Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 146

A horrible smell of ashes. Gale frowned and barely opened his eyes. Faint smoke was rising next to him. It was an incense that calms the mind and body, but to Gale, it was unspeakably revolting.

Clang!

“Oh my. Your Highness Gale!”

Hearing the commotion from the bedroom, the attendant rushed in. As soon as Gale came to his senses, he asked while holding his forehead, “How many days have passed?”

“Not long, sir. A full day has passed. I will contact the infirmary. Please don’t overexert yourself…”

Despite the attendant’s dissuasion, Gale got out of bed. Then he naturally waved his hand to find the sword that should be placed on the table. However, he touched nothing. Only then did Gale realize that he was lying in an unfamiliar bedroom.

Creak.

“Making a fuss as soon as you wake up, Gale.”

“Mariv…”

“Have you given the title of ‘brother’ to your lover?”

Mariv laughed brightly. It was a very cheerful smile that he had never seen before. As always, the moment one of them smiles is the worst situation for the other. Gale sighed, “Ha, ha,” while running his hand through his hair.

“Lover, you say. That’s an overstatement.”

“Right, right. You even kissed in front of everyone, but you may not be lovers. I can’t understand debauchery, but I thought you would deeply understand it.”

Gale clenched his teeth in annoyance. He had given a proper excuse. He was always on edge, ready to pounce on any gap. Gale first played dumb.

“What happened to Minister Wesleigh?”

“The personnel conference ended successfully. Everyone couldn’t focus while you were having a lover’s quarrel outside, but it somehow wrapped up well.”

“…Please refrain from using that damn word ‘lover’s quarrel.’”

“So, Wesleigh is no longer the minister. Currently, the position of minister in the Ministry of Magic is vacant, and each department is continuing the investigation of this incident, including new personnel reorganization. Gale, you have no idea how long we’ve been waiting for you to wake up.”

Mariv slowly approached Gale and fiddled with his collar. Tap tap, he straightened the collar neatly and raised his eyebrows as if telling him to speak up.

“What curse did Wesleigh put on you?”

“…”

He looks excited. Very excited.

Gale swatted Mariv’s hand away, but he grabbed the collar again, unperturbed. He had never approached so blatantly before. Gale guessed that Mariv was fully convinced of his victory.

“Right now, the imperial palace is in an uproar because of that. Why you tried to oust Wesleigh, whether it led Wesleigh to use forbidden magic, and what curse she poured on you while she was dying.”

If even one secret hidden beneath the surface is revealed, I will immediately cut off your head. Mariv lightly stroked his brother’s cheek and smiled brightly again.

“It would be best to quickly confess the truth. If it’s a curse that threatens the existence of the imperial family, your life should be used to break that curse.”

“…”

Gale faced Mariv with a calm gaze. They clearly had the same eyes within the same family, yet one was cold and the other was hot. Mariv stepped back slightly and straightened the fallen incense.

“Come immediately when His Majesty the Emperor summons you. Take care of yourself.”

Creak.

Mariv left the bedroom with his neatly tied hair fluttering. It was a very dignified and confident step, as if the throne had fallen before him.

Gale’s assistant, who was standing at the door, bowed and saw him off, then entered the bedroom. Gale just sighed and snapped his fingers.

“…Cigarette.”

The assistant immediately lit a cigarette and handed it over. After taking a deep drag, he exhaled smoke along with an order.

“Bow down.”

Thud! Thud!

At the same time, the assistant prostrated himself and banged his forehead on the floor. There was not a moment’s hesitation in punishing himself. As an assistant, sloppy work was a disgrace, and if there was no sincerity in the punishment, his head would be cut off.

“I apologize. Your Highness!”

Thud!

He wailed and continued to bang his head. The attendants lowered their heads as if they couldn’t bear to watch, but Gale clearly took in the sight. Soon, his head cracked and blood flowed down his nose and chin.

