Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 68

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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 68. The Lord’s Appointment
The atmosphere among the ministers attending the general assembly was unusually tense. Word had spread that both princes who had sharpened their blades at the hunting grounds the previous day would be attending together.
“What on earth is happening? Prince Marib and Prince Gail are attending together?”
“They usually only attend the afternoon sessions….”
“I hear the two of them are in conflict over the appointment authority for the lord of Bratz Estate.”
“Has that useless land suddenly become precious? I don’t understand why they’ve been so fixated on it lately.”
“Haven’t you heard anything?”
“Well, a lord recommendation came through, and apparently it’s Count Derga’s illegitimate son. I suspect Prince Gail covets him because he’s a mana user.”
“A mana user, you say?”
“I only caught wind of it in passing. Let’s go in. We’ll be late.”
The ministers reluctantly made their way into the grand conference hall with heavy steps. Usually the atmosphere was lively and pleasant, but today felt distinctly different.
Creak.
“Prince Gail has arrived.”
“Your Highness, welcome.”
Prince Gail smiled naturally, brushing back his tousled black hair.
“You’ve all been quite diligent this morning.”
“You’re too kind, Your Highness.”
His active participation in politics, despite his lower position in the succession order, was a silent threat to Marib. Moreover, since the general assembly was entirely the ministers’ domain, there was no particular reason for him to attend—at least not until a few days ago.
“Prince Marib has arrived.”
“Your Highness. Good morning.”
“…Be seated.”
Upon arriving at the conference hall, Marib glanced toward Gail before taking the seat of honor. Soon the general assembly began in heavy silence. As various matters were addressed, both princes listened without speaking.
“Now then, next we have….”
Everyone sensed it from the Prime Minister’s hesitation.
Here it comes.
“This concerns the matter of Bratz Estate. Romandro, who went down as an advisor, has sent a lord recommendation. The candidate is Ian, the illegitimate son of Count Derga, who was executed.”
“The bastard of a criminal? Wouldn’t him succeeding as lord defeat the purpose of exterminating the family line?”
“However, it was Ian himself who reported Count Derga to the Imperial Palace. This means he severed his ties with Bratz first. And most importantly, he was never officially registered, so he has never legally borne the Bratz name.”
The ministers reviewed the relevant reports and offered their respective opinions. It was Gail who spoke first.
“By principle, he should become a slave. Making him a lord is utterly absurd.”
“He is the only Bratz who can form an alliance with the Great Desert that borders us. If military forces are reduced, expenses will decrease accordingly, and tax revenue will increase.”
“Didn’t he bring in foreign powers? This could be considered within the scope of treason.”
“However, it appears the estate villagers’ support is considerable. He possesses all the conditions we were considering when we first postponed the lord appointment. Moreover, he is said to be a mana user.”
“Ah yes. So I’ve heard.”
The ministers began murmuring again. As if he had anticipated this, Marib handed a piece of paper to his servant. The servant, bowing respectfully, delivered it to the Prime Minister.
“For these reasons, I too recommend him. While the Borderlands typically appoint a count, given the circumstances, a viscount would be appropriate.”
Following Romandro, Marib had also submitted a recommendation. At this point, there was hardly any reason to object. The ministers exchanged silent glances while watching for Gail’s reaction.
He seemed to have attended specifically to oppose, yet he showed no response.
“Once appointed as lord, what of his future? As a mana user, he should serve in the Imperial Palace. Can the head of a house leave his estate vacant for long? He’ll be busy enough rebuilding the family.”
“That is for the head of the house to decide. Once the estate is granted, it is not the Central government’s place to interfere.”
“That’s correct. The current matter at hand is whether Ian possesses the qualifications to serve as lord. So long as the taxes are collected properly, we should refrain from unnecessary interference.”
The Borderlands, in particular, required stricter recognition of autonomy. The cultural differences that distance created were significant, and more importantly, such autonomy was precisely what kept the border fortified and secure.
*Snap!*
“Your words are well-spoken, regarding taxes.”
“…What do you mean by that?”
As Prince Gail snapped his fingers and caught the tail end of the conversation, Prince Marib’s expression darkened. It was a signal to conduct himself properly in this formal setting.
“By rights, shouldn’t a bastard be reduced to slavery? Since he’s a mana user, it would be advantageous in many ways to enslave him and keep him in the Imperial Palace. Would you not agree, Minister Wesley?”
“One could certainly view it that way. The median annual income for mages in the Magic Ministry is 200 gold coins. Even those with limited tenure receive at least 100 coins or more.”
“If Ian were elevated to mage, we would need to pay accordingly, but if we demote him to slavery instead, it would actually be profitable.”
“There has never been a precedent for enslaving a mage!”
“How can the Minister of Magic, who knows this better than anyone, speak such words?”
The ministers raised their voices in astonishment. Mages were considered sacred, believed to be closest to divine power.
That was why their numbers were smallest, yet the budget allocated to them by the Imperial Palace was among the most generous.
Wesley laughed lightly, as if to calm them.
“I merely spoke of the economic costs that this Ian would bring. I never suggested demoting him to slavery.”
“Prince Gail, what is it you wish to say?”
The Prime Minister intervened, raising his gavel. Prince Gail opened his mouth, glancing toward Prince Marib.
“I hear that Count Derga’s unpaid taxes have been astronomical. Moreover, the Central government even provided financial support to the Borderlands, did it not?”
“That was only natural from a humanitarian perspective.”
