Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 230

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

Chapter 230
The Eve. D-1
“Your Highness.”
“…!”
“Lord Jhin. Are you alright?”
My eyes snapped open. It felt like being dragged up from the depths of a dark ocean. The pain that had gripped my chest loosened, and tears that had pooled at my eyes rolled down my cheeks.
Xiaoxi knelt beside my pillow, meeting my gaze at eye level. She must have been calling my name repeatedly. Unable to touch me carelessly, she was prepared to fetch Ian if I didn’t wake this time.
“Hah, hah….”
“Are you feeling unwell? Shall I call someone?”
“…No.”
I was drenched in sweat. As I slowly pushed myself upright, Xiaoxi adjusted the pillows and poured lukewarm water. The sunlight streaming through the window was bright. It must have been well past dawn.
“Was there nothing last night?”
Such a vague question. Xiaoxi studied my complexion carefully. Fear and anxiety were plainly evident.
Well, what could one expect? My brother was a demon, and he’d spent ten years deliberately draining me. Who could maintain composure under such circumstances?
Regardless, Xiaoxi’s answer was already determined.
“There was nothing, Your Highness.”
“…Truly?”
“Yes. I remained by your side throughout the night.”
“I see. Then it was so.”
If that were the case, then the dream was certainly real. I touched my neck awkwardly, shaking off the discomfort. I had stood against Arcen—that fact alone mattered.
It was a relief. Though overwhelmed, I had confronted him. My eroded sense of self was slowly awakening.
I buried my face in the pillow and breathed out in relief.
“Have them bring washing water.”
“Of course. The bedding should be changed as well.”
Merely a simple nightmare. My body had tensed in anticipation of the coming event, and such visions had naturally emerged. I dismissed it as such and cast aside my worries.
Knock, knock.
Soon servants arrived with washing water and fresh clothes, assisting with my morning preparations. I sat in the chair and accepted their ministrations quietly, yet something felt amiss.
“Is something happening outside?”
The servants’ demeanor suggested it, and the commotion was more pronounced than usual. The Magic Ministry was naturally chaotic, but this was distinctly different.
The servants remained silent, exchanging glances as if unable to answer.
“I asked you a question.”
“Forgive us. There is… a rumor spreading through the palace.”
“A rumor? What kind?”
“That Lord Arcen is a… a demon.”
My eyes widened. This was supposed to be a closely guarded secret known only to a few. If even a lowly servant knew, it meant everyone in the palace already knew. Just hours ago when I fell asleep, none of this was happening. The world had turned upside down in mere hours.
Xiaoxi slipped shoes onto my feet as she explained.
“Your master spoke about it at the council meeting last night. It seems he didn’t intend to suppress the information, so as soon as dawn broke, people from other departments came flooding in, causing quite a commotion.”
Some had come forward to verify the truth themselves, while others strongly protested, demanding the slander cease immediately.
The confusion wasn’t limited to outsiders. The mages themselves were engaged in heated debate over whether Ian’s statement was genuine.
Whoosh!
“Oh my, Your Highness!”
Jin refused the servant’s assistance and rushed toward Ian’s office. However, the countless crowds blocking the entrance forced me to stop before getting any closer.
Knock! Knock knock!
“Count Ian. Are you inside?”
“You haven’t been seen in days, and when did you attend the Grand Council again?”
“It was held at night. You even prepared the carriage quietly.”
“Someone came from the Administrative Ministry. Let’s talk about this!”
“Is it true about your statement at the Grand Council? Count Ian!”
Murmurs filled the corridor as conversations with various intentions overlapped. Xiaoxi, who had followed behind, draped a coat over Jin’s shoulders.
“They seem to be scheming because they’re afraid of losing their ministerial positions.”
“Of course. Two came from the same boat at the same time, one is a demon and one is human? Is that even worth saying? The mana verification ceremony is coming up soon, so they’re clearly trying to create unnecessary controversy to avoid it.”
