Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 496

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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 496
. The Day Before the Coming-of-Age Ceremony
Behind the Prince’s Palace, the training grounds.
I pulled at my sweat-drenched upper garment lightly. Xiaoxi across from me was in the same state. We both dripped with perspiration as though we’d been drenched in water, while Captain Jairat standing between us merely clicked his pocket watch.
“Your rest period is nearly over, Your Highness.”
“Ha… ha…”
“Steady your breathing slowly. The more urgent the moment, the more crucial proper breathing becomes. Otherwise, you lose composure, and that means revealing an opening.”
“Merciless, Jairat.”
“It is not I who am merciless, but the blade itself.”
“Xiao, come at me together this time.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Xiaoxi took a long gulp of water, then gripped his sword anew. It was a training blade with a dulled edge, but its weight matched that of a real weapon. There was no difficulty in simulating actual combat conditions.
I lowered my stance and focused on the tip of Xiaoxi’s blade. The moment Captain Jairat pulled the string of his pocket watch, I charged forward.
Tap-tap-tap! Tack!
Whoosh! Clang! Ching!
“Excellent, Your Highness. When parrying the blade, drive more force through it. Use your waist smoothly, and it will become easier.”
Sparks flew each time our blades collided. Xiaoxi and I exchanged endless strikes with clenched teeth, while Captain Jairat, with the eyes of a hawk, corrected our stances. In truth, my form was his primary focus.
“Count Xiaoxi! There was an opening just now, was there not? Yet why did you not exploit it? Is it because your opponent is the Prince?”
“…That is not the reason.”
“Xiao! I made it clear, did I not? I do not mind being cut!”
Screech!
As I drove my blade forward with force, Xiaoxi retreated and twisted his body. In that moment, an opening appeared at his flank.
I swung my sword fiercely and attacked Xiaoxi’s side. Even as he fell, he thrust his blade toward my right neck.
“Enough.”
At Captain Jairat’s intervention, both our blades stopped simultaneously. The tips of our swords hovered just short of each other’s vital points. Xiaoxi and I exhaled roughly, glancing at our respective necks and waists before breaking into bright smiles.
“A draw this time.”
“Well done, Your Highness. You grow stronger with each passing day.”
“Good. I shall continue to grow steadily, so you must also advance. Should I ever defeat you, Xiaoxi, I will hold you accountable.”
“Yes, I shall bear this in mind with utmost respect.”
An officer of the Imperial Defense Ministry who protects the empire losing in swordplay to the Prince—surely such a thing could not be allowed. I rose, patting Xiaoxi’s shoulder, and drank the water my servant offered me refreshingly.
Tap-tap-tap!
“Your Highness.”
Just then, I heard footsteps from a distance. The hurried pace seemed particularly urgent, so Xiaoxi and Captain Jairat both turned their heads simultaneously.
“What is the matter?”
“Word has come that Prince Noah of Cliffford has entered the capital. He will soon arrive at the imperial palace, but we are uncertain how to receive him…”
“Ah.”
The imperial palace had anticipated that the Cliffford delegation would enter in accordance with my coming-of-age ceremony tomorrow. Yet an unscheduled visit so sudden as this?
Unlike the flustered servant, I raised my eyebrows, sensing something.
“Grant him entry. Receive him with proper courtesy, but if he wishes an audience with me, he must wait until my schedule is complete. If the matter is truly urgent, have him come here.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Today’s schedule wouldn’t be finished until late into the night, so he would likely come here. Gin wrapped the bandages around his hands himself, and Captain Jairot quietly donned his protective gear.
“You seem to be pushing yourself too hard lately, Your Highness.”
“With war approaching, I must set an example as the Crown Prince.”
“Not to pass the time more quickly?”
“Hardly. The entire nation is preoccupied with the coming-of-age ceremony—where would I find such time?”
Gin laughed softly at Jairot’s mischievous question and denied it lightly, though his tone carried a hint of admission. He was eagerly counting down the days until he completed his coming-of-age ceremony, and more specifically, until that day when the Ministry of Magic gathered. To be precise, the day when Minister of Magic Ian Hielo returned to the imperial palace.
“Enough idle talk.”
“Yes, Your Highness. I look forward to our match.”
