Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 241

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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 241
Calling a Name
“…What reason would you have to object?”
Jin remembered how Haiman had regarded him earlier. Now it was the Duke’s turn to provide a proper justification.
So I faced the Duke with even greater composure, as if inviting him to convince me. The smile that suggested he should admit his own foolishness if he found fault was merely a bonus. At the subtle nudge of my chin, Ian’s image overlapped vividly in my mind.
“That depends on Your Highness to provide the reason.”
“You raise the topic, and I must provide the reason?”
The greater the power of the Magic Ministry became, the more it benefited me initially. With no blood relatives to rely on besides my father and mother, Ian had firmly taken on the role of my protector. As long as he remained the Minister of Magic, the Ministry’s strength would directly determine my standing.
Should it ever reach a point of threatening the imperial throne, that would be different, but the Ian I knew was too discerning to allow such problems to arise in the first place.
“I do not truly mean for you to object. I merely wonder—do you not wish to know what fish swim in the water? Consider it a form of advice, like a stick to stir the waters with. Your Highness is still young and may not understand, but there is nothing as murky as the human heart.”
Jin erased my smile and glared at Haiman. It felt strangely familiar, creeping closer. Was it not remarkably similar to the venomous tongue that Arcen had used to torment my soul for ten years?
“I agree. More than murky—it is rotten.”
I am no longer deceived. My ears have grown callused from hearing it, and my heart has been scarred by it. That is nothing but empty talk, feigning concern for me while attempting to control my potential and suppress my will.
‘Your Highness is the center of the world, and Your Highness’s belief is truth itself.’
I turned my body following Ian’s voice echoing in my ears. Then, with a resolute expression, I sat in my chair and waited for the meeting to resume.
At my blatant refusal to entertain any further remarks, Haiman wore a subtle expression and was once again surrounded by his faction.
“…Xiaoxi.”
Xiaoxi, who had been waiting behind with his presence concealed, stepped closer. I quietly commanded, concealing my mouth with the report.
“Go to the Magic Ministry and retrieve the complaint that Romandro submitted and filed. Can you do that?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Good. Make haste. If any problems arise, seek assistance from Viviana.”
I watched Xiaoxi leave and smoothed the edge of the thick report. Had Ian been here at this moment, what would he have obtained? The more I pondered, the clearer one answer became.
Creak!
An hour later. The Prime Minister re-entered the conference hall looking no different than before. At my glance asking what had happened, he merely nodded as if asking me to wait a moment.
“My apologies. Let us continue the meeting. I ask that everyone take their seats. The Magic Ministry has sent word that they will prioritize the use of silence magic….”
The Prime Minister trailed off, awkwardly stroking his beard. His pale eyes briefly swept over Duke Haiman before moving on.
‘Drawing in Ruswena, no less. I wonder—does this Bariel noble possess self-awareness or not? No matter how much of a marriage alliance was formed with them….’
I could not gauge how much information Haiman had leaked to Ruswena. The variable, particularly, was Deilaina. Had she perhaps informed Haiman of the Emperor’s paralysis?
No. No matter what, Deilaina would not have shared that. The Emperor’s incapacity could act as a threatening move against both myself and Arcen. The Prime Minister naturally continued, pressing his temples firmly.
“There is no mage specializing in silence magic, and moreover, the mana consumption is quite substantial, so at most only five can depart today.”
It meant that only five could leave the palace tonight.
The nobles unconsciously began to exchange glances before hesitating. Duke Haiman and his faction had shown signs of discouraging anyone from stepping forward. Haiman spoke with dignity, raising one hand.
“Prime Minister. As you know, House Haiman operates a bank and several other enterprises. If I cannot depart today, I assure you the damage will not be confined to my house alone.”
He was the one who directed the flow of the Empire’s wealth. There was logic to it, but it was an excuse no one would accept.
The Prime Minister held his seal and deliberated for a moment. It seemed best to detain him in the palace based on the Ruswena matter, suspicions of internal rebellion, and collusion with Arcen.
But….
‘Can I do this?’
Haiman was the central axis of the nobility, and if I were to shake him, I could not predict how others might respond. While there were restrictions on the number of private soldiers the nobles could maintain, what if they all united? Moreover, he was Haiman, who possessed black armor.
