Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 299

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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 299
Fire. A Variable
Death.
Prince Noah clenched his cursed ears tightly. They were both a mark of royalty and a curse. He remembered his parents gazing at him with pride and worry in equal measure.
Death.
His tail curled involuntarily. And of all people, his opponent was the great empire of Bariel. Through the three-nation alliance, he had sought to usher in a new era, but the opportunity slipped away mercilessly. Because of his own incompetence.
Death.
I knew well how negatively the populace viewed the beastkin. Even my father, a king of a nation, had hidden this truth his entire life, saying no one would understand. Thus, in Cliffford’s history, there had never been a political marriage to strengthen national power.
Death….
Yes. Rather, that was the best path available now. Erase my existence through my death, and eliminate the shameful fact that there was a beastkin in the royal family.
For the first time in his life, Prince Noah’s eyes glistened with tears. At least he had wanted to depart with the people’s farewell.
“…I’ll need to see the full results, but from my preliminary assessment, there doesn’t appear to be anything unusual.”
But Ian’s calm voice came immediately after.
Prince Noah’s eyes rolled beneath the blanket. Tears that had pooled there rolled down his cheeks. What was he saying right now?
“I was quite worried when you said you needed to postpone your audience with His Majesty, but fortunately, this is far from any abnormal dragon reaction. We’re still investigating, but the primary symptoms appear to be fever accompanied by chills and hemoptysis.”
As Ian spoke, Prince Noah sniffled.
Could he not have noticed?
No, that couldn’t be. That was impossible.
He perked his ears up even more.
“Hahahaha! I really am amazing!”
“Oh, are you perhaps also a beastkin? I apologize—it would be rude to be too surprised.”
“I’m not! No, I mean, it’s correct to say I’m not! You seem to have misunderstood. Isn’t this festival season? In Cliffford, we wear costumes to enjoy the festivities. Doesn’t Bariel do the same?”
The entourage of the Minister of Magic remained boisterous, and May was breaking a sweat trying to restrain them.
Noah felt Ian continuing to sit beyond the blanket. Saying nothing, simply waiting for him to emerge first.
Noah grasped his trembling hands and slowly, carefully, pulled back the cloth.
Whoosh.
A beautiful youth with golden hair and green eyes sat in an upright posture, looking down at him. Perhaps because of the difference in their eye levels, for a moment, Noah felt as though he had truly become a small beast.
Ian smiled gently and nodded. His hair flowed elegantly with the movement.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Prince Noah. I’m honored to make your acquaintance this way. Allow me to introduce myself formally once more. Minister of Magic, Ian Hielo.”
“Your Highness! Why have you come out?! Please go back inside!”
“Wow, that’s amazing. Fake ears!”
“Oh, ah, how do you do? I am Romandro, Steward to the Minister of Magic.”
Noah’s ears drooped. May rushed over and embraced him protectively, while the Prince simply sighed and patted her back.
It was already too late. His identity was exposed, this was Bariel’s imperial palace, and his counterpart was Ian Hielo, the man with real power. There was no one he could overpower, and he couldn’t beg for mercy hoping for goodwill.
“Your Highness.”
May murmured softly, squeezing both his cheeks. Her eyes were moist—it was clear what she was thinking.
A fracture deeper within Noah than mere exposure of his secret.
This was the true crisis.
“Please pull yourself together.”
The beast’s ears and tail didn’t merely change his appearance. They made him think and feel like a beast.
Even now, she looked as if she had given up on everything, her shoulders drooping. She pinched her cheek hard and grimaced at her own reflection.
‘Time will pass soon enough, and he will return. Until then, I only need to hold back Iza and the others. With ears and tail gone, how can they insist I’m a beastkin? We’ll deny it vehemently—slander, how offensive, madness—and then return home.’
Once back, I could consult with the royal elders. My relationship with Bariel might not be what it once was, but among the three nations, isn’t Cliffford the farthest from the center? For the dignity of the kingdom and the very existence of the royal family, I would not hesitate to sever ties.
