Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 882

Count Zak placed his hands on the shoulders of the two children, a benevolent smile on his face.

As he considered how the future of these small, adorable children was intertwined with the future of Bariel, he felt a mix of anticipation and pity.

“Barsave.”

“Yes, Grandfather.”

“Ian Hadel is the youngest and first noble mage. He’s also a descendant of the imperial family’s side lineage. Treat him with respect and sincerity.”

“A mage? Him?”

Barsave’s eyes widened in disbelief as she looked back and forth between Ian and her grandfather. She had vaguely heard news of a new mage, but she never imagined it would be such a little kid.

Moreover, the youngest? The first? A side lineage of the imperial family? What was all this? As Barsave’s mouth fell slightly open in shock, Ian remained calm, seemingly unaware of the commotion.

“And Ian Hadel.”

“Yes, Count.”

“Our Barsave has shown early talent as a magic swordsman and is currently training. You know that the Imperial Guard and the Magic Department work closely together, right?”

“I heard it from Commander Herch.”

“Ah, yes. You’ve met Herch. Both of you will be together in the Imperial Palace for a long time, so I hope you will get along well and be a model for each other.”

“Of course. Noona [older sister], please teach me a lot in the future.”

“Nu, call me Nuna!”

“Yes, Nuna.”

Despite the grand titles, Ian seemed quite docile. As Barsave looked at the child with slightly relaxed eyes, Ian exclaimed as if he had just remembered something.

“By any chance, are you also attending the Central Energes Academy, Nuna?”

“Yes, I am.”

“I’ll be enrolling soon too.”

“What? You?”

There aren’t any magic students at the academy, are there?

That’s because magic users usually go straight to the Magic Department, not the academy. If Ian’s words were true, he would be an unprecedented new student.

“…It’s going to get noisy.”

“Yes?”

“When are you coming?”

“Well, there are many things to take care of right now.”

He was talking about inheritance and tax issues. Count Zak, understanding Ian’s meaning, suggested,

“Do you have anyone to help you? If not, we can assign someone from our side.”

“Thank you for the offer, but the Magic Department has agreed to help me.”

“The Magic Department?”

“Yes, specifically Romandro.”

“Ah. Romandro.”

Count Zak stroked his beard and muttered. If it’s him, he’s trustworthy. He’s a man of integrity. He briefly examined Ian’s complexion and then probed him.

“What about Sir Crony?”

As soon as Crony’s name was mentioned, Ian’s expression noticeably hardened. He had been quite friendly just a moment ago.

The Count keenly noticed the child’s change, and Barsave looked back and forth between Ian and her grandfather, puzzled.

“…Why do you ask about Sir Crony?”

“I heard he was at the mansion when the incident happened. Although distant, he is still a blood relative, so he should be able to help with the inheritance. Surely, he didn’t say anything?”

“He offered to help, but I refused.”

“Why?”

Ian hesitated. Why? Because that man killed his father and mother, and furthermore, tried to seize the entire Hadel family.

However, he couldn’t reveal all of this as he did before. Ian didn’t know who Count Zak was yet.

“The Magic Department offered to help first. Actually, Sir Crony and I had very little interaction, so to me, the Magic Department and him are the same as strangers. However, I thought it would be better to receive help from the Magic Department, where I will be working and which has more public credibility.”

Ian calmly recited the excuse he had rehearsed dozens of times in his head.

“That way, it will be easier for me to repay the Magic Department someday.”

A suitable excuse, a suitable reason. Count Zak nodded as if he understood. The child had spoken this much, and if he probed further, he might create animosity.

“Alright. As I said, if you need my help with anything in the future, just tell me. You don’t need to repay me.”

As Count Zak smiled faintly, Barsave raised her eyebrows in confusion. He wasn’t a strict grandfather, but he wasn’t this soft and gentle either. Wasn’t he being too kind to a child he had just met?

“Thank you.”

“Alright. Rest for today. You must be tired after so many things. The people who came with you have already been sent to their rooms, so don’t worry. Barsave.”

“Yes, Grandfather.”

“Please guide Ian.”

It was annoying, but what could she do? It seemed to be her grandfather’s intention for her to get close to Ian. As Barsave gestured for him to follow, Ian politely bowed to Zak and left the reception room.

*Squeak.*

As the door closed, Count Zak sipped the half-cold tea, thinking of his disciple, Zeria. He hadn’t seen her since before Ian was born, so it had been at least five years, and her face was becoming hazy-

“Zeria. You raised your son well.”

Seeing Ian made his memories clearer.

He sighed, recalling Ian’s reaction to ‘Crony.’ It seemed the child had also noticed something.

‘That Crony is involved in his parents’ death.’

He had shown the talent of a mage, but could a five-year-old child who had just arrived really stand against Crony? No. Absolutely impossible.

Count Zak looked down at Ian and Barsave crossing the Count’s residence and muttered.

‘Zeria. I will avenge you. I won’t let your son stain his hands with blood. That is the last gift I can give you.’

A child should be like a child. There was no need to tarnish his brilliant years by being consumed by revenge from such a young age.

‘Revenge is something you choose, not something you get entangled in like fate.’

This was Zak’s belief. He would eventually realize that the head of an enemy obtained by intertwining life and revenge was nothing more than a lump of meat.

*Knock knock.*

“Count.”

“You’re back, Alexer.”

*Squeak.*

It was the butler, Alexer. He had been dispatched to Onlihole to clean up the aftermath of the Hadel family’s tragedy. He bowed and entered, immediately handing a report to him.

