Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 262

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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 262
The Reason I Remember Timothy
“Ian, can we walk a bit slower? And just in case you don’t know, let me tell you—the dining hall is that way, right? No, it’s the complete opposite direction! We’ve really come far, haven’t we?”
Ian turned to look at Berik, who was trudging along behind him, and smiled with amusement. This was the same Berik who had sprawled across the sofa even in the presence of the Prince. His body was still in terrible condition, yet seeing him push himself like this meant there was something else on his mind.
Ian didn’t slow his pace as he replied.
“Didn’t the manager ban you from entering the dining hall?”
So why didn’t you just steal meat in moderation? Ian didn’t bother adding the rest aloud. Whether he said it or not, it probably wouldn’t mean much to Berik anyway.
Instead of wasting time on regret and reflection, finding another entrance to the dining hall was more his style.
“Huh, how did you know?”
“It’s written all over your face.”
“My face?! What?!”
When was the last time I went to the dining hall? Normally, my heavy workload made it rare to even eat properly, and recently, confined to my bed, I hadn’t left my office at all.
So when Berik kept trying to lure me toward the dining hall, my suspicion was natural. But Berik seemed genuinely flustered, peering through a window and fumbling at his own face.
“Where are we going? We’re getting farther from the dining hall!”
“The Central Archives of the Imperial Palace.”
“Why that boring place?”
“Have you been there? It’s quite remarkable.”
“Huh? What are you talking about? That’s the place. Where the black boxes are stacked.”
“That’s the Magic Department Archives. Where we’re going now is the Imperial Palace—specifically, the Administrative Department’s archives.”
There was something I needed to verify. Timothy—the reason I remember him across more than a century of time.
As we drew closer to the archives, more people began to recognize me. We exchanged light nods of greeting in passing, and just as I was about to turn a corner—
“Ah.”
I stopped upon recognizing a familiar figure approaching from the opposite direction. It was Quintana. She appeared to be personally moving boxes with her administrative staff. She also spotted me and greeted me warmly.
“Minister, is that you? What brings you here?”
She looks remarkably cheerful. I suddenly realized that most of Quintana’s smiles up until now had been false. Except for the occasional kindness she showed Jin, she had always been challenging in meetings, presenting counterarguments, providing rebuttals, and pushing hard to enforce her own opinions.
“These are the property deeds of seven houses, including the Haimanga. Quite impressive, isn’t it? With just the land documents alone, the claim that their residences were called ‘second imperial palaces’ wasn’t entirely without basis.”
The masterless estates, lands, and various jewels and treasures would now be transferred to the Imperial Palace and gain new value. Whether to dispose of them or have the Imperial Palace retain ownership would be decided through consultation between the Administrative Department, the Prime Minister, and Jin.
“In any case, you seem to be heading somewhere.”
“I was heading to the Central Archives of the Imperial Palace. I need to verify something briefly.”
“Ah, I see. They said ancient texts will be arriving soon. If you have time, bring His Highness Jin and stop by the Culture Department. The artworks should have arrived first. They’re quite worth seeing.”
This was a rare display of leisure from Quintana, something that happened only a few times a year.
Following the trial revenues and the confiscation of central noble house assets, successive income had not only covered the damages from the rebellion but was generating surplus. For one managing the national treasury, there could be no greater joy.
“Oh, and the Prime Minister said he would convene a grand council by tomorrow. I’m not sure if you’ve heard.”
“Yes, I have.”
“Then do you also know this? Captain Jairat has proposed a reorganization of the Imperial Guards to the Administrative Department. The Imperial Defense Ministry is doing the same.”
Two of the three commanders of the Imperial Guards, who served the Emperor closely, had died. One in the rebellion, another by a demon. No matter how bedridden the Emperor was, the positions of the three commanders had to maintain their full complement.
“It seems they’ll be conducting talent recruitment and selection soon. All Mage Knights in the empire will have an opportunity, won’t they?”
