Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 868

The door burst open!

“Oh, madam. You’ve arrived?”

“Even if you’re busy, how could you be up until this hour…”

When the madam arrived at the mansion, the lord was dead. The blood he had vomited had soaked through three or four blankets, staining everything around him.

Even with all the windows wide open, the stench of blood didn’t dissipate easily. Doctor Kelly bowed to her with a troubled expression, and the servants approached, sobbing.

“M-Madam.”

“Hic, h-his condition suddenly worsened…”

The madam’s eyes looked as if they would shatter at any moment. Her already pale skin had turned even more ashen, and her lips had lost all color. She seemed unable to grasp the situation at once.

“Madam, I know you’re devastated, but first, we must prepare for the funeral—”

It was the moment Crony approached to offer his condolences.

Thud!

Ian ran and hugged her tightly. Then, he glared at Crony with sharp eyes, as if telling him not to come closer.

His wary gaze was so intense that Crony chuckled and raised both his palms.

“It seems my nephew is quite startled.”

“…Don’t come near my mother.”

“I was only trying to offer my condolences.”

“I will offer those condolences.”

The madam, who had been swaying, steadied herself by grabbing her son’s shoulders. Crony and his group quickly exchanged glances.

“…Please, please allow us a moment alone.”

“Of course, madam. Please, say your final goodbyes.”

“Everyone, let’s go.”

At Crony’s gesture, his group left the bedroom, and the servants also slowly vacated the room.

Inside the room, now empty except for the mother and son, they both turned to look at the bed. The madam leaned against the corner for a moment, then finally slumped to the floor.

“Mother, Mother. Please listen to me. There’s a traitor in the mansion. No matter how I look at it, Father’s death is suspicious. Next, they’ll target you. We need to quickly find a safe—”

“Ian.”

Shhh. The madam grabbed her son’s arm and whispered, as if telling him to lower his voice. Ian didn’t realize his body was trembling.

“Ian. Listen carefully.”

“Y-Yes, Mother.”

“The family seal is not to be used carelessly. Until you can manage the territory yourself, do not hand it over to anyone, nor entrust it to anyone. Remember that even without it, the territory can still be managed.”

The madam spoke as if she had been thinking about this for a long time. Her voice was firm, without a hint of hesitation.

“Why, why are you saying such things?”

“And there’s an account in the Hyman Bank under the family name. There are about 500 gold coins in it. If the Imperial Palace demands taxes, use that money. The account in your name is only for your personal expenses.”

“I’m scared. Please stop.”

“Count Jacques is your mother’s teacher. He’s a trustworthy person, so if you face any difficulties, seek his help. But if he asks for the seal, turn around immediately.”

“Mother!”

“Listen!”

When Ian shouted for her to stop, the madam hugged her son tightly. She knew it too. That there was a traitor within the mansion. And that the lord’s death was a signal of her own impending demise. Before that time came, she had much to tell her son.

“In the east wing’s underground storage, there’s a box with gold trim. I’ve put many things for you there, so don’t forget to use them, my son.”

The madam’s voice began to tremble slightly.

“Even if you suspect your father’s death, remain silent. If you act rashly, you’ll only bring trouble upon yourself. Do you understand?”

What good would it do for a mere five-year-old child to claim the lord was murdered? Who would listen? They would try to find a reason to cut him down. If they killed the lord, a snot-nosed kid would be nothing to them.

“Pretend you know nothing, just survive.”

“U-Until when?”

“Until people appear who will protect you.”

It was such a vague statement. When the child struggled to speak, the madam wiped his eyes. He might be confused, but he would be alright. Because he was her son. Because he was such a bright child.

“Lastly—”

The child bit his lip, tears streaming down his face. The head of his already dead father was tilted towards them, his eyes closed, as if in agreement.

“You are the proud heir of Hadel and a descendant of the Imperial Family. No one can harm you. Do you understand?”

“……”

“Answer me.”

“Yes, Mother.”

“Who are you?”

“I am Ian Hadel. I am a descendant of the Imperial Family.”

“That’s right. Remember that. Ian, you are a precious child.”

She wanted to say she loved him, that she was sorry she couldn’t root out the traitors in the mansion, but she was afraid she would cry, so she couldn’t bring herself to say it. The madam straightened her back and stood up.

“Now, let’s stop—”

Whack!

But Ian suddenly hugged his mother tightly. Surprised by the unexpected action, the madam froze. Ian cried as he buried himself in her arms, and the madam hesitated before hugging him back.

“Please don’t die…”

“…Don’t talk nonsense.”

“Mother, you can’t die.”

The madam gave a faint smile and kissed Ian’s forehead. She seemed to have made a decision as she took Ian and walked out of the bedroom.

“Head Butler!”

“Yes, Madam.”

“Take Ian to his room.”

“Mother!”

“And Lord Crony.”

Crony and his group, who had been smoking cigars in the hallway, turned to look. Their eyes were filled with boredom. The madam gritted her teeth and gestured for them to follow her, as if to say she wanted to talk.

