Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 864

“How is Grandfather’s condition?” Crony asked, pressing his lips to Madam Zeria’s hand. She accepted the gesture with a dignified air, then gestured for the guests to sit on the sofa, as if to say, ‘Please, make yourselves comfortable.’

“The doctors from the capital have arrived, so I believe he will get better.”

‘I believe he will get better.’ That meant his condition wasn’t good at all.

Crony and the other guests frowned slightly, as if concerned. They accepted the tea the butler offered and asked,

“They still don’t know the cause of his illness?”

“…Unfortunately, no.”

“I see. That’s truly unfortunate.”

“Please don’t worry too much. A miracle will happen.”

“Thank you all.”

According to the family tree, they were grandmother and grandson, but they treated each other with courtesy. This was because Crony and Madam Zeria were not blood-related. Moreover, there wasn’t much of an age difference, and they hadn’t interacted much, so they naturally treated each other with formality.

“Knowing the cause of the illness is the first step to treatment. If you don’t mind, I’d like to find a skilled doctor from the capital and send them separately.”

Crony made the offer with a worried tone, but Madam Zeria only sipped her tea and didn’t respond.

‘Be cautious.’

If someone is trying to kill the Lord, the one who benefits the most from his death is the culprit.

Based on that, the most suspicious person from the outside would be herself, because she would inherit the estate’s wealth upon her husband’s death.

‘Who’s next?’

Next is Ian. But he’s only five years old. He’s not suspicious either.

Then, the remaining suspects would be the relatives who have some inheritance rights. Madam Zeria shook her head.

“No, thank you. Dr. Kelly, who is here now, is quite renowned, so I trust him. I appreciate your concern, but I must decline.”

“Hmm. Is that so?”

Crony narrowed his eyes.

The Madam didn’t realize the mistake she had just made. Even though her grandson offered to send a doctor out of concern for his grandfather’s health, she had ‘refused’.

If something were to happen later—that is, if the Lord were to eventually succumb to his illness—this would become a loophole that people would talk about.

For example-

‘Didn’t the Madam want the Lord to die? I heard she refused the examination by a famous doctor from the capital.’

A loophole like that.

Crony shrugged, looking at everyone. ‘You all heard that, right?’ The guests just smiled awkwardly and sipped their tea.

After they exchanged meaningless greetings, the Madam checked the time.

“The examination should be over by now. Would you like to go to the bedroom to see him for a moment? He’s barely conscious, though.”

“Of course, we came all this way.”

“What is your schedule for returning?”

“It would be difficult for you to stay at the mansion, wouldn’t it?”

Crony once again tried to find a loophole. If she said yes here, that would also become a problem later. She was eager to send away the relatives who came to visit from the capital, even though no one knew what she was hiding.

“Not at all.”

The Madam answered calmly, as if it were nothing.

“Please rest comfortably. I’ll prepare rooms in the annex. If you need anything, please let me know, and stay as long as you wish. I’d be happy if the mansion were lively.”

“You’re very kind. Thank you for saying so.”

“This way.”

The Madam led the way, and the guests followed. They glanced at the old and beautiful mansion, exchanging knowing looks.

Creak.

“Doctor?”

“Ah, yes, yes.”

“We have guests for a moment.”

“The examination has just finished anyway. Please, come in.”

Crony approached Hadel with a pitiful expression and took his hand. It was thin, bony, and surprisingly cold. It was hard to believe it belonged to a living person. It seemed like the end was truly near.

“Can you hear me? It’s Crony. I hope you recover soon and regain your health.”

Madam Zeria watched from behind. On the surface, everyone seemed to genuinely wish for the Lord’s health, without any oddities.

…But you never know. That’s how people’s hearts are.

“Madam.”

A servant called from outside, and Zeria turned her head.

“Excuse me. Please wait here for a moment.”

“Yes, please go ahead, Madam.”

As the Madam went outside, the expressions of Crony and the other guests became much drier. They let go of the Lord’s hand and began to examine his complexion openly, like medical scholars gathered in an autopsy room to discuss.

“His condition seems much worse than expected.”

“Was his name Dr. Kelly?”

“Yes. He’s very skilled. I’ve heard of him a few times. I heard he worked as a royal physician when he was younger?”

“Even if he recovers, he won’t be the same as before, given his age. Tsk, tsk. You never know what will happen in life.”

While they whispered and gently stroked the blanket covering Hadel, Crony rummaged through his inner pocket.

“……”

He took out a cigarette, lit it, and walked leisurely out onto the balcony, looking down at the mansion.

…It’s a beautiful place, no matter how many times you look at it. Too beautiful for a half-corpse lying on a bed and his family.

* * *

“Ian?”

Madam Zeria looked down at her son with a puzzled expression. He was usually calm and composed like her, but for some reason, he looked uneasy.

Ian took a step closer to his mother and grabbed the hem of her dress.

“Mother. Who are those guests?”

“Ah, Ian, you wouldn’t know. They’re relatives from the capital. You’re their uncle, and they’re your nephews and nieces. That’s how it is on the family tree, but they’re adults, so you should be polite.”

