Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 575

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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 574
Fire. Ian’s Life (1)
“How remarkably composed you are. Not a single tear.”
Those gathered at the funeral spoke in unison, praising Ian. The boy simply hadn’t comprehended the concept of death.
Holding the Nurse’s hand tightly as I stood in silence, my gaze met that of a man woven among the guests. His stare was relentless. Even as everyone bowed their heads in prayer, he watched me while whispering to someone beside him.
“But the child is far too young. What shall we do?”
“How old did they say? Five? Six?”
“There is a Nurse, but we cannot entrust him to someone of common birth. Someone among the relatives must take responsibility.”
“Though he is a distant branch of the imperial family, it seems unlikely the palace will intervene given the current circumstances.”
“The boy will have considerable wealth, won’t he?”
“Ah, let us refrain from such talk. This is hardly the appropriate place. The earth hasn’t even been cast upon the coffin yet.”
“What does it matter? It’s something we must discuss regardless.”
“Whoever takes charge of Ian will also be entrusted with the management of his territories, according to his will. Quite substantial holdings, wouldn’t you say? The quarterly taxes alone amount to one hundred gold coins, I’m told. For the territories alone.”
The Nurse slowly drew me into her embrace. Unable to cover my ears outright, she wished to shield me from such vulgar words in whatever way she could.
At that, I instinctively looked up at my mother’s portrait. It made me feel as though I were being held by her.
“…Nurse.”
“Yes, young master.”
“Can I never hold Mother again?”
I was perceptive. Though I didn’t comprehend death, I could sense its meaning.
The Nurse fell silent, unsure how to answer. A marriage built on contract alone, devoid of love, was terribly barren, tragic, and meaningless. They had believed their actions rational, undertaken for gain, but the Nurse, having witnessed the end, could not agree.
They had failed, she thought. Their transaction had failed completely. Not content with rendering a life meaningless, they had committed a terrible wrong against a child named Ian.
“Everyone, please be silent.”
Then the man who had locked eyes with me repeatedly spoke in a low voice. His deep, commanding words instantly dominated the atmosphere. Whether the power lay in his voice itself or in the voice of one who wielded power, I could not say.
What I remembered was only one thing—
“Ian will come with us.”
The moment my dwelling place was decided.
That man was Chroni.
Crack!
“Again.”
A week after arriving at Chroni’s estate.
My heart pounded as I froze. The Piano Tutor had swung a cane from behind. Here I was, receiving my first piano lesson in an unfamiliar place, and his coercive tone and threatening gestures were more than enough to unsettle me.
The Piano Tutor, hands on his hips, roughly turned the pages of my sheet music.
“Begin from the start again. Do you not understand where you went wrong?”
“…Yes, sir. I don’t understand.”
“Recognizing that is learning itself. Look carefully. And maintain proper posture. You must convey emotion, yet your concentration wavers—there’s no way to play correctly. Young Master Ian, I have taught the children of prominent families for decades, and this is the first time I’ve encountered such bewilderment.”
I couldn’t respond, only fidgeting with my fingers. Where had I gone wrong? I truly didn’t know. My trembling hands returned to the keys, and I began playing unconsciously.
The Piano Tutor watched sharply, then struck the edge of the piano with the cane.
Crack!
“Again!”
Crack!
“Again!”
As the cane continued to approach, I grew completely exhausted. Just as I was about to tell him I couldn’t go on and ask for the lesson to stop, I heard footsteps from outside.
Knock, knock.
“Pardon the interruption during your lesson.”
“Not at all, Chroni.”
“Father has awakened briefly, and it seems I need to take Uncle Ian to see him. Is that acceptable?”
“Of course. We shall end today’s lesson here.”
As Chroni gestured for me to come along, I quickly descended from the piano bench and rushed to him.
“How was your lesson?”
“…I’m not sure.”
“You’re not sure? About what?”
But instead of answering, I simply shook my head.
“And the nurse? What became of her?”
“It seems she has family elsewhere and cannot come here. It’s unfortunate.”
Once more, something churned in my chest. She had promised to stay with me even if we moved residences, but had that been a lie? Was there truly no one left to hold me now?
Chroni looked down at me and continued speaking.
“My father is your official guardian, though his health is poor and you won’t see him often. It will fall entirely to me to help you adapt and grow well in this place, so Uncle, please feel free to tell me anytime if you’re uncomfortable or have something you wish to share.”
“Yes. I understand.”
“This afternoon you have mathematics and writing lessons. Are the classes too demanding? It seemed you had no difficulty at your previous residence.”
“…No. I’m managing.”
“I’m relieved to hear that. I have high expectations.”
Chroni smiled gently and patted my head.
In that moment, I thought—perhaps there might be warmth here to replace the nurse’s embrace.
“Oh, Uncle Ian. After your lessons end, please come to my office for a moment.”
When my eyes questioned the reason, Chroni answered casually, as if it were nothing.
“There’s a matter regarding territory management that I need you to handle. Come and sign where I indicate. Ah, you don’t have a signature yet?”
“No. I don’t.”
“Then it would be good to create one. I’ve been thinking of several designs, and you can choose one of them.”
