Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 849

“He’s late.”

Jin, who was working on documents, muttered to himself. Beric, standing behind him, seemed to share the sentiment, replying immediately,

“Indeed. Should we check on it?”

Barsabe’s return to the palace was taking longer than expected. They had anticipated it would take about four hours for her to leave Ian with the escort and return. But it had already been over six hours.

Jin frowned, looking at the brightening sky. Could something have happened?

Tap tap!

Just then, hurried footsteps echoed from the hallway. Jin immediately put down his pen, and Beric turned his head toward the door. The head attendant’s voice was heard.

“Your Majesty, Royal Guard Barsabe is here.”

“Let her in.”

As the door opened, Jin and Beric frowned simultaneously. Her uniform was a mess, covered in dirt and dust, and her hair was disheveled. Moreover, there were bloodstains soaking her white shirt.

Jin was startled and jumped up, but Barsabe shook her head, indicating she was okay.

“It’s not my blood.”

“No, what happened?”

She took out a carrier pigeon’s corpse wrapped in cloth and reported. It had been a real ordeal chasing after just this one thing in the moonlight. Beric, who lifted the pigeon’s wing, looked puzzled.

“Rayburn’s faction, anticipating Ian’s departure from the palace, ambushed him. It seems they hired mercenaries from outside, but that’s not the real problem…”

“Is that a magic stone on its leg?”

“Yes. My voice calling for Ian was recorded. They sent it flying immediately after recording it. I caught it near the Minister of Justice’s residence.”

It was a close call. If she had been just a little later, the magic stone would have fallen into the hands of other ministers, providing an excuse for amnesty [a pardon or release from punishment].

“How is Ian?”

“How’s Ian?”

Jin and Beric asked at the same time, and Barsabe looked down at the floor with a troubled expression. It was her duty to serve him until the end, but whatever the situation, this was a mistake.

“I apologize. I couldn’t escort him to the end because I was chasing the carrier pigeon. He must have gone to the rendezvous point alone.”

“…Alone?”

“I’m going crazy. He can’t even walk properly!”

“I’m sorry, Beric. But there was no other way.”

Beric was about to lash out but stopped. It wasn’t like Barsabe wanted it to happen. If they were to find fault, it should be with the ministers who attempted the attack in the night, not her.

“Minister Rayburn and his remnants were executed immediately.”

“Good job.”

Jin encouraged her without pausing. He was already sick and tired of them, so it was better that they died on the spot.

Jin ordered Siao Shi to be brought in immediately and reorganized the documents.

“Barsabe, make sure that Ian and the escort meet safely.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Was it even possible to confirm? If they had met safely, they would have already left and wouldn’t be there, and even if they hadn’t met, the escort would have already been on their way. Barsabe left the office, hoping they had left some kind of mark.

Siao Shi, who had been summoned and entered at that moment, glanced at Barsabe as she passed by and then faced Jin.

“Siao Shi, immediately arrest all of Rayburn’s forces who are outside the palace. The charge is manipulation of magic stone prices.”

Jin handed Siao Shi a document with the list and charges, and stamped it with the imperial seal to prove it was the Emperor’s order. Siao Shi bowed and accepted the imperial order without any questions.

Jin was busy shuffling through documents.

“Your Majesty, what should I do?”

“Beric, you-”

Jin muttered as if he had made up his mind.

Minister Rayburn was dead, so this was the signal for a purge. His death indirectly indicated Ian’s survival. It would be best to eliminate all those involved and take control of the situation.

“Take up your sword.”

“Ah.”

Swish.

“As you command.”

“Let’s go.”

Jin immediately entered the building where the nobles were detained. It was early in the morning, and the nobles, still half-asleep, hurriedly got up to greet the Emperor.

Thud!

The Emperor and the Royal Guard burst through the roughly opened door. Count Charlotte straightened his clothes and bowed to the Emperor.

“Y-Your Majesty. What brings you here?”

“Have you heard?”

“Wh-What…”

“That former Minister of Magic, Ian Hielo, died in the underground prison this morning.”

Charlotte’s eyes darted around. Ian Hielo died? Even before the execution?

There was no need to think deeply about what this implied. The sword of the Royal Guard Commander standing next to the Emperor was clearly stating its meaning.

“In his last statement, he strongly asserted the involvement of the Charlotte family in the rebellion.”

“Your Majesty, as I have repeatedly stated, we are a proud central family of Bariel, and we would never…”

“Someone risked their life to say this, and someone else is just spouting words. Whose words do you think I should listen to?”

Jin threw a piece of paper in front of Count Charlotte.

“If you want to assert something, you must show the appropriate trust. Don’t you think so?”

Ian Hielo risked his life. You too must risk everything to match the weight of death.

The document stated that the Charlotte family’s businesses would be transferred to the Imperial Palace, and that most of their land, except for their residence, would be sold at a low price. Count Charlotte’s face turned pale as he read it, and he shouted.

“Your Majesty, it is unfair to act like this based solely on Ian Hielo’s one-sided claim!”

“Unfair?”

At Jin’s signal, Beric stepped forward.

