Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 305

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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 305
Fire. As Intended
A silence hung over the upper chamber, distinctly different from the floor below. The leaders of three nations and their stewards had fallen quiet, desperately gauging the current situation. From each nation’s perspective, it was necessary to perfectly comprehend and calculate how the tide was turning.
There was no need to wait for the appointment ceremony. Tonight and now—the majority of each nation’s gains and losses would be determined. All centered around Bariel.
“Prince Noah. Does Your Highness not have questions?”
Eriponi spoke first, testing the waters and pressing Noah forward. The prince’s eyes immediately sharpened.
Of all people, it had to be Ruswena who interfered. And here I am, exposed because of her?
“Perhaps the burden is too heavy?”
She spoke as though being a prince was something precious and noble, asking whether managing it felt burdensome. Noah bristled and immediately shot back.
“King of Eriponi. Cliffford bears the fates of far more people than Ruswena does.”
Don’t speak nonsense. Cliffford’s population vastly exceeded Ruswena’s. That didn’t necessarily translate to national power, but regardless—I wouldn’t tolerate being dismissed like that.
“Hmm.”
Eriponi merely sighed meaningfully, her expression darkening. How foolish. She’d been trying to help because the situation seemed awkward, but his pride had sealed off any opening for her to slip through.
Well, if the positions were reversed and Ruswena were in Cliffford’s place, she probably would have said the same thing. What did it matter?
“Of course, Prince Noah. The fortitude of Cliffford’s walls is beyond doubt to all of Bariel. We shall send you a jewel as a parting gift. Please, we ask for your cooperation. On the day of Jhin’s coming-of-age ceremony, send it along with wine.”
Just as I thought. Eriponi clicked her tongue inwardly, and as if her intoxication were rising, she opened her fan to cover her lower face. Like a crocodile snapping up prey, Ian had devoured Cliffford.
“…Say, Count Ian?”
“Yes, Prince Noah.”
What on earth are you doing to me?
Prince Noah nearly bared his teeth without realizing it. It was panic beyond mere confusion. If not for May standing beside him, his ears might have popped right off. As Berik would say—pop.
“Shall we make a toast?”
Ian, feigning ignorance, smiled faintly as he grasped the wine bottle. Since he knew the prince’s secret, he couldn’t openly resist Bariel.
If you cannot escape, then enjoy it.
Ian seemed to say this as he filled the glasses.
Whoosh.
“Pardon me. For a moment.”
“What is lacking, King Damon?”
“The flavor of Cliffford’s wine is so remarkable that I cannot restrain myself. I fear I’ve become slightly intoxicated, Your Highness.”
King Damon rose from his seat. Following him, Eriponi’s head turned. She too fanned herself lightly and followed in his wake.
“I too shall take some air.”
Noah looked anxiously toward the entrance. With a prince present, all three guests couldn’t simply leave, could they? He wanted to send May, but his own state was unstable, making that impossible.
Even as Noah remained at his seat, he couldn’t stop glancing nervously toward the outside.
“Your Highness. Are you well?”
“Do I look well?”
“In a couple of hours, the effects should wear off.”
Ah. That.
Noah squinted and ran his hand over his head. Fortunately, he felt nothing, but in an awkward moment, his gaze locked directly with Jin’s.
The boy seemed slightly startled. As if he’d just realized anew that Noah was a beast-human.
“I… I apologize.”
“No need. It’s hard to imagine. If the opportunity arises next time, don’t hesitate—show me.”
Was this pure consideration? Or was he trying to gain complete dominance over Cliffford?
Had this been before the banquet, I might have attributed it to the former. But now, it could only be interpreted as the latter. His skill at scattering the three-nation alliance was truly masterful.
“…Your Highness, you are the future of Bariel. You need not provide collateral. Cliffford will certainly prepare precious wine for you. If you wish, we can send it ahead immediately upon your return home.”
I shook my head and smiled faintly.
They still don’t understand the true meaning of the jewel. The gem is the materialization of the alignment of interests between the King of Burgos and the nobles. If they knew that, they couldn’t possibly react this way.
“Are you perhaps worried that the Mage might enchant the jewel before sending it? Please, set your mind at ease.”
“That’s not it—”
So he had entertained such thoughts after all? Struck by the mark, Prince Noah shook his hands vigorously left and right in denial.
“Then there’s no need to burden yourself. Even if it becomes scratched or damaged, I won’t hold you responsible. Only ensure it doesn’t leave for another nation. That is the sole obligation I place upon Cliffford.”
At my instruction, May hesitated. It was far too peculiar a directive. She sensed that something unknown was swirling beneath their feet.
“Your Highness. It will take time for our guests to cool down. Shall we share a drink amongst ourselves?”
Whether they understood or not, nothing would change.
I bowed my head gently and raised my glass to Jin. My eyes held praise—you did well, you performed brilliantly before everyone—warm and certain.
Clink!
The moment Jin laughed sheepishly and clinked glasses with me.
May’s eyes widened in alarm as she looked at Prince Noah. She had realized that the something swirling had ensnared Cliffford’s ankle.
* * *
“Your Majesty.”
Timothy called to Damon cautiously. The terrace, where the commotion inside felt distant. The chiffon curtains swayed gently, and with them, Damon’s short hair fell into disarray.
He gazed at a distant spire with an impassive expression. Unaware, he continuously bit his lips.
“Your Majesty. You’re drawing blood.”
“It’s beyond expectations, and more than I thought. Isn’t it?”
