Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 499

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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 499
The Young Minister
Ian Hielo.
Dozens of memories woven into a single name.
Some remembered him as a marquis of the borderlands fading into obscurity, others as the Minister of Magic whose position had long remained vacant, still others as the hero who led the Cliffford-Burgos War to victory, and yet others as the saint who vanquished the demon that dwelt within the imperial palace.
The moment Ian appeared, the image of Ian Hielo that flashed through people’s minds was as varied and rich as history itself, impossible to unify into one. Though the past that had passed was singular, the memories that surfaced were like blind men touching an elephant—each perceiving something different.
“….”
It was no different for Jin Berosion. Confronted with that faded name—Ian Hielo—memory inundated him.
The moment Marib swung his sword at him, the moment he first entered the tournament grounds, the moment he was told not to look down, the moment they went on a covert operation together and he said, “We are brothers.”
Every moment he thought he had forgotten but had not forgotten came rushing back like breath, and suddenly he could not breathe.
‘How could it be—’
He had thought him as deep and vast as the universe, yet was he truly such a small child? The hand that had guided him, the back that had led the way, the voice that had spoken truth. Had all of it belonged to such a small boy? It was strange, impossibly strange, and utterly unbearable.
Jin found himself holding his breath, studying Ian carefully.
“Ian Hielo has returned, they say.”
“But why does he look so young? He appears to be only seventeen at most.”
“He looks no different from when he disappeared.”
“Is such a thing possible? My, what an astonishing matter.”
“Could it be the power of a mage? Or perhaps a rift?”
“It is not typical. For now, let us observe.”
“The Prince remains perfectly still, so—”
“Could he be a monster wearing a human mask?”
“Mind your tongue! The Ministry of Magic has eyes everywhere.”
The noise of the nobles grew increasingly loud, yet Jin could not speak. As though only he and the boy existed in the banquet hall, the world had turned white.
Ian, whom he had waited for, finally lifted his gaze first. Jin’s eyes looking down at him intently. Those blue eyes, both strange and familiar, held him completely. Though it had not been so long ago that they had faced each other across a portrait, their depth had grown remarkably.
‘That is the face I saw in the portrait.’
The deep scar crossing his face and the firm, powerful line of his mouth drew the eye particularly. He has grown. At that pride, Ian smiled, and Jin’s brow deepened. Something that had been held back surged forth.
“Count Ian.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“…How long—”
Jin found himself touching near his jaw, muttering. His voice trembled faintly, and each syllable was barely released through clenched teeth. His eyes reddened as well, yet no one noticed because of the petals that filled the space around them.
Or rather, truly, everyone was so focused on Ian that no one paid attention to Jin’s eyes. Then and now, Ian had not changed. By merely existing, he opened the way for Jin to breathe.
Jin barely steadied his voice and reproached him.
“…You said it would not take long. You said you would return quickly.”
“I was presumptuous, Your Highness.”
“The sin of abandoning your post as Minister of Magic without permission is grave.”
“I beg your forgiveness, Your Highness.”
“The sin is, truly, grave.”
A sob lingered at the tip of Jin’s tongue.
How could you abandon the imperial palace so? Without even a proper farewell, I chased only your memory for all these long years. I chased and chased, and at some point you became blurred, and I let even those past memories blur alongside you.
But Jin barely swallowed it down. For speaking it, for voicing it, was not timely.
“…Did you gaze into the Abyss?”
“I gazed into the Abyss and navigated through it. It was far deeper and darker than I imagined, yet it held everything I desired.”
“If you’ve found your answer, then the Abyss no longer matters.”
“That is true, but I shall report on this matter separately.”
Prince Jin took a deep breath and nodded with considerable composure. This was not the place for such a conversation. Nobles who existed merely to chatter, officials calculating the political situation, and foreign envoys were all watching me.
“Good. A day I shall not forget.”
Prince Jin rose from his seat, and my gaze followed him. Curious about how much the Prince had matured, my eyes lingered quite persistently.
It made sense—Berik and the others had been my seniors from the start, but not Prince Jin. Over ten years, he had surpassed me.
“The Ministry of Magic shall attend separately.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“All departments stand by.”
Damn it. The officials who had been enjoying their drinks contentedly set down their cups, their appetites spoiled. An emergency meeting would be convened in the dead of night, it seemed. Well, it made sense—the Minister of Magic had returned with secrets of the Abyss, so it would be strange to simply let it pass.
Unlike the officials who merely exchanged glances, the nobles openly huddled together and gossiped shamelessly.
Screeeech! Boom!
Prince Jin turned without hesitation. He wanted to clear the area quickly and speak with me. The banquet had already become impossible to continue with the coming-of-age ceremony anyway.
The moment the Crown Prince disappeared, nobles and officials swarmed toward me simultaneously.
“Say, Count Ian. Is that really you?”
“Do you recognize me? I saw you at the Administrative Ministry!”
“You’ve been to the Abyss, yet your appearance is unchanged?”
“Step back, don’t come so close!”
“Yeah, stop pushing! Damn it, Ian’s going to be crushed!”
“Who do you think you are—”
“I’m Berik! Berik of the Imperial Guards! If you don’t like it, fight me!”