Everything feels like the worst right now, but it will be fine.
The royal family loves Prince Noah, and the people love him too.
“Then, shall we get up first?”
Ian stepped back and gestured toward the table. There were matters to discuss that were hardly appropriate to handle from a bed.
Prince Noah nodded sluggishly, then followed Ian to a chair. His fluffy tail dragged across the floor behind him.
“I have little information about beastkin, so I apologize in advance if I commit any rudeness.”
Rudeness? I should be so lucky if it stopped at mere rudeness. Beastkin live in constant fear of having their skin flayed.
Ian gestured for May to sit as well. From the situation, it seemed she was needed as Prince Noah’s representative right now.
“….”
Go ahead and speak.
Prince Noah and May waited for Ian’s words, their lips pressed tight. What would he demand in exchange for this? Tribute incomparably greater than before? Or perhaps a vassal state relationship? If the royal secret became known, he might even aim for the overthrow of the nation.
As their assumptions spiraled toward despair, Prince Noah’s eyes reddened again. Everything seemed to stem from his mistake. But because May squeezed his hand beneath the table, he managed to hold back his tears.
“First, I must ask: from this moment forward, what we discuss will be the foundation of our mutual trust, so please speak without falsehood.”
“…Very well.”
“Between the Bariel and Cliffford border, the magical anomaly detection device recorded readings higher than the yearly average. Since Your Highness has been concealing such a significant secret, I cannot help but consider other possibilities.”
Cannot help but consider?
Berik, who had been listening quietly, scratched his ear, wondering what Ian meant. Ian was now suspecting whether beastkin were involved in the magical anomaly detection device readings.
Of course, Ian knew that beastkin were merely humans with different appearances, and he was deliberately provoking Prince Noah with these words.
“If all the citizens of Cliffford were beastkin, and this caused the abnormal readings on the device, that would be an unforgivable matter.”
“What are you saying? Beastkin have no magical power.”
“There are those who claim as much, but if one’s appearance changes, doesn’t one’s physical sensations change as well? That alone places them outside the bounds of humanity.”
“There are physical differences between races too. It stops at that level.”
“Is that so? Then you’re saying the magical anomaly detection device has no connection to beastkin whatsoever?”
“That’s right. Cliffford’s citizens have no connection to magic, nor to beastkin. There may be individuals we haven’t identified. But officially, the last of our mages died ten years ago.”
The Prince didn’t notice, but Ian caught his critical slip of the tongue.
‘Cliffford’s citizens have no connection to beastkin.’
That meant only Prince Noah carried that blood, and carrying that blood meant the entire royal family did.
As Ian smiled slightly and narrowed his eyes, Prince Noah’s tail stiffened involuntarily. His tension had reached its limit.
“I understand. For now, it would be best to share opinions with Jhin. Since Your Highness’s condition appears better than expected, shall we proceed with a meeting?”
May reflexively shook her head.
There was a vast difference between what the Minister of Magic witnessed and what Bariel’s next Emperor witnessed. It would be irreversible. This was not something that could be resolved by denying and dismissing it.
“Your Highness is still in poor condition. It’s terribly unfortunate, but we cannot meet with the Prince. If you intend to press the matter, please refrain. We’ve emptied the tribute goods, so the carriage is lighter—our journey back won’t be burdensome.”
A declaration that they would leave rather than meet the Prince. They had traveled such a long distance, so their sincerity was already demonstrated. Alliance of three nations or whatever—the state comes first. This was a matter that could shake the foundation of the royal family itself. What could there be to fear?
Ian gestured for them to calm down first.
“Should our guest’s footsteps be heavy when departing? Of course not. Remember this: Bariel is now entering a new chapter of history, and the blessings of the entire world are focused upon this moment. If Prince Noah’s hands are not heavy when you leave, I shall be scolded by His Majesty.”
What scheme was this? Prince Noah and May’s eyes narrowed simultaneously. With similar hair color, they looked remarkably alike.
“However, this is not a matter to keep from His Majesty, so I will make a report. When shall you have your audience?”
