Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 85

The Count’s younger brother, who was also her brother-in-law. She dredged up a forgotten memory and answered,

“Yes, twice. If you go east of the territory, there’s a small mansion. He lives there, almost in seclusion. Like blood, like father, like son, his personality is just as wretched.”

Hmm. Ian frowned, picturing the Count’s brother in his mind. If he were a proper member of the family, he wouldn’t have allowed a woman of slave origin to become the Countess. Considering that the marriage was done without a ceremony, it was easy to imagine how dysfunctional they were.

Both the Bratz and the Mereloffs were like this.

Surely, not all nobles were like this 100 years ago, he hoped.

“Isn’t the Count’s brother the only one who can raise questions if the Count dies?”

“That’s right. They say he has two younger sisters, but they married foreigners, so I’ve never seen them.”

“If he’s secluded and doesn’t have any contact, there doesn’t seem to be anything to worry about. Even if the Count dies, who would suspect the Countess?”

At those words, the Countess stopped and stared at Ian. Looking closely under the bright sunlight, there was definitely a hint of green mixed in her black eyes. It was a sign that she was a child of a dryad [a tree spirit or nymph].

“There’s a saying that those who betray the natural order are abandoned by the gods.”

What she cut down was a tree, but wasn’t it ultimately her mother’s life force? No matter how much it was to save her father, the reality didn’t change. The Countess often felt that the scar on her palm was like a mark of a sinner.

“Do you think my life will be smooth after killing the guardian of the forest? Is it just my imagination that the Count’s brother will rise up, question me, suspect me, get me caught, and sell me back to the slave traders?”

The Countess of Mereloff knew. Even if she could gain freedom, she wouldn’t find happiness. Therefore, she was going through all this trouble to avoid the worst of the worst.

“I’m preparing for everything I can. That’s the only way to survive. The curse of betraying the natural order will only end when I die.”

“Well, I don’t know about that.”

“…What do you mean?”

“Those who betray the natural order don’t even know what they’ve betrayed. The gods always soothe the wounds of those who whip themselves. I don’t know the details of your situation, but Countess, I know this for sure. You’re naive, like a child of the fairies.”

Ian had been dragged down by someone who called himself his uncle. In the Imperial Palace, they didn’t hesitate to draw swords against their own blood for power, and even parents would keep their children in check. In a world where even lovers couldn’t show their backs to each other, it was clear what kind of life they lived.

“Naive? Me?”

“I apologize if I offended you. What I mean is, don’t fall into self-pity too much. Whatever you think is right, is right.”

If you think you’re cursed, you will be, and if you don’t, you won’t. It’s the same reason why villains often get away with things. They don’t think what they’re doing is wrong.

Lien was taken aback by this perspective, which she had never considered before, and paused for a moment.

“…I’m cursed.”

“Yes. If that’s what you believe, then that’s what it is.”

Ian didn’t deny it. He had never seen her cut down the fairy tree, nor did he know what hardships she had endured.

The Countess felt strangely as if her life was being denied, and she couldn’t take another step.

“My mother always talked about the fairy’s curse.”

“Ah, I’ve heard about it too.”

Fairies of nature, including dryads, were beings that existed between promises and fulfillment. If they promised to do something, they had to do it, and if they did, the fairy would grant a wish in return.

“Isn’t that what people who can’t rely on temples or mages usually do? They hear rumors of fairies and head to the mountains, the sea, and the unknown.”

But there was something strange… Ian also stopped walking and turned around.

“Did you make a promise with your mother? If not, there doesn’t seem to be a particular problem.”

“…If I’m not cursed, then why am I like this now?”

“I told you, it’s because you think you’re cursed.”

Lien felt like someone had hit her on the head with a hammer. At the same time, she was so confused that she couldn’t even think straight. Ian left her there and approached the room where Clark was being held.

“Open the door.”

At Ian’s command, the soldier nodded briefly. The tightly locked lock fell down with a thud, and at the same time, a gap appeared. It was because the hinges were misaligned from Clark shaking it so much.

Creak.

“Ah, Clark.”

“…Countess Lien.”

The two looked at each other, but that was all. They didn’t move from their spots, as if a clear line had been drawn between them. As soon as the Countess of Mereloff confirmed that Clark was unharmed, she turned her back.

“Are you leaving just like that?”

“Of course. What business do I have here? I received Gula from Sir Ian and sold it, so I just needed to see that he was alive.”

Clark didn’t chase after her either. Beric kept turning his head back and forth, looking at the two of them with curiosity. He thought they would hug and cry, but their reaction was too bland.

“What are you two doing? You’re really something else.”

“You, your attitude has been very rude since before.”

“I think my brain is paralyzed because of you. My tongue isn’t working properly. I’m so~rry.”

“What is that…!”

