Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 372

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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 372
Fire. Bad Luck
A soldier carrying Ian’s written opinion departed from the border toward the royal palace.
Cliffford’s banner was waving, yet why did something feel off? The officer ran his hand through his hair and placed a cigarette between his lips.
“I’m not sure if this is really alright.”
“You mean Count Ian?”
“More precisely, the Mages.”
It seemed everyone shared the same thoughts.
They were from Bariel, those whose very existence reduced Cliffford to a minor nation. It was undeniable that their power was necessary in the current war. But if their dominance grew even stronger because of it, what would they do then? They would realize it without even a chance to resist. Ah, Cliffford was already inside Bariel’s belly.
They would understand too late that they had already been swallowed whole.
“Samobo, why don’t you try dropping a hint to the Prince?”
The officers’ gazes focused on one man. Samobo—a childhood friend of the Prince, the closest among them personally, and one who carried blood ties to the royal family.
Samobo chewed on his cigarette for a moment, then nodded and let out a sigh. It was a sensitive matter, making it quite difficult to broach. The cigarette smoke mixed with his sigh drifted behind Samobo as he walked toward the war room.
Knock, knock.
“Your Highness.”
“Come in. Has the letter been sent?”
“Yes. It just departed. Since he’s skilled, it should arrive soon. But about that…”
Noah lifted his head to look at Samobo. As if to say he would listen if there was something to say. Samobo opened and closed his lips several times before carefully voicing his opinion.
“First, please know that I care for Cliffford more than anyone else. And I respect and love you more than anyone else, Your Highness.”
“Then I understand. A warrior who has bloodied his hands for the nation and offered his own death. There is no greater heart than that.”
“What if we drew a clear boundary with the Mages on the front lines? Right now, Count Ian is not just serving as Bariel’s Minister—he’s even taking on the role of leader. While it may help us now, it could bring greater danger to Cliffford in the future.”
Noah’s face hardened rigidly. This was as good as admitting his own lack of ability. He had been aware of it, but hearing it from his subordinate’s mouth made the shock and humiliation feel twice as strong.
Samobo, noticing this, placed his hand on Noah’s.
“Noah, right now I’m speaking not as an officer but as your friend and as a citizen of Cliffford. Please understand my concern.”
He understood. He understood perfectly and could comprehend it. Hadn’t he felt it first himself? He had seen Ian through the eyes of the people who looked at him.
Noah closed his eyes for a moment to gather his thoughts.
“…Samobo, I’ve harbored concerns about that too. No, I still am.”
Samobo let out a relieved breath as if to say thank goodness. Then Noah’s hand patted his shoulder.
“But for now, Bariel—or rather, Count Ian’s help is essential. There’s no other choice. When I see him, it feels like I’m seeing my own limitations. However, Cliffford’s safety takes priority over my frustration, and I believe that after the Burgos crisis is resolved, I will have grown. Both I and all of Cliffford.”
Breathing alongside someone who made you feel frustration and defeat was agony.
Yet enduring that pain was also Noah’s duty, a kind of ordeal to protect Cliffford.
Samobo, recognizing his resolve, nodded.
“Of course, Your Highness. You’ve never failed at anything since childhood. I’m certain you’ll grow even more through this opportunity.”
“You’re calling me Prince again.”
“I thought I’d be scolded if I hadn’t called you Noah just now.”
The two exchanged light jokes and laughed. With May gone, Noah thought he was standing alone against the enemy. So he had to hold them back, believing that was his mission.
But somehow, through this conversation with Samobo, he came to realize something. He wasn’t standing before Cliffford—he was standing together within it.
“Let’s think of it as a blessing. A blessing the Divine has sent down for Cliffford. If I thought Count Ian had gone over to Burgos’ side, I’d really have a headache.”
“That does sound rather terrible.”
“Right? So let’s not worry about the future and focus on what we need to do now. Once we bring down Burgos, some of that power will flow into Cliffford. We can use that as a stepping stone to move forward.”
“Yes, Prince.”
“There’s nothing to overthink. We’re using Bariel, and we’re the ones reaping the benefits. Make sure the other officers understand this as well.”
Of course. Samobo shrugged his shoulders with a laugh. Then he glanced back cautiously, confirmed the door was completely shut, and whispered.
“But Count Ian is rather insufferable, isn’t he?”
Blessed with extraordinary beauty, a mage, the youngest minister, and on top of that, shrewd political acumen. With nothing to fault, I questioned whether he was truly human like myself. Noah clenched his fist firmly as if in agreement.
“In my entire life, I’ve never met anyone so insufferably fortunate.”
“If I met him twice, I’d die. Seriously.”
“Tell me about it. It’s infuriating.”
The two men burst into laughter simultaneously.
In all my years, I’d never encountered anyone quite like him. I don’t know what Bariel’s two dead princes were like, but they must have been less insufferable than this Ian fellow.
Noah smiled faintly and traced the map with his fingertips. It was the expected supply route path that Ian had indicated.
“For the path leading to the Red Forest, we’re close enough—let’s dispatch a small contingent of soldiers.”
“Yes, understood.”
“As we draw closer to Burgos’s forces, it becomes harder to gauge the situation, so we eliminate them immediately upon discovery. If unavoidable, report and launch a surprise attack with reinforcements.”
The reinforcements in this case would likely include mages as well. There was nothing more important than cutting off the supply lines.
The officer who received Noah’s orders saluted and left the tactical chamber. Left alone, Noah pressed his forehead and closed his eyes, whispering like a hypnotic mantra that he was doing well, that he was doing well.
* * *
Eriponi lay on the sofa, having her long hair arranged.
