Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 352

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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 352
Fire. The Fangs and the Mad Dog Deploy
I found the auxiliary palace where the Magic Bureau was staying.
As I opened the door, those who had been dozing with their heads bobbing awake wiped their drool and lifted their heads. One, two, three… Nearly all of them remained exactly where they had been when I arrived. As I glanced around as if searching for something, one of the mages stretched and asked.
“Do you need mana? Hey, whose turn is it next?”
“Just skip me once. I’m still tired.”
“You’re the only one tired? Stop talking nonsense and get up.”
“Ugh, seriously.”
As the mage poked his colleague’s waist with his toes, I gestured for them to remain lying down. Though the currents within King Clipoford’s palace were anything but ordinary, the mages who had remained unconscious could not have known.
“Where is Berik?”
“Berik? Well, I haven’t seen him since he left earlier. Didn’t he go out to find you, sir?”
“That was already yesterday.”
“What? Has that much time passed?”
I vaguely remembered Prince Noah bursting in, and Berik stepping forward to guide me. But that was yesterday? The mage simply blinked in surprise.
“Sir, at this rate, won’t we have to walk back to our homeland? Are you feeling alright? Wow, this is hopeless.”
“I seem to be on track to some degree, so devote yourselves to relieving your fatigue. That’s all.”
I closed the door hastily and turned away, pressed for time.
There was a mountain of things to ask, yet the mages could only stretch their hands into empty air and hesitate. Ah, never mind. They said to rest well, so we have no choice but to obey. The mages fell back into drowsy sleep with dried grapes in their mouths.
Tap tap tap.
“Ah, Barsabe.”
“Yes, sir.”
Just as I was turning the corner, I encountered Barsabe coming up drenched in sweat. She had likely been training alone in sword techniques in the back courtyard.
“Have you seen Berik?”
“That Berik went to the main palace because a servant called him. Prince Noah’s younger siblings summoned him, they said. What was it… something about Pong and Ppung or something. I’m not sure what they meant, but anyway, he went that way. Is something wrong?”
I nodded and instructed Barsabe to follow me. Though she had been assigned to me by the Imperial Guards for various reasons, here in Clipoford, she was undeniably one of us. Barsabe, bewildered, wiped her sweat and followed behind me.
“Barsabe. Soon there will be a clash between Clipoford and Burgos. We will minimize losses and ensure Clipoford does not fall.”
“I did sense things were noisy outside the palace, but it’s worse than I thought. I heard Captain Akorella’s mana amplifier is only a single dose.”
There is no choice. If I help Clipoford, I cannot open a path to return to the capital.
“Before that, I need you and Berik to go outside the palace and find someone.”
“What? Just the two of us with Berik?”
Barsabe’s face contorted in alarm. She had no idea what mission I was sending her on with that mad dog who wouldn’t listen to reason. Didn’t one need to be at least my level or Captain Jairot’s level to control that beast? Well, perhaps Romand would work too.
“Timothy, an envoy from Burgos, has entered the center of Clipoford. There is a high possibility he will make contact with spies within the palace. Since Clipoford and Bariel’s positions differ, I am sending you two to prevent any unforeseen incidents.”
“I’m not entirely sure of your intentions, sir.”
“I want Timothy prevented from returning to Burgos. Alternatively, you may capture him alive and bring him back. But under no circumstances should his life be endangered.”
“But he’s a Burgos envoy? Why him?”
Tap.
As we spoke, we arrived at the main palace. More precisely, the small auxiliary palace to the north where Prince Noah’s younger siblings were.
Cheerful laughter and all manner of boisterous joy could be heard. As I drew closer, servants blocked the way ahead.
“Forgive us. By royal decree, you cannot currently have an audience with the young prince and princess.”
“But Berik inside is my subordinate, is he not?”
“I’ll report to the Prince and return, so please wait a moment….”
“There’s no need. I’m aware that entry is forbidden due to curse manifestation, so step aside.”
“A, a curse?”
The servants feigned ignorance, but their efforts proved futile as Berik came tumbling out.
The Prince and Princess rolled out together after Berik, and one of the children had a small, delicate tail. Barsabe’s eyes widened as if they might pop from her head, and the servants quickly rushed forward to shield the children with their bodies.
“Your Highness! What are you doing!”
“Berik, did you see? I rolled too, so I won.”
“Didn’t you use your tail to balance? Let’s do it again.”
“Berik.”
“Huh? Ian. Are you done being busy?”
The Prince and Princess, forbidden from going outside, had grown so bored that they’d called Berik to play with them. I was drenched in sweat, though in a different way than Barsabe.
“I got scolded searching for you. Come with me.”
“Me? You were looking for me? Why? Why were you looking for me? Is it time to eat?”
Crash!
As Berik eagerly tried to follow Ian, the Prince and Princess grabbed both his feet. Berik tumbled forward helplessly. Barsabe frowned as if her nose had been broken and stepped back.
“No. Berik must play with us.”
“That’s right. Count Ian. I’ve heard that Berik is of no help whatsoever in your work. Just let him stay here.”
“Your Highness, Your Majesty. I apologize, but there is work that only Berik can accomplish. I will return shortly and bring him back here to play, so please release him.”
Ian spoke calmly to persuade them, but the Princess and Prince showed no sign of relenting. They even slapped the ground with their tails in anger. And their ears puffed up to full size.
