Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 77

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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 77. A Cry in the Dead of Night
“Are they the ones we selected?”
“Yes, my lord.”
The sky hung so heavy with clouds that it seemed God need only breathe to send snow cascading down. I surveyed the figures gathered before my manor—conscripted soldiers alongside the Estate Villagers who had volunteered to journey to Sheyron, standing in uncertain clusters.
The Butler explained briefly as he covered the roster.
“I composed the group from those of upright character and those with large families.”
The road to and from Sheyron was isolated—treacherous as a vast ocean. Should trouble arise, we would face certain peril. Since survival itself hung in the balance, I had selected members based on moral character and sense of responsibility.
In exchange for their hardship, they would receive modest compensation and permission to conduct individual food trades. I was conducting a thorough inspection of the entire group when it happened.
“My lord! My lord!”
Crash!
A man burst past the guards at the Main Gate, rushing forward. He threw himself prostrate before me, immediately beginning to plead. My brow furrowed deeply at this sudden commotion.
“What is this? Since when has my manor’s gate become so permeable?”
“I am Colin, living below Haifentown, my lord! Please, I beg you, let me join the temporary trading expedition! I implore you!”
Watching him grovel with his forehead pressed to the ground, I glanced at the Butler. What on earth was this?
“I-I apologize, my lord. Guards! Remove him at once!”
“My lord, I am truly useful! You saw it yourself—I can run, and I have more strength than I appear! With one more young man, we could carry six or seven more sacks of wheat. Perhaps seven! Please, please….”
I crossed my arms and looked down at Colin’s bowed head. He showed enthusiasm, and by his own account, he was young—I wondered why he had been excluded.
The Butler hastily flipped through the roster and added, “He has many family members, but he lacks credibility—he frequents private gambling dens. He’s a common criminal with a record.”
“That was foolishness in my youth. I have five siblings above and below me, and my parents cut wood every day to sell. Honestly, I’m the only one in my family not pulling my weight. If you give me this chance, I’ll work hard!”
“That was when I was immature. I have four siblings above and below me, and my parents chop and sell firewood every day. Honestly, I’m the only one in my family not doing my part, so if you give me a chance, I’ll work hard!”
I pondered for a moment, then asked, “Were you born an Estate Villager of Merelrof?”
“Yes, my lord.”
“Very well. Include him.”
“My lord, that’s rather….”
“If he’s trembling and begging for work, how could he cause trouble? Soldiers will be accompanying us anyway—there’s nothing to worry about. However, I’ll cut his compensation in half. You have no objections, I presume?”
“N-no, my lord. No objections. Thank you!”
We were short on manpower at this point. As he said, one more person meant more sacks we could carry—there was no reason to refuse. And his compensation halved? That was profit upon profit!
“Thank you! Thank you so much!”
“That’s enough. Butler, finish organizing and let’s go inside.”
“Yes, understood.”
Colin bowed his head to the ground once more as if reborn. I mistook his fervent gratitude for the desperation of hunger.
‘I’m alive. I’m alive. Damn it, I’m alive. If I hadn’t gotten in here, those bastards would have….’
Watching him clasp his hands in apparent emotion, I felt a twinge of pity. What must his family circumstances be like that he was so overjoyed at securing a single job?
“By the look of you, you’ll work hard enough. Won’t you?”
“…I will do my best, my lord.”
The Butler answered reluctantly to my remark. Regardless of my station, I couldn’t fathom why my decisions were made this way. It was foolishness born of greed, surely.
The profit gained by including this man versus the stability of excluding him—I couldn’t understand why I failed to calculate which was more valuable.
“You there. Your name was Colin, yes?”
“Yes, my lord.”
Yes, that’s right.
“Stand over here.”
“Yes, sir!”
The Butler exhaled deeply and guided the enthusiastic Colin. Colin followed eagerly, genuinely delighted that he could carry out Ian’s orders and that his life had been spared.
“I’ll call out names one by one. Come forward and sign the contract. I’ll pay part of your wages upfront.”
The Butler unfolded the roster again and gestured to the temporary trading group. Colin carefully wrote out the contract, accepted his wages with an awkward smile, and quickly left the Manor.
Just from watching his retreating figure, he hardly seemed trustworthy. The Butler sighed and tucked away the contract bearing Colin’s handprint.
Clatter clatter clatter!
Colin passed two men smoking cigarettes by the roadside. The two men exchanged silent glances, then chuckled softly as they exhaled smoke.
“He’s extended his life.”
“Seems like it.”
Judging by the relief evident on his face, he must have joined the temporary trading group. Had he failed at that, tonight would have been Colin’s last.
“But you know, the atmosphere here is quite different from when we came last time, isn’t it?”
The men muttered as they stubbed out their cigarettes. They were Subordinates of Romandro, tasked with watching Colin. In just two or three months, the vibrant energy of the estate had withered away.
“It’s because rumors spread that the trading group wouldn’t arrive.”
“It’s not just a rumor, though.”
“Ah, that’s true.”
The disappointment and anxiety grew as uncontrollably as the hope that had filled them before.
The Subordinates disappeared into the darkness of the back alleys following Colin, and the man who had been watching the two soon turned away as well. It was Clark, a Servant working at the Merelrof Manor.
Knock knock.
Returning to the Manor, Clark knocked on the study door of Countess Merelrof. There was no answer from inside. He glanced left and right down the corridor, then quickly stepped in.
“Madam, a suspicious individual has infiltrated the trading group.”
