Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 797

Acorella checked her pocket watch and glanced at the mage. Despite the considerable time that had passed, the Emperor showed no sign of leaving the Minister’s office. The mage, in turn, shrugged his shoulders.

Creak.

“Your Majesty?”

Eventually, Acorella opened the door and peered inside. The Emperor, who had been sitting beside Ian with his head bowed, slowly turned around. His complexion did not look good.

“Are you alright?”

“…What is it?”

“Ah. Well, it’s already afternoon.”

You need to go to work, right? You can’t stay here all day. Acorella blinked and smiled awkwardly. Given the current atmosphere, it wouldn’t be strange if he decided to abandon all state affairs and stay here.

“Has time really passed so quickly?”

Jin sighed softly, straightened Ian’s blanket, and stood up. Yet, he couldn’t easily take his eyes off Ian, and finally, he instructed Acorella.

“Acorella, about Ian’s condition. Even if it’s a matter of magic power, ultimately, it’s the human body that holds that power. I will send the imperial physician. I will provide them with precious medicinal herbs without holding back, so let them help.”

“Understood, Your Majesty.”

“And you all-”

“Yes?”

Jin put on his jacket and added.

“You all should be there too. You must be exhausted from the ordeal with the Eastern mages, not to mention your weakened state.”

Then, Jin lightly tapped Acorella’s cheek, his brow furrowing slightly. There was a scratch on her cheek.

It was the Eastern mages who had suffered the ordeal, but Acorella smiled and nodded.

“Thank you. The others will be happy.”

“…Just hold on a little longer. I know you’ve been through a lot.”

Both mental and physical hardships.

Due to the complex situation in the imperial palace after the war, the proper commendations had been delayed. Now that the full story of the Hwan incident had been revealed, everything would return to normal once Ian recovered.

“Yes, well. We’re fine, but it’s Ian who’s the problem.”

“Yes. I know.”

Jin patted Acorella’s shoulder and smiled, then left the office. Acorella also bowed and checked Ian’s condition before leaving the room.

Creak.

As the surroundings became quiet, Ian’s breathing also slowed.

And then, his eyelids slightly fluttered open. But that was it. Ian could only look around; he couldn’t even twitch a finger.

“……”

It felt like all the muscles in his body had been shredded. If he didn’t concentrate on breathing, it seemed like he wouldn’t even be able to do that. Eventually, the child instinctively closed his eyes again and soon fell into a deep sleep.

* * *

“Prime Minister, why did you leave first?”

Jin, who had returned to his office, asked as he sat down at his desk. He thought the Prime Minister had left for some business, but it turned out he had been waiting for him here all along.

At Jin’s question, the Prime Minister lowered his head with difficulty.

“Prime Minister?”

“I apologize, Your Majesty.”

“For what? For leaving first?”

Why is he suddenly like this? Jin smiled and rolled up his sleeves. All the morning’s work had piled up due to the commotion in the Magic Department. But now that the Eastern mages had been captured, he could handle his work with peace of mind. Jin was about to dip his pen in ink when-

“The Eastern mages came to see me.”

At the Prime Minister’s confession, Jin paused and looked up. Thud, a drop of ink fell from the pen tip.

“What do you mean?”

“It wasn’t a face-to-face meeting, but they sent a letter.”

“A letter?”

“Yes. This is it.”

The Prime Minister presented the letter and a strand of white tiger fur he had been holding.

Jin was taken aback, but he calmly accepted and read it. Although there were some lies mixed in, most of it matched what Melanie had reported. It raised questions about Ian’s identity. Jin frowned, saying there was no need to read it.

“Do you believe this?”

The Eastern mages had already confessed. They attacked the Foreign Minister because they wanted to make things difficult for Ian. This letter to the Prime Minister must be in the same vein.

“The information about the white tiger fur was in the central archives. It was fragmentary, but it definitely existed. It was said that in the country of a man named Hohun, they worship a white tiger that has lived for 1,000 years as their head of the family, and that it possesses divine powers as a sacred creature.”

“So, that’s why you went to the Magic Department first?”

Jin rose to his feet, recalling the Prime Minister arriving at the Magic Department before him. He decided that this was not something to listen to while sitting down.

“I apologize.”

“So?”

Did you use this? Without even going to the Magic Department?

The Prime Minister remained silent, then lowered his head even further.

“Your Majesty, I also do not believe that Minister Ian is a demon.”

“You used it. How reckless.”

“But it is certain that he has a secret.”

“Prime Minister, you made a mistake.”

“It has been like this from the beginning. Think about the countless suspicions that have been raised about Minister Ian. This is clear evidence. You should investigate Minister Ian.”

Jin picked up the white tiger fur with a stiff expression. And without a moment’s hesitation, he burned it in the candlelight. Even the letter that the Eastern mages had sent.

Whoosh!

It burned away in an instant. Jin sat back in his chair and averted his gaze from the Prime Minister.

“I can guess why you didn’t inform the Magic Department, but that decision was clearly wrong. Prime Minister, you made a mistake.”

“Your Majesty.”

“Be confined to your residence. You are not to step outside your home until I give the order.”

Jin’s cold gaze pressed the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister clasped his dry hands together and carefully added.

