Margrave's Bastard Son was The Emperor-Chapter 321

A carriage cut through the cool dawn air. Perhaps because they had crossed the massive mountain of the appointment ceremony, even the Ministry of Magic, usually bright regardless of day or night, was sound asleep in these early hours.

The driver opened the passenger compartment window while letting out a long yawn.

Ian slept leaning against the window in a proper posture, while Romandro had passed out with his mouth wide open and a pained expression. Seeing how exhausted both men looked, the driver hesitated for a moment.

“…Um, we’ve arrived.”

“Hah! Gasp, right. Arrived.”

Both men responded keenly even to the faintest whisper. Romandro woke up as if having a seizure, while Ian merely opened his eyes slightly.

This was the morning after a day of laughing, chattering, and drinking from afternoon till night. They’d done so thinking they wouldn’t have to work, but who could have known? Romandro groaned while rolling his stiff shoulders.

“Ughh, I’m dying! Dying! Should’ve drunk less.”

“You didn’t drink after hearing the message though. It couldn’t be helped. You did well too. Call your replacement and head in.”

“Are you coming out right away?”

“I just need to gather some documents.”

Ian gestured for the driver to hurry inside, then entered the Ministry of Magic.

The lobby was empty. Even the mages, except those on duty, were enjoying what was rarely known as ‘leaving work.’ In the distance, Hale approached while scratching his head vigorously.

“Hale.”

“Ah, Lord Ian. You’ve arrived. You must be tired.”

“I’m fine after catching some sleep in the carriage. How are our young guests?”

Hale had been tasked with ensuring the young guests’ return home on Ian’s orders. Among them, naturally, the masked child required special attention.

The Crown Prince’s awkward figure entering the palace had been particularly memorable. His identity was too obvious to pretend otherwise, yet he’d had too much fun to acknowledge being the Crown Prince.

Hale nodded with a cigarette in his mouth.

“No problems. They all returned safely.”

“Good. That’s what matters.”

Ian passed him while checking his pocket watch. Having prepared everything at the mansion, he just needed to grab the documents and head out again. Romandro followed behind with dragging footsteps.

Rustle

The meeting materials prepared by the mage were neatly arranged on the desk. Ian stood for a moment scanning them, then passed them to Romandro as if telling him to review them as well.

“Lord Romandro. Please read with your eyes properly open.”

“Huh? Are my eyes closed right now?”

“Yes. Both of them.”

How strange. That can’t be right.

Romandro rubbed his eyelids with the back of his hand, then focused on examining the documents. For a hastily called meeting, it was quite a detailed report. Perhaps because it was based on the local garrison’s detailed message. RᴀN𝐎ᛒΕṣ

“Before we enter the meeting, there’s something we should go over between ourselves.”

“Just a moment. Please proceed.”

Through his drowsiness, Romandro fumbled in his pocket for his notebook. He gripped his pen firmly and blinked his eyes again.

“The garrison believes with near certainty that Clifford was attacked by bandits.”

“Since it happened below the forest rather than in the fields, they seem even more convinced. All sorts of traces were left behind, after all.”

“Then let’s think about this.”

“About what?”

“This isn’t some simple merchant caravan, but the return procession of a nation’s leader. Even if bandits were lying in wait along the route, it would be too overwhelming a force for any ordinary band to dare touch.”

“T-that’s true.”

Not only were there numerous guards, but counting the private porters and attendants, the number of people easily exceeded a hundred.

Among the bandit groups currently known to Bariel, none had the strength to confront such a force. Even in the Karenna region that Ian had passed through, known for severe bandit problems, they wouldn’t readily attack such a target.

Romandro finally raised his eyebrows as if sensing something odd. His half-closed eyes opened a bit wider.

“Then perhaps they really did encounter bandits but suffered no significant damage, so they’re continuing their return without stopping? If they informed Bariel, there would surely be delays with investigations and such. Given Prince Noah’s condition too, maybe they took a detour wanting to hurry home?”

“That’s unlikely. With an alliance with Bariel approaching, if they suffered such an incident before crossing the border, they would certainly have made it public. To secure a more advantageous position.”

Even without damages, they would have milked it for compensation in some way.

But Clifford showed no reaction whatsoever. Prince Noah’s message in the report was very brief and simple:

-We are proceeding south without issue. I don’t know what the matter is, but there’s no need for concern. Upon returning home, I will convey Bariel’s intentions to Father and consider the timing for a meeting.

It was suspicious. No matter how trivial, this concerned the safety of a nation’s prince. If he were Noah, he would have asked what happened and tried to understand the situation clearly.

Romandro tilted his head while drawing question marks with his pen.

“An imperial investigation is certainly needed.”

“In the meeting, Burgos will likely be brought up.”

Ian grabbed the door handle, signaling it was time to leave. Regardless of Clifford’s position, according to the Bariel garrison’s observation, there was clearly a problem.

And to create such a situation, a ragtag group of bandits wouldn’t suffice. Wouldn’t it make more sense to assume parties of similar caliber were involved?

“…Burgos. Right! Burgos has a motive too. Kakel, the Golden Diamond went to Clifford, so they might be trying to reclaim it under the guise of bandits.”

He understood well the significance of the jewels. They weren’t simply cut minerals, but determined Damon’s standing, noble unity, and furthermore, the flow of political situations.

Though reckless, it wasn’t entirely impossible. Rather, it was an opportunity to clearly reclaim the jewel while pushing aside the complexly intertwined interests.