“…Tomorrow, or perhaps the day after.”
“Hmm.”
When I tapped my fingertips against the table, Noah’s ears perked up in that direction. He was trying to gauge what I was thinking. The one who controlled the Bariel imperial palace was letting this pass without any demands… That was suspicious.
“Then-”
Just as I thought!
Noah’s eyes gleamed as he shrank back. May was the same. She steadied herself and braced inwardly. Here it comes! Whatever it is, things won’t go as planned.
“What of tonight’s banquet, Your Highness?”
“…I beg your pardon?”
It was quite an anticlimactic question, contrary to expectations. When May responded with obvious bewilderment, I elaborated.
“The banquet. It is the first gathering where all three nations convene with His Majesty present, is it not? The Burgos delegation will arrive shortly as well. The arrangements will be prepared around sunset.”
“We should probably abstain from attending….”
“One disruption to the appointment ceremony schedule is quite enough.”
We’d already used up our allowance when we postponed the meeting between Jin and Noah. This was pressure to attend the banquet.
Noah merely maintained a troubled silence, fidgeting with his ear.
“However-”
“If you wish, the Mage’s Division will assist you.”
Those who split the heavens and burn eternal flames—surely hiding ears and a tail was nothing? Noah and May exchanged glances at the sudden proposal. What was he thinking?
“Please do attend and celebrate the beginning of His Majesty’s appointment ceremony together with us.”
The three nations and Bariel.
Those bound by alliance and the empire’s ten-year-old child.
Having experienced Eriponi’s temperament firsthand, I could predict how the banquet atmosphere would unfold.
“…Together for Prince Jin’s appointment ceremony?”
May caught my intent and asked carefully. I had suspected Bariel would doubt the three nations’ alliance, but I hadn’t expected him to be this certain about it.
“I will be present as well, but I cannot take a seat at the dining table. Shall we begin preparations now?”
As I spoke, I examined Noah’s ears and tail carefully.
From Cliffford’s perspective, this would be quite an opportunity. He had even considered not attending because of Prince Noah’s appearance.
Setting aside the fact that I held the sword and he couldn’t refuse, with the Mage’s help, he could appear at the first gathering of the three nations’ alliance.
May nodded at Noah with a meaningful glance.
“We appreciate your assistance.”
“Of course. I cannot entrust this to others, so I shall return shortly. Ah, and Prince Noah—forgive me, but could you spare some of your tail fur?”
It was a sort of proof. As time passed, the fox’s appearance would fade, so he was requesting something to leave behind as evidence beforehand. Berik saw his chance and stepped forward, offering his dagger.
“I’ll lend it to you! Or should I cut it for you? I’ve never cut just fur before.”
“….”
Noah reluctantly cut some of his tail fur. Romandro carefully received it on an unfolded handkerchief and smiled awkwardly.
“Rest now. Berik, you stay here.”
“Me? Why?”
“I’ll be back soon.”
He was to serve as a guard and prevent contact with outsiders. Berik sprawled across the sofa with a shrug, and Noah gradually burrowed back under the blankets.
Ah, the world seemed to have flipped upside down in an instant. I felt dizzy.
“Your Highness. Are you all right?”
“Your Highness. Do you hold your drink well?”
“Listen here, you—”
Squeak.
Thud!
Closing the door behind me, leaving May and Berik’s bickering in my wake, I wiped the cold sweat from my brow and asked Romandro.
“Romandro. Should I send Prince Noah? I was thinking we could exclude him entirely, actually. Ah, but my heart won’t stop racing. This is something else.”
There was merit to Romandro’s suggestion of excluding him outright, but for now, it was better that Noah attended.
Because—
Tap tap tap!
“Ian. The delegation from the Kingdom of Burgos has just entered the capital.”
There existed one who lived life twice over.
When confronted with variables, I needed to observe how they would react. Whether it was Prince Noah’s unpredictability, or perhaps….
‘Regarding this strange entity called Ian Hielo.’
I nodded and gave my orders.
“Prepare to receive our guests at once.”

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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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