“…It must have been with the help of her assistant that led her to escape.”

Gale could only remember that the assistant was always by Wesleigh’s side, but he couldn’t recall his face. That’s how insignificant his presence was, and he wasn’t someone to pay attention to. But to cause such a big incident…

“His corpse was found in Your Highness’s bedroom. It seems he used forbidden magic along with Wesleigh. So, the Ministry of Magic is currently investigating and controlling the situation, which is why you were brought here.”

Gale threw a dry cloth to his subordinate who was prostrating and reporting. It meant to wipe the blood and to forgive and stop the punishment.

“…What’s the atmosphere in the Ministry of Magic?”

Gale asked while getting dressed by the attendant. He had to be very alert. With one momentary mistake, he was pushed to the edge of a cliff, so if he showed even a little more gap here, it would be his downfall.

“It’s a bit peculiar.”

Peculiar? Gale nodded his head and told him to report without interruption. The assistant pressed the cloth to his forehead and reported word for word. It was something he had repeated dozens or hundreds of times in his mind while Gale was lying down.

“It’s because the Ministry of Magic is in a position to be investigated while also conducting the investigation. Trying to harm Your Highness is a clear rebellion and a felony. However, because the means was forbidden magic, other departments couldn’t even proceed with the investigation.”

With each exhale of cigarette smoke, Gale felt his mind clearing. Then the situation was as clear as water.

“The factions will be completely divided.”

“Yes. It’s divided into the Magic Support Department, which was directly under Wesleigh, and all other departments except him. With the minister position also vacant, a power struggle between the magicians is expected.”

Gale tapped his chin as if lost in thought. Since Mariv knew he was awake, being summoned and questioned was imminent.

“Not many people know about the forbidden magic?”

“Yes. They are currently searching through ancient documents to grasp the situation. But Your Highness. That…”

The assistant carefully continued. As if it was too unseemly to even say out loud.

“Is the curse real?”

“…No one knows?”

“Even though I was right next to Your Highness at the time, I couldn’t hear it. I think my mind was clouded by Wesleigh’s dark energy.”

No one, no one knows what Wesleigh’s curse is? Gale unknowingly smiled, delighted. He quickly racked his brain and got up from his seat.

“Where’s Ian?”

“Pardon? Ian?”

“Yes. I desperately need him right now.”

“Ian has been attending an emergency meeting for half a day and hasn’t been able to come out.”

Gale frowned while being dressed by the attendant. Could it be that Mariv noticed Ian knew about Wesleigh’s necromancy? And did he get caught trying to deceive Mariv?

It would be troublesome if Ian was thrown away by Mariv. Among the weapons currently in his hands, there was nothing as certain and useful as Ian.

The assistant sensed his intentions and immediately added.

“Wasn’t Ian the only one who didn’t confront Wesleigh? Because of that, he is participating in the meeting as a representative of the Ministry of Magic at the scene, so you don’t have to worry.”

He was the one who stopped Wesleigh, who was the head of the Ministry of Magic. Putting aside the captains who weren’t there, it meant he had the strongest magical power among the magicians at the scene.

‘Even more so, I need Ian.’

It felt as if the balance was slowly tilting towards Ian’s side. Just a few days ago, Ian was in a position to entrust his forces to Gale, but now wasn’t it Gale who was in a hurry?

“Is Father at the meeting?”

“It’s a continuous emergency meeting. Depending on his physical condition, he repeatedly enters and exits to keep his seat. The same goes for other officials.”

Mariv seemed to have come out in the middle to take a break. Gale quickly put on his uniform and sheathed his sword at his waist.

“Let’s go. Everyone must be waiting for me.”

***

“No, do you call that a proper statement now?”

“Where are you raising your voice? When you look into it, aren’t they all valid points? From the sudden discussion of former Minister Wesleigh’s dismissal, something was strange. Clearly, the discord between His Highness Gale and former Minister Wesleigh is the beginning of this!”

