Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 669

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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 668. Weakness Exposed
“Philia, take this with you too. I saw last time how much Roel enjoys it, and it was lovely to watch her eat.”
“Oh my, that’s not necessary. You said yourself that Viviana had difficulty obtaining it. I’m already grateful just to have tasted it. Thank you so much.”
“We can still procure it since we’re in the capital, so don’t feel burdened. Oh, that’s right. Since Hielo is close to Hawan, it should be easier to find there, shouldn’t it?”
“Then I’ll accept it for now, and once I go down, I’ll send you a similar jam if I can find one. Would that work?”
“Of course! Take it all!”
Viviana poured jams into a large bag—preserves made from fruits that grew only in foreign lands.
Philia laughed gratefully and carefully packed away clothes and miscellaneous items. At last, the day of her departure to Hielo was drawing near.
“Nersaren will be so delighted to see me. I wonder how long it’s been since we last met.”
“Indeed. If I’d known we’d be apart this long, I would have made different choices.”
“Still, we’re fortunate to meet safely. Philia, the scars on your cheeks have faded considerably.”
“Yes, they’ve healed better than expected. I think they’ll be almost completely gone before I see Nersaren. I was worried he might be concerned.”
Philia smiled brightly. By now, Jeonseogoo should have arrived in Hielo. She could already imagine how delighted Nersaren would be upon receiving her message.
Meanwhile, Roel sat leaning against the window frame, staring blankly out at the view. When Vivi approached and buried her head against the child’s side, there was no response.
“Roel, are you sad about parting with me too?”
“….”
“Don’t worry. I’ll come down when school breaks. Let’s play again in the garden and eat delicious things together. You need to be in Hielo by then, right? Don’t go to the Great Desert?”
“…Can’t go.”
“Huh? Go where?”
“The Great Desert. Can’t go.”
Roel murmured quietly, her voice thick with emotion as she struggled to continue speaking.
Ah, my small and adorable friend. She grieves so deeply at being separated from me. Vivi embraced Roel with all her strength, and the child, who would normally show no reaction, this time held her back tightly.
“My, it seems both of you are feeling lonely. Philia, shall we join in an embrace?”
“Why not?”
Seeing the children embrace, Viviana and Philia burst into laughter and shared a light hug. In about two weeks, at this very hour, she would be nestled in Nersaren’s arms. Philia savored the happiness rising gently from deep within her chest as she smiled.
Knock, knock.
“Excuse me, I bring a message from Romandro of the Magic Department.”
“Oh my, yes! I’ll be right out!”
Just then, sounds from outside the door. Someone from the imperial palace had arrived. Viviana hurried down the stairs and opened the front door.
“What’s the matter? Do I need to pack my things?”
“No, that’s not it…”
The palace employee trailed off with a regretful expression.
“It appears that war has broken out in the east of Bariel, centered around Hielo and Merelrof. It’s suspected to be an invasion by Hawanguk and Ruswena. The imperial palace will conduct a thorough investigation to assess the situation, but the Minister Romandro recommends that Mrs. Philia remain in the capital for the time being, as it’s dangerous. He mentioned that a travel ban could be issued soon…”
“Ah…”
Viviana’s words caught in her throat. What kind of sudden calamity was this? Ruswena and Hawanguk suddenly invading Hielo? Why?
“Madam, what’s wrong?”
Philia descended the stairs slowly, asking. Her bright, innocent smile still glowed warmly on her face.
“…Then, I’ll take my leave.”
“Wait, Philia.”
“Yes? Did something happen to Romandro?”
Rather, Philiada was the one worried about Romandro.
Viviana hesitated, wondering whether she should speak or stay silent, then bit her lower lip. Remembering how shocked Philia had been when she first learned Ian’s true identity, she couldn’t bring herself to open her mouth.
“My lady?”
“…Philia, please don’t be too alarmed, and don’t worry. It seems some trouble has arisen near Hielo and Merelrof. The situation in Gaia has been quite chaotic lately, hasn’t it?”
“What do you mean—”
“Because it could be dangerous, Romandro suggested that you remain in the capital for the time being.”
It was essentially a directive with coercive force rather than a mere suggestion. She was the mother of the Minister of Magic, after all. Looking after the safety of the families of key imperial figures was also the palace’s responsibility.
With a soft stumble, Philia staggered slightly and grasped the railing, prompting Viviana to rush toward her with a cry.
“Philia! You’re all right, truly!”
“But, but—”
“You’ve lived with the Cheonryeo Tribe for such a long time. I’ve seen them too, so I know. As long as they’re there, Hielo will surely be safe. And Nersaren as well. You know better than anyone how strong he is, don’t you?”
“Viviana, I… I…”
“I’ve been through that too. When I first married and became pregnant, Romandro left for a seismic danger zone to restore the temple, and before I stopped, I also traveled the borderlands helping with disaster relief. We both worried so much for each other, but look!”
Viviana’s words grew more urgent. Philia’s complexion had noticeably worsened.
“In the end, they returned safely and well, and we’re living together now. Worry is less than you think. Don’t let anxiety grow. Hielo might be perfectly fine, unexpectedly.”
“Viviana!”
“Yes, it’s all right. Shh.”
Viviana embraced Philia.
On the surface, she spoke as if it were nothing to reassure Philia, but Viviana understood well what the ‘curfew order’ meant. To protect the safety of the empire’s people, the area near Hielo would be completely controlled. This suggested that something terribly tragic and dangerous was happening in Hielo.
