Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 121

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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 121. New Year’s Celebration
I pushed my hands deep into the leather gloves while Mini adjusted every strand of my hair, combing it back with meticulous precision. I fastened the tassel that came with my dress uniform to my chest and glanced behind me.
“Aha. I look absolutely stunning, don’t I?”
“Indeed. This is why they say clothes make the man.”
“Even Romandro looks somewhat better than usual.”
“How rude! When you receive a compliment, it should return intact—why are you halving it?”
Berik had also neatly tied back his usually disheveled hair and buttoned his coat all the way to his neck. The worn scabbard hanging from his waist looked out of place, but it hardly mattered since all weapons had to be surrendered before entering the hall anyway. With Romandro properly dressed as well, the reality of the moment truly sank in.
‘Today is really the day.’
Mini came around to face me with a bright smile. Mrs. Viviana, who had been assisting from the side, nodded with satisfaction.
“My, I cannot fathom how radiant you are.”
“You are too kind, madam.”
“I speak only truth. You shall surely be the most luminous presence in that hall. I have heard the young lord of House Ralton is handsome, but there is no comparison. Absolutely none.”
Viviana laughed with admiration at my composed bearing, as though I were her own nephew. Berik suddenly thrust his head forward and asked.
“Viviana! What about me?”
“Oh, you as well, Berik. You look quite splendid.”
“Hmm. There seems to be no soul in those words…”
“Now, now. Enough of this—let us make haste and depart. The carriages heading to the Imperial Palace will be lined up for miles. Traffic will be worse than usual, so it is best to leave early. Besides, is Ian not the guest of honor at this celebration? There will be much to discuss and prepare once we arrive.”
Romandro waved his hand to separate Berik and Viviana. Hasha, sprawled across the sofa, grinned widely.
-Have a pleasant outing.
“Yes. We shall be late, so rest well, Hasha. Berik! Let us depart. Walk with proper posture so as not to wrinkle your clothes.”
The three men boarded the carriage while Viviana and Mini saw them off. Unlike usual, the carriage interior seemed to carry a delicate fragrance.
Squeak!
“We shall return shortly!”
“We will be back soon, Viviana.”
“Travel safely, Ian. Once again, my heartfelt congratulations.”
Neigh!
As I waved lightly, the carriage set off. The road leading to the Imperial Palace seemed lined with more luxurious carriages than usual. Berik, entering the Imperial Palace for the first time, pressed his face against the window, his eyes sparkling.
“Incredible.”
“You will drool, Berik.”
The carriages running alongside all proudly displayed their house crests on fluttering banners. It was the magnificent bearing of nobility, for whom there was nothing more glorious than proclaiming who and whence they were.
Clop clop clop!
However, I was the guest of honor at this special New Year’s celebration. While other nobles proceeded through the palace entrance procedures step by step, my carriage, guided by an Imperial Palace official, took a shortcut directly to the Grand Banquet Hall of the main palace building.
Squeak.
“Welcome, Ian. Romandro. I am Cal, the supervisor in charge of the title conferment ceremony for this New Year’s celebration.”
As I descended from the carriage, the Imperial Palace official bowed respectfully to greet me.
After all, the protagonist must always make a late entrance. The plan was to wait in a private chamber within the banquet hall and enter slowly once the atmosphere had ripened.
“There seem to be far more carriages arriving than expected.”
“It appears many nobles are anticipating this New Year’s celebration with great interest.”
Not only was the Marquis’s commoner a mana user, but having caught Prince Marib’s eye and secured both the title of vassal and lordship in one stroke, everyone had hastened their steps to “see” me for themselves.
“As Romandro has likely already informed you, I shall reiterate: when the New Year’s celebration begins, the light of the divine oracle will be ignited. At that moment, you shall enter, wait briefly, receive your title and house name, and then proceed directly to the mana verification ceremony.”
The plan was straightforward. Straightforward, yes—but the crucial question was whether I could navigate the gaps between events with the grace expected of nobility. In many ways, those intervals were the most important part of the New Year’s celebration.
Whether Romandro knew this or not, he sat rigid with tension, while I settled into the sofa with leisurely ease, rolling my shoulders gently.
“Does the Light of Oracle also verify magical power?”
“Indeed, it does.”
Grandiose words, but in truth, it was merely a decorative magical illusion. It responded like ripples according to the mage’s strength, and to elevate the prestige of the Magic Division, it was designed to spread brilliantly in a performative manner.
In short, it was a spectacle meant for show.
‘Hmm. If I intended to humiliate myself, that moment would be perfect for it. I could arrange it so the light doesn’t respond to ordinary magical power.’
If the light stretched forth grandly and majestically in response to magical power, I could command the atmosphere. But if it flickered quietly as though nothing happened, there would be no greater source of ridicule.
“Ian. Do you think you can manage it?”
“You needn’t worry about etiquette.”
“I’m not even the one stepping forward, yet my heart won’t stop racing. Goodness. Really.”
Romandro gnawed at his nails anxiously, trembling. Meanwhile, Berik simply gazed about as though everything fascinated him. It was an odd pairing, so the Supervisor maintained a slight distance, merely observing them.
Knock, knock.
How much time had passed?
As the sun began its gradual descent, I heard sounds from outside—the optimal moment to make an entrance. The Advisor opened the door respectfully and guided me forward.
“This way, if you please.”
“Berik. You stay close to Romandro.”
Berik gave a thumbs up with a playful grin, his smile as mischievous as always. As I walked down the long corridor, the murmur of voices grew louder. In the distance, beneath the grand staircase, countless carriages lined up in neat rows.
