Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 563

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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 562
Fire. Melania and Clark
Melania and Clark exchanged glances simultaneously.
What advantage would they gain if the Gypsy made contact with Rutherford?
‘None whatsoever.’
The Gypsy was a merchant of secrets. If she consumed Rutherford’s secrets in exchange for mine, it would be absolutely disadvantageous to me—regardless of what those secrets might be.
Melania seized the hem of the Gypsy’s robe with a firm grip, while Clark drew his sword and positioned himself before her.
“What’s this about?”
“Please don’t go.”
“What, do I need your permission just to survive? This is why humans shouldn’t be pulled from the abyss. I save you wretches, and this is how you repay me—with steel?”
“We’re not trying to harm you, but to stop you. Wouldn’t it be better to speak with Count Ian instead?”
“I already told you! He’s of no use to me anymore!”
The only remaining matter was the contract between Rutherford and Ian, but Ian—one of the parties involved—claims he cannot remember it. And Melania showed no intention of revealing it.
So there was no choice but to go to Rutherford, was there? While I was at it, if I could gather a few more scraps, I might fill the emptiness that was slowly consuming me.
“Very well. Let me tell you instead. Please, don’t go meet Rutherford. There are other reasons, but honestly, it’s dangerous.”
Melania shook her head as if she had surrendered completely, raising both hands and feet.
The Gypsy’s eyes narrowed, her gaze becoming suspicious.
“Are you about to spout more nonsense?”
“Tomorrow brings a fierce battle, and I know Rutherford is right ahead. How could I deceive you?”
“Hmm. Then whisper it to me.”
The Gypsy plopped down and gestured with her hand. Melania hesitantly bent forward, drawing close to whisper in her ear.
“All of this—Ian told me.”
* * *
Young Melania was utterly exhausted.
How could a child who had lived luxuriously near the palace of Ruswena endure the journey through Hawanguk into Bariel? Even lying still in the carriage, her strength seemed to drain away. Her cousin’s wedding in Hawanguk had been quite a spectacle, but it hardly compensated for the child’s unpredictable whims that changed at every moment.
“Young lady. Are you feeling quite unwell?”
“Yes, it’s boring and rather tedious.”
“Then shall we step out for a moment and get some fresh air? The central district is safe, so it should be pleasant to explore.”
That day was unlike any other. Her usually strict nurse had surprisingly suggested an outing. Melania nodded readily and ventured with her into the bustling heart of the city.
Crash!
And there, I met Ian.
His clothes were shabby and his hair disheveled, but his green eyes were so deep and beautiful. He was small and thin, so at first I thought he was a girl like myself.
“You there! Watch where you’re going!”
“Nurse, I’m fine. Are you alright?”
When he asked if I was alright, Ian smiled brightly. That was when I first learned that a person’s smile could be so radiant.
“A child from a merchant caravan, I see.”
“I’m sorry, but if you call me that when others are around, I’ll be scolded. I’m a noble of Bariel and royalty of Ruswena. Even the Prince traveling with the caravan wouldn’t dare treat me so casually. Really.”
“Ah, I see. Want to try some of this?”
“Hmm. This is actually edible, right?”
Despite our different stations and circumstances, we collided quite frequently. Once is chance, twice is coincidence, and thrice is fate, as they say? We became quite close friends, and eventually we began arranging specific times and places to meet before parting ways.
And so, there remained one week until the merchant company would move again.
Tap, tap, tap!
“Why are you taking so long?”
“Melania!”
Ian came rushing from afar, carrying something bulky in his arms.
Melania, who had been about to voice her complaint, quirked her eyebrows in confusion. A flowerpot?
“Huff, huff….”
“Why are you so late? And what’s with that flowerpot?”
“Finally, finally I met him! Rutherford.”
“Ah, the merchant master?”
Melania, seemingly uninterested, merely touched the crimson petals. What could this be? She had never seen such a flower before.
“What did you do when you met?”
“Look at this.”
Zing, zing.
Melania’s eyes widened instantly as she focused on Ian’s palm. Streams of light gathered and coalesced, forming an amber-colored gemstone between them.
Melania stared at Ian with her mouth agape.
“This, this is…”
“I helped him make it, and he was absolutely delighted. He said I have talent for it.”
“What, what is this?”
In response to Melania’s question, Ian smiled softly and whispered.
“A Pendulum of Balance—”
“What?”
“…that’s what the merchant master called it.”
Ian’s smile was as bright as always, yet Melania couldn’t shake a sense of unease.
Ian placed what he had created in Melania’s hands and spoke.
“I’m giving it to you as a gift. You’ll need it someday.”
“…Thank you.”
Melania fingered the gemstone, then made a subtle proposal.
“Why don’t you come with me to the capital? Staying here means hunger and hardship. I’ll give you a room in my estate, so let’s go together. You could live far more comfortably than you do now.”
A breeze seemed to flow visibly through Ian’s golden hair. The boy regarded Melania with an indecipherable expression for a moment, then shook his head.
“I’m sorry. I have to stay here.”
“Why? Because of your mother? Of course you can come with me.”
“Melania. Your words are truly kind. But that’s not the reason—I simply have a reason to stay here.”
“I don’t understand what you mean.”
“I can’t explain it now. In any case, that’s why I made a contract with Rutherford.”
“A contract?”
