Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 115

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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 115. The Emperor’s Portrait
“Shall I prepare the carriage?”
The question asked whether we would conclude the gathering and depart. Prince Marib showed not the slightest change in expression, merely smiling as he brought the wine glass to his lips—a gesture meant to conceal my response, since Prince Gail continued to watch me intently.
“Very well. Tell them to stand ready and await my signal.”
“Yes, understood.”
“And keep watch.”
“…I shall obey your command.”
Though the instruction lacked a direct object, the Steward grasped its meaning at once. He bowed and departed immediately, and Prince Gail’s gaze followed him out. The other officials who had been conversing with us began subtly inquiring what the matter was.
“Is something urgent, Your Highness?”
“Not at all. I am enjoying this meaningful gathering with you distinguished gentlemen. What could be more pressing than this? Please, continue with your explanation of the artwork.”
Of course, it was only natural that I found myself more intrigued by the young bastard who had seized control of the great desert through humble origins than by these tedious elderly nobles before me. Surely Prince Gail had also heard of both their arrivals at the palace.
“Yes, Your Highness. The next piece was painted with pigments mixed with mana stone powder. It actually glows when night falls.”
“Oh? Mana stone powder, you say?”
“These days, it has become fashionable to mix various substances into pigments, has it not?”
Prince Marib nodded as though listening to the official’s explanation, while stealing glances toward Prince Gail. Prince Gail was enjoying the social gathering with his arm around Wesley’s waist.
No matter how things unfold, whoever makes the first move will expose their back. My Steward would certainly be vigilant to every movement of Prince Gail and Wesley’s subordinates.
‘What are you plotting, Gail?’
When Prince Gail had proposed a donation of ten thousand gold coins, I had not objected. Rather, I had shown an attitude of approval, quickly moving on to the next matter.
In truth, it was of little consequence to me, and I did wish to test Ian’s abilities. But more importantly, the place where I would eventually employ Ian was the ‘Magic Ministry,’ and that reason weighed heavily. There was no harm in leaving subtle openings.
‘Prince Gail is beyond reach, but some of the duller minds in the Magic Ministry might be deceived.’
The same held true now. There was no need to welcome Ian so openly as to dissolve the gathering. They had maintained their respective positions as though Ian did not exist.
* * *
“…Ugh.”
Romand, feeling somewhat stiff, quietly stretched. The bright, crystalline sunlight gradually deepened into the warm hues of dusk. It was natural that my body would loosen from the fatigue of waiting. Yet Ian, seated beside me, remained perfectly composed without the slightest disturbance.
“Ian. Are you all right?”
“What do you mean?”
“Your back, I mean. Your back. Is it youth? I’m going mad wanting to lie down.”
At Romand’s grumbling, I offered a faint smile. Though not intentional, perhaps it was the imperial palace that made me maintain such an upright posture. I gazed down at the now-cold tea and made an assumption.
‘Given how much later this is than expected, it seems he really is with Prince Gail.’
That was when it happened.
Knock, knock.
“Prince Marib has arrived.”
“Oh!”
Startled by the sudden announcement, Romand jumped to his feet. I also naturally adjusted my wrinkled upper garment and turned toward the door.
He is the first member of the imperial family I have ever seen, spanning more than a hundred years. By blood, he is my ancestor, a kinsman who shares in the glory of the imperial palace. Though by degrees of relation, we are nearly strangers.
Creak.
The door opened. A blue-eyed man with long golden hair bound in a single tie entered. His eyes, which curved gently downward, were certainly striking. Even without smiling, he appeared to be smiling.
“Romand, it has been a long time.”
“I pay my respects to Your Highness, Prince Marib.”
Romand immediately bowed, placing his hand over his heart in accordance with imperial protocol. I, standing one step behind, made an elegant gesture of acknowledgment. In truth, I was more accustomed to receiving greetings than offering them, but this felt no less natural.
“You’ve gone through much trouble. It must have been difficult leaving your family behind and coming down here.”
“Not at all, Your Highness. I am honored to add luster to Bariel and your glory.”
I barely suppressed a smile threatening to escape. For Romand, that was quite impressive rhetoric. He had been spouting without hesitation that “life in Bratz was simply too good.”
After exchanging several ceremonial pleasantries.
“…So you are Ian.”
Prince Marib’s gaze passed over Romand and landed on me.
I slowly raised my head. A deep orange sunset poured down across my face. Just as when I had unleashed my mana, my left eye shimmered with golden light.
“I am honored to meet you, Your Highness Marib. My name is Ian.”
My eyes held confidence without arrogance, and my voice carried strength without harshness. The raised jawline, the straight shoulders, the composed posture—it was the very embodiment of nobility I had witnessed countless times.
Or rather, to be honest….
‘Unexpected.’
I could sense a dignity beyond that. Prince Marib gestured for me to sit and praised Romand.
“Romand seems to have taught imperial etiquette quite well.”
“Not at all, Your Highness. Count Ian is so exceptional that there was little for me to teach.”
Better than expected, one might say. It would be difficult to make such a favorable impression with merely a first meeting. As the three men took their seats, servants replaced the cooled teacups with warm ones.
“Well then, Count Ian.”
Though I had not yet received my title, I would become a nobleman regardless. Prince Marib used an appropriate form of address and asked his question.
“How do you find coming to the center?”
“It is as I heard. There is reason for it to be praised as the heart of Bariel that supports the world.”
