Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 227

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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 227
A Silent Response
“Ugh! Are you joking right now?”
Romandro returned after stamping the report and waved his hand with laughter. As if he’d just heard an absurdly ridiculous joke. I’d seen many things in my life, but this word combination seemed utterly insane. A Prince as a demon? And not just any demon at that?
“Hahaha! My goodness, don’t say that outside. You’ll be arrested for treason against the Imperial family! Even a Minister won’t be spared. Hehe. Anyway, just let me clock out. My shoulders and knees have been aching since nightfall—there’s not a single part that doesn’t hurt. I already sent Captain Heil ahead, and once I finish this, I’m done!”
Ta-da! Romandro flourished the final report with sparkling eyes. But Ian showed no intention of approving it. He simply sipped his tea calmly and smiled faintly. Romandro’s lips slowly fell.
“…Good heavens, surely not… that can’t be…”
“Lord Arcen is indeed a demon.”
Romandro instinctively covered his mouth with both hands. The shock made his entire neck stiffen. He reflexively glanced around, worried someone might overhear. Though only Ian and himself occupied the office.
“Based on the circumstances, it’s certain. The demon’s name that Roberside supposedly dealt with last was Arcen. It appears he borrowed that name.”
Ian explained to Romandro everything that had happened. From the different divine voice to Deilaina’s visit—in meticulous detail. The more he spoke, the wider Romandro’s mouth gaped, until eventually it was wide enough to fit a fist.
“If, if that’s true, then we shouldn’t be sitting here like this! We should rush over immediately and strike him down! A demon, no less. A demon has infiltrated us to bring about Bariel’s decline!”
Romandro made a fuss cautiously between his teeth. It was enough to drive one mad. Such an ill omen for the great empire of Bariel! While he panicked, Ian calmly replaced his pen nib.
“Of course, we will. But we cannot act now. Is Lord Arcen’s position not at its absolute peak within the Imperial Palace? Mere circumstances cannot bring him down.”
A dream that Jin supposedly had about Roberside? A Priest’s memory from ten years ago? A vague claim that the divine voice sounds different? None of these were things one could see with their own eyes. It fell far short of what was needed to bring Arcen down.
“Then, what… what do we do?”
Clocking out was no longer the issue. Romandro pulled up a chair and sat before Ian, looking at what he was examining. They were documents kept in the Imperial Palace regarding temples, divine oracles, and demons.
“I have given it some thought, but I need to verify whether it’s feasible.”
“You’re going to look through all of this alone?”
“If I had sufficient time, I could. Unfortunately, that won’t be possible. Deilaina’s servants have already left the palace with the Mages. They’ll arrive here by tomorrow at the earliest, or within the day after at the latest.”
Ian smiled and handed the documents to Romandro. It meant they should look together. Since there was a traitor among the Mages, I couldn’t request support from them carelessly.
“I understand. What should I be looking for?”
“From here to here. Please extract anything that seems even remotely connected to Lord Arcen and pass it to me.”
Romandro pressed his eye sockets repeatedly and nodded vigorously. It wasn’t as if he’d die from missing one more night of sleep. Yes! For Bariel’s sake, this sacrifice was more than worthwhile. His eyes had grown somewhat moist, but without complaint, he sat beside Ian and began turning pages.
Rustle.
“Ian. Listen to this. This applies to Lord Arcen as well, doesn’t it?”
-If a demon undergoes physical growth, the development of innate abilities and the acquisition of learned skills become possible as well.
Ian took the paper from Romandro. If the above were true, now was indeed the opportune moment. It was right to nip the bud before it grew larger. Ian was about to set the paper down when he focused on “acquired skills.”
“Come to think of it…”
“Come to think of it? Why?”
“At the New Year’s gathering. Lord Arcen seemed quite fascinated when he saw my mana sphere. He even touched it. It could be an act, but according to Lord Jin, he didn’t hide his excitement even after returning to his quarters.”
Had he touched the Mage’s mana then, remembered it, and replicated it? Ian flicked the paper with his fingertip. Gradually, a stage for Arcen was taking shape.
