Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 667

“Philia, take this too. I noticed Roel seemed to enjoy it last time, and it made me happy to see him eat well.”

“Oh my, it’s alright. I heard it was hard for Vivianna to get, too. Just letting me taste it is more than enough. Thank you.”

“We can still get it since we’re in the center, so don’t feel too burdened. Oh, right. Hielo is close to Hawan, so maybe it’s easier to get there?”

“Then I’ll take it for now, and when I go down, I’ll find a similar jam and send it up. Would that be okay?”

“Of course! Take it all!”

Vivianna poured jam into a large bag. It was made from fruits that only grew in foreign lands.

Philia smiled, thanking her repeatedly, and carefully packed her clothes and belongings. Finally, the day to go down to Hielo was not far away.

“Nersarn-nim [a respectful title] will be so happy to see you. I don’t know how long it’s been since you last met.”

“I know. If I had known we’d be apart for this long, I would have made a different choice.”

“Still, it’s something to be grateful for that we can meet safely. Philia, the scar on your cheek has faded a lot.”

“Ah. It’s healing better than I thought. It’ll probably be almost gone before I see Nersarn-nim. I was worried because I thought he’d be concerned.”

Philia smiled brightly. By now, a messenger bird should have arrived in Hielo. She could just imagine how happy Nersarn would be to receive her message.

Meanwhile, Roel was sitting by the window, staring blankly outside. Vivi approached and buried her head in the child’s side, but there was no reaction.

“Roel. You’re sad about separating from me too, aren’t you?”

“……”

“Don’t worry. I’ll come down when school’s out. Let’s play in the garden again while eating delicious things. Roel, you have to be in Hielo then, too? Don’t go to the Great Desert?”

“…Can’t go.”

“Huh? Where?”

“Can’t go to the Great Desert.”

Roel mumbled softly. His voice was choked up, and he couldn’t speak easily.

Ah, my small, cute friend. He’s so sad about being separated from me. Vivi hugged Roel tightly, and Roel, who usually didn’t react, hugged her back deeply this time.

“Oh my, you both seem sad. Philia, shall we hug too?”

“Shall we?”

Vivianna and Philia, seeing the children hugging, burst into laughter and embraced lightly. In about two weeks, at this time, they would be in Nersarn-nim’s arms. Philia smiled, enjoying the happiness that was rising from deep within her chest.

Knock knock.

“Is anyone there? This is a message from Romandro of the Magic Department.”

“Oh my, yes, yes! I’m coming out now!”

At that moment, a presence was heard from outside the door. Someone from the Imperial Palace had come. Vivianna hurried down the stairs and opened the front door.

“What’s the matter? Should I pack my clothes?”

“No, it’s not that…”

The Imperial Palace employee trailed off, as if feeling sorry.

“There’s information that a war seems to have broken out in the east of Bariel, centered around Hielo and Merelof. It’s presumed to be an invasion by the Hawan Kingdom and Ruswena. The Imperial Palace is conducting a more detailed investigation to understand the situation, but it would be best if Madam Philia stayed in the center for the time being, as it’s dangerous… Romandro-nim advised. A curfew may be imposed soon…”

“Ah…”

Vivianna was speechless. What was this, like being struck by lightning out of the blue? Suddenly, Ruswena and the Hawan Kingdom were invading Hielo? Why?

“Madam, what’s wrong?”

Philia asked as she slowly descended the stairs. Her innocent smile was still flushed red.

“…Then, I’ll be going.”

“Wait, Philia.”

“Yes. By any chance, did something happen to Romandro-nim?”

Philia was more worried about Romandro.

Vivianna hesitated for a moment, wondering whether to speak or not, then bit her lower lip. Considering how shocked Philia was when she first learned about Ian’s identity, she couldn’t bring herself to say it.

“Madam?”

“…Philia, please don’t be too surprised or worried. It seems there’s a problem near Hielo and Merelof. The situation in Gaia has been too chaotic lately.”

“What do you mean-”

“It could be dangerous, so Romandro-nim advised Philia to stay in the center for the time being.”

It was more of a forceful message than a pure recommendation. She was the mother of the Minister of Magic, after all. Ensuring the safety of the families of key figures in the Imperial Palace was also the duty of the Imperial Palace.

Philia staggered slightly, grabbing the railing, and Vivianna rushed over with a scream.

“Philia! Are you okay, really!”

“B-but-”

“Philia has lived with the Cheonryeo Clan for a very long time. I know them too, from seeing them. As long as they’re there, Hielo will surely be safe. And so will Nersarn-nim. Philia knows best how strong he is, right?”

“Vivianna, I, I…”

“I’ve been there too. When I was just married and pregnant, Romandro left for a disaster-prone area to restore the temple, and I also traveled around the borders to help with disaster relief until I quit. We were both so worried about each other, but look!”

Vivianna’s words became urgent. Philia’s complexion had noticeably worsened.

“In the end, we came back safely and are living well. Worry is nothing more than a thought. Don’t let your anxiety grow. It might be nothing in Hielo.”

“Vivianna!”

“Yes, it’s okay. Shhh.”

Vivianna hugged Philia.

