Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 631

Romandro stared blankly into the air, caught between wakefulness and sleep. A pen lay in his hand, unused for hours. He knew he shouldn’t be like this, but with the mountain of work, he couldn’t afford to rest. He stretched his cheeks and shuffled through the documents, finding a letter at the bottom.

“…Hielor Territory.”

It was a letter from Hielor Territory, specifically from Nersarn. Roel had bought him some time with a few replies, but it was clear Nersarn suspected something was amiss. The letter was addressed to the Magic Department of the Imperial Palace, not Romandro’s personal residence.

Romandro tapped the wax seal with his fingertip, looking troubled.

“This is driving me crazy.”

It likely contained information about the political situations in Hawan and Lusweena, and surely, inquiries about Philia’s well-being. Romandro fidgeted, then stood up as if he’d made a decision, stretching his body.

“Right. It’s my responsibility. I shouldn’t have spoken so carelessly that day, and it’s my fault that I haven’t found Philia since she disappeared. I can’t ask Roel for help anymore. I feel bad. Ahem. I just stood by while that child lied to her father… Now it’s my burden to bear. Yes, I can do it….”

He muttered to himself, trying to calm his mind, but the discomfort was unavoidable. *Nersarn, I’m truly sorry,* Romandro thought, just as he was about to tear open the letter, a loud bang echoed.

Kwaang!

“Lord Romandro!”

“Ugh. You startled me.”

A mage, looking pale, rushed into Romandro’s office without a sound.

“It’s a disaster. A black moon has risen outside the Imperial Palace.”

“What? What did you say? A mage’s portal?”

“Yes, reports are flooding in.”

Romandro’s breath hitched. This was a major emergency. What if a mage from Lusweena or another country had attacked Bariel? There were only two mages left in the Imperial Palace; could they hold them off? Even if the soldiers were armed with Idgal [a type of magical weapon], the damage would be significant.

“L-let’s go.”

“Are you sure? I can go alone.”

“Who else would go if the deputy of the Magic Department doesn’t? Let’s hurry!”

Ziiing! Ziiing!

The mage nodded and firmly grabbed Romandro’s shoulder. His body floated up, and his mind went blank for a moment, but it was fleeting. Romandro stared straight ahead with wide eyes. In the distance, he could see the black moon.

“How dare they attack Bariel-!”

“Huh.”

He was about to say something full of determination, but the mage stopped flying. It was strange to stop so suddenly, and he felt like he was floating in mid-air. Romandro’s face turned pale, and his body began to tremble.

“Wh-why are you doing this! Let’s hurry!”

“This, the energy….”

“Nyaaaa! Kyaaa! W-we’re not falling, are we?! Get a grip, man!”

“It’s Ian.”

Eh? Who?

The mage’s golden eyes shone even brighter, and he rapidly approached the black moon. The wind was so strong that he couldn’t even open his eyes properly, but Romandro focused as much as he could, hearing the name Ian, and looked around.

“Ah!”

In the distance, he saw people descending. One, two, three, four! Beric was the first he saw, followed by Hale, Barsabe, and Ian. And-

“Lady Philia!”

It was Philia! Romandro was so surprised that he spread his arms wide, and Beric, noticing this, hugged him as if in response. They were practically falling from the sky, but Romandro wasn’t afraid.

“Oh, Lord Romandro. How have you been?”

“Beric! You rascal! Why does your face look so haggard?”

“No, I’ve been eating and resting well lately.”

“How can you say that after going to war?”

“Everyone’s been like that since the Kalamat gate opened. Hehe. Lord Romandro, you’ve lost some weight! Did you have a hard time? Because Lady Philia disappeared.”

Thud!

Romandro sat down on his rear, looking bewildered. He couldn’t believe it. They were supposed to be in Vergos, yet they were in Bariel. And, on top of that, Philia, who had disappeared, was with them!

Thump.

Ian lightly brushed off his clothes, as if marking the end of a long journey, and Hale helped Romandro up.

Only then did Romandro realize that he was sprawled in his mansion’s garden. The black moon’s intended destination was his mansion.

“H-h-how did this happen….”

“I’m sorry, Lord Romandro. It seems the messenger bird hasn’t arrived yet.”

“That’s because we were only in Toolun for a day.”

“Toolun? You went to Toolun? To find Lady Philia?”

“We were planning to stay for about a month, but things worked out well.”

“L-Lord Romandro. I’m sorry. Were you very worried?”

“My lady! Yes! I was so worried, I thought my heart would melt away! Are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere? There’s a wound on your face, oh my! Officer Barsabe! Why are your eyes covered?”

Everyone was so surprised and happy that they spoke without order. Until Vivianna, Bibi, and the servant Mini rushed out, armed with all sorts of household items.

The three women closed their eyes tightly and shouted, brandishing brooms and other things.

Kwaang!

“Wh-who are you! Get out of the mansion right now-!”

“Bibi! Calm down. It’s us, it’s us.”

“L-Lord Romandro? Oh my goodness!”

Vivianna’s eyes widened. Not only had her husband fallen from the sky, but Ian, who had gone to war, and the missing Philia were also with him?

Her daughter, Bibi, stammered.

“R-Roel! Rooel!”

Tap tap!

As if waiting for this, Roel ran out barefoot, panting. Philia, with tears in her eyes, reached out to the child, and Roel hugged Philia tightly without a word. She had been imagining and longing for this moment.