Gin threw a powerful punch, and the next bout began.
Xiaoxi stepped back to observe, and soon felt footsteps echoing through the corridor. Prince Noah had arrived.
“Your Highness, Prince Noah of Cliffford has come.”
“Ah, ah. Let him in.”
The door swung open.
Noah entered the training grounds with a rigid expression. His long hair, reaching to his waist, was tied back in a single braid. May, who followed close behind, had noticeably shorter hair.
Gin straightened his posture and smiled warmly.
“It’s been a while, Prince Noah.”
“I pay my respects to Crown Prince Gin.”
“But what brings you to the imperial palace ahead of schedule? Has the situation in Cliffford improved somewhat?”
It was a question that simultaneously inquired whether an heir could afford to leave his nation unattended, and a rebuke for the unexpected visit.
Noah bowed lightly, then fixed his gaze directly on Gin. His narrow, elongated eyes were particularly cold. If one were to describe it by emotion, it was anger.
“Forgive me, Your Highness. As you know, Cliffford still writhes in suffering. Our people mourn the future they have lost, and they live in fear of not knowing when demons might appear.”
“Is that so? Truly unfortunate. But then, why are you here?”
Asking while already knowing the answer. Noah wondered if the cunning fox before him was truly the same boy from ten years ago. He found it impossible to believe they were the same person.
“You’ve summoned all the Mages to the imperial palace, haven’t you? How could you possibly do such a thing? If all the Mages withdraw, what will become of the Cliffford Rift? Have you forgotten our contract?”
In the Cliffford-Burgos War, the price Cliffford paid for ceding reconstruction rights to Bariel was precisely this: Mages would be dispatched southward to investigate the Rift and, furthermore, to manage it.
But how much time had passed before you began recalling the Mages? This could pose a threat to Cliffford greater than war itself. No one knew how the Cliffford Rift would react once the Mages departed.
“I have not forgotten. It is a contract between nations—how could I?”
“Then why!”
“I said it was a temporary summons, did I not?”
“But no timeframe was specified. Temporary could become indefinite, and all of Cliffford worries about this.”
“It seems the Prince did not read the contract terms carefully. It is clearly stated that should Bariel’s security be threatened, the Mages may be recalled at any time. I summoned them on that basis.”
“But how are we to know whether the current situation constitutes a threat or not?”
“A reasonable question, Prince Noah. Did you expect the Empire to inform the Kingdom of its dangers? It seems our relationship is closer than I thought. Hmm?”
At Gin’s light rebuke, Noah bit his lip. Of course, that wasn’t quite it, but wasn’t there some measure of trust built up between them over time? Noah swallowed a sigh and continued speaking.
“Your Highness. This was clearly a notification rather than a consultation from Cliffford’s perspective. As a matter of national importance, Bariel should demonstrate respect for Cliffford as an ally.”
“Thus, I told you to come after some time. Assuming Idgal is sufficient, I judged that there would be no problem for two to four weeks without the Mages.”
Each rebuttal left him with nothing to say. Frustratingly so. This uncanny sense of déjà vu—Noah soon realized it reminded him of Ian.
“…Your Highness, is the rumor true?”
“What rumor?”
“That you are preparing for war with Burgos. If that is why you’ve summoned all the Mages to the imperial palace, I ask you to reconsider. Cliffford will provide troops befitting such an effort.”
“It’s absurd to equate a Mage’s value with mere military forces. Moreover, if Burgos were to invade a country so depleted, what then?”
“It means Cliffford is willing to give everything for that cause. For the sake of the Mages, that is.”
Prince Gin leaned back against the sofa, gazing up at Noah intently. If Bariel didn’t clarify his position here, how would Cliffford move? They could detain the Mages, hold them as hostages, or attempt another three-nation alliance as before. It wasn’t an immediate threat, but it was clear that Gin, who had just ascended and needed to govern the realm, would face mounting complications.
Gin gestured for Noah to sit first, offering him the sofa across from him.
“Count Ian has returned.”
Noah froze mid-step, turning back to stare at Gin.
Had he heard correctly just now?
“Count Ian? You mean… Count Ian?”
“He will descend from the north to the capital with the Imperial Guards. Since the summons of the Mages came from Count Ian’s orders, I have no grounds to interfere as the Crown Prince. Nor do I have the authority.”
