Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 331

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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 331
Fire. The One Who Grasps Idgal
The pleasantly cool temperature, the sweet fragrance, the soft fabric, and music drifting from somewhere—the Mages who had been shown to their quarters lounged against the sofa backs, easing their exhaustion.
When I came to my senses, we had crossed the border and entered King Cliffford’s palace. It was a situation I never could have anticipated. The Mage glared at Philic, still bound and sprawled on the floor, muttering under his breath.
“When you think about it, isn’t all this suffering because of that bastard? Otrik, tell me now. What exactly did Philic do?”
“I don’t know the details either.”
“Don’t talk to Otrik. He’ll cry again.”
“I won’t cry! I was just startled before!”
While the Mages bickered, Berik was too preoccupied eating the fruit the palace had provided. True to its reputation as the Land of Grapes, each grape was as sweet as honey with a pleasant tartness—quite exquisite.
“If you all have time to chat, fill your bellies first. Aren’t you going home?”
“A few grapes won’t replenish the magic we’ve expended.”
“Is that so? Then I’ll eat them all. Ah, this place does it well.”
Just as Berik was about to shove an entire bunch of grapes into his mouth, urgent footsteps echoed from outside.
Then, without warning, the doors swung open on both sides. A single Servant, drenched in sweat and blood, gasped for breath with a pallid expression.
Crash!
“There—something terrible has happened!”
“…What is it?”
“Minister Ian Hielo has…”
The moment the name Ian was mentioned, Berik spat out what he was eating and drew his sword. He lunged at the Servant as if to attack.
Clang!
Barsabe blocked his path with her blade. The terrified Servant stumbled backward and collapsed.
“Berik. Calm yourself.”
“Ian—why?!”
“That is…”
“Damn it, don’t stammer!”
The startled Mages grasped the gravity of the situation and gathered their robes. No matter how skilled Mages they were, this was Cliffford, not Bariel. Moreover, Prince Noah had tried to restrain them with Idgal.
“Minister Ian has collapsed!!!”
As the atmosphere grew tense, the Servant covered his face with his arms and screamed—as if making a final desperate cry.
Then Berik lowered his sword and his expression softened. He had collapsed a few times before, but he seemed fine just moments ago.
“What? Why?”
“That, we don’t know either, so His Majesty ordered us to fetch you Mages at once…”
“You should have said so from the start!”
“Ah! Wait, I can walk!”
“Shut up! Everyone, hurry! Which way?!”
“Right! Turn right! Ahhh!”
Berik hoisted the Servant onto his shoulder and bolted forward. The Mages followed. Outside, they could see the palace physicians and their assistants moving in a line. Their frantic yet urgent demeanor made it clear something serious had occurred.
Tap-tap-tap!
The reception hall doors stood wide open.
Upon reaching the entrance, Berik froze in shock. The floor was drenched in blood, forming a sea of crimson, and Ian, collapsed on his side, had a complexion as pale as death itself.
Berik dropped the Servant and approached him. His words caught in his throat. Was this truly the Ian he knew? This couldn’t be happening to Ian.
“I-Ian. Why, why are you like this?”
“Ah….”
“Ian. Come to your senses.”
Whether cold sweat or tears, moisture glistened around my eyes. My mind wasn’t fully present—I could only emit pained groans while my hands thrashed about. Berik held me firmly, but even that seemed lost beneath the agony consuming me.
“Gasp, Minister Ian! Good heavens!”
“What in the world is happening?”
“Blood, the blood—”
“Stop the bleeding! The blood!”
While the mages rushed toward me, Barsabe’s attention fixed on Prince Noah. His shock was unmistakable. Barsabe gripped her sword hilt firmly and spoke.
“Your Highness. Though I recognize the impropriety, given the circumstances, you must explain everything from beginning to end.”
The Imperial Guards’ surveillance of the Magic Ministry was separate from this. I was Bariel’s mage and minister, and wasn’t I participating in this investigation team to monitor and guard him?
Noah raised both hands to show his innocence.
“I truly know nothing. We were about to forge a contract spell, when he suddenly collapsed like that.”
“A contract spell?”
“Yes. A contract for Bariel and Clipoford to establish a friendly alliance. I swear, we bear no responsibility.”
As Barsabe’s eyes narrowed, the palace soldiers likewise placed their hands on their sword hilts. Tension mounted between them. The King of Clipoford, flustered, peered at my condition over her shoulder.
If I died here, it would be truly problematic. There had been a violent clash over the carriage before—one-sided though it was—and now the Magic Ministry’s minister would die in Clipoford’s palace?
Inevitable. Absolutely inevitable, they would be misunderstood. That Clipoford had eliminated the mage to check Bariel’s influence. Coupled with Idgal, that suspicion would gain even more credibility.
“W-what do we do? There’s no one here who uses healing magic.”
“Let’s try channeling mana into him. Your Highness, surely there’s at least one mage in the palace?”
“…Unfortunately not.”
With each breath I took, blood poured from my lips. The mages’ robes, kneeling around me, stained crimson. They muttered curses under their breath while gripping my arms and hands.
Zing. Zing.
“Everyone, pour everything you have into this.”
“Minister Ian. Please, regain consciousness.”
“That’s right. You cannot collapse like this.”
“Damn it, everyone focus!”
The flow of mana rippled.
The King, Prince, and servants watched in stunned silence. The mages’ eyes gleamed gold, their hair stirring in the sealed chamber, warmth wrapping around everything as if alive itself.
