Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 218

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 218
The Greenhouse. D-4
Prince Gail sat alone at the foot of his bed, listening only to the ticking of the clock’s second hand. A cigarette burned away between his fingertips, though he seemed hardly to notice. The floor beneath him was already littered with half-smoked butts, none of them taken even a single drag. He remained hunched forward, his gaze fixed on the wisps of smoke that rose continuously before him.
‘Prince Marib is dead.’
And he had died while I slept, suspended in the sky.
At first, I couldn’t believe it. That Prince Marib. The object of contempt that seemed destined to bind me forever. Yet even he had ultimately been human, a being capable of death—and something about that realization felt strange. Prince Marib, who had always surpassed me. He was gone.
“Ha… ha.”
There was relief in it, and yet a sudden surge of irritation, while at the same time everything felt utterly meaningless. And I felt a complete sense of defeat. Just as Ian had said—we two would never be inscribed in history. A thorough, undeniable defeat.
Knock, knock.
“Prince Gail, the doctor is here.”
“I shall enter.”
The door opened without my permission. The doctor had rushed over upon hearing that I had awakened. He looked as though he’d been summoned from sleep—one side of his hair was severely matted down. He frowned at the smoke that filled the room.
“Your Highness, you injured your throat. Why do you keep smoking…?”
“Why? Are you afraid I won’t be able to testify at trial? I’m going to die anyway, so I might as well smoke myself to death.”
Once I became useless, it was only natural that I would be trampled underfoot. Whether it was Jin or Lord Arcen, neither had any reason to let me live. I took a long drag from the cigarette I’d been holding, raising my eyebrows defiantly. The doctor couldn’t bring himself to snatch it away and instead opened his medical bag to take my pulse.
“So, what is Ian doing now? With Prince Marib dead, is he raising a toast?”
“The imperial palace is somber overall.”
“I see. Well, now the real confrontation between the twins has begun. You should choose your side carefully. It could be far more intense than it was between me and Prince Marib.”
The doctor rolled up my sleeve and prepared a syringe. He tapped the needle tip and muttered to himself.
“I suspect the outcome is already decided.”
“Prince Marib is dead too. No one knows.”
“But Lord Arcen is a mage user, is he not? In that case, absorbing the Magic Ministry is only a matter of time, and it’s already certain that his position will rise above Lord Jin’s overall. Ah, and a new oracle has come down from Carbo.”
“An oracle?”
“‘Cursed one, you cannot defy fate—die of your own will for Bariel, and glory shall grace the world.’ Something along those lines, they say. It’s quite the nail in the coffin. Telling Lord Jin to step aside…”
The doctor’s words trailed off as he administered the injection. The entire imperial palace had been so focused on the twins, after all. Yet the truly cursed one was right here! A curse of taboo and permanence, one that had been laid down even as a mage burned away his own soul.
I let out a laugh.
“It sounds like a message from God to me.”
“I… I wouldn’t know about that.”
The doctor hastily gathered his medical bag and left. Alone once more, I lay sprawled out and turned the oracle over in my mind. If I died of my own will, would glory grace the world?
‘…Would it be glory inscribed in history?’
Even Prince Marib, who had been the First Prince, had vanished without a trace of ash. It was clear I would meet the same fate, so wouldn’t a death graced with glory be preferable?
It seemed God had given me one last chance. A body that had already let go of everything once. I had survived by fortune, but hadn’t I already crossed the line? The second time would be easy.
“…Is anyone there?”
I spoke quietly, very quietly. The mages must have set something in place in my bedroom. That’s why they left me alone without guards. As if to prove it, the door in the left wall—not the corridor entrance—suddenly swung open.
“Prince Gail, is something the matter?”
It was Philia, Ian’s mother. Nersaren followed close behind her. The two of them had been inseparable since the incident with Lord Arcen. When Philia began to make a fuss and call for servants, I stopped her with a gesture.
“It’s fine. No problem.”
“Ah, yes, of course.”
