Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 21

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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 21. Diamond
“What…?”
Ian, who rarely found himself flustered, stumbled over his words. Berik whistled as he strode inside with such natural ease, as if water flowing downstream.
“Didn’t I tell you to wait?”
“I was waiting just fine. Someone called me over.”
“Who?”
“The Butler, they said.”
“What?”
“He came to the tavern and said I could enter the Manor whenever I wanted. The moment I heard that, I rushed right over. Is there a problem?”
Ian’s expression grew complicated. It didn’t seem like Berik was lying. Given his nature, he wouldn’t have snuck in, and the fact that he’d passed through the Main Gate unimpeded was proof enough.
Berik stood still, looking down at Ian.
“…”
His gaze drifted slyly to the left. Berik’s eyes lingered on the fruits and bread arranged on the table. Ian sighed and nodded.
“Eat.”
“Yes! I won’t refuse.”
Berik greedily shoved food into his mouth with both hands. Watching him, Ian understood how the situation was unfolding.
“Is that all he said?”
“He said to stay with you and report back.”
“And you have no intention of doing that faithfully?”
Crunch, crunch.
Berik chewed the fruit while staring directly at Ian. What did he think of himself now? One who wielded a sword spoke only once, and the blade’s direction pointed toward only one destination.
“Enough of that. Tell me quickly. What was that thing from that day?”
“Ah, right.”
Whether it was magical power or something else, he was dying of curiosity. But what could he do? Ian had ordered silence, so he’d remained as still as death. Of course, there was also the fact that no one around him would have understood anyway.
“Fine. Listen carefully.”
Ian faced Berik and explained the wondrous power that dwelled within him.
An unknown energy—the source of the world itself, hinting at the very existence of divinity. Berik’s crimson eyes sparkled brilliantly like sunlight.
“…That’s impossible.”
“Therefore, since magical power was blocking your body’s vitality, falling behind others was inevitable. No matter how much you trained, you would have remained stagnant.”
“And you’re saying you’ll break through that for me?”
“…Do you not know what honorifics are?”
“Wow, this is seriously incredible…”
Berik repeatedly clenched and unclenched his fists, pacing back and forth. His expression was one of joy and excitement beyond measure. The strange power he’d felt at the Training Ground was truly his own. He slammed his head against the wall and burst into laughter.
“He’s not listening to reason.”
“Should we start right now? Just tell me what I need to do.”
Ian stared at him in silence. He wanted nothing more than to infuse him with magical power immediately, but if he caused a commotion here, it would be troublesome.
Whether Berik knew of his concern or not, he bounced his leg impatiently.
“Your hand.”
“Your hand!”
Berik’s hand was placed in Ian’s palm. He grasped it firmly and issued a warning.
“Learn some restraint. Otherwise, I’ll have you doing nothing but physical training for days.”
“Don’t worry about it. Let’s go!”
*Zing.*
The moment I heard Berik’s response, I activated my mana. My green eyes transformed to gold as my hair fluttered softly. Mana flowed through the points where our bodies made contact.
And moments later.
*Boom! Crash!*
“My goodness.”
“What was that sound?”
The servants working downstairs froze at the unfamiliar thunderous noise. It seemed to be coming from my room, but…
*Knock knock.*
“Young Master Ian? Is something the matter?”
The response was delayed. Just as the servant reached for the doorknob, my irritated voice rang out.
“It’s fine. The table got destroyed.”
“Pardon? How did that happen?”
How could a perfectly fine table end up like that?
*Creak!*
As the servant opened the door in shock, the sight before him was spectacular. Furniture shattered to pieces, me standing with mana radiating outward, and a red-haired man sprawled on the ground in a prone position. Though his face was upside down, he was clearly smiling.
“…Um.”
“That’ll do. Just clean it up later.”
What in the world was this situation?
As I gestured for him to leave, the servant stumbled backward like a broken machine.
* * *
“Ian.”
The next morning at breakfast.
I stopped cutting and looked at Count Derga. At the same time, the Countess and Chel also fixed their attention on us both.
“It seems you’ve made a new friend.”
Why was he asking again when everyone already knew? I set my knife aside and smiled.
“Yes, Father. His name is Berik. I met him at the Training Ground, and we got along well. I’m sure Chel would recognize him if he saw him.”
He seemed curious about how detailed and transparent my answer would be. Count Derga raised his eyebrows as if telling me to continue.
“I thought I wouldn’t see him again after he was expelled from the Training Ground. Thanks to you, Father, I had an enjoyable time.”
“Expelled? Why?”
Mrs. Mary, who had been listening quietly, asked in return. Unlike Count Derga, she seemed unaware that Berik had even entered the manor yesterday.
“He assaulted a fellow trainee.”
“Good heavens. How dreadful. And you keep such a person close. You’re quite something yourself. Do your personalities match well?”
Despite the sarcastic undertone, I only smiled. After all, I’d succeeded in keeping Berik by my side. When trouble arose in the future, it would be this boy who would slit their throats.
“If he doesn’t learn to read within a month, I’ll consider it playing around with him and wring his neck.”
“…Yes, Father.”
He certainly planned to use him resourcefully in every way. Not content with shackles, he intended to use him as a whip as well. I lowered my gaze to show obedience. All I could see were Count Derga’s thick fingers.
‘Fortunately, he doesn’t seem to know about the furniture.’
The servant must have kept it secret. Just as I distributed food to them, my close relationship with Hena meant my standing among the servants wasn’t poor at all.
‘Hmm?’
Then suddenly, a gleaming diamond ring on his finger caught my eye. A substantial stone with an ornate gold filigree design. Until now, Count Derga had shown little interest in jewelry, yet he wore this particular ring every single day without fail.
‘A wedding ring?’