“Still, this statement carries unusual weight. If it were false, it would be immediate execution, but the fact that he revealed it so directly suggests there’s something credible about it.”
“Why, didn’t the officials say that before? That Lord Arcen didn’t display his mana in front of people. They used exhaustion as an excuse, but there must be something suspicious about it, right?”
“What’s the reaction from Lord Arcen’s side?”
At the mention of Arcen’s name, Jin hid deeper into the corner. What about Arcen? Arcen was…
Tap tap.
“Huh?”
That’s when it happened. A presence tapping on Jin’s shoulder—it was Ian. He covered his mouth with a finger, smiling, then gestured with his head to leave. Romandro, looking dazed, was with him.
Tap tap tap!
“Did you cough? I heard your sleeping arrangements weren’t good. You’re not ill, are you?”
“No, that’s not it. Don’t worry.”
As we escaped through the quiet corridor, Jin looked up at Ian. His expression was as serene as always, like a sea that embraced everything.
Jin thought that the sea that had swallowed me this morning and Ian’s sea were different yet similar. One thing was certain: Ian’s sea didn’t frighten me even if I were swallowed by it.
“I heard Count Ian spoke at the Grand Council.”
“That Arcen is a demon? Yes, that’s correct.”
“Why? There’s only one day left.”
“Because there’s only one day left, it’s the most opportune moment. Since conclusions differ depending on what facts we recognize about the same phenomenon, there’s a significant difference between participating in the verification ceremony while remembering and confirming that Arcen is a demon versus not doing so.”
“…I don’t quite understand.”
As Jin murmured in confusion, Ian pondered. A simple analogy would be best in this situation.
“Well, Your Highness. For example, let’s say Berik appeared with serious injuries. Those who don’t know Berik can only ‘guess’ why he’s hurt, not be ‘certain’. Where did he fall? If he’s a slave, was he beaten by his master? Or perhaps—”
But those who know Berik well can reach ‘certainty’ without that process. Romandro, listening from behind, answered in his stead.
“That bastard must’ve gotten into another brawl somewhere!”
“I want all people to think that way when they see the injured Berik. That’s why I informed them that Berik is aggressive and loves bloodshed.”
The mana verification ceremony won’t proceed according to standard protocol like the New Year’s gathering. There will be numerous reactions revealing that Arcen is a demon, and if we observe them with a blank slate, we might overlook the effects of magic.
But if we observe them with the information that ‘Arcen is a demon’?
“Even the smallest oddity will be felt keenly. So it’s better to inform them before the verification ceremony.”
“…I’m still worried.”
“You’re concerned that Arcen and Haiman might cause trouble?”
At that moment, a rainbow appeared in the distance. The gardener had sprayed water generously. He recognized Ian and Jin, removed his hat, and bowed.
“Arcen didn’t refuse the mana verification ceremony and showed confidence. That means he has the composure to activate the light of the oracle regardless of what happens. And through that, he’s gained the support of Haiman and his close associates. Whether Arcen himself knows it or not, those around him are probably raising toasts.”
The stakes were enormous. I had declared that either Arcen was a demon, or I would die.
It was a single, decisive gamble. From their position of controlling the situation, there was no reason to refuse. They could crush me officially and with justifiable cause.
“Therefore, there is no possibility they would cause trouble by canceling the mana verification ceremony with only a day remaining.”
“Count Ian.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Actually, I had another dream about Lord Roberside.”
He was referring to two days ago, when the truth about my brother was first revealed—the night I had read him a fairy tale.
Jin wondered if Arcen was aware of being a demon. Did he truly understand the calling of the curse and commit his misdeeds with full knowledge?
“Lord Roberside did not answer.”
“Because it is a question that cannot be answered.”
“Why is that?”
“The wicked do not know they are wicked. The virtuous do not believe themselves to be virtuous either. If someone adorns themselves with flattery about being good, remember this: they are more arrogant and selfish than anyone else.”
Their own standard is justice itself. Therefore, whether the other person is aware or not is something you need not know, and cannot know. I squeezed Jin’s hand firmly as I cautioned him.