Charlotte couldn’t believe it. Even if they were accused of treason, such a rough judgment was impossible. The other nobles and officials who upheld tradition and rules would not stand idly by.

Realizing this, Jin let out a small sigh.

“Ah, don’t worry.”

Those who are going to die should only worry about death.

“Minister Rayburn is dead.”

“What?!”

“And the Imperial Defense Force is going out of the palace to arrest all those involved. The situation is chaotic, so no one will be able to criticize the Imperial Palace’s decision.”

As Beric gripped his sword, the Countess screamed.

“Honey! Honey! Sign it! Hurry!”

“B-But-”

“But what! Can’t you grasp the situation?”

The Countess knelt before the Emperor and begged with her hands clasped together.

“Your Majesty, we will offer everything our family has to once again assert our innocence. Just as death is everything to Ian Hielo, this is everything to us. So, please have mercy and spare our lives.”

Jin turned to look at the Count, as if asking what he was doing while his wife was begging like this.

“I-I apologize.”

The Count swallowed hard and carefully knelt down. Now that Ian Hielo was dead, he could no longer delay and assert his innocence. He had no choice but to abandon the hope that he could protect everything his family had.

“I’ve already heard enough apologies.”

Jin nodded, and a servant handed the Count a pen, and he signed the bottom with a trembling hand.

As Beric picked it up, Jin turned away as if to say that was enough. There were too many nobles to face like this.

“Then, rest well. If you stay still, you’ll be able to leave the palace.”

Squeak.

After that, Jin continued to visit the nobles’ residences, confiscating their businesses, land, and assets.

The nobles who had been holding out by colluding with officials also realized that there was no other way and eventually signed the documents Jin presented. If they didn’t, it seemed like Beric, who was standing behind the Emperor, would swing his sword at any moment.

“Your Majesty! Wh-What is this!”

“It’s unfair! Your Majesty!”

“Please conduct a thorough investigation! Your Majesty!”

The high-ranking officials who had been arrested by Siao Shi shouted as if the Imperial Palace would collapse. They were quite flustered, as they had been arrested as criminals, not as officials.

Jin sat on the throne and calmly looked down at the high-ranking officials who were appealing their innocence.

“Ian Hielo is dead.”

“Yes?”

“Minister Rayburn is also dead.”

“That…”

At Jin’s words, the officials’ eyes darted around. Was there a correlation between their deaths? Or did Rayburn kill Ian?

Since he had only hinted at it without revealing the details, the officials were confused and remained silent.

And Jin did not miss this.

“Why are you all so quiet?”

“…Your Majesty, Ian Hielo is a traitor. I don’t know what happened, but no one will be able to object to his death.”

Jin was certain. They knew that Rayburn had pursued Ian Hielo. In other words, they thought that Ian Hielo had died in the process of being pursued, and that the Emperor was taking issue with it.

Jin tilted his head, looking intrigued, and nodded.

“At first glance, it seems like a reasonable death, but you’re missing the point.”

“What, what do you mean?”

“To dare to target the Imperial Palace’s carriage and pursue it, that itself is an insult to the Imperial Family. Even if ‘no one’ was in the carriage, it was clearly on its way to carry out an imperial order. And you attacked such a carriage? Are you out of your minds?”

“W-We don’t know anything about that!”

“That’s right!”

“But didn’t you just answer as if you knew? As if you had an idea about Ian Hielo’s death and Rayburn’s death. Is it my imagination?”

It would all come out if they investigated anyway.

Besides, they were arrested on completely different charges anyway. Jin threw the evidence he had prepared in advance at their feet.

Thud.

He had been planning this for a long time. Ever since Ian had suggested that there was corruption in the magic stone prices. If Ian hadn’t rebelled, these would have been accepted long ago and would have strangled their necks.

“This is the Ministry of Magic’s indictment regarding the manipulation of magic stone prices.”

“No, why now…”

Wasn’t it supposed to have been glossed over?

Jin smiled mockingly at the officials’ reactions. That smile was strangely cold.

“Is there a time for punishment?”

At that moment, Barsabe entered the hall with quick steps. She covered her mouth and reported to Jin.

“Um, Your Majesty. There’s a problem.”

Jin listened, looking down at the officials without any emotion.

“When I went to the rendezvous point, there was only one stranger. He was a mercenary, and he said that Ian hadn’t shown up even though it was time, so he left first. He said he was waiting in case Ian came late, but in conclusion, it seems Ian didn’t reach the rendezvous point.”

Twitch. Jin’s brow furrowed. The officials, who were only watching the Emperor’s mood, paused and froze.

“We’ve sent people to search the forest area. I’ll give you a detailed report after the search.”

“Okay, good work.”

Barsabe left the hall again in a hurry after giving her report.

Jin was silent for a long time, as if he was thinking about something. He looked at the officials, then stared into the air, and then closed his eyes as if he was displeased with something. In the end, the Emperor couldn’t stand it and got up from his seat.

“There’s no need to make it complicated. What’s so great about having a separate execution ceremony?”

Jin ordered Siao Shi.

“Investigate and execute them immediately. Kill every single one of those who were involved with Rayburn.”