Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 508

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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 508
The Second Daughter of House Hollin
“Prince, please sit down.”
Prince Noah froze at May’s call. He hadn’t even realized he’d stood up, yet he’d been pacing the conference room this entire time.
But there was no helping it—I’d waited a full week. For ten years, I’d believed the Minister of Magic was dead, and then I caught a mere glimpse of him at the coming-of-age ceremony. I’d adjusted my return date and waited an entire week for this.
If I couldn’t meet him today, I would have had no choice but to return home, so I was grateful the schedule had aligned perfectly.
Knock, knock.
“Minister of Magic, Ian Hielo, reporting.”
“Come in!”
At that moment, a young man’s voice came from outside.
Unlike Prince Noah’s immediate permission, the door opened slowly. And there, at last, appeared Ian Hielo. His golden hair and green eyes were exactly as I remembered them.
“It’s been a long time, Prince Noah. And May.”
“Count Ian.”
“I apologize for keeping you waiting while I was indisposed. Please, be seated.”
At Ian’s gesture, servants brought tea cups, and the boy walked toward the sofa with a courteous smile.
Prince Noah and May’s gazes followed Ian intently. Not a single rumor circulating through the palace about him was exaggerated, was it? Far from exaggeration—every word was true.
“Does the sunset over Cliffford still burn red?”
“…Yes. Just as it did when you were here.”
“I’m relieved to hear it. I actually wanted to discuss matters concerning the Rift. Prince, I heard you spoke with Prince Gin. Why haven’t the mages I sent south returned yet?”
“That’s due to unavoidable circumstances—”
“A carriage wheel broke, horses disappeared overnight, the King himself pleaded for just one more day, and royal treasures vanished in the meantime. For unavoidable circumstances, that’s quite trivial and complicated.”
I had no intention of hiding it. It wasn’t based on any justification—merely a delaying tactic. Prince Noah shrugged as he answered.
“His Highness the Crown Prince said he has no authority over mage operations since that falls under the Ministry of Magic’s purview, so there was nothing I could do until I saw you.”
“Did you misunderstand something?”
“Misunderstand what?”
“My return means Rutherford has returned. He still seeks to provoke and activate the Rift. To capture Rutherford swiftly and decisively, the Ministry of Magic must unite. You’re focused on the small things while missing the larger picture in Cliffford.”
“Cliffford can collapse from those small things. You said we face war with Burgos, didn’t you? I understand. However, the Cliffford Rift can endure without mages for at most a month. After that? If problems arise in the meantime, will the mages come down to help? I’ve been waiting all this time to hear a definitive answer on this.”
Whether Burgos and Bariel wage war or not, Cliffford was preoccupied with protecting itself. If monsters flooded in right after the mages left, then Cliffford would truly cross from decline into the path of destruction.
Ian offered his tea cup to Prince Noah as a gesture of reassurance.
“I’m afraid I cannot give you a definitive answer. If problems arise in Cliffford, I can only propose alternatives based on Bariel’s situation at that time.”
“Count Ian! This is a breach of contract! We transferred war reparations claims against Bariel after the Cliffford-Burgos war precisely because of mage support!”
“Yes, yes, I understand. Please, don’t be so angry. I’m well aware that Cliffford is Bariel’s ally. For now, I promise to send mages to support the Cliffford Rift to the maximum extent possible when problems arise. However—”
However, however, that damned however! I wondered why he kept saying it. Prince Noah smiled while clenching his teeth, muttering between them. Right. Even after ten years, Ian was still Ian.
“Would you do me one favor later?”
“A favor? What kind of favor?”
“I cannot tell you now, but I’m giving you advance notice just in case. It probably won’t be a burdensome request for the royal family. Rather, you might even welcome it.”
As Prince Noah and May looked at him with suspicious eyes, Ian brought his tea cup to his lips. He smiled softly along with the tea.
“You may refuse, of course.”
“No, well. I can’t refuse before even hearing what it is. Let’s discuss the matter—if you have a favor to ask, we can talk about it then. However—!”
That damned “however”—this time, I’ll be the one to say it! Prince Noah declared this with his eyebrows raised as high as they could go.
“Do not forget that we are your allies, and that we are protecting Bariel from Burgos and Ruswena.”
“Of course. Then, are you leaving now?”
“It feels like you’re rushing me out.”
“Not at all. I merely inquire out of respect for our honored guest. Please send Jeonseogoo as you depart. We must get all the southern Mages on the road home as quickly as possible.”
“Hmph.”
Prince Noah pursed his lips and hummed silently. As I sensed the conversation had run its course and rose to my feet, Romandro opened the door for me.
“Then, I shall take my leave first. I’ve been confined to bed far too long, and there is a mountain of work awaiting me.”
“Take care of yourself.”
“Mind your step as you descend.”
“Count Ian.”
Prince Noah stopped me as I was about to leave the room.
“In any case, it’s good to see you. Tell me later what lay beneath the Rift.”
“Yes. Should the opportunity arise.”
I bowed respectfully, then patted Romandro on the shoulder and left the room.
As I walked down the corridor checking my schedule, Romandro couldn’t contain his curiosity and spoke up.
“Ian. But what is this favor you mentioned? Give me just a hint. I mean, I can’t fathom what Bariel could possibly ask of Cliffford.”
“It is exactly as I stated before. I merely cast it out as a precaution, so please do not worry too much about it.”
“What is it? Huh? What is it?”
