Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 620

Kaila carefully raised her upper body. She still couldn’t see out of one eye, and walking was impossible. The doctors said she might never walk again, but she didn’t care.

Kaila lightly flicked her fingertips and managed to grasp a thin pen. She smiled faintly at the fact that she could exert strength, then turned to look at Mrs. Danit.

“I can do the paperwork.”

“Haa.”

Mrs. Danit covered her face with a fan, as if frustrated.

When Officer Xiaoshi stormed into the banquet hall with his men, she should have just grabbed a candlestick and stabbed Jorge. Since she was going to die anyway, she should have at least made him share some of her daughter’s pain.

“Mother, don’t sigh. Everything is going well, so why are you so worried?”

“It’s not worry, it’s pain. It breaks my heart that you, in the prime of your life, are so injured.”

Mrs. Danit gently grasped Kaila’s frail ankle under the blanket. What if she could never walk again?

In her mother’s silence, Kaila calmly sharpened her pen.

“Don’t be too upset. It doesn’t matter if I can’t walk. When I become the King of Vergos, I will be the center, and everyone will follow me. I don’t necessarily need two legs.”

“Kaila!”

“Will you write the message to Father yourself, Mother?”

Danit shrieked in disgust, but Kaila ignored her and changed the subject. She needed to quickly inform the Holin estate about the current situation in Vergos.

The night before, all the royalist leaders had died. Now, all that remained was for the Holin family to step in and clean up. First, there was the power succession vacuum and the need to restore public sentiment.

“If we create a connection with the mine development, it will be easier to get support from the Bariel Imperial Palace. So, when you deliver the obituaries to each territory, make sure they are with you. You understand, Mother?”

“Yes, I understand. I was already planning to send people together, but there are too few hands to help.”

“I will request support from Father. Now we can bring Holin’s resources to Vergos without restrictions.”

In the past, the royalists had been watching closely, so they couldn’t even properly organize their private soldiers or servants. But now, with no one to keep them in check, they could request as much as they needed.

“We need the power of the Bariel Imperial Palace until we completely control each local territory.”

“They certainly won’t want that.”

“They will want Holin to bear the full burden of dealing with the royalists. It’s something we have to endure, but we need to persistently try.”

“If people come from Bariel, I will go down to the provinces myself and organize the territories. Kaila, you must never, ever leave this Vergos palace.”

“Of course. Then I will move on to the relief efforts. They must be very tired from the long civil war. People tend to turn to those who fill their bellies.”

There was so much to do. It wasn’t a pity that she couldn’t walk. It was a pity that she couldn’t move, which slowed things down. As Kaila busily moved her pen, Mrs. Danit casually added,

“Oh, by the way, was it Lady Chloe?”

“Lady Chloe?”

“Yes. The lady of the Davion family who went on the expedition with you before. It seems like something happened. They say she was assigned to the mine?”

“What?”

Kaila stopped in surprise. Even though the Emperor’s intention to keep the two families in check was clear, how could they send the Davion lady to the mine?

“That’s strange. Is it true?”

“It’s certain. She’s quite a remarkable lady in many ways. Kaila, you saw her often when you were in Bariel, right?”

“Yes, well, sometimes against my will. She’s crazy.”

“It seems so. Why would she follow them to the mine?”

Mrs. Danit muttered as if she still didn’t understand, and Kaila also tilted her head in confusion.

Did the Davion side know about this? Kaila wondered whether to write about it in the letter to Duke Holin.

‘Hmm.’

But she decided not to. She knew her current situation very well.

Until she established herself in Vergos, she had no choice but to lie low and appease the Imperial Palace. Even if there was a conflict between the Imperial Palace and Davion, it was none of her business.

Knock knock.

At that moment, a servant’s presence was heard from outside.

“Excuse me, young lady. Minister of Magic Ian Hielo would like to see you for a moment.”

“Show him in.”

Kaila tilted her head at the sudden visit. Mrs. Danit also looked a little surprised.

Soon, Ian entered and greeted Kaila with a nod.

“How is your condition, young lady?”

“It has improved considerably thanks to the help of the Magic Department. As you can see, I can even do paperwork.”

Kaila showed off her pen as if to prove it, and naturally covered the letter she was writing. Ian sat on a sofa a little away and gestured to Mrs. Danit.

“Please, sit down, Madam.”

“Yes, but what brings you here…”

“I came to check on the young lady’s condition-”

A polite remark. Kaila and Danit smiled politely at the same time. Like mother, like daughter, they looked exactly alike.

“More than anything, we need to discuss the next schedule. The royalists have all been dealt with, and their subordinates have also been expelled from the palace. The remaining cleanup will be led by the Holin family, and I’m curious how much time the Imperial Palace will need.”

“Bariel and Vergos are not that far apart. Do you have a reason to return in such a hurry?”

It was beneficial for the Holin family for the Bariel soldiers to stay in the Vergos palace as long as possible, until the cleanup was completed. They could achieve military and political control without any special measures.

Of course, even if they didn’t worry about it, a certain number of soldiers would be stationed until the cleanup was complete, but the difference between the Emperor staying and not staying was significant.

“We have to go to Toolun.”

“Toolun?”

It was for the reincarnation of Rutherford and the visit to the secret temple holding the clues to Damon’s regression, the journey to save Barsabe and Philia, and ultimately, the subjugation of the underground.

Kaila, who didn’t know this situation, frowned with one eye as if she was perplexed.

