Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 317

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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 317
A Desire to Leave
I entered the main palace conference room with practiced ease.
The broad corridor was lined with officials waiting on both sides. Upon hearing my approach, they rose to their feet—subordinates of the ministers attending the grand conference. They greeted me with subtle nods of acknowledgment.
“Good day, Count Ian.”
“I’m late. How is the conference proceeding?”
“We’re continuing with all matters except those related to the Magic Ministry. We’ve just concluded the Cultural Ministry’s proposal on expanding artist support funds and moved forward. The Scribe will deliver the previous records to Romandro.”
The Prime Minister’s Steward opened the conference room door.
This was Prince Jin’s first grand conference as Crown Prince. I wondered if he was handling it well, if he felt lost or uncertain about anything—
“Remarkable. The results are that impressive?”
“Yes. The figures far exceed our projections.”
“At that rate, wouldn’t the costs match those of the initial construction phase?”
“Precisely. Therefore, with the remaining surplus—”
Jin sat at the head of the table, listening to the minister’s report with a composed expression. There was nothing awkward about his demeanor whatsoever.
I suddenly recalled that day when I first held the boy’s hand and attended a grand conference. Did he realize how much he had grown since then? I hoped he did.
“Ah, Count Ian.”
Jin noticed me as he flipped through documents. Simultaneously, the ministers turned their heads—their gazes searching to see how relationships had shifted now that the Crown Prince had withdrawn from the Magic Ministry’s influence. I entered slowly and offered my greeting.
“My apologies, Your Highness. I’m late.”
“Not at all. I heard about it. The magical formation controlling Imperial Palace access suddenly overheated—there are no problems?”
“No, Your Highness. It was a calculation error stemming from a formula discrepancy. It’s been resolved without issue.”
“You’ve worked hard. Please, be seated.”
The conference proceeded as naturally as flowing water. As I listened attentively while inferring the previous content, Romandro brought me the conference records and handed them over.
I quickly scanned the text, and before I realized it, I was smiling.
“…Ruswena has yet to designate tax-exempt goods. Should they request silver, perhaps we ought to consult with Paleffonts and adjust the silver trade—”
Then a word caught my ear: Paleffonts. Did Jin know about this? I reflexively picked up my pen and glanced toward the head of the table. It was a habit that remained—jotting down unfamiliar terms in the margins.
But what I encountered was the Crown Prince raising his hand confidently to halt the official’s statement.
“Wait. Let me clarify this. What is Paleffonts?”
“Ah, my apologies, Your Highness. It’s the largest merchant guild in Bariel that deals in gold and silver.”
“This information wasn’t in the report, which is why I asked. Had it been included, I would have reviewed it beforehand. Do you wish to prolong this conference?”
The boy reprimanded the minister with a touch of jest. He knew there were many gaps in his knowledge. That’s why he had instructed them to submit detailed written materials before the conference began.
The other ministers seized the moment and added their own jests.
“Your Highness, this one’s son has only just begun to walk, and he’s been lamenting that he can’t rest since coming home a few days ago.”
“No, no, Your Highness. I’m actually quite happy.”
“Isn’t your wife also an official in the same ministry?”
“She is. Perhaps that’s why I was hoping the conference would run long.”
I twirled my pen thoughtfully, observing the warm atmosphere. It was a moment where interests aligned with remarkable precision.
The officials treated Jin with greater favor than usual to counter the Magic Ministry’s influence, and Jin could use their goodwill to reveal his own shortcomings, couldn’t he?
Everything was proceeding as it should. After a moment of silence, I signaled to the Prime Minister.
‘Let the conference continue.’
The laughter and chatter were fine, but it was time to get back to work. The Prime Minister cleared his throat and lightly tapped his gavel.
Thump, thump!
“Come now. Let us continue with the proceedings. We’re running behind schedule. With the King of Burgos preparing for his departure, we cannot afford further delays, can we?”
“Ah, yes. So, regarding the Ruswena delegation….”
As the Minister fumbled through his statement, I glanced at Ian while pretending to review documents. Had he noticed? Did he understand that I could now participate in these meetings without him by my side?
I hoped Ian would feel that I stood alone, however imperfectly. That he would trust and rely on me, and perhaps step back just a little….
