Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 459

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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 459
Fire. Reunion
The palace, now that the commotion had subsided.
Just as sand heated by flames grows cool, the frantic atmosphere that had gripped the halls settled into profound stillness. And for good reason—they now faced only a single choice.
“It would be wise to declare war, Your Majesty.”
An all-out war between Bariel and Burgos. That which no one had dared attempt before. When one official broke the silence with those words, dissatisfied murmurs erupted throughout the chamber. Yet none dared call it foolishness or voice opposition.
“Yes, Your Majesty. We must monitor the delegation’s movements upon their return to Ruswena and respond to Burgos with an iron hand.”
“Power will shift in Ruswena as well. Through war with Burgos, we must ensure they harbor no reckless ambitions. A strong warning. That would be most efficient, would it not?”
“Who do you believe will claim the throne of Ruswena next?”
“Whether we call it unfortunate or fortunate, I cannot say. Since King Eriponi has no heir, they will likely determine succession through proper order of lineage, will they not?”
“I heard the late king’s brother still lives.”
“But he is far too aged. He lacks the capacity to restore a nation thrown into chaos by defeat.”
“What of this Eldetr? He was Eriponi’s right hand, the very one who brought word of the king’s death to his homeland. Would he not suffice?”
“Ruswena prioritizes legitimacy above all else. Though Count Eldetr is Eriponi’s cousin, I confess… by order of succession, he ranks quite far back. This is why, in his youth, he left the palace to become a university professor.”
“In any case, whether Ruswena or Burgos, a new era of kingship approaches. Bariel cannot simply stand idle.”
“Burgos lacks capable talent.”
“More precisely, Burgos lacks the talent that Bariel desires.”
“Indeed. Well, one could be more precise with words, I suppose. Heh. Ruswena should present no great difficulty. They are already attempting to shift the war’s responsibility entirely onto Burgos. If Bariel seizes and shakes Burgos, they will cooperate with us.”
“Is that not so, Count Ian?”
The officials’ gazes converged upon me simultaneously. They found it strange that I had offered no comment. Beyond my title as Minister of Magic, I was currently the most crucial figure—the one responsible for investigating King Eriponi’s death and interrogating the Burgos delegation.
I merely shrugged and nodded.
“Yes. However, we cannot conduct affairs based on assumptions alone. It would be wise to send someone to Ruswena to observe how the situation unfolds.”
“Count Ian. Now that it is only us, let us speak frankly.”
The official shifted his body toward me.
One official turned his body toward me and drew close.
“Will you truly descend to Cliffford as planned?”
“It is already settled. His Majesty has so commanded, and this is a promise made between nations. Why do you ask again?”
“I wonder what will become of your position as Minister of Magic. War with Burgos is unavoidable, and frankly, without you, Count Ian, it feels… well. Minister Maxim Tweller of the Imperial Defense Ministry—I do not doubt his abilities, but—”
“You do not doubt, yet you worry. Is that what you mean to say?”
Maxim Tweller spoke in a firm, low voice. The gap between doubt and worry was scarcely thicker than a sheet of paper, was it not?
As the officials cleared their throats and awkwardly evaded response, I interjected.
“Count Maxim Tweller. Take no offense. The officials do not doubt the Imperial Defense Ministry—they worry for the Ministry of Magic. The Ministry of Magic contains many far more capable than myself. Therefore, do not add further commentary to Prince Jin’s will.”
“Heh, that was not my intent, but…”
“Where is Prince Jin? Is he still in private audience with King Cliffford?”
The officials hastened the servants, eager to dispel the awkward atmosphere. Since both Burgos and Ruswena were entangled in the negotiations, conversation between the sovereigns themselves was necessary.
I sipped my tea and glanced out the window. Soon the sun would set. The sky deepened in hue, and dusk began to descend.
A low rumble echoed.
Then, a vibration so faint it was barely perceptible.
I stiffened and turned my head toward the door. Had no one else felt it? The officials continued their discussion uninterrupted, yet only Minister Maxim Tweller met my gaze.
Another rumble, stronger than before.
A sharp sound cut through the air.
“Why, why are you doing this?”
I wondered if I was mistaken, but clearly I wasn’t.
The moment both of us rose from our seats simultaneously, the officials called out to us with bewildered expressions. But I was too focused to respond, and Tweller remained silent, trying to discern the nature of the unusual aura. Soon, Tweller’s hand moved toward the sword at his side.
The officials were startled.
“Minister! What are you doing!?”
“Quiet. Everyone, stay silent.”
“Silent? This is the imperial palace! The imperial palace!”
“Yes, yes, drawing weapons carelessly isn’t good for anyone. The Prince is just across the corridor. Hehe.”
“Why would you draw your sword in the imperial palace of all places? There’s been no message from the main gate, and palace guards are maintaining a tight perimeter all around.”
“That’s precisely why it’s so strange. An explosion sound in the imperial palace.”
“An, an explosion?”
“Could it be a failed experiment from the Magic Ministry?”
“…No. The aura is different.”
I muttered, heightening all my senses.
It was certainly strange, and something felt off. If there had been an intrusion from outside, the guards at the main gate and the mages would have stopped it immediately, and a report would have come up.
But there was nothing suspicious enough to suggest an internal problem. A rebellion from the Burgos delegation? They were all ordinary humans, and I had even fitted them with mana-sealing shackles as a precaution.
Then, where could such a powerful explosion have come from?
‘The only remaining external force is Cliffford, but they have neither justification nor reason to do such a thing.’
