Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 350

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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 350
The Bait is Cast
The King of Clipoford examined the marble floor with a troubled expression. Just hours ago, this very spot had been where the Burgos Envoy lay bleeding to death, yet now it was spotless without a trace. His advisors moved urgently, carrying out orders to summon soldiers, while the King waited for the audience chamber doors to open.
Though Clipoford had endured countless wars both large and small against Burgos, I always felt uneasy before making such decisions. After war ended, the tears of a child weeping in the devastated vineyards were so bitter and profound that they could wither every sprout in the kingdom.
Click—as the long-awaited audience chamber doors swung open, all eyes turned toward them.
“Noah, Count Ian.”
“Father, I apologize for keeping you waiting.”
“Waiting? Don’t speak such nonsense. Tell me, what have you discovered?”
Noah tore off his leather gloves, stained and shrunken with blood. The waft of iron and the dungeon’s distinctive stench suggested a rather intense interrogation had taken place.
The King felt sympathy watching his son. Because I was weak, Noah had taken on all the palace’s dirty affairs in my stead. Though Noah himself seemed unbothered, I cleared my throat while pinching my nose.
“Did all the Burgos Envoys know about this?”
“No. Only one of them knew. That they came here to die. By the end, he was nearly unconscious, so I couldn’t quite make out his words. But that’s the gist of it.”
Noah glanced toward Akorelra as he reported this.
I had hoped for just enough effect, but the effect—and its side effects—worked far beyond the acceptable range. One truth, one coughing of blood.
Akorelra stepped forward with a satisfied expression, jotting something down in her notes.
“Your Highness, listen to this. What Akorelra’s truth serum discovered is as follows: if one envoy dies, a mage is stationed there, so we should wait and see; if two die, a mage is stationed but we can enter immediately; if three die, there is no mage; if four die, there is no mage and we must not enter. Oh, and the coughing of blood is a reaction we saw in the truth serum before commercialization, but this time it seems to come with pain. It seems what was lacking was—”
“Akorelra.”
Akorelra, who had been pouring out words with sparkling eyes, faltered. Ian shook his head, signaling restraint. She alternated her gaze between her densely written notes and Ian, then murmured softly.
“Ah. Did I overstep?”
“Your Highness. This is Akorelra, the authority on potions in our Magic Ministry.”
“I see. So you’re the one in charge of that. It shows.”
“It shows, you say…?”
“It’s a compliment.”
“Wow! Thank you!”
The King clearly remembered his first impression of Akorelra, who had been smiling while holding a syringe. I waved my hand to clear the air. In any case, it had been confirmed that Burgos used human lives—the lives of loyal subjects—like signal lanterns. Even for a young king, such inhumane conduct was excessive.
The King clicked his tongue and shook his head.
“Remarkable indeed. Even the previous dynasty would not have dared such a thing. It’s beyond comprehension.”
“There’s no need to comprehend it, Father.”
“Burgos has clearly made a firm decision. Conflict cannot be avoided regardless. Now, while they wait for news, is our opportunity. Noah, what are your thoughts?”
“I share the same thinking, but currently Bariel’s mages are stationed in Clipoford, are they not? We must ensure the safety of our own people and theirs alike. More importantly, to secure an alliance and cooperation with Bariel, I believe we should refrain from preemptive strikes.”
Noah turned to look at Ian. Everyone had simply accepted Ian’s intentions and proposals. Unlike Noah, who was drenched in blood, Ian stood neat with only his sleeves rolled up.
“As you know, justification is crucial. Merely sending an envoy with ill intent is insufficient. After all, they did not die within Clipoford’s palace, did they? Whether they died after drinking wine or after consuming some unknown substance.”
Akorelra raised her thumb with a grin, and the King, understanding that the author was clearly beyond suspicion, deliberately looked away.
“Or if Clipoford has justification to claim first, that would be different. Haven’t the two nations shared a long history?”
“If we’re counting, there are countless grievances.”
Along the southern border, territorial disputes remained unresolved, and there were past conflicts arising from differing interpretations of compensation lists and cultural friction. As neighboring nations living back to back, there were plenty of justifications to raise.
However, none were sufficient to suddenly declare war, and more importantly, they lacked the moral cause necessary to secure Bariel’s assistance.
“But all of those carry Clipoford’s interests mixed within them. To prevent Ruswena’s interference and gain Bariel’s cooperation, don’t we need justification that Clipoford alone is the victim?”
The King grasped Ian’s core point without needing lengthy explanation. The boy nodded with satisfaction and then presented the same proposal he had made to Noah.
“Therefore, I recommend not officially announcing the envoys’ deaths. Since they did enter Clipoford’s palace, simply convey that the envoys have fallen ill with some disease and that Clipoford will care for them.”
“Won’t they send someone to check on the situation?”
When Akorelra asked, I laughed as if it were obvious.
“Those envoys will fall ill as well.”
“My goodness.”
