Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 320

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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 320
A Time to Return
Viviana, adorned in white gloves that stretched to her elbows, clapped her hands together—a signal for everyone to focus their attention.
The young guests held their breath in anticipation, their toes dangling expectantly. The Warriors’ boisterous laughter and the pianist’s melody ceased entirely. Only the occasional chirping of birds broke the peaceful silence.
“Now, let us commence the ceremony. It is truly an honor to witness the beautiful beginning of this union.”
“The honor is ours!”
“Philia, congratulations on becoming part of the tribe!”
“Does that mean you’ve all become Bariel’s family too? Congratulations!”
As the Warriors raised their glasses, Berik joined in enthusiastically, lifting his own. Viviana gave her approval by tilting her drink-filled glass, and I handed a glass to the young guest seated beside me—one brimming with milk, his favorite.
“To the Warriors gathered here, and especially to Philia’s beautiful son, I extend my heartfelt congratulations. Philia and Nersaren, please swear your fate before all of us.”
At Viviana’s gesture, the pianist rolled up his sleeves and began pressing warm notes. Whistles and gasps erupted from various corners of the room.
Philia and Nersaren faced each other, and he carefully lifted the veil from his beloved’s face. His hands trembled so visibly that his nervousness was unmistakable.
“Lord Nersaren, is the veil truly so heavy?”
“Ha! I’m going mad. Lord Kakantir should have seen me like this.”
Had this been any other day, the usual Nersaren would have narrowed his eyes and urged restraint, but today he had completely forgotten such propriety.
Today, before being Nersaren, he was Philia’s beloved. Everyone witnessed firsthand how foolish a person in love could become.
“Nersaren.”
Philia smiled shyly and extended her hand, and he slipped an old ring onto her finger—faded and adorned with no jewels.
Heil, feeling puzzled, tilted his head toward me and asked.
“Is that ring truly the one?”
It seemed rather humble for the mother of the Grand Empire’s Magic Ministry Director. Jin also appeared curious, his ears perking up subtly.
“I heard Lord Nersaren has worn it since childhood—a gift from his grandfather. Once we reach Hielo, Lord Kakantir will bestow a proper ring upon her. The arrival here was so sudden, you see.”
Ah, of course. They were those who had fallen from the heavens due to the rebellion.
Though humble, Philia seemed entirely satisfied, repeatedly bringing the ring to her lips. She embodied what happiness truly meant.
Viviana unfolded the marriage proclamation.
“From this moment forward, Philia and Nersaren shall swear to become each other’s one and only love. If anyone objects, speak now, or remain silent forever.”
“If we speak now, won’t we be silenced forever anyway?”
“There are no objections! We completely approve!”
“Me too! Me too!”
Yet one person remained conspicuously silent. All eyes turned toward me. Tap-tap-tap! The pianist even struck a key rapidly, urging my response.
I smiled, raising both hands lightly.
“If my mother is happy, then of course I approve.”
“Then I am truly happy.”
Philia beamed, displaying her ring, and Viviana raised her glass in proclamation.
“Excellent. All of us here have witnessed the marriage of Philia and Nersaren. We are sacred witnesses and friends who shall protect them forever. Let us all raise our glasses in celebration.”
“Raise your glasses!”
“Ahhh! Kiss! Kiss!”
“Oh dear, cover the children’s eyes.”
“But we don’t want to! You just said to watch in the proclamation!”
Clink! Ding!
As the glasses clinked together, the subdued commotion erupted into chaos. The Warriors seemed genuinely intent on teasing Nersaren, their jokes flowing without pause, while Berik climbed onto his chair and waved his bottle about wildly.
“Let me sing one! A night like this can’t go without it!”
“Go big! Come on!”
Thump! Boom!
As I rolled my feet to keep the beat, the Warriors responded with their hands clapping. Berik’s song scraped out loudly and raucously. Everyone burst into genuine laughter at the absurdity of it.
“…Get that fool off the stage.”
“It’s a mess. Where’s his confidence coming from?”
“Ah, let him! Let him finish! The second half isn’t bad!”
“Musician, just ignore him and keep playing the piano.”
The musician pounded the keys with all their might, as if trying to drown out Berik’s voice. One by one, the Warriors naturally began dancing around the table. Beside Philia, the children spun in circles, cheering loudly.
Philia swayed her dress awkwardly yet never stopped smiling.
“Ian and you there—yes, if our little guest wants to dance too, go ahead. It’s a good day.”
Romandro, who had been dancing with Viviana, nudged Ian’s shoulder.
Jin, caught off guard instead. He had only thought, just a little, that he envied how freely the children played without restraint. But it felt like he’d been caught. What if his expression showed beneath the mask? He merely fumbled nervously at its surface.
Whoosh.
When Ian rose with a smile, Heil froze as if shocked. Was Ian about to dance? Ian, of all people?
“Musician, I shall play a piece. Please rest for a moment.”
Of course. There was no way Ian would do such a thing.
Ian asked the musician to yield the piano and took their place. Then, slowly, he recalled memories and moved his fingers across the keys.
The music was like a gentle spring breeze.
Soft and swaying, the kind that made one’s head tilt naturally.
“You play piano quite well, Count Ian.”
“It’s quite skilled. Wow, it really is lovely to listen to.”
Since when? Philia tilted her head in wonder, then recalled those days of receiving education as a ward in Bratz, and smiled wryly. It must have been something learned back then.
“Little one.”
Philia gestured to Jin, who sat alone. Come here and dance with us, she seemed to say.
