Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 323

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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 323
A Thorn Concealed
The Mages’ footsteps as they entered the Magic Department were notably heavy. Just as leaving work felt unfamiliar, arriving at work felt equally strange. They had forgotten how blissful it was to sleep in a bed rather than on a sofa, to eat at a dining table instead of a desk.
Philic froze the moment he opened the department door. The weather outside was clearly fine, yet why did dark clouds seem to loom overhead? How peculiar.
“Good morning. It’s a beautiful day.”
“Yeah. I can’t relate to that.”
“What’s wrong with everyone? You all went home yesterday, didn’t you? Did you work even after getting there?”
“No, we rested. But once I took a break, sitting here feels like torture.”
“Philic, how’s your body? You look exhausted.”
“I’m fine, thanks to your concern.”
“He’s been resting since the inauguration ceremony because he was ill. It would be unfair if he weren’t fine. Come on, hurry and sit down. There’s quite a pile of things on your desk.”
Philic smiled and checked his workspace. Documents had accumulated from various places, but the most eye-catching item was a summons—one that had come down from the Minister’s office. An order to come immediately upon receipt.
“A summons?”
“Yes, yes. You should go straight to the office.”
“Does anyone know why?”
Philic asked casually while glancing at the back of the document. His eyes keenly assessed the atmosphere among his colleagues. But there was nothing particularly unusual—just people focused on starting their work.
“Seems like there’s business. Don’t you know the office door is open every day? Why act so surprised?”
It wasn’t a figure of speech—it was literal. So many people came and went that the door rarely had a chance to close. Someone sitting in the corner added their thoughts.
“I heard he’s going out on field work. Maybe you’re being requisitioned for that? I heard about five or six people going together.”
“…Where?”
“I don’t know. Go ask directly.”
The Mages gave vague answers and returned to their work. Philic remained standing, repeatedly glancing down at the summons.
“Did you do something wrong?”
“What?”
“Did you do something wrong? You’re just standing there when you’ve been summoned.”
“What are you talking about? I’ll be back soon.”
Philic casually organized his things and left the office. The Mages who watched his departing figure exchanged glances and merely shrugged their shoulders in bewilderment.
“Philic. Hello.”
“Oh, yeah.”
In the corridor leading to the office, colleagues greeted me, but I could only let their words pass through one ear. I was too flustered.
I had been summoned a few times before, but those were interactions based on clear work matters. This time, there was no particular reason to call me separately, and of all times….
‘Cliffford. It seems that’s already been revealed.’
An investigation team? What matter would suddenly warrant organizing field work? It was certainly clear that the incident that occurred outside Bariel had leaked to the Imperial Palace.
It spread quickly. I leaned my back against the corner and nervously picked at my fingernails.
‘But why summon me specifically? Is it even okay for me to go in? The Minister’s expression is usually intimidating, but this is sooner than expected.’
“What are you doing?”
“Oh.”
I startled at the voice calling me and turned around. Barsabe, dressed in Imperial Guard uniform, was scrutinizing me from head to toe. She was a Guard, but her behavior seemed oddly suspicious.
Whoosh.
She passed by me and knocked on the office door. If she noticed me standing here like this, she’d think it even more strange. I quickly followed Barsabe inside.
“Pardon the intrusion. Captain Jairot instructed me to fetch you—”
“Ugh.”
Something caught beneath Barsabe’s feet. It was Berik, sprawled face-down on the floor. She shoved at his ribs with an expression of profound displeasure.
“Why are you collapsed here?”
“Ah, my teeth. Wait, why am I here?”
“You’ve lost your mind. You reek of alcohol!”
Berik had spent the entire night drinking heavily before being summoned to the Imperial Palace in the morning. More precisely, he’d been hauled here by a servant sent by Jairot.
Still lying down, Berik rolled across the floor until he reached the sofa. Drinking with the Warriors was enjoyable enough, but the aftermath was truly devastating.
“Ugh. Do those bastards have muscles even in their livers?”
“What are you—ah, Lord Ian.”
“Yes, you’ve arrived.”
Ian emerged from the inner chamber in fresh clothes to greet Barsabe, with Philic standing awkwardly behind him.
Philic bowed his head slightly while observing Ian. Given the outdoor attire, it seemed the errand was genuine. But what of the atmosphere? He wondered if something had changed, yet found nothing remarkable. His gaze was businesslike, even dull—and he appeared somewhat fatigued.
Romandro, while organizing Ian’s garments, explained in his stead.
“We’re going to meet the Cliffford delegation heading to the border. Normally only the Mages would need to go, but Captain Jairot is taking special precautions for safety, so two Imperial Guards will accompany us as well.”
“Two? Am I going too?”
“Then what would you do here?”
“I was planning to sleep. I’ve grown quite fond of this sofa. It’s so wonderfully soft.”
Berik’s reluctance and Barsabe’s expression of dismay were evident—she clearly preferred going alone.
Ian fastened his sleeve buttons and sat at the desk.
“Sit, Philic. This will take some time.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Several of us will be going together, excluding Berik and Barsabe, but two haven’t arrived yet. Check the roster separately, and once everyone is gathered, design a magic circle in the garden behind the building.”
Ian handed over a single slip of paper. All the names were familiar.
“Won’t you be going, Lord Romandro?”
“Me? I’ll stay and handle the Minister’s work in his stead.”
“I see.”
As Romandro grabbed Berik by the nape of the neck and lifted him, Barsabe supported him. They were about to change his clothes, reeking as they were from the drinking session.
A small commotion erupted behind them, but Ian didn’t react, simply passing over the papers. Philic, who had been pondering what to say, lifted his head at the sudden question.
“Is the address listed as central your family home?”
“I beg your pardon?”
“I understood you to be unmarried. I was merely curious.”
