Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 155

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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 155. Checks and Balances
At the word “secret,” Arcen’s demeanor shifted subtly. He was smiling, but made no effort to hide his displeasure. It was clear he thought it audacious for a mere count to answer a prince in such a manner.
I gazed down at the boy without losing my smile.
‘Remarkably venomous, this one.’
I sensed a malice that transcended mere cunning. We held each other’s gaze in silence for a moment. Arcen then laughed playfully, swaying his body side to side.
“Aha. Count Ian, you’re quite an amusing person.”
“You flatter me, Your Highness.”
Though Arcen and Jin bore nearly identical faces, distinguishing between them posed no difficulty. Their temperaments differed far too greatly. Arcen was perpetually in full bloom, radiating warmth, while Jin was like ice that could not thaw in the shadows—composed, cold, and indifferent.
“I made a mistake. My laughter gave me away. Had I remained silent, I would have succeeded.”
Arcen caressed his cheeks and murmured with regret. It seemed he believed he had been discovered not by his dimples, but by the absence of laughter in Jin’s behavioral patterns.
Creak.
“Count Ian, please come inside.”
“Will Prince Arcen be joining us as well?”
“Your Highness? It’s cold—why did you come out? Come here at once.”
At my gesture, the Chamberlain exclaimed in surprise and draped his outer robe around Arcen’s shoulders. The boy then coughed softly, as if he had been waiting for this moment.
“You’ve caught a chill from the cold wind.”
“How could I wait when Count Ian was coming?”
Arcen smiled brightly and extended his hand. He wanted me to take it and enter together. I politely declined the prince’s offer.
“My hands are cold and would only chill Your Highness’s hands as well.”
“Does Count Ian dislike me?”
“That could never be.”
“Then take my hand. With your right hand.”
It was a command. At the boy’s firm words, the Chamberlain bowed his head and urged compliance. His stubbornness was such that once he set his mind to something, he would not budge an inch. I looked down at Arcen and carefully took his hand. The boy then smiled broadly as if nothing had happened and pulled me forward.
“Let’s go inside.”
Creak. Thud!
As we stepped through the door, warmth enveloped us. Though it was early morning, Deilaina sat on the sofa in perfect attire, sipping tea. Upon seeing me and Arcen enter, she offered a puzzled smile.
“Arcen, where did you go?”
“I went to greet Count Ian.”
Jin sat across from Deilaina, maintaining an upright posture with dignified composure. When Jin’s gaze met mine, she lowered her eyes slightly in greeting. The shadow of her eyelashes, cast by the morning sunlight, stretched long and delicate.
“Count Ian, please be seated. I understand you are occupied with pressing matters, so this conversation shall not be lengthy.”
At Deilaina’s gesture, I sat down while adjusting my coat. Meanwhile, Arcen scurried over to Jin and pressed close, whispering so quietly that no one else could hear.
“Did I just hold the mage’s hand?”
“….”
Jin turned only her eyes to look at Arcen. It was hardly surprising. Arcen had always enjoyed being one step ahead of others.
Unlike the other royal children, merely witnessing mana directly would not satisfy him. So he must have deliberately sought to touch the mage’s hand—specifically, the hand of the one who had defeated Wesley.
“Next time, I’m planning to touch a mana orb. What do you think? Isn’t that impressive?”
At my brother’s words brimming with pride, Jin recalled memories with me. The warm, soft sensation of mana flowing through her fingertips. What expression would Arcen make if he learned that Jin had touched it first?
“Why aren’t you answering? Isn’t it impressive?”
“…It is impressive, Arcen.”
Arcen, who could not rest until he received an answer, smiled widely and held up his palm to Jin as if to say: you may not have touched it, but at least look. At that moment, Deilaina cleared her throat, urging the two princes to restrain themselves.
“Princes, please conduct yourselves with propriety.”
“Yes, Mother!”
“…My apologies.”
Though both received the same admonition, only Jin’s shoulders visibly tensed. In that posture, I found fragments of my own past—a precious existence unaware of its own worth, squandering a brilliant childhood. Had someone beside me simply explained it properly, those years need not have been so painfully hollow.
‘Mages are rare, but most come from commoner stock. If discovered, you’ll be cast out from the estate, so conceal it.’
Chroni. A traitor, my uncle, and when I was outside the palace, the only adult I could rely upon. To young me, his every word was the world itself, was it not the truth?
‘Speaking not as your uncle, but as family who has watched over you—do you truly possess the qualities of an Emperor, Ian? You are merely a mage born into nobility. Should you seize the throne through fortune created by circumstance, you will surely be wounded. Therefore, refuse the offer.’
In the end, his words proved correct. I ascended to the throne, yet I fell through treason, losing precious ones including Naum. Though I hate to admit it, Chroni was among them.
“Count Ian?”
“Yes, Deilaina.”
I lifted my head with a faint smile, as though I hadn’t missed her words. She elegantly traced the rim of her teacup before shifting the conversation.
“Your complexion appears poor.”
“I’ve been unable to sleep properly due to the volume of work.”
“I hear you’re also conducting the selection for Minister of Magic.”
“That’s correct. In times like these, someone must maintain stability at the center of operations.”
“Has Prince Marib offered words of encouragement?”
Deilaina subtly cast her bait. She was probing whether Marib was my patron—essentially confirming whether my appointment as Minister of Magic would benefit him.
