Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 790

“My lady, would you like a warm cup of tea?”

“Ah, thank you.”

“And for a dress…”

Vivianna set down the teacup and rummaged through the closet. There had to be something Philia had worn.

Melania took a sip of tea and looked down at her dress. It was already a mess from the war, and now it was stained with Ian’s blood, making it unbearable to look at.

“Here, please change into this.”

“Thank you.”

“I’ll let you know as soon as the bath is ready.”

Vivianna sighed softly as she looked at Melania. The stains on her skin all seemed to be Ian’s blood. Just a few hours ago, they had been having a pleasant dinner together, but what was this all about?

Vivianna looked at the clothes in Melania’s hand and asked carefully, as if Philia were beside her.

“You said you are Lady Melania, right?”

A survivor of the Haiman family, which was destroyed ten years ago. Vivianna couldn’t help but sigh. It felt like she had learned a secret she shouldn’t have.

Melania smiled apologetically.

“Yes. I think you were surprised last time. I came out of nowhere and asked you to deliver a message to Romandro.”

“It’s alright. More importantly, is Ian in critical condition?”

Romandro had hurriedly returned to the Imperial Palace with Ian. The fact that he sent Melania to the mansion without a single letter indicated how urgent the situation was.

Melania was from a destroyed family, so naturally, she couldn’t enter the palace. Since she had nowhere else to turn, she had no choice but to stay here for the time being, thanks to Romandro’s arrangement.

“He lost too much blood. It didn’t seem to be from the opponent’s attack, but rather a problem with the magic itself.”

“Who is the opponent?”

“Eastern mages, those who were with us in Hawan.”

Melania told Vivianna what had happened. There was no reason to keep it a secret, and since she was Romandro’s wife, it was the same as telling Romandro.

Vivianna, who had been listening for a while, pondered and rested her chin on her hand.

“So, you’re saying that the Eastern mages were the ones who annihilated the rebel leaders in Hawan? That finding the relic is a lie, and they’re actually trying to steal it?”

“Yes, that’s what I heard.”

“Does Romandro know about this?”

“I’m not sure. The situation was so urgent. I don’t know how much he knows.”

“Just a moment.”

Vivianna immediately got up and brought a pen and paper from the study. She didn’t know much about the inner workings of the Imperial Palace, but it seemed problematic that no one in the Magic Department knew about such a critical matter. What if Ian didn’t regain consciousness?

“If you write it down yourself, I’ll have a trustworthy person deliver it to Romandro.”

Melania hesitated for a moment, then picked up the pen. Knowing how to distinguish between friend and foe was the top priority for survival. If the Magic Department fell into trouble, it would be like losing one of her means for a comeback, so Melania wrote a detailed report of what had happened.

Scribble.

Three pages filled with small writing. Vivianna neatly folded the paper and then led her to the bathroom. The bathtub was full of warm, clean water.

“Take your time washing up. I’ll go send the letter. There’s only my daughter at home, so you don’t have to worry.”

“Yes, thank you.”

Creak.

Vivianna quietly left the mansion. It was still a cold and chilly dawn. Only her footsteps echoed softly in the empty street.

Soon, she arrived at a small shop at the corner of the alley and carefully knocked on the door.

Knock. Knock knock.

“Hans, are you inside?”

“Haaam. Yes, I’m here. Is that you, Mrs. Vivianna?”

“I’m sorry, at this hour. It’s urgent.”

“Is it something that needs to be done right now?”

“Yes. Don’t look at the contents. Please deliver it directly to Romandro. I trust you know what this means.”

Hans was a colleague who had been close to Romandro when he was in the Administrative Department. Of course, he had also worked with Vivianna on disaster relief missions.

He rubbed his swollen eyes and smiled.

“Yes, I know.”

If he couldn’t resist his curiosity, he would be caught in the huge storm of the Imperial Palace.

Hans immediately put on his coat and brought out his horse.

“It’s dark, ma’am. Please go inside.”

“Thank you, always.”

“You’re welcome. Hyah!”

Neigh!

Hans rode his horse without hesitation. Since it was a time when there were few people around, it didn’t take long to reach the front of the Imperial Palace.

When the palace gatekeeper raised his spear and signaled him to stop, Hans took out his identification card from his pocket.

“I’m an employee of the Administrative Department. Hans Meyner.”

“What brings you here so early?”

“I have a report to deliver urgently. It would be good if you could hurry.”

“Yes, I understand. Please go in.”

The gatekeepers, having confirmed his identification, opened the gate. Hans headed towards the Magic Department as if he was familiar with the place, and the gatekeepers tilted their heads in confusion.

“Something seems to be going on, doesn’t it?”

“Yeah, it seems so.”

It was unusual for an Administrative Department employee to run towards the Magic Department, or for the usually reclusive mages to be going out in groups at this early hour.

The gatekeepers felt uneasy and firmly locked the palace gates. Whatever it was, they just had to be faithful to their duties. Probably.

Thud!

Hans arrived in front of the Magic Department and ran up the stairs. But something was strange. Even though it was early, the entire Magic Department was empty.

It was understandable that the staff wouldn’t be there, but why were the mages not visible? They were always known for being sprawled out in the lobby, day and night.

