Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 814

The sun rose.

Damon quietly observed the miraculous moment as night receded, dawn broke, and morning arrived.

The instant an ordinary scene began to appear extraordinary, Damon realized he still clung to life. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be experiencing these emotions.

Click.

Footsteps approached from outside. It was the attendants. They carefully entered, carrying an elegant tea set on a silver tray.

Damon’s gaze remained fixed on the window. The fact that the object he felt attached to at his final moment was merely the changing sky and drifting clouds was absurd.

“King Damon, the morning has arrived.”

Pour.

The dark red tea flowing from the teapot carried a subtle floral scent. The attendants neatly arranged it and offered it with a small biscuit.

“It is best to drink it before it cools.”

If the tea cooled, the pain constricting his heart would intensify, and he would die while watching himself cough up blood in a gruesome manner.

Damon picked up the teacup and habitually savored the aroma. Then, without hesitation, he drank the tea and ate a biscuit to dispel the bitter aftertaste.

“Would you like to lie down?”

Damon nodded and lay back on the bed.

The attendants gently covered him with a blanket and placed a cloth over his face. His breaths gradually faded. The attendants held their breaths and focused all their attention.

“……”

Damon’s fingertips twitched a few times, and then complete silence fell. The attendants tidied up the tea set and informed the soldiers outside of the situation.

“King Damon is dead.”

It was the moment when the last lineage of Runkvis, and simultaneously, the long-standing feud with Vergos, was completely severed.

The attendants left after clearing the items, and the doctor confirmed that his breath had stopped and nodded. The soldiers swiftly wrapped the body in a cloth.

Boo-oo-!

Meanwhile, Rutherford raised his head at the unfamiliar signal sound coming from outside the window. Footsteps echoed loudly throughout the quiet magic tower.

‘Is Damon dead?’

If so, it would be his turn now.

‘But it’s strange.’

Ian Verosian’s actions, that is.

What had happened while he was frozen? Otherwise, some things couldn’t be clearly explained.

Rutherford shook his shackles meaninglessly. Clink-clink—the metallic sound brought back old memories one by one.

“Do you know something about me?”

Ian Verosian, the emperor of Bariel from the future. It seemed like he was asking that, but perhaps he thought he had forgotten it? And what was the meaning of giving him water?

Rutherford frowned.

There was definitely something.

Definitely…….

Clank.

“Rutherford. It is time for your execution.”

The soldiers opened the door and roused Rutherford. Contrary to their expectations of resistance, he followed them willingly. With each step, the sound of the shackles clashing echoed loudly.

“This way.”

Rutherford, who had emerged from the magic tower, was momentarily captivated by the sight of the imperial palace, which he hadn’t seen in a long time. Although the memories of ‘Bandor,’ the magician of the imperial palace, had faded, they hadn’t completely disappeared. He hadn’t been able to properly look around when he had infiltrated the main palace back then…….

‘Nothing has changed.’

…Nothing has really changed.

Rutherford smiled as he boarded the escort carriage. The soldiers checked that his gag was properly in place, and then headed to the main palace where the execution would take place.

* * *

“Haaam. Ian, when are you going to report to His Majesty?”

Romandro asked, stretching. He was referring to the matter of sending Eirin to Cliffopoard. Ian stopped reviewing the report and looked up at Romandro.

“…Romandro, please keep completely silent about that. It is something that even you don’t know.”

And Jin doesn’t know either.

Romandro seemed to ‘assume’ that Jin and Ian had coordinated their words behind the scenes. Since they hadn’t said anything separately, it was natural for him to think so. At that, Romandro zipped his mouth shut, as if sealing it, telling him not to worry.

“Oh, I know, I know! It’s a secret operation, after all.”

“I will tell you later when the time is right.”

The word ‘later’ was a bit concerning, but Romandro didn’t mind and brushed it off. That was because the execution of Rutherford was the priority right now, and he knew that the atmosphere with the Emperor was tense due to the magic stone monopoly issue of the Magic Department.

“Right. I wish the high-ranking officials would know about this soon. Even if you are at odds with His Majesty over the magic stone monopoly, you are ultimately doing it for His Majesty.”

“Romandro, that’s unnecessary.”

“Sorry. I’ll really stop now.”

Romandro kept winking one eye and laughing.

“Oh, right, I heard that King Damon’s execution was successfully completed. The report came in that the mages cast a freezing spell and handed him over to the Kayla representative. I also briefly reviewed the written conversation between the Kayla representative and King Damon the day before, and there was nothing special.”

It was mostly a candid conversation between the former king of Vergos and the one who would become king.

“Thank you for your hard work.”

“And there’s an hour left until Rutherford’s execution. It’s better to start heading out soon.”

Once this was over, one major national event would come to an end. Romandro seemed happy at the thought of going home to have dinner with his family for the first time in a while.

Ian also finished the remaining paperwork, picked up his coat, and stood up.

“Yes, let’s go.”

Unfamiliar carriages were lined up everywhere in the imperial palace. They were the central nobles who had been invited to the execution. They were all dressed in colorful, extravagant dresses as they entered the main palace, making it feel more like a party than an execution.

“Lady Chloe.”

“Hello, madam. You are as beautiful as ever.”

“Lady Chloe, you too. I heard you have good news.”

“Oh my, did you hear?”

“Of course. Everyone in the center knows.”

