Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 103

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 103. The Day I Met Philia
“Iaaaan!”
Thump, thump, thump!
Perhaps moved by her son’s introduction of himself as her child, Philia rushed down the stairs as if tumbling and embraced me with fierce warmth and tenderness.
“How have you been?”
“Ian. I’ve missed you so much.”
“The weather has been cold. You must have suffered.”
I patted her back and smiled. No matter how pleasant life in the mountains might have been, it could not have been easy for a woman alone. She would have endured loneliness in the silence of day and fear from the cries of beasts at night.
“Suffered? Ian, I’m so proud of you.”
“What have I done to deserve such praise?”
“Berik told me everything. You helped people with Gula, didn’t you? Not just Bratz, but Merelrof as well.”
“Mother. There is no one bearing the name Bratz here.”
At my words, Philia’s smile grew even brighter, as if hearing wonderful news. Whether from tears or not, her eyes gleamed with unusual radiance. Together with her golden hair, she possessed an aura as if the moon of the night sky had descended.
“Yes. And I hear you’ve earned both the recognition of the Imperial Palace and the trust of the warriors at the borders. Rising to such a remarkable position, beloved by the estate villagers—all of it….”
Emotion seemed to overflow as she spoke. Philia shed tears again and bit her lip firmly. No matter how I looked at her, she didn’t seem like a woman with a sixteen-year-old son. Not only did her youthful face suggest this, but the way she expressed her emotions revealed just how pure she was.
‘I’m newly realizing just what trash Count Derga was.’
What on earth had he done to such a woman? I smiled gently and took Philia’s hand.
“Mother. I was only able to help people with Gula because you had gathered it in the mountains beforehand.”
“What? You were the one who gathered it?”
Romandro interjected in surprise.
“You’ve done a great service, Countess.”
“C-Countess? Please, speak more freely.”
“How could I? Though Count Ian received his title, I’ve been speaking casually given the circumstances. But I cannot do the same with you. Allow me to introduce myself properly. I am Romandro, Imperial Advisor.”
At Romandro’s respectful greeting, Philia laughed with both embarrassment and joy. She then patted my back repeatedly, savoring her happiness.
“Ah. Now I could die without regret, Ian.”
“Don’t speak such things. From now on, please come stay at the estate. The mountains are cold and dangerous, are they not? Even without me, Romandro’s subordinates and the household staff will care for you well….”
“You’re leaving in a few days, aren’t you?”
A subtle sadness crossed Philia’s smile.
In truth, I felt a bit disappointed. Ever since being taken away by Count Derga, my son seemed to keep his distance from me.
‘But what can I do? It’s my fault. I couldn’t protect the child from the Count, so it’s only natural that Ian acts this way.’
Philia stroked my hair, pressing the image of my son into each glance.
“Travel safely. I will always wait here.”
“…Please take care of yourself, I beg you.”
“Then. If ever you suffer, come to your mother anytime. At that moment, I will surely protect you.”
I could not promise to return. Philia embraced me once more, then made a careful request.
“But would you stay with me for just today? I have so much to tell you. It’s been so long since we’ve eaten together.”
Though I had just finished a banquet at Merelrof, I nodded readily.
“Of course, Mother.”
“Shall I make barley porridge?”
Barley porridge—my favorite dish. Philia caressed the back of my hand repeatedly with a tender smile.
“Of course. I’ll just change my clothes and be right back. Hena, please see to Mother’s needs.”
“Yes! Countess. You remember me, don’t you?”
“Of course. You’re the one who delivered Ian’s message to me.”
“Hehe. I look forward to working with you going forward!”
Creak.
Just as the reunion in the lobby was coming to an end, the door swung open and Nersaren entered with several warriors. Their faces were rigid with cold, clearly still unaccustomed to Bariel’s winter.
“Ah, Count Ian.”
“Have you been to the observation post again?”
“I hear you’ve returned from Merelrof? You’ve completed all your business there?”
“Thanks to your support.”
Nersaren’s gaze naturally shifted to Philia standing behind Ian. The warriors all seemed half-frozen from the cold. One of them muttered without thinking.
“Count Ian, did you have a sister?”
“Not a sister—my mother.”
“…Pardon?”
The warrior asked again, bewildered.
“Honestly, I’d believe it if you said you were her older brother.”
“Well, I am her older brother.”
“…You’re not lying, are you?”
“Why would you ask if you don’t believe me anyway?”
Ian threw out the joke and turned to Nersaren. The warrior’s face was frozen stiff from the cold, making his expression difficult to read. But it was certainly not a positive one. The Cheonryeo Tribe believed Ian’s biological mother was dead.
“There’s a story behind this. Nersaren, if you don’t mind, I’d like to explain it to you in detail.”
At Ian’s words, Philia nervously bit her lower lip. Had the situation she’d been dreading come to pass? She was clearly worried that she might have caused Ian trouble.
“Very well.”
But Nersaren simply removed his coat without any particular reaction, as if he already knew everything.
“I suspected your biological mother was alive.”
“You suspected it?”
“Since arriving here, I’ve been in constant contact with the estate villagers. When the illegitimate son who crossed the Great Desert returned alive, all manner of rumors circulated.”
It wasn’t merely that he had returned alive.
He had led the Cheonryeo Tribe, devoted himself to rebuilding the estate, driven out his father Count Derga, and even gained imperial recognition to claim the position of lord—quite the remarkable figure.
