Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 830

“Good heavens, this is blasphemous!”

The Prime Minister couldn’t hold back, jumping up and shouting. It was a thunderous rebuke, hard to believe it came from his aged body.

The soldiers exchanged bewildered glances, while the investigator winced, as if he had expected it. That crazy mage had finally done it!

The Imperial Guard reflexively tightened their grips on their swords at Acorella’s words, ready to rush in and execute her the moment the Emperor gave the order.

“Your Majesty, please listen! This is for Ian, and ultimately for Your Majesty. Just as Your Majesty cares for Bariel, Ian also cares for Bariel!”

“Commander Acorella. Shut your treacherous mouth this instant!”

“You shut up, Prime Minister!”

“What, what did you say?”

Acorella’s eyes rolled wildly as she fumed. She looked ready to bite and kill anyone who dared to touch her. She roared at the Prime Minister, her voice echoing through the palace.

“In fact, isn’t the current situation largely due to the incompetence of you and the other useless officials!”

“Commander Acorella!”

“Yes, it’s me, Acorella! I am making my final plea to His Majesty, risking my life. Who dares to stop me? Anyone who tries, risk your life! Like me!”

It was clear that if they weren’t willing to do that, they should just shut up and stay quiet.

The Prime Minister was flustered and lost for words. He knew she was somewhat eccentric, but how could she act like this in front of His Majesty?

“Enough.”

Jin gestured lightly to stop her. He wouldn’t tolerate any more commotion.

The Prime Minister and Acorella both bit their lips and straightened their gazes. Jin was looking down at Acorella, leaning on the desk, his eyes cold and detached. His expression was unreadable, as if he was lost in thought.

Jin was silent for a long time, then finally commanded,

“Only Commander Acorella remains. Everyone else, leave.”

“Your Majesty!”

“I won’t say it twice.”

Everyone, including the Prime Minister, looked at the Emperor with concern. Even the guards were being dismissed. What if something happened?

But Jin was resolute.

“Didn’t Commander Acorella say she was risking her life?”

Screech.

Jin drew his sword and pointed it at the Prime Minister and the guards.

“Even a traitor gets to speak their last words before death. There’s no reason not to listen to Commander Acorella’s plea. Everyone, leave. Leave and wait for my orders.”

As Acorella had said, anyone who wanted to add to the conversation here would have to risk their life as well.

The Prime Minister eventually bowed his head and retreated, and the guards and attendants scurried out, closing the door behind them.

Squeak, Thud.

Even the Imperial Guard was gone. Only Jin and Acorella remained in the room. Acorella roughly wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, trying to calm her trembling heart.

“Commander Acorella.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“I value you. You are a capable mage who has protected the palace with me for a long time, and a trustworthy friend. But ‘that statement’ crossed a line.”

The hand holding the sword tightened.

He had sworn on his father, the late Emperor’s last breath, that he would not hesitate to cut down anything for the sake of Bariel. That was his duty, his mission, and the value he had to uphold.

“From now on, be careful with every word you say. If you cannot convince me about crossing that line, I will cut you down myself. You said you were prepared to die, so I will honor that with my own resolve.”

Acorella lowered her posture as much as possible and bowed her head. There was no fear in her expression, only gratitude for the opportunity given.

“Ian is Ian Verosian.”

“Continue.”

“He shares the same fate as Your Majesty. However, Your Majesty is in the present, and Ian is in the future.”

“The future?”

Jin’s brow furrowed. It was as if he had never heard such a bizarre thing before.

“Yes, Ian is the Emperor Ian Verosian from the future of Bariel. We knew this. But for some reason, it seems that this fact has been completely erased from all over Gaia.”

“Erased? You don’t know why? That’s quite irresponsible.”

“Ian has the clue to this. Ian knows why we lost our memories. Definitely.”

Jin sat on the edge of the desk and put down his sword.

Ian was a Verosian from the future?

“The process is too long and complicated. All I can say is that Ian came to this era to seal the Undergod by the will of the gods. Now that he has fulfilled his purpose-”

Acorella took a breath. She didn’t want to admit it. That her time with Ian was coming to an end.

“He only has to return.”

“…Does that mean he will disappear?”

“I don’t know how, but the result will be the same. Ian will not be in Your Majesty’s Bariel.”

Jin had never thought about it. The precarious relationship between the Emperor and the Minister of Magic. He had always assumed that there would be constant conflict to maintain balance, but never that one of them would disappear.

He had just assumed that he would continue to build his Bariel with him. Forever, continuously.

“Your Majesty. Do you understand what it means that Ian came from the future and doesn’t have much time left?”

At Acorella’s question, Jin unconsciously gripped his sword.

“It means that Ian has no intention or ability to challenge the Emperor’s authority.”

“Then why is he doing this?”

He wasn’t following the Emperor’s orders to maintain balance, he was gathering nobles, and he had gone so far as to involve the Emperor’s precious people to get what he wanted.

Acorella hesitated for a moment at Jin’s question. She didn’t know how to put it.

‘Should I tell His Majesty?’

About Ian cutting off the connection with the Magic Department and appointing her as the next Minister.

Acorella wondered if it would be better to tell Jin about this or to remain silent. It could be seen as a stepping stone to do something against the palace.

