Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 61

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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 61. Danger Detected
“…You discussed this before?”
“Don’t you remember? When you said, ‘I will use rumors to my advantage.'”
At my meaningful words, Mollin recalled our conversation from the second lunch we’d shared.
We’d discussed how any food source would be welcome if it could solve the famine, and we’d even exchanged ideas about distribution methods to improve public perception.
“…!”
Could he have been planning this moment from back then?
I shifted the conversation with an impassive expression.
“The one gathering guula is none other than Romandro, who came down from the Imperial Palace.”
Everyone’s gaze turned toward Romandro.
Not just anyone, but those who served the Emperor himself from the Imperial Palace. If they voluntarily acknowledged guula as a food source, improving public perception would be no problem at all.
“Let me sketch out a scenario. The Imperial Palace has already been researching alternative crops for some time. In the process, they discovered that while guula is highly toxic, its seeds are remarkably nutritious and delicious. Romandro obtained this information first and began collecting guula.”
“Can you really do that?”
“Do what?”
“No, never mind….”
“What does it matter? It’s just words. Rumors from Bratz Estate won’t reach the Imperial Palace. They’ll only be transmitted through your reports. You understand that, don’t you?”
Romandro laughed awkwardly and scratched his chin. As I’d said that day, the official report would accurately reflect my contributions, while the rumors spread to the estate villagers would tell a different story.
“Is that all the rumor needs to cover?”
“Of course not. We should add some research findings as well. What would be good? Perhaps that it improves skin and hair quality, and is effective for longevity and good health?”
“Ha ha ha! That’s far too absurd.”
“What does it matter? To seduce people, you must always exaggerate. And Romandro and Count Mollin should make time to dine out frequently. Make it obvious—eating dishes made from guula. Once you do that, I’ll finish the rest.”
At my words, Mollin struck the table lightly. It was a gesture of refusal, a clear rejection.
“This is nonsense! Using the Imperial Palace in rumors is absolutely unacceptable. It concerns His Majesty’s dignity.”
If we distributed guula while claiming research that was never conducted, and problems arose later, wouldn’t they blame the Imperial Palace? It was a reasonable argument, but I couldn’t agree with it.
“…Count Mollin seemed to believe back then that resolving famine was a leader’s destiny. I didn’t think you were the type to object over such trivial matters.”
“Trivial? Did you just call the Imperial Palace’s honor trivial?”
“When death stands before us, everything else becomes insignificant!”
It was almost unprecedented. I’d raised my voice and confronted him directly. I’d always smiled and countered his points, but this was different. As Mollin hesitated, his mouth opening and closing, I set down my napkin.
“Count Mollin. I think there’s been a misunderstanding. I’m not asking for permission right now.”
A unilateral declaration that rejected any objections.
“If you intend to oppose and interfere, leave the estate at once. I will order the warriors to escort you out.”
“…What insolence is this!”
“Count Mac. See your position clearly. Who is being insolent right now?”
I was proposing solutions to save the estate and its people, while Mollin and his group merely stationed themselves here as Imperial Palace envoys and offered opposition.
At my insulting words to see his position clearly, Mac’s face flushed crimson. While not comparable to a duke or count, they were still of noble birth. They’d never been treated this way anywhere.
Romandro, who had been listening quietly, interjected to lighten the atmosphere.
“Ahem. Let’s all calm down. Well, Count Mollin, I’ve tasted it myself, and it’s quite delicious. The cooking methods are more varied than expected, so the table will become quite diverse.”
Just then, Berik slipped into the dining hall. He winked his left eye subtly, sending a signal. It meant the mana stones had been recovered.
“I’ve made my intentions perfectly clear. Since this is important, I won’t tolerate any interference.”
“Ian, how dare you be so arrogant!”
“Then, everyone, please enjoy your meal. I’ll take my leave.”
I said so and entrusted the rest to Romandro. Berik, who had stepped into the corridor, pressed a mana stone into my hand.
“By the way, Ian, you really do speak eloquently.”
“What do you mean?”
“You expressed ‘I won’t forgive you’ when you basically said you’d kill them if they ate like they were taking a dump in front of people. That’s refined. Really refined.”
As Berik clicked his tongue in admiration, I couldn’t help but let out a small laugh.
The two of us headed to the office that Der had used. The investigation team had swept away every scrap of paper, but they’d left the mana solution untouched. I poured the solution into a glass bottle just as Der had done and dropped the mana stone into it.
Splash!
The crimson gem began to glow and emit a sound. I read through the reports that had come up while listening with one ear, and Berik sprawled across the sofa, chewing on gruut leaves.
It could be called a somewhat peaceful moment of rest.
-If things proceed like this with her temperament… I cannot even dare to predict what will happen.
Scratch, scratch.
Between the humming voices of three men, only the sound of my pen scratching could be heard quietly.
“If the one blocking the way refuses to step aside, cannot turn back, and has no other path… what then?”
That was when I stopped my pen, finding the content rather irritating. Berik, who had his eyes half-closed, did the same. He stopped chewing and lifted his head slightly.
“What was that mumbling about?”
“Shh.”
“Remove the one blocking the way… and proceed.”
“…Teacher.”
“There’s always a way.”
