Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 71

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 71. Undercurrents
I extended my hand toward the window. The humid breeze gradually grew drier, carrying a crisp chill. The scorching, fierce summer was fading, and autumn was drawing near.
Knock, knock.
“My lord. Are you awake?”
“Yes.”
“I shall bring breakfast.”
Since the imperial court had issued my letter of appointment, my position had become considerably more secure. My daily life hadn’t changed much from before, but I could feel that power in the small details.
For instance, the title “my lord” that servant just used to address me.
‘How amusing.’
Not long ago, I was born into a duke’s house and rose to the Emperor’s throne, yet now a single title of count feels like I’ve scaled a great mountain.
I sat across from Romandro and prepared to eat.
“Good morning, Romandro.”
“Ah, Count Ian. Did you sleep well?”
“Quite well, thank you. Bring me some lukewarm water.”
“Yes, my lord.”
While the servants bustled about, Romandro cracked open gula seeds from a small plate and spoke.
“And Ian, there’s one matter I need to settle with you.”
“What would that be?”
“The funds we brought from the imperial palace.”
“Ah.”
About three thousand gold coins. However, I had already spent a considerable amount on estate restoration and purchasing gula. There would be much more to spend ahead.
“Isn’t it customary to return any remaining funds?”
“It is, but it’s merely custom, after all.”
It meant Romandro could freely dispose of it at his discretion. He was saying he would handle the ledgers and put it directly here—precisely into my pocket.
I raised my eyebrows in surprise.
“If you would do so, I am most grateful.”
“No, I’ve given it thought, and this seems right. Your contributions have been considerable. Had you not discovered gula, those three thousand coins would have been spent in one go. I trust you’ll use them more meaningfully.”
“Thank you. I shall be prudent with them.”
“Also, thank you for allowing me to depart by winter. Hmm.”
“You mentioned a newlywed?”
“Word came recently—she’s with child.”
At this unexpected news, I applauded. The servants handling the dishes also heard and offered their congratulations.
“Congratulations, Romandro.”
“You’re to be a father. How wonderful.”
“When is the birth expected?”
“Next summer, by our estimates.”
“How marvelous. Congratulations.”
Romandro stroked his beard with an embarrassed smile. Seeing his face light up with such genuine joy, I wondered if that was what true happiness looked like.
“Are the funds and ledgers in your office?”
“They are. I’ll hand them over right after we finish eating.”
“Yes, I understand.”
I nodded, mentally calculating the finances. If my estimates were correct, the remaining funds would be around 1,200 gold coins. Since the investigation team had confiscated anything of value from the Bratz Estate, that should be all there was.
“But what about Kakan and Nersaren?”
“They went out to the border observation post yesterday and haven’t returned yet. They said they were observing the stars, but… I’m not entirely sure of the details.”
I grasped their intention immediately. Even the tutor who studied the Great Desert had been reluctant to visit that place. I wasn’t certain of the specifics, but it seemed they possessed their own unique discipline for understanding the Great Desert through celestial observation.
“Very well. Tell them I wish to see them when they return.”
“Yes, I understand.”
“Sir Ian, a letter has arrived from Merelrof. Shall I wait until you finish your meal to deliver it?”
News kept arriving since morning. I paused mid-cut of my boiled gula. Romandro did the same, his mouth opening wide to take a bite before he stopped abruptly.
“No. Bring it now.”
At my command, the door opened again. A neatly dressed servant bowed respectfully.
“Greetings. I have brought a congratulatory letter from Marquis Merelrof and the Countess on your appointments.”
“Is that so? Did they say nothing else? The order seems rather odd.”
A protest regarding the assassination attempt should have been sent first, so why had they sent a congratulatory letter instead?
As the servant struggled to find words, I gestured for the letter. An elegant missive was placed in my hand.
“Once again, my sincere congratulations.”
“Yes, thank you.”
“And there is a gift sent by the Countess.”
I regarded the box placed behind him with suspicion. Given that the woman had made an unusual first impression, I couldn’t guess what she might have sent under the guise of a gift.
But the moment the servant opened the lid.
I rose from my seat without thinking.
“It is a recording device from a foreign land.”
“A recording device?”
Romandro asked the question. I simply approached slowly and examined the mechanism carefully.
Intricate gears were packed inside a small wooden box. Below them was a space for inserting paper, and on the side was a handle for operation.
“What is this? What is it used for?”
“In truth, its method of use is unknown, and as for its name…”
I murmured without thinking.
“A dripper.”
“Y-yes, that’s correct. You called it a dripper.”
“Oh, Sir Ian. You know of this?”
Know of it? Of course I did.
A dripper was a type of automatic recording device. It was a machine that automatically made dots at intervals determined by how often one pulled the handle. Though it seemed useless, it would later become the foundation for automated processing machinery—a revolutionary invention.
It was one of the grand national projects still in progress before I died, and it was certainly being researched as a future revolutionary technology capable of bringing about significant social change.
“Y-yes, as expected of Sir Ian! You are so erudite that there is nothing you don’t know!”
I dismissed the awkward flattery lightly.
“The Countess Merelrof sent this?”
“Y-yes, that’s correct.”
“What did she say when sending it?”
“She said it would surely be of help to you, and that while it is precious, you need not feel burdened by it.”
The Servant swallowed hard as he spoke.
In truth, when they first retrieved it from the warehouse, so much dust had accumulated that it took five or six people to clean it off. It was nothing more than a useless piece of scrap metal that no one in the Merelrof household bothered to concern themselves with.
‘Was this a gift meant to mock me?’
