Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 544

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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 543
Fire. The Potion of Oblivion
“Excuse me, Mage?”
The Servant’s call made the Ruswena Mage turn her head.
Despite her youthful appearance, deep shadows hollowed the space beneath her eyes. It was clear she had been sitting in that exact position for hours. The untouched bedding and the food left on the plate were proof enough.
“Are you alright?”
“…What, what is the matter?”
“Someone from the Magic Department has arrived. They’re asking you to gather your things and come out.”
“I understand. I’ll be right out.”
“Yes, please don’t hesitate to ask if you need any assistance.”
The Servant withdrew his worried gaze and left the room. The moment the door closed, the Mage rushed toward her belongings and rummaged through her clothes.
With trembling hands, she found what she sought—a dagger disguised as a piece of jewelry. Its edge was so sharp that from the side it appeared as thin as a thread.
‘You must not return alone. Persuade those who have fled to Bariel. Mages are connected through a different sense, each special to one another, are they not? Only you can accomplish this.’
“Yes, Your Highness. I shall keep it in mind.”
‘Once the coronation concludes and the war campaign begins, Bariel will immediately declare war on Burgos. Ruswena will do the same, and there is a high likelihood they will do so through Lepin’s death.’
‘…What should I do then?’
‘You shall become Ruswena’s first warrior. Having entered the imperial palace means you stand closer to Bariel’s heart than anyone else. Cut it out with your blade and present it to me.’
‘But Your Highness, I cannot face all of Bariel’s Mages alone. And before that, the moment I step into the imperial palace, I will be bound with a mana-sealing stone.’
‘The situation may be somewhat difficult, but you go as Ruswena’s honored guest. Surely they won’t place shackles around your neck.’
The Mage touched the mana-sealing stone bracelet that clung tightly to her wrist, turning over the conversation with the King in her mind.
‘A mana-sealing stone is nothing. I can cut it off. As long as it’s not around my neck.’
‘You speak of cutting it off….’
‘Remember this. You are Ruswena’s Mage, and you have a duty to sacrifice yourself for your homeland. When Ruswena is in danger, your family is in danger.’
It would have been easier if she were deaf. The Mage gripped the dagger firmly with her trembling hands.
‘…But even if I remove the mana-sealing stone, I lack the strength to stand against them. I have heard that Ian Hielo, the Minister of the Magic Department, possesses power nearly equal to that of a God. How could I possibly-‘
‘If you shed blood, what is there to fear?’
Forbidden magic.
The Mage immediately understood what the King was urging her toward, and unable to refuse in the end, she joined the envoy. Part of her harbored a hope that, contrary to the King’s expectations, Bariel might let them leave unharmed.
“Sigh, damn it, damn it!”
But she had come to realize it. Hope always turns a blind eye to reality. The Lepin Envoy’s representative collapsed on the first day from who knows what, and did not wake until the coronation. The rest of the group scattered somewhere after the ceremony. Rather than preparing to return home, they didn’t even know each other’s fates within the imperial palace.
And now.
The Magic Department had come for her. It was her turn.
“Huff.”
As the Mage steadied her breathing and was about to cut her wrist with the blade—
Crash!
The door suddenly burst open and Mages and Soldiers poured in. Startled, the blade slipped and cut her wrist slightly, drawing blood.
“Don’t, don’t come near!”
“Really, some things never change.”
“I said don’t come near!”
“Idiot! Calm down and listen! Get some cloth!”
It was Zaira. And Mages from Ruswena. As if they had anticipated this, they rushed over in a group, subdued the Mage, and wrapped cloth tightly around his bleeding wrists.
“I thought it was taking too long.”
“Let go of me!”
“Captain Akorella is coming to get you. Do you understand what that means?”
The Mages checked that the mana-sealing stones had no problems, then pressed down with their entire bodies to keep him immobilized.
The struggling Mage soon had no choice but to abandon his resistance. He felt as though he would suffocate to death if this continued.
“We’re giving you one last chance before we take you away. Ruswena blood—filthy as it is—flows through our veins too! And we’ve all suffered the same fate!”
Crack.
“Hey, hold him down!”
“He was trying to cut off his wrist. Vicious bastard. Put another seal on his other wrist.”
“Now there are two, so give up. Hmm? How were you planning to cut off the remaining one?”
The Mages muttered amongst themselves as they fastened another mana-sealing stone to the Mage’s other wrist.
He lay face-down with tears streaming down his face, and realizing that further resistance was meaningless, he did not move.
“What do you expect me to do!”
“I understand your frustration, but there’s nothing we can do.”
Zaira pulled out a pocket watch and glanced at it as she added, “Exactly five minutes. This is our last conversation. I guarantee it—if you die, your entire family dies.”
“That’s right. If the mission fails, your family dies as an example. But if you live? Then we keep you alive as a hostage first. We don’t know what you might do. Do you understand?”
“So for now, just agree to cooperate with Bariel. All right?”
The Mages made no attempt to hide their frustration. Despite all these years passing, the circumstances of Ruswena’s Mages had not changed one bit. How lamentable and sorrowful this was.
At this, the Mage lifted his tear-stained face and murmured softly.
“Everyone…”
“Yes, yes, it’s fine, there’s a way—”
“I’m sorry…”
Beneath his sobbing throat, a hot and brilliant light surged upward.
An explosion.
Zaira and the Mages instinctively sensed that something within the small child’s body was about to detonate.
Whiiiing! Whiing!
“Zaira!”
“Raise a barrier!”
“Ugh, uuugh…”
Leaving the wailing Mage behind, Zaira instantly generated a barrier. Not just the four sides—front, back, left, and right—but the ceiling as well.
