Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 789

“…And what about Beric?”

Eileen, setting down a fresh beer on the table, couldn’t help but ask. She had resolved to pretend not to notice just moments ago, yet the words slipped out before she could stop them.

It was understandable, though. Beric, who had been sitting across from her, had vanished without a trace. Jin, too, seemed clueless, gesturing towards the window with a nod.

“He must have seen something.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“I don’t know. Something important, maybe.”

“Still, how can His Majesty—I mean, how can he leave the group like this? That’s not right.”

She almost called him ‘Your Majesty’ again. Eileen glanced back into the tavern. The customers were already tipsy, half out of their minds, and the owner, who had been grilling meat, was now sitting among them with an empty glass. Given the time, there wasn’t a single sober person. Should she consider that a good thing?

Just then, Jin tapped the spot where Beric had been sitting and asked Eileen,

“It’s a bit lonely here.”

Actually, he wasn’t alone. Two imperial guards were watching over him from an unseen location. But what did that matter?

“Want to sit?”

In the end, Eileen couldn’t resist Jin’s gaze, which was fixed on her. She slightly turned her head and ended up sitting across from him.

…This is all because of Minister Ian. He had to go and say something strange, making people worry!

“Have you been well?”

It was an inquiry as if they had known each other for a long time. Eileen pinched her thigh tightly, trying to regain her senses. *Don’t misunderstand.* How could His Majesty have feelings for someone like her? It was better for her mental health to dismiss it as one of Ian’s mischievous jokes.

“Yes, I have been well. Your Majesty—”

“Jin.”

Jin gently interrupted Eileen.

“Call me Jin.”

“……!”

That is, if she didn’t want to attract the attention of the noisy drunks. Jin smiled and gestured with his eyes, but Eileen couldn’t easily say his name.

In fact, not just her, but anyone would feel the same. In Bariel, no, in Gaia, there weren’t many who could freely call Jin by his name. In the end, Eileen chose to omit the subject.

“…Is something the matter?”

The imperial duties must be overwhelming, so there must be a reason why he came to a small tavern like this, especially at this hour.

Jin took a sip of his beer without any particular answer. Then, as if reminiscing, he pointed to the door on the opposite side. It was a place that was now blocked off with luggage, no longer in use.

“Ten years ago, when I first came here, that was the entrance.”

“Huh? Ten years ago?”

“Back then, Beric’s outfit was really strange. Romandro and I were playing the roles of Ian’s and my uncle, and you kept making mistakes with the honorifics, just like you, and Beric scolded you.”

Eileen smiled, intrigued. Seeing that, Jin also smiled.

“Beric kept going the wrong way, so Siao Xi grabbed his sleeve, and for some reason, I found that funny. Back then, I drank milk instead of beer.”

“Milk?”

“Yes. With honey in it. It was very delicious.”

“Ah. The owner is indeed skilled with sweets. Is that why you came? Because you missed that taste?”

“…Yeah. I miss it.”

What Jin missed was the taste of the milk that day, the laughter they shared, the hand of Ian he had carefully held, and the anticipation for tomorrow.

Eileen understood Jin’s feelings and nodded slightly. Something must have happened. She had been working here for three years, and she had never seen such noticeable customers as Jin and Beric. So, as he said, it had been nearly ten years since they had visited.

“I will be returning to Bariel soon, and I hope that Eileen will stay by His Majesty’s side. You are more trustworthy than anyone, and you will surely be a great help to His Majesty.”

Eileen suddenly recalled her conversation with Ian. It had been strange then, but now it seemed even more so. It was as if he knew that Jin would be struggling like this.

Eileen lightly rubbed the wooden table and began to speak.

“Is it perhaps because of Minister Ian?”

Jin looked at her, surprised, as if wondering how she knew. Eileen smiled awkwardly and scratched her cheek.

“Actually, I had a brief conversation with Minister Ian in Tolun after the war.”

“With Ian?”

“Yes. It wasn’t a particularly grand conversation, well, it was like—”

Eileen paused, wondering how to summarize it.

“He was worried about Your Majesty. He seemed to think that you would have a hard time in the future. But seeing you like this, I don’t know the details, but it seems his prediction was correct.”

“That I would have a hard time……”

Indeed. Jin gently rubbed his forehead.

‘Ian predicted the changes in the imperial palace after the war. But even so, he didn’t take any special measures. He must have thought this was a natural flow.’

And rather than reducing the weight of power that had shifted to the Magic Department and himself, he thought it was right for Jin to cut it down himself. Because what is given is easy to lose, but what is won is forever kept in one’s possession.

“Haa.”

“Your Majesty?”

“It’s so difficult.”

It was difficult, but it was something he had to do, so he had no choice but to do it. As Ian expected, as Ian intended, doing it that way was the only solution for now. To return to the way things were before.

“Eileen. Whenever I talk to you, I always see a path, strangely.”

“I’m glad I could be of help.”

Could he say that he was happy to meet her? Jin was pondering for a moment. Then, another beer glass was placed between them.

Clunk.

“Your Majesty. May I have a word?”

It was Beric.

He had disappeared without a word, and now he should have come in quietly and observed the situation, but why now of all times? Jin frowned, displeased.

