Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 94

“Lord Romandro? Where did Sir Ian go?” Butler Samon asked, looking puzzled as he saw Romandro walking alone down the hallway. He waved his hand dismissively, as if it were nothing, and then stepped inside, asking for what he needed. “Bring me parchment, a pen, and ink.” “Yes, I understand.” As he entered the bedroom, the smell of blood hit him, along with the thick scent of a strong cigarette. Inside, Dive’s sobbing could be heard, while Lady Rienne sat on the sofa, looking indifferent. “You’ve arrived? Where is Sir Ian?” “He had some business to attend to, but he’ll be back soon, Madam.” Romandro looked around and sat across from her. It was clear that he had something to say, and Lady Rienne, also aware of the inner bedroom, looked at Romandro. “What is it?” “Madam, Sir Ian asked me to tell you that it would be best if you kept the seal once you’ve secured it.” “Ah.” The Lady exclaimed, surprised. Ian had sent his message. If she made up her mind, he would help her overthrow Mereloff. Romandro poured the now-cold tea and quietly murmured. “I will submit a report, but depending on the meeting above, an investigator may be dispatched again. At that time, neither I nor Sir Ian will be able to assist you, as we’ll be on our way to the central region.” “So, I have to do it alone.” “I will explain the detailed plan after things have settled down. So, will you keep the seal?” It was a question of whether she would become the head of the family. The Lady glanced at the inner bedroom. Dive had come in without even greeting her. A sister-in-law who was a former slave was too much of a disgrace. If he became the next Count, neither Clark nor her safety could be guaranteed. No, in fact, no matter who it was, the only way to protect her was for her to reach the top. “Yes. I will manage the seal.” “Good. Then, there is one thing you must do. First, you must dismiss the knights.” “You mean, the three knights?” “Didn’t Sir Ian mention it?” “He did, earlier. He said they were not cost-effective and that I should cut the knights first when managing the mansion.” Romandro smiled faintly at the Lady’s words. “Well, that’s not entirely wrong. But procedure is important. If they die as knights of the Mereloff family, their names must be included in the report to the Imperial Palace, but if not, there’s no need to mention them.” ‘If they die as knights of the Mereloff family.’ The Lady’s green eyes sparkled. Romandro was saying that he would kill them all. “Ah. I see.” “I believe you understand what I mean.” “Yes. I understand completely.” Ian was under the scrutiny and surveillance of the Imperial Palace. If it became known that he had intervened in the succession by killing the Mereloff knights, it would be quite troublesome. Lady Rienne nodded and glanced at the bedroom again. Dive’s fake sobbing was gradually subsiding. “What about him?” “Sir Ian said he would handle him, so you can leave it to him. However, there are a few things you must promise.” It was a condition that would firmly bind Ian and the Lady together. “5,000 gold coins.” “No problem. I’ll give it to you even if I have to sell land.” “Maintain the number of soldiers at less than half of the current number.” It was meant to keep Mereloff in check. It was a treaty for mutual peace in case Ian was away. Of course, it was not a problem for the Lady at all. “Okay.” “Give Sir Ian the right of first refusal in all transactions given to you. Of course, you have the right to reject Sir Ian’s proposal.” Since the closest territory was Ian’s, his territory would be the first to be mentioned when trading or interacting. The Lady nodded, meaning that this was also not a problem. “If you agree, we will draw up a formal contract after things are settled.” “There’s no room for me to back out. I agree to everything.” “Yes. Oh, and about that man named Clark.” The Lady’s expression hardened slightly. She had been racking her brain, but she couldn’t see a way out of that. The only thing she could think of was to pardon him once she became the lord. But until then, she didn’t know if Dive, including the knights, would keep Clark alive. It was a precarious situation, and as Ian said, it was a miracle that he was still alive. She couldn’t know what kind of torture he was undergoing in the dungeon, or if he was already dead. The Lady couldn’t know anything from the bedroom. “Is there a way?” “There is, but…” Just as Romandro was about to continue, Dive appeared, dabbing at his eyes with a handkerchief. He had been sobbing as if he would fall backward, but his face was not swollen at all. It meant he had only raised his voice. “Sister-in-law. I’m sorry that things have turned out this way.” “So, you can see me now. You ignored me earlier without even greeting me. Is it because you’re with Lord Romandro?” That was the correct answer. He was a consultant officially dispatched from the Imperial Palace, and he was the one who would send the certified report, so he was managing his image. However, Dive replied without batting an eye. “That’s not true. I was so shocked by my brother’s death that I ran straight to the bedroom. Sister-in-law, you’re still the same.” “Of course. You’re still the same too, Dive.” There was a feeling of sparks flying between the two. Romandro only coughed awkwardly and intervened. “Let’s all calm down and sit down.” “Yes. Lord Romandro. It’s sad, but we have to take care of things. I heard that the cruel slave who did this to my brother is still alive in the dungeon.” “His name is Clark.” “Please explain the outline of the incident in detail in the report to the Imperial Palace, and also report the succession of the title.” It was not a new family and title being granted like Ian, but a succession within the family. It was not the Emperor’s permission, but just a report to the central