Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 638

A woman with her black hair neatly tied back put on white gloves. The servants straightened their postures, looking nervous. It was the last task of the morning: the cleaning inspection.

The head butler lightly swept her white-gloved hand across the window frame.

“…The cleaning isn’t up to standard.”

“I apologize. I’ll redo it immediately.”

“Even though it’s the annex and currently empty, it must always be kept in top condition. I’ve said this repeatedly.”

It was Hanna, the head butler of the Hielo mansion. She lightly scolded the servants and ordered them to clean again.

The annex hadn’t been used for nearly 10 years. With few family members in the mansion, the number of servants had also been greatly reduced. Even if a guest from the Great Desert came, there were plenty of good rooms in the main building.

Creak.

Hanna was about to close the open door when she glanced down at the handle. The previous butler’s room. The room that had been unlocked at Ian’s request. Thinking of that time, a smile inexplicably touched her lips.

‘I wonder how he’s doing.’

During the 10 years that Ian had disappeared, she had taken care of the mansion while serving Philia, Nersarn, and Roel. She had heard the news of his miraculous return, but there seemed to be no sign of him returning to the Hielo territory.

He’s the Minister of Magic, so I know his work is important. He must be busy with so much work in the central area. Besides, I heard he went to war in Burgos now?

“Head Butler Hanna, this is today’s mail.”

“Thank you, as always.”

The postman bowed lightly and turned away, and Hanna walked, checking the letters one by one. Most were courtesy letters addressed to the absent owner and Philia.

Hanna separated what she had to read from what she had to keep and entered the main building.

“Head Butler, Nersarn is looking for you.”

Hanna sighed silently. It was common knowledge that Nersarn’s mood had been sour since Philia and Roel had left for the central area. But what could she do? Public and private matters had to be kept separate.

Nersarn seemed to have resigned himself, but a few days ago, he had suddenly started saying strange things.

Knock knock.

“Nersarn, it’s Hanna.”

“Come in.”

“You were looking for me?”

Nersarn was sitting by the window, chewing on a gurute leaf [a local stimulant]. On the table were the letters he had exchanged with Roel so far. As soon as Hanna appeared, he brought up the same topic ‘again’.

“Something seems to be wrong with Philia.”

He had requested replies from Philia several times, but they had been continuously ignored. Also, Roel had repeatedly said that she was fine without any other mention. Something felt off. With the Emperor and Ian in Burgos, he was growing anxious that something might have happened to Philia and Roel.

Hanna neatly folded the letters and put them away as she replied.

“That won’t do.”

“…Hanna.”

“Our master, Ian, hasn’t returned to Hielo for over 10 years. During that time, Philia and Nersarn have taken care of the territory instead. But now that Philia is also gone, it’s dangerous if even Nersarn leaves for the central area. You know that the political situation in Luswena and Hawan is unstable these days.”

Nersarn ran his hand through his hair, looking frustrated.

“It’s not the right time, not now. If you are Ian’s father, you must stay in your place. And it hasn’t been long since you all went up to the territory together.”

“It will only be for a short while.”

“Without the help of a mage, it takes a month just to travel back and forth. Please don’t discuss this with my husband either. It will be difficult for both of us.”

Hanna added sharply. Her husband was a man of the same age from the Chunryeo tribe. In terms of Hanna and Nersarn’s relationship, she would be his cousin’s niece’s wife.

In fact, from Bariel’s point of view, they were like strangers, but from the perspective of the Chunryeo, where the entire tribe was family, Hanna was no different from a Chunryeo.

“It would be okay if I went alone, right?”

“No! Ian and Kakan have delegated all authority over the Hielo territory to Nersarn. If something goes wrong, I can’t handle it alone. I don’t have the authority either. I heard you sent a messenger bird to the Ministry of Magic a few days ago, so please wait at least until a reply comes.”

“Hanna!”

“What is it, Nersarn!”

Three women that Nersarn couldn’t handle: Philia, Roel, and ‘me’, Hanna. It didn’t seem like this before, but as she got older, she had become excessively strict. Just as the two were about to raise their voices, a presence was heard from outside.

Knock knock.

“Head Butler Hanna, Mrs. Rien Merelov has urgently come to visit.”

“What? Mrs. Merelov?”

Merelov was a neighboring territory, but Hielo held the real power. It was because Mrs. Merelov had handed over some of her authority as a price for killing the Count and finding freedom.

Rien Merelov wasn’t really interested in managing the territory, so they had been living peacefully, interacting as neighbors.

“What did she say was the matter?”

“I don’t know. She seemed very urgent…”

“Bring her in quickly.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Hanna and Nersarn exchanged glances. Merelov was a territory bordering Hawan. If the wife herself was moving, it seemed like information related to that side had come in…

“Mrs. Merelov, have you arrived?”

“Hanna, I’m sorry for coming so urgently. Nersarn, oh. You were here together. That’s a relief.”

Her platinum blonde hair still shimmering, and her beautiful features. It was as if 10 years hadn’t passed.

Rien Merelov took off the coat she had draped over her shoulders and immediately got to the point. That meant it was that urgent.

“The situation in Hawan is not normal.”

“Yes? Hawan? Didn’t we say that it was being handled well just a few days ago?”