“Your Highness.”
“Hmm?”
At the Prime Minister’s call, I turned my head as if unsurprised. All the statements had concluded. The Prime Minister reviewed the documents and proposed closing the meeting.
“Everything has been discussed except the Ministry of Magic matters. However, the King of Burgos’s departure is imminent….”
“The Ministry of Magic? Count Ian?”
“Yes, Your Highness. There are no matters requiring joint deliberation—only progress reports. If time is pressing, written submissions should suffice.”
Ian nodded to indicate there were no issues. Everyone fell silent, barely concealing their tension. The moment had come. I carefully surveyed the room before speaking.
“Then, regarding the decisions made in today’s meeting—does everyone agree to proceed as planned?”
The Ministers’ eyes quickly darted toward Ian. Since these proposals had been made during the Ministry of Magic’s absence, they were essentially decisions everyone except him had already approved.
Ian tapped the edge of his documents with his pen.
“…Ahem, Count Ian?”
“Yes. I have no objections.”
The Prime Minister, unable to bear it any longer, made a move to press forward, but Ian set down his pen with apparent resolve. Everyone relaxed, yet confusion lingered on their faces. Why did he agree so readily? And of all things….
“The Imperial Palace is increasing the budget for all departments except the Ministry of Magic.”
“They were already receiving excessive funds. It would be unconscionable to demand an increase to match other departments. Besides, the payment for Luronstone is still tied up. To avoid giving the Ministry of Magic any grounds for complaint, Count Ian has no choice either.”
“Did you not see the back page?”
“I did. I saw you turn it earlier.”
-【A portion of the Imperial mana-sealing stones entrusted to the Imperial Guards】
-One allocation of mana-sealing stones: three stones to each Imperial Guard commander, one stone to each member below. Given the nature of their demon combat and special operations, mana-sealing stones prove effective across multiple applications. Enhancement of Imperial Guard prestige….
Mana-sealing stones were the only means to physically restrain a mage. Ian had already distributed them once, but this was about the Imperial Court granting a small quantity to the Imperial Guards again.
This was tantamount to empowering the Imperial Guards—who protected the Emperor—to stand against the Ministry of Magic.
Being the first instance, it was more symbolic than practical, a testing of the waters, but it also signified that the Crown Prince was genuinely loosening his grip on the Ministry of Magic.
“But what grounds would anyone have to object here? It’s not reducing the Ministry of Magic’s authority—it’s merely granting Imperial property.”
“Precisely. To object would be overstepping bounds and challenging the Imperial authority. That would be a dangerous move for them as well.”
“We’ll need to observe their stance for a while, but yes.”
Whispers about Ian rippled through the room from various corners. Though barely audible, there were so many that the atmosphere quickly grew restless. The Prime Minister hastily struck the gavel to quell the commotion.
Ding! Bang, bang!
“Then let us conclude today’s grand council here. Thank you all for your efforts.”
“Yes. Thank you for your efforts.”
“Let us move at once. We must see off the King of Burgos.”
“Indeed. It’s the adjacent palace, so let us walk.”
The Ministers rose and dispersed as if they had been waiting for this moment, clearly eager to avoid any entanglement with the Ministry of Magic.
Ian methodically tapped the edge of his documents to organize them. I tilted my head slightly to observe his expression.
“Count Ian. Are you well?”
“Yes, Your Highness. My fatigue has passed. I heard you were not in good condition either. The appointment ceremony was quite taxing, was it not?”
Not that.
I had stepped back, and he was asking if that was alright—whether I had misunderstood and made a mistake, whether this was truly what Ian wanted. His gaze held that questioning light.
As the boy’s stare clung persistently to me, I tilted my head in confusion.
“Why do you ask, Your Highness?”
“I was late to the conference.”
So who told me to be late? If I didn’t show my face at such a gathering, disadvantage was inevitable. As Jin’s eyes narrowed, I laughed brightly.
“Yes, indeed. If I could have, I would have come earlier. It was Your Highness’s first conference, after all.”
Ah, he laughed. Thank goodness. This must be right. Jin composed his expression and rose with dignity from his seat.
Then came a thunderbolt of a statement from behind.
“Your Highness. My mother’s betrothal ceremony is coming up soon…”
“I’ve heard. Of course I know.”