“Your Majesty, I have served three emperors since I entered the palace at the age of nineteen.”

He knew. He was a man who had lived through the history of Bariel. Jin sighed and crossed his arms, as if to say he would listen to what he had to say.

“And as you well know, both of the previous emperors who passed away were killed by those they trusted.”

Jin’s father, the previous emperor, was caught in a scheme by none other than his own son and was fatally wounded by an attack from the commander of the Imperial Guard. Although he had prolonged his life with freezing magic, his death was ultimately caused by those closest and most trusted to him.

“Were the previous emperors any different from you, Your Majesty?”

They were not different. There might be differences in the depth of their hearts, but the fundamentals were the same. His father cherished Marib and Gail. And just like Jin, he trusted the Imperial Guard and turned his back to them.

“And what about before that?”

He was poisoned by the woman he loved. It was a disaster caused by a concubine and a prince who felt threatened after being pushed out of the succession line. In response, Jin’s father, the legitimate prince, took the opportunity to massacre those who were in the opposing faction.

There has never been a time in the history of the Bariel imperial palace when blood has not flowed. The death of an emperor was not due to a war with a distant foreign country, but always due to a conflict with those closest to him.

“There is no one, Your Majesty.”

There is truly no one left now.

Jin was the only survivor of the imperial family. What does it mean that there is no one else to carry on the next history? It meant that those with rebellious intentions had the perfect opportunity. All they had to do was get rid of Jin.

“Prime Minister.”

“I apologize. I have seen the full story of the incident, but even so, I hope that Your Majesty will use this as an opportunity.”

Waiting for the other party to make a mistake was not the only way. He needed the power to use the situation, cut it, and attach it to make it advantageous for himself.

Since the Eastern mages had intervened and caused a small commotion, he meant that he should consider using this as an opportunity to create a big splash.

“…Just one question.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Did my father do the same?”

He had heard about the concubine’s poisoning incident.

But there were many questions. Considering her power and gains at the time, poisoning the emperor was too risky. In fact, she eventually fell because of it, so it could be seen as a misjudgment. But-

‘What if my father also seized an opportunity?’

The Prime Minister understood the intent of the question and lowered his head. He had nothing to add about the history that had already passed. He bowed deeply once again and apologized.

“I will accept the confinement. I apologize, Your Majesty.”

The Prime Minister carefully turned and left the office.

And at the same time, Jin let out a sigh. He pressed his temples, trying to calm his complicated mind. As a human, he had no choice but to trust someone, but doing so would ultimately lead to his death. What exactly was an emperor?

“Damn it!”

Thud. Jin slammed the file down roughly and cursed. It was the first time. It was the first time he had uttered such raw language. Looking out the window, he saw the Prime Minister’s carriage leaving the imperial palace.

Neigh!

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Grimold was taking in the scenery outside the carriage as he returned to his mansion. The confinement was just the beginning, and if the Minister of Magic opened his eyes during that time, there was no guarantee what would happen. Perhaps, he might never be able to return.

“Prime Minister, we have arrived…”

“What is it?”

“There is a carriage in front of the mansion.”

“A carriage?”

Who could it be? His daughter? As Grimold got out of the carriage and was about to enter, someone hurriedly got out of the unfamiliar carriage and ran towards him.

“Respected Prime Minister!”

“You! What is this rudeness?”

“Oh, just a moment. Are you the Prime Minister? You are, right?”

The servants blocked him with their bodies and shook his collar. It was a common occurrence. People who came from who knows where, claiming to be distant relatives or saying they had been harmed by the recent policies.

As Grimold turned to enter the mansion, the man desperately approached and shouted.

“The Eastern mage!”

“……!”

“I met them! Ah, please let go of me! I’m Marco, who runs the information agency! You won’t regret it if you listen! Ah, really! I said let go!”

“Wait.”

The Prime Minister gestured lightly and stopped the servants. Marco roughly shook off their hands and, as if to show off, straightened his jacket and raised his chin.

“You met the Eastern mages?”

“Yes. They came to our information agency to buy information a while ago. But I heard something very interesting. I don’t think this is the place to talk about it, so can I go inside? Ahem. Maybe have a cup of tea.”

Marco swaggered, and the servants frowned. He looked like a thug from the slums. He didn’t seem like a good person.

The servants all looked back at Grimold, urging him to send him away quickly, but he nodded lightly and ordered him to be brought inside.

“To the drawing room.”

“Master!”

“Hi, you’re quick to talk to smart people. Guide me, you guys.”

Damn it! Marco pushed the servants’ shoulders and excitedly ran into the mansion. The butler was perplexed as he guided Marco, and the Prime Minister sat on the sofa and asked him.

“Bring tea. With phenyl cotton.”

“Ah.”

It was a bluish flower petal water. The Prime Minister had an allergic reaction to it, so he didn’t usually drink it. So, it was a kind of code word within the mansion…

‘Prepare the men.’

To handle it quietly.

“Understood, Master.”

It meant that he would be dealt with inside the mansion if necessary.

The Prime Minister looked at Marco, who was looking around with curiosity, and asked quietly.

“So, what interesting story did you hear?”