Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 229

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

Chapter 229
The Demon’s Whisper
Time seemed to stop.
Everyone forgot to breathe at my shocking declaration, their eyes fixed upon me. Though this was merely a formal gathering since no binding decision could be made, it was still an official proceeding, was it not?
They must think I had lost my mind. Or perhaps they believed themselves mad for hearing such words. The ministers’ mouths hung open uselessly.
Crash!
“Count Ian!”
Quintana was the first to speak out, slamming the desk with genuine fury. The sound jolted Beols awake, and he rose as well.
Jairot, a close friend of the Three Generals, simply tilted his head back and groaned.
“Lord Ian. You have crossed a line. Anyone else might be forgiven, but not you!”
Was I not one of those who knew the Emperor was frozen?
Had I forgotten the Emperor’s final words so quickly?
Beols had a duty to mediate this heated succession dispute. He could not allow Arcen to die from such absurd slander.
“It seems you are all quite exhausted. You condemn without even hearing me out.”
Snap, snap. I clicked my fingers, signaling them to calm down. As always, I remained composed and unruffled.
Absurd. I had turned the entire assembly upside down, yet I alone remained so at ease? Quintana twisted her lips and rummaged through her inner pocket.
Click.
“…Pardon me.”
It was unavoidable. She lit a cigarette and tossed the lighter roughly onto the desk—a signal that anyone who wished could use it.
Jairot, equally unable to calm his agitation, lit his cigarette from Quintana’s flame.
“Proceed. No matter how grave a crime of treason, one deserves to be heard to the end. But mark my words—when I leave here, I will accuse you. I cannot entrust Jhin to your hands either.”
I smiled faintly and merely nodded. As if to say, do as you wish. At my expression, the smoke Quintana exhaled grew deeper and thicker.
“I request your cooperation once more. On the day of the mana verification ceremony, I will kill Arcen—if he is a demon. And if he is not a demon, then I will die.”
“…Ha!”
I was stating the price for insulting and attempting to assassinate the imperial family. A responsibility without reservation. Quintana added one more word, oblivious to the ash falling from her cigarette.
“After all, if Lord Arcen is a mage, Count Ian, you are already a dead man, are you not? This is an undeniable fact. If he enters the Magic Ministry, the minister will naturally change.”
“On that day, draw your blade against me. I will not evade it.”
I turned to address the Three Generals, Beols and Jairot. My words carried no selfish intent—only the resolve of one who had wagered everything.
By then, several present realized they should listen carefully to my words. Those who stake everything always reveal their sincerity.
“Continue.”
“I will now explain why Lord Arcen must be killed on the day of the mana verification ceremony. You will understand once you review the report.”
Rustle.
The sound of pages turning echoed simultaneously. Even Quintana, who had stubbed out her cigarette, eventually followed the text with her eyes.
“Time favors Arcen. As his body grows, the vessel containing his power expands, and his cunning will transcend human limits. Eliminating him as swiftly as possible is the safest and most rational course.”
“But—”
Someone tried to interject, but I silenced them with a gesture. I murmured quietly, asking for their patience.
“Are you attempting to silence a criminal’s defense?”
“My apologies. Heh. Yes, ask me later.”
“Most critically, Arcen’s abilities are the problem. If I am correct, he can manipulate human psychology. Those blessed by the imperial family need not worry, but the rest of you are vulnerable.”
When Arcen was cornered during the mana verification ceremony, no one could predict what schemes he might employ.
If he destroys everything while attempting to control all of the Emperor’s court, it would be equally fatal to Bariel as the death of the Princes.
“Brainwashing? Is that even credible? I’ve heard that even Mages find mental domination extremely difficult and rarely attempt it.”
“That’s precisely why we’re fortunate to be having this conversation with clear minds right now. But this won’t last long. Once Arcen comes of age, anyone who voices an opinion in the imperial palace will disappear. My mother, Philia, is a witness who has directly experienced this.”
