Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 512

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 511
Fire. Passing the Bomb
Kayla moistened her lips with the tip of her tongue, then smiled. Chloe’s provocation today was quite blatant, wasn’t it? There was clearly something that had touched a nerve, and discovering it took priority. When the other party was agitated, it meant I had pricked them with a thorn without realizing it. I needed to understand what weapon I held in my hand.
Kayla responded with a gentle smile.
“It is only natural for a child to follow their father and contribute to the family’s prosperity. It is hardly something to praise, yet it seems you view it differently, Youngae.”
All members of the Davion family held positions in the imperial bureaucracy. They were not working for the complete prosperity of their own family, but rather dedicating themselves to the imperial palace.
Meanwhile, Chloe was leisurely enjoying tea without any official position, so Kayla had subtly pointed this out. Unfortunately, there was no change in Chloe’s expression.
“No. I also consider it natural. Therefore, someday, just as the Davion family has done, I will dedicate this body to the imperial palace.”
From the Empress’s seat.
Chloe did not continue her words, but everyone gasped and exchanged glances hurriedly. So this was the moment. Would Kayla respond? The young ladies carefully observed Kayla’s expression and soon realized she was suppressing laughter.
Kayla cooled the slight heat rising in her with a wave of her hand and asked.
“For the imperial palace.”
“Yes. Of course.”
She was ignorant of her place and her station, far exceeding the bounds of propriety. Kayla barely suppressed the laughter escaping and cleared her throat, while Chloe watched her with cold eyes.
“What is so amusing?”
“My apologies. If you truly wish to serve Bariel, Youngae Chloe, would it not be right to help the imperial palace make choices beneficial to national interests, even now?”
An Empress from the useless Davion family would be far less beneficial to national interests than one from Hollin, who controlled the defense industry. They spoke only of serving the imperial family, yet the very fact that Davion was vying for the Empress’s seat was merely the family’s greed.
‘In the end, we are in the same position, yet where does she find the audacity.’
It was a fatal point. Even the watching young ladies thought Chloe would back down at this.
But the opponent was Chloe Davion. Though she could not control the imperial palace, she was the young lady of Count Davion’s house, possessing enough power to create cracks in still waters.
Chloe responded calmly.
“If you speak of national interests, nothing is more valuable than a firm relationship between sovereign and subject. Such a relationship is like a barrier—the more solid and sturdy it is, the stronger the nation becomes. One can never build it firmly with soft gold coins.”
She was pointing out that the long-standing bond between the imperial palace and the Davion family could never be compared to the gold coins Hollin poured out.
As the two young ladies’ gazes met coldly, Charlotte, the organizer of the tea party, snapped her fan shut. It was a signal to stop being difficult and hide her claws.
“By the way, Kayla. If you visited the Magic Department, did you see that rumored Minister?”
“Count Ian Hielo?”
“Yes, yes. They say he has beautiful blonde hair and green eyes. And such refined bearing.”
“Moreover, I heard his work ability is exceptional and Prince Jin holds him in deep affection. Above all, he is one who defies the passage of time. Truly fascinating.”
“Hmm. Well. The rumors did not seem exaggerated, but—”
Kayla unconsciously trailed off and furrowed her brow. What good were good looks and competence? For the Hollin family, he was a very troublesome existence.
Chloe read the subtle emotional shift in Kayla.
‘The claim that only the Count met with him in private must be a lie, and the Magic Department has experienced considerable conflict. The only thing that could shake the Hollin family like this is the defense industry matter. The Magic Department suddenly reached out in that direction? How strange.’
She had been feeling strong displeasure at the fact that the Magic Department rejected the Davion family’s invitation for a meeting and saw the Hollin family first.
Yet she could not afford to antagonize the Magic Department either. If she turned hostile to the imperial palace, the greatest benefit would go to Hollin.
‘I need to change my approach. Rather than using the annex construction as leverage, it would be better to treat them as favorably as possible and go in the opposite direction from Hollin’s position.’
Once she returned to the residence, she would quickly learn what had transpired between the Magic Department and the Hollin family.
As Chloe sipped her tea silently, Kayla watched her. Whatever she was thinking, it was not a positive signal.
‘…What if Davion uses their influence within the imperial palace to push the Magic Department?’
The Hollin family would face strong pressure. It was not merely a matter of disruption to family business. Did this not mean that by pushing aside Hollin, Davion could become the likely Empress family? While maintaining business rights brought one benefit, the Empress’s seat entailed countless benefits beyond imagination.
Tap, tap. Kayla tapped her chin with her fan and gestured to the nearby young ladies. It was a signal that she had something to discuss privately and needed to arrange a separate space. The young ladies set down their teacups and naturally glanced around.
“Hmm. By the way, your garden is truly beautiful. Your gardener’s skill seems quite exceptional.”
“Shall we take a walk? It would be rude to merely sit when blessed with such a magnificent garden.”
“That sounds lovely. I was hoping for a stroll myself. The dessert was so delicious that I’m afraid I ate far more than I intended.”
*Clink.*
We hadn’t even finished our tea, yet suddenly they rose? I noticed the other young ladies exchanging some sort of signal among themselves, and I simply offered an awkward smile in return.
In that moment, Kayla’s faction and Chloe’s faction naturally divided.
* * *
“The Magic Department is producing weapons?”
The following morning, during the regular council session.
At my statement, several Officials lifted their heads in surprise. They had suspected something unusual was afoot since the Dera Tribe entered the palace, but this—weapons production by the Magic Department?
Was this any different from the palace cooks being drafted into the military vanguard? Each department had its own responsibilities, so why the Magic Department would produce weapons was beyond their comprehension.
“What do you mean? Did I hear you correctly?”
