Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 942

Ian anxiously looked up at the portal. Meanwhile, Berik and Barsabe, who had stopped their fist fight, approached Ian and also looked up.

‘Why aren’t they coming out?’

‘What is it? What is that?’

‘Aha, the idiot doesn’t know, does he?’

It seemed Berik, seeing the portal for the first time, had no idea what it was. Barsabe, full of mockery, teased Berik again, and just as the two were about to start their second round of bickering,

‘They’re here,’ Ian muttered quietly. A horse’s snout appeared very slightly from the portal. Soon, the driver’s seat connected to the reins appeared, followed by a line of carriages.

Ian raised his hand and continued to cast magic.

Whirr! Whirr!

The carriages, cutting through the air, spun in circles and descended stably. The horses seemed half-foaming with shock, but they were firmly fixed by the power of magic and could not move.

Even with just Philia, Nersarn, and the baby, there would be a lot of luggage, but with the second son of the Enlow family joining them, the carriages seemed endless.

‘A string of sausages.’

‘You only see food.’

Barsabe, realizing that she couldn’t keep bickering, dusted herself off and rubbed her face with a towel. Berik, with his mouth agape at the strange sight, still looked like a fool.

Thud!

Hee-hee!

As the first carriage landed, an excited horse raised its front legs. Just as Ian was about to go and calm it down-

‘Whoa, whoa.’

A familiar voice was heard. It was Nersarn. His skin seemed darker and his physique larger than the last time they met. Nersarn, having calmed the horse, greeted Ian.

‘Sir Ian.’

‘It’s been a while.’

‘Demosha.’

‘Demosha.’

Squeeze.

The two shook hands and then lightly hugged. Surprisingly, Nersarn seemed to have a faint smell of milk about him. Ian turned his head towards the carriage and soon met Philia’s eyes, who was holding a newborn baby.

‘Philia!’

‘Ian!’

Thud!

How long has it been since we last saw each other? As Ian ran over, Philia also hugged Ian tightly with one arm. Her longing gaze and voice seemed to speak of the time that had passed.

‘My goodness… Ian, you’ve grown so tall.’

‘Philia, you’ve become more beautiful.’

‘You’re flattering me.’

‘Really. It feels like I’ve grown up alone.’

‘It’s good to see you’ve grown up so well. You’ve grown up wonderfully. You look great.’

Ian and Philia smiled, lightly touching their foreheads. Then, the baby, unable to endure that brief moment, whined and nuzzled its mother. Ian’s eyes widened slightly, and he asked, smiling without realizing it.

‘Is it your younger sibling?’

A question about his sibling. Even though they were not related by blood, it was a natural question that could come out since he considered Philia and Nersarn as family.

Philia smiled and nodded.

‘It’s a younger sister. Her name was decided recently. Roel.’

‘Roel…’

Ian gently touched the tiny, wriggling fingers. Then, the baby grabbed Ian’s finger with all her might. It was a delicate yet irresistibly strong force.

‘No.’

Ian shook his head slightly and corrected himself. It wasn’t that he couldn’t resist, but that he didn’t want to.

‘Oh dear, Roel. That’s too much of a greeting.’

Philia was flustered and tried to soothe the baby, but Roel stared straight at Ian and didn’t let go of his finger.

Green eyes like Philia’s. However, unlike Philia, who had the warmth of a garden, the child’s eyes had the freshness of nature, a sense of vitality. They were green eyes that reminded one of a lush, cool jungle.

‘Can I… hold her?’

‘Oh my, if you’re okay with it.’

Philia seemed welcoming and handed Roel to Ian. Roel seemed to want it too. As Ian held her, she released her grip on his finger and began to smile brightly.

Ian smiled back without realizing it and wiggled his eyebrows. It was the first time he had held such a young baby, but since she was his younger sibling, he felt even more affectionate.

‘Oh my, he’s melting. He’s going to melt.’

If Berik hadn’t thrown cold water on the situation, Ian would have stood there and looked into Roel’s eyes for hours.

‘Ian, why don’t you treat me that kindly? This, this, you’re discriminating against people, how can I live with this?’

‘Ian, who is this person?’

A new friend? Philia asked curiously, and Ian turned his head, telling her to ignore him.

‘Just a recent idiot.’

‘Hey! First impressions are so important!’

‘Ah, I see.’

So, a friend. Philia smiled like sunshine and greeted Berik.

‘I’m Philia. It’s nice to meet you.’

‘Ah, I’m Berik.’

‘Philia, you don’t need to be polite to an idiot.’

‘Oh my, Miss Barsabe? My goodness, you’ve become so beautiful.’

Barsabe refused to shake hands, saying her hands were covered in dirt, but Philia didn’t care and hugged her lightly. She’s still the same, Barsabe chuckled and accepted Philia’s hug.

‘Beautiful, my foot. Ian’s mother? You seem to have come from far away, is the standard of beauty a bit different there?’

‘Damn it. Shut your mouth.’

Barsabe, still hugging Philia, bared her teeth and growled at her to shut up.

At that moment, there was a sound from the back carriage. It was a few servants and a silver-haired boy dressed in expensive clothes. His heterochromia [having different colored eyes] was so distinct that Ian immediately recognized him as Siaosi.

‘Greetings, Sir Siaosi. I am Ian Hadel. Please forgive my rudeness in this first meeting.’

The rudeness here was that he had offered his opposite hand while holding Roel. Siaosi smiled faintly, saying it was okay, and greeted Ian.

‘It’s nice to meet you. It’s my first time seeing magic, and it’s truly amazing. I never thought it would be possible to come from Enlow to the center in the blink of an eye.’

‘That’s why it’s magic.’

