Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 198

Clink.

Dilaina carefully set down her teacup. It was the moment Ian’s voice announcing the opening of the city gates had just faded from her ears.

The servants bowed their heads, observing Dilaina and Arsen’s expressions. Because in handling the palace situation, Arsen’s name wasn’t mentioned.

“How blatant of them.”

“Indeed.”

As Duke Hayman raised his eyebrows and muttered, Dilaina offered an indignant response through clenched teeth. This was a matter of honor, setting aside the position of heir. If Jin was mentioned like that, people would question what Arsen was doing at the time.

Arsen sipped his tea and consoled his mother.

“It can’t be helped. It happened under Sir Ian’s authority. It’s not like we didn’t expect this.”

“If they had opened the gates a bit later, each media outlet would have raised doubts about the Ministry of Magic’s counteraction. What a pity.”

The stance was clear, and they immediately permitted entry to the palace. With people directly seeing and hearing things, fabricated rumors would be pushed aside.

As Hayman smiled bitterly while stroking his beard, Arsen laughed along.

“It’s not too late. Please continue as planned.”

“Your Highness, everyone nearby heard Ian’s speech. Wouldn’t it be wise to exercise restraint? As the situation highlights slander for what it is, it may backfire.”

On the grounds of disrupting the empire’s order, Ian could find fault. But Arsen nodded slightly as if telling him not to worry.

“Doesn’t Hayman have several media outlets under its support? Not right away, but wait for the right timing and spread rumors centered around back alleys.”

Fabricated rumors alone lack power. Using them to instigate and indoctrinate is the true purpose.

“No matter how absurd the words, if repeated, people eventually believe them. They will deny it at first, of course. But next comes suspicion, and suspicion is based on a certain level of belief. Isn’t it beneficial for us if even one more person harbors doubts about Ian?”

It’s difficult to trace the origin of back alley rumors. It was a risk worth taking, and the butterfly effect it could bring was immense. It was advantageous not to stop the instigation.

‘If repeated, it’s believed.’

Arsen knew the power words held. Didn’t his frail sibling show it through results his whole life? Arsen smiled and warned Hayman.

“And remember. We have less time than you think.”

He had just received information that Mariv had entered the interrogation room. The process from interrogation to trial was up to those involved. If rushed, they could put Mariv on trial as early as tomorrow.

Then Gale’s punishment would come soon. And Hayman’s turn, who was entangled with Gale.

“Yes, Your Highness. I’m well aware.”

Hayman lowered his eyes with no whites and answered.

When he went out to receive orders from the Grand Council and returned, the atmosphere between Dilaina and Arsen had strangely changed. She, who had been constantly chattering, chose silence, and Arsen began issuing directions.

‘Well, this is rather good. It means the prince we’re backing isn’t dull.’

They glanced at the clock. By now, a large crowd must be gathered at the city gates. To leave the palace, it was better to wait until it quieted down.

“And I must say. Don’t we need some fresh air? Not just for me, but especially for Duke Hayman, it seems it would be easier to breathe.”

“Hmm. I agree.”

Let’s kill Gale.

Hayman immediately understood Arsen’s intent. Gale was living proof of their collusion, and since Ian claimed to protect him, they would try to breathe easier by killing him.

Hayman affirmed but frowned, not seeing a way.

“However, I heard two mages are always on standby beside His Highness Gale. The security is also strict. Although his self-inflicted wound is deep, it’s quite severe. I suspect Ian has this in mind.”

Considerable effort was needed to stop the two mages and kill Gale. But how could they make a way now, in the palace full of prying eyes amidst the chaos?

Arsen also muttered, resting his chin.

“If it weren’t for the two mages, things might be a bit easier.”

“Do you have a method in mind?”

“Yes, well. Anything.”

Arsen’s words were meaningful, but no one questioned them. Dilaina was blankly staring into space, and Duke Hayman had something that took priority over that.

Swish.

Hayman placed the documents brought by his chief of staff on the table. It was in front of Arsen, not Dilaina. The child flipped through the papers with his small hands, familiar with the task.

“Once palace affairs normalize, bills to check the Hayman family will be officially proposed. This is a list we’ve compiled in anticipation. The most likely is multiple taxation, followed by foreign trade restrictions.”

Hayman held the purse strings, so they wouldn’t be able to overturn it right away. Instead, they would slowly trip him, push his back, and eventually break his arm and pin him to the ground. This stack of papers was the trajectory of the attack Hayman anticipated.

Flip.

“Duke, aren’t you already paying double the tax compared to other nobles?”

“You’re well-informed.”

Once for the noble title, and once more for engaging in the finance industry. Arsen clicked his tongue as if truly regretful.

“Of course I know. The palace is polished with the Duke’s taxes. Hmm. I understand. I will discuss this matter with my mother and trusted meritorious subjects.”

Arsen’s role was to fend off the various regulations that would pour down on Hayman. They were already sailing together.

“Ah, Mother.”

“Yes?”

Dilaina turned her head at Arsen’s call. Her swift response was unbelievable given how blankly she had been.

“Let’s seek help from your family as well.”

“From Carbo?”

“Yes, isn’t that where the prophecy about me and Jin began? I believe they will certainly have something to say about this incident.”

“Ah. Right. I’ll contact them.”

Knock knock.

It was the moment Arsen satisfactorily held his mother’s hand. A presence was heard outside, and soon Hayman’s subordinate rushed in.