“Please come to the drawing room for a moment. There are things I need to discuss.”

“Is it about the funeral arrangements?”

“…It’s about various things.”

As the head butler carried Ian away, Ian kept his eyes on his mother. Her figure, standing tall in her dress, was like a warrior going to battle.

Then, suddenly, Ian’s eyes widened. He realized why she had said those things to him.

‘Ah.’

Mother had found evidence. She had also discovered the traitor in the mansion and who they were connected to. That’s why she was going to punish those who killed Father.

As Ian cried and struggled, the head butler covered his eyes with his large hand and quickly left the scene.

Creak.

She pushed Ian into his room and urged him.

“Young Master! Please, just be quiet today. Isn’t the mansion in chaos?”

“Hey, listen—”

“Everything will be alright now that the madam is here. I’ll wake you up early tomorrow morning. Please sleep now. Haena, where on earth, ah! Haena! You wretched thing!”

The head butler seemed furious as he pointed his finger at Haena, who was running towards them from afar.

“Where have you been? Not attending to the young master! Do you even know what happened in the mansion?”

“I-I’m sorry!”

“You’ll be punished later. Put Ian to bed and don’t let him out. Understand?”

“Yes, ah, I understand.”

“Young Master. Then, please sleep. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

The head butler then hurried back to the main building. With the lord dead, there would be a mountain of things to take care of.

Haena watched the head butler disappear and then knelt before Ian.

“Y-Young Master, I’m sorry.”

And she sobbed as she clasped her hands together. If she had been able to come out on time, things wouldn’t have turned out this way.

Ian wiped his tears with the back of his hand and asked.

“Were you in the guest room?”

“Yes. Crony wouldn’t leave, so I was hiding under the bed. After the butler secretly came in, they seemed to have increased security. There was always one or two people in the room.”

“Who? The butler?”

“Young Master. Those guys are the ones who did this to the lord. I saw it with my own eyes and heard it with my own ears. I can testify in front of the guards!”

And she handed him a crumpled piece of paper, saying she had copied part of a letter, though she didn’t know what it said.

Ian took it and took a breath. His head was throbbing from crying.

“Ian?”

“Haena, Mother is meeting with Crony’s group right now.”

“Yes? Why?”

“I think Mother realized it too. She seemed ready to expose them, as if she had found evidence.”

“Then I’ll help too!”

“Wait.”

As Haena tried to run, Ian grabbed her sleeve. Mother wouldn’t accuse them without certainty. She must have evidence.

“We need to ask Mother what she intends to do. We don’t know how she plans to use her cards.”

“Ah, that’s right. If those guys deny everything and act shamelessly, then I’ll expose everything! So they can’t do anything!”

Haena clenched her fist, determined, and Ian nodded.

Then, his whole body began to tremble again. He didn’t know if it was from extreme tension or from an ominous feeling he couldn’t quite grasp. Ian couldn’t bear the pain any longer and collapsed onto the bed.

“Ian!”

“Ah, it hurts…”

“Why, what’s wrong? Just a moment. I’ll call a doctor.”

“……”

In his fading consciousness, Ian struggled to hold on….

—…Ian, Ian.

—Ian…!

…His memories were fragmented. He saw Doctor Kelly saying something, Philia’s worried face, and the changing sky through the window, all cut off like crumpled paper.

—Ian…

—…Lord Ian.

Strange voices echoed in his head, calling out to Ian with different titles. They were voices he had never heard before, yet why did they sound so welcoming…?

Ian followed the voices and suddenly snapped back to his senses.

“……?”

The child was lying on the bed, drenched in sweat. Philia and Haena were curled up asleep beside him. They must have fallen asleep while nursing him all night.

Ian carefully got out of bed and headed towards the main building.

Swoosh.

It was the time when dawn was just breaking. Everyone was asleep, and the mansion was as quiet as a mouse. Ian carefully went up to his mother’s bedroom and knocked on the door.

Knock knock.

“Mother. It’s me, Ian.”

Are you asleep? What happened with the conversation yesterday?

“I’m going in for a moment.”

Ian turned the handle and peeked inside through the crack in the door. It was dark without a single light.

Isn’t that strange? Mother always sleeps with a couple of candles lit. Could it be that she didn’t sleep all night? Well, maybe….

Thud.

After taking a couple of steps, he tripped over something. Ian’s spine tingled. As his eyes adjusted to the darkness, he gradually realized what it was.

“…The butler?”

The butler was dead, his eyes wide open.

Ian stepped back in shock. He slowly raised his head, following the butler’s gaze, and then he faced an unbelievable sight.

“……!”

His mother was hanging from the chandelier on the ceiling. Her faded eyes were staring straight down at the child. The hem of her dress swayed gently.

‘Is this a dream?’

Am I still dreaming? He had no sense of reality. Ian stared at her for a long time before collapsing to the floor, losing consciousness.