Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 633

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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 632. Flowers Drifting Into the Garden
Romandro stared blankly into empty space. He wasn’t quite awake, nor was he asleep. A pen rested in his hand, but he hadn’t written a single sentence in hours. He knew this wasn’t right, but with mountains of work piling up, he couldn’t bring himself to lie down. He stretched his cheeks and shuffled through documents, checking the envelope at the very bottom.
“…From Hielo’s territory.”
A letter from Hielo’s domain. More precisely, a letter from Nersaren. Roel had bought him time by sending replies several times, but it was clear she’d sensed something amiss. After all, the letter had been sent to the Magic Department of the imperial palace, not to Romandro’s residence.
Romandro scratched at the wax seal with his fingertip, looking troubled.
“I’m going to lose my mind.”
The letter likely contained information about the situations in Hawanguk and Ruswena. And surely it would ask after Philia’s wellbeing. Romandro fidgeted for a moment, then seemed to make a decision. He stood up and stretched.
“That’s right. This is my responsibility to bear. I was the one who miscalculated the incantation that day, and I’m the one who hasn’t found Philia since she disappeared. I can’t ask Roel for help anymore. I owe her an apology. And that young boy… I watched him lie to his father and did nothing. Now it’s my burden to carry. Yes, I can do this…”
Muttering to himself, he tried to steel his resolve, but the unease remained. Nersaren, I’m truly sorry. Just as Romandro was about to tear open the letter to beg forgiveness—
Crash!
“Minister Romandro!”
“Ah! You startled me.”
A mage, pale as death, burst into Romandro’s office without a sound.
“Something terrible has happened. A black moon has appeared outside the palace!”
“What? You mean a mage’s doing?”
“Yes, reports are coming in constantly.”
Romandro’s breath caught. This was an emergency of the highest order. What if a mage from Ruswena or another nation had attacked Bariel? There were only two mages currently remaining in the palace—could they hold them off? Even if soldiers armed themselves with Idgal, the damage would be catastrophic.
“Let’s go.”
“Will you be alright? I can go alone if needed.”
“If the acting head of the Magic Department doesn’t go, who will? Let’s hurry!”
Zing! Zing!
The mage nodded and gripped Romandro’s shoulder firmly. As his body lifted into the air, his mind grew dizzy, but it was only for a moment. Romandro opened his eyes wide and stared ahead. In the distance, he could see the black moon.
“How dare you attack Bariel—!”
“Huh?”
Just as he was about to speak with determination, the mage stopped flying. Suspended in mid-air after moving so smoothly, the sensation became all too real. Romandro’s face went pale, and his body began to tremble.
“Why, why are you stopping?! Keep moving!”
“This energy…”
“Nooooo! Kyaaaah! We’re falling, aren’t we?! Get it together, you fool!”
“It’s Minister Ian.”
Huh? Who?
The mage’s golden eyes gleamed brighter as he accelerated rapidly toward the black moon. The fierce wind made it impossible to open his eyes properly, but at the mention of Ian, Romandro focused with all his might and looked around.
“Ah!”
In the distance, he saw people descending. One, two, three, four! Berik appeared first, followed by Captain Heil, Barsabe, and Ian. And—
“Lady Philia!”
Philiada! Romandro was so shocked that he spread both arms wide, and Berik, catching on, caught him in his embrace. They were essentially plummeting from the sky, but Romandro felt no fear.
“Hey there, Minister Romandro. How have you been?”
“Berik! You fool! Why does your face look so worn?”
“It’s not. I’ve been eating well and resting well lately.”
“How can you say that when you’ve been to war?”
“Ever since we opened the gates of Kalamata Fortress, everyone’s been living like this. Hehe. You’ve lost weight, Minister Romandro! Have you been worrying? About Lady Philia disappearing?”
Thud!
Romandro fell hard on his backside, staring up at them in bewilderment. He couldn’t believe it. That they, who should have been in Burgos, were here in Bariel. And moreover, that Philia, who had vanished, was with them!
Whoosh.
Ian brushed dust from his clothes lightly, as if punctuating the end of a long journey, while Heil reached down and helped Romandro to his feet.
Only then did Romandro realize he was sprawled in his own estate garden. The black moon’s intended destination had been his residence all along.
“H-how… how did this happen…?”
“My apologies, Romandro. It seems Jeonseogoo hasn’t reached us yet.”
“Well, we only spent one day in Toollun.”
“Toollun? You went to Toollun? Surely you went to find Lady Philia?”
“I thought we’d be there for about a month, but things went smoothly.”
“R-Romandro. I’m sorry. You must have worried so much, didn’t you?”
“Countess! Yes! I worried terribly. Truly, I thought my heart would melt away and I’d die! Are you alright? Are you injured anywhere? There’s a wound on your face—oh my! Barsabe! Why are your eyes covered?”
They all poured out words in surprise and joy until Viviana, Vivi, and the servant Mini came rushing out armed with various household tools.
The three women, eyes squeezed shut, thrust brooms and such at them, shouting.
Crash!
“W-who are you! Leave this residence at once—!”
“Vivi! Calm down. It’s us.”
“R-Romandro? Good heavens!”
Viviana’s eyes widened. Not only had her husband fallen from the sky, but Ian, who had gone to war, and Philia, who had disappeared, were here together?
Their daughter Vivi stammered out a cry.
“R-Roel! Roooel!”
Patter patter!
As if she had been waiting, Roel came running out barefoot, breathing heavily. Philia reached out to the child with tears in her eyes, and Roel silently embraced her, holding Philia tightly. She had longed for and dreamed of this moment alone.
Ian watched the mother and daughter’s reunion while surveying their surroundings. Residents who had witnessed their arrival were gathering one by one.
