Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 246

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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 246
Episode: A Secret for Ruswena
Eldetr, the representative of Ruswena’s delegation, glanced at his subordinates who had become a pulpy mess, then pressed himself near the window to peer outside.
He caught sight of several servants hurrying away in urgent clusters. And that was just the beginning—doctors carrying medical bags crossed the threshold so frequently the stone had worn smooth.
No matter how he considered it, this didn’t resemble the ordinary bustle of the imperial palace, yet everyone maintained such strict silence that he could only speculate.
“Ugh, I feel like I’m dying. This is unbearable.”
“I chewed the powder. I chewed it. Damn it, I’m losing my mind.”
“All of you, be quiet.”
By consuming the medicine that induced stomach pain, they had managed to relocate to a separate residence near the infirmary instead of being sent out of the palace.
Eldetr surveyed the firmly closed door while disciplining his subordinates. Cold sweat, pallid complexions, trembling bodies—even at a glance, their condition appeared grave.
“You won’t die. There’s only pain.”
“That pain alone is killing us. When we return to Ruswena, you’ll need to grant us generous paid leave. What kind of self-inflicted suffering is this? Damn it, earning a living has never been this difficult.”
“We’re trapped here—do you know anything more?”
“We should have selected just one person to take the poison.”
Instead of answering, Eldetr sipped his tea and shook his head. Could they have remained in the palace if it had been just one man’s problem? It would certainly have been dismissed as a personal matter. Since they hadn’t lodged any formal protest, the imperial palace had accommodated their request without making a fuss.
‘Still, something is truly strange.’
Eldetr examined the imperial palace gardens visible in the distance beyond the window. Long benches could be seen between extended branches and fresh leaves.
Since arriving here, he had never once witnessed people gathering to rest. Not merely sitting for leisure, but no one at all seemed to enter the gardens for that purpose.
“The number of doctors is insufficient, the servants and guards appear unusually busy, and the Prime Minister and officials even more so.”
They were a diplomatic delegation. Despite the crisis, no physician had been assigned to remain on call twenty-four hours. Instead, he had only witnessed people rushing back and forth as described.
“Duke Haiman is said to be under confinement—surely this turmoil stems from that? It’s Haiman. Haiman.”
“If that’s the case, it could also be classified as a rebellion.”
“Two rebellions in succession within the imperial palace. The dynasty is doomed. Hahaha! Ow, my stomach.”
“The dispatch mentioned that Arcen is a mana user. Judging solely by that, the Duke shouldn’t be under confinement at all. Something seems amiss. Prince Jin’s faction controls the Magic Ministry, after all….”
Knock, knock.
“Representative Eldetr. Prince Jin and Minister Ian Hielo have arrived. Please move to the adjacent reception room.”
It was perfectly timed, as if they had overheard the conversation and burst in. Eldetr made a cautionary gesture with his fingers before opening the door and stepping out. He couldn’t conduct this meeting in the room where his subordinates lay suffering.
Creak.
“Ah, welcome. Representative Eldetr.”
“Greetings, Prince Jin. It is an honor to meet you.”
“Minister Ian Hielo.”
“A pleasure.”
Eldetr faltered upon seeing the scar that split the boy’s face. The young prince could not have participated in combat, so it must surely be a mark of the rebellion. He could infer that the turmoil had been far more severe than expected.
“So, you drank the wrong tea from the palace?”
Jin’s eyebrows rose sharply. His gaze brimmed with genuine, selfless concern, yet beside him, Ian swept over Eldetr with a cold, unchanging expression.
Caught between these two gazes of extreme temperature, Eldetr cleared his throat briefly and regained his composure.
“Not at all. The tea was excellent, but perhaps my body simply couldn’t accept it due to the demanding schedule. Everyone is grateful for your kindness.”
“Ah, I see. Yes, of course.”
“Representative Eldetr.”
Tap.
Ian lifted his teacup and called out the man’s name one last time.
How old was he? He seemed to be before his coming-of-age ceremony, yet in the pitch of his voice and the grace of his gestures as he held the teacup, I sensed a refined elegance that spoke of considerable cultivation.