Chloe laughed, covering her mouth with her ringed hand as if showing off. It was a pointed remark that it was natural after making such a fuss, but Chloe didn’t seem to mind. Of course, Count Davion, who was standing next to her, looked like he was about to collapse with his pale face.

“His Majesty should also find a partner soon. Don’t you think so, Father?”

Chloe nudged Count Davion’s side, signaling him. Shouldn’t they do what they had to do? Laying the groundwork to propose a royal marriage. That was Chloe’s purpose today.

Count Davion replied in a troubled tone.

“…Well, yes. His Majesty has come of age, so he cannot leave the Empress’s seat vacant for long. It is also essential for Bariel to grow more firmly. Ahem.”

In fact, not only the Count but everyone gathered here must have been thinking the same thing.

The reason they dressed more extravagantly than ever while coming to the execution? There was the superficial reason of enjoying the joy of victory, but ultimately, the goal was to catch the Emperor’s eye. Now that Kayla and Chloe, who were strong candidates, were out of the competition, the nobles with marriageable daughters were eager to seize the opportunity.

“Oh, there’s Minister Ian.”

“How old is Minister Ian now?”

“He hasn’t even had his coming-of-age ceremony yet. Give up on your dreams.”

“No, I mean, can’t I even ask?”

Ian seemed too busy checking every corner of the venue with the mages until the very end. Various whispers about him secretly arose.

“I heard that his relationship with His Majesty has been bad lately.”

“He was collapsed until recently, wasn’t he? There are also health issues. As proof, he is not taking the lead in using magic at this event.”

“Really? That’s a shame. Then is he stepping down from his position as minister?”

“But he has merits. Not right away. He is still young, so there is a chance he will recover soon.”

“Oh, did you hear that story? His Majesty to Minister Ian……”

Chloe narrowed her eyes and gathered information amidst the loud noise. It was as if she was going to find out which bastards were trying to slander Minister Ian. At least until I have my wedding with Siao, no one can touch Minister Ian. If they do, it’s a lose-lose situation……!

“Oh my! It’s Lady Kayla!”

She was already displeased with them for badmouthing Minister Ian, but she had caught them at the right time. Chloe glared at them and warned.

“Be careful. She is the representative of Vergos. She is the one who will inherit the throne when she returns, so ‘Lady’ is not appropriate.”

“Y-yes, you’re right. I was short-sighted.”

Hmph. When Chloe turned her head, they exchanged glances as if saying, ‘What’s wrong with her?’

After a while, the Emperor appeared. Unlike his neat and splendid uniform, his face was dark. Before anyone could notice, an announcement was heard through a communication spell.

-Please be seated, everyone.

It seemed the execution was about to begin.

The Emperor and the delegations from each country sat in the audience seats at the same height as the guillotine and looked down. Kayla maintained a dignified posture while exchanging eye contact with familiar nobles.

-First, there will be a reading of the peace treaty. In order to dispel the chaos of Gaia and commemorate only peace, the representatives of each country swear in this place to faithfully implement the treaty…….

Starting with the Emperor, the delegations raised their hands and read the treaty. The nobles fulfilled their roles by sending applause at appropriate points.

“Amplification device.”

Ian snapped his fingers and signaled to the mages. In response, Jin stood in front of the magical device prepared by the mages and began his speech. Everyone in the audience focused on the Emperor.

“Bring Rutherford.”

“Yes, Ian.”

The back was even busier. The mages ran and dragged Rutherford, who had been waiting, and Ian examined him up and down to see if there were any particular dangers.

-…Therefore, we are now facing the end of a wicked man who fell into the schemes of the underworld, plunged Gaia into chaos, and tried to destroy Bariel. I hope you will engrave his screams in your heads and his blood in your hearts. To show what kind of end awaits those who threaten Bariel.

“Raise him up.”

“Ian, shouldn’t we remove the gag?”

Ian paused at the mage’s question. Right before the execution, there was supposed to be the Emperor’s question asking if he repented for his sins. No matter what answer he gave, he could not avoid the execution…….

“Ian?”

“Remove it.”

Clank.

As the gag was removed, Rutherford turned his jaw from side to side, saying he finally felt alive. The executioner roughly pushed his back, and Rutherford looked back at Ian and smiled.

“Farewell, Ian-”

“Hurry up!”

“Ah, geez.”

Can’t I even say a last goodbye? How cold.

Rutherford staggered and stood on the guillotine. The extravagantly dressed nobles whispered, and in front, the Emperor and the delegations were watching him with hardened faces.

-Rutherford. Do you admit to the crime of disturbing Gaia by falling into the schemes of the underworld?

“If I have a sin, it is that I was defeated, nothing else.”

“Oh, my! How atrocious!”

“What a big mouth!”

Rutherford knelt and bowed his head on the guillotine, as if telling them to cut his neck quickly.

“How arrogant. Honestly, if it weren’t for Ian Verosian, wouldn’t you all have died long ago and be rolling at the bottom of hell? Offer a prayer of thanks to the gods.”

“……!”

“……!”

The commotion stopped instantly. Everyone froze, not even breathing. It was as if they were all wondering if they had misheard something. But Rutherford didn’t care and shouted with all his might.

“Ian Verosian-”

“J-just-!”

“Hurry! Hurry with the blade!”

You crazy bastard! The executioners hurriedly released the safety device to cut off Rutherford’s head before he could say anything more foolish.

“For sending me to Bariel, I mean.”

Swish!

The blade came down at a rapid speed and struck Rutherford’s neck.