Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 193

The massive gates separating the inside and outside of the palace.

“Hey! Please say something!”

“I have to pay taxes today, so if you don’t let me in, what am I supposed to do? Will you take responsibility? I don’t know about later, but for now, let me in! Ah, weren’t there people who went in earlier?”

“Please! My father went in and hasn’t come out!”

“Is it true that His Majesty has passed away?”

“Didn’t they say Prince Gale was attacked just before the closure? It seems related to that, hmm.”

“Seeing that even the central nobles who went in aren’t coming out, this is no ordinary situation. Nothing like this has ever happened before.”

“Don’t worry too much. Yesterday, officials, palace suppliers, and some nobles went in. They haven’t come out yet, but it means something is progressing, doesn’t it?”

The gate guards resolutely ignored the crowd gathered at their feet, staring straight ahead. They were strictly forbidden from revealing what had happened inside. If they dared to leak anything, the light of mana in the air would make their heads explode.

“Release the left latch.”

Just then, an order from a superior came from behind. The left latch meant someone was leaving the palace. The gate guards, though startled, swiftly released the latch and lowered the bar.

Creak!

Although it had only been closed for a few days, the gate made a loud metallic sound as if it had been locked for a long time. At the sound of movement, the surroundings fell silent for a moment, and as the gap gradually widened, so did people’s mouths.

“So, someone is coming out!”

“Someone’s coming out! From the palace!”

It was an unprecedented closure of the palace in history. Who could be the one breaking through and stepping outside? At that moment of mounting tension and anticipation, a horse poked its head out. Riding on its back was a red-haired boy.

“Huh? What’s going on? Why is everyone gathered here?”

“Who, who is he? Does anyone know?”

“He looks young, is he a knight?”

“Move, move, I’m busy! I don’t care if I get trampled by a horse. Not my problem!”

“Hey! What happened inside? Tell us!”

“Is everyone safe? What’s going to happen to Bariel?”

“What? I told you to move! Do you want to die?”

Neigh!

The horse, startled, reared up on its front legs, but the crowd didn’t back down. The gate guards, unable to watch any longer, used their spears to clear a path, and Beric and the escort guard fiercely kicked the horse’s flank to escape the chaos.

Clop clop!

‘Why are they acting like that? And what’s going on here?’

The crowd chased after Beric, making sounds close to screams.

In the span of just three days, much had changed around the palace. Many shops had suspended business due to the uncertainty of what would happen to the country, and the streets were littered with garbage and filth.

Occasionally, there were people who had collapsed, bleeding for unknown reasons. It was the result of the guard unit, having lost its command, failing to perform its duties.

“Sir Beric, this way!”

“Huh? Isn’t it that way?”

“That’s the way back!”

Beric, who had been riding ahead, pulled the reins in the opposite direction at the escort’s shout. Surprisingly, it wasn’t long before Romandro’s residence came into view! At this point, Beric had to gradually accept that there was a problem with his sense of direction.

“Viviana! Minnie!”

As soon as they sensed movement in the yard, the two came running out. It seemed they had been waiting for contact. Viviana, cradling her swollen belly, sobbed.

“Sir Beric! What happened? What about my husband?”

“Don’t worry. He’s busy working with Ian. More importantly, here, Ian asked me to deliver this to you.”

Upon hearing that Romandro was safe, Viviana collapsed to the ground without realizing it. Leaving Minnie to support her, she hurriedly opened the note. The woman’s eyes, scanning the letters, twisted in perplexity.

“Is this, is this the truth?”

“I don’t know. I can’t read.”

“Minnie, bring my identification and coat. We need to go to the press.”

“Ah, yes, yes! Just a moment!”

“And!”

Viviana shouted sharply. In contrast to her trembling voice, her eyes were filled with determination.

“…Bring something for self-defense too.”

“Ah, understood.”

Surprised by the unexpected request, Minnie flinched but didn’t question it. She instinctively knew the situation was urgent.

Viviana read the crumpled note once again.

-Viviana, don’t worry, Romandro is safe. Princes Mariv and Gale clashed in the palace to seize power, but under the Ministry of Magic’s lead, they were suppressed without issue. The city gates will open at five in the afternoon. Before then, please inform the truth through the press. There are those who will try to fabricate lies, taking advantage of the chaos, so we must clarify the situation.

Five in the afternoon. Before then, special editions needed to pour out across Bariel. Viviana checked the time and mentally recalled the location of the press. The route was complicated, and time was tight.

-Also, judging by the situation, it seems we will clash again with those who oppose the Ministry of Magic. Romandro is my close aide, and you are Romandro’s precious lover, so you are precious to me as well. Keep in mind that there is danger and be careful. As soon as the situation calms down, I will arrange for your protection. Below is a sentence that must be included in the report.

In the conflict between Mariv and Gale, Ian had stood aside. But now, it was time for him to directly confront the opposing forces. Viviana clasped her hands together and offered a fervent prayer.

-“Princes Mariv and Gale threw the palace into chaos, but under the mediation of the Ministry of Magic, their persons have been secured without incident. Until they are formally brought to trial, we will do our utmost to protect them from opposing forces.”

The sentence was meant to inform that there were opposing forces targeting Princes Mariv and Gale. It could refer to the remnants of each side that had not yet been dealt with, or it could imply the involvement of a third party.

Whatever it was, it was laying the groundwork in preparation for the future. The Ministry of Magic was an entity that protected the imperial family, and even if there were any problems with them, it would be attributed to the work of the opposition.

“Madam! Here, I’ve gathered everything!”

“Let’s go, Sir Beric!”

“Can you ride a horse?”

