this happen?”

“She fainted, so we couldn’t hear the details, but she told Commander Acorella that she wanted great power. It seems she was desperate after hearing about Lady Kayla’s exploits.”

“…Foolish.”

Did she not hear that Kayla was giving up the Empress’s seat, and only heard that she was aiming for the throne of Burgos? If she had stayed still, she would have had a chance through the ripple effect, but she had created a pointless commotion and dug her own grave.

“It’s a good thing. When the potion’s effect wears off, contact the Davion family and tell them to take the Lady away.”

He had been worried that if the Holin family withdrew from the competition, the Davion family would gain power, but it was truly a blessing that she had caused such an accident.

At Jin’s command, Ian nodded.

“Yes, it’s something Commander Acorella will handle, so I will proceed as soon as the report comes in.”

“What about the evening banquet?”

“It’s prepared. At eight o’clock, all the royalist executives except for three will gather.”

“Three?”

“Yes, it’s not yet confirmed whether they noticed and escaped, but it shouldn’t be a problem. Officer Siao Shi is continuing to track them. If you discuss the magic stone management issue, he will handle it under the cover of darkness tonight.”

“I understand. Good work. You may leave.”

“Rest well, Your Majesty.”

Ian bowed to Jin and then went out into the corridor. It was a country where darkness came faster than in Bariel. It was only just past six o’clock, but the sun was already setting.

Tap, tap, tap!

“Sir Ian, Sir Ian!”

“Acorella.”

At that moment, Acorella came running quickly from the end of the corridor, limping. Had she caused some other trouble? As Ian narrowed his eyes with a puzzled look, Acorella stammered.

“L-love!”

“……?”

“I think it’s love.”

“……!”

Then the mages froze with their mouths wide open. What did Acorella just say? Love? For Sir Ian? They shouted at the same time.

“Kyaaaa!”

“Noooo! She’s gone crazy, really!”

“It’s definitely a side effect of the potion she took a few days ago. Commander Acorella. Just go out and die.”

“No, you crazy bastards! Not me! Lady Chloe!”

“Yes?”

Acorella thumped her chest with her fist, as if frustrated, and added,

“Lady Chloe, I think she’s fallen in love!”