Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 76

“Are these the ones?”

“Yes, Count.”

The weather was so cold it felt like a single breath from God could bring a snowfall. Count Mereloff surveyed the men gathered before the mansion. Besides the conscripted soldiers, there were estate residents who had volunteered to go to Sheiron, standing awkwardly.

The butler closed the list and explained simply, “I’ve selected those with good conduct and large families.”

The road to and from Sheiron was isolated. Like being at sea on the vast ocean, if a problem arose, it would be difficult to resolve. Because it was a matter of survival, they were chosen based on their morality and responsibility.

Also, as compensation for their hardship, they would receive a certain amount of pay and be allowed to sell some personal goods. Count Mereloff was continuing his inspection when…

“Count! Count!”

*Swoosh!*

Someone came running from the main gate, evading the guards. The man immediately prostrated himself before Count Mereloff and began to beg profusely. The Count’s brow furrowed deeply at the sudden disruption.

“What is this? Since when has the mansion gate become so flimsy?”

“I’m Colin, from Highfen Town! Please, please include me in the temporary trade group! I beg you!”

Seeing him banging his head on the ground while begging, Count Mereloff looked at the butler, wondering what this was all about.

“I, I’m sorry, Count. Guards! Drag him away!”

“Count, I’m really useful. You saw, didn’t you? I’m confident in my running, and my strength is better than it looks. If you add one more young guy, we can carry at least five or six more sacks of wheat. No, seven more. Please, please…”

Count Mereloff crossed his arms and looked down at Colin’s head, which was flat on the ground. He was enthusiastic, and as he said, he was young, so the Count wondered why he had been excluded.

The butler quickly added, flipping through the list, “He has a large family, but he has no credit, frequenting private gambling dens. He’s also a petty criminal with a record.”

“That was when I was immature. I have four siblings, and my parents sell firewood every day. Honestly, I’m the only one not doing my part at home, so if you give me a chance, I’ll work hard!”

Count Mereloff pondered for a moment and then asked, “Were you a Mereloff estate resident from birth?”

“Yes, I was.”

“Alright. Include him.”

“Count! That’s a bit…”

“He’s trembling and begging for work, how could he cause trouble? There will be soldiers going with him, so there’s nothing to worry about. Instead, your compensation will be cut in half. Do you have any objections?”

“N, no, I don’t. No, I don’t. Thank you!”

It was a time when every person was needed. As he said, if they added one more person, they could carry more sacks, so there was no reason to refuse. Moreover, the compensation was halved. It was a win-win situation!

“Thank you! Thank you!”

“Alright. Butler, let’s wrap this up and go inside.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Colin bowed his head to the ground again as if he had been saved. Count Mereloff mistook his actions as desperation from hunger.

‘I’m alive. Haa, damn it, I’m alive. If I hadn’t gotten in here, those bastards would have…’ So, seeing him so moved with his hands together, he thought it was quite pathetic. He wondered what his family situation was like that he was so happy to get a job.

“Judging by his appearance, he’ll be good at his work. Don’t you think?”

“…I will educate him well.”

The butler reluctantly answered the Count’s words. No matter how much he was the master, he didn’t understand how he handled things. It must be foolishness brought on by greed.

He was frustrated that he couldn’t calculate which was more valuable, the benefit of including him or the stability of not including him.

“You. Colin, was it?”

“Yes, it is.”

“Stand over here.”

“Yes!”

The butler sighed deeply and guided the cheering Colin. Colin was genuinely happy that he could carry out Ian’s orders and that his life had been extended, and he followed behind.

“I will call out your names, and you will each come out and sign the contract. I will pay a portion of the compensation in advance.”

The butler unfolded the list again and gestured to the temporary trade group. Colin, who had carefully signed the contract, smiled awkwardly and received his compensation, then quickly left the mansion.

Even just looking at his back, he didn’t seem trustworthy at all. The butler sighed and put away the contract with his palm print on it.

*Thump, thump, thump!*

Colin passed by two men smoking on the side of the road. The two men exchanged a silent glance and then chuckled, exhaling smoke.

“He’s extended his lifeline.”

“Looks like it.”

Judging by the relief on his face, he must have joined the temporary trade group. If he had failed at that, tonight would have been Colin’s last night.

“But this place, the atmosphere is very different from when we came last time, isn’t it?”

The men stubbed out their cigarettes and muttered. They were Romandro’s subordinates, tasked with monitoring Colin. In just two or three months, the lively energy of the estate had withered.

“It’s because of the rumor that the merchant guild won’t be coming.”

“It’s not a rumor, is it?”

“Ah. That’s right.”

The disappointment and anxiety grew uncontrollably as much as the expectations had risen.

The subordinates followed Colin and disappeared into the darkness of the back alley, and soon, the man who had been watching the two men also turned away. It was Clark, a servant working at the Mereloff mansion.

*Knock, knock.*

Clark, who had returned to the mansion, knocked on the door of Lady Mereloff’s study. There was no answer from inside. He looked left and right in the hallway, then quickly entered.

“Madam, a suspicious person has mixed into the trade group.”

“Oh? That’s fortunate.”

Lady Mereloff did not show herself. She only answered with her clear voice as always.

