Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 780

“His Majesty is late.”

“I heard he’s in a private meeting with the Minister of Magic.”

“Oh dear, really? They could have just done it in the conference hall.”

“It seems they have something to discuss separately. It’s unsettling, ugh.”

“You’re telling me. I can’t even imagine what kind of groundbreaking proposal they’ll come up with next.”

The officials gathered in the conference hall grumbled, massaging their temples as if exhausted. It wasn’t just the time; their bodies were heavy with fatigue from the excessive workload.

But the Emperor and the Minister of Magic were in a private meeting? In their experience, whenever those two teamed up, it was always the officials who suffered. No matter what policy they devised, the officials were in a position where they had to squeeze out their blood and offer it up, with their eyes closed and mouths shut.

Creak.

At that moment, the conference hall door opened. Everyone expected the Emperor and the Minister to enter together, but it was Ian who appeared alone. They all looked bewildered and glanced behind him.

“Minister, where is His Majesty?”

“It seems he’ll be a bit longer. Please wait.”

“Ah, yes, yes.”

The officials pursed their lips and glanced at Ian. They were curious. Insanely curious. What on earth were the Emperor and he talking about alone? Especially to the point of encroaching on the conference time.

“The conversation went on for a while, Minister.”

It was the Prime Minister who cautiously initiated the conversation. Ian simply responded with a smile, organizing his reports, and then muttered as if in passing.

“It was a very important matter.”

“I see. Was the coordination successful?”

Only then did Ian turn to look at the Prime Minister. His smile was still there, but there was a coldness in the air. Romandro, who was standing behind him, flinched and bit his lower lip.

“Please ask His Majesty directly.”

The atmosphere suddenly shifted. The officials nearby flinched. The noisy surroundings instantly became silent, and then dangerously tense.

The Prime Minister clasped his hands together and leaned forward. It felt like something would go wrong the moment either of them said something. The officials, like Romandro, were also flustered and just looked at each other.

That’s when it happened.

“His Majesty the Emperor has arrived.”

The Emperor appeared at the perfect moment.

The officials were about to cheer inwardly, thinking it was a good thing. That is, until they saw the Emperor’s stiff expression.

“Sorry for being late. Let’s start right away.”

A cold wind blew, chilling them to the bone. There must have been some issue during the private meeting with the Minister of Magic. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be like this.

The officials carefully passed over their reports, glancing back and forth between the Emperor, the Prime Minister, and the Minister of Magic. They were extremely cautious, lest the sound of turning pages might upset them.

“Where should we start?”

Jin asked, rubbing his forehead. But at the same time, the conversation he had just had with Ian kept replaying in his mind.

“…Idgal [a magical substance] is already being distributed throughout Gaia. Wouldn’t it be more beneficial to give a little more and gain exclusive rights to the firearms? I know what you’re worried about, but this is a clear opportunity.”

“It is an opportunity, and it is partly beneficial, but as the Minister of Magic, I cannot make that judgment. In the long term, the existence of Idgal will ultimately harm the power of mages and magic swordsmen. Apart from the issues of management and control, if even a small variable arises, it will be a crisis for Bariel.”

“I know, but didn’t you say you were even considering buying it back and disposing of it? We can give it out first and do that later. Ian, think carefully. Consider what this means for the Imperial Palace. Why take the hard path when there’s an easy one?”

If they just gave a little, everyone could be at ease. Ian too, and the Emperor himself.

He knew what Ian was worried about, but if they gave what they had to give, the officials would lower their guard, and it would ultimately benefit the Ministry of Magic. The officials would see the dangers of Idgal and firearms without prejudice.

If that happened, the Ministry of Magic could get what it wanted without giving anything.

“No matter what you say, my opinion will not change. Your Majesty, and I apologize, but perhaps due to the aftermath of the war, even the creation of Idgal itself is now becoming too much for me.”

A lie.

Jin frowned without realizing it. He had been told that the creation of Idgal required no magic power and could be produced infinitely. If they could open a portal from Toolun to Bariel, they could certainly create Idgal without any problems. Ian was telling a blatant lie.

“Ian, I-”

“Your Majesty, then I have a proposal. If we give out Idgal and gain exclusive rights to firearms, could you entrust the management of it to the Ministry of Magic?”

“To the Ministry of Magic?”

“The Ministry of Magic is the one giving out Idgal, and firearms also contain magical power. Therefore, it seems reasonable that the Ministry of Magic should be in charge of its management. If that is possible, I will also reconsider the creation of Idgal.”

That wouldn’t work, would it? Ian’s eyes seemed to be saying. As if he saw through all of Jin’s intentions. He was pointing out that the underlying motive of their conversation was too obvious.

Whoosh!

Jin blushed again and lowered his head. The officials, who had been flipping through their reports, glanced at the Emperor’s actions, puzzled, but discreetly averted their eyes. Ian also calmly stared straight ahead.

“Your Majesty. It’s still too early.”

He didn’t hear what was too early. Whether it was the firearms reaching Bariel, or the Emperor himself reaching Ian.

Jin bit his teeth hard. He had been caught testing his faith, and Ian hadn’t backed down an inch, as if to show him.

Why was that? Was it that he had no intention of backing down from the start? Or was it just resistance to being tested?

“And even if we are introduced to the mages of the East, the matter of importing firearms is a separate issue. We don’t know if they have the authority to do so, and furthermore, if they even have the will to do so.”