Philia hastily released the door handle. When she still didn’t move, I had no choice but to look at her—a silent permission for her to speak if she had something to say.
“Your Highness, I was grateful for what you did then. I’ve been troubled ever since, unable to thank you properly due to my confusion.”
Philia prostrated herself in gratitude. She had nearly scarred Arcen’s face under some inexplicable compulsion. The more her mind cleared, the more she understood what a devastating weakness that could have become for Ian. If Prince Gail hadn’t fortunately awakened, she would have fallen into utter despair. He was nothing short of her savior.
A soft rustling sound.
Nersaren, who had been standing behind her, also bowed with measured grace. Despite his warrior’s bearing flowing through him, even when lowering his body, it didn’t seem diminished. Prince Gail waved his hand dismissively and issued his order to leave.
“This is bothersome. Get out.”
He hadn’t helped Philia with any particular intention. Having just awakened, his mind was still foggy, and he’d simply noticed that Arcen’s aura was unusual.
“If you need anything, please let me know anytime.”
As Philia and Nersaren left the bedchamber, Prince Gail rummaged through the table again. A cigarette found its way into his hand once more. White smoke scattered through the room like a spreading mist, and Prince Gail drifted to sleep while pondering the oracle.
* * *
Thud!
“Gasp, gasp, cough….”
Romandro pushed himself up from the desk with both arms. But in that instant, a wave of nausea surged up. He’d said he’d send the accusation document at sunrise, yet Ian’s annotations and Captain Akorella’s report had just arrived. Romandro rubbed his bloodshot eyes and whimpered.
“That’s it. Oh no, it’s done.”
“Um, yes…. You’ve finished?”
“Captain Akorella shouldn’t rest here either—go downstairs. I need to get some sleep before I submit the accusation document.”
Captain Akorella, who had been curled up on the sofa in the corner of the office, barely opened her eyes. She had been standing by to immediately resolve any questions that might arise as Romandro compiled and reviewed the reports. Looking outside, the morning sun was already shining brightly.
“Then I’ll head down. Contact me if there’s any problem.”
“Yes. Thank you.”
“You did well.”
Even as Captain Akorella waved her hand and left, Romandro remained absorbed in organizing documents. I did it, I actually did it! It seemed impossible, but here it is. People really can do anything if they try. If people built such a grand palace, surely an accusation document is nothing!
Creak.
“Oh my. You’re awake?”
“Viviana. You’re up early. How’s your body feeling?”
“I’m always fine. How about you, Romandro?”
Just then, Viviana entered carrying a breakfast tray. Romandro, who didn’t tire easily even at disaster sites, was visibly growing gaunt as chaos repeatedly struck the palace. Still, compared to ordinary people, he maintained a respectable appearance.
“Just give me soup. If I eat anything else, I’ll throw up. Is there a spare mage outside?!”
At Romandro’s call, two mages lifted their heads. They too were on duty, their faces worn with exhaustion. Romandro clicked his tongue sympathetically and gave his instructions.
“Prepare yourselves. We’re going to submit the accusation document, so I’ll need your escort. I’ll give you half a day off when we return.”
The two mages nodded and glanced at the thick stack of papers on the desk.
“You don’t need an extra hand?”
“It’s fine. It’s heavy, but we’re taking a carriage anyway.”
“Understood. We’ll prepare to depart in two hours.”
“Yes, good.”
With the thought that he’d accomplished something great, Romandro spooned his soup and wore a happy smile. Even though the submission itself was just the beginning, wasn’t it something to savor even this small respite? Before the tournament schedule was announced, he might be able to spend time with Viviana.
“You submit the accusation document to the judiciary, right? It’s the farthest place from the Magic Ministry.”
“We’ll just submit it and observe the formal review process, so I expect we’ll be back around three in the afternoon.”
“Then I’ll have dinner ready by that time.”
“Thank you.”