If the envoys keep disappearing one after another, what would Burgos think? They’d grow frustrated and doubt whether these men were alive or dead, treating it as a convenient pretext for invasion.
Furthermore—
“The people of Clipoford seem to enjoy spreading rumors. Perhaps we should let some gossip circulate.”
Word would spread that three of the first envoys appeared to have died.
That corpses were being carried out of the palace.
The rumor would quickly reach Burgos, and combined with the continuing silence from their envoys, it would give them certainty. The King murmured thoughtfully.
“Three dead. A signal that there’s no mage.”
“They may not take it at face value, but we have nothing to lose from this. The envoys are dead regardless—that’s a fact. In any case, if Burgos initiates war first, Bariel will have ample justification to intervene.”
“Ample justification to intervene?”
“I was unable to forge a contract binding due to personal circumstances, but surely the palace has numerous mages, does it not? If you proceed with what couldn’t be done before, we shall provide assistance in the initial conflict between Clipoford and Burgos.”
At my gesture, Captain Heil stepped forward. A contract in place of a contract. Heil would be magically bound to the King in my stead.
“And I will send word to Bariel. We’ll inform them of the current situation and request military support. This will prevent the war from dragging on, which will greatly help minimize casualties.”
If Bariel held the border and came to our aid when Burgos and Clipoford’s collision was imminent, we could mediate and seize victory.
The King rubbed his round cheeks, lost in deep thought.
“Eventually, when we must hand over the Burgos envoys, what shall we do then?”
“No problem. We simply say that Burgos invaded, cutting off our supply routes for medicine, making treatment impossible, and they died as a result.”
Clipoford treated the envoys humanely until the end—that’s what we’d claim. And the envoys’ deaths were ultimately caused by Burgos itself. If we push these two points, there’s nothing for the outside world to criticize.
As long as we maintain strict palace security.
“We keep the bodies, but if their condition deteriorates too severely, we can dispose of them and keep only the hair. The crucial point is propagating that all wrongdoing and harm originated from Burgos.”
“You’re the Minister of Magic, correct?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Hmm. The King’s expression became peculiar. He’d heard that mages possessed remarkable intellect, but were they all like this? The boldness of such schemes—it was no different from a bureaucrat who’d spent his entire life in the imperial palace. Well, perhaps being Barielian and facing Clipoford’s affairs made me more daring than usual.
As it was, the envoys were already dead and what would unfold was predetermined. The only question was which direction to channel those currents.
“Very well. I’ll forge the contract we couldn’t before.”
“A truly wise decision, Your Majesty.”
“But you’re really not sick, right? I saw Count Ian collapse with my own eyes back then, so I’m nervous. You made quite an impression.”
“That was a side effect from my personal circumstances. There will be no such issue with Captain Heil, so you may rest assured. I swear this by my name as Minister of Magic and my loyalty to Bariel.”
When someone swears by Bariel itself, what more could be said?
The King extended his hand, and Captain Heil knelt, receiving it with both hands. As Noah grasped his sword hilt in case of trouble, Berik whispered to him.
“Hey, Prince.”
“What. Don’t whisper like we’re close.”
“Prince, when does the curse hit again? I saw your brother get hit suddenly even in broad daylight.”
“…You really want me to tell you that? Idiot.”
“I-idiot? When you call an idiot an idiot, that really hurts, you know? I was just worried—what if his ears go pop, his tail goes pop during battle? Ugh, forget it.”
Noah glared, then turned his attention back to guarding his father.
Swirling, brilliantly luminous mana. Complex and dizzying incantations bloomed and faded, creating colors that shifted and changed. The King watched in rapture, then suddenly remembered something and asked.
“But there’s talk of three envoys dying. I doubt Burgos will believe it. What if we say only one died instead?”
Zing. Zing.
“No. It doesn’t matter whether they believe it or not. Since we’re going to do this anyway, it’s better to say there’s no Mage. Your Highness, please refrain from speaking. Captain Heil doesn’t have good concentration like I do.”
“Ian!”
“Oh, sorry.”
The moment those words left my lips, the spell formula immediately fell apart. Was this difficult? Last time Ian just laughed and activated it right away.
King Clipoford examined Heil with suspicious eyes, and Heil proceeded with the contract magic with his eyes shut tight, concentrating. When beads of sweat began dripping down, a faint light wrapped around both their wrists before disappearing.
Zing. Zing.
“Did it… work? Right?”
“Yes, Your Highness. It’s done.”
“I heard all Mages are intelligent, but I guess that’s not always the case. Struggling like this and sweating so much?”
“…Your Highness. I am normal. Ian is a Minister.”
Heil wiped his sweat away, embarrassed.
King Clipoford closed and opened his hand with fascination. Ian gave a light clap to snap him back to attention.
Clap.
“Your Highness. And Prince. Regardless of anything else, discretion within the palace is absolutely necessary. Please focus on that aspect.”
“Of course. I’ll be careful.”
“Good. Now then, shall we begin preparing in earnest for Burgos? Let’s cast out the bait.”

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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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