Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 63

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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 63. In the Alley
“Well, let me take a look.”
Romandro scratched his nose as he examined the documents. Across from him sat Ian and Kakantir, both leafing through the papers together. After dinner, they were conducting their daily wrap-up meeting.
He turned to Ian with a question.
“Is there nothing left to rebuild inside Gilsaem Village?”
“No. During the battle, the bridge was destroyed first, which isolated the inner area and prevented damage. Since bridge reconstruction is underway, it should be nearly complete once that’s finished.”
“Good. Then let’s reduce the quarry orders now.”
Romandro felt pleased—erasing the battle scars from Bratz’s estate seemed like crossing a major hurdle. He moistened his throat with wine and continued his questions.
“What about the Gula distribution?”
“I think we can proceed soon. It’s spreading rapidly through the estate villagers we supplied earlier. Before it flows toward Merelrof, we should make an announcement.”
“I see. Are you going out again today?”
“I’m planning to continue for about three more days.”
“Working day and night. They say mana users possess exceptional talents beyond ordinary people, but it seems your special gift is stamina.”
Ian laughed in surprise at the unexpected compliment. Wasn’t this the same Ian who collapsed and groaned after a single outing when he first stayed in Bratz? Now he was gradually conditioning himself through repeated journeys across the great desert.
“Let me confirm the details again. Yes—within Bratz’s estate, the cultivation, distribution, and consumption of Gula shall be free, but all external trade must go through the mansion.”
More precisely, through the imperial palace’s Advisor, and even more precisely, through me.
Given Gula’s nature, this winter would surely be the first and last period of Bratz’s monopoly. Since the crop reproduces so rapidly and is so common, once awareness improves, it will soon be consumed throughout all of Variel.
Romandro murmured, turning the words over in his mind.
“Should I add Merelrof as a condition…?”
“That would be unwise. It would give them grounds for complaint. We’re currently at a disadvantage.”
“Hmm. Actually, he started this first.”
“Those who strike first are always the ones who forget it.”
“True enough. If we proceed, then regarding the related penalties…?”
As they coordinated the detailed terms, the moon had already settled at the center of the sky. Ian glanced at his timepiece and nodded.
“This should suffice. Is there anything else you’d like to say? Oh, Nersaren.”
At Ian’s words, Nersaren, who had been standing behind Kakantir, raised his hand. He had remained relatively quiet throughout the meeting.
“A message has come from the great desert.”
“From the great desert?”
“The Chieftain’s health has deteriorated again.”
The elder whom Ian had given Silaskra to, helping him pass through death’s door once before. They had thought it fortunate that he was recovering, but it seemed death’s push at his back was something he could not endure.
“Therefore, we have decided to use all remaining Silaskra.”
“I see.”
“Even if we were to plant it, without knowledge of how to cultivate it or how long it would take, we have no choice.”
“Wait. Why don’t you let me in on this? Who is this Chieftain, and what exactly is Silaskra?”
Romandro, who had been listening quietly, raised his hand. It was all unfamiliar talk from beginning to end. Especially this thing called Silaskra—he had never heard the name before.
Ian gave him a brief explanation of what had transpired.
“…So, to cure the Chieftain’s illness, a red flower called Silaskra was needed, and fortunately I happened to have it. The Cheonryeo Tribe used one to pass through their crisis, and I was deliberating whether to plant the remaining one for future generations or use it for the Winchen Chieftain. That decision has now been made.”
“Silaskra? I’ve never heard of it.”
“You truly don’t know? It’s a red flower that never wilts once it blooms.”
If even the Advisor from the imperial palace didn’t know of it, that said everything. In fact, Ian himself, who had been an Emperor in his past life, found it unfamiliar, so it was reasonable to conclude that it was difficult to find in Variel.
“The primary reason for our decision is Bratz’s current situation. You understand our funeral customs, do you not?”
“Yes, I do.”
When a chieftain or tribal leader dies, the entire clan enters seclusion for one year. If a family member passes, only that family observes it, but the leader belongs to everyone’s family. Especially one like the Winchen Chieftain, who has held that position for so many years…
“Romandro.”
“Hmm?”
I tapped the table gently as I called to him. It was time to speak what I had been circling around.
“Has there been a response to the reports sent to the imperial palace?”
“No. None have arrived yet.”
“I’m asking about a response from Prince Marib.”
I know he sends messenger birds daily. Prince Gail is clearly keeping watch over Mollin’s group, which is the same as monitoring Prince Gail himself. Everyone knows he wouldn’t be interested in merely rebuilding Bratz.
“…It came just once.”
“If I may ask, would you mind telling me?”
“It was nothing much. He simply asked me to report the estate’s situation in detail, and then…”
Romandro glanced at me.
“He said to watch you carefully since I reported you were a mana user. Ahem. That’s really all there was to it. Nothing special, right?”
If my suspicions are correct, one of Prince Gail’s pillars of support is the Magic Ministry. I remember the incident where mages, already scarce due to the failed rebellion, were purged in large numbers. So my status as a mana user might feel somewhat troublesome to Prince Marib. Since he would understand this power structure, he might misunderstand me as being on Prince Gail’s side.
“Advisor, as you can see, my relationship with Mollin’s group is not particularly good.”
“Mm. Yes, I know. It certainly appears that way. Hehe.”
Romandro let out an awkward laugh and took a sip of wine. He seemed somewhat nervous about what I might say next.