“Those bastards, I didn’t like them from the start. We should investigate thoroughly and expose everything. Give them a proper-“

“I wonder about that.”

As Romandro angrily gestured at the air, outraged that they dared try to deceive the Bariel Empire, Ian gently lowered his finger.

“Think carefully. Let’s say Burgos tried to seize the jewel. This would undeniably be a hostile action against Bariel. It’s sufficient justification to mobilize troops.”

Forcefully seizing a jewel given by the Crown Prince in Bariel territory? Unless they planned to annihilate Clifford, it would be immediately apparent.

“If they had such intentions, they would have done it after crossing the border, not within Bariel. Moreover-“

Considering the relationships between Burgos, Clifford, and Bariel, it was even more impossible.

The alliance between Noah and Ian was quite burdensome to Damon, who sought to forge a three-nation alliance. If Noah failed to properly protect the jewel here, what would become of his position?

“He lost the jewel given by the Crown Prince as collateral, and it happens to be one of a kind. Bariel’s influence over Clifford would grow even stronger.”

“That’s true. Well, swallowed whole.”

“…Though the expression is odd, I won’t correct it.”

They would pressure Clifford using the jewel as leverage. This would be a perfect bond beyond alliance. Was the jewel worth enduring that?

“The nobles of Burgos still belong to Burgos. It’s a matter they can handle internally. They wouldn’t care enough to surrender Clifford completely. Above all, aren’t they bordering countries? If Bariel’s influence grows there, Burgos would wither even more.”

He stopped himself from adding that King Damon wouldn’t have done such a thing. He knew it would be unnecessary commentary.

Romandro hesitated for a moment as if thinking of something, then quickly caught up behind Ian. A situation where no one knew the truth.

“What if King Damon noticed the relationship between Clifford and Bariel? What if he judged a three-nation alliance impossible and attacked to cut off Clifford?”

Flexible and diverse thought expansion was quite important. Thus, Romandro continued presenting hypotheses while Ian countered them as they descended the stairs.

“If that were the case, Prince Noah couldn’t have safely sent the carrier pigeon message. If they intended to cut off Clifford, it would mean imminent conflict. They wouldn’t have let Prince Noah live. No, they absolutely should have dealt with him. If Prince Noah died within Bariel territory, it would create a possibility of capturing Clifford on their side.”

“Damn, just when I think I understand, I don’t! Ah, prepare for departure!”

While thinking had helped wake him up, he felt nauseous on the other hand. Romandro called to the driver below while leaning against a pillar.

Ian watched the halted Romandro. Looking at the breaking dawn in the distance, he murmured.

New n𝙤vel chapters are published on novelbuddy.cσ๓.

“…Lord Romandro.”

“Ugh. I think Beric put something weird in that bomb shot. Usually I’m not this bad.”

Ian smiled faintly. His eyes said, We drank the same thing though. He swallowed the joke and whispered quietly.

“If it’s neither bandits nor Burgos, then there’s a possibility it’s not Ruswena either.”

“Since Burgos and Ruswena have properly joined hands.”

“Then, who remains?”

One thing was clear. They wanted chaos.

A force strong enough to match a kingdom’s delegation, positioned between Burgos and Clifford.

Romandro gently furrowed his brows. The sky was breaking into dawn. The wind blew, ruffling Ian’s golden hair. And in the distance, Bariel’s majestic imperial flag as well.

“Right now, are you suggesting…”

“Though not certain, it needs watching.”

An act with involvement from someone within the Imperial Palace. A scheme to disrupt everything just as it was proceeding smoothly.

Romandro answered while taking in the changing dawn sky.

“W-watching is certainly good. But who would disrupt relations between nations? Why?”

“We can confirm that answer through Clifford as they proceed toward the border. We should check if they still properly possess the jewel. If it’s gone-“

If it’s gone, he couldn’t think of what would come next.

It was the jewel connecting Burgos, Clifford, and Bariel as one. What waves that small sparkle would create…

“Could it be Jeirutt’s side?”

Romandro turned to Ian with a start.

Everyone tacitly knew that opposition forces were gathering against Ian within the Imperial Palace. Though no one would know that Ian had wanted this.

Anyway! When problems arise in an established situation, responsibility can be used as ammunition for attacks by the opposition.

“General Jeirutt is a man of integrity. He walks the righteous path. Especially in a matter that could harm Bariel if mishandled, he wouldn’t have condoned and utilized it.”

“True, the General isn’t that type of person. Honestly, it would be difficult for him too. Ah, I’m absolutely not dismissing him. I respect him.”

“I know. I also think there’s much to learn from him.”

Just then, the driver waved his hand broadly. The preparations for departure were complete, so they could come down anytime. Ian nodded to Romandro as if saying let’s go.

“Let’s head to the meeting first. Since I’m also speculating based on fragmentary information, we need to exchange opinions with everyone. Given the early hour, there probably won’t be many attendees.”

“Mmm. Right.”

Romandro took a step while clutching his stomach.

Then, a sudden thought occurred.

The meeting would gather high-ranking officials including the Prime Minister and the Crown Prince. Some among them would surely be those who check Ian’s power. Yet despite this, suggesting they discuss this means…

“Ian.”

At least among those attending the meeting, there were none to be wary of. When Ian turned around, Romandro sighed while covering his face with documents.

“…You mage.”

Ian merely gave a brief smile without words, then descended the stairs again. Sometimes silence reveals more than words.