Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 34

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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 34. Departure
Erika Berti, the head investigator of the Imperial Palace, surveyed her cluttered office buried beneath mountains of documents. Every drawer, even the smallest ones, had been overturned and emptied—a natural consequence of the search. In the inner office, her subordinates gathered, drying ink-soaked papers.
“Can they be recovered?”
“We’ll need to identify what type of ink was used first. Still, we managed to salvage about half, so that’s fortunate.”
“The rest poses no problems!”
“Regardless, that man. His actions lack nothing in audacity.”
That man did not refer to the servant lying dead in the corner with his head severed. It meant Count Derga, who had ordered the destruction of documents in that brief window of time.
His guilt had not yet been confirmed, and he still maintained his title as Count, yet they paid it no mind. The woman before their eyes, Erika Berti, would become the next lord of this place.
“What of the tax reports submitted to the Central government?”
“Here they are.”
“Have Phillip and Sarien calculate the production output and tax rates of the territory’s people. The rest of you extract records of mining operations and trade history. We only need to examine roughly three years’ worth. Can you manage it within a week?”
At their superior’s command, the subordinates smiled faintly. Erika’s question was not truly a question but an order—complete it within a week.
“Yes, Commander.”
“Good. Delrix takes charge of managing the annex. Move!”
“Let’s go! Search thoroughly!”
“Hyaaah!”
They shouted with fervent determination, vowing to uncover evidence of tax evasion. If they succeeded, this place would become their territory! Their superior would become a noble, and all of them would secure positions in the Central government! This office of Count Derga was the starting point of the advancement they had always dreamed of.
‘Damn it all.’
Meanwhile, in the annex, Count Derga was confined to the room Ian had used. Apart from a few servants requisitioned for the investigators’ convenience, no one could leave this place. Derga stroked his beard as though he might tear it out, muttering curses under his breath.
Mrs. Mary and Chel had not yet returned to the Manor.
“Count, what will become of us now?”
“What do you mean what will happen?! Keep your mouth shut!”
The butler flinched at the tremendous roar, but there was nothing he could do. His life hung by a thread depending on the Count’s actions. He paced the room, trying to organize his troubled thoughts.
‘An investigation team sent directly by the Emperor himself. But it was clearly Mollin who orchestrated this. If my head rolls here, the benefit goes to Prince Gail. Then….’
Derga rummaged through the desk and found parchment and a pen. After gathering his thoughts once, he moved the pen without pause. There was no time to correct errors. Every second was not merely urgent—it was desperate.
Scratch, scratch.
“Butler. You have two tasks to perform.”
“Y-yes, speak, sir.”
“Send letters. This one goes to the Cheonryeo Tribe, and this one to Prince Gail at the Central government. After sending each, contact Deo and have him prepare the soldiers. Ensure they are fully armed and ready to march out at any moment.”
The letter to the Cheonryeo Tribe contained a request for military support and for Ian’s execution. Since Central reinforcements were said to arrive soon, he had to suppress them by force before then.
But doing this would be true rebellion upon rebellion.
What would offset this was the letter to Prince Gail. Once he learned of part of Prince Gail’s scheme, he would certainly take action—whether to restrain or obstruct. Whatever happened, it would become an opportunity for Derga.
He could not use his seal, so he removed a ring and placed it instead.
‘Yes. First, I must survive. Survive, and then I can prepare for what comes next. That’s how it must be….’
As he desperately steeled himself, the butler uttered something absurd.
“Leave here? How?”
The door was being guarded by the investigation team, was it not? At that, Derga tilted his head toward the window. The butler’s face went pale, and he immediately shook his head as though he could not do it.
“Count! I am already fifty years old.”
“So? You wish to die like this? Fifty will be your final age, then.”
“If you speak that way….”
The Butler gazed down from beneath the window with a reluctant, tearful expression. Three stories high. If luck turned against him, he’d die. If fortune smiled, something would surely break.
Count Derga tore down the curtain and hurled it at the Butler.
“Make a rope.”
Damn it all. He could at least help me with this. The Butler swallowed his rising frustration and gripped the curtain tightly, tying it with meticulous knots as if his very life depended on it.
* * *
A single horse crossed the desert at dawn. Perhaps from galloping relentlessly through sandstorms day and night—steam rose in wisps from the beast’s hide.
A Cheonryeo Tribe warrior standing watch detected its approach. And soon after, he recognized the flag the stranger carried: the banner of Bratz.
“A messenger…! A messenger from Bratz has arrived!”
“Sound the buffalo horn.”
“Sound the buffalo horn, he commands!”
Buu-uu- Buu-
The tribe, peacefully preparing for the day’s beginning, looked skyward in unison. The sound announcing a stranger’s arrival. It reached Ian as well, becoming the signal that the moment had finally come. The Bratz knight hammered against the outer wall, gasping for breath.
“I bring a message from Bratz! It is urgent!”
Neigh!
At that same moment, the horse collapsed sideways. One could sense how relentlessly it had been ridden. The tribe brought water and poured it over the horse’s body, while the warriors escorted the knight inside. As if they had been waiting.
Swish-
“A message from Count Derga?”
As the tent flap closed, Kakantir of the Cheonryeo Tribe rose from his bed. The knight suddenly realized he hadn’t revealed his allegiance at the entrance. He had only mentioned a message, yet they had let him pass without further questioning. As if they had known all along….
“Are you standing there in shock?”
As the knight stood dazed, Kakantir urged him forward with an irritated tone.