Jin hesitated, only his fingertips fidgeting. He knew the dances performed in high society, but he had never learned how to fit naturally into an atmosphere like this.
Unable to watch any longer, one of the neighborhood children ran up to Jin and pulled his arm.
“Huh? Uh, uh?”
“What are you doing? Join in and play with us.”
Surrounded by children of similar age, Jin naturally blended in. He laughed loudly at their silly movements, then held hands with Philia and spun in circles, enjoying the music.
When Berik burst in and joined, the Warriors grabbed him by the collar, saying they should drink instead, while Ian watched the scene from nearby.
The boy would not know.
“Ahahaha!”
For the first time, that he was laughing out loud like this.
And Ian would not know either.
“Look at Ian.”
“Wow, he’s smiling like that.”
That he wore a smile so rarely seen on his own face.
* * *
Clop-clop-clop!
Whinnnnny!
A single carriage raced through the evening streets.
Behind the coachman’s seat, a flag bearing the Imperial Palace’s Magic Ministry insignia fluttered in the wind. Though the residential area was bathed in the fading sunset, a faint light in the distance stood out distinctly.
“Is it that place?”
“Seems so. Draw closer, if you would.”
The Coachman tightened the reins at the Mage’s request. Two or three carriages were already parked in front of Romandro’s residence.
The Mage, draped in a black robe, surveyed his surroundings carefully before gently ringing the bell at the entrance.
Ding—
Knock! Knock-knock!
“Is anyone home?”
The cheerful chatter drifting from the garden made it clear that no one had retired for the night.
The door soon swung open.
Berik stood there thoroughly intoxicated, sniffing loudly.
“What is it? Where are you from?”
“Are Ian and Romandro here? I’ve come from the Magic Ministry. Fetch them at once.”
“Oh, wait. Iaaaan! Romaaan!”
At Berik’s shout, Ian, who had been drinking at the table, turned his head. Romandro did the same. Unlike Ian, who was lightly intoxicated, Romandro appeared half-unconscious.
“Someone’s here from the Magic Ministry.”
“What’s the matter?”
“Ian, Romandro. My apologies for intruding during your leave.”
The Mage wore only a light shirt, quite unlike his usual appearance, and his sleeves were rolled up, suggesting he was thoroughly enjoying himself. Ian accepted the letter the Mage offered.
“What is this?”
“A message from the Prime Minister. I was ordered to deliver it in person. I know nothing of the details.”
“Must I return to the palace now?”
“No. Instead, a meeting will be held early tomorrow morning. The Prince’s health has taken a turn for the worse, so all today’s schedules have been cancelled.”
At the Mage’s words, Romandro glanced backward. The thought that the Prince was currently playing board games with neighborhood children nearly escaped his throat.
Ian weighed the letter’s thickness between his fingertips and murmured.
“If it’s tomorrow morning, my leave is forfeit.”
“I am truly sorry. This is your first time since taking office.”
“It’s fine. You have nothing to apologize for. Travel safely.”
“Yes, Ian. I’ll prepare for the meeting in advance. We’ll meet at the palace. Then.”
Creeeeak.
Slam!
Only two days of leave, and he couldn’t even use them fully! Romandro grumbled that he should have eaten less had he known.
Rip—Ian tore open the envelope and examined its contents.
“What’s wrong, Ian?”
“The Prime Minister certainly had reason to contact us.”
Ian leaned against the wall and murmured. He had discerned that this was a somewhat troublesome matter.
“It appears there’s been a complication with the Cliffford delegation’s return schedule.”
“What? Cliffford? Did they send word from there?”
“No, sir. The nearby guards submitted an urgent report. There was a disturbance outside the territory during the night, and upon investigation, clear signs of thieves were found. The location and timing coincide with Cliffford’s scheduled return, it seems.”
“Then! Heavens, Prince Noah encountered thieves?”
Romandro gasped, clutching both his cheeks. Wasn’t this an enormous matter? Distinguished guests encountering thieves within Bariel’s territory on their way home!
But I shook my head. If that were the case, it would actually be fortunate. I’d simply need to handle the aftermath without complications.
“Cliffford appears to have been attacked, but the problem is that the party involved denies it. Word from Jeonseogoo states that Cliffford is proceeding without issue toward the border.”
“What, what do you mean?”
“Exactly.”
Romandro tilted his head as if he didn’t understand. The circumstances were clear, yet they claimed otherwise.
From Cliffford’s position, it would have been advantageous to raise even a minor issue with Bariel. With the alliance approaching soon, what better strategy existed to seize the upper hand?
“I don’t understand.”
“It seems the Prime Minister shares your confusion, which is why he’s convening a conference.”
I smiled faintly and folded the letter neatly.
I said nothing, but Romandro could tell. Wasn’t he the superior I’d served all this time? He narrowed his eyes, studying my face.
“What is it? Ian?”
“What is it?”
“Why do my eyes tell me you know everything? Hmm?”
“You seem to have had quite a bit to drink.”
“I haven’t? I’m not drunk? Just tell me what’s going through that head of yours.”
I placed the paper in my pocket and patted his shoulder. Then, watching the small guest laughing and chattering with children her own age in the distance, I nodded slightly. It was a sigh-laden instruction.
“It would be best to send the children home now. Ask Heil to escort the young guests, would you.”
Xiaoxi is here, but isn’t the sun already setting?
As Philia, intoxicated by the atmosphere, waved her hand, I waved mine as well. I felt the gaze of the masked child turning toward me.
“…Night approaches. It’s time to return now.”

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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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