“…!”
Viviana’s eyes met Roel’s, who was looking down at them from the top of the stairs. For a moment, her heart sank heavily.
Roel had seen again. What was happening in Hielo, and moreover, the danger that had befallen her father.
Swish.
Roel covered her mouth with her index finger and shook her head. A signal to keep it secret from Philia.
“….”
Without realizing it, tears streamed down Viviana’s face, and she buried her head in Philia’s shoulder.
…How cruel God is, truly cruel to Philia. Viviana continued to pat her back in silence.
* * *
“What?!”
Crash!
Elderth slammed his fist hard against the table. What had just been said? A fire in the Mage’s Forest? Of all places, in that Mage’s Forest?
“I, I apologize. We’re currently deploying dragons to pour water for fire suppression, but the area is so vast that….”
“Damn it! What on earth caused this?!”
“The cause cannot be determined, but there’s a report that the Forbidden Mage was near the Mage’s Forest. We asked for details, but there has been no response yet.”
“This… I’ll beat him to death!”
Elderth grabbed the Mage by the hair and shook him violently. The fury that would pour down upon the King of Toollun hiding within was scorching hot.
The advisors bowed deeply with their heads down, and Elderth raised his voice with veins bulging in his neck.
“King of Toollun! What are you trying to do now! How dare you! How dare you burn the Mage’s Forest?!”
The Mage’s eyes rolled about. The King of Toollun was surely watching, yet he did not speak easily. After a moment of silence, the Mage made a faint excuse.
“It wasn’t me who did such a thing, but a fellow named Berik.”
“What?”
“Did you know that he infiltrated the Mage’s Forest in the dead of night? Of course you didn’t. Your Majesty was safe and comfortable within the Royal Palace. But I sensed his presence and moved to follow him. In that process, that fool Berik started the fire. I am blameless. Truly, I swear it by God.”
“You call that an explanation!”
King Elderth’s hands trembled violently. He wanted nothing more than to strike him down immediately, but knowing it would be largely meaningless, he barely managed to restrain himself.
“If circumstances permitted, I would gladly assist in suppressing the fire, but the situation is… unfavorable at the moment.”
“Did I mishear you? The situation is unfavorable? While you’re barricaded in that safe, comfortable Royal Palace doing this, what are you saying?”
“But it’s the truth. If you don’t believe me, you’re only harming yourself, Your Majesty. Soon enough, Ian Hielo and the Ruswena Mages will come knocking again. Wouldn’t it be wise to fully restore the Mages’ strength before then?”
“Right now—! Save the Mage’s Forest! This is not a suggestion I’m offering you, but a command as King of Ruswena!”
“Ah…”
He really doesn’t understand. The Mage sighed irritably and turned his gaze to the side. At such brazen defiance, Elderth roughly shoved him by the collar and issued a warning.
“Listen well, King of Toollun. Just because you’ve threaded needles through the Ruswena Mages doesn’t mean you’ve threaded through all of Ruswena. Your assistance to us is ultimately just a distraction, isn’t it?”
If Ruswena and Hawanguk shake greatly, they can divert the central gaze, and the Emperor in Kalamat cannot easily advance toward Toollun either. All interests were indeed this simple and clear.
“And?”
The Mage laughed and countered.
Even if that were true, what sanctions could Ruswena impose on Toollun now? They don’t even share a border, the core military force—the Mages—are all threaded, and Ian Hielo himself has just arrived at the doorstep.
“Be grateful that Mage can counter Mage, King Elderth. How to move the Mages is my judgment to make. If you wish, I can sever the threads and withdraw this very moment.”
If that happened, could you truly handle it? When the betrayed Mages regain their senses, what would they do to Ruswena? They would surely burn it, tear it, shatter it to pieces, and vent their fury. Above all, the grand dream of occupying Bariel would become absolutely distant—that much was certain.
The Mage nodded to Elderth in farewell and promptly collapsed to the side. The signal with the King of Toollun had been completely severed.
“…Listen.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Elderth, who had been quietly observing the scene, muttered.
“…Summon the Hunters.”
“The, the Hunters, Your Majesty?”
“Send them to Toollun. There should be a passage leading to that region.”
“Yes, of course, Your Majesty.”
Hunters.
If Bariel had the Imperial Guards, then Ruswena had the Hunters—those who moved hidden in the twilight glow.
At Elderth’s command, his subordinates retreated backward, and the King, left alone, picked up a wine glass to calm his fury. Then, suddenly.
‘…Wait.’
The King of Toollun’s attitude had been so absurdly disrespectful that his judgment had momentarily clouded.
The Mage’s Forest was a vital stronghold necessary for Ruswena’s Mage regeneration. Whether Toollun knew this or not was unclear, but in any case, extinguishing the spreading fire should not be difficult with the Mages’ power.
‘They are those who soar through the heavens and tear the earth—pouring water would be nothing to them.’
Yet the King of Toollun had refused.
“…Wouldn’t it be wise to fully restore the Mages’ strength before then?”
Even saying such things.
Elderth held the wine in his mouth and thought for a moment, then realized. Controlling the Mage had caused some side effect to befall the King of Toollun as well.
He didn’t know what it was, but one thing was certain: it was a fatal side effect—severe enough that he couldn’t even extinguish a single fire in the forest right now.

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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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