Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 610

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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 610. An Unexpected Situation
“Count Ian. We’re receiving signals from ahead.”
Ian, who had been leaning against the front of the carriage, drew a spyglass from his coat.
A small settlement appeared in the distance. As we drew closer to the outskirts of Kalamata, we had passed several such communities, but they were all eerily devoid of life.
But this one was different. The massive Burgos flag hung inverted—a signal I recognized immediately. The Royalists had sent people.
“Your Majesty! The Royalists ahead are signaling us. I recommend we slow our pace and assess the situation.”
“Reduce speed!”
“Yes, understood!”
From the opposite direction, as if Bariel’s forces had also detected the movement, a carriage bearing both Burgos and Bariel flags came racing toward us in a straight line.
When the soldiers gestured for us to stop, a middle-aged woman in a green velvet dress descended slowly. Following her came a nervous young man. She handed her credentials to the soldiers and announced herself.
“I am Danit Hollin of Marquis Hollin’s household! I bring the Royalists’ position to His Majesty the Emperor and the Minister of Magic.”
The soldiers verified her credentials and immediately reported to their superiors. Tweller, as if he had been waiting, guided the two inside and brought them before the Emperor’s carriage.
“Mrs. Danit Hollin, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I am Ian Hielo.”
“Oh, hello. I’ve heard much about you.”
“You must have been quite busy conducting business in Burgos all these years. Where did you hear about me?”
“My daughter mentioned it. She said the Hollin family owes Count Ian a great debt. It’s wonderful to meet you.”
I kissed the back of her hand and offered a ceremonial smile. She did the same, simply studying me with a gentle gaze.
But that was brief. As the carriage curtain parted halfway, she grasped the hem of her dress and bowed deeply—the proper courtesy to Emperor Jin.
“Your Majesty. I am Danit Hollin of the Hollin family, and I offer my respects. It is truly an honor to meet you in this distant foreign land.”
“Mrs. Danit. I’ve heard much of you, but this is our first meeting. Even during the business rights auction, only Marquis Hollin entered the palace, and I’ve been quite curious about you.”
“My apologies, Your Majesty.”
Jin regarded her with only half his face visible. Was she alone? Uncertain, I glanced at Ian, who shook his head—meaning there was an entourage, but they had been held back.
“Following the will of Your Majesty that my daughter Kayla conveyed, the Hollin family has faithfully executed and completed all commands. I have come ahead to report the current situation directly to Your Majesty and to discuss countermeasures going forward.”
“Speak.”
“The main Royalist forces are stationed in a small fortress on the southern outskirts of Kalamata. The supplies sent from Bariel are transported by the Royalist supervisor and delivered there. Several days ago, we completed the delivery of three thousand low-grade swords.”
“Does this mean the Royalists have only three thousand soldiers?”
“No. It means three thousand soldiers are stationed to defend and guard Kalamata. As you know, the Royalist officers are of Burgosian noble birth and maintain private armies, but I cannot ascertain their exact numbers. Their territories are distributed evenly around Kalamata. I can only estimate based on our previous transactions.”
Danit reported thus and produced a sheet of paper from her coat. I accepted it and passed it through the curtain gap, and Jin immediately unfolded it. It contained a list of Royalist officers and estimated numbers of their private forces, along with the locations of their territories.
“Currently, Kayla remains with them. Our objective is to undermine the Royalists’ justification, and the young official I’ve brought will provide the final stroke. He will become the fuse of internal discord within the Royalist movement.”
Danit explained in detail how she and Kayla were proceeding with their plan. Once the Royalists’ justification disappeared, it would be easier for Bariel to push into Kalamata, and above all, the Hollin family’s significance would shine even brighter in the future.
I raised my eyebrows as I observed Mrs. Danit.
‘She’s turned the situation to her advantage—Bariel pressing from the front, the Royalists from behind. Rather than being crushed between them, she’s positioned the Hollin family as a bridge, making both sides dependent on them. She’s truly a businesswoman.’
Jin and I exchanged glances across the curtain. For now, it was better to let the Hollin family proceed as they were. After all, they were taking on the burden of dealing with the Royalists themselves.
“What are the Royalists’ demands?”
“They seek complete recognition of their autonomy.”
“Impossible.”
Jin refused flatly.
Bariel had supported the Royalists partly to prolong the civil war and create chaos, but primarily to strengthen Bariel’s control through them.
But autonomy? That was a claim that negated everything Bariel had given them.
“Bariel took a long detour through the northern territories to deal with the anti-Royalists. Had the Royalists cooperated and opened the path, we wouldn’t have gone to such trouble in the first place. Moreover, they contributed nothing to the occupation of Agiar or the execution of Rutherford. How can they now demand recognition of their autonomy? It seems Burgos sold its shame along with its downfall.”
At Jin’s sharp retort, Danit simply closed her mouth and smiled. She laughed as if to say, “Well, quite right,” but her eyes betrayed inner bewilderment at the young Emperor’s unexpectedly raw response.
Ian redirected Mrs. Danit’s attention with a question.
“The official who came with you.”