“Is that so? How fortunate.”
Countess Merelrof did not appear. She merely answered in her usual clear voice.
“Clark, have a safe journey as well.”
“…Yes, madam.”
“I trust you will succeed.”
“Do not worry.”
Clark wanted one last glimpse of the woman, but she never stepped outside.
* * *
Torn cloth had been patched multiple times, with wooden pieces wedged beneath the soles. Four days had already passed since leaving Merelrof. Before the biting wind, the trading group trudged along pulling empty carts, their noses running.
“How much further must we go?”
“Well, the distance is similar to the Hawan Kingdom, but the road is so treacherous. From the weather, it looks like snow will fall soon.”
“Still, I’m sweating, so the inside of my body doesn’t feel cold.”
“Ugh. Ah, why does my nose keep running? It’ll fall off at this rate.”
Still, the atmosphere was decent enough.
Soldiers though they were, they were still Villagers of Merelrof’s estate and neighbors. Whether from the house in front or behind, they all knew each other. Occasionally, laughter could be heard.
“Colin, where exactly were you earlier?”
“…I just had some business here and there.”
“It’s not related to that, is it?”
“Related to what?”
“Why, those thugs from that green-roofed gambling den in Bratz tried to kill someone, and the rumor is it was Ian.”
“The former Count of Bratz’s illegitimate son?”
At the men’s words, Colin flinched and averted his gaze. It felt as though Ian was watching the situation through his own eyes and ears right now. Through some inexplicable force that had seeped into his very being.
“N-no. It’s none of my concern.”
“Right? Well, if it were, you’d be dead and wouldn’t be here.”
“Exactly. Now he’s the new head of the house. Quite the fortune, really. Born and raised in a brothel, and he just gets a title handed to him.”
“A brothel?”
“Well, his mother was a courtesan, wasn’t she? This is why people need to have ability first.”
“A courtesan? I don’t think so. From what I heard, she just lived there because of debt.”
“Forget it. Who cares what he did? It’s not ability or anything—it’s luck, pure luck. The moment we crossed the Great Desert, the Count’s head was cut off. Since he came back alive, he’s used up all his luck now!”
“Sounds like wishful thinking to me. Hehehehe.”
The idle chatter faded from Colin’s ears. These were facts he’d never known before. He’d simply joined because they offered money without asking too many questions.
“Let’s rest here for the night. This cave will do.”
“Yeah. If we go further, the sun will set.”
“Tsk. Winter makes the days so short. We can’t move around.”
They spread sleeping bags in the small cave and positioned carts at the entrance. Though the blocked entrance was inconvenient, it at least kept out the biting wind. When firewood was stacked in the center and lit, everyone grew drowsy and sprawled out.
“What if it snows during the night?”
“What can we do about it? We’ll just have to manage…”
“Hey. Move over a bit.”
“I don’t have space? You want me to burn to death in the fire?”
“I’ll move back a little.”
Colin quietly slipped away from the crowded area and retreated toward the entrance. Though the wind was cold, this spot was perfect for what he needed to do.
And several hours later.
“Hrrrrgh…”
“Mmm, cough…”
Just as the men’s snoring began to assault his ears.
Colin quietly rose, grabbed a torch, and slipped outside. The night, shrouded in darkness, was pitch black.
‘I’m sorry, everyone. But if I don’t do this, I’ll die.’
He pulled an oil pouch from his inner pocket and tossed it onto an empty cart. Then, hesitating, he wavered—should he throw the torch onto the oil or not?
“You there, what are you doing?”
“Eek!”
Suddenly, a sound came from behind him.
Colin was startled, but he didn’t drop the torch. A man approached with an expressionless face, glancing back and forth between the cart, the torch, and Colin.
“I-I haven’t done anything yet?”
“Haven’t you? Colin, you scoundrel! Were you trying to set a fire for the gold coins? Damn you! Of all things!”
“…What?”
It was like watching a play. The man shouted loudly to himself, then snatched the torch from Colin’s hand and hurled it without hesitation. Flames erupted, surrounding the bewildered Colin.
“W-what… what…”
Whoosh!
In an instant, a blade slashed across his throat as it passed. Colin’s vision slowly tilted upward, and soon all he could see was the murky night sky. One by one, two by two, people woke and rushed out of the cave.
“…What’s happening, Clark? Gasp! Fire! There’s fire!”
“No water? Damn it! Throw dirt on it!”
“Fire! Fire! Everyone, get up!”
“Ahhhhh! This is insane!”
“That bastard started the fire!”
Amid the chaos, Colin could only blink. Words escaped him. Snow fell from the sky like white dots scattered across the darkness, mingling with the stars.
‘Who is he? I don’t know him, yet he knows my name.’
Blood welled from Colin’s throat, soaking the earth. The mysterious man looked down at him from above, watching him convulse. Colin met death with eyes wide open.
Meanwhile, a subordinate of Romandro crouched hidden in the nearby brush, witnessing everything unfold.
‘…No, damn it. What in the hell is going on? What the hell is that bastard doing?’
Could the cold be playing tricks on him? This mysterious man appeared out of nowhere, killed Colin, and set the wagon ablaze. There was nothing more to see. The subordinate of Romandro carefully turned and retraced his steps.
Clark glanced at the rustling brush, then calmly shoveled dirt.
“Save the wagon!”
“Damn it, you madman!”
“Oh no, it’s all burning! Burn!”
In the dead of night, the people’s screams pierced louder than the wind.

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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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