“…Is His Majesty the Emperor also going with you?”

“That is also under discussion. It’s a very long and dangerous road, so I would prefer His Majesty to return to Bariel, but he has a strong desire to subjugate Toolun himself. We are trying to check the military strength here and set up a new departure team, so it seems necessary to refer to the Holin family’s schedule.”

“What is the maximum period you have in mind?”

Ian pondered for a moment. He wanted to move as quickly as possible because he couldn’t confirm Philia’s safety. But putting that aside, his answer as the Minister of Magic was-

“One month.”

“…One month. Yes, I understand.”

Kaila and Danit exchanged glances. It was a tight schedule, but it was doable if they moved quickly. Within a month, they would completely control Vergos under the Emperor’s protection.

“Then, please take care of yourself.”

“Yes, Sir Ian. And thank you.”

As Ian was about to leave the room, Kaila added,

“I know that your help to the Holin family is not out of goodwill. But even so, help is help. I formally express my gratitude. I will definitely repay you someday.”

“…Repay it to Bariel in the future. That will be enough.”

Ian said that and left the room.

The hallway was chaotic. Soldiers were moving palace decorations here and there, and in the midst of it, wizards were running around busily with thick bundles of documents in their hands.

Ian recognized the bundles of documents. They were valuable records that had been kept in the Vergos palace. By examining the history of the Runkvis royal family and Damon’s past actions, they might find clues before going to Toolun.

“Sir Ian! The temporary residence of the Magic Department is on the third floor. I’ll move the luggage in advance.”

“And this is the record of the last 30 years. It seems like it will be the main focus, but it’s a pity that a significant part is missing.”

“It’s okay. Bring everything to my office.”

“Yes, Sir Ian. Oh, and Commander Acorella-”

Thump! Thump! Thump!

The moment the wizard was about to say something, a heavy vibration echoed from the ceiling.

Everyone knew where the noise was coming from. Slowly, they all moved their heads from the right side of the ceiling to the left. Sure enough, Chloe was coming down, grabbing Acorella’s collar.

“Oh my, Commander Acorella can’t use his strength against that brute force. But it seems like the young lady went easy on him. She didn’t grab his neck.”

“The commander sometimes needs to be handled like that. Otherwise, he can’t be controlled.”

“Hey, Sir Ian!”

“Lady Chloe, how is your condition today?”

“My condition is good! It’s good, but what is this all about?”

Chloe shouted in a fit of anger, and Acorella blinked his eyes rapidly. It seemed like he had just told her that she was going to the mine.

“A mine? I can’t go. How can I do work that even strong men struggle with?”

“Ahem, young lady. You can do it. Much better than any strong man-”

“Commander Acorella. Please keep your mouth shut.”

“Yes, sir. …Sir Ian? Please persuade, no, explain it for me.”

Ian looked around for a moment and confirmed that Xiaoshi was not nearby.

“Lady Chloe, I heard you have feelings for Sir Xiaoshi.”

“What?! Me?!”

Oh my! The wizards turned their bodies as if they weren’t listening, but the tips of their ears twitched busily. The soldiers who were moving luggage also moved slowly, paying attention to the interesting commotion.

“It was said to be a side effect, but Commander Acorella’s report said so. So, it’s best to stay away from anything that could stimulate it.”

“But, but-”

“You can refuse if you don’t want to go. But if you do, Commander Acorella, who is in charge of your treatment, won’t be there, and we can’t take care of you all day either. Moreover, this is a foreign palace, and His Majesty the Emperor is also staying here, so for your safety, we have no choice but to send you back to Bariel.”

He was asking whether she would go to Bariel or follow Acorella to the mine.

As Chloe pursed her lips and pondered, Acorella grabbed her arm and smiled gently.

“Young lady, don’t worry. It’s just a temporary trip to organize the territory. Do you think they’ll make you go into the tunnel with a pickaxe? You just need to help with the restoration work with the wizards. Young lady, you said you wanted to make a contribution! What could be a greater contribution than the construction of the Magic Department’s annex, which has been suspended for years?”

“You talk a good game, Commander Acorella!”

“Ah, thank you for the compliment.”

“That’s not a compliment!”

There was no real choice. And Chloe was vaguely aware of it. Her heart would flutter and her head would spin whenever she saw Xiaoshi… It was better to get away from him for now.

“I never thought I’d ever go to a mine…”

“What’s wrong with a mine? There’s nothing big or small about working for Bariel. Young lady, it’s okay. Okay?”

That’s it! Acorella patted the sobbing Chloe and hugged her tightly, then winked at Ian again. He was telling him to leave the task of persuading the young lady to him.

Ian sighed softly, and the wizards also quietly moved away. Chloe, still in Acorella’s arms, kept muttering.

“I was greedy for nothing. I got impatient because Kaila was making contributions…”

“Hey! It wasn’t greed, it was a desire to improve. Thanks to you, my research has also progressed.”

“Commander Acorella! You’re really annoying. More than Kaila!”

“Oh, is that so? Are Kaila and I a bit similar? I’ve only seen her from afar.”

“…She’s crazy. She is too.”

“Hahahaha! That’s good! Crazy people are the ones who change the world.”

Flap!

While Acorella was laughing heartily, carrier pigeons flew in and out through the palace windows.

Those sent to the Holin family, those from Katimaco of Astana, and those sent from Bariel all spread their wings wide.