Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 233

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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 233
The Day. D-Day
The sun of that day had arrived.
Ian sat at an angle on the sofa, appearing fatigued as servants attended to him. They smoothed his hair without a single strand out of place, fastened his buttons, and soon pinned the badge of Minister of Magic—bestowed by the Imperial Palace—to his chest. As a servant presented leather gloves on a golden tray, sounds of movement echoed from outside.
“Minister Ian. Are you prepared?”
It was Viviana. She too had dressed in more formal attire than usual. Beyond it being an important imperial event, this would be someone’s final day.
The opposing side would believe it was Ian, but Ian’s inner circle believed it was Arcen.
“Viviana. You’re joining us as well? I heard you weren’t feeling well.”
“Not at all. If I can stand behind you, I must go. Besides, Lord Romandro seems to be struggling. Being nearby might ease his mind.”
They would be pushed back numerically. The forces supporting Jhin had noticeably dwindled compared to those backing Arcen.
So Viviana wanted to fill at least one more seat. Though due to the danger, she wouldn’t be able to venture into the inner chambers.
“Minister Ian, are you feeling alright? It seems the side effects from Captain Akorella’s stamina potion are gradually appearing. You look exhausted, and they say once you fall asleep, you sleep for days straight…”
“I can endure for now. How is Lord Jhin?”
“He has finished his preparations.”
“Good. Let’s go.”
With a sharp motion, Ian pulled on his gloves. Stepping outside, Jhin, Xiaoxi, and Romandro waited with the mages. Ian extended his hand to Jhin, and the boy grasped it silently.
“Did you have pleasant dreams?”
“…Yes. Count Ian, and you?”
“I too had a very pleasant dream.”
Last night, Jhin had dreamed of Arcen again, and Ian had not slept. Yet the two exchanged glances and smiled, as if hinting that fortune would favor them this day.
Tap, tap, tap!
“The magical circles?”
“They are complete. You need only conduct a final inspection, Minister. I instructed them to report when the attendees of the mana verification ceremony arrive at the main gate, and I’ve requested troop deployment from the Imperial Guard just in case. There has been no response.”
Unlike what Ian had done before, this mana verification ceremony would be held in the Ministry of Magic’s conference hall. There were no additional events like the New Year’s gathering, and it would be conducted entirely under the Ministry’s jurisdiction.
And above all, in preparation for unexpected circumstances, there was much to be done, making the Ministry of Magic far more useful than the main palace building.
A soft rustling sound.
“A bit more to the right, to the right! Perfect!”
“What about these curtains? Shall we close them?”
“Is the wine ready? Make sure we have enough glasses.”
“I need a hand here. Hold this, hold it!”
The light of the Oracle unveiled was truly beautiful. Though it took the form of a harp, the densely embedded jewels beneath its milky curves made it appear like a single work of art. It befitted the renown of Carbo, which had shared in the glory of the nation’s founding.
“Minister Ian.”
“High Priest.”
High Priest Lili, moving among the mages, recognized Ian and approached. As she exhaled a sigh, her hunched shoulders heaved noticeably.
“I have completed the preparations as you instructed, but truthfully, I am uncertain. Is this truly the right path?”
“There is no such thing as a right path. Each person has only the path they must walk. The High Priest need only observe from behind and choose accordingly.”
The High Priest had adopted an attitude of accepting doubt rather than accepting the claim that Arcen was a demon. She would assist in the verification process and decide what to do upon witnessing the results. In the distance, Avidel and Macael could be seen placing their hands upon the Oracle’s light in prayer.
“Minister Ian. Quintana from the Administrative Ministry has arrived.”
“Five carriages just passed through the main gate. Central nobles Leontis and Fileto, and Delma from the Culture Ministry.”
Though it was early, everyone felt the guests hurrying, as they had all been waiting for this day.
Ian entrusted the reception of guests to Romandro and ascended the platform. Beneath the light of the oracle, the massive magic circle drawn by the mages gleamed with radiance.
