Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 346

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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 346
Fire. The First Move
On the night when the new moon rises, the entire world sinks into darkness—so profound that one cannot discern the boundary of the clouds.
It was a perfect night for an intruder to carry out their deed, yet problems always arose. The mansion’s lights had remained burning late into the evening, and now carriages were arriving one by one.
Xiaoxi observed the flags attached to the rear of each carriage with keen attention. The Imperial Defense Ministry’s insignia fluttered visibly even in the darkness.
‘So the generals are arriving.’
It was unexpected, but manageable. After all, I would kill Volb when he lay in his bed anyway.
Taking his life came first, but it needed to appear as natural a death as possible to outside observers. I could suffocate him, or perhaps apply the poison I had prepared to his lips.
I waited for the procession of carriages to end, hoping I wouldn’t need to use the dagger I felt at my fingertips.
Whoosh.
Swish.
As time passed, the mansion’s lights grew even brighter. I pulled my robe over my head and used the tall grass as cover to draw closer to the mansion. Hearing singing from within, it seemed to be a gathering without any particular purpose.
I scaled the wall without difficulty and moved like a shadow between the mansion’s manicured hedges. Laughter drifted through a slightly open balcony door. Concealing my presence, I perked up my ears.
“Hahahaha! That’s exactly it. The Prince remains as he always was. I can’t fathom why he’s so soft.”
“He’s still young, so that’s to be expected. How much has Count Ian tempered him? Even this much represents tremendous progress.”
“True enough. He’s endured from the civil war onward. But if he’s to become Emperor, he cannot fail to understand the value of Idgal. Hmm.”
“The Prince’s shortcomings can be supplemented by the Imperial Defense Ministry. We’ve secured decision-making authority in this conference, so it’s fine.”
“Temporarily, though.”
“Temporarily, but no one knows when Count Ian will return. Even with all the mages combined, recovery is slow, so it’s clear this is incomparable to his previous injuries.”
“How did this happen? I don’t understand. Is it because he’s young? His recovery was remarkably swift even during that chaos.”
“I haven’t heard the details myself, but rumor has it that to destroy a mage so thoroughly, there must be something beyond the physical at work.”
“A magical problem?”
“If Minister Ian suffered calamity because he cannot control magic, this too raises questions about his qualifications for the ministerial position. In many ways, the situation is quite favorable. Hahahaha!”
A cold fury rose from the depths of my heart, but I remained composed. Rather than immediately climbing over the railing and driving my blade down, I focused on committing their voices to memory.
Two people.
One had a habit of dropping his voice at the end of sentences, while the other possessed a distinctive hoarseness as though afflicted with a cold. Once this deed was done, I would find them both and make them pay for every careless word their three-inch tongues had uttered.
Swish.
Though it was a massive mansion, I navigated without difficulty. I had Romandro to thank for providing the map beforehand.
The interior was complex, and lacking information, he had recommended entering through a window. At the time, I wondered if it was the best option, but seeing the generals’ gathering now, it seemed his foresight was remarkable indeed.
‘Fifth floor of the eastern main wing, right end room. Curtains of ornate blue.’
As I circled the mansion while keeping watch on the fifth floor, I collided directly with a servant carrying a basket around the corner.
“Oh my!”
I reflexively reached for the dagger in my sleeve. But I hesitated at the servant’s muttering as she picked up the scattered fabric.
“Goodness, you startled me appearing so suddenly. These are the master’s clothes, and thank heavens they haven’t been washed yet.”
“I-I’m sorry.”
“You’re one of the generals’ subordinates, aren’t you? Please don’t smoke in the garden. The gardener complains every single day after these gatherings.”
The servant would never know that a small misunderstanding had just saved her life.
I noticed nightclothes mixed among the fabric. I glanced casually around and murmured.
“Will the gathering end early tonight?”
“You must be tired, yes? We’re bewildered ourselves—what is all this about? The master doesn’t seem particularly pleased either, so I doubt it will end early. I hope everyone returns before the day is through. Hopefully.”
