Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 304

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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 304
Fire. The Whereabouts of the Jewels
“Blaster Sea, you say? That body of water at the edge of the Great Desert?”
“Yes. Trade has come to a standstill due to rumors of pirates appearing lately. Since that’s the only passage leading eastward, well, thanks to that, more merchants have begun crossing the desert to enter the Gaia Continent.”
“Ah, I see. Ruswena and Hawanguk aren’t far from each other, so news travels quickly between them. Cliffford rarely ventures all the way to the desert.”
“Burgos is the same. We have Cliffford to our right, and civil unrest above us. Haha.”
“What problem could Cliffford’s presence cause? Hahaha. Even without us, the journey would have been difficult. Who controls the desert, after all?”
“Oh, my. That’s not what I meant, but Burgos’s climate does resemble the desert somewhat. For people living in a place that produces such delicious wine, the desert must be quite challenging!”
The delegations from Ruswena, Cliffford, and Burgos were gathered together, sharing information about their respective nations.
Sharp retorts were exchanged here and there, but everyone let them pass without taking offense. Perhaps it was the effect of moderate intoxication, or perhaps it was because they were all talented individuals dispatched abroad in service of their kings, so they valued the worth of information sharing.
Moreover, with the alliance of three nations becoming openly certain, the officials from Bariel who were present couldn’t help but notice how the three kingdoms subtly bonded among themselves.
Whoosh.
Ian stood at the railing, observing it all.
He signaled with his eyes to the mages and attendants positioned throughout the hall, ensuring the banquet lacked for nothing. Soon, wine presented by Cliffford was placed on every table.
Ian turned to look at Jin and gave a small nod.
‘Your Highness, the banquet has only two purposes.’
‘Yes, I know. Warning the King of Burgos and fracturing the three-nation alliance.’
Jin set down his knife, recalling the conversation they’d had in the carriage before the banquet began.
“As rumored, the quality of fertilizer imported from Burgos has been quite remarkable. Reports indicate that compared to normal years, the cultivation period for the same crops was reduced by about a week. Whether this is coincidence or not will require observation over several more years.”
Eriponi was speaking about the fertilizer that had been imported from Burgos.
Tap.
When the Prince set down his knife, she trailed off and looked toward Jin. The others did the same.
Though all eyes focused on him, the Boy simply moistened his throat with a drink and smiled faintly.
“Burgos’s fertilizer is that excellent? I didn’t know. Does Cliffford also use Burgos’s fertilizer when cultivating grapes?”
As a wine-producing nation, they too relied on agriculture. So if an adjacent nation had decent fertilizer, they would naturally import and use it.
Prince Noah nodded in affirmation.
“Yes. It’s a trade that has continued since my predecessor’s time.”
Not knowing Jin’s intent, he answered cautiously. Though unlikely, if Jin pressed the matter of the three-nation alliance and questioned the trade, it would be problematic.
Even if relations between Cliffford and Burgos were cold, as adjacent nations they wielded considerable influence over each other. Likely, one out of every three bottles of wine circulating in Burgos came from Cliffford.
“I see. So that’s why Cliffford’s beverages taste so good. I wish I could try some of that wine myself.”
But the response that came was harmless. When Jin turned to Ian and said so, Ian firmly shook his head.
“Forgive me, Your Highness, but that cannot be.”
“I know. I’m merely disappointed. They say downstairs that the wine is a delicacy, and the kings haven’t stopped emptying their cups.”
“…Then, would it not be wise to place an advance order?”
“An advance order?”
Jin’s eyes widened as he repeated the words. It was a line they’d already rehearsed, yet it sounded so natural—wasn’t it almost too convincing? Had Romandro seen it, he would have been moved to tears.
Ian concealed the smile rising to his lips and turned to look at Prince Noah. The tension evident in his posture suggested he was braced for whatever discussion might follow.
“The kingdom must have wine stored and managed in its reserves. Would it not be fitting to place an advance order for the finest wine to be served on Your Highness’s coming-of-age ceremony?”
