Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 51

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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 51. The Broken Standard
The Investigator glanced around awkwardly, his discomfort evident. His colleagues’ faces, including Erika’s, had turned rigid as stone. The fervent energy that had filled the moment seemed to have dissipated in an instant.
Erika swallowed hard and pressed for clarification.
“A carrier pigeon? You’re certain?”
“Yes, yes. It’s right here.”
Snap!
Erika snatched the letter in one fluid motion. Since it had arrived by pigeon, there was naturally no imperial seal. Instead, the Assembly’s seal was clearly imprinted upon it. She felt a dull throb building in her head.
“I don’t understand why you’re all reacting this way.”
Kakantir murmured slowly. At his words, Ian’s lips curved into a smile as he turned his gaze toward him. Whatever the reason, it was clear that circumstances were unfolding quite favorably.
“Imperial decrees cannot be sent by carrier pigeon. So even if this came from the capital, it’s likely not a title appointment, but rather some other message.”
No matter how many calculations I ran through my mind, it seemed the title appointment had been postponed or cancelled. The more difficult Erika’s situation became, the greater my opportunity. Sure enough, her expression as she read through the letter was quite the sight.
“No, damn it, this is insane….”
I quickly snatched the letter from Erika’s hands. She and the Investigators reflexively lunged forward, but the Cheonryeo Warriors moved faster.
“Stay still.”
“…Ian, won’t you hand it over?”
“I warned you to stay still.”
Unlike the armed Investigators, the Cheonryeo Warriors were unarmed, yet their momentum remained unshaken. Rather, they radiated a killing intent that suggested one more step forward would result in crushed skulls. For Erika, who had now confirmed the capital’s message, this was a line she could not cross.
Kakantir leisurely raised his cup and made a request.
“Read it for us, Ian.”
“Yes, Kakan.”
I cleared my throat and slowly began reading the words aloud.
-It is presumed that Count Derga’s rebellion has caused significant damage to the territory. This will inevitably affect next year’s production and tax revenue, so the imperial palace will dispatch a temporary advisor to oversee reconstruction.
The dispatched advisors are Romandro, Mollin, Mac, and Dgor. Authority rests with Romandro, and the authority to determine Count Derga’s fate is likewise entrusted to Romandro.
The appointment of a new lord will proceed after stabilization. Inform all of the Bratz territory and request their cooperation. Furthermore, Chief Investigator Erika Berti is to complete the annihilation of House Bratz with haste. End of message.
“So advisors are coming.”
“Advisors, you say? What will their role be?”
“As stated in the letter, they will oversee the overall reconstruction of the territory. My evaluation, as well as that of the Cheonryeo Tribe, will also depend on them.”
“Hmm. So this man is more important than the one before your eyes.”
Kakantir gestured toward Erika with his chin and laughed. The warriors let out low chuckles, and Erika felt as though her breath had caught in her throat. Beyond her anger, she simply could not comprehend what was happening.
‘This cannot be….’
She stared helplessly at the letter on the table and repeated the thought to herself. Though no amount of staring would change what was already written.
“Chief Investigator Erika.”
I called to her in a refined tone.
“Do you understand what it means that Count Derga’s fate has been entrusted to this advisor Romandro?”
Though they claimed to postpone the appointment of a new lord, it amounted to being eliminated from consideration.
To put it more bluntly… she had become nothing more than a ‘dog chasing after a traitor’s heels, unable even to carry out the execution.’
“There’s a saying that the true star of an execution is not the condemned, but the investigator. How unfortunate for you.”
It was a kind of spectacle—displaying the beheaded criminal to the world while elevating the emperor’s glory and the investigator’s competence. Erika stood frozen, as though her soul had left her body.
“Well then, shall we discuss this? Regardless of other matters, I can certainly help ensure that you, Chief Erika, are able to conduct the execution.”
“…What?”
“Wouldn’t it suffice if only those who read the letter keep silent? It’s not an imperial decree, but a Council directive—we can handle matters with some flexibility out here in the borderlands.”
“How?”
“Investigator Romandro won’t arrive for another two weeks.”
It was simple. Execute Count Derga within the next few days, and when Romandro arrives, I’ll tell him the matter was already concluded before the letter arrived. There was nothing particularly problematic about it.
“However, I’d like to entrust severing Count Derga’s life at the execution ceremony to the Cheonryeo Tribe. We’re short-handed anyway, and it seems we’ll need their help with preparations. From what I can see, it’s a good opportunity for both sides.”
“Yes, Erika. That lightens the burden. We’ll hang Derga in the air and pierce his heart with a spear. There’s no execution ceremony quite as impressive as that.”
This wasn’t a proposal. How could I call it a proposal when it was a choice I couldn’t refuse? Erika hesitated for a moment, struggling with her response.
Knock, knock.
Soon, the voice of a Cheonryeo Warrior came from outside.
“Kakan. Ian. We have a problem.”
“Wait a moment.”
“Yes, understood.”
What could it be? There shouldn’t be any elements causing trouble right now. If I had to pick something, it would be the situation with Mrs. Mary and Chel, but the Central Army had only left recently, so it couldn’t be that.
Ian hurried Erika along and wrapped up the situation roughly.
“In any case, Captain Erika. Please prepare Count Derga’s execution ceremony promptly. While I draft the proclamation, we’ll handle the rest.”
Has that bastard ever even seen an execution ceremony? How did he even know a proclamation was needed? Erika glared at Ian with suspicion, but the obvious atmosphere of dismissal made her back down.