A rebellion had broken out, centered around Prime Minister Shatima, who had fallen politically, and the country was in a mess, but they had quickly regained power and were showing enthusiasm for the aftermath.

Was it because of the rumor that there was a member of the royal family behind Shatima? The whole of Hawan was in chaos, but it felt like a new era was opening. Just a few days ago.

“Yes. It’s not official yet, and I’m not sure if it’s even true. I heard it from a Hawan merchant group that came to Merelov. They heard a strange rumor when they left Hawan.”

“What rumor?”

“The rumor that Prime Minister Shatima is dead.”

“What?!”

The leader of the rebels was dead. And that too, after almost raising the flag of a new era.

If this happened, the situation in Hawan would fall into chaos to an unpredictable degree. There would be divisions within the rebels, and the existing forces would see this as an opportunity to try to reignite their power. The dying embers were turning into a bigger fire.

“I-Is it certain?”

“I don’t know. They just added that it was a rumor, but the merchants seemed to take it as a fact. They requested long-term accommodation in Merelov, saying they wouldn’t return to Hawan for a while.”

“Wait a minute. Prime Minister Shatima is pro-Bariel, if someone hostile to Bariel takes the position of Prime Minister…”

They would join forces with Luswena, who had been sharpening their knives, to put pressure on the east of Bariel. And that pressure would be entirely the responsibility of Hielo and Merelov.

Rien took a deep breath to calm her trembling voice.

“If the death of Prime Minister Shatima is true, the Imperial Palace will send a confirmation. If that happens, we must strengthen the border defenses and recruit more soldiers. Both Merelov and Hielo.”

Burgos had been defeated. From Luswena’s point of view, a country that had been an ally had been defeated. Since the Emperor and the Minister of Magic were stationed there, they would think that there would be no better time than now. Everyone was guessing that Luswena would be next after Burgos.

“Nersarn.”

Hanna called his name as if to show him. In times like these, it was absolutely impossible for him to leave Hielo. Rather, it was a situation where they would need to gather all the Chunryeo from the Great Desert.

As Nersarn sighed, Rien, who didn’t know the situation, looked back and forth between the two.

“What’s wrong? Is something the matter?”

“…It’s nothing. It’s a personal matter. Then, for now, please continue to investigate those coming from Hawan and gather information. It’s most important to know who killed Prime Minister Shatima. The future of Hawan will be determined by that.”

“I understand. I’ll send people as soon as I hear anything. If Hielo receives any information from the Imperial Palace, please let me know. Have you not heard from Sir Ian yet?”

Rien’s brow furrowed slightly at the question. It would be very reassuring if the mage was guarding the border. I know he’s busy with official duties, but he hasn’t shown his face for 10 years, geez.

“Yes. We haven’t. He’s in Burgos, so it’s hard to reach him.”

Nersarn answered, then suddenly turned his head to the window. A hawk had flown in. Hanna opened the window, but the hawk kept preening its feathers without any intention of coming in. Nersarn’s eyes narrowed at the unusual behavior.

“Nersarn, isn’t that Byan? Why is he doing this?”

“I don’t know. It looks like he saw something.”

Nersarn put on his coat. Byan circled a couple of times in place as if telling him to follow, then flew straight in one direction.

“I’ll be back in a moment. Mrs. Rien, excuse me. If you don’t mind, please wait here for a moment.”

“I understand. But I can’t wait long. I can’t leave Merelov for long.”

Nersarn nodded and ran outside. At the same time, he whistled through his fingers, and a Kushile [a large, rideable desert bird], which the Chunryeo tribe used instead of horses, came running from afar.

Whistle!

Clatter clatter!

“I have a feeling.”

Hanna muttered, watching Nersarn’s disappearing back.

“I feel like the peace is breaking. I’m so anxious.”

It was like that time. 10 years ago, when so many people died, without exception, due to the attack by the central army. As Hanna covered her forehead and sighed, Rien comforted her.

“Peace won’t break. We’re doing this to protect it.”

But Rien’s hands were also trembling.

Hanna smiled faintly and took her hand, then nodded as if to collect her emotions.

“Please sit down, Mrs. Merelov. I’ll bring you some warm tea so you can wait until Nersarn comes back. Black tea with milk, right?”

“Thank you.”

It was the Merelov butler who had been in charge of Hanna’s butler training. After he died of illness and a vacancy was created, Hanna took charge this time and trained the Merelov butler. They were perfect neighbors to each other.

“If it’s okay, may I look at some of that work?”

“Of course. Make yourself comfortable.”

Hanna bowed and left for a moment, and Rien looked around the room and found a letter on the table. It was from the central area.

It wasn’t polite to snoop, but how could she just ignore something that was spread out like that? Rien scanned the letters from afar, then stopped.

-…Father. Yesterday, Lord Romandro told me news about my brother. He said he arrived in a city called Agiar. He said he met an unexpected helper there. It’s a young lady who has a childhood connection with a servant who left for Toolun a long time ago. I don’t know who it is, but it’s a relief. Mother is doing well. I’m doing well too. Mrs. Vivianna is very kind. Bibi is a bit annoying, but she’s a warm-hearted child. Then, please tell me the news from Hielo again. I miss you.

O