“I considered opening a portal outside the imperial palace, but that would have been troublesome for travel, so I did it this way. Romandro, please inform the imperial palace guards and the nearby guard units. It’s not an enemy invasion—the Magic Department simply made a hasty visit on official business.”
“Understood. Just a moment!”
Romandro gestured to a guard through the gathering crowd and showed his identification. As he explained the situation, Ian made a request of Roel.
“Roel. Has there been contact from Hielo’s territory?”
“Yes. I was thinking we’d reached our limit.”
“Mother, please convey my words to Father carefully. It would be better to relate the facts concisely rather than reveal everything in detail.”
“Wait, Ian!”
Philia held onto Roel while gently grasping Ian’s outer robe.
“Are you… leaving right away?”
“…Now that our objective is achieved, it’s proper to return.”
Apart from stopping briefly at the imperial palace to check on Magic Department affairs and organize the situation, there was no reason for me to remain in Bariel. It was right to report to the Emperor promptly.
“But we’ve only just reunited…”
We have so much to discuss.
About you, and about me.
Roel looked up at Ian from Philia’s embrace. Her gaze was calm, yet carried an unmistakable pressing quality. As Ian hesitated for a moment, Berik sprawled out flat and urged him on.
“That’s right, Ian. You accomplished in one day what you planned to do in a month—let’s move at a more leisurely pace. While we’re here in Bariel, let’s handle some business! At least we can sleep for one night and move about, right? Opening a portal twice in a row will strain your body, it will.”
Ian turned to look at Heil. He nodded in agreement with the same sentiment. Barsabe had long since collapsed, her tension finally releasing.
“Ian! You’re leaving? No, absolutely not! Stay right there. I’ll take care of things and be back in no time. Understood?”
Romandro, who had overheard the conversation, insisted just as firmly that he couldn’t let Ian leave like this. What options did that leave? Ian removed his robe and made a request of Viviana.
“Would you be willing to offer us a room?”
“Of, of course. Please, come inside. Change into fresh clothes as well. Goodness, if I’d known this would happen, I would have gone shopping yesterday. Countess, you come in too. What’s all this on such a lovely face?”
“Before that, I’d like to send a letter first. I want to contact Nersaren.”
“I’ll lend you Jeonseogoo. He’s inside. Vivi!”
“Yes! Officer, please follow me! Shall I hold your hand?”
“No, thank you. I’m fine.”
As Viviana bustled about, Vivi scurried along beside her, attending to the guests.
In the meantime, Ian changed into a clean shirt he’d left at the mansion, then came back downstairs.
“So you went all the way to Toollun from Burgos to find Philia, disguised as a house master? Captain Heil, was that you?”
“Yes, we were fortunate in various ways. Berik didn’t cause any accidents either. We couldn’t find a way to fix Barsabe’s eyes, but it was effective for observing Toollun’s overall military strength and situation.”
“Well, I’ll be. Magic is certainly convenient. Traveling between three countries in a single day. Ah, Ian. Did you change your clothes?”
Ian nodded and gazed out the window. Something seemed unusually noisy. Through the gap in the curtains, an enormous crowd was visible. These were residents who had gathered due to the commotion of the Black Moon, but why hadn’t they dispersed and continued to gather?
“Ian, they know you’re here.”
“It’s Romandro’s fault. You shouted ‘Ian!’ so loudly earlier and went on about this and that.”
“Yes, you’re right. It’s my mistake!”
Smack!
Romandro flicked Berik’s forehead, then gazed at his own hand with nostalgic eyes. How he’d missed this—the sensation and the banter! As Romandro nuzzled against Berik affectionately, Berik grimaced and pushed him away.
Watching this, Ian turned his gaze back to the window. Balloons and flags were visible in various places. It looked like a crowd welcoming the Minister of Magic, but there were far too many of them.
“What shall we do? Should we move to the imperial palace?”
“I’ve already reported that I’ll enter the palace tomorrow, so there’s no need to go in immediately. Let’s rest here tonight. You’ve all suffered so much because of the war. This peace that you’ve protected—enjoy it without worry.”
Certainly, the scenery of Burgos and Bariel was entirely different in every way. Even the same sunset seemed warmer here, the people more vibrant, and the air filled with the aroma of delicious food.
That was precisely why they had gone to Burgos. To protect the beauty of everyday life. As Ian leaned back against the sofa, bouquets of flowers and gifts came flying into the garden.
“Minister Ian, we heard the news of your victory!”
“Thank you so much! You’ve all worked so hard!”
“But why have you returned?”
“It seems there was urgent business. Why ask such things?”
“Is His Majesty the Emperor safe?”
Ian took a sip of warm tea and murmured softly.
“I’m concerned we might be causing trouble to the neighborhood.”
“Everyone understands. After all, it’s not just anyone—the Minister of Magic has returned! And once the sun sets, everyone will go home. Don’t worry too much about it. Now then, before Philia comes down—”
Romandro checked his watch. Before the deep conversation between the two hats, he too had mountains of things to discuss. Romandro moistened his dry lips, and Berik beat him to it.
“Ian, I ask whether you are Ian Verosion.”
“You foolish brat, how dare you speak the imperial family name so carelessly?”
Ian smiled softly and answered.
“Yes, Romandro. I’ve been troubled by it as well. I wanted to tell you directly. Ah, before that—”
“Before that?”
“Do you have any reports that need approval? Let’s discuss while you review them.”
…Verosion or whatever—it’s Ian after all.
Romandro shook his head in exasperation, yet as if he’d expected this all along, he naturally pulled a stack of documents from his bag. He easily ignored the way Heil and Berik shook their heads in disgust.

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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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