Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 187

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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 187
Wesley’s Curse
A small room in the auxiliary palace where Prince Gail received treatment. Faint, warm light seeped through the crack in the door in a steady stream. Blood-soaked clothes and towels lay scattered across the floor without distinction, and servants carried warm water at the direction of three mages.
“Clean this area more thoroughly.”
“Yes, Mage.”
“The bleeding shows no signs of stopping. Push more mana into the pressure points. Just a bit more, a bit more.”
“If we push any harder here, it will affect his breathing.”
“Of all places, why did he have to wound his neck…”
“Fine, fine. Just do it that way.”
Sweat dripped down the mages’ noses. While self-harm typically involved cutting the wrists, Prince Gail had stabbed the point where his neck met his collarbone.
“Generate more blood. More.”
“Listen, go get blood-replenishing medicine from Captain Akorella. Don’t worry about the type—just ask for everything she has.”
“Yes, understood.”
While the three mages managed the hemorrhaging and generated new flesh from within, the doctor meticulously sutured the wound and administered sedatives.
Zzzziiing. Zzzing.
Whether from the heat of mana or the heat of the medical staff, the room grew stuffy. As Prince Gail’s condition stabilized, the mages wiped their sweat with blood-stained towels and took a breath. They had kept him alive; their work was done.
“This should suffice.”
“If His Highness regains consciousness or shows any unusual behavior, inform us immediately. We’ll be resting in the adjacent room. Doctor, you may stop as well.”
The servants bowed in acknowledgment at the mages’ command. They had heard tales of magic’s greatness, but they had not anticipated such a level of power. Not only did they save someone with a torn neck, but they stabilized him as well. It seemed the saying that healing magic was the pinnacle of magic was no exaggeration.
Creak.
“You’ve all worked hard.”
“Ian.”
At that moment, I entered the room. The stench of blood and disinfectant was overwhelming. Prince Gail had bandages not only around his neck but also around his waist, arms, and shins.
“He hasn’t regained consciousness yet?”
“No. However, given his naturally excellent physique, there were no issues with accepting the magic. I believe his recovery will be swift.”
“I heard he was talking in his sleep.”
“Ah, that…”
The mages laughed awkwardly and glanced at Prince Gail. Though technically a criminal, he was still a prince. Aware that he was known to be reckless, they lowered their voices as much as possible before reporting.
“He was calling out Princess Melania’s name and saying something. It was difficult to make out clearly due to his neck injury, but roughly speaking, it seemed to be accusations about betrayal. He also mentioned something about a curse.”
I pulled a chair over and sat beside the bed. Then I checked my watch and gave instructions to the mages.
“Rest. I’ll leave here in a couple of hours.”
It had already been three hours since Duke Haiman entered the imperial palace and was placed under confinement. I wanted to catch the moment before Duke Haiman’s patience bottomed out and resignation took hold.
If Prince Gail regained consciousness during the remaining couple of hours and revealed information about Princess Melania, that would be ideal.
“Hmm.”
“Romandro, the report.”
Romandro, whose eyes were swollen from exhaustion, handed over the organized reports. The sound of the pen nib scratching resumed quietly in the bedroom.
Scratch!
“…”
“Ha, haha. Don’t mind it.”
Apart from the occasional moment when Romandro slapped his own cheek to fight off sleep, the silence was so peaceful it was almost serene.
How much time had passed like that?
I noticed Prince Gail’s fingertips twitch.
“Prince Gail.”
“…Yes.”
Prince Gail grimaced at the unfamiliar metallic sensation. His neck felt constricted, and he tried to scratch it with his hand, but only the bandage stitches came loose. I gently stopped him with my pen and spoke.
“It’s fortunate you’ve awakened on time. We have much to discuss, but let’s keep it brief considering our circumstances. First, your final destination will not be a sickbed, but a courtroom.”
In other words, don’t even think about seeking an honorable death through self-determination. Prince Gail frowned and looked up at me with his faded blue eyes.
“Duke Haiman and Princess Melania are currently in the palace awaiting an audience. If you have anything to convey, I will relay it on your behalf.”
At my words, Prince Gail let out a dry laugh. The missing mana armor that House Haiman was supposed to provide had certainly decided the outcome of the battle. That’s precisely why he now lay here.
“…I hope you have something to say.”
His voice came slowly and with difficulty, trembling precariously. But I simply nodded without any particular reaction.
“Of course. If you have nothing to say, I will speak on your behalf.”
Now that a third force controlled the imperial palace, everyone understood that House Haiman would deny any connection with the two princes, especially Prince Gail. So I had no choice but to create an offensive position under the guise of his testimony.
“If you hand over evidence of House Haiman’s collusion, I promise you a more honorable death than Prince Marib received.”
At my proposal, Prince Gail laughed softly. The best remaining option for him was merely such a death as this.
“And one more thing.”
“…What is it?”
“I will protect the tree in His Majesty’s quarters.”
The peach tree that the Emperor would gaze at blankly after dreaming of Prince Gail’s birth mother. The peach tree that his mother had cherished dearly in life, where her remains were buried. Prince Gail covered his eyes with his arm and sighed.
“You can find the evidence of collusion if you look for it.”
“Thanks to you, I have much to handle.”
“…Were your eyes always like that?”
