Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 68

A carriage entered the mansion gates with great fanfare. It was similar to when the investigation team had stormed in before, but distinctly different. Even a blind person could tell from afar that it carried good news.

The residents of the territory followed the carriage out of curiosity as it passed.

“What is it? Another carriage from the capital?”

“Surely not! The investigation team isn’t back, is it?”

“The flag is different from last time. And doesn’t the carriage look too expensive? What’s going on, hmm.”

“Carriages are always expensive, you idiot.”

“Oh? It’s going up to the mansion!”

All the servants working at the mansion rushed outside, and Ian also shook off the dirt and walked towards the main gate.

Creak.

A long procession followed the huge, ornate carriage. Imperial soldiers stood at attention, holding ceremonial swords. Their dignified appearance made everyone refrain from loud whispers.

And then, an old woman stepped out of the carriage.

“Ah. It’s Administrator Cielonia.”

Only Romandro recognized her; she seemed to be in a similar position to Molin. Her eyes shone sharply despite her deep wrinkles. She looked around with an elegant posture and immediately found Ian.

“Are you Ian?”

“Yes, I am.”

“I have come with the Emperor’s words. Everyone, kneel.”

Ian carefully knelt, and soon everyone in the mansion followed suit. The woman read the letter in a dignified and weighty voice.

-The recommendation letter from First Prince Marib Verosion and Advisor Romandro has been approved by the General Assembly. In recognition of his contributions to the reconstruction of the territory and the defense of the borders, Ian is hereby appointed as the new Baron of the former Bratz territory. However…

The servants raised their heads, forgetting their manners, at the mention of being appointed as lord. The people gathered outside did the same. They strained their ears, trying to eavesdrop on what the imperial palace had to say.

-The fact that you are the illegitimate son of Derga Bratz will be an indelible mark under any circumstances. Therefore, I propose a condition. If you offer to the Imperial Palace the taxes that Derga Bratz failed to pay and the opportunity cost of improving your treatment as lord, the glory of the new family will continue for generations to come.

‘Oh, my.’

Ian smiled, slightly raising an eyebrow. In short, it meant he was a lord for a limited time. If he paid the dues within that time, he could continue his position without any problems, but if he failed, everything would fall under the disposal of the Imperial Palace.

Including Ian’s status and all the assets of the territory.

“That concludes the Emperor’s message. The official lord appointment ceremony will be held at the Imperial Palace at the end of the year, so if you agree, come up on the appointed date.”

Going to the lord appointment ceremony meant that he could be officially granted a new family name and declare the family crest. Ian nodded lightly.

“Was there no mention of the payment period?”

“It will be one year from the appointment ceremony, and the total amount to be paid is 10,000 gold coins.”

“Heeik!”

A servant, whose identity was unknown, exclaimed. It was the first time they had ever heard of an amount like 10,000 gold coins in their lives, and how were they supposed to come up with that? And that was separate from the regular annual taxes.

Cielonia rolled up the letter and handed it to Ian.

“You certainly have the right to refuse.”

“Absolutely not. How could I dare refuse the Emperor’s words?”

It was truly impossible. The letter included the phrase ‘opportunity cost of improving your treatment.’ It probably referred to demoting Ian, a mana user, to a slave and making him belong to the Imperial Palace. Refusing the appointment here would be no different from asking to be made a slave. Even if he ran away to the Great Desert, there was no chance if the Imperial Palace decided to hunt him down.

“I will accept it with boundless glory.”

“The appointment ceremony will be held along with the New Year’s party. The detailed schedule will be delivered separately, and please prepare the family crest to be announced.”

The family name was given by the Emperor, so Ian had no choice.

“Yes. I understand.”

“Congratulations, Lord Ian.”

Although it was not officially declared, the Emperor’s order had reached him. Cielonia lightly bowed her head to Ian, offering her congratulations.

“Thank you.”

“Ah, and one more thing.”

She said, choosing her words carefully for a moment.

“Yes?”

“Is Lord Molin safe?”

They were from the same administrative department and of similar age. They must have been colleagues for a long time. Through Romandro’s report, she could confirm that there had been a conflict with Ian, but there was no mention of his safety, which was a great concern.

“Of course, he’s safe.”

“From now on, I will deliver the order of Second Prince Gail, not the Emperor’s.”

She took a step forward from the carriage. Then, she took out another letter from her inner pocket and unfolded it.

-Secure Molin, Mac, and Degore and return with them.

Chak!

Cielonia raised her head stiffly and gestured as if to say, ‘Carry it out quickly.’ Ian crossed his arms and stared at her.

“What are you doing?”

“I’d like to ask you that. What are you doing?”

Her eyebrows furrowed slightly at the unexpected attitude. He should be bowing down, saying he would accept it immediately, but instead, he was questioning her? However, Ian’s next words were information that even surprised Romandro.

“The Emperor is like the sun. Just as the sun never stops moving, the carriage should minimize its stops, and just as there is only one sun in the sky, only the Emperor’s orders should be delivered. Surely, the administrator knows that.”

“… !”