If they stayed quiet, Bariel would provide supplies, and I and the mages would handle the rift repairs. Why would they cause a commotion?
“Minister Tweller.”
I turned the door handle myself and called out to Tweller. The other mages also seemed to have sensed something, waiting for me with bewildered expressions. Only Romandro failed to read the sudden shift in atmosphere, merely blinking his eyes.
“Please guard the Prince well. I’ll go investigate.”
“I shall do so.”
“Ian! You felt it just now, right? Something went boom!”
“Berik. Quiet.”
“I think I know where it came from. The left! It came from the left!”
I gave Berik a light push on the shoulder, signaling him to follow, and disappeared down the corridor. The mages and Romandro hurried after me.
Minister Tweller watched until everyone had vanished, then rushed with his subordinates in the opposite direction toward the reception room where Prince Jin was stationed.
Tap, tap, tap!
“Wait, you’re all not trying to trick me, are you? What explosion? I didn’t hear anything.”
“You didn’t hear that? It was super loud! Boom! Did you fall asleep standing up? Your eyes were open but you were sleeping!”
“Berik, you! I was completely alert!”
“If you still didn’t hear it, something’s wrong with your ears. Hahaha.”
Berik teased Romandro and ran ahead. Though I wasn’t sure what had happened, the fact that we were all moving together with me to resolve the issue seemed to please him. His footsteps were light and cheerful—he seemed completely unaware that we were heading to investigate a problem.
Tap, tap, tap!
“Is it this way?”
“Ah, I’m not sure.”
“It seems to be near the imperial palace storage, but….”
A faint impact felt twice. I confirmed that the movements of the palace guards inside were inconsistent. They too hadn’t determined where the explosion had occurred.
At that moment, Berik, who had been running smoothly, came to an abrupt halt.
“Ah.”
Sniff sniff. Then he tilted his chin up into the air and furrowed his brow. Romandro shuffled his feet as he turned to look at Berik.
“What’s wrong?”
“I smell blood.”
“Blood? Where?”
“This way. Ian! This way!”
“Should we trust him?”
“His sense of direction is terrible, but his sense of smell is uncanny—we have no choice but to trust it! Berik! Come with me!”
The mages rushed toward the exhibition hall where the imperial palace’s treasures and valuables were stored. It was a space where explosions should never occur, and never had.
It was the moment I realized something was going terribly wrong. As the mages rounded the corner, they could not advance further and came to an abrupt stop.
“…I, Ian.”
“What, what, what is this….”
Blood stains scattered relentlessly across the white marble floor.
The guards lay dead with their eyes wide open, as if they had been ambushed from behind. Blood seeped profusely through the tightly sealed door cracks.
Zing! Zing!
The exhibition hall. Filled with Bariel’s precious treasures, it was a space protected not only by the Magic Ministry’s barriers but accessible only to authorized individuals.
The moment I spotted blood flowing from within, I opened my mana. The mages reflexively drew upon their power in response.
“Romandro, hurry and alert the palace to this emergency. Ensure the Prince’s safety.”
“Ah, yes, understood! I’ll summon people at once!”
“Be careful. Berik! You escort Romandro.”
“Me? Why? There are enemies ahead.”
As Berik frowned, Romandro seized his ear and yanked it sharply.
“You fool, do you want to watch me die? There was an explosion, yet no alarm sounded. Assailants exist within the palace. Look at that corpse—they didn’t even close their eyes in death. Their skill is extraordinary.”
“Ugh, seriously. So you’re leaving Ian behind?”
“Will I die faster, or will Ian? Never mind—escort me now! Berik! This is critical!”
The guards had been eliminated before they could even alert anyone. Whatever the objective was, the Prince’s safety was clearly in danger.
Romandro had the urgent duty to inform the palace’s Captain of the Guard, the royal guard, and all of Bariel’s Imperial Defense Ministry of this fact.
“Hurry!”
Romandro grabbed Berik by the scruff of his neck and retraced their steps, while I approached the exhibition hall slowly. I could hear what sounded like something being cut, and bustling movements as well.
At least five.
No, more than that.
Whoosh.
The mages spread out to the left and right of the door, their mana fully unleashed. How had these assailants managed to drop into the imperial palace? And in this place of all places, where security was most stringent….
‘Was there an object that facilitated spatial movement?’
In the palace? Or among something that arrived recently? What had Ruswena or Burgos sent?
In that moment, the exhibition hall door slowly opened, and sounds of movement came from within.
“Ah….”
Staggering, barely crawling out while supporting herself on the floor—a woman drenched in blood. Her face was unrecognizable beneath the gore, but I and the mages recognized her instantly.
‘…Akorelra!’
As the mages rushed forward in shock, I held them back. Another figure had appeared behind Akorelra.
He seized Akorelra’s ankle roughly and dragged her backward, as if hauling a hunted beast across the ground.
“Where do you think you’re going? You need to answer for the mess you’ve created.”
“Ah, ugh, damn it….”
“Want your right leg broken too? Hm?”
“Get away, get-”
Zing! Zing!
Boom!
Akorelra gathered her mana in resistance and unleashed it in a burst, bathing the interior of the exhibition hall in brilliant light. In that instant, I caught sight of the man with black hair, and suddenly, instinctive recognition awakened within me.
Though I had never seen him before, somehow he felt deeply etched into my memory. A man who evoked the image of a black panther. A man whose entire frame was drenched in blood, yet radiated such overwhelming presence that the crimson stains seemed to fade from notice.
‘It’s Rutherford.’

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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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