“Of course. Let’s hurry!”

Beric pulled Viviana onto the horse and grabbed the reins. Then, he shouted vigorously while kicking his feet. Viviana, startled, pointed to the back with her hand.

“Hiyah! Let’s go!”

“Sir Beric, the other way!”

“The other way, let’s go the other way!”

Neigh!

The horse carrying Viviana hastily left the residential area.

And.

“……”

A knight watching from afar.

The coat of arms on his chest bore the seal of the Hayman family. He was one of the duke’s subordinates, waiting in front of the city gates for his master, who had entered the palace.

Clop clop!

His horse also swiftly followed the direction where Beric and Viviana had disappeared.

***

The morning sunlight gradually ripening into noon.

Jin barely opened his eyes and rubbed his forehead against the pillow. Sensing movement, Xiaoshi approached and tidied the blanket.

“Did you cough?”

“…Where is Lord Ian?”

“He is in his office.”

Jin unknowingly nodded. He hadn’t yet emerged from the dream-like night before. He had attended the grand council meeting for the first time in his life and met officials who were concerned about him. His will regarding parental rights was also…

“What about Mother?”

“Pardon?”

She must have received the message that the restriction of parental rights would be carried out. Was Mother hurt? Or was she angry and resenting him? He was worried about her reaction, feeling as if sleep had eluded him.

“How is Mother?”

“…I don’t know.”

“Didn’t she come to see me or Lord Ian?”

“…I apologize.”

Xiaoshi lowered her gaze and mumbled. They say the opposite of love is indifference. Even if the bond between mother and child was severed, was she simply accepting it?

Jin buried his face in the pillow again.

“Your Highness.”

“It’s alright. I’m not crying. I’m just trying to wake up.”

Wake up. Dispel the dream-like lingering attachment and accept reality. Dreams don’t move according to his will, but reality is different. According to his will, let’s move!

Whoosh!

Jin vigorously threw off the blanket and got out of bed. Washing his face and getting dressed, although there were fewer attendants compared to the main palace, causing inconvenience, he managed without complaint.

As he went outside, the busy mages greeted Jin with smiles.

“Your Highness, did you sleep well?”

“Good morning. I heard you went to the grand council meeting yesterday. That’s remarkable. Thanks to you, our agenda is proceeding without issue. Everyone is expressing their gratitude.”

Of course, it was just a polite greeting. But Jin gladly accepted it, and the mages showered him with even more praise and embraced the child.

“Not at all. Everyone, have a good day.”

“Thank you. Ah, Your Highness! Lord Ian is not in his office at the moment.”

A mage who noticed Jin and Xiaoshi heading towards Ian’s office spun around and stopped them.

“Then?”

“Well, Prince Mariv has regained consciousness. I believe he went to interrogate him. It’s the Star Tower, so it’s not too far. He will be back soon.”

Star Tower. Jin looked at the small tower to the west that the mage pointed to. It was a place that could be reached within ten minutes by walking. The child tugged on Xiaoshi’s collar and nodded.

“Let’s go to the Star Tower.”

“Your Highness.”

“I’m not going to see Lord Ian, but Brother Mariv.”

He was curious. Although they had different mothers, Mariv and he were children of the emperor, sharing the same blood, weren’t they? Yet he had tried to kill him and inflicted indelible wounds. He wanted to see Mariv’s attitude regarding this matter firsthand. Moreover…

“If not now, I will only see Brother at the trial.”

For the honor and dignity of the imperial family, he would stand in the courtroom in a clean and neat appearance.

“In my memory, he will remain the perfect brother to the end, but I don’t want that.”

The First Prince who had taken responsibility for Bariel in place of his aging father. The eldest of the eldest brothers, whom no one could dare to defy. Mariv, whose radiant golden hair and elegant gestures were considered the model of the imperial family. Such a brother had caused such a miserable incident, and Jin wanted to erase the complete image of Mariv from his memory.

Tap!

As Jin ran down the stairs without hesitation, Xiaoshi followed behind him.

Soon, the city gates would open. Thus, everyone was moving busily to show their previous appearance as much as possible. So busy that they didn’t notice the young prince blending into their midst.

Creak.

“It’s His Highness Jin.”

At Xiaoshi’s announcement, the Star Tower guard bowed and turned his body. Jin noticed a few familiar mages. Feeling a strange sensation, he slowly approached where Ian and Mariv were.

“…Ah, the merchant guild?”

“…Where did you get the amber gemstones from…”

Mariv and Ian’s voices were heard intermittently. It seemed the interrogation was continuing regarding the mysterious gemstones that had threatened the mages. As Jin approached, Mariv’s voice suddenly became clear.

“But it’s strange.”

“What do you mean?”

“Ian, I don’t understand why you sided with Jin instead of Arsen. I can understand everything else, but that’s the one thing I don’t get.”

Jin unconsciously held his breath. The mages tried to make a sound, but when the prince urgently grasped their sleeve, they had no choice but to falter.

“There’s nothing to know.”

“It’s not that there’s nothing to know, but rather that there’s no reason?”

“…Next question. Is the money circulating from the merchant guild you mentioned related to you, His Highness Mariv?”

“If your support for Jin is only superficial, then sure. There might be no reason. Since you’re someone who played tricks between me and Gale, luring a kid like that would be no problem for you. Do you think I don’t know your true nature?”

Thud.

“Your Highness Mariv.”

As Mariv laughed softly, Ian slammed the document folder shut. The hand of the child gripping the mage’s sleeve trembled slightly. His breath, waiting for Ian’s answer, gradually quickened.

“Please, shut up.”