Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 833

“Bibi…”

Romandro closed the book, his tone deeply serious as he muttered.

The book Bibi had written detailed Ian’s activities from his time in Bratz to the present, most of which Romandro already knew. It was only natural, since they were all stories Romandro had told her.

But what was this? Ian Verosian?

Moreover, an emperor from the future?

“I don’t know either, Dad. I really didn’t write any of this. Please believe me.”

“No, wait a minute, Bibi.”

Though her feelings of injustice were clear, the handwriting was undeniably Bibi’s. Moreover, surprisingly, the content was accurate. It contained a significant amount of realistic detail, far beyond a child’s imagination, and the answers to the questions about Ian were also fitting.

As Romandro stood there for a long while, Vivianna cautiously called out to him.

“Honey?”

“Vivianna, I think there’s something I don’t know.”

It was clear that a truth he hadn’t realized existed on the other side. He hadn’t been aware of it, but the world had been calling Ian Verosian all along.

The rumors from Toolun and Rutherford were both unreliable, but not Bibi. His daughter, Bibi, had never been to war, nor had she even entered the Imperial Palace. Yet, even she had recorded Ian as Verosian…

There was something to this.

“Bibi. Can I take this?”

“Huh?”

“I’ll return it as safely as possible.”

A father’s reassurance that the carefully written novel would not be lost. Bibi asked back, her eyes welling up with tears.

“It’s okay. You’re more important than this, Dad.”

“Thank you.”

“I’m sorry, why, why did I write something like this-”

“It’s okay, Bibi. This could actually be a clue.”

Romandro gently stroked Bibi’s head and then grabbed his coat. Vivianna asked worriedly.

“Are you going to the Imperial Palace?”

“No.”

‘Ian Verosian’ was still a forbidden name in the Imperial Palace. If he took this novel, they would try to show their firm resolve through punishment rather than investigating the truth. If that happened, Bibi would be in danger.

Nevertheless, Romandro clutched the book tightly and left the mansion.

“I need to carry out the new minister’s orders first. I’ll go ask Ian directly.”

What on earth was going on? He had been saying he wasn’t feeling well, could it be related to that? If he came from the future, wouldn’t that mean he could go back anytime?

Inside the carriage, Romandro took out his notebook and tried to assess the situation.

‘Let’s think, let’s think. Let’s assume Ian is indeed Emperor Verosian from the future…’

So far, so good.

If that were the case, all the past suspicions would be resolved.

His occasional muttering as if he knew the future, his immunity to mind control magic, his knowledge of the Imperial Palace’s secret passages, and the fact that he was called Verosian everywhere.

‘Then why is Ian doing this?’

Suddenly, a lightning bolt struck Romandro’s mind.

‘…He’s trying to erase everything.’

Ian was trying to erase all the traces he had left behind in this place.

And the most certain way to erase any trace in this world was-

-Go to Ian immediately. Tie him up tightly and keep him under surveillance, because we don’t know what he might do. Surely Ian wouldn’t harm Romandro.

“Ah!”

It was treason.

The name of a traitor would be completely removed from history, and no one would ever be able to speak it again. Ian was trying to use that.

Adding to that, he also intended to filter out any disloyal elements who might rebel against the Emperor at any time.

“Damn it!”

Romandro repeatedly smacked his forehead and urged the coachman.

“Hurry! Please! Go faster, faster!”

“Y-yes, sir.”

Accorella seemed to have completely grasped Ian’s intentions. Which meant that Accorella also knew that Ian was an emperor from the future. It seemed clear from the end of the letter.

Romandro clutched his trembling chest as he saw the hotel building in the distance.

He jumped out of the carriage before it even stopped and ran into the hotel lobby. The manager, surprised, approached him and asked.

“What’s the matter?”

“I, I, I came to see Ian! Minister Ian!”

“Ah, Minister Ian. I’m sorry, but he’s not at the hotel right now.”

“What? Then?”

