Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 498

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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 498
Ian’s Return
“Romandro. Something seems to have gone wrong.”
“You mean that tremor just now? I felt it too.”
“It doesn’t seem like a simple matter.”
“Hm? Wait. Not here—let’s go outside. Outside to discuss this. Gather all the Mages.”
The Prince’s coming-of-age ceremony was just reaching its climax when this mysterious tremor struck. Romandro confirmed that the Mages stationed throughout the banquet hall were converging toward the entrance, and he promptly led them out of the grand hall.
The moment the surroundings grew quiet, the Mages lowered their voices and murmured urgently. Along with a deep rumbling sound, they had all sensed a powerful force.
“That tremor just now—it was magical power.”
“Magical power? What kind of magical power?”
“It happened so suddenly that I couldn’t perceive the details clearly.”
Romandro froze at the unexpected revelation, his expression shifting. He had assumed it was merely a structural issue with the building or a servant’s mistake, but magical power? And in the very heart of the Imperial Palace? The nightmare from ten years ago flashed through his mind—that terrible memory of failing to stop an external intruder, of losing someone precious.
Romandro issued orders to the Mages, his face drained of color.
“First, establish a protective barrier around the grand hall. The rest of you search the surrounding area. If you find anything suspicious, report it to the Imperial Palace immediately.”
“Yes, understood.”
“You’ll handle the barrier. Everyone, be careful and protect yourselves. You understand what I mean, don’t you? We cannot afford to scatter further here.”
“Romandro, what about mobilizing the Soldiers?”
“Xiaoxi will move separately. Let’s leave the Soldiers to him. The ceremony has just begun. If we cause a commotion carelessly, we’ll ruin it with our own hands. Everyone, move with caution.”
The Mages nodded at Romandro’s warning. But where was Captain Akorella at such a critical moment? In the laboratory again?
Just as Romandro was about to press his hand to his forehead, Captain Akorella came sliding down the railing, her robes billowing as she swept past the Mages.
“C-Captain?”
“What are you all standing around for? Come on, follow me!”
“Y-You’re as amazing as always, Captain! I’m sorry for thinking you were slacking off!”
“You bastard, what are you saying? We’ll settle this later.”
“Captain! Let’s go together!”
Except for the Mage assigned to the barrier, the entire Magic Division rushed after Captain Akorella in the same direction—toward the garden inside the grand hall where the magical power had been sensed.
Romandro also hurried after them, his short legs working frantically. If this was Rutherford’s doing again, I won’t forgive him! I’ll protect this Imperial Palace completely, no matter what it takes! He suddenly missed his wife and daughter terribly, but Romandro clenched his teeth and pushed forward.
Tap-tap-tap!
The well-maintained garden was empty. Only the lush foliage swayed gently in the breeze.
The Mages detected a particular section of shrubbery moving suspiciously. They lowered their stances and approached cautiously, while Captain Akorella placed her hand on her hip and called out loudly.
“Heil!”
“Yes?”
Why would she suddenly call for Captain Heil? As the Mages turned around in surprise, two hands suddenly emerged from the shrubbery. Startled, Romandro grabbed Captain Akorella’s collar and let out a sharp scream.
“Kyaaaah!”
“Ahhh! W-What is this!”
The frightened Mages stumbled backward as well.
Only Captain Akorella limped forward and pulled those hands out. Then a tangle of Mages came tumbling out one after another—all of them were those who had been dispatched to the north.
Whoooosh!
“Phew!”
“Ugh, my back!”
“Damn it, I told you to open the portal properly!”
“The portal opened fine! There was an error in the height calculation. Anyway, you’re the loudest one here, not contributing a shred of mana and complaining nonstop. Isn’t that right?”
“I said don’t add anything! It’s pointless!”
“Who said it’s pointless? You said it wasn’t necessary!”
“Everyone shut up! My head is pounding!”
What on earth was happening? Romandro’s eyes widened in confusion, but I quickly realized the crude voice belonged to Berik.