“There are no issues, Ian.”
“Good. You’ve drawn it well.”
The way I examined each formula with my fingertips was meticulous. The mages surrounded me, watching with the intensity of teachers grading homework. When a smile appeared at my lips, they too relaxed and laughed.
“Bring in the orchestra. We shall commence the festival.”
* * *
Hours later.
The hall, filled with rich melodies, was packed with people shoulder to shoulder. Among them were surely those without invitations, but the Magic Ministry made no effort to turn them away. The more people present, the more joyous the festival would be, would it not?
“So this is what the Magic Ministry looks like. I’ve actually never been here before. My goodness. It’s beautiful. Pollen flowing endlessly like this.”
“I’ve heard that somewhere in the Magic Ministry, there’s even a room where snow and rain continuously fall. It doesn’t seem to be an exaggeration.”
“By the way, Minister Ian is nowhere to be seen.”
“As for me, I thought I’d misheard. Lord Arcen being a demon—it makes no sense. But since this is such a grave statement, I can’t help but harbor doubts.”
“Even within the Magic Ministry, opinions are divided. Minister Ian hasn’t taken a clear stance since the Grand Council.”
“He did declare that one of them would die. There will be much to see today.”
The nobles and officials covered their mouths and whispered amongst themselves, observing their surroundings. Though no different from the parties they had enjoyed their entire lives, a sharp tension permeated the air.
Today, now, soon.
Bariel’s future would be decided.
“Lady Deilaina and Lord Arcen have arrived!”
“Duke Haiman has arrived!”
Creeeeak.
As the doors slowly opened, the surroundings fell silent in an instant. As if time itself had stopped. Had it not been for the orchestra’s slow melody, all would have thought so.
Deilaina, Arcen, and Duke Haiman entered the hall together. Behind them came their respective supporters, each occupying their place.
“Oh, welcome. Lord Arcen.”
“Lady Deilaina. Have you been well?”
Several nobles quickly moved to greet Arcen. Like ants following a scent trail, Romandro, who stood guard beside the door, clicked his tongue and frowned.
Zing. Zing.
Then, a small chime resonated in everyone’s ears. It was the ringing sound that echoed whenever the Magic Ministry announced something using magical artifacts. The crowd immediately looked up at the platform and spotted Ian, shimmering more brilliantly than usual.
“I am Ian Hielo, Minister of the Magic Ministry. I offer my gratitude to all of you for attending despite your busy schedules. Hoping for the birth of an Imperial Mage, perhaps the first in Bariel’s history, I shall now conduct the Mana Verification Ceremony.”
I looked down at Arcen directly and smiled. It was an ironic smile, wishing desperately that he were a mage. As I gestured gracefully toward the stage stairs, Arcen’s head turned of its own accord.
“Lord Arcen, today’s protagonist. Please come up.”
“Before that, Count Ian. Is there not something you wish to clarify?”
A provocation to repeat the declaration made at the Grand Council.
“You called me a demon and brought shame upon my father, the Emperor. Not only that, but inflicted irreparable disgrace upon my mother. You didn’t merely tarnish the honor of the royal family—you shattered it to pieces.”
Insult to the royal family.
“And you even declared that you would kill me.”
Attempted regicide against the royal family.
“Using my cursed brother Jin as a shield to seize power with such vile intent—it’s far too much. If I prove that I possess the qualities of a mage, could you take your own life?”
The crowd held their breath, their eyes darting between Ian and Arcen.
A gaze sharp with no hint of retreat. It was Ian who laughed first.
“…Hear me all. I shall make an official declaration once more. Arcen is the sibling of the last demon to die in Bariel, and thus a demon who will lead this nation toward ruin. He possesses the ability to brainwash and wields power similar to mana, making him adept at deceiving humans.”
Gasps of breath erupted from all corners. Now that I had thrown down the gauntlet so openly, there was truly no turning back.