The Emperor’s order cannot have any additions. The imperial order must be delivered solely as an imperial order, and there should be no extra branches. This was an old rule of the Imperial Palace. So, why was she adding Gail’s words?

“It is truly disrespectful. The administrator knows that if the Emperor finds out, she could be dismissed, doesn’t she?”

Then, Romandro, flustered, rolled his eyes.

“I-Is that true? Ian?”

“It’s the most basic of basics. Didn’t you know, Lord Romandro?”

“I’ve never received an imperial order directly…”

Usually, the delivery of imperial orders was mostly completed at the General Assembly unless it was a very special case. There was rarely a need to deliver it to such a distant place. This was a kind of unspoken rule that Ian knew because he was once an Emperor.

Cielonia’s face stiffened.

‘How does a commoner bastard from the outskirts know that…’

Even nobles who weren’t interested wouldn’t know, but she didn’t expect him to know and retort like this. She was wondering what to add, but Ian took the lead.

“It seems like a very disrespectful act to the Emperor and Lord Marib. Administrator Cielonia, I can ‘confirm’ that Molin and his group are safe, but nothing more than that is possible.”

Besides the rules, Molin’s group were loyal henchmen of the enemy. They could become daggers again at any time.

‘Is the magic department and the administrative department on Gail’s side? Or is it just Molin and Cielonia? Whatever it is, I’m sorry, but I can’t hand over those three.’

Ian looked at Cielonia’s expression with a determined face. It seemed that Gail was trying to save them, but no one could touch them until Marib’s order came.

“…Lord Ian. This is a special case.”

“Special? How so? By the way, everyone here will hear what you say. Be careful.”

A lie begets a lie. Ian nodded, telling her to speak quickly. He knew the rules of delivering imperial orders so well, so how could he not know more than that?

Cielonia bit her lower lip slightly and erased her troubled expression.

“…First, let’s check on the safety of Molin and his group. This will be reported to the Imperial Palace.”

“Very well. I will guide you. Beric!”

“Yes, sir!”

“The carriage has been standing for a long time, so it would be best to hurry. Administrator Cielonia.”

Cielonia ignored Ian and entered the main building. Ian, who was about to follow her, suddenly met the eyes of the servants standing in a row, looking at him. They were sparkling, as if stars were twinkling. They quietly whispered, clenching their teeth as if using ventriloquism.

“Congratulations, Lord Ian!”

“Oh my goodness, you’ve become a noble. What is this…”

“Lord Ian is going to receive the title of Baron!”

“A Baron, that’s higher than a Viscount, isn’t it?”

They all celebrated Ian’s rise in status with one heart. It meant that their hometown, Bratz, would be normalized, and the job security of the mansion would be more solid.

Ian smiled, showing his gratitude, and followed Cielonia into the underground prison.

“This way.”

Beric’s guidance quickened Cielonia’s pace. But Ian’s words stopped her.

“Do not engage in any rash conversations.”

“What?”

“Molin is suspected of conspiring with outsiders to kill me. Now that I have been appointed as lord, I have the authority to detain Molin for my safety.”

It was a threatening warning that if they did anything foolish, he would turn them into corpses. Cielonia felt like the situation was constantly deviating from her expectations. The picture she had been drawing for the past two weeks was not this.

‘It feels like I’m being led around by the nose since earlier…’

There was a good way to deal with this. That was to minimize her words. Cielonia remained silent, looking straight ahead, and Ian glanced at her before ordering the Cheonryeok [a type of guard or soldier].

“Open the door.”

Creak.

As the door opened, a strange musty smell poured out. Although they swept and cleaned every day, it was inevitable since there were no windows.

“Molin!”

“…Cielonia?”

“Administrator Cielonia!”

“What brings you here? No, more importantly, please get us out of here! That incompetent guy…”

Mac, who was shouting that they had been imprisoned, trailed off when he saw Cielonia’s attire. It was the formal attire worn when delivering an imperial order. At this time, there was only one imperial order.

“Surely, that Ian has been given the lord appointment letter?”

Silence was the answer to Mac’s despairing question. Molin sat on a chair and rubbed his eyes. From their perspective, it was the worst of the worst. It felt like things were constantly going wrong without any resolution.

“Is Lord Gail doing well?”

“Hahahaha.”

Ian, who was listening from the side, burst out laughing at Molin’s question. His laughter was so clear and bright that Cielonia could only stare in confusion.

“Look. He’s eating well, sleeping well, and doing everything he needs to do, enough to worry about others. Except for the lack of windows, it’s not bad. Where else would an assassination conspirator get such luxury?”

Cielonia couldn’t refute Ian’s words. Although they looked shabby, there were no signs of torture or abuse. It was so spacious and furnished that it was hard to believe it was a prison.

“If you have anything to say, please share it. And Lord Mac, as you guessed, I am Baron Ian from this moment on. Please use the proper title.”

There was a big difference between being a noble family’s child and inheriting a noble title. Ian had become the one responsible for the territory, so it was a warning to show him proper respect. Otherwise, he could be accused of insult.

“Ian… Lord. I would like to talk to you for a moment.”

Cielonia, who had been watching the situation, intervened and pleaded. But Ian’s answer was already decided.

“Oh, I refuse.”