Berik? If Berik was here, then surely—
“It seems it was too much after all.”
“No, Master Ian. It was only a minor mistake.”
“Ha, are you alright?”
“I cushioned you from below, so you’re fine, idiots! If I hadn’t, Ian would’ve been hurt!”
“I know! I’m sorry! But why are you making such a fuss? It would be different if Master Ian was scolding me!”
Ian. It’s Ian. A blonde green-eyed child pushing through the brush, slowly coming into view.
Romandro found himself holding his breath. I had imagined countless times how he might have grown over the years. Yet all of it became meaningless in an instant. He hadn’t changed at all—exactly as I remembered him.
“Ah, Romandro.”
“…I-Ian? Is it really you?”
Ian brushed a leaf from his hair and smiled, extending his hand in greeting. Unable to help myself, I rushed toward him.
“W-what is this? How is it you look the same as back then? Have you been well? Are you hurt anywhere? Ian, I’ve waited so long for you!”
Romandro clung to the frail Ian and burst into tears, while Ian, flustered, could only pat his shoulder. Soon, the Imperial Palace Mages who grasped the situation rushed forward as well.
Thud!
“Master Ian!”
“My goodness, it’s really Master Ian!”
“Do you remember me? Do you know who I am?”
“Look at you all! Think about your size! Ian will be crushed to death!”
As Romandro and the Mages held Ian tightly without budging, Berik grabbed their collars and tried to pull them away. The force shifted in the opposite direction, and Ian tumbled into the grass.
Buried under the crowd, Ian simply smiled brightly.
Whoosh.
Captain Akorella crouched down to examine Ian’s face. Ian met her gaze as well. Though he was lying upside down, the surprise and joy gleaming in those amber eyes were unmistakable.
Akorella hesitated for a moment, then broke into a playful smile.
“So the day has come when I see you alive after all.”
“Have you been well, Akorella?”
“Of course! I’ve been doing great at the Imperial Palace, sucking on mana stones. How about you, Master Ian? Have you been eating properly?”
“More or less.”
Ian gestured for the crowd to move aside, and Akorella kicked the Mages’ backsides.
“Everyone get up! What are you doing lying on the ground?”
“Ow, it hurts!”
“Heil, why did you fall here? You should’ve come to the Ministry of Magic.”
“That’s what I intended, but there were complications.”
“Complications?”
Heil also straightened his collar and tidied his clothes. Beyond the minor details, the biggest problem was mana. Since I’d transferred nearly all my power to Ian, the portal had become unstable. Berik had complained about it so much before we even entered.
“No, the portal Ian created was huge and black—looked amazing. But this one they made is narrow like a dog hole, and something’s seriously wrong with it. I was worried before we even rode it. I knew this would happen! My back is killing me!”
“Shut it. We got here fine, didn’t we?”
“And besides, I calculated it this way on purpose, you know? Do you have any idea how sick the citizens are of portals? To keep it inconspicuous, I had no choice but to make it small!”
“Yeah, yeah. I heard your excuse loud and clear.”
Berik helped Ian to his feet and began to mock him as if to say listen to this.
Romandro, watching the scene unfold, burst into laughter with tears streaming down his face. So he actually lived to see this again! Romandro embraced Berik and praised him proudly.
“Oh, you troublemaker. You’ve done it!”
“Why are you like this, it’s creepy. Let go.”
“Ian, when will we see Prince Jin? He’s currently receiving the nobles’ greetings in the grand banquet hall. I think it would be good to pay our respects right away.”
“Is it his coming-of-age ceremony?”
“Yes, yes. It just started not long ago.”
Ian paused to consider. The imperial coming-of-age ceremony was not merely a celebration of one’s nineteenth birthday. It was an occasion to announce to the nobles who had wielded influence until now that a new era had arrived, and to foster meetings with the future noble heirs who would walk alongside him. I understood the complex and fierce politics that would unfold in that process.