“It was you who manipulated Lord Jhin’s oracle, and it was you who stole maternal love from Deilaina.”
“Count Ian! How dare you!”
“If I am wrong, I shall take my own life. But if Arcen is revealed to be a demon, I will kill him with these hands.”
Duke Haiman, Deilaina, and the Ministers exchanged glances and nodded. This was what they had hoped for. An opportunity to crush the formidable Minister of Magic without effort had arrived. And he had walked into it of his own accord.
Deilaina gripped Arcen’s shoulder and made her proposal.
“Very well. I hope you will honor that oath with your honor. But before that! I cannot trust the magic circle you created. How can I know what tricks you’ve employed to make Arcen appear as a demon?”
“The magic circle was drawn with the unified effort of the entire Magic Ministry.”
“Those are your followers!”
Unease flickered across the faces of the mages who did not truly follow Ian in their hearts. What if Ian failed? Wouldn’t their own necks be forfeit for having followed him?
“What do you require?”
“The magic circle is meant to allow the oracle’s light to activate even with minimal magical power, is it not?”
“That is correct. Under normal circumstances.”
“But what was drawn this time must be a modified version.”
This was information Ian had shared at the council meeting. With the help of the priests, if a demonic entity dwelled within, it would show a different reaction.
“Yes, that is so.”
“How do you prove that this modification is purely for detecting demons? Remove the magic circle. The ceremony shall proceed with the oracle’s light alone.”
“Without the amplification function, only a very faint light will emerge. Is this how you wish to begin the first Imperial Mage’s inauguration?”
“A faint light? No matter how dim, it is the first light that begins from the Imperial family. It will shine brighter than anything else. If you refuse this, I will assume you have hidden other devices within the magic circle.”
Deilaina lifted her chin. Her posture made clear she had no intention of backing down. Ian fell silent for a moment, and as he did, the murmuring of the nobles grew louder.
“Why does Count Ian not answer?”
“Indeed. Well, this is quite something.”
“Deilaina’s demand is reasonable. Yes. After all, the Carbo Temple is trustworthy. The oracle’s light itself should be pure.”
Snap!
Ian flicked his hand to signal for silence, then pointed to the stairs once more. It was a resolute gesture—he would tolerate no refusal.
“…Very well. As you wish.”
Creak! Creak!
The mages and priests pushed the oracle’s light backward. When they had moved several steps away from the magic circle, Arcen parted through the nobles and walked slowly forward. The crowd split to avoid the young Prince, creating a path.
“Make way. This stage is mine.”
Arcen placed his hand upon the oracle’s light and whispered to Ian.
Though he made contact with his bare hand, there was no unusual reaction. The nobles exchanged glances, assuming Arcen was not a demon after all.
“As you wish.”
As Ian descended, Arcen stood alone on the stage. The boy confidently raised his fingertips into the air.
And then—
Zing. Zing.
As mages typically do, he brightened his eyes and unleashed his magical power.
A long, beautiful stream of light.
The orchestra that had maintained silence also began to play, and in time with the powerful melody, streams of light spread in all directions. The crowd gasped and covered their mouths in wonder.
“Did you not say there was no amplification device?”
“It’s magnificent! Absolutely magnificent!”
“Wow. How magnificent. If that demonstrates the power of magic, isn’t it comparable to Count Ian? It must be Bariel’s blessing!”
Without a magic circle, the performance was as dazzling and beautiful as Ian’s had been. With pollen scattering from the ceiling, it was as if heaven itself had been transplanted into this hall.
Arcen gazed at Ian with exhilaration, making no effort to hide his joy—as if to say, behold this performance, for it would be the last one you would ever hear.
“Huh…?”
“What is it?”
“Look at that.”
“At what?”
“Doesn’t something seem strange?”
In that moment, someone murmured in confusion. It was the instant Ian, who had been watching Arcen from below, began to smile.
“…Lord Arcen, you cast no shadow.”

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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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