Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 817

Clatter, clatter.

The sun had long since set. The mages from the Magic Tower had completed their brief investigation and were now riding in carriages, leaving the palace together.

Accorella rubbed her face against the carriage window, sniffling.

“Ugh, damn it. I was so close to finishing.”

The other mages, unable to bear it any longer, tugged at her collar, telling her to stop. They were all worried about the future of the Magic Department, but she was the only one concerned about her half-finished experiment.

“Is that what you’re worried about, Captain?”

“I’m worried about Ian too. He’s left alone. Aah—if I had known this would happen, I would have asked him to mix it for me.”

“No, is that what you should be saying? We’re being kicked out empty-handed!”

“We came in empty-handed to begin with.”

The mage paused at her pointed remark. She was right. In fact, everything used in the Magic Department, from the smallest item to the largest, was provided by the Imperial Palace.

Accorella, still longing for the lab that wouldn’t leave her mind, added,

“So, there’s really no need to worry about that. Maybe other departments, but we’re the Magic Department. Do you not know what happens if the Magic Department’s desk is removed from the Imperial Palace?”

The Beryl Empire had seized dominance over Gaia entirely thanks to the Magic Department. It was true in the past, it was true now, and it would be true in the future. The Imperial Family could never do anything to the Magic Department.

Even if someone called it arrogance, it was an undeniable reality. They could just think of it as a fuss over shifting the balance of power. That was why Ian had told them to take this opportunity as a vacation and leave.

“Well, that’s true. Even if we’ve overcome the immediate crisis, it’s not easy to rule the empire without the Magic Department.”

“It’s not just not easy. It’s impossible. They’re extremely wary of mages appearing in other countries, so what are they hoping for?”

“But thinking about it like that, it’s really infuriating.”

The mage spoke loudly, then glanced at the window towards the coachman, wondering if he had heard. After confirming that the coachman showed no reaction, he whispered,

“Why are they so eager to devour the Magic Department?”

“More accurately, it’s not the Magic Department, but Ian.”

They had barely calmed the commotion in the Imperial Palace, and now that Rutherford guy had stirred things up again with a few nonsense words. Ian was already busy enough with work, and now these useless things were….

“Ian is a bit strange too.”

At that, Accorella, who was searching for a cigarette in her pocket, turned her head. The mage was staring out the window with a somewhat sullen look.

“He has so many counterarguments, but he’s being too passive. That’s why those guys are jumping at the chance, and that leads to more trouble… Doesn’t it feel like we’re stuck in a loop?”

“He has changed a bit from before.”

“Could it be because he collapsed this time?”

“It’s a bit different from that.”

Accorella rested her chin on the half-open window, exhaling smoke.

As the mage said, Ian’s behavior had been strange since the end of the war. It felt like there was something that couldn’t be fully explained unless a hidden puzzle was found.

‘A hidden puzzle.’

Locked memories.

For some reason, Accorella had a feeling that the clue might be in the ‘erased memories.’ She tapped on the driver’s seat with her cigarette.

“Hey!”

“What is it?”

“I want to get off here.”

The coachman glanced back, then firmly refused.

“No, you can’t. There were orders to make sure all the mages leave the palace and enter their residences. We haven’t even left the palace grounds yet.”

“Tch.”

Damn it. It didn’t work. She had planned to get off and sneak back into the Magic Department.

“Captain, just stay still. If you cause trouble, it will only make things harder for Ian.”

“That’s right. Aside from the Magic Department being safe, the atmosphere in the Imperial Palace is indeed unusual.”

“And there are Imperial Guards all over the Magic Department.”

“Hmph. There must be a way to break through. It’s nothing to shake off that idiot Beric.”

“Aah. Thinking about that Beric bastard makes me angry again.”

“What can we do? He has the title of captain too.”

The mages groaned and banged their heads against the window. When would Ian and Romandro come out? Everything was dark.

* * *

“Thank you for waiting. You must be tired.”

Barsabe sat across from Ian, offering him tea. She was temporarily in charge of the site until the special investigation team was formed, but if nothing else happened, she would likely lead the investigation team.

At least, that’s what Ian thought. It wasn’t easy to find someone who was the Emperor’s closest aide, unrelated to the magic stone incident, knew more about magic than the average person, and had an upright character. Beric had no qualifications other than his title as captain.

Ian sipped his tea.

“A little.”

It was a plain answer, not a complaint. After all, he was the one who had asked for the mages to be investigated and sent away first. At that, Barsabe brushed her hair behind her ear and sighed softly.

“Officer Barsabe. Do you also think I am the mastermind behind this incident?”

“I cannot give my personal opinion regarding the investigation. Minister Ian, please tell me. Did you use magic on Rutherford without prior notice?”

“No. Why would I?”

At his question of what motive he would have, Barsabe bit her lower lip. She had something to say, but she couldn’t bring herself to say it and swallowed it back.

Ian, noticing Barsabe’s expression, turned his head at the sound coming from behind him.

“Ian Verosian—”

It was a familiar man. A man with many thick scars under his short hair. Farhan, an officer from the Imperial Defense Department. He handed a document to Barsabe and continued,

“—isn’t it to cause chaos in the empire under the guise of that sacred name? If you intend to challenge His Majesty’s authority, it is a priority to bring legitimacy by taking the Imperial Family’s name.”

“That’s a ridiculous conjecture.”

“It’s too serious to call it ridiculous. Do you know what this is? It’s a letter that Minister Tweller sent to the Imperial Defense Department.”

