Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 932

“What? Marriage?” The wizards who received the wedding invitation stared at Romandro, dumbfounded. “Seriously, when did this old man even start dating?” “What have you been doing while we’ve been running around? Huh? I thought you’d gained some weight lately. Was it because you were on dates?” “Wow… Romandro is getting married, and I’m still single.” “You deserve it.” “Hey, people! Your words are too harsh!” Romandro shouted, feeling wronged by the wizards’ murmuring. However, the news was so shocking that no one paid him any attention. “The bride’s name is… ‘Viviana’? Is she the one from the Administration Department?” Ian asked, after checking the bride’s name. It sounded familiar, and he deduced it from the fact that Romandro had been frequently visiting the Administration Department lately. As if he had never shouted, Romandro’s face relaxed into a smile. “That’s right. Actually, we’ve been seeing each other for quite a while.” “How could you keep it so secret? Romandro, you’re a scary person, aren’t you?” “Well, office romances aren’t usually made public. Ahem.” “That’s true. Like how Helen from the Culture Department broke up with Charles after dating him-” Thwack! The wizards, who had been living like a family for so long, knew each other’s private lives well. As the wizards grabbed each other’s collars and started bickering again, Ian carefully put the wedding invitation away and congratulated Romandro. “Congratulations, Romandro.” “Thank you. I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you sooner. We all live under the same roof, after all.” By ‘same roof,’ he meant Count Jacques’s manor. It had already been 10 years since they had started living there. Ian was one thing, but Romandro had also been relying on them for a long time. “It’s alright. Don’t worry about it.” Ian smiled and shook his head. In fact, Ian had been somewhat aware of it, thanks to Barsabe. “Romandro has been acting strange lately. He’s been wearing cologne, you know?” “No, that old man spent an hour just choosing a tie today. Does he have a girlfriend?” “Ian. There’s definitely something going on. This older sister’s intuition is telling me so.” At the time, he hadn’t paid much attention, but now he realized they had incredible intuition. Romandro, who had been teased by the wizards for a while, wiped the sweat from his brow with a handkerchief and added, “I’ve been too busy… and I didn’t want to bother you with my wedding, so I’ve been putting it off.” “Do you look like you’re not busy now?” “He’s been leaving work on time for the past few days, though?” “Ah.” So, he had his own standards. The wizards looked at the wedding invitation, saying that something fun had happened. “It’ll be a festival after a long time. Minister, let’s all take a day off that day, shall we?” “Do you want to die? The one with the fewest working days this month will guard the office. I won’t tell you who it is, so if you think it’s you, work like you’re on fire.” “Gasp! Crap, how many days did I work?” “Romandro, where is the venue? Is it your new home?” “Yeah. Fortunately, I finished the purchase last week. I’m going to decorate the garden by the wedding day.” “Oh? Where is it? In the center?” “Is it a mansion?” “That’s right. I had to push myself a little to start a family…” “In the center, and even bought a mansion? This old man is really capable!” “Well, thanks to Count Jacques, I’ve saved a lot of money in many ways…” “Viviana. I’ve heard she has a great personality. You must be happy.” Romandro grinned again at the wizard’s praise. Viviana was a member of the Administration Department who was in charge of the restoration project caused by the rifts. In fact, she was efficient and kind, and everyone who knew her gave her a thumbs up. The wizards continued to tease him outwardly, but they smiled, thinking that the two were a good match. “Alright! Let’s stop chatting here and get back to work?” “Yes, sir. Understood.” Arena clapped her hands, dismissing the wizards. Everyone returned to their desks to focus on paperwork, but Ian was putting on his coat, preparing to leave work. The wizard next to him looked at him curiously. “Ian, you’re leaving a bit early today?” Unlike the other wizards, Ian always left work on time. Arena had always vehemently opposed him working overtime. Therefore, Ian always filled his working hours to the brim before leaving… “Ah, Naum. I have some things to do. I think I’ll meet Hans, do you have anything to tell him?” As if he had been waiting for it, Naum peeked his head over the partition and smiled. “Tell him I can’t go home again today.” “Yes. Understood.” Ian nodded lightly and said goodbye to the wizards. They all waved back at Ian kindly. “Only three years left, Ian. Enjoy it, enjoy it!” “Let’s make Ian work overtime as soon as he has his coming-of-age ceremony.” “You’re such a devil. Ian, go quickly.” Ian smiled faintly and left the Magic Department. Even though it was a bit early to leave work, the sky was already quite dark. Instead of taking a carriage, Ian flew directly out of the Imperial Palace and landed leisurely near the plaza where he was supposed to meet Hans. Thud. Some citizens who recognized him as a wizard greeted him warmly or bowed respectfully. “Hans.” “Oh, you’re early?” Hans was sitting on a bench in the plaza, reading a book. While Ian had been growing up as a boy, he had become a fine young man, preparing for the Imperial Palace entrance exam. Ian sat next to the bench and looked at the book. It was about administration, and the edges were worn out, as if he had read it several times. “Sorry for calling you out while you’re studying.” “No, it’s okay. That messenger bird has a weird personality. When I opened the window, it kept pecking my hand with its beak, you know?” Ian had sent a messenger