“No, I don’t think—”
If I appeared now, it could disrupt Jin’s plans. I decided it would be better to wait until it was all over.
Romandro gripped my hand tightly.
“Prince Jin has been staring out the window the whole time.”
“….”
“It was an open secret that he wouldn’t take his eyes away, wondering if the old pigeon would fly again. Do you know who’s in there? Not just Prince Jin. Your mother, Countess Philia, is there too, and your sister Roel. Prince Noah of Cliffford is seated there as well. And mixed among them are the nobles and officials who carelessly spread rumors of your death.”
The earnestness in Romandro’s plea came through—that he had waited long enough and didn’t want to make them wait any longer. I patted the back of his hand and nodded.
“I understand. I’ll pay my respects right away.”
“Yes, good thinking. Come this way! Everyone!”
Romandro eagerly led Ian forward, glancing at him repeatedly as they walked down the corridor. How had I ended up unable to escape this appearance? Was something wrong?
But seeing that Captain Heil and the northern Mages said nothing about it, it didn’t seem to be a major problem. I could ask about it later, after everything was done!
‘Heh, well.’
Still, I suddenly felt how young Ian was. After all, I now had a daughter who was around ten years old.
The one who protected the empire and upheld the imperial palace was such a young boy? Looking back at the past I had lived through, everything felt like a fairy tale.
Ian checked the fit of his robe one last time in front of the banquet hall doors, and then noticed that the air inside the windows was calmer than expected.
“Is it because the Mages have stepped away?”
“What is?”
“The banquet hall. It’s quite quiet for a coming-of-age ceremony.”
“Ah, well, with the number of Mages reduced, there’s been some difficulty in managing it. Prince Jin understood, of course, but there was nothing to be done about it.”
Romandro neatly adjusted the buttons on Ian’s robe as he spoke, his smile somewhat embarrassed—an apology for not properly leading the Ministry of Magic in my absence.
As he finished tidying up by removing a leaf stuck to Ian’s hair, the Mages one by one pulled red cloth from their pockets. Some wrapped it around their forearms, others around their wrists and hands, steeling their resolve.
“The Ministry of Magic has truly returned now.”
“Yes. You’ve all worked hard. Captain Heil, congratulations on your return. Was the north livable at least? From what I heard, it didn’t sound great.”
“Yeah. It wasn’t great. The taverns were the worst.”
“Captain Akorella, how have you been all this time?”
“How do you think?”
“Seems like you’ve been squeezed dry.”
“Ding dong ding! Ahahaha.”
As the Mages gathered once more, the Servants displayed bewildered expressions. Yet that confusion was fleeting. Upon glimpsing the familiar blonde-haired boy with green eyes, they lifted their heads in a daze.
“Hah….”
I drew a deep breath and slowly opened my mana, my green eyes transforming into gold in an instant.
Zing! Zing!
Petals cascaded down in gentle showers. The Mages, channeling their own power, laughed with golden eyes gleaming. It had been so long since we all gathered—such a display was nothing at all.
Creak.
The doors swung open, and the sweet aroma of delicacies mingled with the opulent melody of music came pouring out like waves. Leading the way, I and the Mages strode decisively through that splendor. Our robes billowed magnificently, and the petals we conjured showered down from all directions.
“Ah….”
The banquet hall seemed frozen in time. Everyone present gazed upon my entrance as though enchanted.
As I knelt on one knee, the Mages following behind simultaneously lowered their postures. A display for all to witness—who it was they served.
“Is that… Count Ian?”
“The Minister of Magic…!”
“Who is it? The child at the front?”
“Isn’t that Ian Hielo, the Minister of Magic!?”
“Impossible. How could such a child….”
“He hasn’t changed. Not at all from back then.”
“What are you saying right now?”
Leaving the whispers of the Nobles and Officials behind, I offered a final greeting.
“Minister of Magic Ian Hielo has returned.”

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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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