“Count Ian, do you truly intend to return? What of all the suspicions surrounding you? Since your appearance remains unchanged, that’s one more suspicion added to the list.”
“What suspicions? What happened?”
“There were many. The fact that you’re of imperial descent, and the testimony that you directly created Idgal, and above all, your connection to Rutherford… ahem.”
“Shut up! What did you just say? Who are you?”
“I, I, how dare you—”
“How dare you!”
“Ian! Ian!”
A woman pushed through the dizzying crowd with difficulty. Philiada. Nersaren blocked people with his arm, clearing a path for her, and thanks to him, I found myself naturally embraced in her arms, though I hadn’t intended it.
Crash.
“Thank heavens. Thank you, thank you…”
“…Mother.”
“Ian, where did you go? Really… I was so worried. Are you hurt anywhere? Is anything uncomfortable? Have you been well? Why, why do you look the same as before? Hmm?”
Philiada touched my cheeks and shoulders repeatedly, as if in a dream. I placed my hand over hers and whispered softly. The crowd pressing in from all sides made conversation difficult.
“Mother, I’m sorry.”
“Ian!”
“Please wait just a moment longer. Now that I’ve returned to the palace, I must first see Prince Jin, its master. Please don’t grieve.”
Philiada’s eyes widened slightly. Something felt different from before. How should I describe it? Ian had always been kind and gentle, but now there seemed to be an indescribable wall between us.
Everything seemed to have melted away and disappeared.
“Yes. I’ll wait. Always, I can wait for you, my son.”
It was fine if I couldn’t remember the lyrics of our song together. It was fine if I couldn’t reach you, fine if I couldn’t see you. As long as you lived like this, nothing else mattered. Philia slowly released Ian’s collar and was swept backward by the tide of people.
“I said don’t come! Step back, everyone!”
“Count Ian, show us your face more clearly!”
“Wow, unbelievable. Really hasn’t changed at all.”
“This is abnormal. How can such a young boy be the Minister of Magic—!”
“Move! Get out of the way! Are we using magic!?”
Zzzzzt! Zzzt!
When the mages guarding Ian released their magical power, the crowd finally parted and people stepped back. Ian grabbed Romandro, who was shouting nearby, and gave a brief order.
“The commotion is severe. Please settle this properly.”
“Don’t worry. Just hand out some drinks and they’ll be too busy drinking and gossiping to notice anything. Go on ahead!”
“Everyone, this way.”
“Yes, Ian!”
Tap tap tap!
The boy ascended to the second floor of the banquet hall with the mages following him. Since only the imperial family could enter this place, the world seemed to change the moment he turned a corner—the surroundings fell silent.
Ian stood before the door the servants were indicating, then gestured to the mages to wait.
Knock knock.
“Your Highness, Ian Hielo, Minister of Magic, reporting.”
“…Enter.”
Jin sat on the sofa. However, his face was hidden with his elbows resting on his thighs. He looked as though he might spring up at any moment, or else collapse forward onto the floor.
Ian closed the door firmly and called out to Jin.
“Your Highness, are you well?”
“…Is that form a curse obtained from the abyss?”
“I’m uncertain whether it’s a curse or not. Perhaps it was simply because I didn’t realize that the timelines between that place and this one were different.”
“I didn’t understand that the ten days you mentioned meant this.”
“You were surprised, weren’t you? So was I. When I returned, everyone had aged accordingly. Your Highness, if I may be so bold—you’ve truly grown.”
“Count Ian!”
Jin suddenly burst with anger and looked at Ian. In the darkness, the Crown Prince’s eyes gleamed distinctly. Ian recognized them as tears and immediately furrowed his brow slightly. His shake of the head was resolute.
“That won’t do, Your Highness. Have you forgotten?”
“Forgotten what?”
“Don’t cry—smile instead. That’s what I asked of you.”
“You, you’re the one to talk!”
Jin rose from his seat and approached Ian. The green eyes that once looked up at him now looked down. Unbelievably so.
Jin asked with an unsteady gaze.
“How did you grasp my hand with those small hands?”
“Your Highness’s hands were even smaller then.”
“How could one as young as you do such a thing for Bariel?”
“Your Highness stood alone at an even younger age. Don’t you remember?”
“I, I—”
Jin eventually furrowed his brow and let a single tear fall.
“It’s such a pity. All the deaths and tragedies we endured seem to have been far more cruel than I imagined.”
“You have endured, Your Highness. You have overcome… that is enough.”
Ian smiled brightly and patted Jin’s arm. You have grown well, Your Highness. That day when I told you not to look down comes vividly to mind. Now, no matter where you gaze, the crown upon your head will never waver.
As Ian regarded Jin with a satisfied gaze, Jin burst into absurd laughter.
“It’s funny. Now you have become smaller than me.”
“I have always known. That one day, Your Highness would surpass me.”
Unlike myself, who was limited before coming of age, Jin was the Emperor who would carve infinite futures into history. Naturally, I had anticipated that someday he would surpass me and arrive first.
Of course, I never imagined I would witness it with my own eyes. And certainly not under these circumstances.
“Ian Hielo, return to your position as Minister of Magic.”
“Yes, Your Highness. As you command.”
“…Bariel needs you.”
To Jin’s sigh-laden greeting, Ian answered with a smile.
“I too need Bariel. Always, and forever.”

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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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