As Romandro spun around me pestering me, I stopped abruptly in my tracks. Would I be scolded? Romandro cleared his throat nervously, gauging my reaction.
But the words that came from my lips were unexpected.
“Borrowing the royal name.”
“Huh? What do you mean by that?”
To the bewildered Romandro, I simply smiled. That was all I would say.
“What became of the documents I requested earlier? Have they been processed?”
“Oh, yes. I was just about to have them verified.”
Romandro, saying he’d forgotten, handed me the documents from his side pouch. I flipped through the papers quickly before asking, “And the letter sent to Marquis Hollin? Has there been no reply yet?”
“What about the letter sent to the bewitched duke? Haven’t you received a reply yet?”
* * *
A vast mansion sprawling across the horizon. Once owned by House Haiman, it now flew the banners of House Hollin everywhere.
As a servant rushed urgently through the garden with a letter upon a golden tray,
“Where are you going in such haste?”
“Ah, Miss.”
It was Kayla, the second daughter of House Hollin. Her black hair, flowing like the Milky Way, was tied back in a single knot, and she held a longsword in one hand. It seemed she had just come from the training grounds in the back, having checked the weapon’s performance herself.
Kayla gestured with her hand, and the servant immediately recognized that the letter on the tray had come from the Imperial Palace. Her violet eyes sparkled with curiosity.
“…It’s from the Ministry of Magic?”
“Yes, I was about to deliver it to the Count.”
“I’ll take it. Go back to work.”
“Yes? But—”
“I said I’ll take it.”
Before the servant could protest, Kayla hastily took the letter and climbed the stairs to her father’s study. Knock, knock—a formal sound, but the Count immediately recognized his daughter’s presence.
“It’s Kayla. A letter has arrived from the Imperial Palace.”
“A letter?”
“It came from the Ministry of Magic.”
Countless blades stood against the wall. Kayla handed her father the letter along with the weapon she held in her hand. Her displeasure was evident.
Marquis Baolruk Hollin examined the letter before the sword. Given the unexpectedness, it was unlikely to contain welcome news. How much trouble had he endured from the Imperial Palace constantly pressuring him to yield territories near the palace and weapon manufacturing rights?
Kayla lounged in a chair and nodded her head.
“I hear the Prince trusts the Minister of Magic. It seems he chose our house for his first task after returning.”
Whoosh.
Baolruk carefully broke the seal and scanned the contents with his eyes, then handed it to his daughter. Kayla read the letter aloud.
“Marquis Baolruk Hollin. Greetings. I am Minister Ian Hielo of the Ministry of Magic. The matter at hand is this: with the war against Burgos approaching, I wish to discuss with you regarding weapon production and supply. I am always at the Imperial Palace, so please visit at your convenience. Alternatively, if you provide me with a schedule, I shall make the arrangements. I apologize for the sudden contact, and I shall end here.”
As Kayla finished reading, her eyebrows rose sharply. The sentences were laden with edge, conveying a firm attitude that even a marquis could not escape the greater cause.
Baolruk clenched his teeth and tapped his fingers on the desk.
“Kayla. It seems your words were right.”
“Still, it’s quite unexpected. Why would the Ministry of Magic take the reins rather than the Imperial Defense Ministry or another department? Have you heard anything about this?”
“Beyond the fact that the Minister has been absent from duties for several days, there’s nothing special. Ian Hielo wouldn’t interfere without justification. That much is certain given his nature.”
“Hmm. Then could it be that the Ministry of Magic has developed a weapon? Some special weapon only they can manufacture. The war against Burgos will certainly involve non-human races. Just as it did in the Cliffford-Burgos war. Having experienced that, it seems they’re preparing for that direction.”
It made sense. The marquis stroked his beard, pondered for a while, then asked his daughter.
“But Kayla, are you truly certain about this?”
“About what?”
“About not surrendering the business rights to the Imperial Family. If you simply yield that, our house can certainly secure the position of Empress. After all, you’ll become part of the Imperial Family anyway, and honestly, I don’t mind giving it up.”
“Father. We agreed not to discuss that anymore.”
Kayla let out an exasperated laugh and wrapped her hands around her forehead.
“Even if I became Empress by surrendering the business rights, if I were to separate from the Prince, I would return to being a noble. Unless bound by blood, the Prince and I will forever remain strangers.”
“That may be true, but with us standing firm, how could the Prince easily cast you aside? The business rights alone—”
“What influence could House Hollin, having surrendered its power, exert on the Prince? When my brother inherits the marquis title someday, will we be able to maintain our current position? Constantly being summoned to court to swear oaths?”
“Kayla. Don’t say such things.”
“Father, you shouldn’t say such things either. If we give away everything we have and gain something, what does that mean? That’s not progress—that’s treading water.”
Moreover, the one mentioned alongside is Youngae Davion. Not even a foreign royal, but the Count Davion house. It would clearly be a matter of wounded pride, and yet he expects me to bow while surrendering business rights? For the position of Empress?
Kayla slowly lifted the finely honed blade, letting it catch the light abundantly. Her violet eyes gleamed with a cold brilliance.
“Don’t worry. I’m confident I’ll seize it. Winning has always been my role.”
Prince Gin. I’m not sure about him as a lover, but he’s more than sufficient to spend a lifetime with. No, he’s currently the most attractive prospect in Bariel.
Kayla turned to her father and spoke.
“Let’s head to the Imperial Palace. While we’re at it, I’d like to see the Prince as well. Please arrange a schedule.”

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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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