Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 640

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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 639. What’s Happening in Hielo Now
A woman with neatly tied black hair pulled out white gloves. The servants straightened their posture as if tensing. It was the final task of the morning—inspection time for the cleaning.
The butler ran her white-gloved hand lightly across the windowsill.
“…The cleaning is incomplete.”
“My apologies. I’ll redo it immediately.”
“Though the annex is vacant, it must be maintained in pristine condition at all times. I’ve told you this repeatedly.”
It was Hena, the head butler of the Hielo estate. She gently reprimanded the servants before ordering them to clean again.
The annex had been silent for nearly ten years. Since the household had few members, the number of servants had been drastically reduced. Even if Cheonryeo guests came from the Great Desert, there were plenty of fine rooms in the main residence.
Creak.
As Hena tried to close the open door, she paused, gazing at the handle. The former butler’s room. The one whose key she’d taken at Ian’s request. Remembering those days, a smile somehow escaped her lips.
‘I wonder how he’s doing.’
During the ten years Ian had been gone, I’d cared for Philia, Nersaren, and Roel while maintaining the estate. I’d heard the miraculous news of his return, but there seemed to be no sign of him returning to Hielo territory.
I understood his work was demanding as Minister of Magic. He was certainly busy with so many central affairs. Besides, I heard he’s gone to war toward Burgos now?
“Butler Hena. Today’s correspondence has arrived.”
“Thank you as always.”
The mail carrier left with a light greeting, and Hena walked while checking each letter. Most were courtesy letters addressed to the absent master and Philia.
Hena sorted what she needed to read from what to keep separately and entered the main residence.
“Butler. Nersaren is looking for you.”
Hena sighed silently. Since leaving Philia and Roel in the capital, it had become common knowledge that Nersaren’s mood wasn’t good. But what could be done? One must distinguish between public and private matters.
Nersaren seemed resigned, but in recent days, he’d suddenly been saying strange things.
Knock, knock.
“Nersaren. It’s Hena.”
“Come in.”
“You were looking for me?”
Nersaren sat by the window, chewing on a guroot leaf. On the table lay the letters he’d exchanged with Roel so far. As soon as Hena appeared, he brought up ‘that’ matter again.
“Something seems to be wrong with Philia.”
He’d requested replies from Philia multiple times, but they were continuously ignored. Roel also kept repeating that she was well without any particular mention of anything else. Something felt off. With the Emperor and Ian away in Burgos, anxiety bloomed—what if something had happened to Philia and Roel?
Hena carefully folded the letters and put them away before answering.
“That’s not possible.”
“…Hena.”
“Master Ian hasn’t returned to Hielo for over ten years. In that time, you and Philia have been overseeing the territory in his stead. But now that Philia is away, if you leave for the capital as well, it would be dangerous. You know the situation in Ruswena and Hawan has been unsettling lately.”
Nersaren swept his hair back in frustration.
“Not now of all times. You must remain at your post as Ian’s father. And it hasn’t been long since you all returned to the territory together.”
“Just for a short while.”
“Without a mage’s help, it takes a month just to travel there and back. Please don’t discuss this with my husband. It would be difficult for both of us.”
Hena added sharply. Her husband was a Cheonryeo man of the same age. In terms of relation to Nersaren and Hena, he would be a cousin’s nephew’s wife.
In truth, from Bariel’s perspective, he was practically a stranger, but from the Cheonryeo’s standpoint, where the entire tribe was family, Hena was no different from being Cheonryeo herself.
“Would it be alright if I went alone?”
“No! Ian and Kakan didn’t entrust you with full authority over Hielo territory for nothing. If a problem arises, I alone cannot handle it. I don’t have the authority either. I heard you sent Jeonseogoo to the Magic Department a few days ago—at least wait until a reply comes.”
“Hena!”
“Why, Nersaren!”
Three women had Nersaren completely cornered—Philia, Roel, and myself, Hena. It hadn’t been like this in the past, but as I’d grown older, my fastidiousness had crossed all reasonable bounds. Just as the two of them were about to raise their voices, a sound came from outside.
Knock, knock.
“Butler Hena. Mrs. Lien Merelof has arrived urgently.”
“What? The Countess?”
Merelof was an adjacent territory, but its actual authority rested in Hielo’s hands. This was because Mrs. Merelof had killed the Count and, in exchange for her freedom, had ceded some of her power to him.
Since Lien Merelof herself showed no real interest in managing the territory, the two of us had maintained peaceful relations as neighbors.
“Did she mention what this is about?”
“I’m not certain. She seemed quite urgent…”
“Bring her in at once.”
“Yes, understood.”
Hena and Nersaren exchanged glances. Merelof bordered Hawan. If the Countess herself had come in person, it seemed information related to that region had arrived…
“You’ve come, Countess?”
“Hena, I apologize for arriving so suddenly. And Nersaren, ah, you’re here as well. How fortunate.”
Her platinum hair still shimmered with that characteristic luster, and her beautiful features remained unchanged—ten years might as well not have passed.
Lien Merelof lowered the coat draped over her shoulders and immediately got to the point. It was clear how urgent this was.
“The situation in Hawan is not normal.”
“Pardon? Hawan? Just days ago, weren’t we told everything was being handled well?”
