Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 375

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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 375
Fire. The Price
A servant crossed through the solemn and majestic imperial palace. Upon entering the Prince’s quarters and whispering something, the one who heard him furrowed his brow in silent question.
The servant stood in place for a long while, murmuring something in hushed tones, while the guards observed without appearing to observe, their gazes fixed elsewhere.
Knock, knock.
“Your Highness.”
The servant who had shared the information made his presence known at the Prince’s door. Upon receiving permission to enter, he found himself face to face with Jin, who sat at his desk flipping through documents.
They say other people’s children grow remarkably fast, and indeed, though I had seen him only days ago, how much he has developed. The servant muttered such musings to himself as he bowed his head respectfully.
“What is the matter? Has word come from Minister Tweller?”
Minister Maxim Tweller was currently leading soldiers southward. Since he sent dispatches twice daily, I naturally assumed this concerned him as well. But the servant shook his head.
“No, Your Highness. This is a report from the border guards. They say a travel permit issued by Minister Ian Hielo was used, but since the person’s identity could not be confirmed, they merely noted it for the record.”
At the mention of Ian’s name, Jin tilted his head curiously. Xiaoxi, who had been listening from behind, reacted keenly and focused on the servant’s words.
“Count Ian issued a travel permit? Using his ministerial authority?”
“Yes, Your Highness. And the person who used it has been identified. It was Lord Timothy, an envoy from Burgos.”
“Wait.”
What in the world was this about?
Jin rose from his seat entirely and ran his hand through his hair. So Ian had given Timothy a travel permit—but this seemed unnatural. After all, Timothy already held a high position in Burgos’s diplomatic delegation, granting him free passage in and out of Bariel.
Yet despite this, a separate permit was issued? Why?
“How did you determine that Timothy was the one who used it?”
“He came to the imperial palace himself. He wishes to have an audience with Your Highness.”
Xiaoxi slowly covered Jin’s documents and tidied the desk. It appeared today’s work would end here.
That a man from another nation—and one actively participating in the war—had come directly to Bariel’s imperial palace suggested far more than an ordinary matter. Jin quickly gestured for him to be brought in, and the servant scurried out. Faced with this sudden development, Jin appeared to be struggling to grasp the situation.
“What could this mean? Why has Timothy come to Bariel? Xiao, give me that note Count Ian sent earlier. Was there no mention of Timothy? How did I come to believe he was with Cliffford?”
“There is no direct mention, Your Highness, but there is a passage about Burgos taking a diplomatic stance—specifically, that they brought an envoy and faced off at the barrier. Given the importance of the matter, it is likely Timothy was deployed then. I believe that is how you understood it.”
“But why would he come all the way to the imperial palace?”
“You will understand once you meet him, so please do not worry too much. In my opinion….”
Xiaoxi trailed off and took a moment to breathe. From experience and intuition alike, if Timothy had entered Bariel’s imperial palace alone, only one reason came to mind.
“To escape one’s master, one must seek out someone stronger than the master. I suspect Timothy has done the same.”
During my time as a slave, I witnessed escapes often enough. Those who foolishly fled through mountains and fields were all caught and killed, while those who appealed to their value before other powers and begged for mercy escaped alive. Whether that could truly be called escape, I cannot say, but such was the way of it.
Knock, knock.
Before Xiaoxi’s words had even finished, a presence was felt at the door.
Upon Jin’s permission, the scent of exhaustion wafted in—a smell only one who had ridden relentlessly day and night could produce.
Timothy then appeared, his massive frame half-bent, and his face still bore unmistakable traces of moisture. Yet Jin could not discern whether it was sweat or tears.
“Lord Timothy.”
Had we not once shared tea in the courtyard behind the Magic Ministry? Seeing him now, so different from then, Jin rose in surprise. Though he was an enemy, the human compassion that first emanated from him struck deeper.
Where had the beast-like, rough and steadfast man gone? Why did he now bear the broken spirit of an aging predator cast out and stripped of power?
“I greet Prince Jin, Your Highness.”
Timothy offered a respectful bow. Not in the manner of Burgos, but in the manner of Bariel.
Jin returned to his seat while observing what Timothy held in his arms. It appeared to be a stack of documents, yellowed and dusty from soil and grime.
“I have many questions, but I trust you will satisfy my curiosity of your own accord. You know of the war between Burgos and Cliffford. The place you have walked into now is the heart of Gaia.”
“Yes. The heart of Gaia, the Imperial Palace. Though I may have lost my way, I have found it well. I am grateful for your audience.”
Jin sensed intuitively that Timothy had abandoned Burgos. Xiaoxi felt the same. Timothy bowed carefully and confessed all that had transpired.
“…I devoted myself entirely, sacrificing everything throughout my life. Burgos was my homeland and more than that, and the royal family was likewise the footsteps I followed. But that is no longer true. As I crossed the border, I shed everything except my memories with my family, and now I wish to live for Bariel.”
“This is unbelievable. King Damon did that to your family without evidence?”
“I too cannot believe this moment even now.”