“Here we are. You shall make your entrance.”
“Phew.”
The exhale came from Romandro. I straightened my collar and nodded. Servants on either side pulled open the massive doors.
Creak.
“Oh my, good evening, Countess.”
“It’s been quite some time since the tea party last week.”
“Ah. So you are Countess Charlotte.”
“It is an honor to make your acquaintance.”
“I heard you recently returned from military service?”
“Your dress this evening is truly exquisite, my lady.”
The gap widened further. Nobles’ conversations spilled through the opening.
Unlike the subdued lighting of the corridor, the grand banquet hall blazed as bright as midday, resplendent with splendor. Hundreds of spirits conjured by magic drifted across the sky, providing spectacle, while the orchestra’s perfect and elegant melody seemed to fill every void.
Tap.
The moment I stepped into the banquet hall.
The nobles nearest to me ceased their conversations and turned their heads. The eyes of ladies shielded by fans widened, while men nudged each other with subtle jaw movements, as if to say ‘look at that.’ Like dominoes falling, a peculiar current rippled through the hall, centered on me.
“Berik. This way.”
“Huh? Already?”
The moment I entered, Romandro slipped aside with Berik. Here, Romandro was merely a commoner advisor—not someone positioned to introduce me to the nobility.
“Look at that. It’s him.”
“Ah. The illegitimate son of Marquis Bratz?”
“My goodness. He’s younger than I expected.”
I stood alone upon the crimson carpet, surveying the assembled nobility. Standing motionless, I let only my gaze move slowly and deliberately.
“Precisely. The child is so vicious that I fear for his own father… truly, I’m frightened. And they say he’s close with the Marquis’s barbarians, so you can judge the whole by the part.”
“Sister. Isn’t he a bit… off?”
“Mad? Get your head straight. He’s of commoner stock.”
“But he’s a mana user? Yet how does he stand beside Prince Marib…?”
Their disdain was palpable, cutting like a blade. They regarded him as nothing more than a curious spectacle, their eyes never losing that condescending gleam. Romandro, having retreated to the corner, could only bite his lower lip as he watched.
‘I knew it would be like this, but seeing it with my own eyes is worse.’
How could one person alone break the haughty momentum of the established powers? Romandro could only hope that the Emperor would soon appear and elevate Ian to the position of prominence.
A soft rustle.
But in that moment.
I lifted my chin slightly and smiled. It was an elegant, confident smile—as if born to it from the start.
‘Smile, Your Majesty.’
I recalled Naum’s words alongside my first banquet as Emperor.
It hadn’t been much different then. Compared to the serpentine creatures that had swarmed to devour the young Emperor, this situation was considerably gentler.
‘Inner strength is formidable—it transmits to others without words. Consider yourself the center. Then others will approach you as the center.’
I began walking across the carpet. My upright posture, the gentle line of my jaw, and my leisurely gaze—none of these could possibly mark me as a commoner from the Marquis’s domain.
‘And always smile, Your Majesty. When you smile, the world smiles. But when you weep, the world will laugh all the louder.’
A soft rustle.
My eyes met directly with a nobleman standing on the carpet—he was blocking my path. When I smiled wordlessly, he flustered and stepped back.
“Oh, my apologies.”
“Not at all. Are you perhaps of the Sereo family?”
I glanced at the seal on his chest and struck up a conversation. It was a subtle probe, but the emblem was familiar from before my regression. The flustered man unconsciously nodded and offered his name.
“Malon Hof Sereo.”
“Pleased to make your acquaintance. I am Ian. Since I’m receiving my name today, I’m afraid what I can offer is rather short.”
“Ah yes. That’s right. So you’re Ian.”
“Good day. What lovely weather, isn’t it? I am Alena Sereo.”
Seizing the moment, the woman beside him introduced herself. It was but a fleeting instant, yet her gaze swept over me from head to toe.
I welcomed her with a smile. They weren’t particularly influential, but they made for decent first acquaintances. I understood well that approaching peers before stuffy old nobles was one way to penetrate the atmosphere.
“I heard you’re a mana user.”
“Indeed. Right after receiving my title today, there will be a mana verification ceremony.”
“Then would you shake my hand? They say meeting a mana user brings good fortune. Before one obtains the title of mage, that is.”
“Of course, my lady.”
“My. I as well…”
I successfully inserted myself into their circle. Beyond the chattering Sereo family members, other groups also began to turn their ears toward us, their conversations becoming perfunctory.
“Sereo, won’t you introduce us as well?”
“Ah yes. This is from the Haiman family…”
“Good day. It’s been a while. So this is Ian?”
As several curious and sociable nobles approached, the atmosphere reversed rapidly. The beginning was difficult, but once the current took hold, everything proceeded quite naturally.
A deep trumpet blast sounded.
While I was exchanging pleasantries among the nobles, a heavy trumpet call rang out and the orchestra stopped playing. Simultaneously, the ladies grasped their dress hems and bowed lightly, while the men placed their hands over their hearts and lowered their heads.
I did the same.
‘The Emperor has arrived.’
“His Majesty the Emperor enters! All rise and show proper respect!”
As the Emperor walked into the banquet hall and ascended the dais, I sharpened my senses to their keenest edge.
‘Emperor, who are you?’
If I could see his face clearly, if those hazy memories would only sharpen into focus, then I might recall the next Emperor as well.
One by one, the nobles finished their greetings and lifted their heads.
“Ah.”
The moment I raised my head, I froze, a small gasp escaping my lips.

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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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