Prince Gail suddenly questioned me with bewilderment upon seeing my gaze. It had never been ordinary, but something about it now felt different. The current me seemed somehow more….
“It seems you are the master of the imperial palace.”
“Your Highness’s throat condition is too poor for unnecessary commentary.”
In other words, shut up and answer my questions. Prince Gail chuckled and let everything go.
“I never exchanged direct correspondence with House Haiman. We both understood each other well enough. In exchange for their assistance—the mana armor and support in restraining Prince Marib—we agreed to elevate Melania as Empress. Beyond that, we promised tax benefits to House Haiman, key positions for her cousins by marriage, and trade privileges to kingdoms with blood ties.”
“You were quite thorough in dividing the spoils.”
I paused to organize my thoughts. Beyond the Empress position Melania would hold, far more had been promised to Haiman than I’d anticipated. But why hadn’t they supported Prince Gail in the end?
“It seems House Haiman’s support fell short.”
“Didn’t you close the palace gates?”
“Entering the palace beforehand to prepare is fundamental. According to the testimonies of survivors, you received only about half of what was expected.”
Prince Gail avoided my gaze. He looked as though he knew the reason but couldn’t speak of it.
“Moreover, Princess Melania appeared to harbor affection for you.”
“Affection? For me? Have you never met a woman before?”
“….”
I furrowed my brow. There was nothing particularly to refute. But what else could that expression I witnessed have been, if not that of a lover? Didn’t she seem utterly devoted?
“Melania does not harbor affection for me.”
Prince Gail murmured with certainty.
“Wesley made it so.”
“Why would Wesley’s name come up here?”
“You were curious about her curse, weren’t you?”
Then he immediately began searching the table as if looking for cigarettes. He showed no awareness whatsoever of the wound on his neck. I simply handed him the cigarettes and had Romandro dispose of the fire.
“Didn’t I tell you once? It’s a personal curse.”
“Yes. You proved it with the truth serum.”
“I will never receive anyone’s love from this moment forward.”
‘Prince Gail, you were arrogant and trampled upon me, so you shall never be loved as I am.’
“So I knew from the beginning that what Melania wanted wasn’t me, but the prince’s position. That’s why I said I would prepare for it. And now it’s come to this.”
Gail chewed the cigarette between his teeth. If that were the case, then even he couldn’t definitively determine the reason for the Haiman family’s change of heart. I rose from my seat and immediately snatched the cigarette from him.
“Please continue your treatment. In truth, the fact that Your Highness has awakened is already favorable news for me.”
I now had a means to directly suppress, check, and pressure the Haiman family. After all, there was no evidence as certain as Gail’s testimony.
“What about Marib?”
“You’ll meet him soon.”
In the courtroom.
I turned without hesitation and left the room, while Gail sighed and closed his eyes. Now that they knew he was awake, he would be placed under twenty-four-hour surveillance to prevent any further attempts. His situation had become one where he couldn’t end things even if he wanted to.
Click.
The moment I stepped into the corridor, I gave firm instructions to the guards.
“Reinforce the personnel and guard without gaps. If possible, contact the Imperial Guard as well.”
“The Imperial Guard, sir?”
The guard captain questioned me in confusion. All we needed to do was prevent Gail’s self-harm, so why call in the Imperial Guard? We were already short on people for the palace reconstruction.
“Does an order require justification?”
“Ah, my apologies. I’ll correct it immediately.”
Instead of lengthy explanations, I elicited compliance through rebuke. Romandro followed behind me, and the moment we boarded the carriage, he asked.
“It’s because of the Haiman family, isn’t it?”
“Yes. Now that His Highness has safely awakened, there’s a possibility the Haiman family will make a move.”
A prince destined to die anyway. Killing him before the trial could sever the surface connection with Haiman.
And more importantly, if princes were to die from external attacks here, the chaos that had barely subsided could swell up again.
“Take us to where Duke Haiman is waiting.”
“Yes, understood.”
Whirrrrr!
I announced the destination and checked my watch.
Seven hours and forty minutes.
That was how long the Duke had been waiting since entering the palace to meet someone. For a Duke known as the pillar of Bariel, it must have been quite a lengthy wait to endure.
“Have you ever seen Duke Haiman before, Romandro?”
“Didn’t we see him once at the New Year’s gathering? Or not?”
“I think I saw his appearance then.”
Duke Haiman left no impression on me. When I was Emperor, I remembered seeing the 11th Duke Haiman, and I became somewhat curious about what kind of person the current family head was.
‘Blood doesn’t lie—he’s probably a similar sort of man.’
Thinking thus, I rushed toward the building where the Duke was confined. In the distance, I could see the soldiers guarding the gate at the entrance.
“What is the atmosphere like outside the palace?”
“Rumors seem to be spreading gradually, though their source remains unclear. It’s unprecedented for those who enter the imperial palace to remain inside without emerging. We’ll need to make an official statement soon.”
This was not something that could be delayed indefinitely. I resolved to complete the essential matters within three days—precisely three days—and gazed out the window. The Haiman family’s carriage waited outside.
Creak.
“Is Duke Haiman inside?”
“Yes, Ian. He’s waiting for you.”
“Show me in.”
I followed the soldier’s guidance and entered the building.
The reception room doors parted to either side.
I faced Duke Haiman, who sat with rigid composure.

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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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