‘Ah, but this place is…’

It didn’t seem like the Imperial Palace, was it Ian Hadel’s mansion?

Ian held Roel, who was nestled in his arms, and introduced the place.

‘This is the Count Zach estate. I’m staying here.’

‘Ah, I see. I should greet Count Zach as well. Before that, I have a lot of luggage in the carriage, so I’d like to send it to the hotel where I’ll be staying in advance.’

There was a month until the exam. And if he passed, he would have to live in the center. So, Siaosi had looked for a suitable hotel in advance and planned to stay there long-term.

However, Ian smiled brightly and shook his head.

‘You can stay at Count Zach’s mansion together until the exam.’

‘Ah, I can’t be so rude.’

The Enlow family had asked Ian Hadel for help because of their connection with Philia and Nersarn. But Count Zach? It was a famous family of Imperial Guard magic swordsmen, but there was no connection at all.

Ian smiled at the perplexed Siaosi.

‘It’s okay. The Count has already given his permission and shown his welcome. No matter how excellent the hotels in the center are, they won’t be as perfect as this mansion.’

If he stayed at a hotel, he would have to stay in one room and travel back and forth to the training grounds every day, wouldn’t he? And he would have to book rooms for his servants as well. Even if it was the Enlow family, the cost would be a bit burdensome. Especially if it was a hotel that met his standards.

‘There’s a training ground here, so you can use it freely. There are also plenty of rooms for guests.’

‘But…’

As Siaosi still hesitated, Ian smiled again, as if to say it was okay. He could feel Siaosi’s innocence.

There’s no such thing as a free lunch. Was Count Zach’s intention to have Siaosi stay at his mansion just a simple act of kindness?

‘If you refuse, the Count will be disappointed.’

Absolutely not. Just like accepting Berik and sponsoring him, he was trying to build a connection with Siaosi and strengthen ties with the Enlow family.

The Enlow family was a small territory on the border, but it was a very important place geographically. It was a key point for trade connecting Hawan and the Great Desert.

And more than anything, what if Siaosi passed the selection exam and joined the Imperial Defense Force?

‘It’s like gaining another acquaintance in the Imperial Defense Force.’

He didn’t know how Siaosi, who had joined the Imperial Defense Force, would treat them, but in any case, it was not a losing choice for Count Zach. Building a relationship with the second son of a family from the border in advance would be beneficial in some way.

‘Ah.’

Siaosi exclaimed as if he had just realized it.

‘He’s a smart one.’

He thought he was just innocent, but he was quite perceptive, understanding without much explanation.

Ian smiled and gave him a choice, wondering what he would do. Now that he knew Count Zach’s intentions, would he refuse, saying it was burdensome?

‘I see. It would be rude to refuse your kindness. Then, I’ll be in your care for a while.’

Siaosi readily accepted Ian’s offer. Count Zach was a Count, but his curiosity about Ian Hadel was greater.

When else would he have the chance to see a genius noble magician, famous throughout the empire, up close like this? Probably never, Siaosi thought.

And this was not much different from Count Zach’s intentions.

‘Count Zach is trying to get close to me, and I’m trying to get close to Ian Hadel… It’s interesting.’

‘You’ve made a good decision. Move the luggage carts over there.’

Ian also had a look that suggested he had read Siaosi’s thoughts. Siaosi was the second son of Enlow. He had no choice but to step back from managing the territory and forge his own destiny. If he wasn’t just going to go to the battlefield and swing his sword, that is, if he wanted to secure a solid position in the Imperial Palace, he knew that swordsmanship alone wouldn’t be enough.

‘Come on, this way. Follow me!’

‘Move the carriages slowly! This is a training ground, so the ground is uneven!’

The servants of the Zach estate, who had appeared out of nowhere, guided the Enlow family’s servants. Ian patted Roel’s back, who had buried her face in his shoulder, and looked back at the guests.

‘Then, shall we all go inside? You’ve come a long way, so it would be nice to have some refreshments before dinner. Count Zach is out right now, so he’ll be back later in the evening.’

‘Yes, I understand, Sir Hadel.’

Ian, who was about to turn around, stared intently at Siaosi’s eyes.

‘You can speak casually to me.’

‘Yes? But how can I…’

He was the second son of a family and had no inheritance rights, nor was he scheduled to receive a title. On the other hand, Ian Hadel was a member of the imperial family and a magician. Then Ian replied with a smile.

‘I live the life of a magician.’

In fact, his life as a noble had long been erased. He was just a magician who went to the battlefield, slept in bloody places with his family, and got scolded by his commander if he made a mistake.

‘Still, I can’t do that.’

‘You will when you enter the Imperial Palace.’

As one officer and one magician.

In fact, Ian had another intention. Ian thought it would be good to break down the wall first in order to ask the Enlow family about the 1,000 gold coins. He didn’t know how much the second son knew about this, but in any case, Ian had already incurred a debt without their knowledge.

‘I’ll… try slowly.’

‘Yes, that’s good.’

Philia tapped Roel’s nose, who was clinging to Ian.

‘Ian, isn’t she heavy?’

‘Not at all. She’s like a feather.’

Well. A lie.

But Philia pretended not to notice and walked happily, linking arms with Nersarn.

‘Then, I guess we’ll have to ask Ian to take care of Roel. Miss Barsabe! Let’s go in together! It’s been a while, so we’ll have a lot to talk about.’

Barsabe said okay and took off her combat uniform, and Berik, flustered, turned his head back and forth and shouted.

‘Ian! Is everyone going in? What about me?’

‘You keep training.’

‘Huh? Everyone’s going in. I’m going too!’

Berik followed stubbornly despite Ian’s instructions.

Siaosi wondered what this person’s identity was as he stepped into the Zach estate.