“Just a moment. He called for a carriage and went out earlier. The coachman will know the destination, so I’ll ask him. Oh, he’s coming over there. Hey, Hardin!”

“Yes?”

The coachman, who was carrying luggage, turned around and reflexively bowed his head.

“Did you call me?”

“You took Minister Ian out earlier, right?”

“Yes, I did.”

“Where did you go?”

Romandro fidgeted with his fingertips, his face tense. He hoped that Ian had just gone out for a change of pace.

“I took him to Count Charlotte’s mansion.”

“… !”

“He said he would take care of his own return.”

Romandro staggered and grabbed his head. In this situation, contacting nobles was obviously suspicious. Romandro waved his hand and got back into the carriage.

“To Charlotte, to Count Charlotte’s mansion!”

Was it okay to go to the Count’s mansion without permission? The coachman, puzzled, sniffled but soon cracked the whip hard.

The horses pawed the ground and began to gallop powerfully. Seeing this, the manager checked his watch and instructed an employee.

“Hey.”

“Yes, Manager.”

“If Minister Ian doesn’t return by tomorrow, check him out. The bill can be charged to the Ministry of Magic.”

“Yes, I understand.”

A storm was brewing. The manager muttered to himself and firmly closed the hotel door.

* * *

“Welcome, Minister Ian.”

Charlotte came out to greet Ian himself. Behind him were young nobles of similar age. They all looked a little flustered, as if they hadn’t really expected Ian to come.

Ian entered and smiled politely.

“I didn’t expect to see you here so soon.”

“Yes, indeed. If I had known, I would have invited you from the start.”

“It’s comfortable since we’re not strangers.”

Ian said, looking at each of the people gathered, as if he wouldn’t forget a single one.

Was it his imagination? They smiled awkwardly and greeted Ian.

“Please come this way.”

“Though we’ve met before, I’ll greet you again. It’s the first time we’ve had a formal conversation like this. I am Reyha, the second son of Baiega.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Minister Ian. I have always admired you.”

“I am Paal, the third son of Desido.”

“Ah, Count Desido’s?”

“That’s right.”

Ian shook hands with each person, engraving their names in his mind. As expected, most of them were second sons or younger, third sons, or the youngest. They were lower in the family succession, so they were desperate for an opportunity.

Ian sat among them and crossed his legs.

“Well, thank you for inviting me to this gathering of such excellent young men. As you know, my position in the Empire is a bit precarious right now, so I appreciate you not turning away from me at a time like this.”

“His Majesty the Emperor has made a mistake. To cast aside someone as loyal and capable as the Minister.”

“Indeed. It’s proof that the sycophants in the Imperial Palace are confusing His Majesty’s mind.”

Ian frowned and muttered as if he was deeply hurt. His tone seemed to show great distress.

The nobles glanced at each other and then cautiously spoke.

“Do you happen to know?”

“Know what?”

“That Commander Accorella has been imprisoned in the dungeon…”

Ian paused as he was about to pick up his teacup. He knew Accorella was in the Imperial Palace, but the dungeon? This was unexpected. Had he been caught in the meantime? Accorella, really. If he was going to hide, he should have stayed hidden.

Meanwhile-

‘Does he know that Accorella shouted ‘Ian Verosian’ in front of His Majesty the Emperor? If he does, then this must be Ian’s doing. An undeniable start to treason.’

The nobles were in a quandary. They had asked the question to gauge Ian’s true intentions.

However, Ian did not know the details. He simply thought that Accorella had been imprisoned in the dungeon for disobeying the Emperor’s orders and hiding in the Ministry of Magic.

Ian smiled and nodded.

“Yes, I know. I didn’t expect him to go straight to the dungeon, but anyway.”

In the end, Ian admitted it. That he knew about Accorella’s situation.

At this, the nobles let out small gasps and glanced at each other. The ship was ready to sail, now they just had to decide whether to board or not.

“Since His Majesty the Emperor is not listening to me right now, I would like you all to help me.”

