Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 166

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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 166. Assassination Attempt
Sniff, sniff. Berik circled around Xiaoxi, continuously inhaling deeply. Was it the tattered clothes that posed the problem, or perhaps the unwashed body? Xiaoxi remained silent, gazing down at his own darkened hands.
Just then, Ian entered the room and clicked his tongue.
“You’re not a dog. Why must you sniff so much?”
“Raw meat smell. Fresh meat. Good.”
Mini, who followed behind, set down clean clothes and announced their arrival. Both top and bottom were solid black without any patterns—perfect attire for slipping through the darkness.
“The bathwater is prepared.”
“Good. Thank you.”
“If you need anything else, just call. I’ll go now.”
If arrested as an assassin, he would surely be stripped bare. I couldn’t let him appear as a filthy slave. Ian sat before him and unfolded a piece of paper.
“Can you read?”
“No, sir.”
“Me neither, me neither!”
“Then commit this firmly to memory.”
Ian sat before him and unfolded the paper. Even ordinary people often lose their way upon first entering the palace. But for someone who spent half his life in an iron cage to reach the Imperial Palace—and specifically to Prince Gail’s quarters—was an extraordinarily difficult task.
“This is the entrance. I’ll have you dropped off here. Keep the wall on your left and follow it straight in, then pass through the largest door. After crossing the Garden, take the second corridor and enter the third room. That’s the reception hall closest to the target.”
Berik, listening beside him, wore an expression of shock. As if he’d heard a complex chemical formula he couldn’t possibly understand. Though he’d said at first that he could go, now he seemed to have surrendered completely, hands and feet raised in defeat.
“This won’t work. Absolutely impossible.”
“Berik. I know. That’s why I’ve chosen someone else.”
“Xiaoxi, can you really do this? Truly?”
Xiaoxi glanced at Berik with an expressionless gaze, then nodded.
“I understand.”
“Repeat back what I said.”
He recited everything he’d heard with perfect precision. A satisfied smile appeared on Ian’s lips, and Berik clapped his hands in admiration. Such a reaction for something so simple. Xiaoxi felt oddly embarrassed and simply lowered his eyes.
“Remember well what I’m about to tell you now.”
* * *
Xiaoxi secured his mask firmly. On the night when the full moon rose and then began to wane. The palace scenery he saw for the first time was beautiful enough that even darkness couldn’t conceal it.
Such a world existed—he marveled only briefly. He recalled his master’s words and kept the wall on his left, concealing his presence.
Tap, tap, tap!
His footsteps seemed unusually loud, though it was likely an illusion. He could instinctively sense it. He was caught up in something tremendous. Not only would his life change, but he stood at a turning point in history itself.
‘But what problem could there be?’
He knew, yet didn’t concern himself. A slave’s fate was simply to complete the given command. Invisible shackles grew ever heavier. The slave’s imprint, continuing from his parents and even before, seemed to have been carved into his very soul. Though he himself remained unaware.
Creak.
Xiaoxi slowly pushed open the largest door. Though it had a lock, it wasn’t fastened. The only presence felt in the vast space was his own. Despite the late hour, not only were the servants absent, but even the guards were nowhere to be seen.
‘Everything has been arranged. Walk with confidence.’
My master’s words set my feet in motion. Crossing the Garden and entering the corridor, I walked without hiding my presence, yet encountered no one. As if welcoming an intruder.
Whoosh.
“Gasp!”
As I entered the corridor, a servant far ahead spotted me. I reflexively grasped my sword, but she, as if she’d seen something she shouldn’t have, held her breath and vanished into the darkness.
At this point, a stifled laugh escaped me. Though I’d thought this an odd task, I hadn’t expected it to be like this. Now I understood why my master had chosen me.
‘Third room. Open the door nearest the window in the reception hall, and you’ll find the target’s bedchamber. Go there and drive your blade into the pillow.’
Xiaoxi released all murderous intent and simply walked toward my destination. Something glimmered in the pitch darkness. Without thinking, I turned my head to the side, and there I found myself face to face with someone unexpected.
‘A boy? In a place like this?’
Silver hair and blue eyes that gleamed in the darkness. The boy stared at me without the slightest hint of fleeing, unlike the servant from before.
What should I do in this situation? Could he be the target’s son? Or could he possibly be the target himself? No, that couldn’t be right. They said there would be a black-haired man in the bedchamber.
‘There must be no violent confrontation. Simply avoid, ignore, and move forward. Even if you flee, no one will come searching for you. Xiaoxi, your capture is already written in fate.’
The boy stared at me with piercing intensity. I deliberately avoided his gaze and turned away. Something about it made my skin crawl. I’d rolled through slavery and witnessed every depravity imaginable, yet I’d never seen a child with eyes like that before.
Tap, tap, tap!
Eager to finish my task, I entered the door without hesitation. The reception hall, the door nearest the window, the bedchamber, and—
“You’re late.”
“…!”
A black-haired man lay leisurely on the bed, waiting for me.
“I was about to fall asleep.”
“….”
“Did Ian cut out your tongue? Well, that was wise of him.”
He gestured for me to come closer. I drew my blade from its sheath and walked slowly toward him. The pillow beside him. That was my target.
“Since I can’t predict what words might spill from your mouth.”
I said nothing and simply raised my blade. Whether the man before me was a prince, a nobleman—it mattered not. My only purpose was to pierce that pillow and mark the end of this night.
