Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 828

“Damn it.”

Jin slammed the newspaper down, his face twisted in a scowl. They had been careful to prevent rumors from spreading outside the Imperial Palace, but the Mailie Daily’s special report had laid bare the current situation.

The Prime Minister, understanding the implications of Ian’s words, sighed softly. “It seems Minister Ian leaked the information himself.”

They had intended to pressure Ian by using his dismissal from the Magic Department, knowing it would be problematic if he escaped the Imperial Palace’s control. However, Ian had brazenly linked himself to Haiman’s treason, forcing the Imperial Palace to dismiss him.

The Prime Minister pushed the newspaper aside. “They’ve stated it was Minister Ian’s unilateral action, done without the Imperial Palace’s knowledge, so his intentions are clear. He wants to be dismissed.”

“We can’t control the Magic Department without him. You know that. We’ll find a way.”

“In the current situation, our only option is to claim it’s misinformation. But if we do that, we’ll lose a great deal.”

The ‘Haiman’ card was meant to pressure Ian someday. Using it now was like throwing it away. Of course, it was better than Ian being dismissed and becoming uncontrollable.

In any case, he was skillfully maneuvering to counter the Imperial Palace’s moves while creating breathing room for himself. Even the Prime Minister, a veteran of central politics, had to admit it.

“Even if we do, it’s another matter whether the Mailie Daily will easily accept it. How about meeting with their president and reaching a suitable agreement?”

“I’m already going crazy with all this chaos. Contact the Mailie Daily. Right now-”

Knock knock.

Jin stopped his instructions and looked towards the door. The Prime Minister also turned his head, wondering what was going on.

“Your Majesty, Lord Romandro, the aide to the Minister of Magic, has sent someone. They say they have an urgent message. Shall we let them in?”

“Who? Romandro?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Jin paused, surprised. He and Romandro had a close relationship, but Romandro was, after all, Ian’s man. Moreover, he was a key figure in the Magic Department, which was under scrutiny. It was hard to guess his intentions in sending someone.

“Let them in.”

It would be best to see and then decide. Jin signaled his permission, and the person who entered made his head spin even more.

A woman completely covered in a robe. From head to toe, even her hands were gloved, leaving no bare skin exposed. And above all-

“Your Majesty, I apologize, but please dismiss the attendants.”

A familiar voice.

Jin racked his memory and realized the woman before him was Melania.

Once everyone except the Prime Minister had left, Melania took off her robe and revealed her face. The Prime Minister, recognizing her, clicked his tongue. “…Melania, the daughter of the Haiman family.”

But her face was emotionless. She didn’t seem to have come seeking revenge. That was the Prime Minister’s feeling. He lowered his guard and asked, “What brings you here? The Empire is in an uproar because of you.”

“I will return that uproar to its original state.”

“What do you mean?”

Melania bowed to Jin with proper etiquette. Even after wandering outside for a long time, her innate manners had not disappeared. The dignity of the Haiman family, the most prestigious among the central nobility, was evident in her movements.

“Your Majesty, I do not know the details between the Imperial Family and the Magic Department, but I know that the Imperial Family is in trouble because of the Mailie Daily’s special report today.”

Jin chuckled, as if he knew what Melania was about to propose. What remarkable tenacity. She had been thrown to the bottom, yet she had persistently climbed back up and was now reaching out to him.

“Please pardon me.”

The Prime Minister paused at Melania’s words. “No, please announce that I have already been pardoned.”

This one sentence would be far more effective than refuting every point in the article. It would show that it was not Minister Ian’s unilateral action, but a choice made under the Imperial Palace’s arrangement. Melania, though of a traitor’s bloodline, had sworn loyalty to the Empire and had been of great help in capturing the traitors.

It was true that Melania had helped in the process of capturing Rutherford.

“If that is the case, the Imperial Palace will not need to dismiss Minister Ian, and there will be no trouble.”

Melania seemed confident, as if Jin would unconditionally accept her proposal. “I will dedicate my life to serving the Empire to atone for my family’s sins. Furthermore, if this resolves the current situation, I earnestly request that you give me a new opportunity.”

Jin and the Prime Minister exchanged glances. The Imperial Palace would not particularly lose anything. No, rather, they would gain as much as Melania. First of all, they could completely stop Ian’s scheme.

Jin nodded slightly, and the Prime Minister also lowered his gaze, indicating his agreement. “Very well.”

At the Emperor’s permission, Melania raised her head sharply, unaware that tears were flowing from her eyes. The reconstruction of her fallen family. Was the dream that had seemed so distant actually this simple? Her emotions welled up, and her throat tightened. She did her best to express her gratitude. “…Thank you, Your Majesty.”

“It would be good to coordinate our stories. We will write a statement to rebut the Mailie Daily’s special report. Melania, please wait here for a moment. Prime Minister?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I will prepare it.”

The Prime Minister rose from his seat and gestured for Melania to follow him. She followed the Prime Minister into the administrative building. The staff of the administration seemed to be frantically running around, handing over and receiving documents, busy with their work.

“Prime Minister, you’ve come at a good time. There’s a missing payment…”

“Oh? Who is that next to you? She looks familiar.”

“Alright, everyone, pay attention.”

Clap!

The Prime Minister clapped his hands lightly, and the chaotic administration instantly stopped. It was like magic. “We will write an Imperial Palace statement refuting the Mailie Daily’s special report. Here, the main focus is on Melania.”