“That is His Highness’s personal life. It’s not even a topic for discussion. What we need to investigate is why Wesleigh used forbidden magic!”

“That’s exactly related to His Highness, I’m telling you! Ah, really. You’re so frustrating. It sounds like you’re trying to cut off the tail, but please say something that makes sense!”

“Frustrating? Have you finished talking?”

“Have you finished? Have you finished!?”

Bang bang bang!

The chaotic emergency meeting room. The papers were the only things not flying around, as Mariv’s faction and Gale’s faction were practically at war. Who knows how many hours this fight has been going on? The Prime Minister wearily hit the gavel, demanding silence.

“Please, everyone, stop.”

Exhausted to the limit. After finishing the long journey of the personnel meeting, now it was an emergency meeting. The Emperor, sitting at the head of the table, had closed his mouth at some point and was just observing.

“Sir Ian!”

Then, a minister called out to Ian. Ian, who was sitting upright, nodded and stood up from his seat.

“Testify again.”

How many times has it been?

He was repeating like a parrot that what Wesleigh used was indeed forbidden magic and his testimony from the scene where he confronted him. In addition, he declared the Ministry of Magic’s position that it had nothing to do with this incident.

Ian thought that if he were the Emperor, he would have dismissed all the ministers spouting nonsense, and parted his lips to testify.

But then.

Creak.

“I announce. His Highness Prince Gale has arrived.”

“Prince Gale?”

“Someone said he woke up, but is he already able to move?”

“Quickly, quickly bring him in!”

The meeting room welcomed a new atmosphere with Gale’s appearance. Ian, who had awkwardly stood up, sat down and swallowed a sigh.

‘Wesleigh did deal a big blow. His forces have fallen so much in just a day.’

There was no need to weigh between the 1st Prince and the 2nd Prince. At this rate, it was clear that Mariv’s influence would be stronger than Gale’s in appointing the next minister of the Ministry of Magic.

‘There is one way for Gale, though…’

No need to tell him. In the early stages of the battle, he thought Gale might be necessary to keep Mariv in check, but there was no reason to push him recklessly after receiving the forbidden curse.

“Your Highness Gale! Are you alright?”

“Ahem, Your Highness. We were really worried.”

“Your Highness, now that you’ve come, please tell us. Is it true that you were cursed by Wesleigh?”

“What, you! He just arrived!”

“Whether he just arrived or arrived earlier, what difference does it make? To be honest, I’m worried about being in the same place as His Majesty the Emperor. Who knows what kind of curse it is!”

Mariv’s faction fiercely argued. Even if the words were excessive, they were all true, so Gale’s faction just looked at the prince and remained silent.

Swish.

“Curse, yes. It can be seen as a curse.”

Gale slowly stepped forward and looked at Mariv. Mariv just smirked as if telling him to go ahead and say it. But Ian could sense a strange confidence in Gale’s tone…

‘No way.’

“Curse! You heard it now, right? His Highness Gale admitted it! It’s a curse! You must immediately order him to leave the palace!”

Gale, who was carefully observing the boiling atmosphere of the meeting room, put his hand on his chest and knelt on one knee before his father, the Emperor.

“Father. I have been cursed.”

“…Gale. Speak up.”

“I have always only desired the glory of Bariel and believed that proper development is the only reason for my life. I have no other meaning than that.”

Gale spoke in a very appealing voice, unlike his usual self.

“So, Wesleigh said this to me. ‘Your death will be the beginning, and the shadow of death will fall upon countless imperial citizens of Bariel. Thus, it will head down the path of decline, which is the destruction of Bariel.’”

Mariv, who was quietly listening, removed his chin from his hand and opened his eyes wide. Ian also let out a hollow laugh inwardly.

‘That’s a lie. But it’s the best move for now.’

“Also, he said this.”

Gale looked up at his brother Mariv as if telling him to listen carefully. This time, it was Gale who was smiling.