“…Let me think about it.”
“If it takes too long, we’ll both grow weary.”
“…Let’s go.”
Slam!
Despite what she said, the moment she returned to her room, she’d pull out pen and paper. She’d write a letter to Mollin first, complaining about all this.
Kakantir, who had been drinking wine, called over the Warrior waiting outside.
“Come in.”
“…Kakan, what should we do?”
“What’s the matter?”
The Warrior hesitated and pulled a dead bird from his back pocket. The white cloth wrapped around its neck was stained with the bird’s blood.
“Is this perhaps a messenger pigeon sent from the capital?”
“Seems like it.”
“Ah, no. I killed it without realizing. What should we do? I threw a stone and it hit right away.”
“Let me see it.”
From the way the cloth was tied, it was certainly a messenger pigeon. But it wasn’t from the imperial palace. Kakantir gently scolded the Warrior.
“Why throw stones at an innocent bird?”
“My apologies. It kept pecking at the window, and it was so noisy, so I just…”
“The window?”
“The Investigator’s room. Fourth floor, the place that used to be Mrs. Mary’s room. I really didn’t think I’d hit it. Ah, I didn’t know my throwing arm was this good?”
“Pointless talk.”
“My apologies.”
Then this messenger pigeon was definitely meant for Erika. Ian quickly found the paper in the well-stitched pocket inside the bird’s feathers.
Rustle.
“May I read it first?”
“As you wish. Today is indeed a day of reckoning. The Central Army has departed, and now the hawk and dove take flight.”
Kakantir muttered in disbelief and wet his lips again with wine. As I rapidly grasped the letter’s contents, I let out an incomprehensible exclamation.
-Commander Erika, listen. We have a problem. It appears Count Derga wrote a letter to Prince Marib. I can guess at the contents, but nothing is certain.
In any case, thanks to this, Prince Marib suddenly attended the assembly and the lordship appointment fell through. I’m watching for an opportunity to salvage the situation, so don’t lose heart and wait. I’ll be heading to Bratz with the advisor soon as well.
“What does it say?”
“Now I understand. Why Commander Erika’s lordship appointment fell through. I wondered why it reversed so easily, like flipping a palm….”
I rushed here to the borderlands in half a month and fought a battle with my life on the line. All of it to lay the foundation for rebellion. If the compensation I promised Erika isn’t delivered, I may not be able to handle the consequences.
Kakantir, who received the letter, also clicked his tongue.
“So it was a power struggle all along. But Derga sent a letter? When did he manage that?”
“I’m not entirely certain, but it’s become quite the spectacle. The quick-witted Prince Marib landed a blow on everyone. Thanks to him, we gain an advantage, and Derga has essentially brought about his own death.”
I held the letter over a candle and burned it. Either way, the more the relationship between Mollin and Erika—those in the same boat—fractures, the easier things will proceed.
“When Advisor Romandro arrives, we must treat him with utmost respect. Prince Marib likely suspects that Mollin and I are in collusion, and may regard us as the Second Prince’s faction.”
“But wouldn’t Mollin actually oppose us?”
Especially me. Count Derga’s denunciation is one thing, but bringing the Cheonryeo Tribe wasn’t part of Mollin’s plan, was it? Because of that, occupying the territory became more difficult.
“That’s precisely why I’m saying we must define our position more precisely. If we get beaten from both sides, it will be troublesome.”
“You seem to be leaning toward the First Prince.”
“…He is the legitimate heir and successor, is he not? Moreover, he is the one formally entrusted by the imperial palace with rebuilding the territory. Depending on his judgment, the timing of the Cheonryeo Tribe’s withdrawal could be determined.”
I am of imperial descent. Though my tenure was brief, lasting only a few years, I ascended through proper succession. This means I understand the imperial palace’s dynamics better than anyone. Even accounting for the rise of Prince Gail, we cannot ignore the legitimate line.
“I was about to bring that up anyway. Once Derga dies, we will have accomplished our purpose. Before autumn arrives, I’ll gradually send the warriors back to the desert.”
“Yes. I’ll keep that in mind.”
“I’m saying that winning the lordship by carefully persuading the center depends entirely on your abilities, Ian.”
Do it well, or else all the warriors’ help will be for nothing—this was what Kakantir was implying.
I smiled faintly and nodded.
“Then I’ll hurry to prepare Count Derga’s execution. Once the execution is complete, I’ll send Commander Erika and the remaining personnel out of Bratz, and as for the body disposal authority….”
“That’s enough. What would we do with a rotting hunk of meat? We simply want to end Derga’s life with our own hands.”
Kakantir’s eyes, which had been deceptively relaxed, turned cold.
* * *
And that evening, tinted violet, Kakantir’s hawk Jeno returned safely to Bratz. Kakan confirmed the red and blonde hair wrapped in cloth, then scratched the hawk’s neck with satisfaction.
“Mary and Chel are dead.”
“Oh, is that so?”
“Well done.”
Because shadows fell across the space, I couldn’t tell what expression I wore at those words. The warriors advanced one step closer to their mission’s completion and exchanged congratulatory fist salutes.
“They should return tonight.”
“Demosha!”
“Demosha!”
Kakantir let the wind carry through their hair as he brushed his hands clean. Like corpses that would never be found, the hair scattered and disappeared on the breeze.
The warriors’ exclamations of joy at their comrade’s safe return erupted, and I turned my gaze from the half-broken flag of Bratz and looked away.
In a few days, it would be a symbol lost to history.

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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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