Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 166

Sniff sniff. Beric circled around Xiaoshi, constantly sniffing him. Was it the ragged clothes or the improperly washed body that was the problem? Xiaoshi silently looked down at his pitch-black hands.

At that moment, Ian entered the room and clicked his tongue.

“What are you, a dog? Why are you sniffing him like that?”

“He smells like yukhoe. The scent of fresh meat. It’s nice.”

Mini, who had followed behind, set down clean clothes and informed them. Both the top and bottom were a solid black color without any patterns. It was the perfect outfit for taking advantage of the darkness.

“The bath is ready.”

“Alright. Thank you.”

“If you need anything else, just call for me again. Well then.”

If he were to be arrested as an assassin, he would certainly be stripped bare, so he couldn’t look shabby and give away that he was a slave. Ian sat in front of him and unfolded a piece of paper.

“Can you read?”

“No, I can’t.”

“Me too, me too!”

“Then engrave it firmly in your memory.”

Ian sat in front of him and unfolded the paper. Even ordinary people often get lost when entering the palace for the first time. However, for someone who had spent half his life in a prison, reaching the Imperial Palace, and even Gale’s residence, was quite a difficult task.

“This is roughly the entrance. You’ll be dropped off here, so keep the wall on your left and go straight in, passing through the largest door. After going through the garden, it’s the third room in the second corridor. That’s the reception room closest to the target.”

Beric, who had been listening beside them, wore a look of astonishment. As if he had heard a complex chemical formula that he couldn’t understand at all. At first, he had said he could go himself, but now he seemed utterly repulsed, as if he had given up completely.

“This won’t work. It’s impossible.”

“Beric, I know. That’s why I chose someone else.”

“Xia, can you really do this? Seriously?”

Xiaoshi glanced at Beric with an indifferent gaze, then nodded.

“I understand.”

“Recite what I told you.”

He accurately remembered what he had heard without a single discrepancy. A satisfied smile appeared on Ian’s lips, and Beric clapped his hands as if in admiration. Getting such a reaction for something trivial. Xiaoshi just lowered his eyes, feeling unnecessarily embarrassed.

“Remember well what I’m about to say now, too.”

***

Xiaoshi tightened his mask. On the night when the full moon rose and set again. The scenery of the unfamiliar palace was so beautiful that even the darkness couldn’t conceal it.

So this is the kind of world that exists, he marveled briefly. Recalling his master’s words, he concealed his presence while keeping the wall on his left.

Tap tap!

The sound of footsteps seemed particularly loud, but it must be his imagination. He could instinctively tell. That he was now embroiled in something immense. Not only would his life change, but he was also standing at a turning point in history.

‘But what’s the problem with that?’

Know but don’t care. Fulfilling the given orders was the only fate of a slave. Invisible shackles tend to be heavier. The imprint of slavery that had continued from his parents, no, even before that, seemed to be engraved on his soul. Although he himself wasn’t aware of it.

Creak.

Xiaoshi slowly opened the largest door. There was a latch, but it wasn’t locked. In the vast space, the only presence he felt was his own. It was late at night, so the absence of servants was understandable, but not a single guard was in sight.

‘Everything has been arranged, so walk in with confidence.’

His master’s words made Xiaoshi take a step. While passing through the garden and entering the corridor. He simply walked without concealing his presence, but he couldn’t encounter anyone. As if welcoming an intruder.

Swoosh.

“Gasp!”

As he entered the corridor, a servant spotted him from afar. Xiaoshi reflexively grasped his sword, but she disappeared into the darkness, holding her breath as if she had seen something she shouldn’t have.

At this point, a chuckle escaped his lips. Although he had considered it a peculiar mission, to think it would be to this extent. He felt he understood why his master had chosen him.

‘The third room. Open the door closest to the window in the reception room, and that will be the target’s bedchamber. Go and stab the pillow with your sword.’

Xiaoshi completely let go of his murderous intent and simply walked towards his destination. Something glinted in the pitch-black darkness. Xiaoshi unconsciously turned his head to the side and soon encountered a perplexed individual.

‘A child? In a place like this?’

Silver hair and blue eyes. The child was gazing at Xiaoshi in the darkness. Without any intention of fleeing like the servant earlier.

What should he do in this situation? Could it be the target’s son? Or could it possibly be the target himself? No, that couldn’t be. He was told there would be a black-haired man in the bedchamber.

‘There must be absolutely no physical confrontation. Just avoid, ignore, and move forward. Even if you try to run away, no one will try to find you. Xiaoshi, your capture is already predetermined.’

The child staring intently at Xiaoshi. He tried his best to avert his gaze and turned his body. Somehow, it gave him goosebumps. He had seen all sorts of things while rolling around as a slave, but it was the first time he had seen a child with such eyes.

Tap tap!

Xiaoshi hurriedly tried to finish the task, entering the room without hesitation. The reception room, the door closest to the window, the bedchamber, and-

“You’re late.”

“……!”

The black-haired man leisurely lying on the bed, waiting for him.

“I almost fell asleep.”

“……”

“Did Ian cut out your tongue? Well, a wise decision.”

He gestured for Xiaoshi to come closer. Xiaoshi slowly walked towards him, drawing his sword from its sheath. The pillow beside him. That was the target.

“Because we don’t know what words might come out of your mouth.”

Xiaoshi simply raised his sword without any response. It didn’t matter whether the man lying in front of him was a prince or a noble. All that mattered was that stabbing the pillow would be the punctuation mark of this night.