“Wait, just a moment.”
“Once Count Ian returns, I will send reinforcements to Cliffford again under his judgment, so inform the King accordingly. Ah, and your proposed plan for military support is quite intriguing. I will have my ministers discuss it positively.”
Gin smiled with evident satisfaction. By merely shaking the long-standing contract for a brief moment, Bariel had gained new leverage—justification to demand military support from Cliffford should war with Burgos commence.
Cliffford would naturally attempt to minimize the scale of their deployment, so by invoking the Mages’ value, they could extract greater support.
But Noah, setting aside all these considerations, focused solely on the news of Ian’s return.
“When will he arrive at the palace? The coming-of-age ceremony is tomorrow.”
After the ceremony concluded, Noah was scheduled to return to Cliffford. If he left without seeing Ian, wouldn’t that be truly regrettable? Ian’s appearance would create a whirlwind not just for Bariel, but across all of Gaia. If he could discuss the current situation with him, that would be truly wonderful.
However, Gin merely shrugged, saying he knew nothing more himself.
“There’s been no detailed word.”
“Ha, haha. My goodness…”
“In any case, Cliffford shouldn’t worry too much and trust Bariel. Once Count Ian returns, I will inform you again.”
Gin rose from his seat, noticing Xiaoxi’s signal about the next appointment.
When would Ian arrive? Gin was the one most curious about that. He’d even fallen into the habit of gazing out the window in those brief moments, wondering if Jeonseogoo would flutter down again.
“Has the Ministry of Magic sent any word yet?”
“No, I will inquire again.”
“…Very well. They must be in chaos. Don’t press them. After the coming-of-age ceremony, I will personally dispatch someone northward.”
If the journey back was slow, I would have to bring him back myself.
Gin gazed out the window, unaware of how beautifully the cherry blossoms were dancing in the breeze. His mind was consumed with longing for someone.
* * *
“Romandro!”
“What now! My heart drops every time you call!”
Just as Gin had worried, the Ministry of Magic was in absolute chaos—so frantic they were sweating like a dog’s paw pads. While other departments methodically prepared for the coming-of-age ceremony, they had to track down scattered colleagues to carry out the Minister’s orders.
To fill the gaps, the Mages worked frantically, processing tasks so intensely they wouldn’t notice if their clothes were on inside out.
“The report you requested last time.”
“You’re giving this to me now? I’m losing my mind!”
“My apologies. I have mountains of backlog myself.”
“Hey, Administrative Department! Someone go to the Administrative Department! There’s no time to ride a horse. Just fly there and back.”
“Gasp. There’s no time to ride, but I don’t have the strength either.”
“What? You’re sure you’re alright?”
“Somewhat, yes, it’s difficult but I’m managing.”
As the Mage wiped away sweat and smiled, Romandro looked flustered, examining him carefully. He seemed in poor condition, yet Romandro couldn’t bring himself to tell him to rest. What could be done about this?
Boom!
“Hyah!”
Captain Akorella, who had been cooped up in the laboratory, burst through the door with a kick.
Everything froze. Romand and the Mages stared blankly at her before simultaneously rushing forward and shaking her by the collar.
“Y-you crazy captain! We’re all drowning in work, and you’re locked in the lab refusing to come out? And you call yourself a captain?”
“Ow, you’re going to rip my collar off, you brute.”
“Captain Akorella, this is really too much. What have you been doing all this time?”
“Aing. Just look. See what I’ve made.”
Captain Akorella shook a glass vial filled with liquid and winked. Her attitude screamed that she knew she’d messed up.
“A homecoming gift for Lord Ian! A magical power recovery potion! If he was exhausted enough to stop by the north on his way back, his condition must be serious, but one glass of this and his magical power will be completely restored!”
“The last one didn’t work very well.”
“Psh, that’s not even comparable. This one’s been improved significantly. No matter how wretched the condition, you can recover your original state in one go.”
“…Side effects?”
“Side effects?”
Whoosh!
Captain Akorella grinned wickedly and dragged one of the Mages forward. There are some, sure. But, it’s fine! They’re cute little things, so we can just overlook them.
So basically….
“If you’re curious, you’ll just have to drink it and find out yourself. Right?”

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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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