Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 186

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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 186
Beware of Sleep-Talking
Two figures raced across the sprawling meadow. Whatever amused them so, I found myself smiling unknowingly as I approached. Short silver hair—I recognized him without difficulty as Roberside.
And before him—
“Count Ian!”
Jin? I knelt and met the gaze of the boy who clung to me. His face radiated vitality. Roberside, rushing from the distance, shouted something, but I couldn’t hear it clearly.
“You seem delighted.”
“Delighted. Truly delighted.”
“What brings you such joy?”
Jin smiled broadly without answering. Then, suddenly, I noticed the boy had no dimples in his cheeks. Moreover, the facial scar I had believed to be the Emperor’s mark was also absent.
Crack!
At that moment, the earth split asunder and a foul stench reverberated. Demons appeared across the peaceful field, and darkness descended as if to swallow the world. Roberside, drawing near, shrieked a shrill warning.
“Kill him!”
The boy drove a dagger into my heart. I felt no pain. Was it shock? Roberside, pressing close behind, slashed the boy’s back with his sword and roared.
“A child who should never have been born! Kill him!”
Slash!
The boy, his back torn open, died in my arms. Yet even as he did, his hysterical laughter never ceased. As I looked down at him in confusion, he gripped my hair roughly and brought his mouth to my ear.
“The child who should never have been born—isn’t that you?”
* * *
“Count Ian?”
I jolted awake, breathing heavily without realizing it. My entire body trembled with the violent pounding of my heart. A Magic Ministry staff member watching over me asked with concern.
“Count Ian. Did you have a nightmare?”
“….”
“You were groaning quite severely. I was startled.”
“It’s natural to feel ill after overexerting yourself yesterday.”
“…What did I say?”
“Pardon? No, you only groaned.”
I brushed back my damp hair and exhaled in relief. The dream had been so disturbing that I was grateful I hadn’t muttered anything foolish in my sleep.
“What is it?”
“Ah, this won’t do. Please rest more. I’ll call a doctor.”
The Magic Ministry subordinates retreated with worried expressions, but I straightened my clothes and rose from my seat.
The duty room was unchanged from my last memory. Romandro, Xiaoxi, and Jin—all were in such deep sleep they seemed to be at death’s door. Save for Berik, who had paper in his mouth.
“Does anyone know why Berik is like that?”
“I’m not sure. He was muttering something about bananas, then fell back asleep with paper in his mouth.”
“…Leave quietly.”
I soothed my subordinates and stepped outside. The sun was already high in the sky. Though only a few hours, I felt refreshed from the rest. I sat at the round table and received reports from my subordinates in sequence.
“The Cheonryeo Tribe—that is, your father, Count Ian, is working together with the warriors to aid in reconstruction.”
“What kind of tribe are they anyway? They don’t sleep and are incredibly energetic.”
Just as they had rebuilt Bratz, now warriors patrolled the imperial palace. Without anyone taking the lead, they spread in all directions, rescuing those trapped beneath rubble, clearing broken stone walls, and gathering scattered remains.
I smiled and offered my gratitude.
“Treat them with respect and care. They are helping us purely out of goodwill. And my mother?”
“She is doing the same, Your Grace. It appears she is moving with the warriors. Since some of them don’t speak our language, she seems to be acting as an interpreter and such.”
I had wondered where she’d gone. But I knew this was Philia’s own way of helping me.
“Captain Akorella said she would submit a preliminary report on the amber-colored crystal stone by this afternoon. I’ll relay the general details beforehand. First, we have named the amber crystal stone ‘Idgal.'”
“What is the reasoning?”
Idgal. It sounded almost like a person’s name. I asked, thinking as much.
“Because the stone is artificial. When we split it in half, we found geometric patterns inside—clear traces of an alchemist’s work.”
I lowered the report slightly, raising my eyebrows. Now that I thought about it, I’d been moving so frantically that I’d forgotten to mention the alchemist connection.
“…Their skills are better than expected.”
In just one night—no, to be precise, less than ten hours. Captain Akorella had identified the alchemist’s traces in the crystal stone. My subordinate sniffled proudly in response.
“That’s why we all tolerate her temperament. Ah, please keep it secret that I said this, Count Ian.”
“Continue.”
“As you well know, whether it’s a mage, sorcerer, or alchemist, supernatural power always leaves traces. Especially those involved in creation—the marks are quite distinct. When we analyzed the geometric patterns, we found they could be read as ‘Idgal’ in the Bariel common tongue.”
“Is there a possibility this is the alchemist’s name?”
“Quite likely. Alchemists typically know their own unique geometric patterns and often use them as personal aliases with meaning attached.”
I nodded and gave an order.
“I’ll give you a ring later. Cut that open as well.”
“A ring?”
When I came up from the borderlands to the capital, Lady Lien had given it to me as a gift along with medicine. If the lady’s jewel is also called Idgal, we can narrow down the pursuit of the merchant guild the alchemist belongs to even further.
“And there’s one more important matter.”
