Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 617

“Lady Chloe, are you awake?”Chloe rubbed her eyes and nodded. A blurry pink hair was the first thing she saw. She looked around to figure out where she was. It was a bedroom that felt more empty than tidy. It seemed to be a room used by the royal staff. In the past, she wouldn’t have cared, but Chloe was moved by the softness of the bed, which she hadn’t felt in a long time, and pulled the blanket closer.”…Am I okay?””From what perspective? If you’re asking about the potion’s effects, I’d say it’s a huge success. It seems your body is more receptive to the potion than I thought. Crushing a pillar and cracking the floor wasn’t a dream. But if you’re asking about your reputation, I’d say the situation isn’t good.”Chloe glared at Acorella with narrowed eyes. It was her choice, so she couldn’t say anything, but wasn’t this too much?”Alright, alright, now that you’re awake, let’s record some observations. Is your heart still pounding? How do you feel right now?””Hmm. I feel okay now. Stable, and honestly, not that desperate.””Really? Well, to add some stimulation, a report about your commotion will be sent to His Majesty the Emperor.”Chloe blinked with wide eyes. But surprisingly, she felt nothing. It was not a commotion that a noble lady should cause, so the Emperor would surely use this as an excuse to remove her from the position of Empress. Yet, she felt nothing. Scribble, scribble. Acorella’s eyes sparkled with interest as she diligently recorded Chloe’s condition on the document. The lady shrugged and replied in a routine tone.”Of course, it will be reported. But, well, I don’t know.””You don’t know? Hmm. Is this a side effect of cognitive impairment? Lady Chloe, do you remember who you were with before you collapsed?””Sir Ian, the mages, and-“Thump!Chloe reflexively clutched her heart.”Huh?””Y-your heart is acting strange again.””Why? I don’t understand.””I don’t know. When I think of S-Siaoshi…”Acorella froze, pen in hand. Her nostrils flared without her realizing it. She instinctively felt that she was on the verge of a huge discovery.”Your heart beats when you think of Sir Siaoshi? Your face is a little flushed too. Perhaps, a tingling below your chest?””Y-yes!””What about Sir Ian?””Why Sir Ian?””It’s not him. It only applies to Sir Siaoshi. Lady, listen carefully and imagine. Now, you’re holding hands with Sir Siaoshi!”Acorella grabbed Chloe’s hand, and Chloe looked up to the left, as if troubled.”H-hands? Hmm…””Oh, your cheeks are getting redder. Then, a hug! And even a deep kiss! Imagine it!””Kyaaa! Are you crazy! Are you out of your mind?”Chloe shook off her hand in disgust, but Acorella curled up with a clenched fist. She was crazy. The crazy genius mage Acorella had finally gained influence over human emotions! She stood up and put her hands together as if giving thanks to God, then looked back at Chloe with the document tucked under her arm.”Hoo, I’ll go report for a bit.””Hey!””Rest well, while thinking of Sir Siaoshi. Hehe.””No, wait!”Thud!Chloe reached out to stop her, but Acorella ran out without looking back. Left alone, Chloe lay back on the bed and stared at the ceiling.’I was trying to make a contribution, but I’ll just get in trouble with His Majesty. I guess this is why they say great power comes with great responsibility.’Even after gaining power, she had only caused accidents out of surprise. She should have stayed quiet and appeared only when His Majesty was in danger! Chloe buried her face in the pillow and lamented.’If my power disappears, he’ll surely send me back to Bariel.’Send her back. But why did she feel so regretful? When Commander Acorella mentioned His Majesty earlier, she didn’t feel anything. As Chloe looked into her own heart, Siaoshi’s face floated on the ceiling.”Ugh!”Am I crazy? Chloe jumped up and left the room without a plan. Whether it was Acorella or Siaoshi, anyone was fine. She just wanted to distract herself and resolve this unknown feeling. She didn’t know how much time had passed, but the sun was hanging on the edge of the sky. It was the time when darkness was approaching. Since it was an old castle that had lost its owner, lights began to flicker on here and there. Creak. Chloe continued to descend to the basement in search of the supply unit. She thought she could find them near the food storage.’Is it this way?’It was her first time here, and with the sun setting, she had even more trouble finding her way. Judging by the fact that there was no one around, she had definitely taken the wrong path. Then, she heard a hushed conversation from somewhere.”Is the door open?””Yes, no problem.””The banquet is at eight, so let’s hurry before then.””Understood. I’ll wait in the underground passage that connects directly. The mages are a variable, what should we do?””The Emperor will be in the banquet hall, so the main security forces will also be nearby. Let’s divert their attention with a fire and then move.”The voices faded away. Chloe carefully followed the sound of the voices down into the basement. It was dark and scary, but the conversation was unusual. Soon, Chloe found the source of the conversation in one of the underground warehouses.’What is it?’It was behind a storage cabinet. There seemed to be a hidden space. It seemed like she could move the cabinet to the side, but the iron plate was almost a hand’s breadth thick. It wouldn’t be easy to move even with eight strong men. There must be a mechanism somewhere…Creak! Thud!”Huh.”Chloe was startled. She had just lightly touched the cabinet, but it lifted up so easily that it was almost anticlimactic. Behind the cabinet was a tunnel. And inside, soldiers