“If this were a courtroom, it would naturally be dismissed, Count Ian.”
“Yes. Fortunate indeed that this isn’t a courtroom.”
The Prime Minister cut him off sharply, citing a lack of external objectivity, but Ian remained unmoved.
Dismissed if this were a courtroom? Didn’t that statement essentially mean it could be accepted here?
“In any case, the greatest reason is that we don’t know what Arcen will do if his identity is exposed. Before you could be brainwashed into harming Lord Jhin, I would move first to kill Arcen. I formally request your ‘cooperation.'”
“…Cooperation, you say? In what form?”
“Surely you’re not asking for soldiers?”
“What else could there be? That would be treason and rebellion! I can’t do it. I refuse outright.”
The voice burst out in premature rejection.
The situation with Prince Marib and Prince Gail hadn’t fully settled yet. If soldiers were gathered again, it would be recorded as the excessive ambition of one who coveted authority.
Ian shook his head lightly.
“Do you not know of demons? Soldiers aren’t necessary. It’s far too inefficient when a dozen ordinary soldiers can barely capture a single demon. Arcen is an evil that has persisted since the empire’s founding. The Magic Department will take action.”
“Then? What is it you want?”
Ian first turned to look at Beols and Jairot. While other departments had their roles, the Mage Knights’ part was most crucial.
“When the incident occurs, the Imperial Guards must prevent Deilaina and Haiman from interfering. This is different from when we faced Marib. Since the opponent is a demon, even the slightest disturbance could cause problems. I believe such measures are certainly warranted for the safety of the imperial palace.”
“You’re saying to evacuate them.”
“By whatever means necessary. And—”
“And?”
Tap, tap. Ian paused briefly, his gaze sweeping across the officials. His green eyes deepened in intensity. What was he gauging? Everyone held their breath, trying to discern Ian’s mysterious intention.
“On the day the confirmation ceremony is held, I will have the area divided by mana-sealing stones, centered on the stage, to the left. I’m uncertain whether it will neutralize Arcen’s abilities, but I would hope those present here observe the ceremony from that location.”
These were not difficult requests. There was no direct involvement in danger, and nothing burdensome about them.
Quintana sighed, pressing her forehead as if deflated. She felt foolish for being unnecessarily tense.
“Is that all?”
“Yes. That is all.”
“But I have a question.”
“Who is it? Please speak.”
“I’m from the Culture Department. Regarding revealing Lord Arcen’s true identity—how exactly do you plan to do it? If we knew the concrete method, it would help build more trust.”
A Culture Department reporter? At the words of someone she didn’t know, Quintana’s expression twisted in annoyance. As if they could understand an explanation. If ordinary people could understand the language of Mages, they’d be Mages themselves.
But Ian smiled as if he’d been waiting for this question and explained with great kindness—so clearly that even a passing child could understand.
“Do you know that magical circles are drawn beneath the light of divine oracles? I myself held a ceremony beneath the magical circle of Wesley, the former Minister, during the New Year’s gathering. That allows even minimal mana to activate the light of the divine oracle.”
“Ah, yes. The main purpose is to provide both mana confirmation and visual enjoyment.”
Of course, in Ian’s case it had been the opposite. He still vividly remembered Wesley’s sabotage, which had been designed to break his spirit.
“With the help of the priests, I will modify the magical circle. If a demon’s presence dwells within, the reaction will differ.”
“Oh, then the mana activates even without the magical circle?”
“It does. But the mana would need to be that much stronger.”
The reporter nodded continuously, scribbling something down.
Ian looked around as if asking if there were further questions. Most details had been written in the reports, and the night was growing late. The anxious officials clearly wanted to adjourn quickly.
“Very well. I shall take my leave then. Should you have any further questions, please send word to the Magic Ministry.”
“Now, now, let us depart promptly.”
“I shall go first. Ahem!”