The estate villagers enjoyed gossiping about even the smallest details concerning Ian.
“Including the story that your biological mother disappeared before the peace ceremony. Since you supposedly planned everything and crossed the Great Desert, I believed that too was part of your preparation.”
“Does Kakan know as well?”
“Of course. If I know something, there’s no way Kakan wouldn’t.”
Ian simply nodded lightly. Then he smiled broadly and expressed his gratitude to Nersaren. The fact that they hadn’t questioned him despite knowing it was false was itself a testament to the trust they had shown.
“Thank you.”
“Since I’ll be heading to the capital soon, I thought I might see you once more. But to see it like this…”
Philia, listening to the conversation between Ian and Nersaren, quickly bowed in greeting. Regardless of what was happening, she knew what she needed to say.
“Thank you! For helping my son, Ian. I’m, I’m sorry, but I hope to continue relying on you going forward.”
“…Countess, you have no reason to be formal with me.”
At Nersaren’s words, Philia laughed softly. She was a woman who had lived her entire life like a wildflower. It was only because she had bloomed in the gutter. Without realizing it, Nersaren found his gaze lingering on Philia’s shimmering hair.
“Please, don’t be like that. Go inside and rest comfortably. I wish to spend time catching up with my mother.”
“Ah. Wait.”
Nersaren, who had regained his composure, let out a small exclamation and called out to me.
“Might I offer you some counsel?”
“Of course. Please, speak.”
“The movements of the stars have been unusual of late. Especially today—I witnessed dozens of them falling to the earth in a straight line.”
Was he speaking of shooting stars? Sensing my unspoken question, Nersaren continued immediately.
“It is not like shooting stars. They did not fall in the blink of an eye, but moved slowly.”
Since I had not witnessed it myself, I could not discern what natural phenomenon Nersaren described. Yet for one who had grown up beneath the Milky Way in the Great Desert his entire life to speak thus—it was surely no ordinary occurrence.
“When you ascend to the capital, exercise caution. For stars, like you, represent those who illuminate the world.”
“I am grateful for your counsel. However, Nersaren.”
Even as I committed his words to memory, I offered a gentle reply.
“I do not wish to become a star, but the sun itself.”
Emperor Ian of Bariel’s zenith—I revealed my will to return to that form. Nersaren seemed slightly startled, his lips trembling before he smiled faintly.
“Should that come to pass, you would become a truly vital presence to the Great Desert.”
Whoosh.
Without awaiting a response, he ascended to the upper floor with his warriors. Philia watched his departing figure and whispered carefully.
“Who is he?”
“He is Nersaren, the younger brother and strategist of the Cheonryeo Tribe’s chieftain. While I was away, he has assisted with the overall management of the estate. He continually wishes to return to the Great Desert, but there is no one quite like him.”
Philia nodded in understanding and glanced upward once more. Then, gently grasping my arm, she smiled.
“Ian. Don’t change your clothes—come with me to the kitchen instead. While I prepare the barley porridge, sit and tell me what has happened recently.”
She seemed to begrudge every passing moment. I removed only my outer coat and handed it to Hena, then proceeded to the kitchen with Philia. The chef, having been informed beforehand, had tidied everything neatly.
“You may use these bowls, and what else do you need besides barley?”
“Ah, there. Salt.”
“The seasonings are stored below here.”
I sat at the servants’ rest table and watched Philia. Though she seemed somewhat clumsy at first, she gradually began preparing the porridge with growing skill.
“Were you not lonely in the forest? Now that Count Derga is gone and the estate prospers, you may come down and stay. If you wish, you may reside in the manor, or I shall procure a house for you.”
“Let me think on it for a while. I thought I was not particularly lonely, but… now that I meet with people like this, perhaps I was mistaken.”
The fragrant aroma of barley porridge rose gently. Philia stirred the ladle gracefully and laughed.
“Sometimes lost travelers come by, and such. Not long ago, a group of injured people appeared—I was quite startled.”
“Injured people?”
“Yes. There were about three of them. They told me their names, but… let me see. Ricardo, Nab, and…”
Philia furrowed her brow slightly as she recalled the name.
“Erika!”
“Oh.”
Erika Berti. The Imperial investigation unit commander who had been wandering in search of Mary and Chel’s bodies. This was unexpected—after becoming entangled in combat with a merchant caravan from Hawan, all contact had been lost.
“Were they severely injured?”
“No. Rather, they had lost many companions. It was quite pitiful—they all struggled, unable to return home.”
“Where were they headed next?”
“I’m not entirely certain, but I believe they mentioned Hawan.”
“Hmm.”
I let out a meaningful chuckle while resting my chin in my hand. Philia smiled warmly and stroked my hair.
“The barley porridge smells wonderful, doesn’t it?”
“It does, Mother.”
“Ian. I was wondering… would it be alright if I wrote letters to you? On nights when worry keeps me awake, I’d like to find some comfort in that way.”
Philia hesitated as she asked for permission, moving with extreme caution so as not to impose. I readily agreed.
“Of course. Though I must warn you, if I’m too busy I may not always be able to reply. I hope you’ll understand.”
“Yes. Ian. My son…”
Philia embraced me again, burying her face against my shoulder. I gently patted her trembling back.
“Travel safely, Ian.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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