‘I’ve only heard that he’s a nobleman from the borderlands.’
“Yes, Minister Hielo.”
“I heard from the Prime Minister. You have experience as a professor at the National Academy despite your youth, and currently serve as an Advisor to the King of Eriphony. Truly remarkable.”
“Not at all. You are too kind.”
Was he joking? That was hardly something a man wearing the badge of Minister of Magic at his age should say.
I continued to assess him, letting my gaze drift slowly up and down.
“Tell me, has your teaching experience been helpful in your advisory work?”
“Though my knowledge is limited, I have been contributing to city planning, financial restructuring, royal palace architecture, and construction projects.”
“Hmm. Yes, the architecture of the Ruswena royal palace is renowned for its beauty. By the way, you came not bearing Duke Haiman’s message, but out of concern for the Emperor’s grief over the rebellion, or so I’m told.”
“That is correct.”
A lie both speaker and listener knew well. It was an abrupt change of subject, yet Eldetr offered a response without hesitation.
Then.
‘Wait.’
Eldetr suddenly sensed something odd in Ian’s words.
‘Haiman’? Why was the title of ‘Duke’ that should follow that name omitted? No matter how high his position as Minister of Magic, the difference in rank was unmistakable, was it not?
As Eldetr began to pursue this thought, Ian continued.
“Fortunately, Haiman is currently under detention for contempt and incitement of disorder. His title has also been temporarily stripped, so he no longer holds noble status. He will likely remain confined to the palace until the trial regarding the rebellion concludes.”
I was aware of the detention.
But stripped of his title? Duke Haiman?
The combination of words seemed so unrealistic that comprehension did not come easily. What had the other nobles been doing while this occurred?
Eldetr could naturally arrive at the conclusion.
‘The central nobles as well—’
They must have all been crushed.
Stripping a title was something any noble would react to sensitively, regardless of whether they were part of Haiman’s faction. Yet if someone could bring down Haiman, would they have spared the other nobles? It meant all the pillars had been broken.
‘How on earth? Is it truly the power of the Magic Ministry?’
With the failure of the aging Emperor and the two grown princes, the palace was no different from a beast with its teeth knocked out. If the nobles united, it would not be impossible for the Emperor’s very name to change.
I realized the imperial situation was unfolding in unexpected ways. If one failed to recognize the existence of ‘monsters’ as an absolute evil, it would remain a mystery forever.
“Therefore, the delegation should refrain from mentioning Haiman’s name. I hear the King of Ruswena has a letter to send to his wife. You understand it cannot be delivered directly. Will you take it, or will you return it?”
“…I will return it.”
Eldetr declined Ian’s proposal, breaking into a cold sweat. One cannot board a ship with a hole in it. If he continued to be entangled with Haiman here, they would provide a diplomatic pretext.
‘My suspicions were correct.’
The reason for the palace’s turmoil. It was because after suppressing the central nobles, there was a lull. They would be too preoccupied with recovery.
The intention behind mentioning Haiman was to minimize friction between them. In plain terms, it was saying: things are as they are, so let’s proceed smoothly. Let’s not exhaust ourselves mutually.
“Once Haiman’s trial concludes, Prince Jin’s succession ceremony will proceed for the stability of the imperial house. We will send an envoy to Ruswena as well, so I hope you will return and grace the occasion with your presence.”
“Of course, it would be an honor. I offer my congratulations in advance to Prince Jin.”
“…Thank you.”
As Eldetr bowed respectfully, Jin only laughed awkwardly.
I wanted to ask where Prince 4 Arcen had gone, but I knew this would be untimely. Above all, if Jin was chosen as successor, did this not mean the victor of the imperial palace was now certain?
To be precise, it’s not so much Prince Jin as the man sitting beside him, Ian, who is quite extraordinary.
“Is there perhaps a gift you desire, Your Highness? I shall convey your wishes to the King and select something with utmost care.”
As the future Emperor, Ruswena had reason to pay special attention. Prince Jin answered with a broad smile, as if he had been waiting for this question.
“There’s no need for gifts. I would simply wish for the King to attend in person and enjoy the ceremony.”