The Prime Minister likewise moved to conclude the matter, striking his gavel with sharp, decisive taps. Several officials hastily vacated the conference chamber. Their movements betrayed a desperate need to distance themselves from this maelstrom and gather their scattered thoughts.
Much as it had begun, the meeting dissolved into an eerie silence. I too was collecting my reports and organizing my materials.
“But Count Ian, I have one final question.”
It was Quintana, still pressing her hand to her forehead in contemplation. I fastened the buttons of my robe as I looked down at her.
“Anything at all—I shall answer with utmost sincerity.”
“What confidence allows you to speak so freely? Whether Lord Arcen is a demon or not, this matter poses considerable danger to you, does it not?”
“If Arcen is not a demon, then it is of no consequence. I would rejoice and celebrate. I am the one who made this blunder and shall face the consequences. And if he is a demon—”
If he is a demon….
“Then he will surely attempt to kill me. Should I perish before the mana verification ceremony, I ask that you protect Jin in my stead.”
“I did not ask to hear such tasteless jesting.”
“Was it tasteless? How unfortunate.”
I turned to leave, then hesitated.
“Allow me to ask something as well.”
“What is it?”
“Do you still intend to report me?”
“….”
I was referring to how Quintana had ranted about reporting me the moment she left this place.
Quintana let out a hollow laugh, and I nodded slightly as I passed her by. Romandro followed at my heels, offering his support.
“That was exhausting.”
“Did you notice earlier? That reporter from the Culture Department?”
“Yes, yes. I saw them too. Something felt off about them.”
As Romandro and I descended the stairs, we spoke in hushed tones. If Arcen truly was a demon, he would stop at nothing to avoid exposure during the mana verification ceremony.
He might plant someone in the grand tournament I had refused to cancel. Or perhaps he would have a mage embedded in the Magic Ministry tamper with the magical formation, and so forth.
‘Now we shall see.’
We hastily boarded a carriage bound for the Magic Ministry. The night had grown deep, and dawn would soon break. After the longest night always comes the morning.
I gazed back at the imperial palace, shrouded in darkness.
* * *
Meanwhile, at that very moment.
Jin found himself restless in bed, tossing and turning. Eventually he opened his eyes, but his vision remained hazy and unclear.
A blur of gray hair….
Was it Xiaoxi?
“Xiao?”
But moonlight streamed through the window, and Jin realized it was silver hair instead. He could not distinguish whether this was dream or reality. Without thinking, he felt his toes stiffen, and he drew in a sharp breath.
“Jin.”
It was Arcen. Arcen was looking down at me. The more I tried to close my eyes, the brighter his smile seemed to shine.
“Jin. Breathe.”
“Ah, Arcen.”
“If you make a fuss, I’ll just leave, won’t I?”
“You… what exactly are you…?”
Arcen nuzzled his face affectionately against Jin’s shoulder, just as he had done before.
In that moment, Ian’s voice echoed through my mind. That Arcen was a demon, an ancient curse sent down to harm me and Bariel.
Perhaps noticing Jin’s expression drain of color, Arcen whispered with the sweetest of words.
“Jin. Soon enough, my identity as a mage will be revealed, and I’ll have the support of the entire imperial palace. When that happens, you’ll die, of course, and Ian as well. Just like Marib, you’ll vanish without leaving a trace in this world. Ah, what a pity for my dear brother.”
“…”
“So I wanted to give you one last chance.”
“Please, just stop…”
“Will you kill Ian for me?”
A pause.
Noticing Jin’s body flinch, Arcen laughed softly. Yet no matter how much he laughed, Xiaoxi did not move.
Ah, this is a dream.
“Then I’ll return your mother to you. How about that? I’ll tell your mother to love you. I’ll give back the embrace you couldn’t receive all this time.”
A demon wearing a face identical to mine.
Jin clenched his lips and glared at him directly. The moonlight poured down even more brilliantly.
“…It’s better that you die than Count Ian.”

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