Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 329

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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 329
To Meet the King
Ian’s gaze was remarkably peculiar. It seemed as though he had grasped something profound, yet simultaneously appeared to harbor regret.
The Mage, having discerned his superior’s inner thoughts, elaborated once more. His commander needed to understand just how extraordinary it was for a boy to ascend to ministerial office. Furthermore, he needed to comprehend the limitations that bound ordinary mages.
“…We gave it our all, Ian.”
It was shameful to claim they had exhausted their strength when three of them had merely managed a rudimentary binding spell, but what could be done?
In truth, from the portal magic they had cast at departure onward, they had depleted nearly all their reserves. Interfering with the flow of time and space was magic akin to an eternal curse—its difficulty was self-evident without need for explanation.
“You’re right. My judgment was lacking.”
“No, sir. Such words only shame us further. But if this is truly urgent, then we have a serious matter on our hands. How much magical power do you have remaining, Ian?”
The manifestation of the World Tree just moments ago was distinctly different from before. It was not merely summoning the ancient tree—he had thrust the earth upward, split it asunder, and sealed it once more.
“I will gather whatever strength remains and offer it to you. Perhaps it would be best if you ascended first, even alone.”
At the Mage’s suggestion, Ian turned his head slightly. Prince Noah and May were deliberating over something, while in the distance lay a heap of shattered carriages, and in a corner, Philic lay bound and prone.
Was that all? A short walk away lay Cliffford’s domain. If the Prince’s party arrived late, people would surely come, but could the mages respond adequately then?
“What? We can’t go home!?”
“Be quiet and move this instead.”
“What about food? There’s nothing but wasteland—not even grass to eat!”
“Stop making a fuss and be quiet.”
“Don’t you dare steal my lunch box. Besides, you have no molars left, so you couldn’t eat it anyway.”
“Whose fault is this? Drop dead!”
“Ack!? Are you insane? You’re actually swinging that thing?”
…Berik was one thing, but more importantly, Barsabe, who was affiliated with Jairot’s faction, was among them. Since there were still matters to settle with Prince Noah, it would be best to send Jeonseogoo ahead first.
“Border Guard Commander, procure a messenger bird for me. It’s to be sent to the Imperial Palace. And I believe everyone should recover without issue in about half a day. What do you think?”
“Yes, sir. I believe we can manage that much.”
“Ian! Tell them to bring food when the doctors arrive!”
Squeak.
Meanwhile, as Ian organized the scene, Noah and May huddled together, seeking a way forward.
Having been caught harboring ulterior motives on the eve of an alliance, it was now time to humbly accept the consequences. In the worst case, it would mean war, which signified the annihilation of Cliffford.
May bit her lip, tormented by regret over the preceding hours.
“I apologize, Your Highness.”
“What are you apologizing for? I made the decision. What is done cannot be undone. But judging from Count Ian’s demeanor just now, something seems different, doesn’t it?”
“Yes. He seemed particularly surprised when he heard there was no payment.”
Prince Noah furrowed his brow in contemplation. Since the other party had demanded jewels, he had assumed political machinations were at play. The basis for his judgment that this originated from the Imperial Palace was the mage lying unconscious over there—Philic. Thus, he had all the more reason not to inform Bariel’s side.
From Ian’s demeanor, it appeared that internal strife was occurring within the Magic Ministry.
“A traitor within the Magic Ministry. And Idgal….”
He realized that Cliffford had become entangled in an awkward affair. But there was no help for it. Even if he could turn back time, he would have made the same choice.
The power to oppose mages was a matter of national importance. For independence, security, and a prosperous future of strength.
“Your Highness. Whatever choice you make, I will stand beside you to the end. So please, do not worry yourself.”
May gripped Noah’s hand firmly, lending him her strength. For Cliffford to avoid harm, Noah would have to bear everything alone.
The exposed curse of the beastkin, and the attempt to oppose Bariel. All of it would be framed as the Prince’s unilateral problem, his choice, his execution.
“May. There’s no need for that.”
“Your Highness. I speak with sincerity.”
“No. You needn’t go that far. Unexpectedly, Count Ian might….”
Noah had been about to say that I might show “mercy,” but he caught himself. No matter how I looked at it, the choice of words was far too bluntly insulting. Noah cleared his throat briefly and continued.
“He might give us a chance.”
Knock, knock.
At that moment, I rapped on the door deliberately. It was a signal to stop their hushed discussion. May straightened her posture in startled alarm. Prince Noah merely regarded her with an expressionless gaze.
I adjusted my outer robe, sat down, and crossed my legs. Yes, with eyes that seemed to say: let’s see what solution you’ll propose to take responsibility for this situation.
“Count Ian.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“…First, let me make this clear. Every action I took in Bariel was my own unilateral decision, and His Majesty knows nothing of it. So if problems arise, they are mine alone. I will bear whatever consequences I can within my capacity, so please do not hold Cliffford accountable.”
“That cannot be. Your Highness came here as an envoy of Cliffford, did you not? Moreover, as a likely successor to the throne, your intentions must be interpreted as Cliffford’s intentions.”
“The attacker was a Mage. Then doesn’t Count Ian bear some responsibility for failing to properly manage his subordinates? Since you understand the power of magic, I’m sure you’re well aware of how great a threat that single individual posed to us.”
“But those were jewels bestowed by His Majesty. They were not stolen—they were handed over to ruffians as payment for a transaction. That is the height of disloyalty. And in exchange, Idgal, no less?”