Romandro pressed his lips to Viviana’s cheek and cheerfully changed into his outdoor clothes. Soon, when the mages sent word that the carriage was ready, he scraped up the remaining soup and rushed out.
Neigh!
“Please board.”
“Thanks. Ugh.”
Romandro climbed into the carriage while clutching the indictment tightly to his chest. The Mage seated inside tapped on the window as if signaling to depart, but strangely, nothing happened. The Coachman called out from his seat, sounding troubled.
“My apologies. The reins seem a bit off.”
“Take your time!”
My mood was good anyway, so what did it matter! Romandro waved and smiled at Viviana, who stood watching me from the steps. Then the Mage asked casually.
“If you intend to rest for a moment, I can hold it for you.”
“Oh, that’s fine! If I fall asleep, I won’t be sharp during the hearing.”
“…Is that so?”
“Yep, yep. Ah, what beautiful weather today!”
Romandro gazed outside, laughing. Behind him, the Two Mages exchanged a meaningful glance. Finally, the Coachman resolved the issue and was about to depart.
Tap, tap.
Xiaoxi, who had approached without warning, knocked on the window.
“Lord Romandro. Are you heading to file the indictment?”
“Xiaoxi, what is it?”
“Ian instructed me to accompany you.”
“He’s awake? But the Two Mages are already coming with me.”
“…Ian instructed me to accompany you.”
“Ah, right. If my master says so, then so be it. Come aboard!”
Romandro opened the door and made space on the seat. As a result, the Two Mages squeezed inward, their bodies shifting uncomfortably.
“Keep me company on the way. Talk constantly so I don’t fall asleep. Actually, it’s better if I do the talking. I wasn’t sure this would work even yesterday, but hah! I managed it somehow.”
“….”
Among the four, only Romandro was speaking. Xiaoxi merely watched the Two Mages and nodded occasionally. The atmosphere was peculiar, but the drowsy Romandro had no way of noticing.
Clop, clop!
Neigh!
The carriage raced forward smoothly without pause. Romandro, who had been humming cheerfully, spotted the Judiciary building in the distance. As the place that handled all central trials, its grandeur was immense.
“We’ve arrived.”
“Thank you for your service. Wait here.”
Creak!
It was still early morning, so the place was quiet. Perhaps because few people were ascending or descending the massive staircase? Each time marble floors met footsteps, the sound echoed particularly loudly. Romandro navigated the path with familiarity and stepped inside.
“Huh?”
But why were there so many people in this indictment filing office? Moreover….
‘They definitely stopped talking the moment I arrived, didn’t they?’
As Romandro’s expression grew puzzled, the Staff Member approached and asked.
“What business brings you here?”
“I, I’m from the Mage Division. I’m here to file an indictment.”
“Ah, I see? One moment, please. As you can see, we have many people waiting. Please wait a moment.”
“Sure, I will.”
He settled onto the corner of a sofa while hugging the indictment to his chest. Xiaoxi stood firmly beside him. Whispers echoed softly around them. Romandro glanced at Xiaoxi with the whites of his eyes showing and whispered.
“Something feels… off, doesn’t it?”
“….”
“Tsk.”
The two Mages also took their seats beside Xiaoxi and Romandro. Tick-tock, tick-tock—Romandro repeatedly pulled out his pocket watch to check the time. Yet for some reason, the waiting staff simply stood in place without moving. No one seemed eager to conduct business, and the staff member appeared equally indifferent.
Whoosh.
Unable to contain himself any longer, Romandro rose to lodge a protest when a new staff member approached from within, smiling.
“You’re from the Magic Ministry?”
“That’s right.”
“Just hand over the complaint document.”
The staff member extended both hands, requesting it from me. Romandro moved to hand over the complaint document but hesitated and withdrew it again.
“Before that, show me your identification. And isn’t Erikse the supervisor in charge here? I’ll give it directly to Erikse.”
“Erikse hasn’t come out yet.”
“Why not?”
As the staff member smiled pleasantly and pressed again, Romandro took a full step backward.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————