Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 291

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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 291
Bad Taste
I found it strange. In merely ten minutes since Ian had stepped away, the atmosphere in the reception room felt as though it might shatter at any moment.
Of course, since Ruswena’s delegation had only just arrived, there was no need to prolong the pleasantries. A brief exchange of courtesies, presentation of gifts, and hints about upcoming official schedules would suffice.
Yet this was far too premature.
Romandro whispered so quietly that only Ian could hear.
“The King appears far more aggressive than expected.”
It was a brief expression, yet it contained everything.
What stood out particularly was the phrase “more than expected.”
Indeed, she possessed a more imposing frame than anticipated, a more formidable bearing than imagined, and was directing her gaze with far greater openness than one would have guessed.
I dismissed Romandro and approached Jin.
“Count Ian.”
A flush of color appeared on Jin’s face before fading. The reception that had seemed on the verge of collapse found new momentum with my arrival.
First, it was evident in how Eriponi leaned back against her chair. She rested her hands upon her lap and wore only a smile, as though awaiting my introduction.
“Is there no problem?”
“No, Your Highness. I apologize for the concern I have caused.”
“Not at all. Pay your respects to King Eriponi. This is Ian Hielo, Minister of Magic of the Great Empire Bariel.”
As I placed my hand over my chest in greeting, Eriponi responded with a nod. I had heard of this from Eldetr, but truly—the empire’s future rested upon these young shoulders. She concealed her smile behind her fan and offered me praise.
“Praises of Count Hielo reach even to Ruswena. A young prodigy who overcomes hardship and contributes to the empire through magic, they say.”
“You are too kind. I too have heard much of Ruswena’s renown—a land of opportunity for mages.”
The Prime Minister, caught in the middle, inadvertently lowered his gaze and concealed his flustered expression. It was as though they were shaking hands while simultaneously jabbing at one another.
The “hardship” Eriponi mentioned contained the subtext of my origins as an illegitimate child from the borderlands, while my reference to “a land of opportunity” alluded to Ruswena’s scarcity of mages and sluggish development.
The various factions arrayed around the reception room stirred quietly, exchanging meaningful glances.
‘So even a young one is still a mage.’
‘Is he not the true power behind the current imperial palace?’
‘I heard he was of lowborn origin.’
In the way I responded without hesitation and without fear, one could sense my presence and confidence.
Eldetr quietly observed Eriponi and closed his eyes. Unlike the ten-year-old Prince, I should not be underestimated. Therefore, provocation should cease.
“A matter arose in the Ministry of Magic that required my brief absence, and I fear I have interrupted your conversation. Please forgive my rudeness.”
I bowed to Jin with a subtle smile. This was laying groundwork, allowing the boy to explain the current situation directly—what had happened and what difficulty he faced.
For instance, something like this.
“No. King Eriponi was simply presenting a gift beyond the customary tribute.”
“Ah, I see.”
“The only concern is that demonstrating sincerity may require considerable time.”
At Jin’s signal, a servant opened the lid of a bow case. It was an enormous bow—not one to match the recipient’s stature. I quickly grasped its meaning and raised my eyebrows.
‘Hmm, what have we here?’
But Eriponi too was discerning the subtle emotions between Jin and myself. A relationship of such complexity and delicacy that it could not be pinned down to a single hue.
From one angle it appeared pink, from another violet, and from yet another it seemed to shimmer blue. Truly significant.
“I fear I have made an error in presenting a bow of ordinary use. Your Highness, please do not take offense. Should the bowstring stretch, I beg you to inform me at once.”
Eriponi cast another stone, testing my reaction.
Despite being insulted twice, Prince Jin still hesitated, lost in thought. Though countless options lay within his grasp, he was cautious—one wrong decision could yield irreversible consequences.
I gazed down at the boy’s round head, my fingertips brushing together thoughtfully.
‘He is not merely a nobleman of his own country, but a foreign king. Should diplomatic relations fracture, the citizens of the Empire suffer most—so Jin’s burden is inevitable. I have met Eldetr, but only once. Compared to my experience, the opponent is undeniably formidable.’
Moreover, even Romand was astonished by how unrestrained the King of Ruswena proved to be. There exists a line one may push, and a line one must not cross—yet no one had instructed him where it lay. Jin’s confusion was entirely natural.
The refined intelligence within the imperial palace was insufficient to prepare for such a variable opponent—the king’s shifting demeanor was far too sharp.
“Your Highness.”
I called to Prince Jin warmly. His blue eyes fixed upon me, seeming to seek an answer.
Yet simultaneously, his delicate brow had grown slightly tense. After the investiture ceremony, the boy would become the true heir to the Empire—and what could be more agonizing than confronting one’s own inadequacy? I smiled gently and offered a suggestion.
“Since the king prepared it with his own hands, would it not be fitting to reciprocate his gift?”
“What do you mean…?”
Prince Jin trailed off uncertainly. To reciprocate meant to shoot the bow—but…
“Is there something worth shooting?”
Eriponi added with a thin smile. Here, in this very room—how could one possibly shoot an arrow, and for what purpose? I answered her question with measured courtesy.
“Oh my. King of Ruswena. I cannot speak to Ruswena’s customs, but the imperial palace of Bariel harbors no unruly beasts.”
“…!”
“…!”
Everyone in the reception hall held their breath. Though icy attacks had passed between us precariously, such a blatant statement was unprecedented.