“Keep going! Keep going!”
“Ugh….”
Blood trickled from one mage’s nose. They had already reached their limits, hadn’t they? With no remaining mana to open a portal, pushing with all their strength was already taking its toll.
The mage simply wiped the blood away with the back of his hand, never ceasing to channel mana.
“What are you all doing? Move!”
“Ah, yes yes! Bring fresh warm water and cloth!”
At Barsabe’s cry, the doctors moved with urgency as well.
The King of Clipoford watched with genuine wonder. He knew magic’s power was great, but seeing it performed by so many felt like witnessing a miracle.
Noah whispered, grasping his father’s arm.
“Father. Perhaps you should leave this place first. What do you think?”
If I were to die now? The King’s very presence alone would be problematic. Moreover, if those mages and Mage Knights became excited and a violent clash erupted, the King’s safety could not be guaranteed.
However, the King of Clipoford shook his head while patting his son’s hand.
“Noah. I understand your concern, but that’s impossible.”
“But, Father.”
“What happens within Clipoford Palace is my responsibility and duty. Don’t worry—go be with your siblings. They’ll be anxious from all this commotion.”
At the King’s command, Noah reluctantly took his leave.
The reception room door slowly closed. The last things visible were the mages coughing blood, Ian lying motionless as if in eternal sleep among them, and Berik kneeling with tears streaming down his face.
Creak.
Thud!
As the door shut, Noah paused to rub his forehead in contemplation. Should he inform Bariel about this? Hadn’t Ian already prevented Jeonseogoo from being sent at the border?
Yet he couldn’t guess the contents. He couldn’t predict how Bariel would react if he revealed Ian’s condition.
“This is maddening.”
Noah muttered while striking the wall. Was accepting Idgal to counter the mages supposed to become this tangled? He turned with angry strides and asked the servants.
“That mage who arrived bound—Philic. Where is he?”
“He should be in the reception room where the guests were.”
“Follow me. We’re heading there.”
Pushing past the palace servants summoned by the King’s command, Noah headed toward the neglected Philic.
* * *
Jin sat with his chin resting in his palm, gazing out the window. An emergency meeting convened since dawn had canceled all his morning and afternoon schedules.
Philia’s engagement ceremony was just last evening, yet it felt like something from the distant past.
What were they doing now? I heard the Cheonryeo Tribe’s celebration customs don’t end in just a day or two. They were probably enjoying themselves this evening as well with wine and meat. Did the neighborhood children go too?
Knock knock.
“Your Majesty.”
Jin, lost in idle thoughts, startled and turned his head. The book pages hadn’t even turned halfway. He hurriedly shuffled the papers and responded.
“What is it?”
“A Jeonseogoo has arrived from the border. It appears to be from Count Ian. Would you like to check it? The Prime Minister has just arrived after hearing of this.”
Dusk had settled outside. He’d thought it was getting late, but a message by Jeonseogoo meant something had definitely happened. Jin closed his book and granted them entry.
Creak.
“Your Majesty. I apologize for this sudden visit.”
“What do you mean? Count Ian sent a Jeonseogoo?”
“Yes. Here it is.”
At the Prime Minister’s gesture, a servant presented the note on a golden tray. Its crumpled state suggested the circumstances under which it was written were far from peaceful.
-I have made contact with Clipoford’s carriage. While there was no bandit attack, the carriage did sustain damage. During this incident, a jewel was lost. To recover it, I am crossing the border to meet with the King of Clipoford. Please receive the documents I entrusted to Romand and review them. They concern our alliance—please revise them in Bariel’s favor and prepare accordingly.
By jewel, this referred to the golden diamond tribute from Burgos.
“So it was Burgos after all?”
“No, Your Majesty. If that were the case, Count Ian would have specified it clearly. There’s a second page—please see.”
-Investigation of the merchant guild manufacturing Idgal is absolutely necessary. Though I don’t yet understand their intentions, they attempted to supply Clipoford with Idgal at nearly no cost. We must also be cautious regarding Burgos and Ruswena.
Jin was someone who had witnessed Idgal’s effects firsthand during the civil war. The mages neutralized by Prince Marib’s arrows. If Idgal were supplied to neighboring nations, it would be as if Bariel lost one of its greatest strengths.
“Idgal… I’ve heard the Magic Ministry researches it, but it seems this merchant guild operates on a wider scale than expected.”
“We need to summon Romand. Is anyone outside? Sia!”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
As Jin issued commands to Xiaoxi, the Prime Minister gazed down at the note with a grave expression, his deep-set eyes creasing with age as they tracked across the paper.
“Your Majesty.”
Noticing something unusual in the Prime Minister’s gaze, Jin turned his head. The Prime Minister spoke with utmost caution.
“Would it not be wiser to establish your own investigative unit for the Idgal matter, rather than entrusting it entirely to the Magic Ministry?”
“What do you mean by that?”
“The Magic Ministry will naturally seek to eliminate those manufacturing Idgal. It is only logical—it possesses the same efficacy as a mana-sealing stone, and as their numbers increase, the burden upon mages grows accordingly.”
Whoever controls Idgal holds the lifeline of every mage.
This was a truth known to all who dwelled within the imperial palace.
“It would be catastrophic if supplies reached foreign nations. But if the imperial palace itself manages it directly, the situation becomes quite different, does it not?”
“…Prime Minister.”
“Your Majesty must take control. It would serve as an excellent means to check the Magic Ministry’s power.”

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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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