“What about the person wearing the gray jacket?”

“Who?”

“The one with the slanted eyes and the mouth like this.”

Ian stretched his eyes and puffed out his lips with his hands, and Zeria was taken aback. Her son’s behavior was so unfamiliar.

“…Are you talking about Lord Crony?”

“Crony.”

Ian kept muttering his name as if he was shocked.

At that, Zeria looked at Haena, as if to ask, ‘What’s wrong with him?’ But Haena also shook her head, indicating she didn’t know.

“Mother. That person, he’s kind of scary.”

“Lord Crony?”

“Yes, can’t we tell him to go back soon?”

The unease that had washed over him the moment their eyes met. It was like something was poking and scratching at the bottom of his heart, making him feel nauseous.

Zeria placed her hand on Ian’s shoulder, as if to say, ‘Stop it.’

“Why are you being so rude, Ian?”

“But-”

“They came a long way because they were worried about your father. They just arrived and barely had a cup of tea. Would it be right to send them back like this?”

Ian shut his mouth, but his moist eyes were still wide open, not hiding his dissatisfaction.

Zeria paused, surprised by her son’s unexpected reaction.

“Where is the tutor?”

“The lesson ended a while ago.”

Since the Lord was bedridden, most of the estate’s affairs were the Madam’s responsibility. She was so busy that she rarely knew when her son’s lessons ended. Zeria grabbed Ian’s arm and muttered softly.

“I should increase the lesson time starting tomorrow.”

He was acting so unreasonable and throwing tantrums, so he had no choice but to receive more teaching.

It was the moment Ian was puffing out his cheeks in displeasure. Crony, who had finished his cigarette, and his group came out of the Lord’s bedroom.

“Oh, so you’re Uncle Ian.”

“……!”

Ian’s body stiffened as he faced Crony up close. He bent down to meet the child’s eye level.

“I’m Crony. I saw Uncle Ian when he was born, but Uncle Ian is seeing me for the first time, right? It’s nice to meet you. My, you look so dignified and handsome in person.”

“Ian.”

‘You should greet him,’ Zeria urged, pushing Ian’s back, and the child’s face hardened even more. But he stammered and bowed his head as his mother told him to.

“…Hello.”

“Yes, it’s nice to meet you.”

“Lord Crony, I’m sorry. Ian is very shy.”

Crony laughed at Zeria’s polite remark. He said that children of this age were all like that.

“Y-you must have had a long and tiring journey.”

“Yes. Thank you. Thank you for saying so.”

“It must be hard for you to go back again.”

“Ian.”

Zeria called her son’s name softly through her teeth. Was he really going to say something rude?

But Ian widened his eyes and smiled as if he didn’t know anything.

“The doctor said that Father needs absolute rest. That’s why I said that. I’m sorry to the guests, but Father’s health comes first.”

Go back, go back. Leave the mansion.

It felt like Ian was shouting that. He was stating his opinion clearly, but it was like, how should I put it, you could see him thinking. He was only five years old, so I don’t know what kind of deep thoughts he had, but his efforts were cute.

“Of course. That’s why we’ll stay in the annex and return soon. The horses are tired, and we need to find a new coachman.”

“Lord Crony. Please don’t mind what the child said.”

“No. I can clearly feel his concern for his grandfather’s health. He’s truly admirable.”

“Then, I’ll show you to the annex.”

“Thank you.”

The Madam gestured to Haena to take Ian away. Haena quickly picked up Ian and bowed.

“Uncle Ian. See you again.”

Crony nodded his head, but Ian didn’t answer. Instead, he buried his face in Haena’s shoulder and frowned.

As they turned the corner of the hallway, Haena patted Ian’s back.

“Why are you so on edge, Young Master?”

“…He’s strange. He’s a bad person.”

“Well, he doesn’t give a very good impression… But you’ll get scolded later if you judge people by their looks. It’s not like they were born ugly on purpose. Ah, I don’t mean to say that Lord Crony is ugly.”

‘What is she saying?’ Ian narrowed his eyes and struggled for a moment, as if to say, ‘Let me down now.’

Haena carefully put him down, and Ian straightened his posture and looked up at her.

“Hey, Haena.”

“Yes.”

“You’re good at reading people, right?”

“…In what way?”

“Like, watching them closely. And I heard you’re good at picking locks?”

“Wh-who said that? No, I’m not?!”

Haena waved her hands frantically, as if it were absurd. But Ian didn’t budge.

“Haena, please keep a close watch on Lord Crony and his group.”

“Ian, I’m really not that kind of person?!”

“He’s scary. I feel bad.”

‘Oh, man!’ Haena put her hands on her hips and sighed deeply. She wasn’t really the kind of person who did this kind of thing! But how could she refuse when the young master she served was asking with such a dejected voice?

When Haena hesitated, Ian added,

“You said my fountain pen was pretty last time, right?”

“Gasp.”

“If you do this well, I’ll give it to you as a ‘gift’.”

With all my heart, so that my mother or others can’t say anything.

Haena rubbed her toes together and then straightened her shoulders as if she had no choice.

“Oh, geez. Which room did they say the guests were staying in?”