Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 611

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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. Mrs. Danit
“Ah, Miss.”
It was the voice of a servant calling to me. I stared toward the door without responding.
The tone seemed different from usual somehow. I wondered if something had happened to my mother on her way to meet Bariel, but the timing made that impossible. How long had it been since she departed?
“What is it?”
No, wait. Could she have encountered a band of thieves on the way up? If so, that could be a problem.
The moment I grasped the door handle without thinking, my instincts suddenly sharpened. I couldn’t say why. The thought of thieves that had surfaced unbidden sent out some kind of unpleasant signal, but I couldn’t pinpoint the exact cause.
I gripped the door handle silently and listened carefully to what lay beyond.
“It would be good if you came out for a moment. There are guests who wish to see you.”
The servant’s voice came from some distance away from the door. By that distance alone, I could infer that someone was positioned there. Could those foolish Royalist bastards have actually decided to dispose of me? Though that would be a pointless choice?
I frowned and carefully stepped backward.
“Understood. Tell them to wait a moment. I’m changing clothes.”
“Yes, Miss.”
I immediately peered through the window gap at the surroundings outside. The darkened street. Between the carriages of Royalist officials, I spotted a horse bearing the flag of the Kalamatro Guards. It seemed to have just arrived with a message.
‘Whatever it is, that arrival means they want to see me. Damn it. I need to know what this is about to respond properly.’
If I fled hastily over something trivial, I’d only create more problems, and if I let my guard down, there was no telling what consequences I’d face.
I kept my hand pressed to my forehead, continuing to stare out the window. There had to be something that would give me a clue. Please, please….
“Ah.”
Then, in a dark corner of the alley, I saw Royalist guards gathered in small groups, talking about something. As I watched, they drew the swords at their waists and began examining them from different angles.
I became certain immediately.
‘I’m caught.’
The matter of the inferior weapons shipment had been discovered.
If that was the case, the situation was completely reversed. Whether I was Bariel nobility or a branch bloodline of Runkbis, as far as the Royalists were concerned, they’d want to twist my neck and my mother’s right now and execute us.
Tampering with military supplies during wartime was an unforgivable act of treason. Of course, I had my own circumstances, but what did they care?
Creak.
I muttered a curse between my teeth and carefully opened the window. I would get outside, but there were two methods. I could climb the wall to the roof and escape through the adjacent building, or I could go down directly, steal a horse, and flee.
I paused for a moment, gripping the window frame.
‘I’ll go down.’
I climbed onto the window frame with my longsword strapped to my back. Then, with all my strength, I pushed off and grabbed the tree branch across from me.
At the rustling sound, the Royalist guards turned their heads, but thanks to the thick foliage, I managed to stay hidden.
Whoosh!
I landed lightly and hid my body behind the carriage, surveying my surroundings.
There were about ten men waiting outside. All were armed, and since they were responsible for escorting the officials, they were clearly skilled fighters. I had no chance of success if I went at them head-on.
Boom! Bang!
Then, a dull commotion came from above. When I didn’t respond, it was the sound of them breaking down the door.
The men outside lifted their heads, wondering what the commotion was, and I took that opportunity to draw a dagger and cut all the horse reins.
‘There’s no time.’
Once they realized I’d gotten outside, search parties would pour into the area. It was better to break through the front before that happened.
I mounted a nearby horse and threw the dagger at the horses on either side of me.
Neigh!
“Why did he suddenly do that?”
“Huh? The rope? The rope came loose!”
“There! Over there! It’s the Hollin Heiress! Look! Here!”
“She’s outside—what are those idiots doing?!”
“Chase her! Chase her!”
They all came rushing over, but as the startled horses reared and bucked wildly, they couldn’t approach recklessly and could only shout. Kayla pressed her body flat against the saddle and yanked the reins hard.
“Hyah!”
The horse, which had been rearing up on its front legs in threat, immediately bolted forward with powerful strides, racing wherever its hooves could carry it, cutting through the wind.