Quite a lot of information. I wondered how Romandro could have forgotten about the ministers’ gathering, but it seems they gathered without the host’s knowledge. What could their intention be?
“Thank you.”
“Of course.”
Xiaoxi nodded and quickly turned the corner. This area saw many of the generals’ subordinates moving about, so if I didn’t leave before nightfall, it would be the same as Volb retiring to his bedchamber.
Xiaoxi arrived at the eastern main building where Volb’s bedchamber was located. Then, with nimble movements, I climbed to the fifth floor and slipped into the chamber.
Click.
Beneath the bed, Xiaoxi held my breath and sharpened all five senses. The silent clock would soon strike midnight. Was I nervous? No, it was closer to serenity than nervousness.
Xiaoxi knew my life could end here, but I felt no fear. Having lived my entire existence treated like a beast, I now dared to carry out the Prince’s command—a deed that would be recorded in history itself. Even if I died here, I would have no regrets about the life that remained, only the absence of fear.
Suddenly, I recalled Prince Gail. Did he harbor the same feelings as I did? What difference was there between piercing a demon’s heart and severing Volb’s breath?
The more I dwelled on such thoughts, the more Xiaoxi could only anticipate the arrival of my prey. Come now, you who threaten my lord, the Prince.
Creak.
“Ah, hahaha. What nonsense. Cough.”
Then the door opened and Volb entered. People came in with him. He naturally changed his clothes while being attended to and wiped his flushed, overheated face.
“They’re already swarming here to celebrate when nothing’s even been decided yet. Hahaha! I’m astounded. Hmm?”
“What should we do with the gifts? Should we organize them? Or display them in your office?”
“Unwrap and organize them. Make a careful note of who brought what. I’ll remember the insignificant ones, and then—bang! Ahahaha!”
“Understood. Please get some rest.”
Creak.
Thud.
Now I understood. The generals had come together bearing gifts to curry favor with Volb.
Having secured leadership over Idgal at the grand conference, and with the Imperial Defense Ministry currently enjoying the best momentum in the palace, their intention to ride this wave of fortune was unmistakable.
Volb seemed satisfied with his subordinates’ surprise celebration, sprawling across the bed and chuckling continuously. When I sensed his breathing had grown slightly shallow, Xiaoxi rolled out from beneath the bed.
Whoosh.
Even in his drowsy state, Volb felt the presence of a stranger and jolted awake. The moment he tried to rise in alarm, Xiaoxi shoved cloth into his mouth—cloth thoroughly soaked in deadly poison.
I then attempted to bind his hands as well, but he was the Minister of the Imperial Defense Ministry. He thrashed and tried to stop Xiaoxi’s hands. Though he pushed the cloth away with his tongue, each moment only shortened his remaining lifespan.
Then—
“Ugh! Ugh ugh!”
His knee struck Xiaoxi’s ribs squarely.
Both men fell from the bed simultaneously. Volb rushed toward the door, but Xiaoxi threw a rope around his neck and pulled him back. I held back only to prevent marks from appearing.
Thud!
Volb fell again. Xiaoxi grabbed his hair and bent his head backward, bringing a dagger to his throat.
“…Move and I’ll kill you.”
In the darkness where not a single ray of moonlight entered, confusion flickered across Volb’s eyes at the intruder’s warning. Why? Did they want something else? If they meant to kill him, they could do it immediately—why was this person straddling him and staying still?
‘Ah.’
As his mind cleared, the bitter taste on his tongue became unmistakably apparent. Poison was currently flowing through his body. This midnight assassin wanted to kill him as quietly as possible.
“Ugh! Ugh ugh!”
Volb attacked Xiaoxi’s back with his knee, disregarding the dagger at his throat. This man couldn’t use the blade. He couldn’t…
Slash!
“Aaaugh!”
But it was arrogance. Xiaoxi drove the dagger into Volb’s thigh, and he limped onward, continuing to flee toward the door.