“…Alright. Ian, I understand your intentions. Then, give me just one thing.”

“What do you mean?”

“The construction of the Ministry of Magic’s annex. That cannot be. I’m not saying don’t build my annex. However, please wait until the appropriate time. Don’t you also feel the unusual gazes of others?”

The Prime Minister was already worked up because of the rumors about the Imperial bloodline. There was no need to add fuel to the fire with the Ministry of Magic’s annex. Jin proposed that someday, at least after the war was settled and the Imperial Palace was stabilized, he would order the construction of the annex even if the Ministry of Magic didn’t want it.

But Ian refused even this.

“I apologize, Your Majesty. I cannot accept your command.”

“Ha! Ian, why are you doing this? We have plenty of time.”

“…That’s not certain, Your Majesty. The reason I went to war was partly for Bariel, but also for the construction of the Ministry of Magic’s annex.”

“What is the meaning of that annex?”

“It can be said to be the purpose of my coming to the Imperial Palace.”

“I’m going crazy, really.”

He felt betrayed. The reason he had risked everything in the war was for Bariel, but also for the Ministry of Magic’s annex? That the purpose of his coming to the Imperial Palace was just that.

Then what about himself? What about all the conversations they had shared about building their Bariel together?

Whoosh.

An unknown rage swirled around Jin. The officials completely lowered their heads and didn’t even look in his direction. Opinions were exchanged on the agenda, but no one was focused.

“The more you do this, Ian, the more difficult it becomes for me. You know that, don’t you?”

“I apologize, Your Majesty. I know, but I still cannot back down. I will try to resolve it within my means.”

What did it mean to say he couldn’t back down and would try to resolve it within his means? It meant that even if the Emperor tried to stop him, he wouldn’t be able to.

Jin was confused. He felt like something had changed since they were in Toolun.

“Your Majesty.”

“……”

“Your Majesty?”

The Prime Minister called him a couple of times. Then, Jin snapped his head up and came to his senses. Jin looked at the Prime Minister as if nothing had happened and nodded. As if asking what was the matter.

“I would like to discuss the ‘Hawan Invitation’ matter that we discussed earlier today. What do you think?”

“…Has anyone changed their opinion?”

Those who had opposed it still opposed it, and those who had supported it still supported it. That meant that Ian, the Minister of Magic, was still against the invitation.

The officials guessed the Emperor’s decision. The Minister of Magic was against it, so there was no reason for the Emperor to go against him…

“Send it.”

“Yes?”

“Send an official invitation to Hawan.”

The officials were startled by the unexpected decision and asked again. Then, they naturally glanced at Ian. Ian seemed to have expected it, and rather, he looked calm.

“How can Hawan be left out of a discussion about the peace of Gaia? We will officially welcome the delegation to directly observe and respond to the situation. In the process, they will also pay the price for attacking Bariel. I will not discuss this further.”

“Y-yes, Your Majesty.”

Jin made the decision and then looked at Ian’s reaction. He didn’t seem to have any particular reaction. He didn’t know what he was thinking inside.

But what could he do? If he couldn’t give up the Ministry of Magic’s annex, the firearms, or the Idgal, he had no choice but to take at least one of them.

Otherwise, who knew what kind of rumors would spread among the officials, including the Prime Minister. This was a choice to protect himself, the Emperor, and to protect Ian.

‘I’ll take this one, Ian.’

Jin said it silently, but Ian still didn’t look at him. The officials calmed the chaotic atmosphere and moved on to the next agenda.

‘I apologize, Your Majesty.’

Ian muttered, touching the edge of the report with his fingertips. He understood the Emperor’s intention to achieve balance, but he couldn’t help him with that right now. Nevertheless, he knew that as the Emperor, he had to make difficult decisions that he couldn’t avoid. However…

‘It won’t go as you wish.’

Jin still trusted Ian, but if their intentions continued to diverge like this, there would eventually be an end to their seemingly eternal relationship.

And at that end, if he stepped over himself, the Emperor would finally reach a place where no one could reach and look down on Bariel.

“Yes, the next agenda is-”

Rustle.

As the report was turned, Romandro also turned the page, anxiously watching Ian’s back.

Ian was the one who knew better than anyone what impact each of his actions would have on the Imperial Palace. But why was he creating trouble since earlier today? Was he in pain?

‘I’m going crazy, really.’

Romandro rolled his eyes and looked at the Emperor. The meeting had been going on for hours. By the time the dark sky began to brighten, the two hadn’t exchanged a single word or glance. Even the most oblivious person could tell that something was wrong between them.

“Yes, then what do you think about this matter, Ian?”

“It’s not my opinion that matters, but His Majesty’s.”

“Ah, yes. That’s right. Your Majesty, the Minister of Magic is asking for your opinion first…”

“Well. I don’t know much about this matter, so I think I need additional explanation. Tell them to submit the reference materials by the end of the week.”

“Ah, yes. Minister of Magic, is that possible by the end of the week?”

“If it’s His Majesty’s command, I must follow it. No problem.”

“Then, do that, ahem.”

It wasn’t like they were exchanging letters from afar, they were sitting so close to each other… The officials lamented the current situation where they were awkwardly stuck in the middle, just relaying messages. They had no idea that what was happening now was nothing compared to what was to come.