She had no idea how powerful the explosion would be, but the Imperial Palace must not suffer any harm. Not even a single branch could be broken.
“Is it a contract spell? Listen! Can’t you stop it?”
“Ugh, I’m sorry, I’m sorry…”
“Zaira, the floor!”
“Damn it!”
Whiiiing! Whiing!
The moment Zaira crouched down and spread a barrier across the floor—
Boooom!
Splat!
Boom!
With a deafening explosion, the Mage’s body burst apart.
* * *
“Huh?”
The moment Berik jolted upright from where he’d been pressing his forehead against a stone, Romandro was about to snap at him—asking where he thought he was slacking off.
But then the Palace Guards gathered there all froze simultaneously. Soon after, every one of them turned their heads in the same direction alongside Berik. Even Ian did.
“Ian, why… why are you like that?”
“An explosion.”
“An explosion? Just now? Where?”
“It seems to be within the Imperial Palace, but the energy feels slightly off.”
“Ian! That’s the west side, right?”
“Captain Jairot.”
At Ian’s call, Jairot nodded. Another captain was already protecting Jin, but this was a signal that everyone would mobilize to reinforce his safety.
Ian rose from his seat and activated his mana, then walked toward the window.
“I should investigate from above first. Romandro, return to the Magic Department.”
“You’ll be fine going alone?”
“Yes. Romandro, please travel by carriage and check if there are any issues on the ground. Then.”
Zing! Zing!
Whoosh!
“Ian! Let me come with you!”
“Berik, you’re an Imperial Guard. Get your head straight!”
“Tch. Damn old man. You really do like me that much!”
At Jairot’s rebuke, Berik trudged off toward the Emperor’s quarters.
Suddenly alone, Romandro glanced around cautiously, then hurried out of the room with quick steps.
Whoooosh!
Meanwhile, the location of the commotion wasn’t difficult to find. The guest pavilion that had been provided to Ruswena. Other Mages were arriving one by one, and in the distance, Soldiers were rushing over in formation.
Whoosh.
“Ian!”
“What happened?”
Smoke was rising, but no flames were particularly visible. At Ian’s question, Zaira let out a sigh as she removed her half-broken glasses.
“I apologize.”
Zaira and the Mages from Ruswena appeared to have sustained various injuries, both large and small. Some were merely scrapes, but in Zaira’s case, her arm bore extensive burn marks.
Ian silently took her hand and transferred his mana to her.
Zing.
“I asked what happened.”
“…It appears Ruswena sent a Mage bound by contract magic. We were trying to persuade them one last time through conversation, and then it exploded.”
Still, in that brief moment, protective barriers had been carefully erected, so the building seemed to have sustained no major damage. Watching the black smoke gradually dissipate, Ian paused to consider.
“Dismiss all the Soldiers.”
“Yes, that would be best. We can’t cause unnecessary commotion.”
“No matter what, it cannot be known that Ruswena’s preemptive strike reached the Imperial Palace. Announce that this explosion was a mistake that occurred during Captain Akorella’s experimental work.”
“Captain Akorella, that’s quite unfair to you.”
“Well, it’s what I’ve been doing, so there’s nothing to be done about it.”
“Haha. Hahaha….”
“Right. Since it’s what I’ve been doing….”
The mages seemed to have lost their spirits. And no wonder—the mage who had exploded to death was part of their past, was he not? It must have felt like old wounds, barely healed, tearing open once more.
Ian personally pushed the debris aside and stepped inside, examining the pitifully scattered remnants of clothing and such.
“Let’s clean this up quickly.”
“Yes, understood-!”
Zaira staggered to her feet, but immediately clamped her hand over her mouth and turned away. She couldn’t bear the nausea rising within her.
“Zaira, are you alright?”
“Here, go get yourself treated.”
“No, I’m fine.”
She felt revolted. The memory of how Ruswena had regarded them surfaced anew.
That contemptible way of treating humans as mere tools was abhorrent. If Ruswena’s king stood before her now, she would tear him to shreds. And once again, she felt a pang of sorrow for her grandmother, who had died for those despicable wretches.
“What? What happened here?”
“Is everyone safe!”
Mages arrived in succession. Among them was Akorella. She grabbed a passing soldier and demanded an explanation of the situation.
“What is it? What exploded?”
“Ah, yes. It’s nothing serious. Apparently, a captain named Akorella from the Magic Department was conducting an experiment and blew up another building.”
“What are you talking about! Damn it, I’m Akorella! And what do you mean ‘another’?”
“Ugh, why, why are you doing this?”
Akorella grabbed the soldier by the collar in bewilderment and shook him vigorously. Other mages approached and explained the situation, and she finally released her grip, understanding at last. Though she was far from pleased about it.
“Only those needed for cleanup stay. Everyone else, return to your posts.”
“Yes, understood.”
“Zaira. Let me see your wounds. Come over here.”
“I said I’m fine.”
The mages from Ruswena sat motionless, staring blankly. The atmosphere was completely chaotic. In just a few hours, these people would march to the battlefield with the Emperor, yet they couldn’t even hold themselves together properly, as if their souls had fled.
“These bastards-”
“Captain!”
“Hey, you! And you, you, over there! Anyone else from Ruswena? Yes, you too!”
Clap!
Akorella clapped her hands sharply, drawing their attention.
“I understand your minds are shattered, but there’s no help for it. When the sun rises, we leave the palace and must show the world our victory with smiling faces. We can’t have this. Get treated right away, then down a sleeping draught or some alcohol and get some proper rest! And if you still find it unbearable-”
If you still find it unbearable? What then?
Zaira lifted her head and stared at her intently.
“Come get a dose of the memory suppressant. Sometimes, forgetting is what allows us to move forward.”

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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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