Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 338

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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 338
An Unexpected Target
Crash! Bang bang!
“Please open the door, Romandro!”
“No, you said I just need to stamp this one document? Just give me your seal, please.”
“Look us in the face when you speak, yes? Why are you doing this, really. Is this even acceptable? You know how every other department operates, so how can you act like this!”
“Romandro, don’t pretend you can’t hear me!”
The firmly shut door continued to rattle, but Romandro calmly poured himself tea and took a sip.
More than a week had passed since Ian left his post. His absence was devastating, but the other Mages had done their best to help, and Romandro too had granted whatever accommodations he could within his authority.
But look at the situation now. The entire Mage Department had emptied out. With every Mage gone except for the one managing palace access, all their work had come to a complete standstill.
“Mm. Delicious.”
“Romandro!”
Bang bang!
Romandro sipped his tea while eyeing the door that shook as if it might shatter. Half of them were genuinely here to request work, and the other half had come to lodge complaints. He had resolved to guard the office and not budge an inch until the Mages returned.
Wasn’t this going too far? They surely knew the Mages were grinding away their bodies and minds to sustain the palace, yet they treated them like this. This was practically a justified strike.
When someone began shaking the window frame, Romandro set down his teacup and shouted.
“Ah, you’ll break the window!”
“There he is, he was inside!”
“Of course I’m here during work hours—where else would I go? If you have documents to leave, place them in front of the box. I didn’t put it there for nothing. Ahem.”
“So when are the Mages coming back?”
“Ask about Ian’s condition first, you people! I said I’d send word once he arrived, so either wait or don’t. I don’t know!”
“Just open the door, ugh! Is it because it’s the Mage Department? It’s ridiculously sturdy. Can we break it? Yes? Should we break it? Just stamp the document!”
“That’s made from ground mana stones, you know? It’s incredibly expensive. If you want to lose your salary, go ahead! Honestly!”
Sheesh. Romandro made an absurd expression and stared at the door. As if opening it would help. He began slowly reviewing the backlog of reports while chewing on some crisply roasted Gula.
Then, at some point, the commotion abruptly stopped. Romandro tilted his head in confusion and looked toward the door. Then came a polite knock.
Knock knock.
“Ah, I’m not accepting peddlers.”
“Romandro. It’s me.”
“Gasp!”
Crash!
Romandro jumped up in surprise and opened the door.
Jin stood there with an embarrassed expression, Xiaoxi beside him. Behind them, employees from other departments stared at Romandro with the eyes of predators eyeing prey. He poked his head through the door crack, then gestured for Jin and Xiaoxi to enter, shifting his body to let them through.
‘Psst.’
Romandro raised his eyebrows in warning to the other department staff who flinched, and since the Prince couldn’t afford to act inappropriately in front of everyone, they all quietly watched the door close.
“What brings you here, Your Highness?”
Once the door was completely shut, Romandro asked carefully. Knowing Jin’s intentions, he was asking whether it was appropriate to enter the Mage Department so openly in front of everyone. Jin smiled softly and showed a worried expression.
“Regardless, the Mage Department is still a division of the palace. Aren’t you those who help me and contribute to Bariel? Given the circumstances, I had to come and see for myself.”
“You speak wisely, Your Highness.”
“Has Jeonseogoo arrived?”
“No. If he had, we would have known first at the main gate.”
“…I see.”
Jin fell silent, fidgeting with the tips of my fingers resting on my knee. Ever since hearing that Ian had been wandering the brink of death, there had been no substantial information, leaving me frustrated and helpless. If he doesn’t return….
“Your Majesty. The Mages didn’t go as a group for nothing. With that much magical power, even someone on the path to the afterlife would regain consciousness and return.”
If he doesn’t return, that future would be nothing but bleak darkness itself. Not only would the empire lose its tremendous military force, but how would I manage the Magic Ministry without its leader? Everything before my eyes turned dark.
Above all, I would never see Ian again—my mentor and dear friend. Just as the Boy had watched them depart.
“…You have something you wish to say, don’t you?”