I wanted to direct our course, but this was the outskirts of Kalamatro. I didn’t know the roads. I could only follow the naturally worn paths.
“Catch her! Catch her!”
“She’s a spy! Capture and kill her!”
Tap-tap-tap!
Sure enough, the pursuers caught up quickly. They fired arrows from behind, and I swung my sword wildly to deflect the incoming projectiles. I could probably take hits on my arm or thigh without much concern, but if the horse were injured…
Neigh!
“Ah!”
My worry proved justified when an arrow suddenly lodged itself in the horse’s hindquarters. The horse stopped and shook violently, and I used all my strength to keep from falling. Go! Please, just go!
Whistle! Crack!
But with arrows continuing to rain down from behind, I eventually lost my grip and fell from the saddle. The horse limped away and disappeared from sight.
‘Damn it.’
“Got her! Where could you possibly run to?!”
“So you’ve been picking our pockets all this time? Well, brace yourself. We’re going to have some fun too.”
“Tie her up so she can’t escape. Break her ankles if you have to, just make it tight.”
As the men approached with snickering laughter, I straightened my posture and took a fighting stance. Through my disheveled hair, my eyes gleamed with fierce intensity.
“Come on.”
“Look at this noble putting on airs. She really is different, isn’t she?”
“Thinks she’s so skilled just because she’s practiced swordplay in some Count’s courtyard. It’s so embarrassing I’m trembling. Kahahaha!”
“We’ll see if it’s real swordplay or not once we cut you. Come if you dare.”
I hardened my gaze to hide my tension, but I wondered if this was the end. Was this an inescapable fate? But I had no intention of surrendering quietly.
“I’m killing at least one of you here.”
“What?”
“…Definitely. I don’t take losses without compensation.”
The men burst into hollow laughter at my warning. This woman was unremarkable in build or experience, but her audacity alone rivaled that of a training ground’s most hardened veterans.
One man approached provocatively, lowering his sword as if to say he could capture someone like me with his bare hands without any weapon at all.
“Tsk. A spy worried about her pride.”
“Come and I’ll kill you.”
“If you say that, am I supposed to stop? Kahahaha!”
As he turned to mock his companions behind him, I rushed forward without hesitation and swung my blade. The well-honed edge cleanly severed his neck in one stroke.
Splash!
As blood erupted and the man collapsed forward clutching his neck, I quietly corrected myself.
“Not one. Two. I’m killing two.”
“Damn these Bariel bastards!”
“No need to hold back! Kill her!”
I focused my mind, staring directly at the blade hurtling toward me. My evasion was far from ordinary.
When people spoke of a ‘heiress,’ weren’t they usually the type who merely sipped tea in some garden? The men’s shock was brief before blood erupted once more from the tip of my sword.
“Aaaaagh!”
I had slashed across his face.
He rose with trembling hands braced against the ground. With each drop of blood on my palms, my retreat space grew narrower. I had come prepared, but facing reality head-on, I felt my body quake with a fear I couldn’t overcome.
‘It’s fine.’
Fear is acceptable. This is only natural.
As I charged forward with a battle cry, the men rushed at me simultaneously this time. My sword clashed directly with theirs and flew from my grip, while their weapons shattered in half.
“Damn it. These aren’t made of sugar—why do they break so easily?”
They were definitely inferior weapons. The men grabbed my hair and yanked me up, then struck my cheek brutally.
Crack!
Blow after blow rained down. My vision blurred, and consciousness grew distant. I lost awareness entirely.
* * *
“I shall return first.”
Mrs. Danit hastily gathered her dress hem and bowed. Though it was unlikely, unexpected situations always had a way of arising, didn’t they?
Over the past decade, I had experienced all manner of chaos in Burgos. Following Ian’s advice, there was no harm in being cautious, so it seemed wise to hurry back with the Emperor’s message.