Ian watched the mother and daughter reunite and looked around. Residents who had seen them fall were gathering one by one.

“I was going to open a portal outside the Imperial Palace, but it would have been too much trouble to move, so I came here. Lord Romandro. Please inform the Imperial Palace guards and the nearby security forces. It’s not an enemy invasion, but the Magic Department is here on urgent business.”

“Okay, I understand. Just wait a moment!”

Romandro gestured to a guard among the gathering residents and showed his identification. While he was explaining the situation, Ian asked Roel.

“Roel. Did you get a message from Hielor Territory?”

“Yes. I was thinking we were reaching our limit.”

“Mother. Please convey my message to Father. It would be better to summarize the facts rather than tell him the whole truth.”

“Wait a minute, Ian!”

Philia held onto Roel and lightly grabbed Ian’s coat.

“A-are you leaving right away?”

“…Now that I’ve achieved my goal, it’s right to return.”

Besides stopping by the Imperial Palace to check on the Magic Department’s work and sort things out, there was no reason for Ian to stay in Bariel. He needed to report to the Emperor as soon as possible.

“But we just met….”

There were so many things to talk about.

About you, and about me.

Roel looked up at Ian while still in Philia’s arms. Her gaze was calm, but there was an underlying sense of urgency. When Ian hesitated for a moment, Beric lay down on his back and urged him.

“Yeah, Ian. You finished in one day what you were supposed to do in a month, so let’s take it easy. Since we’re in Bariel, let’s take care of some business! At least stay for one night, it’s not good for your body to open portals twice in a row.”

Ian turned to Hale. He nodded, indicating that he agreed. Barsabe had been sitting down, exhausted, for a while now.

“Ian! Are you leaving? No, absolutely not! Stay right there. I’ll be back soon after I finish my work. Okay?”

Romandro, who had overheard the conversation, also insisted that he couldn’t let them leave like this. What could he do? Ian took off his robe and asked Vivianna.

“Could you provide me with a room?”

“O-of course. Please come inside. And change your clothes. Oh my, if I had known this was going to happen, I would have gone shopping yesterday. My lady. You come in too. What happened to your beautiful face?”

“Before that, I need to send a letter first… I want to contact Lord Nersarn.”

“I’ll go get a messenger bird. Go inside. Bibi!”

“Yes! Officer, please follow me! Shall I hold your hand?”

“No, thank you.”

As Vivianna busied herself, Bibi followed her, helping with the guests.

In the meantime, Ian changed into a clean shirt he had left at the mansion and came back downstairs.

“So, you went from Vergos to Toolun to find Lady Philia? Commander Hale, you disguised yourself as a lord?”

“Yes, we had some luck. And Beric didn’t cause any trouble. We didn’t find a way to fix Officer Barsabe’s eyes, but it was effective in assessing Toolun’s overall power and situation.”

“Oh my, magic is amazing. Traveling between three countries in a day. Oh, Ian. You’ve changed your clothes?”

Ian nodded and looked outside. It was strangely noisy. Through the curtains, he could see a huge crowd. They were the residents who had gathered because of the black moon, but why hadn’t they dispersed and were still gathering?

“It’s because they know you’re here, Ian.”

“It’s Lord Romandro’s fault. He shouted ‘Ian!’ so loudly earlier.”

“Yes, you rascal. It’s my fault!”

Thwack!

Romandro flicked Beric’s forehead, then touched his own hand with a look of emotion. He had missed it so much. The feeling of the hit and the teasing! Romandro hugged Beric, rubbing his cheek against him, and Beric pushed him away in disgust.

Watching this, Ian turned his gaze back to the window. He could see balloons and flags everywhere. It looked like a crowd welcoming the Minister of Magic, but there were too many people.

“What should we do, should we move to the Imperial Palace?”

“We reported that we would enter the palace tomorrow, so we don’t have to go in right away. Let’s rest here tonight. How much did you suffer because of the war? It’s the peace you protected, so enjoy it without thinking about anything.”

Indeed, the scenery of Vergos and Bariel was completely different in every way. Even the sunset felt warmer, the people were more lively, and the air was filled with the smell of delicious food.

The reason they went to Vergos was precisely for this. To protect the beauty of everyday life. As Ian leaned back on the sofa, bouquets and gifts flew into the garden.

“Minister Ian, we heard the news of your victory!”

“Thank you! You’ve all worked so hard!”

“But why did you come back?”

“He must have had some business. Why are you asking that?”

“Is His Majesty the Emperor safe?”

Ian took a sip of warm tea and muttered.

“I’m worried that we might be causing trouble to the neighborhood.”

“Everyone understands. It’s not just anyone, it’s the Minister of Magic who has returned! And everyone will go home when the sun sets. Don’t worry too much. Now, before Lady Philia comes down-”

Romandro checked his watch. Before the deep conversation between mother and daughter, he had a mountain of things to say. Romandro moistened his dry lips, and Beric took the lead.

“Ian, I’m asking if you are Ian Verosian.”

“You little rascal, how can you say the Imperial family name so easily?”

Ian smiled and replied.

“Yes, Lord Romandro. I was worried about it. I wanted to tell Lord Romandro directly. Ah, before that-”

“Before that?”

“Don’t you have any reports to approve? Let’s talk while looking at them.”

…Verosian or whatever, it’s definitely Ian.

Romandro was dumbfounded, but as if he had expected it, he naturally pulled out a stack of documents from his bag. He lightly ignored Hale and Beric shaking their heads in disgust.