“That sounds like a good idea. What do you think, Prince Noah? Does your kingdom have something suitable?”
Something suitable? To call it merely suitable would be an insult.
It was the royal house of a nation renowned for its fine wines. Rare and precious treasures filled the underground vaults, forming the very foundation of the royal treasury.
“Each year, our kingdom festival is accompanied by the preparation of century-old wine. I shall speak with my father and present such a premium vintage on the occasion of my coming-of-age ceremony.”
“Century-old? Truly remarkable. Yet the gift has already been presented. There is no precedent for a foreign nation to present gifts upon a member of the imperial family reaching adulthood.”
“However….”
“Is that not so, Count Ian?”
“Indeed. It is a rare occurrence. Save for the Emperor himself.”
Jin and my words wove together seamlessly, leaving no gaps.
It was impossible to discern their true intentions. Eriponi exchanged glances with Eldetr, while Damon observed the unfolding situation with an impassive gaze.
“Yes. It is only proper to offer recompense. You have gathered here as guests to celebrate my appointment, and it befits the honor of Bariel to reciprocate generously. Let all present hear this.”
None had expected to depart empty-handed, yet the form in which such gifts would be placed in their hands remained difficult to gauge.
Would it be the assurance of a steadfast alliance, or perhaps the conclusion of contracts that had been delayed and deferred between us, or merely modest tokens of gratitude from the Bariel imperial house?
Should it be only the last, it would surely be deemed the worst possible outcome.
“Regarding the royal tributes presented by each nation, Bariel shall select items eligible for export and import, and shall completely abolish tariffs for one year.”
“…!”
“…!”
Noah and Eriponi could not conceal their astonishment. Had Noah not presented the Brakui, the royal instrument, and Eriponi not presented a bow? May leaned toward the prince and whispered in surprise.
“Your Highness. If I heard correctly, you are saying that one of the materials used in Brakui production shall be selected, and import and export taxes shall be waived?”
“Yes. That is what I heard as well.”
Then came Eldetr. He too leaned close to Eriponi’s ear and whispered urgently.
“Your Majesty. It would be wise to speak of silver. Is not the bow crafted from silver? Silver imported by Ruswena from Bariel comprises thirty percent of the total. Should tariffs be waived, the quantity obtainable for the same amount of currency would increase substantially.”
“What of black jade? The bow is adorned with jewels. Since we only export and do not import such stones, the waiver of tariffs would be nothing short of advantageous.”
“Both jewels and silver possess exceptional utility.”
As Ruswena and Cliffford eagerly exchanged various opinions, Timothy glanced uncomfortably at Damon. It was because of the condition Jin had added.
‘Regarding only royal tributes.’
This meant the offer applied solely to items directly produced and presented by the royal house itself—of which Burgos had none. This was a deliberate warning, made to their very faces, that their gifts had been prepared with the aid of nobles’ hands.
Timothy moistened his parched throat with water and turned to observe me. I was bowing to Jin and saying something.
“Ah, King of Eriponi.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Jin raised his hand in a gesture of correction and called to her. Eriponi, who had been conferring quietly with Eldetr, responded reflexively.
“Since Ruswena has agreed to prepare and present new tributes, we shall determine the specific items once the bow arrives. It would be wise to make haste. The period shall be counted from my appointment ceremony for one year only. Cliffford, you need not decide anything this moment either. The night is too short even to properly enjoy the banquet.”
The tariff exemption would begin within days, but since Ruswena alone would be presenting new tributes, the exemption would commence only upon their arrival.
‘How amusing. The cute one grows less cute when she misbehaves.’
Could the price of provocation be so steep?
Eriponi offered a bitter smile and bowed in acceptance. Once she returned to her separate palace, Eldetr’s nagging would surely pour forth anew—that she had squandered half the opportunity for tariff exemption with merely three inches of her tongue.
“I shall await it eagerly. When word of the tariff exemption spreads, my people shall surely rejoice as well.”