“I shall bring Kayla and present ourselves again before His Majesty. At that time, I shall offer him the dissolution of the Royalist faction and news of the Kalamatro garrison’s collapse as gifts.”
In other words, I was telling the Emperor not to relax either, but to descend toward Kalamatro with haste.
“It doesn’t seem like an entirely impossible prospect.”
“You mean the bandits? Unlikely, but one can never be too careful.”
“Yes, if you are concerned, I shall command a Mage to escort you to Kalamatro. How does that sound?”
Mrs. Danit hesitated briefly, then nodded. This was not kindness. To be clear, her intention was to ‘verify’ what had happened to Kayla. If the Royalists took her as a hostage, it would change my options, and she meant to prevent that beforehand.
“I would be grateful for that.”
Mrs. Danit smiled softly and covered her face with her fan. Regardless of intent, it was best to use whatever resources were available. If Kayla were in danger, wouldn’t a Mage be invaluable?
“Heil.”
“Yes, Ian.”
“Escort Mrs. Danit to the vicinity of Kalamatro and return.”
“Understood. I shall go with Nakina.”
Once I gave my approval, Nakina emerged from among the Mages. She briefly asked Mrs. Danit’s permission, then slipped her arms beneath her legs and lifted her into an embrace.
“Oh my!”
“Pardon me, Mrs. Danit. Hold your dress carefully. It would be embarrassing if it flipped up.”
“We shall return shortly.”
Zing! Zing!
As Heil and Nakina unleashed their magical power and soared into the sky, Count Chandette stared blankly after them. Were they truly leaving him alone in the Bariel camp like this?
“Wait! Mrs. Danit!”
Count Chandette’s cry scattered weakly, and the Mages looked back at him with eyes that said, ‘Oh right, he was here too.’
But neither I, nor Jin, nor Tweller issued any other orders. He was the ‘hostage’ Mrs. Danit had brought, so keeping him in hand was the right call.
“Count Chandette, you shall move with us. It would be helpful if you led the vanguard and cleared the path.”
“Ah, yes, yes. I understand, Minister of Magic.”
“Then, prepare yourselves. Everyone, move!”
The advance of Bariel’s great army, which had paused briefly, resumed once more. At this pace, I doubted we would arrive before nightfall.
Whoooosh!
“Hyah!”
Meanwhile, Mrs. Danit soared through the sky with a firm grip on Nakina’s neck. Startled by the incredible speed, her eyes nearly rolled back, but she quickly realized how magnificently useful mages were as a means of transportation. She wondered if there was any way to profit from this.
As she pondered this, Nakina pointed downward with a nod of her head.
“Do you see it down there, madam?”
“What is it?”
“A limping horse. There don’t appear to be any dwellings nearby.”
“Oh…”
Something felt ominous. As they flew a bit further, wasn’t that blood pooling thickly in the middle of the road? Based on the two trails, it looked like the traces of two people having perished.
“Just a bit, just a bit faster, please.”
“Yes, but this is already maximum speed.”
“I’m begging you.”
“Understood. Captain Heil!”
Zing! Boom!
An explosive burst of power. Mrs. Danit squeezed her eyes shut. And soon after, the small manor where they had been staying came into view. But the atmosphere was far from normal.
“Huh? There!”
“A mage! A mage!”
“Is that Mrs. Danit? Look! Mrs. Danit has returned.”
She touched down in the garden under the escort of Heil and Nakina. Soldiers stood before her, fully armed. Mrs. Danit grasped her dress hem firmly and spoke with composure.
“I bring a message from His Majesty the Emperor. Are the Royalist guests still staying with you?”
“We’ve been waiting for you, actually. Do you have something to say?”
“…Where is Kayla?”
“Kayla? Your daughter?”
“I’m not sure. I don’t know where she went.”
As the men snickered and laughed, the smile vanished from Mrs. Danit’s eyes. She strode toward the nearest man and immediately delivered a sharp slap across his face.
Crack!
“You wretches, can’t you understand what I’m saying? I asked where my daughter is.”

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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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