On the surface, she spoke as if it was nothing to reassure Philia, but Vivianna knew what the ‘curfew’ meant. It meant that they would completely control the area near Hielo to protect the safety of the citizens of the Empire. This suggested that something terrible and dangerous was happening in Hielo.

“……!”

Vivianna’s eyes met Roel’s, who was looking down at them from the top of the stairs. In an instant, her heart sank.

Roel had seen it again. What had happened in Hielo, and furthermore, the danger that had befallen his father.

Swoosh.

Roel covered his mouth with his index finger and shook his head. It was a signal to keep it a secret from Philia.

“……”

Vivianna burst into tears without realizing it and buried her face in Philia’s shoulder.

…You are cruel, truly, the gods are cruel to Philia. Vivianna silently continued to pat her back.

* * *

“What?!”

Thwack!

Eldert slammed his fist hard on the table. What did he just say? The Wizard’s Forest was on fire? Not just anywhere, but the Wizard’s Forest?

“I, I apologize. We are currently using dragons to pour water to extinguish the fire, but the area is so large…”

“Damn it! What the hell caused it?!”

“The cause is unknown, but there are reports that the forbidden magic user was near the Wizard’s Forest. I asked for details, but there has been no response yet.”

“Damn it, that bastard!”

Eldert grabbed the hair of the unfocused wizard and yelled. The anger that would be directed at King Toolrun, who was hiding inside, was incredibly intense.

The vassals bowed their heads, and Eldert shouted, his neck veins bulging.

“King Toolrun! What are you doing! How dare you! How dare you burn down the Wizard’s Forest?!”

The wizard’s eyes spun around. King Toolrun was surely watching, but he didn’t speak easily. After a moment of silence, the wizard muttered an excuse.

“It wasn’t me, it was a guy named Beric who did it.”

“What?”

“Did you know that he infiltrated the Wizard’s Forest at night? Of course, you wouldn’t. The king was safe and comfortable in the palace. But I sensed his presence and followed him. In the process, that guy Beric started the fire. I’m not at fault. I swear to the gods, truly.”

“Is that what you call an excuse!”

Eldert’s hands trembled. He wanted to slap his buttocks right away, but he knew it was pointless, so he barely managed to hold back.

“If possible, I would like to help with the fire suppression, but the situation is not favorable, so it’s difficult right now.”

“Am I hearing things? The situation is not favorable? You’re holed up in a safe and comfortable palace doing this, and what?”

“But it’s true. If you don’t believe me, it’s your loss, Your Majesty. Soon, Ian Hielo and the Bariel wizards will come again, so shouldn’t we fully restore the wizards’ power before that?”

“Right now-! Save the Wizard’s Forest! This is not a suggestion, but an order from the King of Ruswena!”

“Ah…”

He really doesn’t understand. The wizard sighed irritably and turned his gaze aside. Eldert roughly grabbed his collar at the impudent behavior and warned him.

“King Toolrun, listen well. Just because you’ve threaded the Ruswena wizards doesn’t mean you’ve threaded all of Ruswena. Isn’t your helping us just a distraction, after all?”

If Ruswena and Hawan shook things up, they could draw attention from the center, and the emperor in Kalamat wouldn’t be able to easily go up to Toolrun. All the interests were actually this simple and clear.

“So?”

The wizard asked back with a smile.

Even if that was true, what sanctions could Ruswena impose on Toolrun now? They didn’t share a border, the core forces, the wizards, were all threaded, and Ian Hielo was right in front of them.

“Be grateful that you can use wizards to fight wizards, King Eldert. How to move the wizards is up to my judgment. If you want, I can cut the threads and retreat right now.”

If that happened, could you handle it? If the betrayed wizards came to their senses, what would they do to Ruswena? They would surely burn, tear, and shatter everything while venting their anger. Above all, the grand dream of conquering Bariel would be absolutely out of reach.

The wizard nodded to Eldert and then collapsed to the side. The signal with King Toolrun was completely cut off.

“…Hey.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Eldert, who had been staring at the scene, muttered.

“…Call the hunters.”

“H-Hunters, you mean?”

“I will send them to Toolrun. There must be a path to that area.”

“Yes, yes, of course.”

Hunters.

If Bariel had the Imperial Guard, Ruswena had hunters who moved hidden in the sunset.

At Eldert’s command, his subordinates backed away, and the king, left alone, picked up a glass of wine to calm his anger. Then, suddenly.

‘…Wait a minute.’

King Toolrun’s attitude was so abnormally insolent that he almost lost his judgment temporarily.

The Wizard’s Forest was a crucial point for the regeneration of Ruswena’s wizards. Whether Toolrun knew this or not, it wouldn’t be difficult for the wizards to put out the fire in the forest.

‘They are the ones who fly in the sky and tear the earth, so pouring water is nothing to them.’

Yet, King Toolrun refused.

“…Shouldn’t we fully restore the wizards’ power before that?”

He even said this.

Eldert paused with the wine in his mouth and soon realized. There was some side effect on King Toolrun due to controlling the wizards.

He didn’t know what it was, but one thing was certain. It was a fatal side effect that made it impossible to put out even a single fire in the forest right now.