Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 183

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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 183
The Aftermath Meeting
The Emperor’s personal physician carefully raised his stethoscope. The body was so cold it could hardly be mistaken for human skin. Though wiped clean with warm towels, the bloodstains that remained in patches painted an even more tragic picture of the Emperor’s condition.
Swish.
The physician brought his hand beneath his nose. Faintly—so very faintly—breath escaped. Though warmth filled the space beneath the thick quilted blanket, the Emperor’s breathing was frigid. Ian and Beols stood at a distance, observing in silence.
“What is your assessment?”
“He… he is alive, at least.”
“If we thaw the freezing, can he be treated?”
“That is…”
The wound along his ribs was pronounced. For a young, healthy man, it would pose no problem, but the Emperor was already aged and frail—even a winter cold would be fatal to him.
The physician wiped away cold sweat and shook his head.
“I cannot guarantee it. I am deeply sorry.”
The physician gazed at the sleeping Emperor with glistening eyes. Magic would be no different. The Emperor was in no condition to receive even healing magic. Ian swallowed a sigh and nodded.
“Speak not a word of His Majesty’s condition. Should rumors spread, you shall bear the responsibility.”
“Have no fear. If this is His Majesty’s will, I shall guard it to the end.”
The Emperor could no longer appear at official functions. In these turbulent times, I had brought in the physician to preempt any questions about the Emperor’s wellbeing. His testimony would quell the unease within the palace.
Click.
Once the physician departed, Beols placed a familiar seal before me. It was the one the Emperor had stamped upon his final testament. And it was also the imperial seal that had remained in my memory from generations hence.
“For the time being, official matters will be processed using the personal seal. Count Ian, please convey this to the Prime Minister.”
The seal I had used bore scratches here and there, but this one gleamed with fresh gold leaf as if newly made. It was the very one I had used for three years in the past, yet holding it now felt strangely unfamiliar.
‘So I shall continue to use this.’
Until the Emperor’s official death, I would wield this seal for quite some time. Even when a new Emperor ascended, it was more legitimate to inherit the late Emperor’s seal than to carve a new one. That was precisely how it had been passed down through generations to me in the future.
“Beols, what of you?”
“I shall remain here today to guard His Majesty.”
Not a single step would I stray. The Captain’s self-reproach for failing to protect his master hung thick in the air.
“Unlike yesterday, today I shall.”
“…I will inform you once the date for the succession discussion is set.”
Night had already fallen.
Though darkness was deep, the mages’ light illuminated the surroundings. It was the light of burning corpses. Without any acrid stench, the traces of those who had participated in the rebellion were vanishing from Bariel. As if they had never existed at all, cleanly erased.
“Wipe away the blood! Send more people over here!”
“I’m sorry, but we’re short-handed too.”
“Berik, can you help? Let’s move this together!”
“Nakina! Could you cast an escort spell!”
The mages worked in perfect coordination under the commanders of each department. Romandro, too, was waving reports about and shouting something when he spotted me and came running.
“Currently, Captain Jairot of the Imperial Guard, the Prime Minister, the Deputy Minister of the Legislative Branch, the Director-General of the Administrative Branch, and the Chief Justice have all entered the palace. It seems we can proceed directly to the Grand Conference Hall.”
As I passed, the mages and palace servants bowed their heads in greeting. Cleaning up after a single day’s events would easily take several months. Most troubling were the damaged buildings.
“Are we still controlling access to the palace?”
“Yes, yes. We’re only allowing high-ranking officials inside. Food supplies, medical provisions, and materials should be fine until tomorrow, so we can receive deliveries after that.”
“Notify them upon delivery. Tell them that once they enter, they cannot leave. Alternatively, dispatch personnel to the gates and have them transport goods directly. We can entrust the escort to Nakina.”
“But Nakina is so busy running around. We’ll reassess the situation tomorrow and proceed accordingly.”
The palace gates had opened, but for now only officials were allowed entry—the common people’s access remained restricted. The imperial palace symbolized Bariel itself. It had to remain in the people’s memory as a place that was always perfect and noble. Not a place where blood flowed and corpses lay scattered.
“Hold firm. Those who survived here cannot leave until the palace is fully secured.”
“Understood. I’ve already informed them.”
“…Should I send word to Viviana through a messenger?”
Tap tap tap.
Ian asked casually as he descended the stairs. A pregnant woman waiting for him. It was natural she’d be worried—he’d gone into the palace and all contact had ceased. Romandro hesitated for a moment, then squeezed his eyes shut and refused.
“No. I cannot make exceptions. Not even a single bird can leave the palace.”
A satisfied smile crossed Ian’s lips as he walked ahead. But no one saw it in the darkness of night.
“What of Prince Gail?”
“Still being searched for.”
Prince Gail had hidden somewhere within the palace. The Emperor’s orders had come down, and he knew that Prince Marib had been captured. There was nothing more Gail could do. Since Akorelra was confirming Prince Gail’s forces based on the mana stone powder map, they would capture him before dawn at the latest.
Neigh!
Ian rode his horse to the Grand Conference Hall—the place where the first conflict between Prince Marib and Prince Gail had occurred. Carriages hastily arranged by the officials were tangled in disarray.
“Oh, Count Ian!”
“Count Ian!”
“What in the world is happening?”
“His Highness, no wait, His Majesty…?”
The atmosphere was far from refined. Perhaps it was because traces of the clash between Prince Marib and Prince Gail remained. The officials sat on tables instead of chairs, smoking cigarettes densely. It was a critical meeting, yet there were no reports.