“Ah, yes. Count Chandette. Bariel could recognize him as a core member of the Royalists, creating confusion. If that displeases you, simply use him as you see fit.”
She spoke of it as a sort of gift to His Majesty the Emperor.
Ian recognized this as a safeguard she had prepared—a means to absolve the Hollin Family should they find themselves in a suspicious position.
“Your Majesty.”
For Danit and Kayla to survive, the Royalists would need to be eliminated regardless. Ian gave Jin a meaningful glance suggesting it was wise to trust and wait. Jin nodded in response and ordered the soldiers to bring Chandette.
“Ahem, ahem.”
“This way.”
“I understand—release me. I am no hostage.”
Chandette brushed off the soldier’s hand roughly, muttering under his breath.
He was a hostage, yet the fool seemed oblivious to his own predicament. Where on earth did you find such an idiot? At Ian’s gaze, Danit laughed brightly and winked.
“Kneel.”
“Ah, I greet Your Majesty the Emperor. I am Viscount Chandette II of Burgos. I have come here with Mrs. Danit to follow your commands. Ahem.”
“Raise your head.”
“I am grateful—”
Suddenly, Chandette’s mouth fell silent.
Through the gap in the curtains, blue eyes—a long scar running downward. The Emperor was younger than expected, and far more imposing.
“What is it you must do to follow my command?”
“I… ah—”
The Emperor was asking what Chandette could accomplish.
He trailed off uncertainly, hesitating for a moment before glancing back at Mrs. Danit.
“Under true harmony between Bariel and Burgos, we begin history anew. Only the present, which bridges past and future, can achieve this.”
“Fine words indeed.”
“I am deeply honored, Your Majesty.”
“Together with Mrs. Danit, you shall take responsibility for eliminating those who disturb the meeting between Bariel and Burgos. Can you do this?”
“Yes, of course! I shall dedicate my very life!”
Chandette bowed his head deeply and swore his oath.
The audience with the Emperor had been successful. The remaining question was what news to carry back to the Royalists.
“You mentioned they asked who would come to Bariel in place of King Damon, Mrs. Danit.”
“That is correct. However, I can assure you—not a single one of them would sacrifice themselves for King Damon. Over the past decade, conducting business here, I have felt it firsthand. Their justification will surely crumble with but a single word.”
“There is one concern.”
“What is it?”
“The safety of Princess Kayla.”
“There is no need to worry. They are not fools, so they understand better than anyone the disadvantages that would come from harming Kayla.”
“But that is only because they remain ignorant of the low-grade weapons supply, is it not?”
Chandette’s eyes darted between Ian and Danit. He clearly had no idea what these two were discussing.
Sacrifice for King Damon?
The Royalists’ justification?
And what else? Low-grade weapons being supplied?
Whoosh.
Danit waved her fan lightly. It was an unconscious gesture, attempting to brush away her anxiety.
“The weapons being low-grade won’t be apparent until actual combat. They’re all crafted so subtly that even veteran soldiers would have difficulty detecting it. Moreover, we’ve supplied separate training weapons as well.”
“That’s fortunate then, though you may not be aware. Starting from Agiar, bandit gangs have been rampant north of Burgos. They’ll surely come south searching for plunder, but this route has remained untouched by bandits thanks to Bariel’s use of it.”
Danit’s fan stopped. A map of Burgos flashed rapidly through her mind.
Of the five or six passages connecting north to south, Bariel was using only one. Because attention was concentrated here, there was no intelligence on what might be happening at the other passages.
“It’s merely a concern. Incidents tend to erupt suddenly, after all. Especially during wartime.”
* * *
“Have you all calmed down?”
“Sigh, yes. Let us discuss this calmly and with decorum.”
“The one who said that earlier flicks cigarette ash quite well, I noticed.”
“Let’s try this, shall we!”
“Please! Everyone, silence!”
The office Kayla had left remained chaotic. Those protecting their justifications and their own safety continued to aim for each other’s throats with poisoned tongues.
Those who had lost their vigor dampened their throats with strong liquor and furrowed their brows once more. Regardless, a conclusion had to be reached before the gathering could be dismissed.
“Now then, let us return to the matter at hand.”
“I don’t understand. Why can’t we simply eliminate all those Bariel creatures? What’s the significance of one or two deaths during wartime? It was those two women who drew their blades first in the name of justification!”
“Didn’t we conclude earlier that such a thing was impossible?”
“Ha! Infuriating, truly! How can one lack such imagination? There are many ways to kill without accountability!”
“We don’t know Danit’s situation. Determining what countermeasures she might have is the priority.”
“Damn it, damn it, damn it!”
Crash!
It was when a man burst with anger and kicked a drawer cabinet.
Knock, knock.
“Pardon the intrusion.”
“What is it?”
“A message has arrived from the Western 12th Guard Unit.”
What now? My head was already pounding unbearably.
“A bandit gang, apparently descended from the north, appeared and was completely annihilated.”
“And? What of it? Well done.”
“But there’s a problem….”
The messenger shrugged, uncertain himself.
“It seems… there’s an issue with the weapons.”

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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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