While the merchant company remained, he would create as many amber-colored gemstones as possible in exchange for the crimson flowers. He would be granted freedom until he turned sixteen. After that, he would serve Rutherford as his master and work faithfully. Everything would be bound by magic to prove his sincerity, and so on.
Melania, who had been listening quietly, frowned.
“That’s an unfair contract. You don’t know what kind of treatment a mage receives in the capital, do you?”
“But there was no choice. If I hadn’t agreed to those terms, he looked ready to pack me into a box and take me away on the spot.”
“Do I look like I would do that?”
“Oh, Melania. Rutherford is far more terrifying than you think. We’re still too young. We need a little more time.”
Does he treat nobility and commoners so differently? While Melania pondered this, Ian held up his hand and added,
“And it’s fine. After sixteen, I won’t exist anyway.”
“Why are you saying such strange things today?”
“Just because. I’m happy.”
Happy about what? Melania’s eyes asked silently, but Ian merely laughed as he held up the amber-colored gemstone.
“The pendulum of balance has finally been created. Like Rutherford, I too am delighted.”
* * *
The Gypsy’s eyes widened and narrowed repeatedly as she listened to the story.
Having already learned something of Ian’s identity in the abyss, Melania could fill in the gaps of what was said in her own way.
“Ah, I see. So that’s how it was.”
“And so, I haven’t seen Ian since then.”
“I see. Now I understand a bit better.”
Her gills fluttered.
Melania finished her story of the past and looked at the Gypsy. Her eyes seemed to ask: Is this enough? I’ve given you what you wanted, so don’t even think about going to Rutherford.
But the Gypsy was too absorbed in savoring the secret, her eyes closed.
“Hmm…”
Yet something felt off. It was a secret, certainly, but it didn’t taste quite as delicious as expected. Those secrets related to Ian in the abyss had shown a flavor so exquisite it was almost unbelievable.
The Gypsy smacked her lips several times, tilting her head in confusion.
‘Has it faded somehow?’
Or perhaps it was no longer a secret at all?
The Gypsy fell silent, repeatedly touching her cheek as if something felt amiss.
Noticing this strange state, Melania grabbed her robe hem tightly once more.
“You can’t. Don’t go.”
“What? Where I go is my own business!”
“Think about it from Rutherford’s perspective. Ian’s secret is now in his belly, and you think Rutherford will leave you alone once he knows? With a decisive battle looming? He’ll bare his teeth to obtain even the smallest weakness.”
It was no different from walking into the midst of a band of thieves carrying a chest of treasure. A deal? Did she truly believe such a just and socially agreed-upon system would work with Rutherford?
“Hmph. What do you take me for? Even that brilliant Ian couldn’t catch me.”
“That was then! Who knows what might happen now? Look—you’ve been tracked several times even by Clark and me, who have no special abilities.”
“Several times? It was exactly twice!”
Melania felt blood rushing to her head and pressed her forehead briefly. The war was still in its opening stages, but the situation was clear. No outcome other than Bariel’s victory could be foreseen.
Wouldn’t the same be true for Rutherford? Cornered as he was now, the Gypsy’s appearance would be his salvation.
“I’ll give you one more secret.”
“What secret?”
“Promise me first. That you won’t contact Rutherford’s side after you take this.”
“Let me hear it first.”
“Promise first!”
At Melania’s insistence, the Gypsy reluctantly nodded. She hesitated for a moment, then flipped the inside of the Gypsy’s robe.
“I’ve hidden imperial jewels in here.”
“What? Where?”
“It’s a jewel with a tracking function. I’ve been using it to find you this whole time.”
The Gypsy panicked and flipped the cloth several times over, but clearly couldn’t find it easily.
With a ripping sound, Melania tore the cloth herself and shrugged her shoulders.
“There. Satisfied?”
“Damn it, putting something like this here… unbelievable.”
“When dawn breaks tomorrow, Bariel’s forces will push inside the barrier. By then it’ll be too chaotic and crowded to move freely. So—”
Whoosh!
The Gypsy seized the moment and bolted around the corner. I had no idea how someone without legs could move so fast. Melania grabbed at his robe, but she couldn’t match his speed and tumbled helplessly to the ground.
“Get lost! You leeches! Hahahaha!”
“Ugh…”
Clark rushed after him, but the moment he turned the corner, the Gypsy vanished. He was a being beyond human capability to pursue.
Clark shook his head in resignation, and Melania brushed the dirt from her scraped palms, muttering to herself.
“…Damned fish.”
It wasn’t the sort of language befitting a noble lady, but Clark found himself in complete agreement. He helped Melania to her feet and spoke.
“Did you recover the jewel?”
“Yes. The Gypsy will head toward Rutherford, won’t he?”
“Most likely.”
Clark looked left while Melania looked right, then they nodded to each other. They both realized their objectives had been newly updated.
“I’ll head toward Rutherford as well. Since there’s history between us, it should be easy to get close to him.”
“I’ll go to Bariel’s camp. I’ll report the situation and meet with Count Ian. And this.”
The jewel that had been attached to the Gypsy went into Clark’s pocket. If he succeeded in approaching Rutherford, it would be used to reveal his location.
Clark would infiltrate toward Rutherford and watch for an opening, while Melania would relay all information to Ian. This was their new objective.
Tap tap!
The two shook hands lightly, then without hesitation, they split up and ran in opposite directions.

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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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