At this point, Xiaoxi had no choice. He walked forward and drove his blade into the vital point beneath Volb’s jaw.
Squelch!
Volb collapsed just a step short of the door handle. He trembled as he smeared blood across the wall.
“If you had simply remained still, you wouldn’t have suffered so. This is good for neither of us.”
It had been an opportunity to end his life with composure. Volb stared at Xiaoxi with eyes that seemed ready to burst from their sockets. But the darkness was too thick to see anything. Cursed darkness. If only there had been even a glimmer of light…
Creak!
“Minister Volb. I heard you called for me earlier. Since you must be sleeping, I’ll just leave-”
At that moment, the door suddenly opened.
Light from the corridor flooded in, illuminating the room. She was a courtesan and Volb’s unofficial lover—she visited him secretly every night, though it seemed Romandro hadn’t known about it. She had been told he was unmarried with no official companion, so he would use his bedroom alone.
“Huh?”
She blinked blankly.
Volb, bleeding and gripping the doorframe. And behind him, an unknown man. The odd-colored eyes visible between the folds of his robe were particularly striking.
The woman instinctively stumbled backward and screamed.
“Kyaaaaaaah!”
And she began running toward where people gathered in large numbers—where the generals were assembled—with all her strength, her dress skirts clutched in her hands.
As Xiaoxi tried to follow her, Volb, still conscious, grabbed his ankle.
“Ptui, you… I’ll… kill you… slave bastard?”
A slave-born member of the Imperial Defense Bureau who had earned the trust of Ian and Jin and lived within the palace. Because he possessed very distinctive features, Volb easily identified Xiaoxi. And he trembled as he scratched his name into the floor with his fingertips.
“A mere boy prince… dares touch the Minister of the Imperial Defense Bureau… you won’t survive this… cough!”
Crunch!
Xiaoxi stomped on his fingers, erasing his own name with the flowing blood. Then he twisted his dagger, granting him complete death.
Patter patter patter!
The sound of many footsteps echoing from the end of the corridor. The woman who witnessed it was likely bringing the generals.
The estate’s security was already on high alert, with more troops deployed than usual. No matter how well he hid, there was no way to escape safely.
“Sigh.”
Xiaoxi exhaled and leaned against the wall. He had promised the Prince he would succeed and return safely, but it seemed he would break that vow.
Xiaoxi pulled a small needle case from his inner pocket. A poison that would cause necrosis to spread across his face if injected, rendering him unidentifiable. Barsabe’s father had died this way, or so he’d heard. Now he would follow a similar path.
Patter patter patter!
Boom! Boom!
The sounds drew steadily closer.
Xiaoxi withdrew the needle and closed his eyes for a moment. And in this brief human life, he recalled those who had given it meaning. Ian, Jin, Romandro, and well… he could count Berik too, if he was being generous.
‘Thank you. And I’m sorry.’
For failing to complete the mission perfectly.
Just as Xiaoxi was about to decisively drive the needle in-
“Xiaoxi.”
A familiar voice stopped him.
Appearing from the end of the corridor was Imperial Guard Captain Jairot. He held the fleeing courtesan in one hand, and from how she hung limply, she appeared to be dead.
“…Ah.”
“What are you doing? Get up. This place is too bright.”
“Can you see me?”
“I can see it, but I’m not sure about them. Can they see it?”
The Generals crept into view behind Jairot. They caught sight of Volb’s corpse beyond Jairot’s shoulder and arm. They were so shocked that they held their breath and froze like stone. Jairot turned to face the Generals and asked.
“What do you see, Generals? What appears before your eyes?”
“That….”
“To my eyes, it looks only like the end of a greedy man.”
“Yes, yes. That….”
I don’t know what’s happening. But I know one thing—I still have something left to finish.
Xiaoxi slowly closed the door and retreated back into complete darkness. Though they knew Volb was dead, no one opened the door.

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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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