Quintana said this while glancing at Berik standing behind me. He was rough and crude, entirely out of place in the Imperial Palace, yet I kept him and Jin trusted him. Curious, I had inquired about him, and surprisingly, he was a Mage Knight. Moreover, one skilled enough to draw out magical power from Captain Jairat himself.
“The Imperial Defense Ministry is doing the same, you say?”
“Yes. The circumstances are similar. My guess is that the Imperial Defense Ministry is hoping for a spillover effect from Imperial Guard applicants. Didn’t the former Minister of the Imperial Defense Ministry participate in the rebellion on Prince Gail’s side? Someone else is temporarily in charge, but this is indeed the right time for reorganization and troop replenishment.”
Having purged the central nobility, there was no question that now was the opportune moment. Moreover, the inauguration ceremony for Jin, the next heir, loomed ahead. Standing at the threshold of a new era, everything aligned perfectly.
‘The Imperial Defense Ministry in particular will want to wrap things up before Jin becomes the official heir. From the civil unrest to the Melania incident, their position has been precarious. Before Jin establishes his cabinet, they’re trying to consolidate their own power.’
“Everyone seems preoccupied with their respective inauguration ceremonies.”
Quintana, having grasped their intentions as well, added her observation casually. Ian laughed in agreement.
“Then, I shall see you at the grand council tomorrow.”
“Indeed. Thank you for your efforts.”
The employees bowed their heads and disappeared following Quintana.
My mind grew complicated. There was an avalanche of administrative and procedural matters to organize. Each department was handling their share of work, but the Magic Ministry—more precisely, most matters ultimately required my final review.
Because I was Jin’s guardian. Since I examined each of his signatures alongside him, in the end, what I saw was no different from what anyone else would see.
‘First, let me propose the distribution of authority over the Mana Sealing Stones. Fifty percent to the Emperor, thirty percent to all imperial family members excluding him, twenty percent to the Magic Ministry.’
The crucial point was that this concerned ‘authority over the total quantity of Mana Sealing Stones.’ This way, regardless of whether the number of sealing stones increased or decreased, the power of checks and balances would be maintained according to the proportions.
‘The problem is Idgal, though….’
An alchemical creation that produced abilities similar to the Mana Sealing Stones.
To prevent confusion, a bill formally excluding Idgal would inevitably follow. The fact that I, a bastard, was connected to it—that was the part that concerned me most at present.
But there was no helping it. For the healthy balance between the imperial court, the Magic Ministry, and Bariel, it was a step I had to take.
‘And next, proceed with the sale of Haiman Bank, the Imperial Defense Ministry….’
“Ian! What are you thinking so hard about?”
“Ah.”
Just then, Berik grabbed my arm and pulled me along. Lost in thought, I had walked all the way to the end of the corridor. I had passed the archives by several steps. I laughed slightly and shook my head.
“No. I was just worried whether you’d be able to join the Imperial Guards well. If talented people from across the nation apply, Captain Jairat might refuse your entry.”
“Come on! Don’t worry about that. Worry about what we’re eating today instead. I’ll beat all those bastards coming there, yeah? I’ll half-kill them and eat the captain.”
“The captain? Hahaha.”
I burst into genuine laughter. It made sense, after all—it was a combination I had never imagined. Berik and captain of the Imperial Guards.
Berik was momentarily startled by my expression, but finding it curious that I was laughing out loud, he followed suit and raised the corners of his mouth.
“You’re laughing. So if I beat Jairat, I become captain, right?”
“And what would you do as captain?”
“Hmm. Should I tell my subordinates to bring me meat? If I become captain, what about you? Wouldn’t that be good?”
“Well. I suppose it would work out. As captain of the Imperial Guards, you’d be close to the Emperor, so it would be convenient for cooperation on various matters.”
“There are two positions left anyway, so wouldn’t it be manageable?”
“I don’t know. Before that, I think Jairat will try to kill you.”
Creak!