were huddled together, relying on candlelight. They were also frozen in shock after being caught mid-conversation.”Wh-what…”They looked back and forth between the cabinet and Chloe with trembling eyes. Was it even possible for a woman, no, a human, to have such strength? They thought Chloe was a mage or a magic swordsman and quickly pulled out small daggers from their pockets. The tips were coated with Idgal [a type of poison].”D-damn it! Capture her!””Kyaaa!”They were a militant group led by three officers who insisted on a traditional restoration of the monarchy, even among the royalists. They were gathering their forces using this secret passage connected to Kalamat City, waiting for an opportunity. Their goals were simple: to eliminate the mother and daughter of the Holin family, who were aiming for the birth of a new dynasty, and to purge other royalists who were trying to become powerful by clinging to Bariel. In reality, it was just a division within the royalist faction, with only a plausible justification.”Capture her! Capture her!”At someone’s hushed shout, soldiers poured out and chased after Chloe. Chloe was terrified and ran up the stairs, and then she realized she was still holding the cabinet in her hand.”Oh my! Please don’t do this!”Thud! Crash!She threw the cabinet with all her might, and the soldiers were knocked away with a loud crash. Even as those who were hit and crushed by the iron plate groaned on the floor, those who followed behind stepped over their comrades and chased after Chloe. There wasn’t much time left until the operation, they couldn’t let it fail like this. Clang! Swish!”Stop! Stop right there!””Kyaaa!”She threw away her sword and yelled, but Chloe didn’t stop her scurrying steps. With her eyes tightly shut in fear, she just ran. Thud!”Ah!”Then she twisted her ankle and fell forward. The part where she tried to put her hand down caved in, and the soldiers who saw this swallowed hard. She was no ordinary opponent. They had no choice but to rush her and finish her off.”Go! One, two-“”Ouch, that hurts…””Three!”Swish!It was the moment the soldiers lunged forward. Siaoshi and his men blocked their path and deflected their swords. Chloe’s eyes widened slightly, and in front of her, Siaoshi’s gray hair swayed slowly. It felt like time was slowing down. Chloe’s face turned red, and she stammered.”H-how did you know I was here? D-did you, did you find me?”Could it be? Really? Truly? Chloe’s eyes sparkled with anticipation, and Siaoshi’s subordinate burst out laughing in disbelief.”Hahaha! Why would we be looking for you?””The castle was shaking! Even if you don’t have ears, you’d know something happened here!””Let’s see, three royalist officers… their faces are a bit confusing.””Are they here? Oh, that’s him. That’s the one!””Another one is coming up from the basement!””Wait! Wait a minute!”As armed soldiers gathered one by one, one of the royalist officers, realizing the situation, raised both hands and stepped forward.”We have no intention of opposing Bariel. We were just trying to deal with the Holin family mother and daughter and the royalist officers in the annex. It’s definitely not a rebellion against Bariel, so please calm down…””Then why did you attack that woman?”Siaoshi, who had been listening quietly, asked coldly.”Of course, it’s because we were afraid the information would leak. Well, we were just trying to hold her, but many of us fell because of that woman’s attack, so we unintentionally…”Siaoshi glanced at Chloe, who was lying on the ground with a frail figure, and Chloe tidied her disheveled hair and clothes.”That’s enough. Clean up.””Yes, sir.””Wait a minute! We really have no intention of betraying Bariel! We can prove it!”Clang! Clink!”Intentions don’t matter. What matters is that you are royalists.”It was Siaoshi’s mission to eliminate the royalists. He just had to think of it as going before those who were enjoying the banquet. As the soldiers did not lower their swords, the soldiers also realized that there was no way to retreat and sharpened their blades.”Come here, Lady.””Ah-“As Siaoshi reached out his hand to support Chloe, Acorella’s voice flashed through her mind.’You’re holding hands with Sir Siaoshi!’It was really happening! Chloe hesitated and looked up at Siaoshi. Her cheeks were hot, and they were definitely flushed. What should she do? Would she look too unsophisticated? As Chloe hesitated, Siaoshi’s brow furrowed slightly.”It’s okay. You can take it.””Ah, that’s-“”…And Lady, you have a nosebleed.””Huh? M-me?”Chloe, who had been smiling with her head tilted at a cute angle, was startled and touched her nose. There was warm, sticky blood flowing again.”…”What a mess, twice in one day? Chloe rubbed her nose with the back of her hand, tears welling up, and Siaoshi turned his head away, pretending not to notice. At that moment, the soldiers who had finished cleaning up the area called out to Siaoshi.”Sir Siaoshi! One of the people crushed under the cabinet seems to be a royalist officer!””We need to lift this, but it won’t budge.””Should we call a mage?”The iron cabinet that Chloe had thrown away like a piece of paper. Seven soldiers were struggling to lift it, but it wouldn’t move. Seeing this, Chloe ran over, tears and blood streaming down her face. She was too embarrassed to face Siaoshi any longer.”I’ll do it. Sob.””Yes?””Hic, I’ll do it. Please move aside.””It’s dangerous, Lady… Ah, oh my! Goodness!””Please put it down here! Her grip strength is no joke.”Chloe lightly lifted the cabinet, and the soldiers cheered and clapped their hands. Siaoshi watched her from behind and sighed softly, looking down at his hand that Chloe had not taken in the end.