“…Lord Romandro?”
“Don’t call me that. Every time you do, I’m starting to feel a little afraid.”
“The rumors using Prince Gail. Let’s push that a bit harder. If Lord Arcen’s identity becomes known, cracks will form in my predicted situation. Especially, I cannot be certain how Haiman’s faction will respond. So if possible, it would be better to expose him before that happens.”
“It won’t be easy, but I’ll try.”
“Good.”
The two returned their focus to the documents. As the hour grew late, Romandro clenched his teeth and fought off sleep. One of the Princes is a demon. And one sent to devour Bariel at that! He absolutely could not sleep. Truth be told, it still didn’t feel real, but since Ian said so, he was trying to accept it. After all, his judgment had never been wrong before.
Knock knock.
“It’s Viviana. I brought fresh tea in case it got cold.”
“Please, have some tea.”
But Romandro had already stayed up through the previous night as well. Just as his head began to nod backward uncontrollably, footsteps echoed from outside. Startled, he lurched upright and straightened his posture.
Creak.
Viviana pushed the door open with a tray, her expression etched with concern. Jin stood right beside her, peering in as well. I set down my pen in surprise. It was the break of dawn—they hadn’t slept yet?
“Your Highness?”
“I kept standing outside, worried I might be disturbing you. It seems you can’t sleep. Your Highness should have some tea that’s good for restful sleep… Romandro! What’s happened to your face?”
“Viviana! *sob*, I got into a fight with the Law Department colleagues today.”
“Oh my goodness.”
Romandro seized the moment and rushed into Viviana’s embrace, seeking her comforting touch to wash away all his sorrows at once. While the two held each other, Jin glanced uncertainly at me.
“Count Ian.”
I examined the boy’s condition. His eyes were red-rimmed, and his complexion was poor. When I glanced at Xiaoxi, he lowered his gaze and shook his head. It meant he hadn’t slept at all.
“It’s far too late, Your Highness.”
“It’s just that, a little….”
“Come here.”
I moved to the sofa and patted the space beside me. The shock of learning his brother was a demon must be weighing on him. And looking exactly like me, no less—a demon.
At my call, Jin hurried over and sat beside the sofa. His usually neat fingernails were all torn and ragged. I could tell just how anxious he was.
“What troubles Your Highness’s mind?”
“I… I can’t understand it.”
“Why a demon had to be Your Highness’s twin brother?”
Viviana, who had been comforting Romandro, faltered. What on earth were they talking about? Like her, Xiaoxi also took a step back. He judged this was not something he should be hearing.
“Very well. It’s classified for now, but it will be revealed within days. Lord Arcen is a demon.”
“…Pardon? Did I just hear that correctly?”
“Viviana. You’re shocked, aren’t you? So am I. Let me explain.”
Romandro approached the window with Viviana to avoid interrupting our conversation. Each time Romandro whispered something, Viviana shuddered in astonishment. In her stead, Xiaoxi poured water into the teacup instead.
Pour.
A fragrant flower tea. Jin accepted the cup with both hands, then took a deep breath to calm his mind and spirit.
“Your Highness. Why a demon had to emerge as Your Highness’s twin is quite clear.”
“Because Carbo’s bloodline flows through me?”
Then what difference was there from cursed blood? As Jin’s eyes grew watery, I smiled and shook my head.
“Because Your Highness will be the future Emperor—not Marib, not Gail.”
Jin paused with the cup at his lips. It was a reason he had never considered.
“Just as God discerns the right place and time, so too did the demon. It would naturally be more advantageous for achieving its wicked purposes to be close to Your Highness, the future Emperor, rather than to the princes who will fade into history’s shadows.”
In other words, all the hardship you’ve endured is proof that your coming future will be brilliant.
The pain, the injustice, the desire to abandon everything—all of it was like a signpost pointing to a perfectly predetermined future. I patted Jin and whispered.
“So do not grieve too much. Your Highness’s fate walks alongside Bariel. So close that even a demon judged it good to infiltrate.”