I wanted to ask if something had happened to the territory, but we had already reached the end of the corridor, so I said nothing.
Chroni smiled and gently pushed me forward, as if to say we should go in.
Whoosh.
“Territory Division and Sale Delegation Consent Form….”
I murmured the words beneath the candlelight. Division, sale, delegation. I seemed to grasp the meaning vaguely, but I couldn’t understand it precisely.
I lifted my head slightly and met the gaze of five or six adults sitting on the sofa, watching me. Chroni and strangers. A lawyer, a local lord’s representative, a manager, a government official, and so on. They had introduced themselves, but I had no idea why they were all gathered here.
“Is there a problem, Uncle Ian?”
“Ah, well—”
“You don’t understand the meaning, perhaps?”
When the lawyer sitting beside me interjected arrogantly, crossing his legs, my cheeks flushed red. Chroni watched quietly, then gestured to the lawyer with a look that said he should restrain himself.
“That was rude to Uncle Ian, Hilron.”
“Ah, my apologies.”
“Uncle. This is a contract for managing your territory more efficiently. It’s no problem that you’re still young and find it difficult to understand. These are things you can learn. But the real issue is that everyone gathered here has taken time out of their busy schedules to come here with great effort. To obtain your signature, Uncle.”
I swallowed dryly and hesitated for a moment. The more I did, the more the adults watched me in silence, gradually letting out sighs and disapproving clicks of their tongues.
“…I understand. It’s for the territory.”
“Of course. Naturally.”
“Where should I sign?”
“Right here. Once here, and then here again.”
Chroni sprang up and affectionately pointed out the blank spaces with his hand.
I looked up at Chroni with anxious eyes. Is this really all right? Then Chroni stroked my head again and smiled.
“Don’t worry. It’s all for Uncle Ian’s sake.”
I believed him. Or rather, I had no choice but to believe him. My entire world depended entirely on Chroni at that moment.
I signed in the end, and received quite a sweet reward.
“Well done. You seem quite worried, Uncle. Shall we tour the territory together tomorrow? Except for your piano lesson.”
I didn’t notice that joy had colored my face. It was a change in me that only Chroni knew.
* * *
“…I learned about it much later.”
I frowned slightly, as if pulling memories from beneath layers of ancient dust. The people listening had even more serious expressions, but I was too preoccupied wetting my parched lips with wine to notice.
“My nurse wanted to follow me into Chroni’s mansion, but he turned her away.”
“Why?”
“His reasoning was plausible. He said that if my nurse stayed with me, I wouldn’t adapt easily to the mansion and would only seek her embrace. Moreover, he had his own philosophy, and he would use a nurse of his own choosing. It all sounded reasonable.”
“But weren’t you far too young?”
I smiled faintly at Jin’s words.
“That’s right. I was too young to understand. Back then, I was desperately focused only on Chroni, so I couldn’t see myself.”
“So, continue your story.”
When Tweller’s glass emptied, his direct officer stood and brought the wine bottle. This was already the second bottle. I murmured, recalling the faded face of my piano tutor.
“My piano tutor’s strictness was also due to Chroni’s orders. I learned this much later, truly. When I ascended to the throne and was reorganizing the imperial orchestra, I met the tutor again.”
When he confessed that it was Chroni who had instructed him, that there was not a single flaw in the young emperor’s performance—what had I felt then? Anger? Bewilderment?
No, it was sorrow. My younger self seemed so pitiful and wretched that I simply turned away without answering.
“In any case, that’s how it was. Chroni was quite kind to me. He provided thorough education, and made sure I could grow with the same standard of living as my previous residence. On the surface, he fulfilled his role as guardian well enough….”
But within that kindness existed shackles that bound me inescapably. There were so many things that I couldn’t even bring myself to mention them in this place.
“His father was your legal guardian?”
“Yes. It was nominal only. It was merely a safeguard to evade responsibility should anything happen to me. Most of Chroni’s family business proceeded in that manner.”
“Ian. So what happened to your territory?”
Berik asked while resting his chin on his hand, half-reclined. He’d been drinking three or four cups while others had one, so the alcohol was clearly taking effect.
I raised my glass as if I had anticipated the question.
“When I was finally able to directly verify the management records, the territory had been divided into exactly one-tenth of its original size. The mansion had been sold long ago, and the rest of the assets had vanished. It was the result of Chroni’s management under the guise of living expenses.”
“That bastard. Damn him.”
Berik let out a loud belch, and Jairot scolded him by hitting his head, telling him to have some manners.
But Jin, the highest-ranking person present, stared at me expressionlessly. As if something had occurred to him.
“Hilron—is that the Hilron I know?”
“Yes. That’s correct.”
Hmm. Whatever occupied his thoughts, Ian’s fingertips drummed against the table in an endless rhythm.
Troller drained half his brimming glass in one gulp before asking.
“So what came to pass?”
“Those were uneventful days. I stood motionless, unaware I was sinking into the mire. But from ‘that day’ onward, everything transformed.”
“That day being?”
Ian paused to collect his breath.
The moment when life began to surge forth with genuine vigor.
It was undoubtedly….
“The first time I wielded magic.”

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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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