“Please, all of you sit down.”
“Um, excuse me, Count Ian.”
“They say Prince Gail hasn’t been captured yet.”
“Maintain your dignity and sit. This will be a long discussion. In times like these, you must be calm and keep your minds sharp. Isn’t that why His Majesty placed you in those positions?”
In other words, earn your keep. If they’d lived comfortably on their salaries in ordinary times, shouldn’t they prove their worth now?
As Ian sat down with a stern rebuke, the officials cleared their throats and brushed their beards.
“Sit.”
Then someone stepped forward and pulled out a chair. It was Quintana, the Vice Minister in charge of finances within the Administrative Bureau. She had her brown hair tied up in one knot and swept her sharp gaze across the room.
“I said sit down.”
“Ahem. Yes, we’re sitting.”
“Let’s sit. Sit down. He said it’ll be a long story.”
Though the Emperor was the head of the Administrative Bureau, Quintana’s authority over finances below him was as distinctive as a Minister’s. She held responsibility for finances, annual budgets, and taxes alike.
“I trust you can guess the situation, so I’ll simply share the results. First, His Majesty is safe.”
Several officials exhaled in relief at Ian’s words. Quintana did the same. A hint of relief flickered across her stern, cold expression.
“However, the shock was too great and he collapsed. You cannot see him directly. For now, the Prime Minister will handle his duties.”
Whoosh.
Ian handed the seal that Beols had given him to the Prime Minister. He looked down at it and asked doubtfully.
“Where is the original seal?”
“Its whereabouts are unknown due to Prince Marib’s attempted usurpation. Prince Marib is currently imprisoned in the Magic Ministry’s underground dungeon. He is unharmed, so there is no problem in hastening the trial. Palace Judge.”
At Ian’s call, an old man lifted his head slightly.
“Prepare the trial to strip Prince Marib of his title as quickly as possible. The mages will handle the collection of bodies and clearing of damaged buildings before dawn. Romandro.”
Romandro, standing behind, handed Ian a single sheet of paper. It was filled with a long list of names. Ian moistened his throat briefly, then slowly read through it.
“The Judiciary’s Casper, Rayners, Aberkin, the Legislative Department’s Minister Castes, Lenart, Michael, the Imperial Defense Department’s Minister Taiha, Serano, Klein, Clemens….”
It was a list of those who had conspired with either Prince Marib or Prince Gail to throw the imperial palace into chaos. Following that came the names of the nobles who had joined in their schemes, one after another.
Tap.
“That concludes the list of traitors within the imperial palace.”
A long silence descended. It was nearly equivalent to cutting away more than half of Bariel’s entire strength. I set the paper down lightly and swallowed a sigh.
“Given the sheer number, we cannot conduct investigations and trials for each individual. Let each department take responsibility for rooting out and executing the traitors within their jurisdiction. Vacant positions shall be filled by subordinates to ensure no disruption to operations, and for critical posts such as ministerial positions, temporary authority shall be granted.”
“Pardon me, Count Ian. But isn’t the number far too great? At this rate, operations will come to a complete standstill.”
“Yes, precisely. If we continue at this pace, executing all of them would….”
Crash!
It was Quintana. She set down the ashtray roughly, her brow deeply furrowed.
“Sparing a traitor is like leaving a worm to devour the nation. If you spare the traitors, you yourselves become traitors as well.”
The bureaucrats fell silent at her ominous warning. Outside, the smell of blood still hung thick in the air. Even if their own blood mixed into that stench, who would care?
I nodded and tapped the documents on the table.
“I concur. Prince Marib directly threatened His Majesty the Emperor, and Prince Gail gathered nobles and assembled unauthorized forces, leaving no room for excuse.”
“B-but then our department will have no one left….”
“Count Ian’s Steward. Could you provide us with a more comprehensive list?”
“Of course. I have it right here. I prepared it generously, so please distribute it among yourselves.”
Romandro quickly distributed the documents while nodding. Quintana stubbed out her cigarette and raised her hand.
“While the imperial palace may handle its own internal restructuring, what of the external situation? If the nobles collapse, next year’s taxes cannot be collected. And more importantly, as I understand it, House Haiman is also implicated in this incident.”
House Haiman—the family responsible for Bariel’s finances. Without them, all of Bariel’s transactions could cease immediately. Unlike the deaths occurring within the palace, another great chaos would descend.
But I remained resolute.
“There are no exceptions. This was treason committed at the cost of lives, and they must pay the price. However, given the gravity of the matter, I shall handle it personally.”
“Personally?”
Quintana’s eyebrows rose in surprise. The prospect of directly confronting such troublesome individuals was more than welcome. The bureaucrats too smiled awkwardly and nodded repeatedly.
“If it’s Count Ian, we can trust and rely on him. Hm-hm.”
“Indeed. Aren’t you the Minister of Magic?”
Difficult as it may be, resolving it would solidify my position like nothing else. For Jin’s future, for a peaceful Bariel brought by a righteous and strong emperor. This too was my responsibility.
“Then, let me ask—there should be no problem in preparing the trials, but what of the next successor? If His Majesty recovers and resumes his position, it would be more stable to promptly fill the position of heir.”
At one bureaucrat’s question, all eyes merely rolled about. The options were not many. Jin and Arcen, Arcen and Jin. As no one dared speak hastily, an awkward silence settled over them. The moment their gazes naturally turned toward me.
Screech!
A woman burst through the conference room door urgently—it was Deilaina.

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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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