“Since this is an internal matter of the Magic Ministry, no formal encouragement has yet come from the palace. If you were to offer it first, Deilaina, it would be a great honor.”
Given the current alignment between Marib and Prince Gail with the lower princes, I answered with deliberate ambiguity. At this, Deilaina unconsciously placed a hand over her heart and released a sigh of relief.
“Phew.”
“Are you well?”
Why would she do that? I regarded her with puzzlement, but Deilaina merely shook her head.
“Then perhaps the Captain of the Mana Stone Management Division has also joined your supporting forces?”
“Deilaina, you’ve met with Prince Gail.”
“….”
Silence is affirmation, as they say. Rather than answer, Deilaina closed her eyes tightly and furrowed her brow. From her demeanor, it was clear that Prince Gail had approached her and proposed a temporary alliance.
‘Now that I think of it, I know nothing of Deilaina’s family origins.’
Arcen and Jin are too young, and with an adult prince standing above them, the palace’s internal factions are negligible.
Yet Deilaina is a woman who has earned the Emperor’s trust and fulfills the role of Empress. Moreover, given that no rumors circulate about her origins, she is at minimum nobility, and one cannot exclude the possibility of foreign royalty.
“Yes. To be precise, Prince Gail came to me. It was the first time such a thing had happened since entering the palace. I thought the situation must be quite dire, but upon reflection, it seemed this wasn’t solely his concern.”
“The palace benefits from having many adults. That way, Princes Arcen and Jin will have much to observe and learn.”
If the balance between Marib and Gail tilts, the repercussions pour down upon the twin princes. Deilaina cannot afford to remain neutral. She has learned that survival means aligning with the ascendant faction and lending her strength.
“Prince Gail mentioned that someone capable of replacing Wesley is hidden within the Magic Ministry. Thus I assumed you’d be among the candidates for minister, but no matter how I considered it, no suitable candidate came to mind.”
She paused to wet her throat before continuing.
“Most are small fry without backing, and even Captain Jang, the only candidate I deemed worthwhile, I had intended to support myself.”
Ah. So it was Deilaina standing behind Captain Jang. I nodded slightly, as though the pieces were falling into place.
“But if you are Prince Gail’s hidden card, then matters change entirely. Why divide the pie unnecessarily? I too shall offer my active support.”
“I am honored.”
Thus the birth of a Minister of Magic supported simultaneously by Prince Gail, Prince Marib, and Princes Four and Five. None would dare voice opposition. I suppressed a quiet laugh at Gail’s machinations.
‘Quite busy, aren’t you, Gail? Still, if we’re in the same boat, you might have given me some advance notice about this matter.’
Since information isn’t being shared, I can’t know how much Deilaina understands. Moreover, I don’t even know what was traded in that temporary alliance.
Prince Gail is building temporary power, but Deilaina? What did she gain? She wouldn’t have rushed in just to maintain balance.
“Then the reason you called me here was to confirm that, wasn’t it?”
“That’s the most important thing. For now.”
Deilaina smiled faintly. The word “for now” carried much weight. I offered a polite smile in return and bowed my head.
“Once I become Minister of Magic, I’ll arrange a position for you again.”
“I shall await that day.”
“When that time comes, you’ll be able to access all the Ministry’s records. And know this—once you learn what’s there, you can never return to ignorance.”
The Ministry of Magic’s classified files would certainly contain detailed records of Arcen and Jin’s divine oracles. Did this mean there were other revelations beyond what had already been disclosed? Well, I’d find out eventually.
I rose from my seat, offering only a formal farewell.
“Whenever you have need of me, please command it. I shall not forget Deilaina’s glorious assistance either.”
“That’s pleasant to hear.”
“Then I shall take my leave.”
“Oh, have you heard that rumor?”
Deilaina stopped me in my tracks.
“I didn’t hear this from Prince Gail himself, but rather overheard it at a gathering of noblewomen. I’m curious whether it’s true or not.”
“Please, ask away.”
“There’s a rumor that Prince Gail is betrothed to a daughter of House Haiman. Do you know anything about it?”
House Haiman—the noble family that controls the very heart of Bariel’s finances. With royal bloodlines from foreign kingdoms flowing through their veins, they are among the most influential powers. They’re perfectly suited to fill the void left by Wesley’s death.
“I apologize. I know nothing of this matter.”
“Is that so? What a pity. I see.”
If it were true, Prince Gail would be a man who doesn’t die easily. He could deliver a proper blow to the back of Prince Marib’s head, who had nearly killed him and was now at ease.
Creak.
As I left the room, Deilaina ran her fingers through her hair, lost in deep thought. In the bloody struggle between Prince Marib and Prince Gail, it was always she and her sons who trembled with anxiety. Even if she resolved the situation now, wouldn’t the day eventually come when they’d face each other directly?
Before Arcen and Jin came of age, either Prince Marib or Prince Gail would surely draw their blades.
‘Prince Marib, Prince Gail, and Ian.’
Ian felt like the point where gears mesh together. He surely held the key to simultaneously checking both Prince Marib and Prince Gail. If only she could grasp it properly…
“Mother, what are you thinking so hard about?”
“Hmm? Nothing, dear.”
Deilaina stroked the hair of Arcen, who nestled against her affectionately, and then looked toward Jin. Jin remained seated in place, regarding his mother with an expressionless gaze.

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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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