He said he would wear the earrings I gave him to the ceremony, so he must have intended to attend. Then Ian offered a sorrowful smile.
“Will you be able to make it?”
“…Why, why?”
“I thought you would be quite busy with your duties.”
Jin’s eyes widened. Right. Now it was proper to keep distance, so naturally I had to cease contact with Philia as well. The palace people weren’t fools, and superficial restraint wouldn’t work on them. Jin’s attendance at something as private as his mother’s betrothal ceremony would only suggest that our relationship remained unchanged.
But Jin himself seemed profoundly shocked, his expression freezing.
“Your Highness?”
“…Yes. I am quite, quite busy.”
“I understand. I will explain it well to my mother. Please don’t worry and focus on state affairs.”
As Jin stopped, Xiaoxi and Romandro, who had been waiting at the door, simultaneously thrust their heads forward.
Ian gestured to Romandro to hurry out, while Xiaoxi passed by him and approached Jin. When their eyes met at the same level, the boy’s expression looked quite uncomfortable.
“Your Highness, what’s wrong?”
“Just a moment, I…”
“Yes, I understand.”
Xiaoxi signaled those waiting outside to leave first. That included Ian and Romandro as well. With Romandro following Ian’s bewildered form as the last to go, only Jin and Xiaoxi remained in the conference room.
…
Thud.
The boy pressed his forehead against the wall and crouched down. Then he began to sniffle, stifling his groans. Xiaoxi patted the boy’s shoulder and asked.
“What troubles you? Are you hurt somewhere?”
“It’s just that Philia is getting betrothed next week.”
“That’s right. There were rumors that Ian took his first vacation since taking office.”
For a moment, Xiaoxi paused with an ‘ah.’
He had vaguely sensed the strange current between the two. Jin had never spoken of it outright, but there was clearly distance since the appointment ceremony.
Whether to call it fortunate or not, the consolation was that there seemed to be no negative feelings recently.
Jin crouched there, muttering continuously.
“I’m so busy with work, I don’t think I can, can go…”
“Do you want to go?”
“…No. There’s just too much work.”
He wants to go.
Xiaoxi knelt on one knee beside the Boy and examined his face. Tears glistened on the verge of spilling over.
“If you wish to go so badly, Your Highness, then go. It’s perfectly fine.”
“I can’t. I have too much work… and if others find out, it defeats the purpose….”
If Jin attended, it would dilute the effort to keep Ian at a distance. Xiaoxi pondered for a moment, then whispered softly.
“You could slip away and return unnoticed. I’ll arrange something for you.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Now please, get up. How can the Crown Prince sit crouched like this?”
Jin grasped Xiaoxi’s hand and rose to his feet. A tear nearly rolled down his cheek, but he quickly wiped it away with his sleeve, erasing all trace.
The Boy’s expression immediately turned sullen. Ian was truly heartless—couldn’t he have managed to get through the betrothal ceremony somehow? It was only a difference of a few days!
“Count Ian is really too much. Truly.”
“Shall I scold him?”
“Who would dare scold a Count?”
In the Imperial Palace, even the Prime Minister couldn’t act recklessly toward him. Now that such a thought crossed his mind, he suddenly understood why everyone around him was so desperate to get Ian under control.
“How dare anyone….”
Xiaoxi laughed playfully and adjusted the Boy’s clothing, while at the same time, Romandro walking ahead scratched at his ear.
“Who’s talking about me?”
“Why do you ask, Romandro?”
“Oh, my ear was itching. Anyway, what were you discussing with Prince Jin earlier? His expression didn’t look good.”
Ian glanced at Romandro briefly, then fumbled for words.
“Nothing.”
“It’s clearly something.”
“…I merely informed His Highness that with his duties being so demanding, he needn’t feel obligated to attend my mother’s betrothal ceremony.”
Thud.
Romandro, who had been walking smoothly, stopped dead in his tracks, his expression turning thunderous. How could this be—in all the world, on all the earth! The very thing Prince Jin had been so eagerly anticipating…!
“Ian!”
Romandro cried out in shock, abandoning all composure, while Ian pretended not to hear and quickly fled the scene. That heartless workaholic!
Romandro rolled up his sleeves and pursued Ian fiercely.

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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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