Rustle.
What Ian was examining was Philic’s personal information. He hesitated briefly before shaking his head.
“No, sir. I’m from the provinces. As you know, most Mages are.”
“True enough. So am I.”
“…That wasn’t what I meant to imply.”
“It’s fine. It’s the truth, after all.”
Most Mages came from commoner stock. Though I held the honor of being the first noble Mage, my origins bore the stain of a frontier commoner’s birth.
Romandro, combing Berik’s hair, kept glancing at Philic. Ian, for his part, treated him with perfect courtesy, as though nothing were amiss…
‘Captain Jairot suspects me? Wait, wait—I’m struggling with a hangover right now. Ian.’
‘You’re aware that Melania sought out Rutherford’s trading company to place herself under protection. We cannot determine who else was involved in the middle, but Philic heard about it and learned that Melania is alive.’
‘And that we’ve been watching over her since then?’
‘Please refrain from saying “we.” It was my doing.’
“Ow!”
Berik cried out in surprise. Lost in thought, Romandro had yanked his hair far too forcefully.
“Oh, I’m sorry. Does it hurt?”
“Gently, ah, gently!”
His plea for gentleness faded into a buzzing hum in Romandro’s mind. Ian’s declaration—that it was not “we” but “I” who had done this—was far too powerful.
Allowing Melania to live contradicted the Imperial order for her family’s annihilation. It was a grave crime among grave crimes, and Ian had drawn a clear line, claiming sole responsibility.
Romandro suddenly felt the weight of their reality—they stood in the eye of a storm.
‘So, Philic told Captain Jairot about this?’
‘At this point, that seems like the only reasonable conclusion. The shadow I placed could not have been discovered.’
‘How much does Captain Jairot seem to know?’
‘I’m not certain, but he was subtly probing. Given his nature, if he had learned that I allowed Melania to live, the consequences would be… predictable.’
‘Y-yes, that’s true. He would have made it public immediately and exposed everything.’
‘I need to investigate Philic further. I don’t understand why he acted so recklessly without restraint.’
‘If he’d stayed quiet, we’d be halfway there. Tsk, tsk.’
‘The underlying current is the same regardless. Some wish for me to step back out of concern for Prince Jin, while others desire my withdrawal so their own departments rise in status. Philic is no different. He merely used Captain Jairot as a tool.’
At that time, Jairot had been rapidly rising as a force opposing Ian, so Philic had chosen him.
Romandro’s gaze toward Philic grew sharper and more piercing. What a worthless scoundrel! If it were another department or another person, perhaps—but a Mage cannot act this way! What kind of being is Ian!
“Romandro. Did I make some mistake yesterday when I was drinking?”
“Huh? Oh, oh dear. I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”
“Tell me with words, please.”
Berik whimpered, while Barsabe stared in alarm.
Romandro came to his senses and looked down at his hands. Both were clenched tightly around the red hair, and what was already disheveled now resembled a lion’s mane.
Philic glanced back before straightening his posture once more.
“But Ian, why did you…?”
Ian lifted his gaze from the documents and looked at Philic as if he had no idea what the question meant. Then Philic waved his hand defensively.
“Magic circles aren’t my specialty. I don’t have much field experience either. Haha.”
“You’ve been resting continuously since the appointment ceremony. I thought your physical condition would be better than the others. Has your health not improved yet?”
Ian asked smoothly, his eyes suggesting that Philic had left work right after the ceremony and had been resting since—so what could possibly be wrong?
“Not at all. Not in the slightest.”
“Then that’s fortunate. When you arrived, you looked unwell, so I wondered if something had happened during your rest.”
Romandro’s gaze sharpened once more. A problem? Of course there was one! If it was related to the Cliffford envoy incident, didn’t that mean Philic had traveled back and forth between here and there alone? And he’d done something suspicious while there too! He must have exhausted his magical power—there was no other explanation.
This time, Barsabe tapped Romandro’s arm.
“Romandro. Berik’s… cheeks are tearing.”
“Huh? Oh!”
Berik’s cheeks stretched wide to both sides. He had resigned himself to his fate, half-opening his eyes and glaring at Romandro.
“…I made a mistake. I made a big mistake yesterday. Come on, tell me. What did I say when I was drunk? Did I call you fat? Short legs? Did I say I wanted to pluck your beard?”
“You, so this is what you really think of me!?”
“What else!? Why do you keep doing this? It hurts!”
“You little—!”
“Alright, alright! I told Viviana about how you squeezed Romandro for that extra allowance last time, and she found out!”
“You, you told her that!? You—! Come here. This won’t do. Instead of just tearing you apart, I’ll have to stitch you back together permanently.”
Boom! Crash!
The commotion around the sofa was absolutely chaotic—so much so that not a single sound from outside could be heard.
One of the Mages lifted his head and called out to me.
“Ian. The other two have arrived. Perhaps you should head to the garden soon….”
“Right, go. Philic, prepare yourself.”
“Ah, yes. Understood.”
“Romandro, setting up the magical formation will take some time, so make your preparations. Berik, wash up and come out.”
“Save me! Ian, save me! Ugh!”
I left for the garden with Philic. The Mages who had been inscribing the foundational incantations bowed their heads in greeting. I rolled up my sleeves and placed a hand on Philic’s shoulder.
“Location: the south, the border near Cliffford.”
“Yes. No problems there. Will you be channeling the mana, Ian?”
“No.”
I patted his shoulder lightly.
“Philic will take the lead in channeling the mana. You’ve rested the longest among us, so there shouldn’t be any issues. Isn’t that right, Philic?”
“Ah, yes….”
Philic, pushed forward, masked his bewilderment with a smile.
As the hour hand crossed the zenith, soon I would witness the sun and the black moon rising together in the sky.

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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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