Swoosh.

“Ah, wait a moment.”

But the sword halted in midair once again. Just like when he aimed for the vital point of the livestock. Because Gale had raised his hand to grab the blade.

“For an assassin, you’re not even going to draw a single drop of blood?”

“……”

“That’s disappointing. The people in the Imperial Palace aren’t so easy to deal with. A suitable sacrifice brings plausibility. Come on, go ahead.”

This was different from his master’s words. His master had told him not to draw a single drop of blood, but the target was telling him to do it.

“What are you doing? Are you going to stay like that? With your feet rudely on the bed?”

Gale laughed playfully. As expected, it seemed Ian had instructed him not to inflict any physical harm on Gale.

It was a signal flare set off by agreement, but in the future, Gale could have a change of heart and use it as a weakness. Implicit deals were nonsense, and the fact that Ian had tried to kill Gale would remain true.

“……”

Xiaoshi bit his lip and stared at Gale. What should he do in this situation? His master hadn’t said anything about this.

“If you don’t show blood, I won’t call for anyone. Stay like that until dawn.”

At Gale’s words, Xiaoshi sighed and got off the bed. Then, without hesitation, he slashed his own left arm.

Slash!

A diagonal cut from his shoulder to his wrist. Soon, blood dripped, staining the marble floor. Xiaoshi felt nauseous at the sticky and mushy sensation, but he maintained his composure by steadying his breathing. In that state, he slowly approached Gale.

“…This is unbelievable.”

Why were all the ones Ian kept in such a state? Rumor had it that there was also a mad dog named Beric, and even the Magic Operations Department of the Ministry of Magic wasn’t composed of sane individuals.

Swoosh.

Xiaoshi slowly climbed over Gale, staining the bed with his blood. And without hesitation, he stabbed the pillow with his sword. As if the mission was now complete. He sat blankly, waiting for the next step.

“……”

Did he really cut out his tongue? Gale opened his jaw to examine the inside, but it was intact. It was an incomprehensible situation. To wrap up the act, Gale fumbled on the table.

Ding- Ding ding-

The golden bedchamber bell rang pleasantly. Before long, Gale’s palace, which had been dark, lit up. The sound of servants and guards who had been concealing their presence could be heard running, and soon the door was roughly opened.

Bang!

“Your Highness, are you alright?”

“It’s an intruder. Arrest this man.”

The servants hesitated at the sight of the blood pooling on the floor, but soon realized it wasn’t Gale’s and felt relieved. The guards restrained Xiaoshi, and just as the servants were about to move in unison to tidy up the room.

“…Your Highness?”

The head servant softly called out to Gale. As Gale turned his head with a puzzled frown, the other servants and guards also flinched in surprise.

“…Your Highness!”

“Your Highness Gale!”

“How did this-“

“Bring a doctor! A doctor!”

What was this fuss about? The moment Gale tried to speak.

He could feel the unpleasant sensation of something flowing down his face. Eyes, nose, mouth, ears. Blood was flowing from every orifice. To the point where it would be more accurate to say it was gushing out rather than flowing.

“Cough-!”

“Your Highness!”

There was no pain. But it was agonizing to breathe due to the regurgitating blood. As Gale collapsed forward, chaos erupted. Even the guards restraining Xiaoshi rushed to examine Gale.

“You! What have you done?”

“…I didn’t do it.”

“You demon!”

“I didn’t do it.”

Slap!

The guard struck Xiaoshi’s cheek. His head violently turned to the side, but his posture remained unperturbed. Gale raised his hand to restrain his subordinates, but the command didn’t come out as a sound due to the blood constantly pouring from his throat.

Slap! Slap!

Xiaoshi silently endured the beating and observed Gale.

So he was a prince. The Emperor’s son. Now that the lights were on, he didn’t look old enough to have a child. Well, those in high positions were said to have political marriages from a young age.

“Your Highness Gale! The doctor is here!”

“Oh my, heavens! What is going on?”

“An assassin broke in. Hurry and stop the bleeding-“

“Your Highness, please raise your head! Are there any lacerations?”

“It suddenly started pouring out.”

“It could be poison. Just a moment, step aside! Head servant! Warm water and clean cloth!”

Gale seemed to be in his right mind, obediently raising his head as instructed by the doctor. Looking at the brilliantly sparkling chandelier, Ian’s golden hair came to mind.

‘…Is this Ian’s doing?’

Suddenly bleeding without any premonitory symptoms. This was impossible unless it was poison, some sort of sorcery, or magic. Moreover, he was only bleeding without any pain. It wasn’t a typical case.

‘Besides, in the current situation, if I were truly in danger, Ian would be the one in the most trouble. That couldn’t be.’

Ian wasn’t someone who would take risks even if he had to bear losses. How well did he walk the line between Mariv and Gale? There was nothing to gain from making Gale bleed in this situation.

“Your Highness, can you speak?”

“…Inform them.”

“Pardon?”

He didn’t know what had happened, but yes, it was good. He had wanted to draw blood, and it had turned out well. Whatever the case, a dramatic element was always necessary in a play.

“Inform them that an assassin has entered my residence. Let the entire Imperial Palace know.”

“Ah, understood!”

He would figure out this strange phenomenon in due time. Before that, since the signal flare had been set off, he would run first. The sooner he moved, the more he could stay ahead of his opponent.

“Also, inform them.”

To the faction that followed him.

“Tell them that there is someone in the Imperial Palace who seeks to harm me, so they should all enter the palace armed.”