Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 127

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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 127. The Hidden Oracle
“Arcen.”
After moving the Emperor to his bedchamber, Deilaina caught her breath and looked down at her son. Her gaze was unusually stern, quite unlike her normal demeanor. Yet Arcen simply rolled his eyes and grinned innocently.
“Yes, Mother.”
“What was that reckless behavior just now?”
“Are you very angry?”
She had instructed him not to even breathe loudly when Prince Marib and Prince Gail were present, yet he had not only stepped forward but even requested that Viscount Ian Hielo display his magic. Had the other princes of the imperial family been there, it would have been a truly precarious situation.
“Arcen. Sometimes I truly cannot understand you, even though I gave birth to you.”
“I apologize. But you saw it yourself just now, didn’t you, Mother? How beautiful Count Ian’s magic is. How could I possibly restrain myself when I had the chance to see it up close?”
Arcen laughed charmingly and nuzzled his face against his mother’s arm. Though Deilaina had resolved to scold him severely, whenever Arcen approached her this way, her resolve always crumbled.
‘Sigh.’
Since the moment the oracle was received, he had been a source of pain. Born under a prophecy of misfortune, she had kept him constantly at her side during his infancy. Perhaps because of this, Arcen showed no fear of his mother Deilaina, nor of the aging Emperor who had grown feeble and weary.
*Click.*
“Deilaina. Prince Jin has arrived.”
At the servant’s announcement, Deilaina sighed and turned around. Jin entered with dignified composure, his posture always impeccable—the complete opposite of Arcen, who sprawled carelessly across the sofa.
‘If only it weren’t for the oracle…’
Deilaina bit her lower lip and managed to offer words of encouragement.
“Jin. You worked hard today.”
“Not at all, Mother. You worked hard preparing for the New Year’s celebration.”
Jin removed his gloves and set them on the corner of the table—a gesture signaling that all official duties for the day had concluded. Arcen watched with amusement, crunching on candy and alternating his gaze between his mother and Jin.
“And Jin, remind your older brother Arcen once more. What we mean to Prince Marib and Prince Gail. I was trembling with fear earlier. I fear I won’t live to see my natural lifespan.”
Deilaina embraced Jin lightly and poured out her lament. How could brothers born of the same womb be so different? If only Arcen possessed even half of Jin’s temperament, she would have no worries at all.
*Knock knock.*
“Deilaina. His Majesty the Emperor wishes to see you for a moment.”
“His Majesty? Very well. I shall go at once.”
At the servant’s summons, Deilaina adjusted her dress and left the reception room.
As the door closed, only the quiet ticking of the nighttime clock could be heard. Arcen rested his chin in his hand and gave Jin a meaningful look.
“Little brother. Should I try to lecture you as Mother suggested?”
Jin simply stared at Arcen without responding. Unable to bear the brief silence, Arcen fidgeted with his toes and muttered curtly.
“No answer. What, you don’t want to talk with me?”
“That’s not it. You know well that you were wrong this time.”
Was the Third Prince’s fall truly an accident? Jin knew the truth. The Third Prince met his death because his gaze had directly met those of Prince Marib and Prince Gail.
“Our youth won’t protect us forever. Eventually, our older brothers will stop looking after us.”
As Jin spoke carefully, Arcen’s expression became overtly irritated. The boy rested his chin on his hand and looked at Jin with a fresh intensity.
“Perhaps it’s partly due to Father the Emperor’s favor, but Mother has repeatedly said that we enjoy this luxury entirely because Prince Marib and Prince Gail choose not to concern themselves with us.”
Arcen suddenly rose and thrust his head close to Jin. Just as he had done with his mother, the boy buried his face against his younger brother’s neck and spoke softly.
“Jin. Speak correctly. It’s not because we’re young—it’s because of the oracle.”
Beyond the publicly known oracle—”the one born later shall harm the one born first”—there was one more prophecy hidden from the world.
“And if the brother closest to the throne dies, the imperial line will be completely severed.”