Could the palace handle it? The Emperor is absent, and neither Prince Marib nor Prince Gail is here. The internal rebellion of the two princes had scattered the military forces themselves. The Magic Ministry and the Imperial Guard were understaffed due to the Arcen incident.
The Prime Minister now felt firsthand that the palace was in its worst situation. The justification was clear and unambiguous, yet here he was, unable to help but deliberate.
“I oppose this.”
It was when the Prime Minister was deep in deliberation. As if to mock his anguish, Jin’s resolute voice cut through the silence.
“Duke Haiman. You stand accused of conspiring with Prince Gail and participating in rebellion. Furthermore, you attempted to place Arcen, who was a demon, in the position of successor. Regardless of intent, your actions continue to threaten Bariel. It would be wise for you to remain in the imperial palace and submit to further investigation.”
“Your Highness. I have already provided an explanation regarding that matter.”
“Do you believe an explanation can substitute for a verdict? A few days ago, the Magic Ministry filed charges against Duke Haiman. However, the matter was dismissed because most were absent from the council meeting needed to decide on trial referral.”
A majority was required, but since the number of attendees itself fell short of a majority, it was inevitable.
Jin smiled faintly and glanced around at the officials. They cast their eyes downward, hoping the sparks wouldn’t fly their way.
“If I had to guess, I’d say it was Arcen’s doing. Otherwise, how could so many people have absented themselves all at once? Wouldn’t you agree?”
“That is, Your Highness…”
“How convenient that we’ve all gathered under the pretense of a council meeting. There’s no scribe, but we have everyone necessary for a vote, so what problem could there be? Let us discuss the trial referral for Haiman together.”
At that moment, Xiaoxi handed over the original charges from behind. Jin tossed them into the center of the round table, indicating that anyone who wished could verify them. The seal marking it as an official charge was stamped prominently on the cover.
“Matters concerning Arcen should remain confidential, but this is separate. When Count Ian awakens, I shall personally deliver the results to him.”
If anyone dares object here, I will remember their name. As the empire’s sole heir and the center of current affairs, I—along with Ian—will not let it slide. The boy smiled brightly as he issued this warning.
“The officials surely remember all of this.”
“Your Highness, that is…”
“Ah, is your memory hazy from brainwashing? Shall I read it aloud for you?”
“No, that is not the case.”
Those with voting rights glanced nervously at Haiman. If he came at them so openly, they had no grounds to retaliate.
Jin gestured to the Prime Minister to proceed. The Prime Minister exhaled a breath of relief inwardly and grasped the seal. No matter that he acted as the Emperor’s proxy, he was merely the Prime Minister. If Prince Jin stepped forward like this, matters became far simpler.
“Well then, though it is sudden, this matter concerns Duke Haiman’s expulsion from the palace, so let us address this first. The charge number is 52398.”
Click.
Quintana verified that the charges were genuine originals and confirmed there were no issues. The whispers among the nobles grew louder.
“Once a trial date is set, what happens after?”
“Prince Gail is not present.”
“One missing witness is hardly a problem. I heard from a friend in the Judiciary that there are many other charges beyond treason. Duke Haiman, for all his status, cannot easily escape this.”
“If House Haiman disappears, what becomes of us?”
“Overall we’ll be demoted, but some among us will take Haiman’s position. Does Count Ian have a particular house he’s pushing for? I haven’t heard any rumors.”
“I heard House Sereo submitted a marriage proposal.”
“My. How extraordinary.”
Haiman clenched his jaw firmly and gripped the railing tightly. As a nobleman without office, he held no voting rights. His gaze turned savage as he glared at the officials who had consumed his money. It was a warning: betray me here, and I’ll show you real hell.
“…The charges and supporting arguments along with evidence have already passed the approval threshold under Supervisor Erikse’s review. Let us proceed with a show of hands. Those in favor of trial referral for charge number 52398, please indicate your support.”
Tap, tap!
Jin raised his hand first. Then Quintana followed. The soft rustle of fabric whispered through the air as hands rose. Several others joined in. But it still fell far short of a majority. Jin slowly called out the names of those who had raised their hands with emphasis.