A translucent amber gemstone that glimmered brilliantly. She turned it this way and that against the light filtering down from the ceiling, then murmured as if utterly bewildered.
“How can such a mere stone nullify divine power?”
Is that a question seeking an answer? The servants hesitated for a moment, but all continued their grooming work in silence. It proved to be a wise choice, for soon the King tossed Idgal toward the table as if annoyed.
Eriponi tilted her head and gazed quietly at the ceiling, then closed her eyes. It was to gauge how the world beyond Ruswena was turning.
Knock, knock.
“Your Highness, it is Count Eldetr.”
“Let him in.”
Eriponi maintained her posture and turned only her head to receive Eldetr. A golden tray in his hands. And upon it, letters. Eriponi recognized what they were at once and dismissed the servants.
“Are these letters from Burgos?”
“Yes, they are.”
“Give them to me.”
She took the papers herself without fuss. Her teal eyes moved keenly as she read through the characters.
Eldetr also observed his sovereign’s expression, trying to discern what the letters contained.
“Burgos has breached Cliffford’s barrier and entered. He’s established a camp before the barrier leading to the capital through Baki village, and they’re currently in a standoff. A mage has intervened, it says.”
“I’ll send word immediately. We should move on our end as well.”
War had begun. What had been a precarious strangling of each other’s throats was now openly brandishing weapons and calling for blood. Eriponi laughed as she continued reading the letters.
“Yes. It says Burgos is sending additional forces while they’re in a standoff before the barrier. Send soldiers clad in black armor to the border with Cliffford immediately. Five hundred should suffice.”
It was merely to capture their attention. By pressuring both the front and rear of Cliffford simultaneously, a show of force against mage intervention.
If only a small number of mages were dispatched, it would be ideal. Then I would capture them alive and use them as nourishment for Ruswena. They would generate mana until death, and I would research and develop further. Thus I would greet a glory as radiant as Bariel’s, or even more so.
Eriponi corrected herself with a flick of her hand.
“No. Three hundred would be better. The fewer the numbers, the more the enemy tends to lower their guard.”
“Understood. I’ll prepare and mobilize them at once.”
“And it’s time to send the Dragon Garcin to Burgos.”
Eriponi waved her hand and ordered someone to bring the map. When she had returned and conducted an investigation due to all the talk about the Dragon Garcin plague from Bariel, what do you know—she discovered an illegal farm that had actually conducted transactions with Haimanga.
But what did that matter? The balance of power in history was about to shift.
The promises of her predecessor could not stop her footsteps. Eriponi disposed of the operators and then instructed the royal palace to manage the farm directly.
“There are several routes leading south. This one is treacherous and uninhabited land, so you may choose whichever suits best. In my personal opinion, it would be better to take a path somewhat distant from the Cliffford border. It will take more time, but it’s that much safer.”
Eriponi’s gaze followed the tip of Eldetr’s finger. She rested her chin in her hand, her expression showing something was not quite right.
“You said Count Ian is in Cliffford?”
“Yes. If a Mage was involved, it would suggest an alliance, but since Prince Gin is at the Bariel imperial palace, it would only be temporary.”
“That won’t do. I wouldn’t mind if it were the royal family of that country, but Count Ian would surely know of the supply line’s existence. Wasn’t it he who purged Haimanga?”
“Then how shall we….”
Tap, tap. Eriponi laughed as if amused and pointed at the map. It was Bariel.
“We’ll go through Bariel, that’s all.”
“Your Highness?”
“Why are you so startled?”
It was a route that had never entered Eldetr’s calculations.
To go from Ruswena to Burgos, one had to pass through either the monster-infested north or through Cliffford. Naturally, the north was excluded due to high danger. So he had thought there was no choice but to pass through Cliffford and follow the southern route.
Yet now the King was saying to cut straight through the middle—Bariel.
“I won’t send them in black armor. Gather everything needed for production, including Garcin. Things that are light and easy to transport should be smuggled across to areas without border guards, and things requiring carriages should be separately packaged and distributed through the Ruswena merchant guild inside Bariel.”
“There will be customs inspections, Your Highness.”
“Listen, Eldetr. Even a mere nobleman like Haiman managed it—how could I not? Hmm?”
She was right. Even in Bariel, not every border was guarded by the border guards, and when examined one by one, the materials needed for production were not prohibited items.
“Only Garcin needs to be smuggled across. I think if we go around this forest, it would be similar to or perhaps even faster than going south of Cliffford?”
“I anticipate the same. Then I shall contact Burgos. We’ll need to change the supply pickup location.”
“Yes. It’s best to hurry before the Bariel imperial palace makes any moves. Don’t miss a single report coming up from Burgos—bring it all to me.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
She fanned herself and laughed once more.
No matter how clever Ian was, he would never have thought of this. There was no official stance from Bariel’s side—only the Mage’s involvement.
Using this to take that route. It was reckless yet bold, and moreover, it was something no one would think of, which made her mood even better.
Just as Eriponi was about to light a cigarette.
Clatter, clatter!
“Your Highness!”
“What is all this commotion?”
“Your Highness, disaster! A letter has arrived from Bariel saying they will suspend all trade with Ruswena.”
Eriponi furrowed her brows, wondering if she had misheard.
“Say that again.”
“Well, to be precise, they’re saying Ruswena will no longer import from them.”
She flicked the cigarette away in disbelief, and Eldetr quietly turned his head toward the map.
Even if there were no Mage in the imperial palace, it wasn’t completely empty.
Not long ago, Prince Jin Berosion, who had endured that fierce bloodshed and was formally appointed, was there.
“…Your Highness. We must reconsider the supply route.”

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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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