Ruin brought by internal whistleblowing.
Timothy maintained his innocence to the end, tears streaming down his face. He thought they would never come again, but it seemed tears would flow as long as one lived.
Timothy pressed his head to the ground and pleaded.
“Your Highness, I humbly beg you to accept me as a citizen of the Bariel Empire. Otherwise, I will become an illegal resident when my entry permit expires, and I cannot enter any other nation. Treason is the gravest of crimes in any country. King Damon will issue a warrant across foreign lands to capture me, and my body will wander, choosing only dead lands to tread upon.”
An ordinary imperial citizen could naturalize through proper procedures, but Timothy’s case was somewhat more complicated.
First, he was from Burgos, a nation currently at war. Second, he held a high position there. Third, his entry was not standard and came through ministerial favor. Fourth, his naturalization was motivated by political reasons.
Yet Prince Jin was precisely the one who could push through all of this at once. A single word from him would process everything swiftly, and a Bariel imperial citizenship certificate would be issued.
The boy tapped the documents with his fingertips, looking down at Timothy’s crown.
“…What of yours should I believe?”
He claimed he was no defector, but there was no direct evidence. What if all of this were Timothy’s lies? What if it were an audacious scheme from Burgos to infiltrate the Imperial Palace? If Timothy were truly a defector, Burgos would request his extradition.
Yet there was no clear justification to refuse either. Taking him in bare-handed carried too much risk for Bariel to bear.
Swiftly.
Timothy produced something from his garment as if he had anticipated this. Xiaoxi picked it up instead and, brushing it lightly, handed it to Jin.
The document was written in Burgosian, so immediate translation was impossible, but one thing was certain: the seal of the Burgos royal palace was stamped upon it.
“This document contains details of diplomatic transactions between Burgos and foreign nations. It records what they exchanged, what they promised for the future, and what they agreed to forget in the past.”
“Xiao. Bring someone who can read Burgosian.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Bring two or more.”
Just to be safe.
Xiaoxi quickly conveyed Jin’s wishes to the servants, and the outer chambers became bustling. Nevertheless, Timothy remained steadfastly bowed, waiting for Jin’s goodwill.
‘If Timothy’s words are true….’
This was extraordinary intelligence.
Knowing what transactions Burgos had made with other nations was far more than a simple indicator.
It revealed what they lacked and what they possessed in abundance, and by analyzing the patterns of trade, one could discern their objectives—and if not material, even the internal affairs of the nation. Not just Burgos, but the neighboring countries connected to it as well.
“Your Highness. These are those who can read Burgosian.”
“Let them speak.”
Two officials entered with bowed heads.
Jin did not show them the inner contents, but first had them read a portion from the front. Since this was important information, he needed to verify their identities as well. He could not hastily reveal everything in the back.
“First, confirm whether this is an official Burgosian document.”
“Yes, Your Highness. One moment, my apologies.”
They received the document from Jin and examined it slowly. As members of the Burgos department, they knew well how the kingdom’s official documents were written and distributed.
Their hands were busy due to damage from dirt and dust scattered throughout. But soon came their answer.
“Your Highness. This is indeed an official Burgosian document. This section contains the names of those who handled it, and below that is the title of the report. The document’s composition matches what is written by Burgos’s diplomatic ministry, and the names of the officials are familiar to us. Most importantly, the seal is genuine as well. Of course, this is based on visual inspection. Regarding the seal, it would be best to call a separate expert. However, from what we have observed, we find no issues with it.”
Timothy, still bowed, showed not the slightest wavering. Suddenly, Jin noticed something protruding from his garment—he realized it was a child’s toy.
Jin instructed the officials to withdraw, then lightly struck the Burgosian documents, brushing away the dust.
“I have just one question.”
“Please ask, Your Highness.”
“If you naturalize here, what will you do for a living? Someone who has eaten the state’s bread their entire life won’t find other fare palatable.”
A Bariel citizenship certificate was the bare minimum qualification to work in the royal palace. If he somehow passed an examination and became even a low-ranking civil servant? It would be quite the spectacle. Of course, those above would ensure it never came to pass.
“If you simply permit my naturalization to Bariel, I will not set foot near the royal palace. I merely wish to live. To survive….”
All I desire is vengeance against King Damon, who murdered my family so wretchedly and miserably. If the royal palace lay along that path, it would be convenient, but there were many roads regardless.
Timothy bit the inside of his cheek until blood seeped forth. Merely the thought of Damon’s face made his heart twist as though it would cease beating.
“There will first be a process to verify whether what you have stated is true.”
“I will respond with utmost sincerity.”
“And for the time being, you must remain in the royal palace.”
At that, Timothy lifted his head.
Why would he cast out a high-ranking official from Burgos who had rolled into his lap? There was a need to thoroughly examine everything that had been etched into his mind throughout his lifetime.
That would surely be more precious than these shabby documents.
“…The price seems sufficient.”
Jin set down the documents and nodded. His gaze was one that did not overlook Timothy’s naturalization as an extraordinarily positive variable in the current situation.

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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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