Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 700

Ian watched the departing carriage, a teacup in his hand. He had no doubt Beric would manage, but the closer they got to the north, the more unforeseen dangers they would surely encounter.

Jin quietly observed Ian, then asked cautiously,

“Sir Ian, are you feeling alright?”

“…Yes, Your Majesty.”

Ian’s reply was slightly delayed. He couldn’t tell if Jin was asking about his recovery from the depleted mana after the Luswena War or about his physical condition due to a hangover. Perhaps, it was both.

Ian smiled nonchalantly and put down his teacup, indicating that nothing unusual had happened to him last night.

Knock knock.

“Your Majesty, Lady Danit and Lady Kyla of the Holin family have arrived.”

“Let them in.”

At Jin’s permission, the door slowly opened. With the departure date set, the main force of Bariel was confirmed to be moving, so the mother and daughter of the Holin family had come to receive a situation report.

Soon, Lady Danit entered, her velvet dress trailing behind her, and Lady Kyla appeared in her wheelchair.

“Welcome. It seems like it’s been a while since I’ve seen both the Lady and the Young Lady together.”

Lady Danit and Lady Kyla were nobles of Bariel and descendants of the Vergos royal family. Therefore, they were working to purge the Vergos royalists with the support of Bariel and establish a new dynasty.

Lady Kyla, now accustomed to her wheelchair, skillfully propelled herself closer.

“I apologize. Our schedules didn’t align.”

“There’s no need to apologize. As you’ve heard, the departure date for the main force has been set. Now, the Bariel soldiers stationed in Kalamat will also withdraw. Are you prepared?”

It was a question of whether they could control Kalamat without Bariel’s help.

The Holin family had been distributing food and necessities to gain the trust of the Kalamat residents, and they had been promoting themselves as the true successors and the bridge to Bariel.

“Yes. It’s unfortunate to say, but the milk of Vergos is completely contaminated, and the residents are full of hostility towards Toolun. Everyone knows that only Bariel can solve this, so even if the soldiers withdraw, we can protect the palace on our own.”

Lady Kyla’s voice was full of confidence. The Emperor nodded in satisfaction.

“Good. Then Bariel will entrust the rear to you and march north without worry. I will leave a mana stone that connects directly to Minister Tweller, so use it.”

“Ah, speaking of mana stones, there is something else to report.”

Lady Danit gestured to her subordinate to bring a stack of documents.

“This is a rumor I heard when I was at the mine with Commander Acorella-”

Instead of Lady Kyla, who had difficulty moving, Lady Danit had been traveling around, taking care of things. Currently, she had returned from the mana stone mining site with Acorella due to the Emperor’s withdrawal order. This was in preparation for Toolun’s attack, but since Bariel was advancing first, she was planning to return to the mine.

“What is it?”

“A long time ago, an old man said that eastern mages had visited the mine. I thought it was just hearsay and nonsense, but there was an official document left.”

Jin, intrigued, carefully flipped through the documents. They were so old that they were on the verge of crumbling.

-…A great mage from the east appeared with his disciples. They wore peculiar clothes, long robes fastened with belts, and all of them, men and women alike, had long black hair…….

-…Appearing with the wind, they were treated with the utmost hospitality by the lord, and soon, they looked around the mine and thought. There is the mana stone they need. But for some reason, they left the territory not long after, and the lord, who could not distinguish between ordinary stones and mana stones, postponed the mine development for a while…….

“When was this recorded?”

“If the date is accurate, it was 78 years ago.”

Lady Danit placed another report on the table. It detailed the types of mana stones mined by Acorella and the Magic Department before the withdrawal order was issued.

Jin immediately handed the documents to Ian.

“Perhaps one of these is the material the eastern mages wanted.”

Uronium, Awel, Stizaton, Crocium, Notar…. It wasn’t just high-grade mana stones. There was a mix of low and mid-grade, and it was impossible to know which of these the eastern mages were looking for. However, statistically…….

“Crocium and Notar are likely candidates. These are high-grade mana stones found only in Vergos, now and in the future, and they are quite rare.”

“Does the Imperial Palace not have any?”

“No, it doesn’t.”

And these were essential materials for building the Magic Department’s annex. The biggest reason why the Magic Department’s construction had not been carried out in the past 10 years when Ian was absent. They were also the main mana stones that were not supplied due to the Vergos civil war.

“It would be better to move these to the Bariel Imperial Palace, not Vergos. Since the eastern mages have contacted Hawan, there is a possibility that they will try to make contact with us if they have the chance.”

If they still needed it, it would certainly be a good bargaining chip.

Jin also tapped the report, indicating his agreement.

“The Holin family will be responsible for delivering the high-grade mana stones to the Bariel Imperial Palace.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I will obey your command. And there is one more thing I would like to ask.”

“What is it?”

“What should we do with Lady Chloe?”

Chloe Davion, who was a strong candidate for Empress along with Kyla, had become a completely different person due to Acorella’s magical experiments. Both internally and externally.

“Lady Chloe’s participation in the war was to gain the qualifications for Empress, but in the current situation, it has become useless. Therefore, if you are going to send her back to Bariel, wouldn’t it be better to have her accompany the transport of the high-grade mana stones?”

