Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 683

“Welcome!”

The soldiers, looking around, felt relieved by the warm reception from the Mayor of Karenna. They hadn’t even reached the city proper, but the people’s reactions and the overall atmosphere were far better than they had anticipated.

The officer gave a slight nod and asked, “Are you Mayor Onyx of Karenna?”

“Yes, yes, that’s me. You must have had a long journey. I assume the main support troops are following behind?”

“Indeed. We are the advance party. How is the situation in the city? What about Hielo and Merelov?”

“Oh, don’t even get me started!” The mayor waved his hand dismissively, as if utterly disgusted. Since the survivors of Merelov had sought refuge in Karenna and the surrounding small towns, he could paint a more vivid picture of that day’s events than anyone else.

“Hielo is said to be completely destroyed. There are fewer than a dozen survivors, all of whom were children hiding in the basement of the mansion. In fact, there are no other survivors. Buildings, roads… nothing is intact. I heard it’s become like a flat plain.”

The officer frowned at his words. The scale of the damage seemed considerable. Although Hielo was on the border, it was a historically significant place with a substantial population. But everyone was dead, tsk tsk.

The officer glanced at Roel’s carriage and added, “Any other news? For example, about Cheonryeo [a title or name, possibly a person of importance].”

“I heard he fought bravely when that crazy mage attacked, but that’s all. It seems he’s almost dead too. Hielo is practically…” A dead land. That’s how the Mayor of Karenna described it.

The officer sighed softly and gestured to move quickly. Hielo had already fallen, but there were still enemies to push back.

Specifically, Hawan and Ruthwena.

“Still, it’s said that the Bariel mages moved quickly and drove out the enemies. But this is news from a few days ago, so I don’t know about now.”

“Are you talking about Minister Ian?”

“Yes, yes. The owner of the Hielo territory. I met him once a long time ago, haha. He’s a truly remarkable person, isn’t he? He must be even more grown up now.”

The Mayor of Karenna’s wife nodded enthusiastically at his words.

“But who is in that carriage?”

“Ah, yes. There is a precious person inside.”

“Oh my. If it’s a precious person, are they a mage?”

“No. It’s Ian Hielo’s younger sibling and a Cheonryeo. Let’s hurry into the city first. We need to contact the main force following behind and get more details there. The survivors are safe, right?”

“Yes, yes, of course. They are all gathered in temporary shelters.”

Just as the Mayor of Karenna was about to order the people to turn around, his wife asked the officer, “Is it a young girl?”

“Yes, it is.”

“Then, how about moving the carriage? It would be much better than a military carriage. It would also be convenient since the attendants are with us. We also have some simple food prepared to ease your hunger.”

“Hmm. That’s good. The wheels are creaking badly from the rough journey anyway. Let me ask them.”

“May I greet them in person?”

“Of course. Come this way.”

Just as the officer was about to knock on the window of Roel’s carriage, the mayor’s wife, who had been smiling brightly, sensed a strange presence and turned around.

The officer and soldiers did the same. Looking back, they saw someone coming along the road they had just traveled, riding a horse at full speed.

“Who is it?”

“Check it out!” It didn’t seem to be part of the support troops, but it was suspicious that they were approaching at full speed. The adjutant picked up his binoculars to identify them.

Meanwhile, Roel’s eyes, who had just peeked out the window, grew wider and wider, like a leaf that had been curled up, now stretching out.

“…Mother?” The officer, hearing Roel’s murmur, turned to the child in confusion. Mother? Was she talking about Mrs. Philia? How could the Minister of Magic’s mother be here?

The Mayor of Karenna’s wife was also surprised. The difference was that her eyes were sparkling more than ever. Of course, no one noticed.

Screech! Thud!

“Mother!” As soon as Roel saw Philia’s golden hair, she got out of the carriage and ran. She waved her hands frantically and shook her head, looking desperate.

“You can’t! You shouldn’t come!” The last image of her mother that she had seen. That scene seemed to become clearer and clearer. The child shed tears, begging her to stop.

“Stop! Hey, you! Please send my mother back!”

“Lady Roel, please calm down for a moment-”

“I have to go and stop my mother right now! If she gets even a step closer to Hielo, my mother will-!”

“Roel-!” But the mother’s tearful call made even Roel pause. My love, my mother, whom I might not see again if not now… Her face, smiling brightly through tears, was so beautiful.

In the end, the child shouted out loud, “If you come any closer, you’ll die!” So please, go back. Go back to the center and live. Then, when the vortex of fate subsides, wouldn’t we be able to see each other again?

But the answer she received was unexpected. “I know, Roel!” “……!” Philia said without hesitation that she knew.

When she was leaving a letter at the mansion in Romandro, someone whispered in her ear as she fell asleep waiting for dawn. “Philia.” Ah- it was a voice as clear as a bead and as warm as the sunlight. It was the voice of her son, who had been calling her name since he was a toddler.

Philia naturally reached out her arms and hugged someone who was nestled in her embrace. “Philia has two choices. To follow Roel’s will, or to follow my will.”

“…I know, Roel! But that’s why I had no choice but to follow you!” Thud! Philia got off her horse and ran towards Roel. In the end, the mother held her daughter tightly in her arms and breathed a sigh of relief. It was the same warmth as the young Ian she had hugged in her sleep.