“Those who have raised their hands are Quintana from the Executive Branch, Mattingly, Cyril Polson, and Harvey Boardkin from the Judiciary, and Ashburster and Wyvern from the Diplomatic Corps. Is that correct?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“I was worried I might not have memorized your names, having only recently joined these meetings. But it seems my concern was unfounded.”
Calling out names possessed a remarkable power. It made clear that he remembered those who raised their hands and was aware of those who did not. Hands reluctantly rose here and there.
“Ah. Wellinger Mabe.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Right. You were also from the Diplomatic Corps.”
Whoosh.
Pushing a massive stone was difficult, but once it began to roll, momentum carried it forward—such was the natural order. As we approached a majority, the possibility of a resolution drew near, and those in opposition drummed their fingertips in agitation. If I held out until the very end and a trial was called, wouldn’t I be bound to Haiman and dragged straight to hell?
‘Even now?’
‘Ah, if even he agrees….’
‘Three votes, just three….’
“I, I also agree.”
“Very well. Bayes. This is our first confrontation like this. Is it a majority?”
As the Prime Minister nodded in estimation, the remaining officials simultaneously cast their votes in agreement, severing the last thread of opposition. Unanimous consent from all those holding voting rights. The Prime Minister could only click his tongue in dismay at the sight.
“By majority consent, we recognize receipt number 52398 as a valid accusation. The Judiciary shall prepare for trial.”
Bang! Tap-tap!
As the Prime Minister brought down his gavel, the nobles beyond the railing descended into chaos. Those unrelated to Haiman reacted thus, while those connected to him responded even more vehemently.
“Pardon me, but wasn’t this an emergency session regarding the Arcen crisis? How can this be allowed?”
“Exactly! This is void!”
“Damn it, no, hey! You! Bayes! You shouldn’t be doing this!”
“Restrain yourselves, restrain! Why are you raising your voices?”
“This is absurd. This is completely a sneak attack!”
Everyone erupted in fury, but none could cross the railing. The palace guards had leveled their spears. Had this been a private estate where only private soldiers answered to their masters, they would have overturned everything by now.
The Prime Minister continued striking his gavel and shouting.
“How dare you! The Prince is present—how can you speak so disrespectfully? Do you wish to be executed on the spot?”
Crash! Bang!
Yet these were men whose necks might soon be severed. Such warnings fell on deaf ears. As the atmosphere grew increasingly heated, Quintana gestured to Xiaoxi to protect Jin.
“Your Highness. I shall contact you again after matters are settled. Please retire to the Magic Ministry for now.”
There were countless details to arrange regarding which officials would depart, but given the current situation, nothing could proceed. Jin acknowledged and boarded the carriage, soon returning to the Magic Ministry.
Tap-tap-tap!
“Your Highness?”
“Your Highness, you’ll hurt yourself if you run like that.”
Jin dashed from the carriage the moment it stopped. The boy’s expression was flushed with excitement. Without sparing a glance at anyone around him, he ran toward a single destination—Ian’s office.
Creak!
Slam!
Ian lay in the same upright position as before, and Jin approached, burying his face beside the bed.
I hope Ian wakes soon. I want to tell him what happened in the conference hall. He’ll praise me, say I did well, and smile.
The boy murmured softly to soothe his disappointment.
“Count Ian. You see, I think I did rather well in the conference hall today.”
“….”
“It might not be true, but at least that’s what I think. So please, wake up soon and tell me. Did I do well, or not?”
“…What did you do?”
“Huh?!”
Ian spoke softly. His eyes remained closed, but from the slight twist of his lips, it was clear he had indeed spoken.
“Count Ian! How did you wake?”
“…Berik, that one keeps being so loud….”
“Ah, now that I think about it, Berik isn’t here!”
“….”
Though I had regained consciousness, the exhaustion still weighed heavily upon me. I could barely manage a mumble in response. Jin observed me quietly for a moment before asking softly.
“…But Count Ian.”
“….”
Why did Haiman’s words suddenly come to mind? I wanted to ask—what would happen if I opposed the construction of the Magic Ministry’s annex?
But Jin simply shook his head with a slight smile.
“Never mind. Sleep well.”
Later, when I could face any answer without concern—that would be the time to ask. I buried the thought for now.

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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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