“If Ian were to repay the Imperial Palace a certain sum—combining the economic opportunity cost he would bring with the accumulated unpaid taxes—I believe everyone could accept this.”
Prince Marib nearly burst into laughter. Since Mollin and even the investigation commander couldn’t get the lordship appointment their way, they were now trying to force it through with money.
It was customary that if a lord failed to pay public debts, including taxes, within a certain period, the Imperial Palace would confiscate the territory and recover its losses. It was also an opportunity that nouveaux riches eagerly sought for social advancement. If an auction were held, Wesley would likely be the highest bidder.
‘This is precisely why the Magic Ministry…’
They received the largest budget from the Imperial Palace, so the wealth Wesley possessed as their head was beyond estimation. Seeing the gold leaf adorning every corner of her manor, some even whispered that she had mastered alchemy and hoarded gold like sand.
“Honestly, such conditions are only natural for the bloodline of a criminal, are they not? After appointing him lord, one year. If he cannot repay within that time, then it would be proper to demote him to slavery.”
“How much would the sum be…?”
“Ten thousand gold coins.”
“My.”
“I believe that amount is appropriate.”
The way she demanded it so confidently suggested it was a carefully calculated figure. A sum with solid reasoning behind it.
But ten thousand gold coins.
It was an amount that could barely be covered by surrendering every last coin of taxes collected from the Bratz Estate without spending a single piece. To maintain the lordship, he would likely need to sell the mines or portions of land.
If that happened, the family’s fortunes would decline steadily, and they would lose their independent power. Prince Gail’s intention to create an opening to intervene again later was transparent.
“What does everyone think?”
“I, I don’t think it’s unreasonable. Paying such a price would provide external justification and, more importantly, could suppress the nobles’ resistance.”
“I agree as well. No matter how skilled a mana user he may be, since he is the bloodline of the previous lord, there are suspicious elements.”
“However, isn’t one year too short a period? Once he becomes lord, there will be various trial and error, so three years should be given…”
“Hasn’t he already been acting as lord of Bratz? This winter passing, and the next winter would be two years by count. That is sufficient.”
The ministers sought a compromise, glancing at Prince Marib as if asking for his agreement. He tilted his head to one side as if deep in thought, but Prince Gail’s proposal seemed not entirely unfavorable.
“Very well. Then appointing Ian as lord shall be our first order of procedure.”
“Only then will I be able to generate profits through management….”
“Very well. I have no objections either.”
As Marib nodded without resistance, the advisors exhaled sighs of relief inwardly—fortunately, they would be able to have their afternoon tea time.
Meanwhile, Prince Gail and Wesley exchanged glances as if surprised.
‘I thought he would protect and advocate more actively.’
At the very least, extend the timeframe, or lower the amount.
Or perhaps oppose Prince Gail’s claims entirely as unreasonable. Whether Marib knew their thoughts or not, he urged the Prime Minister forward.
“It seems we’ve found common ground. Shall we move on to the next matter?”
“Ah. Yes. Then I will decide to submit a proposal to the Emperor for the conditional appointment of Ian as the lord of Bratz Estate.”
“Agreed.”
“No objections.”
Bang, bang, bang!
The Prime Minister brought down his gavel, concluding the matter. Marib smiled and passed the next report, though in truth, whether Ian incurred debt or not was of no concern to him.
His first objective was simply to prevent someone from Prince Gail’s faction from becoming the estate lord. And besides….
‘He seems like he’ll pull it off somehow.’
Though I’d never seen his face, Ian seemed like he would work through it without issue. It was groundless and unrealistic, yet strangely I felt convinced. Perhaps it seemed trivial because it was an interesting matter from a third party’s perspective.
But if he truly managed to procure ten thousand gold coins….
‘That would be worth anticipating.’
“Then let us proceed to the next agenda.”
A small peace descended upon the grand council that had seemed about to be swept by a tempest.
Wesley tilted her head and whispered something to Prince Gail, who nodded in understanding. Marib simply gazed at them calmly.
* * *
Fifteen days later.
Romandro had developed a habit of checking the window the moment he woke in the morning. For some reason, the carrier pigeon he’d sent to the Imperial Palace showed no sign of returning.
If the letter of recommendation had arrived safely, a reply confirming its receipt should have come by now….
“Hmm?”
That was when it happened. In the distance, an unfamiliar carriage climbing the hill caught his eye. A golden carriage gleaming in the sunlight, its ornate flags planted proudly. Romandro rubbed his eyes vigorously, then rushed outside in astonishment.
“Eek! R-Romandro?”
“What is the matter?”
“Ian, fetch Ian at once!”
“Yes? Ian is currently in the Garden….”
Romandro, having dashed out in his nightclothes, shouted with an excited expression.
“A carriage is descending from the Imperial Palace!”
“What?”
The servants paled, wondering if this concerned an inquiry about Mollin and his companions imprisoned below, recalling the investigator’s nightmare from before, but Romandro’s expression was the complete opposite.
“A golden carriage! It carries the Emperor’s command!”
After sending the lord’s recommendation, what could an imperial command from the Emperor possibly be? Romandro rushed frantically to the Garden, where he soon discovered Ian crouched down, covering something with soil.
“Ian!”
“Romandro?”
Ian rose slowly, brushing dirt from his hands in bewilderment. Though the approaching carriage was hidden behind the manor’s walls, I could fully sense his emotions.
“The lord’s appointment document is arriving!”

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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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