Amid the relentless barrage of words, May felt as though she were suffocating. No matter how I looked at it, Ian seemed poised to tear Cliffford apart, yet why did the Prince believe they still had a chance?
“For mistakes, one seeks forgiveness. When I meet the Crown Prince, I shall offer my sincere apologies. I will also bear an appropriate price.”
“An appropriate price. I’m curious.”
“An alliance, and military agreements as well.”
The mysterious ones had handed Idgal over to Cliffford with scarcely any economic gain in return.
I hadn’t considered it at the time, but observing Ian’s reaction, I could glean the clues. If Idgal were to spread throughout neighboring nations, Bariel’s military strength would suffer a severe blow.
“You were conducting secret dealings even as you spoke of alliance. What are we to trust?”
The military disparity between Bariel and the Three Nations. In terms of troop numbers, they were roughly equal, or perhaps the Three Nations held a slight advantage. Yet the reason Bariel could reign supreme over them was singular: the existence of a formidable corps of Mages.
“We shall forge a contract magic here and now.”
“Your Highness!”
Unlike May, who gasped in shock, I merely smiled slowly. I had anticipated it somewhat, but the response came faster than expected. It spoke to the weight of responsibility the Prince felt.
“If Idgal circulates from Cliffford, naturally Burgos and Ruswena will follow suit. Or perhaps they already have.”
I rested my chin in my hand, tapping my cheek thoughtfully. Was King Damon of Burgos’s confidence connected to this? Idgal was already circulating openly in the Hawan Kingdom, so there was a strong likelihood that Ruswena, being not far distant, had already encountered it as well.
If the Mages’ military strength were to be threatened, the alliance with Cliffford would certainly become crucial.
“Your Highness said you were not Cliffford’s representative. What meaning would a contract with you hold?”
“And you are merely a minister among countless departments, are you not? The person I must meet resides in the imperial palace, so this would be a most fitting arrangement for us both.”
May clasped her hands tightly beneath the table and prayed. If only she could sacrifice her own life to quell this crisis.
I deliberated briefly before finally nodding.
“Very well. But there are conditions.”
“Essential to any contract. State them.”
“First, I must report to the imperial palace. The whereabouts of the jewels bestowed by His Majesty have become unclear. And second, I wish to forge the contract not only with Your Highness but also with Cliffford’s King.”
“With my father?”
I smiled and nodded affirmatively. The Prince kept trying to use his title to wriggle free, so I intended to bind him by contracting with the King as well, making escape impossible.
“Do you object? In exchange, I shall explain matters well to His Majesty so that you are not held responsible for the loss of the jewels.”
“…And Idgal?”
“That will be discussed with Cliffford’s King.”
“I wish to know the details of the alliance roster.”
“And you wish to discuss this matter before the King as well?”
Noah swallowed a sigh inwardly. He had wanted to handle this within his own authority, but Ian was not one to simply oblige. Besides, Noah was hardly in a position to make further suggestions.
The Prince ultimately agreed.
“Then when….”
The moment he asked when would be a good time to arrange a meeting.
The Border Guards sounded the buffalo horn once more. The reflexive jolt ran through my body—a sound I had heard amid chaos before. The Border Guards waved their white flags and shouted to those around them.
“Mounted soldiers are approaching from Cliffford!”
“They’re waving flags too! They’re from the Kingdom! It seems the delegation’s return was delayed, so they’ve come to check on us!”
At the news of soldiers coming from Cliffford, everyone rushed toward the border line. They waved their hands with all their might, signaling their presence.
“Over here! Over here!”
“The Prince is here too! Someone help with the carriage!”
“We were attacked by our Mages—!”
“Watch your tongue!”
“Right, right! There are Mages here! Over here! Be careful!”
The mounted soldiers recognized that something had gone wrong. One of them immediately turned back the way he came to request reinforcements. Watching this, Ian spoke to Noah.
“Rather than scheduling a separate meeting, it would be better to handle it now that they’ve come. If we ride on horseback instead of in carriages, how long would it take to reach the Kingdom?”
“If we ride without rest, we should arrive by nightfall.”
“Is that so?”
By then, the Mages’ mana would have recovered as well. We could finish everything there and return directly to the Imperial Palace. Ian rose from his seat and issued orders.
“Border Guards, temporarily permit the entry of Cliffford soldiers and assist them in cleaning up this area. We shall escort the Prince into the Kingdom.”
“Yes, understood.”
“Don’t forget to file your reports.”
“Jeonseogoo is here, Ian!”
“Everyone, hurry.”
Ian quickly wrote a brief summary of the situation on the table, then tied it to Jeonseogoo’s leg and sent him off.
Soon after, Ian’s group, Noah, and May received horses from the mounted soldiers and mounted them. Berik chuckled eagerly and asked May.
“Say, is the Grape Country really full of grapes?”
“….”
May shot him a look. She didn’t want to admit it, but it was true.
Wine was their primary product, and nearly every front yard had at least one grapevine planted. May deliberately ignored him and pulled her horse’s reins forward.
Neigh!
“Let’s go! Time to eat grapes!”
“Shut it! Go drink sewer water—!”
“Let’s go feast!”
Berik galloped ahead. The Mages, May, and Noah followed in his wake. The air carried a sweet, fruity scent. Merely crossing the border, yet the very atmosphere seemed transformed.
Ian caressed Idgal bound at his waist and lowered his body into a racing position. The horses began to gallop even faster.

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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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