Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 837

“Ah, no! Minister Ian!”

The nobles who had stormed in with Ian called out to him, bewildered. They didn’t understand what was happening. Even though the mages had rushed to restrain him, how could he declare defeat without even putting up a fight?

Ian, still gazing at the ceiling, murmured. His hands patted the backs of those who were holding him.

“I am sorry. Please don’t resent me too much. You made your own choices.”

The nobles felt a chill run down their spines, freezing them in place. Their minds seemed to stop working. They couldn’t fully grasp the situation, but one thing was clear: it was a trap. Minister Ian had never intended to ‘succeed’ in the rebellion from the start.

“Resent? What resentment?”

It was then that someone quickly retorted to Ian’s words.

“Your Majesty, why are you here? We were about to come to you.”

Then, they tried to act as natural and nonchalant as possible, making light of the situation.

They hadn’t done anything yet. They had entered the palace following Minister Ian, but so what? Was it a crime for central nobles to petition the imperial palace to ensure the stability of the nation? It was inappropriate, and they were carrying swords, but on the surface, that was all it was.

“Y-yes, Your Majesty. Since the mages are all gathered here, it will be easier to have a discussion. There have been many concerns about the current situation lately.”

Had anyone died? No. Had anything been broken or destroyed? No, not that either. Had they drawn their swords? There hadn’t even been a chance. They had crossed a line, but they could still turn back. No, they had to turn back. That was their last hope.

Jin frowned and slowly approached the nobles. The sword in his hand dragged along the floor, making a metallic scraping sound.

“A discussion?”

It was wrong for Ian to manipulate them, but ultimately, it was also their fault for falling for it. As the Emperor drew closer, the nobles unconsciously stepped back.

“Yes, Your Majesty. We are innocent!”

“Of what?”

“Of whatever you think we are!”

It was perhaps fortunate that everything had happened so quickly. There were no letters exchanged, and no one to testify about it. Only the servants and coachmen they had sent to meet Ian.

Then, Ian declared in a tone of complete resignation.

“I apologize, Your Majesty. I attempted to commit treason.”

The mages who were holding him tightened their embrace. They couldn’t stop Ian’s declaration, but they wanted to show that they were with him.

“The nobles who are here with me are those who agreed to it. Punish them together to uphold the empire’s discipline.”

“This is slander! It’s absurd!”

“Yes, that’s right. We only came because Minister Ian said he had something to petition to Your Majesty.”

“Treason? That’s ridiculous. Absolutely not! It’s a lie! If we had wanted that, we wouldn’t have come here unarmed.”

“They trusted my magic.”

“You said you were in pain, have you lost your mind too? Shut up, Minister Ian! Your Majesty, we strongly deny it!”

The nobles raised their hands, feigning innocence. Denying everything was their survival strategy. Since there was no concrete evidence, they thought they might be able to get through this if they played their cards right.

Thud.

Ian took off the brooch on his chest and lightly tossed it. The red gem rolled and stopped at the nobles’ feet.

“This is the evidence.”

A magic stone? No way! The nobles’ faces turned pale. Jin, as if he had seen enough, turned his head and ordered.

“Take them away.”

“Wait, wait, Your Majesty!”

“Don’t worry too much. Given the situation, we must ensure that no innocent person is wronged. We will thoroughly investigate to uncover the truth, so those who are innocent can rest assured and wait.”

It was as if he was telling them to explain themselves in the interrogation room.

At Jin’s command, the guards approached the nobles. If they resisted any further, they would surely be dragged away. They had no choice but to comply.

“Sir Ian.”

Jin looked down at Ian. The morning sunlight stretched across Ian’s pale skin and green eyes.

A moment of silence. Ian was the first to apologize.

“I am sorry.”

It was an apology for judging him rashly and turning away, even though he and Jin were not the same.

Jin bit his lip and frowned.

“Why….”

Why are you apologizing? I should be blaming my weak self for not overcoming the power of the underworld.

Ian paused for a moment, seeing Jin’s eyes welling up. But the Emperor did not shed tears. It was a relief. There were too many people watching right now.

“Just as you care for Bariel [the empire], I care for it too.”

“That is true.”

“And just as I cherish Bariel, I cherish you.”

If he had revealed everything from the start, they wouldn’t have come this far. If he had, he would have been overjoyed and laughed without reservation that Ian was his blood.

“I feel a little resentful.”

As Ian smiled faintly, Jin also frowned and smiled. He wanted to talk more, but now was not the time.

“Minister Ian is also to be taken to the interrogation room. The Magic Department will be in charge of him, given that he is a mage.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“The Imperial Guard is to quell the disturbance and restore order.”

At Jin’s command, the Imperial Guards nodded, thinking. What is this? They had come fully prepared, thinking Minister Ian was going to commit treason, but is it just ending like this?

Should they be relieved or dumbfounded? They didn’t know the details, but it seemed that the Magic Department’s collective intervention had changed Minister Ian’s mind.

Barsave also sighed in confusion and gestured to the guards.

“Let’s clean up.”

Then, Barsave’s eyes caught sight of red hair.

“……”

Imperial Guard Captain Beric was still among those holding Ian. His face was not visible, but his determination was palpable. He was not going to let go easily.

Barsave sighed. Either way, Ian was accused of treason. It was not appropriate for him to be so close. But what could he do? Even the Emperor hadn’t said anything, so who was he to interfere?

“Sir Ian, you’re really too much, aren’t you?”

“Why did you do that? You had so many chances.”

“That’s right. You’re not just indifferent, you’re too cold. No matter how much I think about it, it’s just too much!”