It was sincere. Even if I were not seeing the center for the first time, Emperor Ian regarded the capital in such a way.
Was he satisfied with the answer? The Prince broke into a genuine smile. Whether Romand noticed or not, it was the first time the Prince had smiled sincerely since entering the reception room.
“I have grasped the matters that occurred at the border through Romand’s report. Romand, see that the reports you’ve brought are processed and approved within this week.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Romand has returned to his homeland, but Count Ian has left his. It seems many must have come to see you off.”
I smiled softly.
Prince Marib knew better than anyone that I had no family. Yet for him to ask such a question meant there was certainly hidden meaning behind it.
“Indeed, Your Highness. The household servants and the domain’s people held farewell gatherings day and night. The Cheonrye people bordering our lands did the same. Knowing I would not see them for some time after going to the center, they sought to ease their sorrow in this way.”
He had been asking what kind of foundation I had established in my domain, and the answer was quite satisfactory. The support of the people and the alliance with the Cheonrye Tribe—these two factors were the greatest elements that had enabled me to seize the lordship.
“I see. Ian, you will become a trustworthy lord.”
“You are too kind. I know that all of this is thanks to your help, Your Highness.”
Prince Marib was impressed that I had read his intentions. Certainly, I was useful. Beyond being able to use mana, my ability to understand context was far from ordinary.
‘Is this the influence of Count Derga?’
For a bastard who lived in a red-light district, my bearing was formidable. Perhaps I had learned through my body the humiliations inflicted by the Count. Combined with the courage built from crossing the great desert, I showed not a trace of nervousness when facing the Prince.
“You know of the New Year’s gathering schedule, don’t you? The imperial New Year’s gathering is always special, but this year it will be even more so.”
Precisely because there would be the ceremony conferring nobility upon Ian, a commoner by birth. Beyond that, several events were scheduled in succession, including the confirmation of mana users.
Romand carefully interjected with an answer.
“I beg your pardon, but having only just arrived today, I have not yet heard the details.”
“Is that so? The schedule is nearly finalized. Have the Steward convey it to you before I depart the palace.”
“Yes, Your Highness. I shall prepare with utmost care.”
“After the New Year’s gathering, the Magic Ministry will hold an event. They will measure your mana and proceed with your department assignment, but….”
Prince Marib gazed at my left eye. As the sunset faded, it had returned to its green hue. Prince Marib wielded his blade of words in earnest.
“Before that, Ian. Do you believe yourself suited for the position of lord?”
The question was quite sensitive and uncomfortable. The ambiguity of whether he was asking about my origins or my abilities made it all the more so. Romand, who had been listening quietly, inadvertently drew in a sharp breath and bit his lip.
‘It’s the kind of question where he can find fault regardless of the answer—deny it and he’ll use that against you, affirm it and he’ll use that instead.’
What use would there be for a lord who deemed himself unqualified, and if his confidence exceeded reason, he’d be worse than inadequate.
Yet I seemed to know the answer was already decided, and without much deliberation, I nodded.
“Of course I do.”
A remarkably bold and confident response.
Romand felt the breath he’d drawn catch in his throat. One of Prince Marib’s eyebrows rose upward. Romand recognized it as the expression that appeared when he was intrigued or displeased. Meanwhile, I continued calmly.
“Since Your Highness has decided and established this position, who am I to deny it? I have only the obligation to execute everything flawlessly according to Your Highness’s will.”
‘…Simpler than I expected. Perhaps because he sees me as a bastard of lowborn origin?’
It was a transparent question. His intent in bringing up the Magic Ministry was so obvious it was almost laughable.
He wanted confirmation that it was he who had placed me in the lordship, sought my pledge of loyalty, and expected me to serve faithfully as a spy within the Magic Ministry.
“You speak with confidence. I favor such men.”
“It is my honor, Your Highness.”
Prince Marib smiled with satisfaction and took a sip of tea. Romand, reading the shift in atmosphere, seized the moment to sip his own tea.
But then, as I continued studying Prince Marib’s face, an odd feeling came over me.
‘Blonde hair and blue eyes. Of course, those are traits commonly seen in the imperial family…’
Had I ever seen Prince Marib’s likeness in the portraits of past emperors?
In the secondary palace, portraits of successive emperors hung in chronological order along the corridor leading to the emperor’s chambers. I passed through there two or three times a day, so there was no way I could have missed them.
But.
‘I have no memory of seeing this man in those portraits.’
Prince Gail would certainly fail in his rebellion. Thus, naturally, I had assumed that Prince Marib, the legitimate heir and rival, would succeed to the throne. Until I faced him like this.
‘Could there be another heir I’m unaware of?’
Yet there seemed to be no notable figure of that sort.
I concealed my expression and buried the complex thoughts. For now, it was important to focus on the present and earn the prince’s trust. Uncertain as things were, Prince Marib seemed to be the only one comparable to Prince Gail at the moment.
“Count Ian.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“How are the preparations proceeding for the tribute we must send to the center?”
I had gold coins from the Gula trade and plenty of high-grade mana stones, so there was no problem. But I shook my head lightly. I couldn’t reveal my hand to someone who might not even become emperor.
“No, Your Highness.”
“Hmm. What a pity. In that case, I have a favorable proposal for you.”
Prince Marib, unaware of my true thoughts, set down his teacup.
Only Romand, who had caught my lie, kept his head bowed, nervously sipping his tea. Thinking that his expression must not be exposed under any circumstances.

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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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