Romandro sensed that Jin’s atmosphere was unusual and whispered. He was concerned the sound might leak outside. Xiaoxi pressed herself against the window, checking if anyone might be eavesdropping.
“I know the Prime Minister and the Imperial Defense Ministry are attempting to investigate Idgal.”
“Yes, of course. Didn’t Your Majesty stop them?”
“The Prime Minister is one thing, but the Idgal that Minister Volb of the Imperial Defense Ministry envisions seems to differ slightly from the one I perceive.”
“…!”
Romandro’s eyes widened and he hesitated for a moment. Jin was now saying that the Imperial Defense Ministry was becoming an obstacle in my political standing and course of action. Romandro excused himself and hurriedly drank his tea.
“Ah, you mean Minister Volb, correct?”
“Yes. Both the Prime Minister and Volb seem to be focused on preempting Idgal, but their intentions appear different. I’m not certain, but….”
If the Prime Minister sought to suppress the Magic Ministry for the sake of a stable Bariel, Volb seemed to be adding his strength for his own status.
Most of all, the small irritations I detected in his words and behavior had accumulated to the point where I couldn’t ignore them. Since I only have suspicions, I’m cautious even about broaching the subject.
But—
“No, Your Majesty. If that’s what you perceive, then it must be true. Hasn’t Ian always said so? That Your Majesty is the center of the world.”
Romandro shook his head without any doubt and agreed with Jin’s assessment.
At that sight, Jin smiled bitterly. All those who matched my thoughts so well were in the Magic Ministry, and now that I stand alone, nothing comes easy.
“I wish to place my own person as Minister of the Imperial Defense Ministry, but the New Year’s gathering is too far away. I can’t predict how the other ministers’ opinions might shift by then either. So, if you have any good ideas, I’d appreciate you sharing them.”
“Ah, yes, yes. I understand what you mean. Things might have been easier if Ian were here.”
“No. Keep this secret from Count Ian as much as possible.”
“Pardon? Why is that?”
Romandro was puzzled by Jin’s request. Surely Ian would provide a clean and certain solution. But Jin grasped Romandro’s hand firmly and emphasized again.
“I’d prefer that Count Ian didn’t know.”
What Ian wants is for me to walk forward alone without him. I didn’t want to disappoint him.
Moreover, asking Romandro for help is the extent of the generosity I can afford myself. Without a proper foundation now, my available options are limited.
‘Idgal….’
Romandro stroked his beard and muttered the word repeatedly. The traces of Ian found during Philic’s house search. It seemed Idgal had some unspoken connection with Ian, but I couldn’t predict how the imperial palace would react if it became known. I would ask Ian about it when he returns, but given the current situation….
‘I apologize, Your Majesty. I cannot speak of it immediately.’
“I understand. I will also seek solutions from various angles. But remember this, Your Majesty. The master of the imperial palace is you.”
This might become my first political rival in my life. The beginning of solidifying power is distributing the right people to the right positions.
“Minister Volb was arbitrarily appointed during the rebellion. Considering that the previous minister sided with Prince Marib, he must be from the opposing faction—a man distant from imperial authority. Having risen by fortune, he won’t miss this opportunity.”
“I felt that too. The Minister….”
Should I say even this? Jin hesitated for a moment, but then spoke openly.
“He seems to want war.”
“Military men are naturally that way. They live drinking blood, after all. Well—”
That the Minister of the Imperial Defense Ministry wants war isn’t unique to Volb; anyone in that department would feel the same. Romandro tried to answer dismissively but stopped short.
“Your Majesty, could it be….”
The reason Jin came here while being aware of his surroundings, and why he was hinting at Volb specifically.
And the reason for pointing it out so directly.
Romandro sprang to his feet and swept open the window curtains. In the distance, employees from other departments who had been sitting in small groups in the lobby lifted their heads.
‘Not a single member of the Imperial Defense Ministry.’
“…They’ve gone out for large-scale military exercises.”
“…This is troublesome.”