Melania? Ah. That’s right. It’s Melania. …Huh? Melania?

“Is this woman that Melania?”

A moment of consciousness was cut off, and shock settled in. So, this woman was Melania of the Haiman family? The one Minister Ian had secretly taken away?

The officials whispered about her identity, but it didn’t last long. They quickly understood the Imperial Palace’s political moves thanks to the Prime Minister’s explanation. Melania also told the officials about her actions in detail, and soon they began to put their heads together to fabricate a suitable lie.

“Prime Minister, I have something to report.”

“What is it?”

“The president of the Mailie Daily has entered the palace. And I heard that Commander Acorella of the Magic Department caused an incident.”

“Commander Acorella? Why is she in the palace?”

“I don’t know. I’m investigating, but the situation is a bit…”

The Prime Minister stroked his beard and checked the report. A suspicious potion? And she even used magic? This was a serious matter that could not be overlooked. The Prime Minister put the report down on the desk and muttered as if it was a good thing. They needed a new way to stop Minister Ian since the Haiman card was gone.

“I understand for now. What about the Mailie Daily president?”

“There’s no news yet, other than that he entered the main palace.”

“Call him here. We can deliver the statement directly to him.”

“Understood.”

At the Prime Minister’s instruction, an official ran outside. The main palace was right next door, so it wasn’t far.

* * *

“Commander Acorella, please tell us the truth.”

“Ah, damn it! I won’t. I won’t!”

Thud!

The loud noise was because Acorella had slammed her head on the desk. She didn’t hide her anger, and each time she did, the investigator would shrink back and trail off. “No, please don’t do that-”

“Call a lawyer, damn it. The only thing I did wrong was sneaking into the Magic Department! The potion is a memory potion. I’ll even take the Sil-dam potion [a truth serum] if I have to, okay?”

“But you made that Sil-dam potion yourself.”

“Just look at the purpose of the item! Don’t think about what’s behind it! Ah, this is frustrating. How can we develop if the work is done like this?”

The investigator pressed his temples as if he was tired of it. According to the witness’s testimony, Acorella’s suspicious potion had implanted a false memory of ‘Ian Verosian’. If this continued, it would likely be a major issue at the next council meeting, and it was impossible to guess how big the impact would be.

“Commander Acorella, this is a really big problem.”

“I know. I know. So, let me apply for an audience with His Majesty. I’ve been cooperating with the investigation here, okay?”

“That’s not possible. You cannot see His Majesty right now because you are suspected of mind manipulation.”

“That’s not what you said!”

Thud!

Acorella slammed her forehead again, and the investigator shook his head as if he had had enough and got up from his seat. It was a waste of time to continue. There was no answer, like they were running on parallel lines.

“Back inside.”

“Yes, I understand.”

At the investigator’s instruction, Acorella was dragged back to her cell. Exhausted, they left the interrogation room and soon discovered a stranger loitering in the hallway.

“There, who are you?”

“Ah!”

The president of the Mailie Daily approached them with an awkward smile. Who was this stranger in the prison? Since it was inside the Imperial Palace, he must be someone with a confirmed identity… but who was he?

“This is a restricted area for outsiders. Which department do you belong to?”

“I am- the president of the Mailie Daily, Roxo. Here’s my business card.”

“Mailie Daily?”

“Yes, I came to the palace to hear the Imperial Palace’s position regarding the special report we released, and I heard some interesting news. I heard the commander of the Magic Department is here?”

After grabbing and asking everyone he passed, the president was able to find out where Acorella was being held. And why she was being held there.

“So?”

He was the president now, but when he was younger, he was a reporter who ran around and risked his life to gather information. The president looked around to make sure no one was there. Then, he took out a coin from his pocket and handed it to the investigator.

“What is this?”

A silver coin.

The investigator was flustered by the sudden bribe and lowered his voice. Despite being surprised, the coin was still in his grasp. “I have some questions I want to ask the commander of the Magic Department, so could you let me meet her?”

“Questions?”

“It’s nothing much. I want to ask about Commander Acorella’s inappropriate remarks during the discussion about the commercialization of the Sil-dam potion. Even a simple confrontation would be fine, so please let me meet her. I came out in a hurry and didn’t bring anything, but if you ever visit the Mailie Daily headquarters, I’ll treat you to a grand meal.”

The president nudged the investigator’s side. It wasn’t about the current situation, but something else. The investigator coughed and gestured for the president to follow him. “Keep it short.”

“Of course! Of course! It won’t take long.”

Squeak.

Shortly after-

Seeing the investigator return, Acorella glared at him, annoyed. Her unusually swollen forehead was a bonus. “What is it? Why are you back? What is it?”

“Ahem! Greetings, Commander Acorella. I am Roxo, the president of the Mailie Daily. It’s nice to meet you.”

Over the investigator’s shoulder, Roxo reached his hand through the bars to shake hands. Acorella just stared at his hand. Roxo looked at her as if begging her to take his hand, so she reluctantly grabbed it.

“Mailie Daily…”

Then, she felt the texture of paper on her palm. He had used the handshake to pass her Ian’s letter. Acorella blinked in surprise, and Roxo nodded slightly. “Yes, yes, the newspaper that received a lot of help from Ian in the past.”

Meaning it was from Ian. Acorella carefully hid the letter behind her back. The investigator was looking the other way, uninterested.