I couldn’t fathom what purpose it served—something inedible, merely dotting marks at regular intervals.
Yet judging by Ian’s unusual reaction, something seemed to be unfolding in an unexpected manner.
“Ha!”
Ian let out a hollow laugh.
…Or was it? Had I truly been mocked?
Knowing nothing, I couldn’t possibly guess. The Servant lowered his gaze, bowing deeply lest sparks of anger fly his way.
Ian stared at the machine with dry eyes, then circled around it slowly, exhaling only subtle sighs.
“Ian, sit down for now. Let’s think this through while seated.”
Unable to bear it any longer, Romandro rose slightly and tried to soothe Ian, having concluded that he regarded it as an insulting gift.
In truth, anyone observing would have reached the same conclusion. A hundred years before Ian’s era, the dripper’s design was unremarkable, its function was simple, and there was no recognition of its value whatsoever.
Even if the current Emperor himself were to see it, he would not comprehend the dripper’s worth.
“Do you know this dripper came from Lazasan?”
“Pardon? What do you mean by that?”
“Never mind. Wait a moment. I must write a reply to my wife.”
Ian muttered something under his breath, then folded his napkin completely—a signal that he was finished with his meal. Romandro looked flustered, glancing back and forth between the machine and Ian. They were about to begin the gula work in earnest at Merelrof, and this provocation and response were not part of the plan.
“What, what will you write?”
“That I received the gift with great appreciation, and that it seems I shall use it as you suggested. I wish to see you once more, I intend to convey.”
Romandro groaned, stroking his chin. To him, it seemed like they were exchanging sharp, cutting attacks, but the reality was entirely different.
‘Good heavens. What on earth is happening?’
I ran my fingertips along the cracks in the weathered wood, as though weighing the value and future the dripper would bring.
‘I must verify this.’
Whether Countess Merelrof had truly sent such an unremarkable gift, or whether she too understood the dripper’s significance.
Ian gestured to Hena.
“Finish the meal. Keep this in safekeeping. No one is to touch it.”
“Ah, yes. Understood.”
“Romandro. Please continue your meal. I shall write my reply and conduct an inspection shortly.”
“Ah, yes. Very well.”
Ian left the dining hall at once, and soon after, the Merelrof Servant who had received the reply also departed Bratz. It was several hours later when Ian set out on his inspection.
“My Lord. The weather is quite beautiful today.”
“Indeed. The air grows cooler by the day.”
I was in the midst of checking the gula, which sprouted anew with each passing day. Unlike the falling leaves, the estate was filled with verdant foliage.
“We intend to harvest the gula today.”
“Has it come to that already?”
“Megan from the neighboring house began seed sorting work yesterday. The gula thrives remarkably well with this soil composition. It grows a hand’s breadth taller each time we sleep and wake.”
“That’s fortunate.”
As the estate villagers’ granaries grew abundant, hunger was vanishing from the estate. Smoke rose from chimneys at every hour, and the children ran about with their pockets stuffed full of steamed gula.
“Mister! Mister! The pig is pregnant, isn’t it!”
“That so? Right? I’ve heard he’s been complaining since morning.”
Squawk!
The livestock too showed the same improvement. They quickly gained weight and bore young. If things continued at this pace, I could welcome the new year without anyone dying or suffering from the cold.
“Ah, Kakantir.”
In the distance, I spotted the Cheonrye Tribe returning from their outing. Kusile gradually slowed her pace and came to stand beside me.
“Out again today, I see.”
“The timing is fortunate. I have something to report.”
“I have matters to discuss as well. Shall we walk together?”
Behind the two of us walking ahead, my subordinates slowly led Kusile forward. Berik did the same, playfully tugging at the reins while joking with a familiar warrior.
“I’ll be heading back to Cheonrye first thing tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow? That’s rather sudden.”
“I’m leaving Nersaren behind, so there’s nothing to worry about.”
“Has something happened in Cheonrye?”
“Nothing like that. I consulted the stars, and tomorrow seems to be an auspicious time for departure.”
When Kakantir leaves, more than half of the warriors will depart with him. However, the estate had developed sufficient self-sufficiency by now, and aside from Gula cultivation, there was no significant labor shortage, so it should pose no problems.
“Then I should prepare a proper send-off.”
It was only right to show proper courtesy to the departure of my ally’s leader. Besides, I had gifts to present to the Cheonrye Tribe as tokens of gratitude.
“What did you want to tell me?”
“Ah. A servant from Merelrof came to the manor earlier. It seems we need to begin preparing our behind-the-scenes work soon.”
“I see.”
The behind-the-scenes work I spoke of meant maneuvering Merelrof into a position where they had no choice but to purchase Gula from me. At Kakantir’s words, I stopped walking.
“Merelrof’s only lifeline is the merchant caravan that arrives during the cold season. If we can cut off that supply, everything becomes much simpler.”
“Hmm. Those are the ones coming from the Hawan Kingdom, yes? I’ve never traveled through the mountain passes, so we’re at a geographical disadvantage. Though it’s not impossible.”
I wasn’t certain of the caravan’s size, but they would certainly have numerous mercenaries for protection. A direct assault would be inefficient.
“No. Combat is out of the question. We cannot let it be discovered that the Cheonrye Tribe was involved. If something goes wrong, it could give Merelrof justification to act against us.”
From Merelrof’s perspective, if the Cheonrye Tribe threatened their caravan, they would naturally retaliate. This would become a burden for me as well, having formed an alliance with the tribe.
“Do you have a method in mind?”
At Kakantir’s question, I smiled and nodded. My eyes gleamed with the usual confidence.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————