“Is anyone here?”

It was silent. All the offices with lights on were empty. Judging by the traces, it seemed like they had been working until just now.

Hans scratched his head and continued to wander around the Magic Department. Until he met someone.

“Ha. Seriously.”

Romandro wasn’t there either, so this was troublesome.

Hans eventually went all the way to the innermost corridor of the Magic Department and looked around. In the distance, he saw the tightly closed door of the Magic Department Minister’s office.

“Excuse me. Is anyone there?”

Knock knock.

And again.

Knock knock.

This was driving him crazy. No matter what, he couldn’t just barge into the Minister’s office.

In the end, he couldn’t meet anyone until sunrise, and he had to turn back with the letter for Romandro in his pocket. He had no choice but to go to the Administrative Department first, then check the situation at the Magic Department again.

Neigh!

Not long after Hans left, someone arrived at the Magic Department, trudging wearily. He was dressed in shabby clothes, and his face looked tired. He staggered up the stairs and finally muttered.

“I’m here-”

It was Tommy. He had just finished the long journey from Toolun to Astana, and then to Bariel.

Following Ian’s order to hurry, he had gathered all the magic he could and flew through the sky. Exhausted, he lay sprawled out in the lobby and groaned heavily.

“I’m hereee!”

Where did everyone go, really?

Then, the door of the Minister’s office, which Hans had knocked on repeatedly without any response, slowly opened. A mage slowly appeared through the gap. He recognized Tommy and whispered.

“Tommy?”

“Huh?”

“Here, this way.”

“What? Why are you in the Minister’s office?”

“Quiet, come in quickly.”

Tommy, with a bewildered look, got up and entered the Minister’s office. He could feel the space separation magic. The pungent smell of medicine and the fishy smell of blood filled the air. What on earth had happened while he was gone?

Soon, he stopped in surprise when he found Ian lying on the sofa. In the corner, Romandro was curled up and sleeping.

“Lord Ian!”

“Shhh. Everyone’s sleeping.”

“What, what is going on?”

Instead of answering, the mage inserted a magic amplifier into his arm. But something didn’t seem right, so he tilted his head and held up the syringe.

“Tommy, do you have any strength left?”

* * *

A few hours earlier, in the Minister’s office.

Apart from Acorella’s groans and Ian’s heavy breathing, no one made a sound. The mages all had serious expressions, watching Ian with their arms crossed or their foreheads in their hands.

A pale, almost bluish hue was rising on his white skin. He had seemed fine before quitting time, so what had happened?

“Acorella!”

“Captain Hale!”

“Move aside. I’ll take over now.”

Hale, who had returned to the mansion after a long time and was sleeping, had also rushed over after hearing the message. His hair was a mess on the back of his head.

Acorella, who had been replaced by Hale, barely moved away and collapsed on the floor, sweating profusely.

“Haa, ha… Damn it!”

“Are you alright, Captain Acorella?”

“Agh!”

Acorella twitched her limbs as if annoyed, then used the momentum to raise her upper body. She glared with her disheveled hair.

“I don’t care if they’re from the East or whatever, I’m going to tear their hair out. What the hell are they doing in our territory? Right?”

“That’s right!”

The mages responded to Acorella’s question as if it were obvious. If they came from another country, they should have laid low and tried to understand the situation, but where did they get the nerve to touch Lord Ian?

Flames flickered in the mages’ eyes. Except for Hale, who had just arrived, and Romandro, who was crying, everyone was grinding their teeth in anger.

“Catch them and kill them, really.”

“If they run, we’ll chase them to the end!”

“Everyone, get ready.”

“Yes!”

At Acorella’s command, the mages rushed out to change into their robes and tightly wrapped red cloths around their fists. They seemed determined to beat them with their fists, not magic.

Acorella also firmly instructed Romandro and organized the situation.

“Lord Romandro. Please handle the external duties for everyone except for the two mages who will stay here. Just in case, don’t inform the Imperial Palace about Lord Ian’s condition, and keep quiet about the Eastern mages. And keep the Minister’s office door tightly locked. Do you understand?”

“Hic, hic, I understand.”

“There are already so many people eyeing the Magic Department these days. If they hear that Lord Ian has collapsed, we don’t know how they’ll react.”

Moreover, since Melania and the Eastern mages were involved in the process, they needed to be even more careful. At least until Ian woke up and could explain the situation himself.

“Lord Romandro, how many opponents are there?”

“Ah, maybe two? Melania, who was with them at the time, is at our house now. Go and-”

“That’s enough. Knowing there are two is enough. Those bastards, I’m going after them right now.”

“Captain Acorella! We’re ready!”

“Two people stay in the Magic Department, the rest follow me. Hale!”

Hale gestured as if to ask them to wait a moment, then gave Ian as much of his magic as possible before getting up.

They each took a magic amplifier with a determined look and ran out of the building, their robes fluttering.

Thud!

“Let’s goooo!”

“Uwaaaa!”

It was like they were going to a brawl.

Romandro watched the scene in bewilderment, then repeatedly cried again as he looked at the collapsed Ian.

Oh