Arcen spoke of this as though it were a protective spell cast upon him, with obvious pride. Jin simply stared at his older brother. Though he had not specified which brother, everyone assumed it referred to Arcen.
‘My younger brother will harm me, and if that happens, the imperial line will be severed.’
Jin barely managed to respond, as if in rebuttal.
“Arcen. The oracle isn’t always right.”
“But it’s not always wrong either.”
A sweet candy scent wafted from the brother who had drawn near. Arcen kept rubbing his head against Jin, and Jin, as always, patted his brother gently.
“Jin. I really like you.”
“…I do too.”
The oracle concerning the imperial line was known only to a select few—Deilaina, the Emperor, and several of the princes.
‘How could I ever harm you.’
I harbored no such intention whatsoever, yet whenever those around me treated me that way, my breath would catch in my throat. I had done nothing, yet I already felt like a criminal.
“Jin. So, don’t kill me.”
“Stop making such jokes.”
“Aha. Understood, understood.”
Arcen laughed cheerfully and popped another candy into his mouth, while Jin naturally removed the gloves from his brother’s hands. Today felt unusually long.
* * *
When Ian returned to the second-floor banquet hall, he encountered Prince Gail, who had been waiting for him. His face was flushed, likely from the wine he had been drinking continuously. Most of the imperial family had already moved to the first floor to socialize with the nobility, leaving only the two of them here.
“Ian, did Father leave well?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Hmm. Is that so?”
Ian sat across from Prince Gail and studied him. He found it curious that his father had been carried out coughing, yet the prince showed no reaction. Noticing that gaze, Prince Gail simply laughed and shrugged his shoulders.
“Father has been like this for quite some time. He often struggles to breathe even while sleeping, yet the next day he rises as if nothing happened. I’ve been startled more times than I can count, which is why I find Prince Marib’s reaction more puzzling. Why is he making such a fuss? One would think Father won’t survive this time.”
“No matter how accustomed one becomes, worry is not easily dispelled.”
At least, from what he had heard, the Emperor favored Prince Gail over Prince Marib. Though he was the Empress’s son and that seemed to be respected, it was said that behind closed doors, the Emperor held Prince Gail more dearly.
‘Then that would be the power granted to him. If the Emperor dies, Prince Gail would suffer a loss, so why is he so carefree? Tsk.’
Ian simply lowered his head, clicking his tongue inwardly. He had a rough idea of what Prince Gail intended by asking him to remain.
“About the mana verification ceremony earlier.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“It left quite an impression. Have you perhaps seen a mage separately in the borderlands?”
Prince Gail knew that Wesley had tampered with the magic circle. Yet despite that, Ian had displayed the Light of the Oracle so perfectly, which meant one of two things.
‘Either Wesley made a mistake, or Ian corrected the magic circle.’
Though Wesley’s temperament was fiery, she was a woman whose mastery of magic was unparalleled. Even without Ian, given the nature of the grand New Year’s ceremony, everything would have proceeded without a hitch.
“No, Your Highness. In the borderlands, many have never even heard of magic. I have seen people similar to gypsies, but I have never seen a mage.”
“Is that so? Then the blood on the floor was spilled by Count Ian?”
He must have found the traces marked with Berik’s blood. Since Ian had precisely erased the corrected portion of the magic circle, he must have deduced that Ian did it. If not that, then…
‘Then there must be a faction within the Magic Ministry supporting Ian.’
“No, Your Highness. I have never spilled blood.”
Ian answered nonchalantly, looking down at his own palms. If a blood test were conducted, they could verify whether that blood matched Ian’s.
“Is that so?”
“Yes. It seems the magic circle had some issues, but I am relieved the ceremony concluded safely.”
Prince Gail scrutinized Ian’s hands thoroughly, but there were certainly no wounds visible. Ian smiled brightly, thinking to himself.
I need to hurry back home with Berik. If they examine him too closely, it will be problematic.
“What do you think of the proposal I made last time?”