Even as I raised my cup and spoke of enjoying the benefits of the exemption, my gaze remained firmly fixed upon Damon.
Among the three nations, only Burgos had failed to present royal tributes. Let him witness the consequences of such arrogance. And should he harbor any thought of bowing his head even now, let him bring forth tributes anew at any time.
Ruswena too has agreed to present new gifts, so I have granted them at least the dignity of face-saving, have I not? I shall be waiting.
‘How vivid it rings in my ears.’
So resolute and clear was the message that Damon understood perfectly what the boy’s eyes were saying.
He was offering an opportunity. Though Burgos’s attitude was presumptuous, as a great power, Bariel was extending magnanimity. The implication was that if they desired any tax-exempt items now, they should prepare tribute gifts accordingly and present them. To accept would be no different than kneeling before a mere year’s worth of tariffs and crawling forward.
Damon sipped his wine while glancing sideways at Prince Noah. Then, Ian struck at precisely the right moment.
“Your Majesty. Tax exemption is the great power’s reciprocal gesture, but the hundred-year-old wine is a personal matter. It should be handled separately.”
“Quite right. It’s a precious thing used in the kingdom’s festival, so it must be extraordinarily valuable. Prince Noah, I cannot withdraw it from the treasury immediately, but if you desire it, I would like to hold collateral.”
“Collateral, Your Majesty?”
Prince Noah quickly wiped his mouth with a napkin and asked in return. Something felt slightly unsettling. Even between friends, transactions that don’t make sense leave an uneasy feeling.
Especially since the other party was Bariel’s only prince, his instincts sharpened inevitably. Though there was no precedent, couldn’t they give the wine freely under the name of a gift rather than tribute?
“Yes. I’ll hold the contract as proof of the transaction, and return it ten years later when we trade again.”
“Hmm, forgive me, but what exactly—”
“I will give you something I possess that is most precious and valuable, something whose worth cannot be measured. Would that be acceptable?”
No. That’s too burdensome.
Prince Noah swallowed the words rising to his throat with difficulty and bowed his head.
“You are too generous, Your Majesty.”
“It is fitting, is it not? Is it not used in the kingdom’s festival? It is not only the royal family—I am purchasing a portion of your people’s joy. Is this too generous?”
With the people now at stake, Prince Noah had no choice.
Jin appeared to ponder for a moment, then smiled brightly and asked Damon.
“King Damon. I am still young, and I do not yet possess many possessions that are entirely in my hands.”
“What do you mean? The future Bariel belongs to Your Majesty.”
“The future is the future. But now is now. Everything belongs to the Emperor, so all I hold in my hands are only the gifts you have given me today.”
Damon, who had been responding flatly, hesitated. He had grasped what Jin was about to say.
As he turned his head, a purely smiling boy came into view, with Ian standing firmly behind him.
“I intend to hand over the jewels your nobles presented as collateral to Cliffford, and I inform you beforehand lest you take offense.”
This was absurd. Presenting tribute on the same day and transferring it to another nation. It was truly discourteous conduct, but since Burgos had initiated it, there was nothing to say. Moreover, Jin already held all authority over the disposition of the jewels.
The only problem was—
“Prince Noah, please safeguard the jewels carefully. They are precious items that Burgos prepared with great, great difficulty.”
The situation itself was the problem.
The nobles of Burgos, or more precisely those who had presented heirlooms, believed they could recover them once the imperial gates of Bariel opened.
But if their destination shifted to another nation?
Could they continue to draw Bariel’s focus?
“Ah, there. Your Majesty.”
“What is it, Prince Noah? Is there a problem?”
Prince Noah also turned in confusion to look at Damon and May. Since Prince Jin himself had called them precious, they could not be casually exported, and the moment they were returned to Burgos, it would provide Bariel with a pretext.
Cliffford, caught in the power struggle between Bariel and Burgos, watched the scene while sipping wine. Eriponi observed it all quietly.
‘Look at these people.’
Something seemed to be flowing in an odd direction.
The atmosphere of the banquet was growing increasingly thick.

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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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