“With the Mage Ministry empty right now, it’s true that Bariel is more vulnerable than usual, so there was no reason to refuse. And Count Ian and the Mages’ Jeonseogoo haven’t arrived yet either.”
There was a clear purpose—to prepare for a possible clash with Cliffford or to guard against Burgos and Ruswena who might seize the opportunity to strike. Thus, Jin had no choice but to authorize the large-scale military exercises, and soldiers would be gathering under his command.
The situation was precarious. Right now in the imperial palace, there was no one capable of restraining Volb.
“Sigh.”
Jin pressed his forehead and exhaled a small sigh. They said it was because he was young, but he never knew his position would be like a reed swaying in the wind. A place that could only be shaken by whatever breeze blew. But—
“There were complications in the middle, but Cliffford has no choice but to be favorable to Bariel. During my inauguration ceremony, they already declared they would walk a different path from Burgos. So if Ian simply stays alive, they’ll surely provide considerable convenience. Burgos and Ruswena aren’t foolish either, so they won’t rashly attack Bariel just because the Mage Ministry is empty.”
But reeds don’t break. Jin firmly believed that this process of swaying would foster his growth. It was what Ian desired, so it couldn’t be wrong.
“…Unless it’s Cliffford.”
“Pardon? What do you mean by that?”
“War will break out. I don’t know what scale or impact it will have, but it certainly will. So it’s better to hurry. Limiting the military authority of the Imperial Defense Minister would be absurd, so it’s right to bring Volb down.”
Romandro tilted his head as if he didn’t understand. He couldn’t grasp the meaning of Jin’s “unless it’s Cliffford.” But soon, his mouth began to open slightly.
“Ah.”
As if understanding what situation Jin was pointing out.
* * *
Heil returned after completing his audience with King Cliffford. The sight that greeted him upon opening the door was quite a spectacle.
Berik lay sprawled on the floor, exhausted from dancing, and several Mages had collapsed from expending their magical power. The saving grace was that Akorelra was mixed in among them, keeping things quiet.
And the fact that Ian had managed to feed himself porridge with his own hands.
“Your recovery is remarkably fast, Ian.”
“Everyone worked hard, so I should do at least this much.”
Ian smiled faintly and set down the spoon. His movements were quite clumsy. I heard he had coughed up blood quite severely, but even this much recovery seemed admirable.
Heil pushed Akorelra aside with his foot and dragged over a chair. This was to convey the details of his audience with the king.
“First, we’ve sent a new Jeonseogoo to Bariel. The king learned that there was an abnormal magical reaction at the border when Ian woke up.”
“Yes. I informed him of it.”
“This time it should arrive properly. However, since we’re sending it by a detour, it will take some time. And the king requested compensation for the vineyard.”
“It was ruined, wasn’t it?”
“Yes. That was a mistake on our part.”
Berik kept running up and down, saying it was fortunate that he could eat the ruined premium grapes. Heil scratched his head awkwardly as he answered.
“He didn’t explain the details to me, but the royal family said there’s something they want to have specially commissioned. He said we should discuss the contract again once Ian’s condition improves. Ah, the rough outline of it is here.”
Whoosh.
Ian slowly read through the message Heil had conveyed. It seemed they were planning to receive the Mage Ministry’s assistance regarding the royal family’s curse.
Besides that, the details for establishing an alliance were carefully organized with mutually appropriate terms. The specifics would be handled with the Crown Prince present, but there was a considerable portion that seemed reasonable to both sides.
“Not bad.”
“And he suggested that it would be good to attend the festival that will be held soon for Cliffford’s palace construction anniversary, and then depart. He probably heard about the Mages’ pollen.”
Ian gazed at the ceiling and shook his head slightly. His eyes showed he was pondering something.
“No. We must replenish our strength as quickly as possible and return to Bariel.”
“Are you concerned about the imperial palace? The Mage division has withdrawn, but the other departments….”
“That’s not the reason.”
“Then what is it?”
“Word of this matter has surely reached Burgos and Ruswena as well. If we remain here, there’s a possibility that Cliffford could be put in danger.”

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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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