Jin bit his lip hard, furrowing his brow as if trying to hold back tears. But how could one stop the surging emotions? As the boy’s tears spilled over, I laughed and wiped them away.
“Do not cry, Your Highness.”
“…I’m not crying.”
“…Shall I read you a book? I borrowed 【The Chronicles of Roberside】, and you must have had nothing suitable to read. I apologize. Let us go to bed.”
At my suggestion, Jin nodded briefly. Does Arcen realize he’s a demon? If he’s already awakened to it, what about Mother? What on earth will become of Mother?
I need to ask Lord Roberside about this.
Once I fall asleep after reading the fairy tale, Lord Roberside will surely come to see me. I must ask him how to save my mother. With that resolve, Jin returned to the bedroom. Beneath the soft lighting, Ian’s golden hair gleamed warmly.
“Once upon a time….”
His voice as he read from the bedside was unusually tender. Before the fairy tale had turned more than a few pages, the boy drifted into sleep without even realizing it.
* * *
Meanwhile, at that very moment.
“O Divine One. God who severs fate and weaves life together. Here stands a weak believer seeking wisdom and guidance. I beseech you, I beseech you—if my small cry reaches your ears, please soothe my anguish. I, I….”
Avidel remained in the corner, pressing her head down as she called out to the Divine repeatedly. Behind her, Macael watched with anxious eyes.
The two of them had been given use of the Magic Ministry’s reception room at Ian’s suggestion. Until the light of divine revelation descended upon the Stone Mountain, or at least until another Priest who had received an oracle arrived, they could not leave this place.
“Avidel.”
“Please, please….”
Tears streamed down Avidel’s face beneath her veil. One part of her mind rejected Ian’s reasoning, yet she could not help but acknowledge that it held considerable possibility.
Was what I heard that day truly not a divine oracle? I have lived ten years with the glory of hearing God’s will carved into my heart. But if it was the voice of a demon? What am I to do?
“Macael. I—!”
Avidel curled herself into a ball, prostrate on the ground. Her entire being felt defiled. The thought of herself, who had worshipped the demon’s voice as God’s own, filled her with such revulsion she thought she might go mad.
Macael patted her back in comfort.
“Nothing is certain yet. Calm yourself, and let us discuss the matter once everyone arrives.”
The words that it was not her fault, that she should not worry, could not bring themselves to leave his lips. Regardless of Avidel’s circumstances, responsibility did not simply vanish. She continued to murmur without even removing her dampening veil.
“Why did the Divine not reveal this to me?”
“Avidel. Please, compose yourself.”
“To tell me it was wrong, that it was the voice of a wicked one! If the Divine had any pity for me at all, He could have revealed it! But why! Why!”
Creak.
“He did reveal it.”
Behind her desperate cries came the sound of footsteps. It was Ian, returning after reading the fairy tale to Jin. The night was so quiet that her prayers echoed loudly through the corridor.
“Through my voice, this very day.”
“It has been ten years. So much time has passed.”
“Ten years is a long time by human reckoning. But to the Divine who governs eternity, it would not seem so. He selected the most fitting moment within the great flow of time, and that moment is now. Believe in this.”
Macael paused as he was wiping away Avidel’s tears. Ian had opened the door wide. A gust of cold air from outside rushed in all at once.
“…Will you not come with me to my office and pursue the truth?”
Regarding the ancient demons, regarding Roberside, regarding the temple, regarding the divine oracle—anything would do. Even a refutation that Arcen was not a demon would be welcome. Whatever it might be, knowledge would become wisdom.
“A tragedy that began at the Carbo Temple.”
Time was running short. If Arcen passed the mana verification ceremony without incident and gained absolute support, there would be no greater obstacle than that.
“It is not too late yet. The opportunity to stop Arcen remains. If this is resolved, it means responsibility has been taken; if we can argue otherwise, it means escaping that responsibility. For now, I deem it more effective than prayer.”
Click.
Ian gave a slight nod while gently waving the fairy tale book.
Avidel and Macael suddenly wondered if this was the Divine’s answer. A silent answer telling them to go, to help Ian, and to save Bariel.

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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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