“And even if Arcen does not realize he is a demon and denies his own existence, do not waver. That itself is pure evil. What dies that day is not Your Highness’s brother, but the curse that torments Bariel.”
Jin looked directly into my eyes and nodded. A vow that he would not waver. I smiled with satisfaction and released the boy’s hand.
“In any case, thanks to stirring up this matter, the Magic Ministry is in quite an uproar. Please bear with it until tomorrow, Your Highness.”
“Very well. I shall personally see to it.”
“Thank you.”
As the two of us exchanged playful words, mages came rushing from afar. The gardener must have told them I was here.
Patter, patter, patter!
“Count Ian! Oh, really! Count Ian!”
“Why are you here? Everything’s in chaos inside.”
“Because there’s chaos, I’m avoiding it.”
“How can you say that! Please don’t do this. You’re the Minister of the Magic Ministry!”
As the mages rushed at me tearfully, I laughed and cut them off sharply. They snapped to attention and reported.
“They’ve arrived! They’ve arrived!”
“They’re just now passing through the main gate of the imperial palace!”
“The Carbo priests and the Light of Prophecy!”
* * *
“Have you heard?”
“Yes. Count Ian made a grave mistake. Calling Lord Arcen a demon? Is that even plausible? What about Lord Jin, who was born with him? Hehe. Truly.”
“I thought my ears were deceiving me.”
“He’s gone too far. It’s a scheme to disparage Lord Arcen’s mana. We must not allow it under any circumstances.”
Clatter! Clang!
The ministers gathered in Deilaina’s reception room cursed me and laughed among themselves, saying I was doing all sorts of ridiculous things before the mana verification ceremony.
But as soon as Deilaina set down her teacup with force, they fell silent and merely coughed awkwardly. Arcen, sitting beside her, gazed blankly out the window.
“Is this amusing? Ian’s statement implies that I gave birth to a demon. It is an insult to the Carbo family, a contempt for myself and His Imperial Majesty. I would not be satisfied even if I twisted off his neck this instant, yet you laugh? All of you?”
“Deilaina. That is not the case….”
“Ahem. My apologies.”
Deilaina’s eyes narrowed sharply. As if she would tear apart Ian instead if anyone dared displease her further. The ministers kept biting their tongues uselessly and held their peace.
“Deilaina, please calm yourself. Once the mana verification ceremony is complete, you may do as you wish—twist his neck, sever his limbs, whatever your heart desires. Then you’ll reclaim parental rights over Lord Jhin as well, and only blessings will grace Bariel from this moment forward.”
At someone’s consolation, Deilaina gripped her son’s hand tightly beside her. Her son, so lovely and precious, was a demon? The more I turned it over in my mind, the more my fury burned like wildfire within.
“Arcen.”
“Yes, Mother.”
“I wish the Emperor were still with us in times like these.”
My mother embraced me tightly, but I merely stared at the ceiling without feeling. How foolish. Did she think an opportunity would have come if the Emperor were still alive? Just as I was about to pry my mother’s arms away—
Knock, knock!
“What is it?”
“Word has just arrived. The Oracle’s Light has entered the palace.”
“Oh, at last!”
“Excellent news! Yes! Hahahaha!”
The Ministers clapped their hands and rose from their seats to greet the Oracle’s Light. All wore bright expressions, yet Arcen alone did not smile.
Ian had staked his life on this. By my intuition, Ian was never a man to make a losing move.
‘…What could it be.’
As Arcen fell into deep thought, Deilaina grasped the boy’s shoulder and called out worriedly, as if asking what troubled him so.
“Arcen?”
Then Arcen quickly changed his expression and smiled brightly.
“Shall we go see as well, Mother.”
I had never used my abilities on a Mage before. But now that my very existence was in question, there was nothing to lose in trying, was there? Whether it would work on Ian, a Minister, I couldn’t say. But I couldn’t spend the day in suspicion like this.

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