“Ah, yes, yes. Of course. You are the Minister of Magic of the Empire, so we should naturally help you.”

“Thank you. I have a good memory, so I never forget a favor.”

Ian hesitated for a moment. Should he use these foolish young nobles as a stepping stone to reach out to the heads of the families?

But he decided against it. If their children were implicated in treason, the heads of the families would be just as vulnerable to the Emperor. It was impossible to overturn all the central nobles, and it would be successful enough if the Emperor held power over the heads of the families.

“How can we help you?”

It was a cautious question. If they needed troops, they would need some time to prepare. The nobles had a limited number of private soldiers they could own, so they would have to use slush funds to hire external mercenaries. And since it was related to rebellion, it was uncertain whether they could even find them properly…

“Just lend me your names.”

Ian waved his hand as if to dismiss the complicated thoughts. What he wanted was to filter out the disloyal elements and strengthen the Emperor’s control. He had no intention of dragging innocent citizens into a bloodbath.

“Would it mean anything if we all just gathered?”

With Ian Hielo, the Minister of Magic of the Empire, what use were troops? There was no need to gather, they just had to show their willingness to stand with him. In other words, it was a very cheap fare.

“I will proceed with the plan when the time is right, and you just need to be determined to stand with me. Persuading the heads of the families, or if that’s impossible, just keeping them from supporting the Imperial Palace is enough.”

“C-cough.”

They had truly stepped into it. The nobles coughed repeatedly, looking nervous but also somewhat excited.

“Then, um-”

A full-fledged discussion was needed. When should the plan begin? Just as they were about to ask, the butler approached and made his presence known.

Knock knock.

“I apologize for interrupting.”

“What is it?”

“Minister Ian has a visitor.”

“What?”

The nobles turned to look at Ian. Ian, for his part, seemed to have no idea who it was. The butler glanced out the window, and Ian rose from his seat.

Swoosh.

Pulling back the curtain, he saw Romandro pacing back and forth in front of the gate in the distance. He was shaking the iron gate and shouting.

“Ian! Iaaaan! It’s me, Romandro!”

The nobles glanced at Ian, seeing that his aide had arrived. As if asking him to explain what was going on.

Ian was silent for a moment, then closed the curtain again.

“He’s not my guest. I have no reason to meet him. I would appreciate it if you would send him away.”

“…Understood.”

The ship had already sailed. Only a perilous voyage lay ahead, and if he met Romandro, he would be in danger. Ian muttered an apology to himself and turned back to the nobles. His eyes were unfamiliar and cold, unlike anything he had shown before.

“Now then, shall we continue our conversation?”

“Ah, yes, let’s.”

Squeak.

The butler closed the drawing-room door and went to the front gate. Romandro, his face covered in tears and snot, had his face pressed against the bars and asked the butler.

“What did he say? Didn’t he say he would see me right away?”

“I’m sorry, but he says you are not his guest.”

“What?! I’m Romandro!”

“Yes, I know. But he won’t allow it, so entry is not possible. Please stop making a scene and go back.”

“No!”

“If you don’t, I will call the guards.”

“Wait!”

Romandro reached out his hand, but the butler left after saying his piece.

…This was bad. Romandro sensed that a huge boulder had already started rolling down the hill.

“Ian…”

He rested his forehead against the bars and sobbed, then suddenly! He lifted his head. His eyes were burning more fiercely than ever before.

“Ian!”

If that’s how you’re going to play it, I have my own ideas! Romandro wiped away his tears with the back of his hand and got back into the carriage. The exhausted coachman asked for the destination.

“Shall I take you back to the mansion?”

“No!”

“Then…”

What’s with that angry face?

“To the mages’ mansion!”

“Yes?”

“Go! Let’s go! It’ll take some time to turn everyone around!”

Romandro shouted, pointing straight ahead with his finger.

The coachman grumbled inwardly, knowing that he wouldn’t be getting off work on time today.