“What would have happened if it weren’t for Captain Acorella and Lord Romandro? Treason, I tell you, treason!”

Complaining voices came from within his embrace. Ian smiled. Ah, so it was Acorella who made the potion. Without even telling me.

‘…Thank you. In many ways.’

Ian gazed at the ceiling, willingly enduring the mages’ grumbling. He felt like he should get up now, but there was no sign of them letting go. As he tried to lift his body slightly, red hair suddenly came into view.

“Hey.”

It was Beric.

He looked down at Ian with a very angry expression. Thud. Thud. Suddenly, a warm sensation spread across his face. Beric’s tears were flowing down Ian’s cheek.

“Are you really messing with me?”

Was this why you told me to become the Emperor’s man? Was this your plan from the start….

“It was more than a joke. I was serious.”

Ian replied with a smile, and Beric let out a hollow laugh as if he was dumbfounded.

“And Beric, your path was destined to be decided someday, even if not in this situation. Once you hold a sword, you can’t avoid it.”

“Ugh, you’re so annoying when you act all high and mighty.”

“Did I seem like that?”

“You know you’re going to be dismissed and become nothing, right?”

He was no longer a minister, and he had given up his title, so he was no longer a noble. Just a seventeen-year-old boy who was nothing.

Ian raised his eyebrows as if agreeing.

“Yes. And a traitor too.”

“Right. So-”

Pull.

Ian’s eyes widened. Beric had pulled his cheek long. Unlike his angry expression, his touch was gentle.

“Behave yourself. Got it?”

The sudden action made everyone who was watching gape. But it was only for a moment. Soon, their eyes softened.

“Oh……”

The mages looked at Beric with envious eyes. Strange exclamations were a bonus.

They had wondered if there was any good in his reckless personality, but now that they saw him pinching the Emperor’s cheek… maybe he was alright?

“What are you all thinking? Let’s move quickly.”

At Barsave’s scolding, the mages snapped back to their senses and helped Ian up.

“Sir Ian. Let’s go down first.”

“Yes, the officials will be making a fuss.”

“Are you feeling alright? You didn’t use magic, did you?”

Ian slowly began to walk, thinking. If the disturbance in the imperial palace became known, the central region, no, the entire Bariel would be in an uproar.

* * *

“Extra! Extra!”

“What’s going on again?”

“It’s been reported that Minister Ian Hielo of the Magic Department has been dismissed. He was apprehended for attempting to start a rebellion with nobles in the imperial palace and is currently imprisoned in the dungeon for investigation!”

“W-what!?”

“Hey! Give me one right now!”

Early in the morning. As soon as the sun rose, news of Ian’s treason spread throughout the central region. How could the world change so drastically overnight? They had already heard that the relationship between the Magic Department and the imperial palace was uneasy, but treason?

“But why wasn’t there any commotion?”

“It was very quiet last night.”

“It seems the Magic Department and Minister Ian have completely split. Did the mages who opposed the rebellion put up a barrier around the imperial palace or something?”

“Wow, even if Minister Ian is a genius, he can’t beat the entire Magic Department, can he?”

“Of course! How many mages are there?”

“Will the imperial palace be okay now? The new minister will take a different path from Minister Ian, right?”

“If they’re not an idiot, they’ll side with the imperial palace, of course.”

“Look here. It says they actively stopped the rebellion.”

“Is this real? It’s so sudden, I can’t believe it.”

“The heads of the central noble families who were involved or implicated are entering the imperial palace one after another. It seems to be true.”

“No, but why did Ian do that?”

“Well, we can’t know what the higher-ups are thinking.”

“Goodness, I’ve never seen anything like this in my life.”

Clatter! Clatter!

Neigh!

As expected, a carriage sped through the street, amidst the people who were excitedly talking. It was flying the flag of a central noble. But the entrance to the imperial palace was already crowded with carriages that had arrived earlier.

“What is the matter?”

“I am Marquis Gledia. My son is in the imperial palace.”

“Ah, yes. Please wait a moment.”

Nobles who had come to find their children who had joined Ian were half of them, and-

“It seems to be real? Something must have happened.”

Nobles who had come to assess the situation were the other half.

One side was anxious about the sudden disaster, while the other side was curious, watching as if it were a fire.

“I need to check which families were involved.”

If there was a rival family among those involved in the incident, wouldn’t it be a great opportunity? It was like a stroke of good luck.

“Let’s tie them all up and send them away. Remember when Holinga rose to prominence when Haiman was purged? The fall of an enemy is an opportunity.”

Those who were trying to take advantage of the situation and-

“Treason? That’s nonsense. They even dismissed their attendants before entering, how could they! It can’t be true. It shouldn’t be.”

Those who were denying the treason charges clashed, creating a small commotion.

Clatter! Clatter!

The nobles, each with their own purpose, rushed up the stairs to the main palace.

Some officials who recognized them bowed slightly, but they had no time to acknowledge them. The officials clicked their tongues at the sight of the nobles running without decorum and went back to their own business.

Meanwhile-

“Please allow me to inspect you.”

An outsider who had come with something neatly wrapped in his hands. A guard stopped him and asked.

“Where are you going?”

“To the dungeon.”

“Ah.”

The guard slightly opened the silver tray. Since it was an area where traitors, nobles, and mages were imprisoned, they needed to be extra careful about security.

Clink.

“It’s a chocolate cake?”

“Yes, it is.”

“But this is going to the dungeon?”

“I know, right? I don’t know either. Well, does it matter?”

What do you or I know? We’re just low-level employees doing what we’re told.

At that, the guard nodded and let him pass. The chocolate cake made with the finest sheets went down into the cool dungeon.