This was not even an imperial coronation, merely a successor appointment ceremony. Yet he was asking a foreign king to attend personally.
Eldetr flinched in surprise for a moment. This must be an attempt to demonstrate strong external support amid the turmoil caused by the purge of central nobility. Or perhaps it was laying groundwork to exert influence over Ruswena in the future.
Eldetr composed his expression and bowed once more.
“I shall convey Your Highness’s words precisely.”
“Good. Thank you for your trouble. Should you need anything, do not hesitate to inform the servants.”
“Yes, Your Highness. Thank you.”
Yet despite his words, Eldetr resolved to return to Ruswena immediately. Duke Haiman’s downfall was far more serious than he had anticipated. He realized this was no longer a matter to be resolved at the diplomatic envoy level.
“Oh, and one more thing.”
Ian gestured as if something had just occurred to him.
“Among the charges in Duke Haiman’s trial, there are also suspicions regarding dragon scales. It seems there may be illegal supply points among his connections. Does Ruswena have any knowledge of this?”
“Dragon scales? Ruswena operates dragons only through one certified supply point. If this involves illegal dealings, we have no knowledge of it.”
“I see. Very well. Please, stand up. It was good to meet you.”
“The pleasure was mine!”
“It was an honor, Your Highness and Minister Hielo.”
Ian and Prince Jin exchanged brief handshakes with Eldetr, then left the reception room.
Eldetr returned to the room where his subordinates lay and hastily rummaged through his inner pocket. It was medicine to ease stomach pain.
‘If Prince 5 Jin and the Minister of Magic are the true powers, pressure will inevitably come down on Ruswena’s side in connection with Haiman. I must leave at once.’
Creak.
Meanwhile, Prince Jin, who had stepped into the corridor, glanced back. Once he saw the door close completely, he grasped Ian’s hand tightly.
“He didn’t bring up Arcen.”
“Indeed. The King of Ruswena chose his envoy representative well.”
In a situation where the flow remains unclear, the best strategy is simply to keep one’s ears open and mouth shut. Ruswena was already in a slightly difficult position due to Lady Haiman’s connections. If it were discovered that he came rushing here at the Duke’s summons, it would be directly linked to internal strife and put them at a severe disadvantage.
“However, when he returns home and shares the situation, Arcen will surely be discussed.”
Arcen’s mana verification ceremony is a closely guarded secret within the imperial palace. Yet he knows of it? This would naturally raise suspicions of collusion with someone at the scene, which would almost certainly lead them to think of Haiman, who is connected to Ruswena.
“This is why secrets carry such weight. Heavy and heavier still, the more one knows, the more it strangles one’s breath.”
They will excavate Arcen from Bariel’s history, but there is nothing to be done about facts already known by the neighboring country. However, one consolation is that since he was a young prince without Achievement, his very existence remains obscure.
But Ruswena? They would have learned through Haiman’s faction that Arcen is a ‘mana user.’ That is precisely the problem.
“So if Arcen is mentioned, they can use that as a pretext to entangle Haiman’s treason charge and pressure the royal family there, is that it?”
“Yes, exactly. And while confiscation of the family’s assets will suffice for now, seven noble houses will fall. During the period when other nobles fill those vacancies, there will be a gap in tax revenue. It would be wise to open the kingdom’s coffers.”
The confusion caused by the Arcen incident was packaged and concealed as a matter of stripping noble titles. At the same time, they had cast bait. Now they simply had to wait for Ruswena to bite.
“Hmm. I see.”
Prince Jin, still holding Ian’s hand with one hand, wiggled the fingers of his other hand as he carefully organized his thoughts. Just then, a servant following behind them received a message and approached Ian’s side.
“Ian.”
“What is it?”
“Lady Haiman and her sons have entered the palace.”
“Is that so? Understood.”
“However….”
The servant trailed off, gauging Prince Jin’s expression. When Jin’s brow furrowed slightly, he spoke with careful deliberation.
“Princess Melania wishes to see you urgently, Ian. She says it concerns Bratz.”
Bratz?
I raised an eyebrow at Melania’s choice of words.

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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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