“You mean becoming a true member of the Magic Ministry?”
Prince Gail responded to my words with silence—a tacit affirmation. The cheerful commotion drifting up from below created an odd atmosphere. Perhaps it was the wine, but Prince Gail’s rhetoric felt more direct than usual.
“It would be an honor. I shall certainly do so.”
“Is that so? How will you prove it?”
Prince Gail twisted his lips as if amused.
“Will you twist your master’s neck and bring it to me?”
“Your Highness, forgive me, but there are many ears in the banquet hall.”
“But words spoken here will not leak outside.”
The magical power I had felt while climbing the stairs—it seemed to block not just defensive barriers but also the leakage of secrets. Since all of this was being orchestrated under Wesley’s direction over the magic, Prince Gail’s secrets would certainly be safe.
“…If you wish, I shall prove myself. However—”
I carefully met Prince Gail’s gaze and responded. Should I test the waters? Since he was drunk, wouldn’t it be acceptable to probe somewhat?
“I would also wish for Your Highness to prove to me that the path I should take is indeed there.”
Prince Gail’s eyes narrowed, then he burst into hearty laughter. He was clearly in good spirits from the wine. Though my mana verification had succeeded for inexplicable reasons, if I were to become a true mage, it would be a green light for Prince Gail.
“Very well. Good. But we must clarify the order. You prove yourself first.”
The moment I bowed my head, I heard footsteps from behind.
“Ah, there.”
It was Romandro. He had watched until the Emperor left, and when I didn’t return, he grew worried and came up. A knight’s sword hilt blocked him from entering fully, but we could still see each other.
“Pardon me. I have a message to relay to Viscount Ian Hielo.”
“Romandro! Oh, Romandro!”
“Oh, it has been quite some time, Your Highness Prince Gail.”
“Yes. You suffered greatly on the frontier. I was impressed. Won’t you come in?”
His expression clearly showed he had been caught off guard. Romandro was a subordinate of Prince Marib, who had openly obstructed Prince Gail’s affairs on the frontier.
“I appreciate the kind words, but I have urgent business to discuss with Viscount Ian Hielo.”
“Didn’t you already do that on the first floor and take Ian away?”
So he had heard everything. I turned to look at Prince Gail with slight surprise.
“The knight that Count Ian brought… or rather, the knight…”
Berik? I felt a sudden throbbing at the back of my head without realizing it. I rose from my seat, offering a respectful bow to Prince Gail.
“Forgive me, Your Highness. The knight has come up from the frontier and is unaccustomed to such gatherings. I fear he might make a mistake and spoil the atmosphere of the New Year’s celebration. Please permit me to withdraw.”
Prince Gail clicked his tongue and picked up his wine glass again. It was his permission. I bowed deeply and rushed down the corridor after Romandro.
“Romandro. Why Berik? What is the matter?”
“Nothing to be alarmed about. He came to fetch you.”
“Shh. Every word here reaches Prince Gail’s ears.”
“Good heavens, blast it. W-well, half of what I said is true!”
Romandro clamped his mouth shut in alarm. In the banquet garden we had just left, Berik was crouched in a corner of the grass, continuously digging at the ground.
Thump! Thump!
“Hehehehe. Hehe.”
“Berik is completely drunk. Stop him before he digs any more tunnels. Let’s go home.”
“Huh! Ian! I-Ian!”
I felt the tension drain from my shoulders as I pressed my hand to my forehead. Grasping Berik’s fingertips, I glanced around us. The wounds were obscured by dirt and barely visible.
“Yes. Let’s head home now.”
“Yes! Let’s go! There’s only alcohol here and no meat!”
“Quiet, you fool! You’ve already devoured everything!”
Deciding this was enough, I turned away from the raucous atmosphere of the New Year’s gathering and dragged Berik along. At any moment, Prince Gail might catch us in his grasp.
‘If that happens, things will become irreversibly complicated.’
Romandro likewise scrambled to cover the excavated tunnel with his feet before rushing after me.

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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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