Whoosh.
“Ah, wait.”
But the blade stopped mid-air. Like when I’d aimed for a beast’s vital point and halted—because Gail had raised his hand to catch the blade.
“An assassin who won’t spill a single drop of blood? How disappointing.”
“….”
“That’s unfortunate. The people of the Imperial Palace aren’t so easily fooled. A little bloodshed lends credibility. Come now, do it.”
This contradicted my master’s orders. He’d commanded me never to spill a drop of blood, yet the target was telling me to do exactly that.
“What are you doing? Planning to stand there like that? How disrespectful, putting your feet on the bed?”
Gail laughed playfully. As expected, Ian had apparently ordered me not to inflict any physical harm upon him.
Firing the signal flare through mutual agreement was one thing, but later Gail could have a change of heart and use it as leverage. He could claim the silent deal meant nothing and that Ian had truly tried to kill him.
“….”
I bit my lip and stared at Gail. What should I do in this situation? My master had given me no instructions for this.
“If you show blood, I won’t call for anyone. You can stay like that until dawn.”
At Gail’s words, I sighed and lowered my feet from the bed. Without hesitation, I slashed my own left arm.
Shhhhk!
A diagonal wound ran from my shoulder to my wrist. Blood dripped steadily, staining the marble floor. The sticky, dull sensation made me feel nauseous, but I steadied my breathing to maintain my composure. I walked slowly toward Gail in that state.
“…This is absurd.”
Why were all the people Ian kept around in such a state? I’d heard there was a mad dog from the Red Clan, and the mages from the Magic Bureau weren’t exactly sane either.
Shhhhk.
I passed slowly over Gail, staining the bed with my blood. Without hesitation, I drove my blade into the pillow. With that, my task was complete. I sat blankly, waiting for what came next.
“….”
Had he truly had his tongue cut out? Gail opened my jaw and examined the inside, but it was intact. This made no sense. Gail fumbled across the table to end this charade.
Ding—ding ding—
The golden bell of the bedchamber rang out pleasantly. Before long, light flooded into Prince Gail’s quarters, which had been shrouded in darkness. The sound of servants and guards who had been concealing their presence came rushing forward, and the door was wrenched open violently.
Crash!
“Your Highness, are you unharmed?”
“An intruder. Arrest this person.”
The servants hesitated at the sight of blood pooling on the floor, but soon realized it wasn’t his and relaxed. The guards restrained Xiaoxi, and the servants moved in perfect unison to tidy the room when—
“…Your Highness?”
The Chamberlain called out to Prince Gail hesitantly. As he turned his head with a puzzled frown, the other servants and guards gasped in shock.
“…Your Highness!”
“Prince Gail!”
“What is this—”
“Fetch a doctor! A doctor!”
What was all this fuss about? Prince Gail was about to speak.
He could feel an unpleasant sensation flowing down his face. From his eyes, nose, mouth, ears—blood poured from every opening. It wasn’t merely flowing; it was gushing forth.
“Cough—!”
“Your Highness!”
There was no pain. Yet breathing became agonizing as blood flowed backward. As Prince Gail collapsed forward, chaos erupted. Even the guard restraining Xiaoxi rushed over to examine him.
“You wretch! What have you done!”
“…I did nothing.”
“Demon!”
“I did nothing.”
Crack!
A guard’s hand lashed across Xiaoxi’s cheek. His head snapped violently to the side, yet his posture remained unmoved. Prince Gail raised his hand to restrain his subordinates, but blood continued pouring from his throat, preventing his commands from forming into sound.
Crack! Crack!
Xiaoxi endured the beating in silence while observing Prince Gail.
A prince, then. The Emperor’s son. Now that the light was on, he didn’t appear old enough to have a child. Though, those of high birth supposedly arranged marriages from childhood.
“Your Highness! The doctor has arrived!”
“Heavens! What is the meaning of this?”
“An assassin broke in. Quickly, we must stop the bleeding—”
“Your Highness, please lift your head! Are there no wounds?”
“It just started suddenly.”
“It could be poison, poison! Wait, move aside! Chamberlain! Bring warm water and clean cloth!”
Prince Gail still had his wits about him and obediently lifted his head as the doctor instructed. As he gazed at the ornate glittering chandelier, Ian’s golden hair came to mind.
‘…Did Ian do this?’
To bleed suddenly without warning was impossible unless it were poison, some curse, or magic. And he was bleeding without pain, only blood. This was no ordinary circumstance.
‘Moreover, if I were truly in danger right now, Ian would be in the most difficult position. That couldn’t be it.’
Ian was not one to take risks, even if it meant accepting losses. How skillfully he walked the line between Marib and me. There was nothing to gain from drawing my blood in this situation.
“Your Highness, can you speak?”
“…Tell them.”
“Pardon?”
I’m not sure how this happened, but it’s fortunate. I wanted blood spilled, and fortune has delivered. Every performance needs dramatic elements, after all.
“Spread word throughout the Imperial Palace—an Assailant has infiltrated my residence.”
“Yes, understood!”
I’ll uncover the truth of this anomaly in due time. But first, the signal has been fired, so I must move swiftly. The one who acts first gains the advantage.
“Furthermore, inform them.”
The forces loyal to me.
“There is an Assailant in the Imperial Palace who seeks to harm me. All of you are to arm yourselves and enter the Palace at once.”

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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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