Lien shouted in displeasure, but it was no use to Beric. He already knew that she was a former slave and that she was planning to kill her husband. When Beric stuck out his tongue, she closed her eyes as if she had seen something she couldn’t bear to look at.

“Beric, you must show respect to the Countess.”

“Are you kidding? I’ve been through so much.”

“Didn’t you sleep well and wake up?”

“That’s that, and I had some mental trauma.”

While Ian and Beric were bickering, Lien slipped into another drawing room as if to avoid them.

“Um, Sir Ian. What should we do with the door?”

The soldier glanced at the open door with a troubled expression. Clark also seemed to have lost the will to come out after seeing the Countess’s attitude. He had no intention of interfering in other people’s love affairs.

“Close it again and keep watch.”

“Yes, I understand, Sir Ian.”

“Clark. Count Mereloff is in the mansion. When I return, I will come back and decide your fate. It would be best not to cause a disturbance.”

“……”

Creak.

Clark didn’t respond to Ian’s words. He confirmed that Lien was sitting blankly on the sofa in the drawing room, and then ordered Hanna to guard the door.

“She looks out of it. Is she okay?”

“She probably has a lot to think about. Bring some refreshments and keep a close watch. I need to go help Romandro.”

Romandro looked like he was completely exhausted from dealing with Count Mereloff alone. When Ian returned, he seemed to perk up like a withered leaf coming back to life. There was already a pile of torn papers at his feet.

“I apologize for the delay. Where were we?”

“You came just in time. It’s the last page. The revised parts are in dark brown ink, so please check them.”

Ian read the documents, the ink not even dry yet, and asked for the Count’s understanding. He also looked exhausted from revising the contract.

“Count Mereloff, I am sorry, but since I don’t have a formal seal yet, I will sign instead.”

“Very well. I just finished revising that part as well. Where did the Countess go?”

“She is resting in another drawing room with some refreshments.”

At Ian’s words, the Count got up and headed outside without a word. As soon as the Count was out of sight, Romandro slid down the sofa with a groan.

“That fussy old man.”

“Was it difficult?”

“You have no idea. I’ve never seen anyone like him.”

“You’ve done a great job.”

“I managed to defend the price properly. It was a good thing I expected him to try to cut it down. I asked them to pack the Gula in different sizes, and I approved that arbitrarily.”

Ian smiled at Romandro’s satisfied assessment. Finally, the moment to sell 100 sacks of Gula for 3,500 gold coins was approaching, if they just signed.

‘But why isn’t he coming back?’

After a while, Count Mereloff came in, adjusting his disheveled sleeves. No one knew, but Ian noticed a strand of a woman’s hair caught on his button. He couldn’t even wait, and he had laid his hands on someone in another person’s mansion.

He had no sense of dignity at all…

“Hmm. Well, then. Have you checked everything?”

Ian handed him the pen and proceeded with the conclusion of the contract.

“Yes. There are no problems. I will sign now, Count.”

“Very well. The Gula will be taken today.”

“Did you bring the gold coins?”

“I can give you 1,000 gold coins now, and the rest will be transferred through Hyman Bank. I can go to the bank while you select the Gula.”

Count Mereloff muttered, checking his watch. 1,000 gold coins. He must have thought that ten coins per sack would be just right and brought that amount.

Ian signed without hesitation, and the Count also took out his seal from his inner pocket and completed the transaction.

“Thank you, Count. Today’s transaction will be a meaningful moment for both territories.”

“Hmm. Very well. Let’s start the Gula selection process.”

“Gather the workers outside. We will pack 100 sacks.”

“Bring the sacks! Strong and stretchy ones! And bring the boxes from the carriage!”

As soon as the contract was signed, the mansion’s servants began to run around busily. At the Count’s direction, the servants unloaded chests from the carriages one after another. Three adult men struggled to carry the 1,000 gold coins. They had come in four carriages.

“Gasp!”

When the box was opened, the golden light inside shone out, and the servants who saw it all froze. Then, they looked back at Ian in confusion.

“In my life, I’ve never seen so much yellow stuff gathered together like this, except for corn kernels. Wow…”

“W-w-what should we do with this?”

Ian also checked his watch and gave instructions. The Count seemed to be busy rummaging through the Gula warehouse with his servants.

“Load the chests back onto the carriages. We will go straight to the bank. Everyone, help Count Mereloff and his men move 100 sacks of Gula.”

“Hic! 100 sacks?”

“Did I hear that wrong?”

“They will pack as much as they want, so there’s not much to worry about.”

It was up to the people of the Mereloff territory to take the good and appropriately sized ones. The servants just had to supervise and guide them.

“If you’re talking about the bank…”

“Is there another bank in Bariel? Hyman Bank.”

At Ian’s firm words, the servants loaded the chests back onto the carriages. And soon, they left the chaotic mansion behind and went out the front gate.