I examined the Countess’s hand. But there was no diamond on her left hand. She wore opals, pearls, and rubies, but nothing more.
‘The cutting seems rather crude, doesn’t it?’
As I continued observing, I noticed something peculiar about the diamond’s cut. Typically, gems are cut to maximize light reflection and create brilliance, yet his was rounded in a way that defeated that purpose entirely.
As if designed for pressing something rather than for display….
Clatter.
“Tsk, tsk.”
“How can you still make such careless mistakes?”
“Ah. My apologies.”
I had inadvertently dropped my fork. Under the piercing gazes of the Count and Countess, I quickly apologized and turned away.
Soon the tense meal ended and everyone left the dining room, but I remained motionless. The servants hesitated before approaching and asking.
“Young Master Ian. Was the meal insufficient?”
“Your tutor will arrive soon, so we’ll bring hearty refreshments.”
They needed to clear the dishes, but with me sitting here stubbornly, they couldn’t move. I gazed quietly out the window and murmured.
“The ring Father wears—it’s not a wedding ring, is it?”
What an odd question to ask suddenly. But the servants answered as best they could.
“We understand it is not. The ruby that the Mistress wears is said to be the wedding ring.”
That explained why the mana brooch was red. I rested my chin in my hand and tapped the table rhythmically. The more I thought about it, the more my suspicions solidified.
‘The gesture of reaching his hand beneath the desk, the mysterious key the butler possessed, and this diamond ring that bears a striking resemblance to his head….’
It doesn’t seem to be a turning mechanism—just pressing something would suffice. Does the safe respond only to diamonds? No, that couldn’t be right. If so, the butler’s key would also need to have gems embedded in it.
The difference between the two would be….
‘The material.’
Count Derga is not the type to entrust a master key to just anyone. What the butler carries could be seen less as proof of trust and more as a piece of a test.
Considering security, there’s only one possibility that comes to mind: electricity flowing through the interior.
“Ha.”
What a troublesome and clever locking mechanism.
The servants exchanged glances and stole glimpses of me, but I didn’t budge. After a while, I finally moved when it was nearly time for the tutor to arrive.
Creak.
I opened the door and instructed Berik.
“Get out.”
“Huh? Why?”
Thud!
Berik, who had been doing handstand push-ups, tumbled forward. Whether he did or not was his concern—I tidied up my desk.
“My tutor is arriving soon.”
“So what? Can’t you wait a bit? The room is this spacious anyway.”
“I have something important to discuss. When the servant brings refreshments, you take them and send them back.”
“Well, that’s different then. Fine!”
Berik, saying he was hungry anyway, grabbed his shirt and left.
Shortly after, the Tutor arrived precisely on time. He glanced toward the door and asked me.
“Young master. Who is that person outside?”
“Please, sit down first. There’s something urgent I need to discuss with you.”
My unusually grave demeanor seemed to unsettle him. The Tutor sat on the sofa without even removing his coat.
‘Now that I’ve learned the safe’s key, all that remains is the plan.’
After Hena and Berik, I needed another person to help me—someone close to Count Derga, someone I could encounter frequently.
“What is this about?”
“Teacher. Do you know Mollin?”
The sudden question made the Tutor’s body go rigid.
“Ah, ah, no?”
“Simply graduating from Bariel University would have created a connection, and I noticed you’re from the same region.”
So the usually indifferent man could make such an expression. I smiled inwardly and leaned back against the chair.
“That, that can’t be! What a coincidence!”
“Then I suppose I could report this to Father?”
“Wait! That’s, that’s not it!”
A strong denial is as good as confirmation. The Tutor’s lips trembled as he frowned deeply. If Count Derga learned of this, it would be truly troublesome. His neck wouldn’t be on the line, but he’d certainly lose his position, and it was clear he’d be driven from the Bratz Estate soon after. There was nowhere better to research the Great Desert.
“…Young master, I believe there’s been a misunderstanding.”
“No. I’m quite certain that Father is monitoring me through you, and that you’re also in contact with Mollin behind the scenes.”
Was this really the Ian who usually seemed slow and disinterested in everything? The Tutor finally understood what it meant to be at a loss for words.
“Moreover, you attempted to break into the Butler’s quarters at Mollin’s instigation.”
“Wait! That’s not true! Let me explain everything, please, just calm down.”
“Teacher. You’re the one who needs to calm down.”
I held up my tea and smiled gently. The Tutor stammered, choosing his words carefully as he defended himself. It all began from when he first met Mollin in Bratz.
“It’s true that I spoke of Count Derga and you. B-but that’s a normal process any parent would go through. When I was originally tutoring young master Chel, I would speak of him as well.”
“I see. Is that so?”
Better not mention the letter. There’s no need to reveal that.
“Then I came to tutor you as well, and I learned that an inspector was coming from Central. I truly didn’t know Mollin would visit. He’s my uncle, but it was practically the first time I’d seen him since leaving home.”
“It’s been a long time, then.”
“Nearly ten years.”
Ten years devoted to scholarship—that’s what it meant. He clutched his head as if something had gone wrong.
“So we exchanged news, and this became unavoidable. Research requires far more money than expected…. He said if I simply shared what happened in the manor, he’d supplement my living expenses. I had no way to refuse, and I didn’t share anything particularly important.”
“If it’s not important, then Father wouldn’t mind knowing.”
“Y-young master!”
His face turned ashen, his eyes seeming to roll back. I was merely shaking him to seize control, but his reaction was far more intense than expected. Perhaps it was because his life’s research stood behind him.
I sighed and laughed.
“If I say one more word, you’ll collapse.”
“Please. Keep this secret from the Count.”
“Teacher. Do you understand why I came to you first instead of telling Father immediately?”
The Tutor’s faded pupils wavered. His perception was utterly lacking in this regard.
“Still don’t understand?”

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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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