“I-I apologize. I am Bel, a knight of Bratz territory. The Count has urgently requested assistance.”
The knight quickly gathered his wits and handed over the paper he had brought. Kakantir looked at the crude, uneven handwriting and let out a soft laugh. He must have been in quite a hurry indeed.
“Let me see. ‘Due to a misunderstanding with the Central authority, we face a dangerous situation. As we have formed an alliance, we cannot turn away from each other’s hardship. I beseech you as a friendly nation—lend us the strength of the Cheonryeo Tribe and fight alongside us. And furthermore, regarding my son, Ian Bratz…'”
—”I wish for him to be beheaded. If you believe this would tarnish your honor, the knight I have sent will do it instead.”
Kakantir nodded while humming softly to himself.
“What is this misunderstanding with the Central authority?”
“The Count is under investigation for charges of treason. This is clearly false, and armed conflict is expected to occur soon in resistance.”
“What evidence proves the treason charge is false? If we become involved when it is true, we will make enemies of the Imperial Palace.”
“That evidence is Ian Bratz himself. The Count said he would prove his innocence through the death of his beloved son.”
“Ahahaha!”
The sudden burst of laughter made the knight stop his heavy breathing. His expression showed he had no idea what was so amusing. Kakantir tilted his head back languidly and chewed a betel leaf lightly.
Truly cunning and shrewd.
As the saying goes, getting what you want without lifting a finger—he kills Ian while turning it to his own advantage. Kakantir now understood what Ian’s existence meant to Count Derga.
‘A tool. Nothing more, nothing less.’
“Tribal Chief?”
“I simply haven’t fully awakened yet.”
“…We have also sent word to the Imperial Palace. Just a fortnight—merely a fortnight until reinforcements arrive from the Palace. Are we not allies bound by alliance? I have heard that the honor of warriors is like a covenant with the divine, unshaken by anything.”
Kakantir exhaled smoke as a sign of agreement. Then he gestured for the knight to wait a moment. Throwing on a loose outer robe, he began writing a reply.
“Indeed. And we are warriors among warriors. Deliver this reply well to your master. We shall follow shortly.”
“Thank you!”
Kakantir wrapped the leather cord tightly around the object, ensuring the Knight couldn’t catch a glimpse. The Knight, who had tucked it into his bosom, cast a sidelong glance outward.
“Then what of Ian Bratz’s disposition….”
Kakantir fell silent. As the silence stretched on, the Knight swallowed hard. He had expected an answer to come immediately, but the unexpected pause sent tension coursing through him.
“Ah. That matter. As the Count surmised, while he is indeed a token of peace, he has lived among the Cheonryeo Tribe as one of our own. I have no wish to stain our hands with his blood.”
“…I understand completely.”
“So handle it as you see fit. Is anyone outside?”
“You called, Kakan.”
“Take Ri to Ian.”
The Knight felt a subtle discord. Yet perhaps due to his exhaustion, he failed to notice the difference between Ian and Ian—addressed with the honorific.
Kakantir and his men led the way to Ian’s tent. At a gesture, the flap opened.
“Ian. You’re awake.”
“Kakan.”
Still gleaming golden hair and green eyes. With his sun-darkened skin, Ian appeared far more robust than before.
The Knight’s hand moved to his sword hilt.
“Ri wishes to kill you.”
“As expected. Just as I anticipated.”
But then—a pause. The tribal chief’s words once again defied the Knight’s expectations. He had assumed he would be ordered to drag Ian out immediately.
The Knight turned to Kakantir with a bewildered expression, but the chief’s gaze remained fixed solely on Ian and Berik beside him.
“Did we not make a pact then? That I would teach your warrior everything. To your red-haired subordinate.”
“Ah. Yes, that’s right.”
“A warrior is one who walks the path of death and survives. Training with us has its limits unless there is genuine killing intent.”
Combat prowess required an ignition point. To ascend to a higher tier, one had to burn away everything.
That everything included life and death as well.
“The conditions are perfect. There is killing intent, and moreover, as a Knight of Count Derga, your skill is surely recognized even in Bariel, is it not.”
Though Kakantir found it laughable, the facts were as stated. A knighthood bestowed meant one was officially acknowledged. It meant surviving battles with monsters both great and small, and having proven oneself in wars against foreign powers.
“Chief. What exactly is….”
“Since you wish to kill Ian, I myself shall provide the stage.”
There was something the Knight did not know. Yet despite this, they treated him as a fool. The incomprehensible contempt made him grip his sword hilt tightly, his gaze fixed on Ian.
His nape was exposed. Perfect for a clean cut.
“Ha. I see. Then I shall take my leave.”
The Knight let out a short, hollow laugh, then lunged at Ian. There was no time to waste. With Count Derga detained, he needed to return as quickly as possible to serve his master.
Clang!
In that instant, Berik drew his sword and deflected the Knight’s blade. Sparks—almost dreamlike—scattered into the air, and Berik lowered his stance into a defensive position.
“Ah.”
Ian merely blinked. He scratched his cheek, then looked up at the Knight. His gaze slowly shifted toward Berik. Even from the back of his head alone, his expression was transparent. He looked absolutely eager to fight.
“…It seems I’d have to kill Berik first to kill you.”
“…?!”
Though he had trained rolling around in the sand with the Cheonryeo Tribe, he wasn’t certain he could face a Knight. Many of the Imperial Palace’s Knights were Mage Knights like Berik.
He didn’t know what abilities this man might possess.
“This should be interesting. Well then, I’m counting on you.”

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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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