Margrave’s Bastard Son Was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 736

Ian lightly tugged at the ribbon tie, examining himself in the mirror. He hadn’t worn such an accessory since he was very young, and it made him realize how unpredictable life could be.

Just as he was thinking it was fortunate he had come alone without the mages, the door opened.

“It suits you well!”

It was the immigration officer, Mer.

He had left his immigration duties to his subordinate and immediately brought Ian into the capital. By now, the mages should have safely found the building Banusah had told them about.

When Ian nodded slightly, Mer’s eyes gleamed sharply.

“Where were you sold from?”

“I’ve wandered around so much, it’s hard to say from one place.”

“Your posture is correct. And your hands are delicate.”

It sounded like a brief compliment, but upon closer inspection, it was a meaningful remark. A slave who had been sold from place to place would hardly have good posture and delicate hands. Ian instinctively knew that Mer was suspicious.

However, there was no need to say more. Not all slaves lived doing only hard labor.

“Let’s go. When you meet the lord, bow your head immediately.”

“…Yes.”

Ian hesitated for a moment.

If the mages had joined Banusah, they would have secured a path into the royal palace. Was it right to waste time here? He could throw away the ribbon and disappear right now if he wanted to.

Tick-tock. Ian turned his head, looking for the source of the ticking sound. What time was it? The sun was still up, but it would be better to move carefully at night.

“He’s a very important person. Not just any lord.”

A lord, in a way, was like a king within his jurisdiction. The immigration officers’ plundering of the baggage carts was largely to pay tribute to the lord.

Ian listened with one ear as he surveyed his surroundings. Okay, then, the way out is…

“The lord is actually Lord Kumasha’s father.”

“……?”

Ian paused at the unexpected words. Kumasha was the king of Toolun. But the king’s father?

When Ian couldn’t hide his surprise, Mer chuckled and patted his shoulder, urging him to keep walking.

“There’s no need to be so surprised.”

“…Are you royalty?”

Ian asked as if he knew nothing. Mer casually greeted the passing servants with a nod and muttered.

“Not royalty.”

In common terms, he was a man who had changed his fate by selling his daughter. When Kumasha, who had been in the slums, was led to the royal palace by her vassals, he had watched silently from the sidelines.

After that, he had obtained the position of lord of the outskirts of the capital simply because he was related to Kumasha by blood, and he was now living so lavishly. Meanwhile, his daughter was trapped in the royal palace, unable to see anyone.

“Well, it’s not something you need to know deeply.”

Mer cut off the conversation and closed his mouth. There was no need to say more to someone who was about to be thrown away like a toy.

Ian fiddled with the end of the ribbon, thinking.

‘Judging by the fact that they only mentioned the father, he must have remarried.’

It was best to make a decision before entering the main residence. If he was related to Kumasha, there was a possibility that he was also under the influence of puppetry [mind control magic].

What if Kumasha saw Ian through his eyes? All the effort he had put into infiltrating would be for nothing.

But.

‘I might be able to get some information.’

Secrets of the king that no one else knew, or something like that.

Ian paused in front of a cart carrying goods and fiddled with the ribbon.

“Excuse me.”

“What is it?”

“Then, is it possible for me to go to the royal palace?”

Mer scoffed at the audacious question. He knew it. He had thought that the slave had grown up too well, but he was different from the others. He had something inside him. Hope, or perhaps ambition.

“That will never happen, so it’s better to wake up from that dream.”

“Is that so?”

They were like non-existent beings to each other.

The father occasionally mentioned her name, but the king had never looked for him. Rather, he treated him as if he were dead, drawing a clear line.

From what he had heard, the king seemed to have a bad feeling towards her father. It wasn’t like he had sold her off, and she had ascended to the throne by the choice of her vassals, but he didn’t know why. Only the higher-ups would know the details. He was just an immigration officer going back and forth on the outskirts.

Squeak.

Mer opened the door to the main building, turning his body as if to tell him to go in.

It was a moment of choice. Mer’s answer suggested that the relationship between the lord and the king was not deep. Rather, if the relationship between the lord and the king was strong, he would have offered himself to Kumasha, not thrown him to the lord’s daughter as a toy.

Then, there was a high possibility that the father was not under the influence of puppetry.

‘The fact that they keep their distance despite being blood relatives means there’s a deeper rift than a normal relationship.’

Love-hate, or even hatred beyond that. Or perhaps, that father was a piece of Kumasha’s weakness.

Ian decided it was best to meet him first. If he was caught…

‘…Let’s just say I wasted some effort.’

He had already entered the capital, so he could just push into the royal palace faster.

Ian made up his mind and walked past Mer. As soon as the door to the main building closed, Mer led the way.

“Never raise your head before the lord’s permission. Act politely. Remember that your life hangs on his slightest whim, and always be on your guard.”