region. Dive’s butler brought the writing utensils along with the parchment stand. Romandro nodded, dipping the pen nib in ink. “Of course. Where else in the world would there be such a tragedy? A slave killing his master… a noble, no less. By the way, don’t you have any family, Dive?” “I don’t.” “Ah, I heard you believe in the Undergod.” “Me? No. Who said that? Did my sister-in-law say that?” Dive replied, feigning ignorance. While Bariel had freedom of religion, it was freedom that considered no religion. In an empire where the Holy See officially served a god, heresy was out of the question. There would be no direct sanctions in the border region, but there would certainly be disadvantages. He would have refrained from mentioning the Undergod at home or making the praying gesture if he had known that Ian was a neighboring lord. “Or did Sir Ian say that?” “It doesn’t matter who said it. The fact itself is important, isn’t it?” “No. That is absolutely not true.” “I see. I understand.” He denied his faith at once for the sake of the title. Dive was in so much pain from this deplorable situation, and he only wanted to quickly offer a prayer of repentance. However, he pretended to be fine and changed the subject. “Since this happened due to an unfortunate incident, it seems that the succession ceremony cannot be grand. We should proceed with a simple ceremony as early as tomorrow and then hold my brother’s funeral.” “No. The funeral comes first. That is the proper etiquette.” Romandro refused firmly. He needed to buy time so that the Lady could organize the knights. Dive, who was about to object, shut his mouth at the word etiquette. Wasn’t that the first thing a noble had to observe? “I will ask you a few questions so that I can describe it in detail in the report. Is that okay with you?” “Go ahead.” “If you inherit, what generation will you be, Dive?” “My brother was the 8th, so I’ll be the 9th.” Romandro diligently moved his pen and asked various questions. Even during this time, the Lady’s mind was boiling. She had a burning desire to quickly cut off all traces of her husband. Let’s start anew, abandoning everything. It was important to survive, even if she had to abandon it again in the future. ‘Clark…’ “…Madam?” “Yes?” “Were you listening?” “Ah, I’m sorry. I missed it for a moment. What did you say?” The Lady smiled and turned to Romandro. Dive seemed to dislike even her attitude. His tongue-clicking was becoming more and more blatant. “I’ve asked the people of the territory to announce the matter today and to clean up the mansion.” “Ah, cleaning up the mansion. Of course.” It meant the dismissal of the knights she had mentioned earlier. When the Lady nodded, saying that she would proceed immediately, Dive intervened with a truly unpleasant expression. “No. There’s no need for that.” “What do you mean there’s no need?” “What’s the point of having someone who’s about to leave the mansion manage it? I’ll take care of it from now on, so you should step back and take care of your body and mind.” There was a barb in the words ‘someone who’s about to leave the mansion.’ It meant that she shouldn’t even think about acting like family as a former slave. And perhaps, he was worried that she might take all the household goods while she was in charge for a short time. When Romandro tried to mediate, the Lady immediately retorted sharply. “Haven’t you been kicked out of the mansion for quite some time? I don’t think you’d know where to start even if you managed it right away.” “Sister-in-law. Your words are a bit rude?” “Is that so? Since you felt that way, I’m not sorry. It seems like you’re already desperate to take the title before the Count’s funeral. I understand that you were kicked out of the family for believing in a heretical religion, but there is such a thing as duty.” Every word she spat out was aggressive. Dive raised his hand as if he would strike her down immediately, and Romandro and the butler were surprised and stopped him. “Goodness, what are you doing, Dive?” “Dive! You can’t do this!” “It’s clear that you’re a Mereloff by blood, even if you were kicked out. A hand that goes up so easily.” However, the Lady didn’t even blink and drove the point home. The venom of a woman who had nothing left to lose was fierce. Dive was humiliated that he had been refuted by a former slave, and he trembled and screamed. “You don’t know your place, you lowlife!” “That’s right. The Count must have been truly insane to put such a lowlife in the position of Countess. He wasn’t in his right mind. Since you’re of the same blood, you’re the same, right? Well, you must be crazy to be acting like this.” Dive swung his hand more violently, but he couldn’t overpower Romandro and the two butlers. As the Lady said, the brothers even resembled each other in their gaunt physiques. The Lady took a sip of tea and looked at the door. A knight was looking inside, startled by the sudden commotion. “You there.” At the Lady’s call, the knight raised his eyebrows. She gestured towards Dive and asked in a bewildered tone. “If you were the Count’s knight, isn’t it your duty to protect me as well?” “Madam, we cannot protect you until the truth about the Count’s death is revealed.” “Clark is locked in the dungeon, what other truth is there? If that’s how you’re going to act, I can’t help it either.” It was a look that said, what would she do if she couldn’t help it. “Lord Romandro has proven that I am responsible for the mansion until the funeral. I will dismiss all three knights of the Mereloff family.” “Dismiss?” The knight laughed again. What did it matter if they were dismissed? But at that moment. KWAANG! A strange roar came from downstairs. The sound of something being folded and broken, not an explosion. The knight looked towards the end of the hallway, puzzled. Someone was coming up the stairs with fierce momentum.