The king reacted instantly, lifting himself from the chair’s back and pressing his lips firmly shut. His eyes, dripping with venom, resembled those of a viper. I pretended not to notice, withdrawing a bow from its case and examining it carefully.
“While there are many ways to secure a bow, the arrow’s length presents a particular problem. Your Highness, at this very moment, pollen swirls throughout Bariel to bless your investiture ceremony. Would you not add your strength to it?”
Zing. Zing.
As I released my mana, all the envoys from Ruswena flinched and retreated.
Magic. The magnificent magic they had only heard spoken of!
Ruswena did possess mages, but they were exceedingly few, and it was hardly accurate to call them palace-affiliated. The difference in ability was beyond question.
“Count Ian.”
Between my hands, a long, slender light materialized. Shimmering in a beautiful pink hue, it gradually took form, becoming the shape of an arrow.
‘Jin, fear nothing. If the King of Ruswena provokes you, do not hesitate to accept. You are permitted to do so. You are Bariel, and such is your right.’
I moved my fingertips lightly, refining the stream of light. Then, slowly extending it to the boy, I asked.
A rippling warmth. This was the same sensation as when I had once touched Ian’s mana sphere with my hand. Prince Jin gazed at the crackling particles within the light.
“…Open the window.”
Whoosh.
At Prince Jin’s command, the servants moved busily, pushing open the massive window in the wall. One side opened cleanly, revealing the expansive imperial garden at a glance.
A refreshing wind rushed in. Eriponi grasped her swaying hair with one hand and crossed her legs—daring to do so before the prince, no less.
“I shall hold the bow. You need only draw the string.”
I held the bow with one hand, and the boy took his stance, pulling the bowstring with all his strength. The grip extended smoothly, bending into a graceful curve.
Soon, my mana arrow caught at the boy’s small fingertips. The grip sang near his ear, creating a faint resonance.
Whiing. Whine.
Prince Jin aimed toward the blue sky and released the bowstring. Though his strength was slight, the arrow shot forth as if possessed of will, soaring straight upward into the heavens and bursting. The glittering fragments scattered into the pollen that drifted throughout the day and vanished.
Whoooosh!
Boom! Bang!
A powerful wind swept along the path of Prince Jin’s released hand. And in that same instant, the bowstring snapped.
Twang!
No matter how many times the craftsman had twisted it, it was naturally impossible for it to withstand magical power.
Jin examined the bowstring that had stretched in the sunlight and turned to Eriponi.
“Eriponi, it seems bowstrings don’t only stretch with age.”
The King of Eriphony, instead of answering, gazed at the pollen continuously falling behind the Boy.
Were these the stars pouring down in broad daylight? She began to understand why poets praised and sang of the beauty of magic. She shrugged her shoulders with a subtle smile.
“I apologize, Your Highness.”
“There’s no need to apologize. However, I hope you’ll keep your promise to have the bowstring repaired. Please take it back and have it adjusted to the proper size.”
She would accept the gift, but he was asking her to take it back and adjust it to fit Jin’s frame. Now that he knew the Boy’s size, simply replacing the bowstring wouldn’t suffice.
Eriponi gracefully nodded and promised to comply. She hadn’t anticipated bringing the gift back unchanged, but what could be done? They had shown sincerity, and now it was her turn to reciprocate.
“Then I shall organize the tribute items and….”
Jin began to give an order but stopped. The Boy smiled broadly and sought Eriponi’s understanding.
“First, I believe we need to conduct an inspection.”
“An inspection? What do you mean?”
“Recently, a case of abnormal dragon antigen-antibody hypersensitivity reaction was reported, and the Imperial Palace is investigating. There’s a theory that the source is from Ruswena’s goods. It’s just a simple quarantine procedure, so it won’t take long. I’d appreciate your cooperation.”
Eriponi glanced at Eldetr, as if asking what on earth that meant.
But Eldetr couldn’t possibly know either. Akorelra’s outbreak was something being hushed up within the Imperial Palace alone.
“For now, please rest well, and we’ll arrange a separate meeting regarding this matter. Thank you for your arduous journey.”
Jin gestured for her to leave, and the Servants carried out the tribute items one by one.
Eriponi tidied her hair, bowed to Jin, and left the reception room. The delegation members followed their King in perfect order, exchanging puzzled whispers.
“Dragon antigen-antibody reaction?”
“Isn’t that a plague? It’s been quite some time since that disappeared, so why suddenly?”
“Ruswena has dragon breeding grounds, but does Bariel not have any?”
Clop clop clop!
Eriponi boarded the carriage and gazed only out the window. An Imperial Palace Official rode ahead on horseback to guide them to the separate palace where they would stay during the coronation ceremony.
Eldetr, sitting across from her, called to the King cautiously.
“Your Majesty.”
“A dragon plague, you say. Have you heard anything about it?”
“No, I haven’t.”
“It doesn’t seem like something fabricated….”
“I’ll look into it separately once we arrive at the separate palace. However, Your Majesty.”
Eriponi turned her head sharply, as if asking why he kept calling her.
“I believe you were a bit harsh with Prince Jin.”
“Was I?”
“No matter how young, he is the future Emperor, after all.”
Eriponi merely lifted one corner of her mouth and murmured.
“…He was cute.”
“That’s a terrible taste.”
She gestured to Eldetr to be quiet and continued gazing at the scattering pollen. She couldn’t tell if it was what Jin had shot up earlier or if it had always sparkled like this.
In any case, one thing was certain—what a desirable Imperial Palace this was.

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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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