“It was as expected. The bandits were hired by someone. However, we couldn’t find any direct evidence-”

“What was Crony’s reaction?”

“After Young Master Ian went to the center, he immediately returned to Hadel.”

“How blatant. As if to show off. Assign someone to monitor him closely.”

“Yes, Count.”

*Thud.*

Crony was currently an officer in the Imperial Defense Force. It was self-evident that the relationship between the Count Zak family, which had deep ties with the Imperial Guard due to producing magic swordsmen for generations, and the Imperial Defense Force was delicate.

The Imperial Guard and the Imperial Defense Force-

These two military groups, responsible for the Emperor’s safety, appeared friendly on the surface but were constantly checking each other in reality.

‘He’s fierce…’

Although he was just an officer, not a minister or a vice-minister, Zak recognized that Crony’s growth was unusual. Something was bound to happen in the Imperial Palace soon.

And he would influence the Imperial Guard, which prioritized the Emperor’s safety, in some way.

‘It’s better to take care of it before that.’

Before it gets bigger.

*Clink.*

‘Is Crony thinking the same thing?’

Ian Hadel. He had gained tremendous power at such a young age. If it was true that Crony had reached out to the Hadel lord and his wife, then he must be trying to get rid of Ian in some way before he grew any stronger.

Count Zak raised his teacup and instructed the butler.

“Assign a shadow to Ian Hadel for the time being.”

“Yes, Count.”

If the shadow, who was considered the best knight in the family, protected Ian, he could rest a little easier. Count Zak put down his teacup, deciding to settle things for now.

* * *

“This is the central corridor. If you go to the right, you’ll find the banquet hall and the annex used by the servants, and if you go to the left, you’ll find the guest room where you’ll be staying. If you take the stairs on the second floor, there’s a direct passage to the training ground.”

Barsave kindly explained the structure of the mansion to Ian, who was following her closely. It was so large and complex that he probably wouldn’t understand it with just one explanation, but he was still a guest, wasn’t he? And there was her grandfather’s request to get along.

Barsave turned her head sharply and asked.

“Where was that again?”

At her question, Ian paused. Then he smiled brightly and answered.

“That side is the annex with five floors, which is used as a warehouse, and you said there are many old, rusty weapons, so I should be careful. You also said it’s best not to go in there, Nuna.”

“…You were listening well.”

“Of course. I was concentrating.”

Hmm. He memorized it quite well even though she only said it once? Barsave looked a little surprised and walked ahead again.

Come to think of it, there’s a ‘claim’ that mages are particularly smart. Barsave never believed it, though.

‘Last time I saw the people from the Magic Department, they were all weird. And what? Mages are intelligent, and magic swordsmen are the opposite and have strange personalities? Humph, where is that nonsense still circulating? I’ve never seen a magic swordsman like that.’

Barsave’s father and his colleagues were all thorough, wise, and kind people who had much to teach. If anything, the mages were much weirder. When you looked at them one by one.

“Nuna?”

What are you thinking so hard about? As Ian approached and asked, Barsave shook her head and changed the subject.

“There’s a lot to prepare before entering the academy.”

“Romandro will probably help you.”

“Are you kidding me? Not the supplies.”

“Then what?”

Barsave crossed her arms as if she was dumbfounded, and then aimed for the space between Ian’s eyebrows with a very quick hand movement.

*Whoosh!*

“……!”

It was a very swift attack. As her hand blade barely touched Ian’s forehead, Barsave added.

“The academy is a place where you have to survive on your own.”

“…Isn’t it a place to study?”

“Well, that’s true too… Anyway, you’ll get beaten up and finished right away if you enroll like this. Do you know how many oddballs there are at the academy?”

“Uh… Romandro said that’s unlikely.”

Ian opened and closed his palm. The sensation of the lightning that had burst from his hand was still vivid.

“What does that old man know?”

“Old man? Are you talking about me, young lady?”

“Kyaaaaa!”

As Romandro peeked his head out, Barsave screamed and ran to the end of the corridor. Romandro looked at Barsave with slightly hurt eyes.

“I’m not that old yet, you know.”

“Ne, never mind! Ian Hadel, let’s go to the training ground! Change your clothes and come out! Got it?”

Barsave shouted and ran around the corner.

Romandro opened the door for Ian, telling him to come in, and the child trudged in and collapsed on the sofa. He had met even Count Zak, and all the tension had been released.

“Are you going to the training ground, young master?”

“Ugh… I think I should go…”

Hae-na had already collapsed and fallen asleep. It had been too long of a day since they had encountered the bandits. Ian also rubbed his face on the sofa and dozed off, and Romandro rummaged through the clothes bag, unaware of this.

“Training clothes, hmm. Ah, this would be good. Ian-”

Would you like to try this on? Romandro turned around with a smile, but the child had already fallen fast asleep. In the same position he had fallen in.

“Huh?”

How did he fall asleep so quickly? Romandro picked up Ian and laid him on the bed, then wiped his face and hands with a handkerchief.

“You’ve worked hard today.”

Even at Romandro’s greeting, Ian only made a soft snoring sound with his mouth slightly open.

The bedroom light was turned off. Romandro carefully left the bedroom. He was going back to his room. But then-

“Hap! Haaap! Ian Hadeeeel-! Why aren’t you coming-!”

The shouts of training could be heard from the training ground at the back of the mansion. It was loud and clear. It must be Barsave.

“Bariel’s future is bright. Yes, bright.”

Romandro turned around and tugged at his mustache. Old man… it seems to be all because of this, he thought, wondering if he should just push it away.