Unlike Vergos, which was already in a state of civil war, Toolun was exceptionally dangerous. What if something happened if they took Chloe with them? The relationship with the Davion family could be strained. Her participation was like a kind of agreed-upon test.

“Although the Young Lady is crying and refusing to go.”

Lady Kyla added with a smirk.

Life is truly strange. When they were in Bariel, the Empress’s seat was their only goal. Now, Kyla herself was eager to take the throne of Vergos, and Chloe was desperate to be by another man’s side.

Jin leaned back on the sofa and pondered for a moment.

“The Holin family will also send Lady Chloe Davion’s handwritten letter to the Imperial Palace. It is necessary to show that she remained of her own will.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. We will do so.”

Kyla slightly lowered her head and glanced towards the door.

With that look, Jin and Ian realized that Lady Chloe was waiting outside. It seemed that if they tried to send her to Bariel against her will, she was ready to rush in and prostrate herself, even if it meant being rude.

“That concludes the report that requires discussion. Then, we will also put more effort into preparing for the departure. Your Majesty, I pray that you will achieve complete victory and return safely. I will pray deeply.”

“…Kyla, you too. Take care.”

If Jin left Kalamat, the two would have no way to meet again. Perhaps there would be a chance if she ascended the throne of Vergos someday? Maybe. Could they exchange greetings beyond formal greetings through an envoy? It wouldn’t be easy. Especially for a king with mobility issues.

Kyla smiled brightly, looking directly into the Emperor’s eyes.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The one who taught me what affection is, I will never forget you. It was truly good to have met you in the past. Thanks to you, I exist as I am now.

Kyla extended her hand to Jin, and the Emperor’s lips touched it. She bowed her head respectfully.

Squeak.

After leaving the audience chamber, Kyla made eye contact with Chloe, who was standing against the wall with her hands clasped together. What happened? Kyla felt like teasing Chloe at her desperate look, but she pushed her wheelchair past her.

“Prepare a handwritten letter. We’ll deliver it.”

“H-haah.”

Then, Chloe’s legs gave way, and she slumped down.

“Th-thank you.”

“I hope you know that a letter of support from the Davion family is much more needed than such pleasantries.”

At that, Chloe’s eyes narrowed sharply. The reason they had grabbed each other’s hair and fought suddenly came to mind. …She’s still a pain.

“Don’t worry about that. I’ll definitely keep my promise.”

“That’s good. But Chloe, you’re something else. How could you even think of going to war after a man?”

“Oh my, has your brain deteriorated in the meantime? Aren’t you talking about yourself? Who was it that was making a fuss about participating in the war for the Empress’s seat?”

Crack. Kyla and Chloe glared at each other as if they were disgusted. If Lady Danit hadn’t blocked them with her fan, they would have pounced on each other.

“Anyway, Lady Chloe. I wish you good luck. I hope you return safely and that a strong relationship of support between the Davion family and Vergos is established.”

The Davion family was still a powerful bureaucratic family that dominated the Imperial Palace, but if Chloe and Siao Shi officially married later, their presence would shine even brighter. Not as a relationship of checks and balances, but as a family that truly shared the Emperor’s vision.

Everyone knew how valuable it would be for the Holin family, who were just starting a new dynasty, to receive such a family’s letter of support, without needing further explanation.

“Yes, Madam. I will definitely come back alive. So I can see with my own two eyes. How great Kyla has become.”

“It would be better to see it now. You won’t be able to look me in the eye when that time comes. Mother, let’s go. There’s no need to waste time on unnecessary things.”

‘You annoying bitch.’

‘Yeah, you crazy bitch.’

They seemed to know what insults they were hurling at each other without saying a word.

Lady Danit smiled faintly and pushed Kyla’s wheelchair. They didn’t seem to realize it, but this could be defined as a ‘close relationship’.

* * *

Clatter clatter!

Neigh!

Inside Taoma’s carriage, speeding towards the northern border of Vergos.

Beric opened the window and stuck his face out. The cold wind seemed to ease his nausea. That crazy Taoma, it was as if a ghost who couldn’t drink in his past life had possessed him, he had been pouring down alcohol like it was food since they left Kalamat.

“Beric, won’t you have a drink?”

“You drink it all. I don’t usually say this to other people, but you’re really disgusting.”

“Kuhahahat! This is an honor!”

Taoma offered a glass to Cedric as well, but the child refused firmly and politely.

Beric unfolded a map, looking bored.

“So, where is the mana stone drawing that leads to the south?”

“Once we cross the Vergos border, there’s a small village called Altar. It’s a place with less than a hundred residents. We just need to go there, so, um. If we drive without stopping, it’ll take about three days.”

“We’ve been driving all day, so does that mean we have two days left?”

“…Senior.”

“What.”

“You’re holding the map upside down.”

Beric paused at Cedric’s words. …There was another disgusting bastard here. Just as Beric was about to retort, a shout came from the driver’s seat.

“There’s a group with the Bariel Imperial flag ahead! They look like soldiers, what should we do?”

“Oh, stop. They might be the Osu investigation team.”

Beric handed the map to Cedric, then leaned out of the window, looking ahead. Soldiers were coming down, looking weak and tired. One, two, three, four…….

“Huh.”

It seems like the Osu investigation team, but why aren’t they there?

‘Clark isn’t there. Nor that paladin that His Majesty likes.’