“What, what do you mean?”

“Roel. You have your will, and the gods have their will. And-” One of those standing at the crossroads of fate must die. So, if you want to save one person, you have no choice but to take their place.

Hugging Roel tightly, Philia murmured, “…And I have my will. This is my will.”

“Mother!” “It’s okay, Roel. There’s nothing to be afraid of.” Philia made eye contact with the bewildered officer, asking him to understand this sudden meeting.

The officer helped the two of them up and looked around. “Instead of staying here, let’s move to the village first.”

“Yes, officer. And this might sound strange, but please don’t dismiss it. A threat is coming. The threat targeting Roel is so clear that I had no choice but to come here.”

“Madam?” Could it be that the Minister of Magic’s mother has some mysterious power? The officer was puzzled but nodded, saying it was okay.

“Don’t worry. I will strengthen the security. Then, the move-” The officer glanced at the state of the military carriage and then pointed to the carriage that the villagers had brought. It seemed more suitable for two women to ride in.

And above all, if there was a hidden threat as Philia said? The military carriage could be a target for the enemies. “How about using that carriage over there?”

“I understand. Roel, come here. Mommy will protect you.” The mother and daughter held hands tightly and got into the carriage. When the Mayor of Karenna tried to follow, his wife stopped him.

“Why would you be uncomfortable?”

“No, but she’s the Minister of Magic’s mother, I should be by her side-”

“I’ll do it. Don’t worry and just make sure the escort is good.” Where do you think you’re going! At his wife’s sharp glare, the Mayor of Karenna just coughed and looked back at the villagers.

“Alright, everyone, go back!” “Yes, Mayor! There’s smoke rising from the village!” “Smoke? Is it a signal?” “Yes! It seems someone is coming from Hielo.” The mayor looked at the distant sky with his binoculars and then muttered as if he understood.

“Are mages coming from Hielo? That’s the signal for the support troops’ arrival.” Those coming from the center had no choice but to pass through the path where the mayor was. What other support troops besides mages would come from the other side? With welcome guests flocking in from all directions, the mayor nodded in satisfaction.

“Honey, please take good care of them.” “Of course.” The wife smiled and got into the carriage, locking the door.

Roel and Philia were stuck together as if they were one. The two of them leaned their foreheads against the window, holding each other’s hands. “Would you like something to eat?” “No, thank you. I’m fine.” Screech. Squeak!

The mayor’s wife checked the door locks twice more and then hit the ceiling as if ordering the coachman to start. Her pupils were extinguished, but no one noticed.

Clatter clatter! Inside the roughly shaking carriage, the Mayor of Karenna’s wife rested her chin on her hand and brought her left hand to her waist. Then, a very sharp and small dagger appeared.

“Mother.” “Yes?” Because of Roel’s sudden words, she had to hide it back in her sleeve.

“About what you said earlier about the will of the gods. Can you tell me exactly what it is? I don’t understand. Surely, he showed me…” I thought he conveyed his will by showing me my mother’s end.

When Roel trailed off, Philia gently stroked the child’s hair. “You’ll surely understand later.” “Did you see the same thing as me?” “Yes. And the future as well.” Philia leaned down and whispered to Roel, “I finally saw it too. Ian’s true form.”

“……!” Ian Verosian. The emperor of 100 years later. Blue eyes with a cold gaze and flowing golden hair. Like Roel’s mysterious green eyes, Philia’s green eyes also glimpsed the future. It was a gift from the gods given to those who chose it themselves.

‘…He looked so lonely and isolated. If I hadn’t come and Roel had been thrown into danger, the future would surely continue like that.’ Philia’s choice was not only for Roel, but also for Ian.

She held the child’s hand tightly and looked out the window. Then, she suddenly made eye contact with the Mayor of Karenna’s wife reflected in the window. Swoosh. A sudden sense of déjà vu arose.

Where had she seen that look before? While Philia was searching her memory, the wife suddenly stretched her mouth wide and smiled. “……!” Then she remembered. The puppeteers, the puppeteers who had kidnapped her in the middle of the night!

At that moment, the mayor’s wife lunged at Philia with all her might. The inside of the carriage instantly turned into chaos. Clatter clatter! “Aaaah!” The carriage shook violently, and a scream, whose it was, tore through the air, but it was drowned out by the loud sound of hooves. No one noticed the curtain gradually being stained with blood either.

Why was the coachman’s hearing so bad today, and why was the curtain made of red velvet? There was no way to know. Only the sound of the coachman sniffling and the soldiers muttering, ‘That carriage’s wheels are strange too,’ as they followed from a distance, could be heard.

* * *

“Ian?” Royal Palace of Ruthwena. Ian, who had opened a portal to return to Calamat, stopped walking without realizing it. A chilling sensation had swept through his entire body.

When he looked towards the direction of the Hielo territory, the mages pushed his back with a smile. “It’s okay! Captain Hale and Tommy will finish it well.” “…Okay.” They would do well. Eliminating the shadow passage and dealing with a few puppets was not difficult for them.

Ian shook off the strange feeling and turned around. “Let’s go back to Calamat.”