bird to Hans as soon as the Grand Assembly ended. He had decided to take on the investigation of the Black Order, and he wanted to get some help from Hans. “It’s asking for water.” “Oh, really? I didn’t know.” “How’s your exam preparation going?” “No problem.” Hans, who memorized everything he saw, had read the book until it was worn out. Ian predicted that Hans would surely be the top scorer in this entrance exam. As expected, Hans had secretly whispered to Ian about his grand dream of joining the Administration Department and eventually becoming a minister. “What about your brother?” “He said he can’t go home again today.” “I knew it.” “But it’ll be easier soon. The Imperial Defense Force will be handling monster responses instead of the Magic Department.” “Really? That’s good.” “Oh, and Romandro gave me a wedding invitation today? You’ll probably get one soon too. He said he waited until we had some free time.” “What?!” Hans’s eyes widened as if they would pop out. It was a complex mix of disbelief and bewilderment. Ian thought that if Romandro saw that expression, he would pout again. “Seriously, when did he even start dating?” “The people in the Magic Department said the same thing.” “Seriously, my brother can’t even get married!” “Naum is still far off.” “No, the more I think about it, the more amazing it is? Was the Magic Department that busy?” How many times was he going to say ‘no’? Ian picked up the administrative book lightly and added, “His partner is from the Administration Department. You might meet her if you pass.” “Do you have the invitation? I don’t think I can believe it until I see it in person.” Ian thought he was being a bit dramatic, but he took the invitation out of his pocket anyway. Hans read the text for a long time, then slowly shook his head and muttered, “…This is crazy.” “Behave yourself in front of Romandro. He almost cried earlier.” “Viviana. I wonder what she’s like? But her name sounds familiar.” “Really? It’s understandable within the Imperial Palace, but it’s unlikely that an outsider would know her.” No matter how good Viviana’s reputation was, it was only among her colleagues. Her name wouldn’t be known to the public. Unless someone had received help during the rift recovery, maybe. “No. I’ve definitely heard it before. Viviana, Viviana, Vivi, Vivi…” Hans pressed his forehead, trying to recall the memory. After a moment of silence, he exclaimed. “Ah! That’s it!” “That?” “Remember when I first visited the Magic Department, and you, me, and your brother went to see the annex together?” They did. And they met Crony too. Ian nodded, telling him to continue. “Don’t you remember? I found a book with your name on it. The title was , and the first sentence was probably…” It took some time to recall it from the depths of his memory. Hans continued to rub his forehead and muttered, “-Ian, this is your story.” Ian seemed to vaguely remember it and responded softly. But what about it? “The author of that book was Vivi. It’s a unique name, so I remember it.” “Isn’t that a completely unrelated person?” “I don’t know. When you said Viviana, it suddenly came to mind. Don’t you think it might be Viviana’s nickname?” “Maybe.” While Hans was excited about the memory he had recalled after a long time, Ian waited for the sun to set. The surroundings were much darker than before. The candles around the flower tomb were lit. “But, why did you want to meet today?” Now that he thought about it, he hadn’t asked why he had been called out yet. Hans asked curiously, and Ian pointed to an alleyway and asked, “Do you remember the Rugerspell district?” The neighborhood where Naum and Hans had lived before they entered the Magic Department. It was a slum in the center of Bariel, a hotbed of all kinds of crimes and a symbol of unstable security. Hans asked back as if it was obvious. “Are you asking me if I remember it now?” “That’s true.” It was a silly question. It wasn’t a suitable question for a friend who remembered a book passage from 10 years ago. “I need to investigate that place. I have a map, but I need detailed information about the back alleys and buildings that only the residents know.” “The Magic Department is investigating Rugerspell?” It was a strange thing, not even the security forces. Hans shrugged and got up from his seat, putting the book in his bag. “I don’t know what’s going on, but I know that neighborhood like the back of my hand. And it doesn’t change much there.” Drunks and drug addicts, dirty streets, and a noisy street where the presence of the security forces was not felt at all. “Naum said that when we first went there and when we left, nothing had changed. Time had stopped. It’s not just a district in the center of Bariel, it’s a completely different world.” There might be new shops that had failed and been replaced, but there were no significant overall changes, according to Hans. Even after saying that, he smiled awkwardly, as if he felt a little bitter. No matter how dangerous the place was, what worries would there be when going with a wizard? And if they were lucky, they might see some of their old neighbors. It was perfect for a sudden walk at night. “But, you’ll take me home, right?” “…Call a carriage.” “Let me fly in the sky too!” “You’re heavy.” Ian refused flatly, and Hans chuckled and tapped Ian’s shoulder. They pushed through the crowd and gradually seeped deeper into Rugerspell, and at some point, they could feel the air change. ‘Is it because it’s night?’ A thick, artificial smell wafted in with the cold wind. At the entrance of Rugerspell, as people began to glance at the platinum-blonde boy, Hans nudged Ian’s side. “Put on your robe.” “Why?” “…I don’t want to explain, just do it.” Ian hesitated for a moment, but what could he do? He had to do what the guide told him. He pulled the robe over his head and followed Hans.