“Why are you being so loud?”

“Your Majesty. It’s already been exposed. Can’t you see the atmosphere over there?”

Only then did Jin and Eileen realize that the drunks’ glasses were empty. From the fact that the person sitting in the corner was the Emperor, to the heart-fluttering conversation with Eileen, it had all bound them, unable to move.

Beric pointed it out openly, but shamelessly, they continued to clink their glasses, pretending not to hear.

“Ugh, ugh. Delicious.”

“The chicken here is the best!”

“Hmm. But what happened back then?”

“Back then, it went like this and then like that.”

Not only were their glasses empty, but their plates were too. They were making gestures with their forks in the air, filling the background with nonsensical conversations.

Eileen, as if she couldn’t take it anymore, closed her eyes tightly and ran into the kitchen.

“Ah.”

Jin simply looked at Beric, feeling disappointed, tilting his head.

“Where did you go?”

“…I saw Ian and Melania passing by behind that alley.”

“Who? Ian and Melania?”

Ian was supposed to have gone to Romandro’s mansion? No, let’s say that was possible. Where did Melania suddenly come from?

Beric shrugged, saying he didn’t know.

“Judging by the fact that Romandro was also with them, it seems to be something related to the Magic Department, but I couldn’t find out the details.”

“Ah……”

Something was happening again. Just as Jin was thinking this, trailing off his words, a faint explosion was heard from somewhere.

Clunk.

It was faint enough that only Jin could feel it, so it was nothing for Beric and the other imperial guards to notice. Beric reflexively got up and looked towards the window, and the drunks flinched and turned around.

“Your Majesty.”

“Yes.”

It was probably something related to Ian. Jin also finished the remaining beer in one gulp and picked up his coat.

“We’re returning to the imperial palace.”

“Yes, I understand.”

“Only Beric and I will return, the other two will investigate the surrounding area.”

Because it was Ian’s work, he would trust it. Everything would be for him and Bariel.

At the same time, because it was Ian’s work, he would face it with all his might. And in the end, as Ian wanted, he would achieve the balance of the imperial palace with his own hands.

‘Ah.’

It was like this before. The truth that Jin had realized after learning that his father, the former emperor, had been frozen. Jin smiled faintly. Then and now, neither Ian nor he had changed.

Jin took out the money for the drinks and said goodbye. So that everyone could hear, especially the woman in the kitchen.

“It was very enjoyable. I’ll come again.”

* * *

The Magic Department was in an uproar at dawn. It was clearly the same time as usual, but it was because of a sudden urgent message that had arrived.

The mages, still groggy, ran down the hallway and burst into the Minister’s office.

Bang!

“Minister Ian! Oh my god!”

“No, why, why did you become like this?”

“Damn it, call Captain Hale! Hurry!”

“Romandro, are you okay?”

“What happened, haa. Minister Ian. Just a moment. Breathe slowly. Lift your head. Don’t swallow the blood. Can you hear me?”

“It must be because of the tracking magic, right?”

“Move! Captain Acorella is here!”

Crash!

Acorella ran in barefoot and immediately checked Ian’s condition. Perhaps because she was so shocked, her hands were trembling, unlike her usual self. She rummaged through her pockets and instructed her subordinates.

“Go get the amplifier.”

Then, she looked at the mages surrounding her. They had only just recovered a little. If they were to share their magic now, they would suffer twice as much.

In the end, Acorella inserted the syringe directly into her arm and channeled her magic into Ian.

Buzz! Buzz!

“Kuhk.”

“Captain, I’ll do it now.”

“Shut up. I can hold out until Hale arrives.”

She knew it. She was right after all. There was no way Ian’s body would be normal after using the tracking magic like that. No, it was a mess!

And yet, Ian had opened a portal from Tolun to Bariel and had been working tirelessly? He was crazy, really. Ian was crazy, and she was crazy for not actively stopping him.

“Haa, haa—”

A drop of sweat fell from Acorella’s chin. Then, a slight twitch appeared in Ian’s eyelids. It seemed like he was starting to respond.

“Damn it, when is Hale coming?”

“He’ll be here soon. I’ll do it, Captain.”

“Ah, damn it! Fine! Romandro, what happened? What did Ian do to end up like this?”

If nothing had happened and he had deteriorated like this, it would be a real problem. Romandro, with tears streaming down his face, cleared his throat and explained.

“Th, that is, kuhk! Lady Melania brought Eastern mages from Hawan. I didn’t see it clearly. Ian told me to stay still, and then there was a sound of something exploding, but I didn’t think it would be this bad.”

“Wait a minute. Who?”

“Melania?”

“No—”

When the mages mentioned Melania, Acorella immediately shook her head. She had already heard about her movements from Ian. Besides that, wasn’t there a new name?

“Eastern mages?”

“Uh-huh.”

“Mages-?”

“Yeah……”

Acorella and the mages’ eyes flashed. So, Ian had gone to see those guys and ended up like this?

Romandro, not knowing what was going on, simply collapsed and sobbed. On the other hand, the mages’ eyes gleamed as they muttered curses.

“Damn it, could it be those bastards—”

How dare they? To Minister Ian?

“…They’re going to die.”