“Count Ian. Weapon manufacturing and distribution are already being conducted through private enterprise. Are you aware of this?”
“Yes. However, there is an important distinction. What the Magic Department intends to produce are not ‘ordinary weapons,’ but ‘specialized weapons’ effective only against non-human races such as monsters and the Atan Clan. These weapons cannot inflict any wound or pain upon humans, making them fundamentally different from those we have used thus far.”
*Rustle.*
At my explanation, the Officials slowly turned through the documents. While not all the details were immediately clear, they grasped the general context. Particularly helpful was the bolded passage noting that Berik, an Atan Clan member, had personally demonstrated the weapons’ effectiveness.
“We have secured the Dera Tribe, excellent blacksmiths that they are, but we cannot relocate their workshop here. Therefore, I propose we purchase a portion of the Hollin Family’s lands near the palace and acquire and operate some of their existing weapon manufacturing facilities and infrastructure.”
As if expecting this, the Officials stirred with considerable agitation. Those connected to the Davion Family sensed opportunity, while others perceived a threat.
“However, as you know, the Hollin Family currently holds a monopoly on Bariel’s weapons business. To circumvent this, we must register the Dera Tribe’s weapons as ‘specialized weapons,’ which requires the consent of a majority of this council.”
“Will the Hollin Family simply accept this?”
“Oh, if they don’t accept it?”
I responded with exaggerated surprise, causing the Official to wave his hand in clarification.
“The tax revenue the Hollin Family manages is substantial. We could face financial difficulties in the palace budget next year, and more importantly, if we betray the trust of the nobility in this manner, we cannot expect favorable long-term results.”
“Precisely. Rather than deciding among ourselves, it would be better to summon the Hollin Family and resolve this through dialogue.”
“We have already spoken with them. I presented compensation for the land purchase and facility acquisition, but their response was lukewarm. The Magic Department is preparing contingencies of its own.”
At my words, affirmative responses came from various quarters.
“I support this. These are specialized weapons, are they not? Since only the Magic Department can produce them, it is appropriate to recognize their unique nature.”
“Yes, and we should be cautious about national security matters being handled in the private sector. Especially now, with war on the horizon.”
“And gentlemen, these are weapons capable of countering monsters, are they not? You understand what this means?”
“That Soldiers alone could handle monsters….”
“Ah yes, precisely. Indeed.”
At someone’s question, the Officials exclaimed as if enlightened. They could eliminate monsters without Mages—meaning dependence on the Magic Department would decrease. The Magic Department was now voluntarily offering a means to check itself, much like the previous Idgal.
“Perhaps we should take some time to consider. Shall we simply present the proposal today and deliberate slowly?”
“Yes, let us do so. Minister of Magic.”
“However, we cannot afford excessive delays. The delegation to Burgos departs next week, so we should proceed with haste while allowing adequate time.”
“By the way, Count Ian. What sum have you calculated for compensation to the Hollin Family?”
That figure was not listed. I indicated it was nothing significant, holding up two fingers.
“The land price at double the purchase value. The production infrastructure at one year’s worth of the Magic Department’s budget. Since we are proceeding on a trial basis, I proposed only a portion, not the entirety.”
*Whoosh.*
Then, Romandro approached my side. Bowing deeply, he carefully placed a letter before me—one bearing the Hollin Family’s seal.
I raised my hand, signaling the officials to wait a moment, and they seized the opportunity to whisper among themselves about something.
“What is it?”
“Hmm.”
I smiled faintly as I finished reading the letter. It was the smile of someone who had anticipated this—quiet and serene.
“It’s Marquis Hollin’s reply. He gave deep consideration to the proposal we made yesterday—”
“He’s refusing, isn’t he?”
“If he refuses, what can we do? We’ll have no choice but to expand the Imperial Palace’s blacksmith workshop.”
I gestured quietly for silence, and the officials fell still.
“He says the price we proposed won’t work.”
“Just as I thought!”
“He won’t accept even double the price? Remarkable.”
“It’s a territory adjacent to the Imperial Palace. For him, money isn’t the issue.”
I set the letter down with a soft tap and continued.
“He wants five times the purchase price for the territory. And for the infrastructure costs, he’s demanding five times the Magic Department’s annual budget.”
The officials’ jaws dropped at those words. How much was that exactly? Numbers too vast to calculate quickly flashed through their minds.
“Impossible. Absolutely impossible.”
“Still, the Hollin Family has done their part. Rather than outright refusing, they’ve presented a reasonable compromise point.”
“Count Ian, what will you do now? Even for the Magic Department, that sum seems beyond reach.”
It was a clever countermeasure the Hollin Family could employ first. Rather than flatly rejecting the proposal, they countered with their own terms, forcing the other side to concede.
I nodded in acknowledgment.
“That’s true, but if we make a little effort, couldn’t we manage it?”
“…What do you mean?”
The Magic Department didn’t need to respond directly to the card Hollin had played.
“Where would we even procure such funds?”
“The Department of Technical Development, the Imperial Defense Ministry, and the Imperial Guards will all participate in the project. If other departments cooperate as well, it’s certainly possible.”
Where to procure it?
From their own coffers, of course.
“Each department must repay all the funds they’ve borrowed from the Magic Department. By this week.”
“W-what! That’s not a small sum, and you expect us to settle it by this week?”
“Yes. I apologize, but we’re in the same situation. Count Ian, if you could grant us some time—”
“To grant time, the Magic Department would need to have surplus funds, but didn’t you see? Marquis Hollin is demanding five times the amount.”
“No, that’s…”
The officials’ faces darkened as they grasped my intention.
“If the Hollin Family reconsiders and agrees to contract at the price the Magic Department proposed, then we won’t need to rush collecting payment either. So, rather than coming to me, go speak directly with the Marquis.”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————