“It seems Prince Marib wishes to appoint a new lord of Bratz who has no connection to Mollin’s group. Is that correct?”
“…There are circumstances among those above us.”
“I share that intention as well, Advisor.”
“I had actually suspected as much.”
“Since you suspected it, this is easier to discuss. Romandro, I know you wish to return to the capital. If a new lord is established quickly, it would be beneficial for you as well, would it not?”
“Ian, you…”
“Recommend me as lord.”
While the appointment of a lord falls under the Emperor’s authority, the recommendation of Prince Gail, the first in succession and the true power holder, would also carry considerable weight. No matter how much criminal blood flows through my veins, as long as I am a mana user, such restrictions are meaningless. For Variel’s development, someone had to secure me.
“Otherwise, I must return to the Great Desert. A new lord descended from the previous family would never leave me alone. Furthermore, the imperial palace would attempt to monopolize my abilities under the status of a slave.”
“That is true, but…”
“It is the only way to protect my safety and Bratz’s peace. As for the public sentiment the imperial palace has been concerned with, no one would be more suitable than me.”
Beyond that, the work recorded densely in the reports demonstrated remarkable capability. The discovery of Gula was no different. Simply eliminating the empire’s great famine would make this remote lord’s position frankly insufficient as compensation.
Of course, we haven’t progressed that far yet.
Romandro decided and pulled out a cigarette.
“Fine. Let me speak honestly.”
“Please do.”
“Prince Marib doesn’t understand the relationship between you and Mollin.”
From a third party’s perspective, I informed on my father through Mollin, and as a result, didn’t things unfold this way? It was as if I had laid the groundwork to make Mollin the lord.
Moreover, a mana user. If I entered the imperial palace, I would certainly be assigned to the Magic Ministry. That Minister of Magic Wesley is Prince Gail’s woman is an open secret.
No matter how you look at it, I am someone who fits well with Prince Gail.
“If that is the reason, I will prove it.”
“How?”
“I’ll explain the details directly to Prince Marib. No matter how thoroughly I write it, there are things that words alone cannot convey. However, I can prove immediately that Mollin’s group and I stand on truly opposite paths.”
Through death itself.
Reading the calm resolve in Ian’s eyes, Romandro felt a chill creep up the back of his neck. Though no words had been spoken, why did he feel such an unsettling tension?
“I… I’ll relay this to Prince Marib.”
“Thank you.”
In truth, Romandro also knew that Ian was the right person for this. But his origins and circumstances made it difficult to voice such thoughts openly.
Besides, the moment he spoke up, it would be as though he were throwing himself directly into the whirlpool of incomprehensible politics. Romandro simply wanted to finish the reconstruction quickly and return to the main estate in the capital.
To that home where his beautiful wife awaited him!
“Then, let’s call it a night.”
“Since we’re on the subject, may I ask one more favor?”
“What is it?”
“Do you happen to know if there’s a merchant guild in the capital that deals in Silaskra?”
The imperial capital was the center of the world. Surely if one sought information, they would find it. Romandro nodded readily, as though it were no difficult matter.
“I understand. I’ll look into it.”
“Thank you.”
“The night has grown too late. You should rest as well.”
“You’ve worked hard. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Creak.
Romandro and Nersaren tidied up and left the conference room. Ian rubbed his stiff shoulders and called out to Berik waiting outside.
“Berik. Let’s head out early and return.”
“Tired?”
“Yeah. My eyes keep closing on me.”
Ian smiled and draped the hood over his shoulders, then extinguished all the lamps in the conference room. On this particular night, not even the moon hung in the pitch-black sky.
* * *
“Ian has arrived!”
“Shh. Keep your voice down.”
“Ian. We’ve been waiting for you.”
“None of you were sleeping.”
“Of course not. By the way, I roasted the seeds for the first time yesterday. They were really delicious!”
The rumor that Ian distributed roasted Gula in the dead of night had already spread far and wide. Everyone pretended to sleep with their doors locked, but the moment they heard footsteps, they rushed out to greet him. Perhaps because of the excited atmosphere, it felt like the hidden side of a forbidden festival.
“What should I do? I didn’t prepare much today.”
“Already? I only managed to get a handful…”
“I’ll bring more tomorrow.”
“Don’t trouble yourself, Ian! You’re already helping us while avoiding those palace bastards, aren’t you!”
“Goodness, you fool. Those palace bastards can hear you. I said keep your voice down.”
Despite such commotion, they didn’t find it strange that the guards never came. In fact, they didn’t seem to think about it at all, as though intoxicated by the joy the Gula brought.
“Tomorrow when you come, you have to give it to me first, okay?”
“Understood. Now go inside and sleep.”
Berik shook out the sack he’d been carrying, signaling that the Gula was empty. The disappointed estate villagers dispersed one by one, and Ian also turned to leave.
Thud, thud.
As we emerged from the alley, only our two sets of footsteps echoed through the night. Perhaps exhaustion was catching up with me. I walked in silence until I realized Berik had stopped.
“Aren’t we going?”
“Ian.”
Berik raised his eyebrows deliberately—three times in succession. Our gazes locked as a cool breeze swept past. I pulled back my hood and offered a faint smile.
“Let’s go.”
Three sets of footsteps trailed behind us.
I pretended not to notice and continued forward, while Berik swung his arms ostentatiously—as if to signal that he carried no 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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