As I pushed open the door, the archives manager stood up to greet me. The atmosphere was not much different from a library. A musty yet strangely calming scent of paper, sunlight pouring from the ceiling, and a silence bordering on tranquility.
“Aren’t you Minister Ian Hielo?”
“I need to verify some documents.”
“Yes. Please tell me.”
“Bring me all materials regarding Bariel’s exchanges with the Burgos Kingdom from ten years ago to the present.”
“A-all of them? The quantity would be quite substantial.”
“Then five years, or perhaps three years would be acceptable.”
“One moment. We haven’t received a separate retrieval request, so you’re checking directly here and leaving, correct?”
“That’s right.”
To remove administrative documents from the bureau, one could only do so through a withdrawal request form. The procedure was strict, only a handful of employees were involved, and unless it was urgent business, it took considerable time.
Rustle.
The employee muttered while examining the thick stack of documents.
“Neighboring nation catalog 0423 classification, Burgos…. Ah, please come this way.”
The two followed the employee deeper into the archive room. The smell of yellowed paper grew increasingly pungent. Berik wrinkled his nose, while I gazed upward at the ceiling that stretched dozens of meters above.
The structure consisted of more than ten levels, and wooden staircases connecting each floor moved smoothly. That too was aided by magic.
‘A hundred years from now or now—there’s little difference in how things appear.’
“Ian. This is five years’ worth of records regarding Burgos’s economy and politics. Culture and society are in the basement, so I’ll bring those shortly. Please take your time reviewing these.”
“Thank you.”
“Not at all.”
Berik’s mouth slowly fell open. Five bookshelves, each taller than his own height. Every space was packed with bundles of paper.
He was going to read all this here?
And there was even more culture and society materials?
“Ian, have you lost your mind?”
“I didn’t ask you to come.”
“You’re reading all this right here? My nose will definitely bleed. Definitely.”
“Berik. Reading documents isn’t as difficult as you think. I told you to study with Xiaoxi.”
I skimmed the covers and unhesitatingly pulled out what I needed. Then I settled comfortably into a chair and began flipping through the materials. Since I wasn’t reading from beginning to end, but rather searching for specific information, there was no need to strain myself.
“This is ridiculous.”
Ugh. Berik sat beside me, rested his chin in his hand, and waited.
“What are you searching for so intently? Are you looking for that prince from Timothy’s country from earlier?”
“Timothy is not royalty. He belongs to the Burgos Kingdom’s diplomatic corps. The fact that royalty attends the heir appointment ceremony is an exceptional case with Clifford. Normally, like with Lusweena, they send a delegation instead.”
“Is that so? But anyway, you’re definitely looking for Timothy, right? That guy with the broad shoulders and thick build seemed like he could throw a punch. Does the diplomatic corps of that country fight well too? If he comes, how about a friendly match? Huh?”
I ignored Berik’s chatter and continued flipping through the documents. Timothy, Timothy, Timothy….
‘Ah. Found it.’
Timothy had officially visited Bariel five times. Each visit lasted anywhere from a week to half a year, so the records were well-documented. I traced his movements and compared them against what I knew to see if there were any discrepancies.
‘The Lorant Plains development initiative, formation of a cultural delegation. Hmm, he came to coincide with Gail’s coming-of-age ceremony back then. The magical cooperation exchange group was established….’
Click.
-…Timothy, a diplomat from the Burgos Kingdom, indicated to Minister Wesley of the Magic Ministry his intention to supply twenty-five types of mana stones (details omitted below) at prices lower than market value when constructing the annex, and Minister Wesley indicated his intention to select five excellent mages to dispatch for three years. No concrete agreement regarding this matter was pursued.
“As expected.”
I muttered without realizing it. From what I knew, Timothy was an immigrant from a foreign delegation. Not Timothy of Burgos, but Timothy of Bariel.
Among the countless immigrants throughout a hundred years of history, there was only one reason I remembered Timothy.
‘…He’s Naum’s ancestor.’

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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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