A rebellion had erupted centered around Prime Minister Shatima, who had suffered political ruin, leaving the nation in chaos. Yet they had swiftly reclaimed power and showed enthusiasm in the cleanup efforts.
Perhaps due to rumors that a branch of the royal family stood behind Shatima, all of Hawan had been in turmoil, yet the atmosphere suggested a new era was dawning. At least, that had been true just days ago.
“Yes. It’s not official yet, and I’m not even certain it’s reliable. I heard it from Hawan merchants passing through Merelof. When they left Hawan, they picked up strange rumors.”
“What sort of rumors?”
“That Prime Minister Shatima is dead.”
“What?!”
The leader of the rebellion was dead. And this, just as the flag of a new era was nearly fully raised.
If this were true, Hawan’s situation would plunge into chaos so profound that no one could see even an inch ahead. There would be divisions within the rebel forces themselves, and the existing powers would seize this as an opportunity to burn their final flames. The dying embers would ignite into a much greater conflagration.
“Is… is this certain?”
“I cannot say. They only added that it was a rumor, but the merchants seemed to treat it as fact. They’ve even requested extended lodging in Merelof, saying they won’t return to Hawan for some time.”
“Wait. Prime Minister Shatima was pro-Bariel. If someone hostile to Bariel takes the Prime Minister’s seat…”
They would join forces with Ruswena, who had been sharpening her blade, to pressure Bariel from the east. And that pressure would fall entirely upon Hielo and Merelof to bear.
Lien took a deep breath to steady her trembling voice.
“If Prime Minister Shatima’s death is confirmed, the imperial palace will send verification. When that happens, we must strengthen border defenses and recruit more private soldiers. Both Merelof and Hielo.”
Burgos had fallen. From Ruswena’s perspective, an allied nation had been defeated. And with the Emperor and the Minister of Magic stationed there, they would see no better opportunity than now. Everyone suspected that Ruswena would be next after Burgos.
“Nersaren.”
Hena called his name pointedly. For him to leave Hielo at a time like this was absolutely, utterly unthinkable. Even if we gathered all the Cheonrye from the great desert, it would not be enough.
As Nersaren sighed, Lien, unaware of the situation, looked between the two of them.
“What is it? Has something happened?”
“…No, it’s a personal matter. For now, Merelof should continue gathering intelligence by investigating those coming from Hawan. Most importantly, we must discover who killed Prime Minister Shatima. Hawan’s future will be determined by that.”
“Understood. I’ll send people to investigate every rumor that reaches us. Hielo, should any information arrive from the imperial palace, please inform me. Has there been any contact from Count Ian yet?”
At that question, Lien’s brow furrowed slightly. If he, a mage, were guarding the frontier, it would be truly reassuring. I understood he was occupied with many duties, but not a trace of him in ten years was… well.
“Yes. There isn’t one. Since the Count is in Burgos, it’s difficult to reach him.”
Nersaren answered thus when he suddenly turned his gaze toward the window. A hawk had flown in. Hena opened the window for it, but the bird showed no intention of entering, merely preening its feathers. At this unusual behavior, Nersaren’s eyes narrowed.
“Nersaren. Isn’t this Byen? Why is he acting like this?”
“I’m not sure. It seems like he’s seen something.”
Nersaren pulled on his outer robe. Byen circled in place a couple of times as if beckoning him to follow, then flew off in a straight line in one direction.
“I’ll step out for a moment. Lady Lien, I apologize for the intrusion. If you don’t mind, please wait here briefly.”
“Understood. However, I cannot wait long. I cannot leave Merelrof unattended for too long.”
Nersaren nodded and dashed outside. At the same moment, he whistled through his fingers, and a Kusile—the creature the Cheonryeo Tribe used in place of horses—came galloping from afar.
Wheeeee!
Tap-tap-tap!
“I have a feeling about this.”
Hena murmured as she watched Nersaren’s figure disappear into the distance.
“It feels like peace is breaking. I’m terribly anxious.”
It was like back then. Ten years ago, when the Central Army attacked and so many people died regardless of who they were. As Hena sighed, wrapping her forehead in her hands, Lien comforted her.
“Peace won’t break. We’re doing this to protect it.”
Yet Lien’s own hands trembled slightly as she spoke.
Hena smiled faintly and took her hand, then nodded as if composing herself.
“Please sit, Countess. I’ll bring some warm tea while we wait for Nersaren to return. Black tea with milk, correct?”
“Thank you.”
It was the Merelof Steward who had overseen Hena’s butler training. After he died of illness, a vacancy opened, and this time Hena took charge and trained the Merelof Steward in return. They were perfect neighbors to each other.
“If you don’t mind, may I attend to something?”
“Of course. As you wish.”
Hena excused herself, and Lien, glancing around the room, discovered a letter lying on the table. It was from the capital.
Reading others’ letters without permission was considered impolite, but how could she simply ignore something spread out so plainly? Lien skimmed the words from a distance, then stopped short.
-…Father. Yesterday, Romandro brought me news of my brother. He’s reached a city called Agiar. He met an unexpected ally there—a servant who left long ago for Toollun and a young lady with whom he shares a childhood connection. I don’t know who she is, but it’s truly fortunate. Mother is well. I’m doing well too. Mrs. Viviana is truly kind. Vivi is somewhat troublesome, but she has a warm heart. Please, tell me news of Hielo again. I miss him.

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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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