“Excuse me, Duke. We received a message from outside.”

And he whispered something in the Duke’s ear. Hayman’s eyebrows furrowed as he listened indifferently, then he stared at his subordinate in disbelief, and his neck turned red from the rising heat.

Slap!

“Oh my.”

Without hesitation, he slapped his subordinate’s cheek.

Dilaina slightly covered her mouth, showing a startled expression, but that was it. What was the big deal about a master striking his subordinate? Rather, it was more peculiar that he didn’t maintain decorum in front of Dilaina and Arsen.

“How on earth are you managing the underlings!”

“My deepest apologies.”

His huge pupils with no whites seemed to have grown even larger. Arsen picked up a cookie and asked Hayman.

“What’s the matter?”

“…It’s nothing. I’ve committed a discourtesy. My apologies.”

“Duke, you must speak for us to help. We’re on the same side, aren’t we? We’ve told you everything. It’s a bit disappointing for you to act like this.”

They even shared that Dilaina had her parental rights over Jin revoked. It would have been made public anyway, but faithfully sharing even trivial matters was the cornerstone of a true alliance.

Hayman placed his hands on his waist and paced in front of the window.

“Duke.”

“…Outside, my subordinate caused an accident.”

“An accident, you say?”

“It seems Ian sent someone to print an extra, and in the process of stopping them, my subordinates used mana stone armor.”

The slap made sense now. They royally messed up, Arsen whistled inwardly.

“Was the other party a mage? I doubt they would have used it on an ordinary person. Their judgment is regrettable, but well, it’s better to think they had their reasons.”

“They say it was a swordmaster.”

“A swordmaster? With red hair?”

“Do you know him?”

“He’s Ian’s closest aide. A swordmaster, so what happened to him? Did he die?”

“He came back half-dead. If they were going to kill him, they should have done it properly. Tsk! I heard mages are all flocking to save him now. There seems to be another swordmaster, but-“

“Wait, did you say all the mages are flocking to him?”

Arsen interrupted Hayman’s words and asked.

If the mages were flocking, it meant the healing mages were also there.

“…!”

“Duke, you should hurry and leave the palace.”

Gale’s residence is empty. Realizing this, Arsen stood up and supported his mother, bidding farewell. With a final word to meet again soon, they parted ways.

Click.

Hayman lit a cigarette and turned to his subordinate. Blood flowed from his torn cheek where the ring had scratched.

“So, what happened to the blue-haired swordmaster?”

“Well, that is…”

Although only Hayman’s people were in the room, the subordinate approached again and whispered. In the palace, even the ears on portraits played their role. It was quite careful to recite so that the sound wouldn’t leak out.

***

“Good heavens! Beric! You bastard!”

“Lay him here! Warm water and clean cloths!”

“Mages, take turns infusing mana! Support the healing magic and lend strength! Call all the doctors! We’ll stitch the torn wounds!”

“The bone, is this the right bone?”

“Damn it, I’m going crazy. Check if his fingers are attached!”

“Beric, oh, Beric…”

“Sir Romandro. Please step aside. You’re in the way.”

“Sob, that, please save him. Our Beric, how…”

The mages frowned and continued injecting mana. At first, they thought Ian had brought a torn corpse. It was so miserable that they couldn’t imagine he was alive, with not a single uninjured spot.

Romandro wiped away tears and snot, constantly moving the newly heated water basin. Viviana was forbidden from approaching in case she got shocked.

“Hah, he’s really alive, right?”

“He even spoke.”

“Crazy, does it make sense that he survived like this? He’s not human. This can’t be human.”

Zing. Zing.

The healing mages sweated profusely as they scanned Beric’s overall injuries. The inside of his body felt through their fingertips. His organs were all ruined.

“Gasp! What the-“

“Suture the wounds! I don’t know if it’s meaningful! First, stop the bleeding. Akorela! Tell Akorela to bring out all the anesthetic potions!”

Ian looked at his blood-soaked hands and turned to Beric. Fortunately, he wasn’t dead, but it was certainly strange. With his condition, they could just bury him in the dirt, but how was Beric alive?

“Sir Ian.”

Knock knock.

It was Jeirutt, one of the Three Captains. He knocked on the open door and called for Ian. Glancing briefly at the wrecked Beric, he awkwardly asked.

“Do you happen to know Barsabe’s whereabouts?”

“…I haven’t heard anything. According to Viviana, she lured away the armored men. I’ve issued a wanted order to the Palace Guard. If they spot black armor and a blue-haired swordmaster, a report will come in.”

She disappeared. Both the armor and Barsabe vanished without a trace. Jeirutt’s face darkened as he pressed his deep frown.

“Sigh.”

She was the daughter of a deceased friend and a trusted subordinate. He didn’t doubt her skills, but didn’t Beric arrive in that condition? Worrying was inevitable.

“And Sir Ian. Do you remember I said I would look into that bastard Beric last time?”

When Beric and Jeirutt first clashed in the training grounds, they both had doubts about Beric’s identity. There were too many points that didn’t add up to call him a simple swordmaster.

“I compiled a few things I heard, but nothing was certain. Seeing his state, there’s one thing that’s particularly suspicious among them.”

Ian wiped the blood with a handkerchief and looked at him. As if telling him to speak quickly.

“Have you heard of the Atan tribe?”