Mer continued to give instructions as he went up the stairs. He glanced back at Ian’s face, but no matter how he looked, he didn’t seem nervous at all.

He guessed that the guy must have been a slave who had served a higher-up somewhere else. Otherwise, how could he explain his natural and confident gait? Well, the lord’s daughter would be happy, so it didn’t matter anyway.

“Officer Mer, welcome.”

“Where is the lord?”

“He’s inside. Ah, that must be the gift.”

“You’re very quick to speak.”

“I heard the children who went to deliver clothes to the annex making a fuss. I told them not to make a scene, but it was my mistake. I didn’t realize Officer Mer’s eye for talent was so good.”

“Haha. Please announce my presence.”

“Yes. Master, it’s Officer Mer.”

“…Come in.”

The permission was easily granted. As the door slowly opened, Ian expected to see the lord sitting at his desk, working. But-

“Oh, Officer Mer?”

The lord was sitting on the floor, building a castle out of cards. He was kneeling, very reverently. He was concentrating all his attention on one thin card, not even looking up.

Ian glanced at the clean desk and realized he had been wrong. How could someone who had risen to the position of lord by selling the king’s name do his job properly?

Crash!

“Ugh!”

The card castle eventually collapsed, and the lord lay sprawled on the floor, forgetting all decorum.

Mer bowed his head in greeting, as if he was used to it.

“Have you eaten, Lord?”

“Of course. Of course. There’s still plenty of the meat you sent last time. What brings you here this time?”

“I heard that your daughter has been lonely lately. I happened to have a good item, so I brought it.”

“Oh my! Goodness! Mer, there’s no one who cares for Aris as much as you do. Hmm. Let’s see, he’s very handsome!”

“He speaks the common language well and seems to have been educated. He’ll be perfect to play with.”

The lord stood up and circled Ian, examining him closely. He was probably the best item that Officer Mer had brought so far.

The lord nodded in satisfaction and sat on the dusty desk. He couldn’t have looked more out of place.

“What should I give you this time? Huh?”

“Oh, no. I’m grateful for your kindness.”

“That won’t do! There must be something in return for what you bring.”

Not only did he lack decorum, but he also lacked common sense. To talk about compensation in front of his subordinates. Ian lowered his eyes slightly. They should be deeply grateful that this was not Bariel [a powerful and ruthless figure].

“Since you say so, haha. It’s just that the immigration officers’ salaries have been frozen for three months now.”

It was an absurd claim that their salaries hadn’t been raised for three months. It seemed that the country had been gradually falling apart since the main Bariel force was in Burgos.

The lord waved his hand as if it was nothing.

“You should have told me that sooner, you know.”

“It’s not easy to see you because you’re so busy with official duties.”

“Oh, don’t say that.”

It was then. A small door inside the office opened cautiously.

A girl who looked about five years old appeared through the door. The child had black eyes and hair, and she kept staring at Ian with curious eyes.

“Oh, Aris!”

That must be the lord’s daughter. Ian tried to guess Kumasha’s appearance from the child’s features. Since they were related by blood, there must be some similarities.

“Daddy?”

“Come here. Officer Mer has prepared a gift for you.”

Aris approached hesitantly and stared at Ian. The child’s eyes sparkled. Like a starry night sky. She must have liked Ian.

Mer, satisfied, suggested to the child.

“Lady Aris. If you’re okay with it, why don’t you give him a name and go play in the garden together?”

“Can I?”

“Of course. He’s yours. Whether you want to play word games or house, do as you please.”

The child’s nostrils flared. Her cheeks flushed with excitement at the thought of getting a really fun and pretty toy.

“Let’s go!”

The child grabbed Ian’s hand and ran off. She wanted to hear more of the adults’ conversation, but the situation didn’t allow it.

Ian followed the child into the garden, all the while continuing to assess the structure of the mansion.

“Look at this!”

Aris showed off her toys piled up next to the garden, as if wanting Ian’s reaction.

What should he do? After much deliberation, Ian clapped lightly a couple of times and praised her.

“…Your collection is excellent.”

“What’s that?”

“It’s a collection of things you like.”

“Oh! You use really difficult words. Are you a show-off?”

Even as she said that, she crossed her arms and tilted her head proudly. Then, from now on, you’re one of that collection! The child pointed her finger at the ground and commanded.

“Let’s play word games first. Get down!”

But Ian just stared at the child, not getting down. After a moment of thought, Ian’s arm rested on his waist.

“What are you doing? Don’t you know how to play word games?”

“I know how to play word games, but I can’t.”

“Huh? What did you say?”

“I said I can’t.”

Ian shook his finger firmly, and Aris blinked, not knowing what was going on. She was about to tell the servants to get this guy…!

“Instead, let’s play family.”

This guy…!

“Tell me about your family. I heard you’re very important.”

This handsome guy…!

“Are you the king’s sister?”