I tapped the table with my pen tip in an amused manner. Then Berik, who had come closer, made a throat-slitting gesture with his thumb reversed.
“This means you’re going to kill them, doesn’t it?”
“Yeah. That’s right. Well. It’s not a bad option.”
It was a choice I would have considered had I been in their position. In truth, the best option would be to abandon the Bratz Estate, but it would be easier and more convenient to cut off my breath than to let go of this place after months of effort.
Moreover, thinking of the future, that would be safer.
“What should we do? Shall we?”
Berik calmly drew his sword. His tone was as casual as if he were about to pick wildflowers.
‘It seems he’s been waiting for an opportunity…’
Unfortunately, I’ve rarely been alone while working. Setting aside that I’m always with Berik, my sleep schedule is so irregular that I only manage to catch brief naps during the day.
“Shall we? Or not?”
“Don’t. Wait. This is hardly even evidence. If I’d known it would come to this, I should have given them more of a tongue-lashing earlier.”
I laughed and retrieved the mana stone. The faces of Mollin and his group from the dining hall came to mind more vividly. The anger of those noble lords, steeped in shame and humiliation.
They might very well send assassins tonight.
“What’s so funny?”
“Ah. No, it’s just… old memories came to mind.”
It was a brief time, but an Emperor was still an Emperor.
I could confidently say that I knew better than anyone how dark the chambers are in the dead of night, the footsteps of poison scorpions climbing the curtains, and the gleam in the eyes of those who draw their daggers and rush in.
“Berik. You need to keep your wits about you.”
“I’m always in my right mind.”
“Even more so. Stay sharp and alert.”
I tapped Berik’s cheek lightly, asking him to provide seamless security. Of course, I also made sure to assign eyes and ears to keep watch over Mollin’s group.
* * *
In a village plot not far from the Manor, Romandro was overseeing the reconstruction, checking the construction progress with his subordinates. With the sun high overhead, one of his subordinates casually mentioned lunch.
“Shall we call it a morning here?”
“Perhaps.”
“Romandro! What should we do with the remaining oak?”
“Gather them in a line and move them to the entrance of Gilsaem Village. Didn’t you say the suspension bridge there was broken? We’ll be building a high bridge anyway, so we can use them.”
“Yes, understood.”
“Romandro!”
“Wait a moment. Let me eat first, won’t you?”
“My apologies. But it’s rather urgent. That massive boulder you ordered cleared—it turns out it’s someone’s parents’ grave.”
“What? This is maddening.”
Romandro clutched his head and gestured to his subordinate to lead the way. He had a sinking feeling he’d be missing lunch. He thrust his hand into his pocket, then shoved something into his mouth by the handful.
“Did you see that?”
The estate villagers who’d been watching from the corner of their eyes whispered among themselves.
“Every time he works, he keeps pulling something from his pocket.”
“Right. And he won’t tell us what it is even when we ask.”
“Tsk tsk. You all haven’t heard yet?”
One man interjected knowingly, speaking in hushed tones.
“Isn’t it Gulla seeds? Gulla seeds.”
“What? That’s nonsense. Why would the Advisor eat something like that?”
“You really don’t know? Remember when the Manor was collecting Gulla for money?”
“That’s right.”
The recruitment period had ended, so they weren’t accepting any more, but truthfully, even if they were, there was no way to find them. The Gulla seeds in the surrounding area had all dried up. No matter how deep into the forest one ventured, not a single Gulla leaf could be found.
“Actually, Romandro was collecting them to eat!”
“Nonsense, at least make it sound plausible!”
“No, really. This is the Borderlands, so news travels slowly. People in the Capital are already eating Gulla seeds like peanuts.”
“Wait, didn’t he eat Gulla before? His head seems a bit addled from the poison.”
“Gulla is poisonous on the outside, but the seeds taste excellent. They say your skin becomes firm and fair. In the Capital, they can’t get them because they’re so scarce!”
At that point, the gathered people tilted their heads in wonder.
“Really?”
“If you don’t believe me, go ask the Advisor what he keeps in his pocket. He’ll never tell you. They’re too busy eating them—why would he share?”
“So that’s why he paid money to collect Gulla?”
“What other reason could there be? Have you ever seen the higher-ups waste money?”
Everyone shook their heads at the man’s words. When it came to money, those people squeezed every last drop like they were drawing blood—they never spent wastefully. There had to be a legitimate reason.
“You don’t think Ian was trying to sell it to the Cheonryeo Tribe?”
“That makes no sense! The Cheonryeo Tribe won’t even be here soon once it gets cold. Most of them have already left—only the tribal chief and Ner, or whatever his name is, and a few others remain. Isn’t their chief supposed to die any day now?”
The rumor spread from mouth to mouth, growing larger with each retelling. Having secretly planted eyes and ears throughout the estate, I nodded in satisfaction once ‘that rumor’ finally began to circulate.
“You know what they’re saying? ‘The Emperor eats it for immortality.’ Whether it’s truth or nonsense hardly matters.”
“Ha! Indeed. What difference does it make? That’s enough. Berik, let’s prepare for the next phase.”
Judging that my curiosity about Gula had reached its peak, I moved forward to the next phase.

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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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