Rustle.

Barsabe rubbed her brow, reading the paper. Even though she had read it several times already, she couldn’t help but frown.

Ian immediately understood what it was about. It was about the rumors of Toallun, and that Banusa and Ian were connected.

“His Majesty is also aware of this.”

“I would assume so. There’s no way His Majesty wouldn’t know what you know.”

Continuing to covet the name of Verosian. Everyone could easily imagine what those who yearned for him would eventually want.

“Wasn’t it an attempt to gain legitimacy as a member of the Imperial Family? If so, everything makes sense.”

“That issue has already been raised several times. If we use the homogeneity potion on His Majesty and me, it will be revealed immediately.”

“Are you serious? That’s not possible.”

At the sharp response from the side, Ian turned his head again. Foreign Minister Rayburn was sitting there. He looked at Ian with a haggard yet persistent gaze, as if he wanted to know what Ian was thinking.

“What do you mean it’s not possible, Minister Rayburn?”

“…You should know without me having to mention it.”

The homogeneity potion was also under the jurisdiction of the Magic Department. Setting aside the lack of reliability, there was another problem. No matter what the result, there was room for ‘interpretation.’

‘If Ian claims to be Verosian, even though he is not related to His Majesty by blood?’

It would mean that one of them was not of the Imperial Family. Had they forgotten the monster that looked exactly like the Emperor ten years ago? The nobles in the center still remembered that incident, even if the common people did not.

If it was true that Ian had used mind-manipulation magic on Rutherford, and if it was effective on others as well, it would cause uncontrollable chaos that would spread throughout the empire.

‘If the Emperor is portrayed as a remnant of a past monster, there’s no solution.’

He knew it was an extreme assumption. But it was also a part that could return as a great disaster.

So, without using a homogeneity potion, just completely separating Ian Hiel from Verosian. That was the safest way to handle this situation.

“Anyway, there will be no verification of whether you are related to the name of Verosian or not. It’s not necessary in the first place. You are not Verosian.”

Ian’s eyes, reflecting the flickering candlelight, were unusually clear.

“…I agree. That’s why I’ve been consistently claiming that I am unrelated to this situation and am rather a victim.”

“Everyone, please leave for a moment.”

Rayburn gestured to the others for their understanding. As the Imperial Guards and officials from the Imperial Defense Department left the investigation room, Rayburn approached Ian and sat on the edge of the desk.

“Minister Ian.”

He mumbled, rubbing his tired eyes.

“Why are you making things so complicated? You should know better.”

Did he really not know what caused the current situation? Whether it was Rutherford or Rutherford’s grandfather, it was all meaningless. The root of the problem was the power struggle with the Magic Department.

‘If the Magic Department wasn’t as it is now, all the officials would have stepped forward to defend their innocence, and the incident would have been dismissed as Rutherford just going crazy.’

But that didn’t happen.

Instead, they saw it as an opportunity and revealed their true colors.

“To be honest, Minister Ian, please stop.”

It meant to give up on the magic stone monopoly, distribute the power concentrated in the Magic Department, and ensure that no one would feel a sense of crisis even if the rumor of ‘Ian Verosian’ spread.

If possible, he wanted the construction of the Magic Department’s annex to be stopped as well, but well, maybe not. They needed to give them something to appease them. Yes, the annex could be something the officials could agree to concede.

“Isn’t it all for the sake of working together?”

Some wanted wealth, some were burdened by the power of the Magic Department. And some had a great desire to rise, while others had a great fear of protecting themselves. All of these things were intertwined, making the situation chaotic.

Since things had come this far, if the Magic Department, the source of the problem, stepped back, everyone would be at peace.

“It’s tilted. Can’t you feel it?”

The Magic Department’s work had been suspended. By the Emperor’s order. The officials were submitting petitions in unison, and everyone was glaring at Ian, keeping him in check. In this situation, would a fair investigation be properly conducted?

Rayburn took out a cigarette and casually threw out a question.

“There are countless testimonies that Minister Ian spent a long time with Rutherford in the Magic Tower. The mages are pretending not to know, but were there only mages there?”

There were also soldiers.

And the soldiers belonged to the Imperial Defense Department.

“You even ordered them not to approach. Why was that? I think it’s because of something that shouldn’t be revealed to others.”

“You’re good at writing novels. You could be an author.”

“All of this will be included in the report. If Minister Ian continues to resist.”

Ian leaned back in his chair and thought for a moment. He kept saying no, but no one was listening.

“Minister Rayburn.”

He leaned his upper body closer to Rayburn.

“Make it a habit to write only the facts in your reports. Otherwise, you will suffer the consequences someday.”

“That’s not something Minister Ian should be saying.”

“My position is such that you don’t trust me. Then, go ahead and try.”

Ian smiled faintly. He had the composure to smile even in this situation. Just as Rayburn was about to click his tongue, he was shocked by the words that followed.

“Report that I manipulated Rutherford to insult the Imperial Family. Then, in front of His Majesty, I will say that it was actually Minister Rayburn who ordered it.”

“Wh-what?”

“It doesn’t make sense, does it? But you will have to prove it. Do you think I can’t fabricate things like you?”

Rayburn was speechless. Ian straightened up and whispered even closer.

“If you want to bring me down—”

It was a warning that was somehow chilling yet ticklish.

“Sharpen your blades properly. If you attack carelessly, you will all die.”

Ian stared intently into Rayburn’s stiffened eyes. As if telling him to hurry and report to His Majesty.