Barsabe covered her mouth at the shockingly adorable sight and staggered backward. They were already young children, and with the curse manifesting, rational behavior was impossible. Even Noah had rolled about in the palace’s back garden—what could one expect from children?
“…Ian, I’m quite popular, aren’t I?”
“A little is fine. It will pass soon. We don’t know if Berik will even be here during the next curse, so allow him this much! Berik just causes trouble anyway!”
“That’s not true, Your Highness. I’m more capable than you think? Well, I don’t have much to show for it, but anyway, that’s how it is.”
At the same time, the children pinned down and squashed Berik.
One of the servants ran down the stairs to report this matter, while the other hastily began securing all the windows and doors in the corridor, just in case. They were among the few in the palace who knew of the royal family’s curse. They must be highly trusted individuals.
Ian carefully knelt and met their gaze.
“I’m uncertain when the next curse will occur, but if it happens while we’re in Clifford, Berik’s playtime with you will surely not be interrupted.”
“The next curse? That’s in two weeks.”
“Two weeks? Does the curse have a cycle?”
The children crawled up Berik’s waist and ended up sitting on the back of his head. Berik flailed his hands, saying he couldn’t breathe, but no one paid attention.
“Of course. There are those who can predict when the curse will manifest, but I can make a rough guess myself. The problem is that it’s uncertain. Since I was young, the curse returns in two weeks.”
“Ah, I see.”
Ian hesitated for a moment, then smiled and asked in return.
“Then, when might Prince Noah’s next curse occur?”
“My brother? My brother will probably….”
“If you tell me, I will lend you Berik for the entire day.”
“Wait. Let me think. I still can’t count large numbers.”
The child’s fingers folded and unfolded as if counting. Once the calculation was finished, the child whispered something so only Ian could hear.
As Berik, suffocating and gasping, suddenly sprang up.
“Your Highness!”
“Ugh. That stubborn old geezer!”
“S-Stubborn? How rude. Please, come inside at once!”
The servant brought the Minister, one of the King’s closest confidants. In comparison to the Imperial household, he held a position similar to that of the Prime Minister.
He was startled by the unfolding situation, yet relieved that the witness was Ian, and he lifted the children up. The author had already stated that he knew of the royal family’s curse.
“Come inside! Now!”
“That stubborn old geezer, ugh, I hate it.”
“Hurry!”
The children shrieked playfully as they entered the room, and Berik slowly rose to his feet, his hair disheveled.
The Minister exchanged an awkward nod with Ian, then followed the Prince and Princess. Soon, the sound of scolding would echo through the halls.
“Berik. Let’s leave this place.”
“Well, like family, like child. He does the same things as Prince Noah. He absolutely loves rolling around.”
“Barsabe, I’ll explain the details later. For now, keep your mouth firmly shut.”
“Ah, yes, yes. I understand.”
Having witnessed something so adorable, Barsabe’s flushed cheeks betrayed her inability to contain her excitement.
After leaving the auxiliary palace, Ian led them directly toward the main gate of the royal palace, to the entrance where palace staff came and went.
“Timothy is positioned at the center.”
“Timothy? Really? But…?”
“Prince Noah will soon share with me a list of suspected traitors within the palace. Aside from those names, if anyone leaves the palace grounds, observe them and follow their trail.”
If Prince Noah cooperatively shared the list of traitors, there would be no problem. Then the contact process would also be shared with Ian, and he could respond appropriately at that time regarding how to persuade and monitor Timothy.
But the real issue would be if Noah proved uncooperative.
“Currently, the palace is extremely wary of unfounded rumors, so few people are leaving. Two of us will be more than sufficient to handle it. The exit is over there, and based on those who’ve run errands for Akorella, using the left path apparently draws less attention.”
Unlike Barsabe, who absorbed every one of Ian’s orders without missing a single detail, Berik merely scratched his head and shrugged his shoulders.
“From the window, I saw everyone dancing and singing and going crazy. Wouldn’t it be fine to just go through the main gate?”
“Fine, my foot. If they recognize you as a foreigner leaving the palace, there’s no telling how the public will react. Since we’re already putting effort into controlling rumors, don’t cause unnecessary attention. Be careful with your disguise. If you dress up in those strange rags like last time, you won’t eat for a while, I’m telling you.”
He was referring to the secret investigation. While everyone else blended in with plain clothing, Berik had draped himself in every odd trinket he could find and called it a disguise.
“Wow, what do you take my sense of style for?”
“Barsabe, I’m counting on you. Berik, listen to what Barsabe says. If you don’t, you’ll get scolded. Make sure to tell Timothy that I wish to meet with him.”
Barsabe looked at Berik triumphantly, and Berik twisted his face in annoyance. But what could he do? It was Ian’s order. If he messed up, he’d end up eating nothing but grapes, so he’d better listen.
“…This is annoying. What makes you think you’re above me?”
“I’m annoyed too. Just follow along, Berik. Or you’ll get cut off.”
“Orryougetcutoff.”
“Don’t mimic me. I’ll kill you, seriously.”
“Oh, sorry. Without teeth, I can’t pronounce things right.”
Ian clicked his pocket watch open to check the time. Now it was time to return to Noah and extract the list of traitors. As Ian headed toward the main palace, he cautioned the two of them.
“Don’t fight, and remember—this is important. Understood?”
“Yes. I understand.”
“Understood!”
The two answered with their foreheads pressed together, glaring at each other intensely. Their response was loud and clear, and Ian shook his head with a bright smile.

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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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