“Yes, sir. Fortunately, including Nakina, several mages are gradually recovering their magical power. It’s very faint, but it hasn’t completely disappeared.”
That was a relief to hear. With the magic division already understaffed, losing talent in a situation like this would be problematic. Since Ian was a new recruit just a few years ago, who knew how long it would take to find the next mage.
My subordinates fell silent for a moment, then carefully offered their opinion.
“Pardon me, Count Ian. While Idgal and the mana-sealing stone are clearly different, their performance seems quite similar, doesn’t it?”
“We felt it this time too. That magic can never be absolute, no matter what.”
I closed the report and nodded. It was a sign to continue.
“For the future and safety of our mages, I believe we should eliminate one of the two—either the mana-sealing stone or Idgal.”
“Since the mana-sealing stone occurs naturally, wouldn’t it be better to track down and eliminate the alchemist instead?”
I had thought I’d touched the power of divinity, yet it shattered helplessly from a single arrow of Prince Marib’s. I had been arrogant, yet in another way, fortunate. To have survived such an ordeal.
“It’s easier to kill one alchemist than to kill nature itself.”
I tapped the edge of the report gently and fell silent for a moment. I understood their concerns well enough.
“I agree. The existence of the mana-sealing stone is the will of divinity, but the existence of Idgal is the will of an alchemist.”
Restraint and threat were entirely different matters. I handed back the report as a sign not to worry.
“It makes no sense for our mages to be endangered by the will of a single person. I will investigate Prince Marib thoroughly. Once the situation is somewhat settled, I will pursue and deal with the alchemist.”
Perhaps the mages who survived in the original era made the same decision as I did. Is that why Idgal was never passed down to my time?
The mages placed their hands over their chests, satisfied with their leader’s words.
“Next.”
“Prince Gail has been found in the Second Imperial Palace.”
“Found?”
I paused for a moment. The nuance of the word felt slightly odd. As expected, the mage reported carefully in a lower voice.
“He inflicted the wounds upon himself. There is no danger to his life.”
While Prince Marib surrendered and begged for his life, Prince Gail chose to end it all through his own hand. As always, their decisions diverged. I cannot say which was right.
I stroked my chin and furrowed my brow.
“Is he still unconscious?”
“Yes. However, three mages capable of healing magic have been dispatched along with the physician. I suspect he will awaken soon.”
I noticed footsteps approaching from behind and turned. Lower-ranking officials from other departments and individuals of unclear status were arriving with mountains of reports.
“Understood. Keep Prince Gail’s location under strict surveillance, and should he attempt self-harm again, restrain and confine him.”
“Yes, understood.”
“Even if he dies, it should be at the trial.”
This way, there would be no burden on Jin in the future. Since he was not born of the Empress, opposing factions would certainly question his legitimacy at any moment. Perhaps it would be better to erase both Prince Marib and Prince Gail from the imperial family’s history altogether.
Tap tap tap!
“Count Ian, sir. Duke Haiman has arrived at the central gate entrance.”
The mage managing the entrance rushed over and called to me. Everyone froze at the unexpected name and turned to look at me.
“He wishes to have an audience with His Majesty the Emperor. If that is not possible, he requests to attend the grand council to clear up any misunderstandings.”
“Misunderstandings.”
My bitter laugh made the mages swallow hard. How bold and shameless. The very faction that attempted to overthrow the imperial palace using Prince Gail as a shield now walks directly through the gates to make excuses.
“Count Ian, what should we do?”
“I’d like nothing more than to kill him.”
“We can’t. I have money deposited with him.”
The whispers grew louder. I tapped my pen thoughtfully for a moment.
If I let him inside, he will certainly discover that the Emperor has collapsed. Then I cannot predict how Duke Haiman will act.
“Princess Melania is with him as well.”
“Allow them entry, but detain them immediately. Ensure they have no contact with others. I will meet with them alone.”
Could ‘detain’ and ‘receive with courtesy’ coexist in a single word? Yet the mages answered that they understood and rushed off.
I continued processing the remaining documents carefully. It seemed I planned to meet with Duke Haiman last, only after finishing all urgent matters.
‘A battle of wills.’
The very act of making a noble duke wait for hours without notice was, for me, equivalent to seizing the advantageous position.
“Next report.”
“Yes, here it is.”
Truly extraordinary. The same applies to Duke Haiman’s house, but I myself am equally extraordinary in handling him so calmly. The mages kept their lips sealed and simply continued passing reports.
“Ah, and one more thing. Regarding Prince Gail’s curse.”
Even at the mage’s words, I did not stop signing documents. The pen scratched satisfyingly across the paper.
“Is it true that the curse has been lifted?”
“Why do you ask?”
Though I declared that I had lifted the curse, the mages did not believe it. They had been with me all day, and all I had done was continuously pour out magical power to save people and subdue Prince Marib.
“Well, it seems that while Prince Gail remains unconscious, he keeps muttering something. We thought it might be related to the curse.”

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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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