Damon leaned his back against the railing and gestured with his fingertips. He was someone who always kept his appearance perfect, one who kept things like cigarettes at a distance. When he asked for something to burn, it meant his mind was deeply troubled.
Sizzle.
As Timothy lit it for him, Damon exhaled a deep breath. White smoke, pale as his cheeks. He pressed his temples repeatedly as he muttered.
“If the tribute passes to Cliffford, what do you think the nobles’ reaction will be?”
“…They may be troubled, but there should be no major issue. Under the belief in the three-nation alliance, it’s acceptable.”
“Timothy. I didn’t ask for your hopes.”
The nobles reacted to the King’s will to carve up Bariel. Barren as it is, Burgos cannot help but venture outward for its development.
The King instructed the nobles to create a path into Bariel as a deception, promising they would be the first to consume what was carved. Thus he spoke to them.
But now he’s transferring it to Cliffford?
“Between Cliffford and Bariel, there was certainly some incident mediated by a dragon-level reaction. The imperial palace where the aging Emperor resides—yet we have no hint whatsoever regarding the inspection.”
“That alone cannot confirm the facts.”
“There’s nothing to confirm. What matters is that I suspect as much.”
Had I not noticed the difference in inspection, there would have been nothing to question. I would have simply thought the young prince used his wits to repay an insult. Cliffford would receive the jewel and hand it over to Burgos.
“Did you see how troubled Prince Noah looked just now? It proves he cannot defy Bariel’s instruction to keep it for ten years.”
It won’t be easy. Unless I uncover something between Bariel and Cliffford, retrieving the tribute won’t be simple. This also makes it difficult to calculate how the nobles will resist.
‘Was the original Bariel like this too?’
Damon bit his cigarette and furrowed his brow.
Though it was a great empire, rumors of the young prince were rarely heard in the Kingdom of Burgos. The imperial palace had been closed several times, the grown princes had died one by one, and that lone child who remained had risen to the pinnacle of Bariel.
The difference, however, was that he had not distinguished himself at the heir appointment ceremony, but rather made his presence known at the coronation.
A scar running across his face.
Surely the person in question had not changed…
‘The trunk of history remains the same. But the branches are different. Has my actions influenced things this far?’
King Damon had encountered futures different from the one he knew not just now, but several times before. Yet those were merely ripples created by the variable that was himself, and eventually they had subsided.
So he continued to shake things. For the transformation of Burgos, and for his own new destiny. Rippling and rippling, until one day waves that moved of their own accord would be created. Until the vast sea that was Burgos would fill the world.
“The night breeze is truly refreshing this evening.”
Just then, Eriponi’s voice came from the terrace entrance. When sitting face to face, he had not felt any particular sense of incongruity, but standing, her height was quite remarkable. For a woman’s frame, she was slightly taller than Timothy.
“When wine rises to the head, even the gentlest breeze feels refreshing.”
As King Damon set aside his cigarette and replied thus, Timothy stepped back. The king had shown his willingness to converse with Eriponi. Timothy exchanged a brief glance with Eldetr and stepped outside the terrace.
Creak.
“Really now, why didn’t you read the room a bit better and present your tribute? Since the Prince is displeased, here I am catching this cold wind.”
“You’re catching the wind too.”
“Mm. I just came out, so I’m fine.”
Unlike Burgos, who had been entirely deprived of any exemption, Ruswena could enjoy the remaining benefits once she returned home and quickly produced the bow.
“Or perhaps you should go back and ask the Prince for some warm tea? Since he’s young, he’ll surely serve something very sweet.”
It was a question of whether to bow one’s head and go inside. It was as good as saying that if Ruswena and her ilk returned home and presented new tributes, he would grant them corresponding benefits.
Damon looked up at Eriponi and twisted his eyebrows.
“Nothing rots the insides quite like sweetness.”
“Haha. I share that opinion.”
The three nations, which had never escaped Bariel’s gaze throughout their long history, were able to gather at this opportunity entirely thanks to Burgos, which had taken the lead.
Since they were turning their backs on Bariel and consolidating new forces, Burgos, as the principal, needed to demonstrate some silent action worthy of serving as proof.
Precisely like presenting noble tributes today. It was one of the measures to powerfully convey Burgos’s sincerity to Ruswena and Cliffford.
“Something seems rather unsettled from the first day.”
“But the beginning of history has always been like this.”
Yet problems had arisen from the very first day they all faced each other for that resolve. Eriponi whispered softly as she folded her fan.
“Is it the jewels that trouble you?”
…
“For the tribute of the day to pass into another nation’s hands. King Damon may not feel slighted, but the nobles surely will.”
How seasoned she was.
Damon remained silent, merely glancing sideways.
“Why not have a calm conversation with Cliffford instead? Haven’t those two nations often found themselves in such situations?”
She spoke of large and small wars and battles. If Cliffford did not yield the jewels, the suggestion was to settle with them first before touching Bariel. Not only would it expand their forces, but it would also reduce the number of mouths to feed from dividing Bariel.
‘The only path I can think of right now is that…’
That cannot be.
Leading to the division of the three nations was precisely what they desired. If Burgos turned hostile toward Cliffford, it would play directly into Bariel’s intentions.
‘If I move according to the opponent’s intentions, I’ll walk with my own feet toward the cliff’s edge.’
King Damon swept back his disheveled hair and smacked his lips. His violet eyes gleamed even more brilliantly.

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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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