“Clark, you should go well too.”

“…Yes.”

“I believe you will do well.”

“Don’t worry.”

Clark wanted to see the woman’s face one last time, but she did not come out in the end.

* * *

They had patched torn cloth several times and hammered wooden pieces under the soles of their shoes. It had already been four days since they left Mereloff. In the face of the wind that seemed to tear their skin, the trade group only sniffled as they pulled the empty carts.

“How much further do we have to go?”

“Well, the distance is similar to the Hawan Kingdom, but the road is so rough. Judging by the weather, it looks like it will snow soon.”

“But it’s still warm inside, maybe because I’m sweating.”

“Tsk. Ugh, why does my nose keep running? It’s going to fall off.”

Still, the atmosphere was not bad.

Even if they were soldiers, they were still residents of Mereloff and neighbors. They knew each other, whether they lived in the front house or the back house. Occasionally, laughter could be heard.

“Colin, where have you been?”

“…I just had some things to do here and there.”

“It’s not related to that, is it?”

“What do you mean?”

“You know, those big guys at the green-roofed gambling den were trying to kill someone in Bratz. There’s a rumor that it’s Ian.”

“The illegitimate son of the Count of Bratz?”

At the men’s words, Colin flinched and avoided their gaze. Even now, it felt like Ian was watching the situation with his eyes and ears. With an unknown power that had melted into his stomach.

“Ah, no. It’s not related to me.”

“Really? Well, if it was, you would be dead and wouldn’t be here.”

“That’s right. He’s the new head of the family now. Wow, what a fate. Born and raised in a brothel, and now he’s even received a title.”

“A brothel?”

“Why, isn’t his mother a courtesan? That’s why people need to have skills.”

“A courtesan? I don’t think so? From what I heard, she just lived there because of debt.”

“Whatever. Who cares what she did? It’s all about luck, luck. It started with the Count’s head being cut off after going to the Great Desert. He came back alive, so he’s used up all his luck!”

“That sounds like your wishful thinking. Hehe.”

The chattering voices were not heard. These were the first facts Colin had learned. He had just joined because they said they would give him money, without thinking about the consequences…

“Let’s rest here for today. The cave is suitable.”

“Yeah. If we go any further, the sun will set.”

“Tsk. It’s winter, so the days are short. We can’t move.”

They spread out their sleeping bags in a small cave and set up the carts at the entrance. It was inconvenient because the entrance was blocked, but it was enough to block the cold wind. When firewood was piled up in the middle and a fire was lit, everyone became drowsy and sprawled out.

“What if it snows overnight?”

“What do you mean what if… We’re screwed…”

“Ugh. Move over a little.”

“I don’t have any space? Do you want me to burn to death in the bonfire?”

“I’ll move back a little.”

Colin moved away from the crowded area and went to the entrance. It was cold, but it was the best place to carry out his plan.

And a few hours later.

“Kuh…”

“Ugh, khek…”

When the sound of people snoring hit his ears.

Colin quietly got up, grabbed a torch, and went outside. The night that had fallen was pitch black.

‘I’m sorry, everyone. But if I don’t do this, I’ll die.’

He took out an oil pouch from his inner pocket and threw it onto the empty cart. And hesitatingly, he wondered whether to throw the fire onto the oil. At that moment.

“Hey, what are you doing there?”

“Heeik!”

Suddenly, he heard a presence behind him.

Colin was surprised, but he didn’t drop the torch. A man approached with a nonchalant expression, then looked back and forth between the cart, the fire, and Colin.

“Ah, I wasn’t doing anything?”

“Not doing anything? Colin, you! Did you start a fire for the gold? You damned! Oh my god!”

“…Huh?”

It was like watching a play. He shouted loudly by himself, then snatched the torch from Colin and threw it without hesitation. Flames rose around the bewildered Colin.

“Wh, wh, what…”

*Swoosh!*

A blade quickly grazed his neck. Colin’s vision slowly rose, and soon he could only see the dark night sky. One by one, people got up at the commotion and ran out of the cave.

“…What’s going on, Clark? Heeik! Fire! It’s fire!”

“Is there no water? Damn it! Throw dirt on it!”

“Fire! Fire! Everyone, wake up!”

“Aaaah! Crazy!”

“That guy started the fire!”

Even in the commotion, Colin only blinked. He couldn’t speak. In the sky, like white dots, snowflakes were falling with the stars.

‘Who is it? I don’t know him, but he knows my name.’

The blood that gushed from Colin’s neck soaked the dirt. The mysterious man looked down at him, who was twitching. Colin died with his eyes open.

Meanwhile, Romandro’s subordinate was hiding in the nearby bushes, watching the whole scene.

‘…No, damn it. What the hell is going on? What the hell is that guy?’

Was he hallucinating from the cold? The mysterious man who suddenly appeared, killed Colin, and burned the cart. There was nothing more to see. Romandro’s subordinate carefully turned around and went back the way he came.

Clark glanced at the rustling bushes, then calmly shoveled dirt.

“Save the cart!”

“Damn it, this crazy bastard!”

“Oh no, it’s all burning! Burning!”

In the middle of the night, people’s screams echoed louder than the wind.