It was right to tell him everything about Ian Verosian, but…

‘I don’t know about this. Maybe it will just create unnecessary conflict if I tell him. If I could understand Ian’s intentions more accurately, it would be possible…’

Acorella swallowed hard and opened her mouth.

“Ian believes that all his actions are for the future of Bariel.”

Tap, tap. Jin tapped the handle of his sword with his fingertips. Then he asked coldly,

“Alright. I’ve heard your claims. Now, show me the evidence to back them up.”

Besides the potion Acorella had made, was there any other evidence to explain this? Evidence that even those who didn’t trust the Magic Department would eventually have to accept.

Acorella bit her lower lip lightly.

“Look at the war records. There should be traces of Ian being a Verosian from the future, sent from the battlefield to the palace.”

“Commander Acorella. That’s not enough.”

Mages were beings who could fly in the sky, split the earth, and tear the sky. People would be skeptical, thinking that manipulating a piece of paper with magic would be nothing to them.

At Jin’s skeptical reaction, Acorella shouted,

“Then, why don’t you drink the potion I made! Your Majesty is immune to mind control due to the Imperial blessing!”

“What’s the difference between mind control and memory manipulation? I’m immune to mind control, so wouldn’t I be immune to memory manipulation as well? In the first place, losing memories is-”

Acorella’s eyes widened. She had found a clue in his words.

The Imperial blessing was given by the gods. So, unless it was something that could counteract that, it was impossible to erase Jin’s memories.

“The Undergod!”

She realized why they had lost their memories.

“The Undergod, that bastard!”

“Commander Acorella.”

“That’s who erased Ian’s memories from us! It’s clear! There must be a common phenomenon that occurred in both Toolun and Bariel during the battle with the Undergod. You just need to investigate that!”

Acorella shouted excitedly, as if she wanted to check it herself right away.

But Jin shook his head, saying that was enough.

“The claim that Ian is an Emperor from the future was interesting.”

It was an unknown emotion. It was so complex and overwhelming that Jin couldn’t fully understand his own feelings.

What if Ian was really a Verosian from the future? The fate that was tied by blood would be more significant than ever.

But at the same time.

‘I have to accept that Ian is going to the future.’

What if he didn’t go? What if he stayed in this era with the name of Verosian?

Someday, he might have to draw his sword against Ian for the Emperor’s throne.

“Haa.”

No matter what the truth was, he could no longer have a complete future. Jin muttered, holding his forehead.

“But it’s still just a claim. Commander Acorella, come back to me when you have solid evidence regarding this.”

“Your Majesty, just a moment!”

“Are you outside?”

Those who had been focused on the commotion inside rushed in. Jin gestured as if to have Acorella dragged out.

“Your Majesty, I can find it! I really can! Please let me meet Ian! Your Majesty!”

Thud.

As the door closed, Acorella’s voice was cut off. The Prime Minister tried to guess what had been said by observing Jin’s expression.

“Go-”

Jin sighed and gave an order.

“Bring me all the war records and reports. Not a single page missing, from the beginning of the campaign to the end, without missing a single moment.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“And bring the potion that Acorella made. Also, include the statements of the officials who drank it.”

The Prime Minister looked at Jin with concern, but the Emperor didn’t look at him. He was just repeating what Acorella had said, staring out the window.

* * *

The silent night of the palace.

Jin was neatly going through the documents. It had been several hours already. He had skipped meals and rejected his ministers’ reports, dedicating all his time and effort to reviewing the war records.

Jin savored the memories of the battlefield that were resurfacing, focusing on finding the ‘traces’ that Acorella had mentioned.

Rustle.

The pile of documents, as tall as a person, was slowly getting shorter. Jin pressed his eyelids and sighed.

‘If Ian is a Verosian from the future, I have to let him go, and if not-‘

If not? He would have to punish Acorella for her blasphemous words and at the same time, firmly put a wedge in the Magic Department and Ian.

Jin lowered his head.

‘Time…’

If Acorella’s words were true, how much time was left? Was it even true? Could he believe it? If he believed it, how could he accept the separation that would come with it?

‘Agiar.’

It was the turn of the Agiar records. Jin suddenly thought he might find a clue here, and sure enough.

“… !”

-Ian Hielo is Ian Verosian. He is of the Imperial bloodline, and a gift sent by the gods to save Bariel. We will follow him.

Thump, Jin’s heart sank.

A strange record was clear. It was an unbelievable record that referred to Ian as the owner of Bariel, who had inherited the blood of Verosian.

“Ha.”

But nowhere was the word ‘future’ written.

Jin was confused and covered his mouth. Why was this record written? And why was there a discrepancy with Acorella’s claim? It was all unknown.

Jin looked at the potion on the edge of the desk.

‘If I drink that…’

Could he get closer to the truth? Could he overcome this complicated situation and make a better choice?

It was the moment Jin picked up the potion.

Knock knock!

“Your Majesty! Something terrible has happened!”

The head attendant urgently knocked on the inner door.

Startled, Jin dropped the potion without realizing it.

“What is it?”

Jin put the potion back down and asked.

And at the news he heard, his heart was torn apart once again.

“Minister Ian’s movements are unusual!”