Margrave's Bastard Son was The Emperor-Chapter 329

Ian’s gaze was truly peculiar. It seemed as though he had realized something, while also appearing somewhat regretful.

The mage who caught his meaning added more. His superior clearly needed to understand. How remarkable it was for someone so young to reach the position of minister. Furthermore, the limits of ordinary mages.

“…We gave it our all, Lord Ian.”

Though it was embarrassing to claim they had used full power for what amounted to basic binding magic between three people, what could they do?

In truth, they had used most of their power from the portal magic cast at departure. Interfering with the flow of time and space was magic approaching an eternal curse, so its difficulty was self-evident without need for explanation.

“Yes. My consideration was lacking.”

“Not at all. Such words only make us more ashamed. But since you say it’s urgent, this is troublesome. How much magical power do you have left, Lord Ian?”

The earlier Ten Thousand Leaves was clearly different from before. It didn’t just summon the World Tree, but made the earth rise, split, and merge again.

“We’ll gather what power we have left and offer it to you. Perhaps you should go up alone first?”

At the mage’s suggestion, Ian turned his head slightly. Prince Noah and May were discussing something, while damaged carriages littered the distance, and Felix lay bound and fallen in a corner.

Was that all? Just a short walk away was Clifford territory. If the prince’s party was delayed, people would surely come, but could the mages properly respond then?

“What? We can’t go home!?”

“Be quiet and just move this.”

“What about food? There’s not even grass to eat in this wasteland!”

“Just be quiet, you’re giving me a headache.”

“Don’t think about stealing my lunch. Though you couldn’t eat it anyway without molars.”

“Whose fault is that? Die!”

“Wah!? Are you crazy, actually swinging at me?”

…There was Beric, and more importantly, Barsabe who belonged to Jeirutt’s side. There were still matters to conclude with Prince Noah, so it would be better to send a messenger bird first.

“Guard Captain, please get me a messenger bird. I’ll send it to the imperial palace. And I think everyone should be able to recover in about half a day. What do you think?”

“Yes. That should be about right.”

“Iaaaan! Let’s tell them to bring food when the doctors come!”

Creeak

Meanwhile, as Ian was organizing the scene, Noah and May put their heads together to search for a solution.

Having been caught harboring ulterior motives while facing an alliance, wasn’t it time to humbly accept the consequences? At worst, it could lead to war, meaning Clifford’s extinction.

May bit her lip while blaming herself for past events.

“I’m sorry, Your Highness.”

“What for? I made the decision. What’s done is done. But from Lord Ian’s attitude just now, it seems there might be something else?”

The source of this c𝐨ntent is freeweɓnovēl.coɱ.

“Yes. He seemed particularly surprised to hear there was no payment.”

Prince Noah furrowed his brow in thought. Since they demanded jewels, he had thought there must be political machinations involved. The basis for judging it was the imperial palace was the mage Felix lying over there. Thus, they couldn’t inform the Bariel side.

From Ian’s attitude, it seemed internal strife was occurring within the Ministry of Magic.

“A traitor within the Ministry of Magic. And Idgal…”

He realized Clifford had become entangled in an uncomfortable situation. But it couldn’t be helped. Even if they could turn back time, he would have made the same choice.

The power to counter mages was that important a national issue. For independence, safety, and a future of wealth and military might.

“Your Highness. Whatever choice you make, I’ll stay by your side until the end. So please don’t worry too much.”

May squeezed Noah’s hand tightly to encourage him. To prevent damage to Clifford here, Noah would have to shoulder everything.

The exposed curse of imprisonment and the attempt to oppose Bariel. All were the prince’s unilateral issues, choices, and actions.

“May. There’s no need for that.”

“Your Highness. I’m sincere.”

“No. You really don’t need to. Unexpectedly, Lord Ian might…”

Noah stopped short of saying he might show ‘mercy.’ Even so, wasn’t that too blatantly insulting a word choice? Noah cleared his throat briefly before continuing.

“Give us a chance.”

Knock knock

Just then, Ian deliberately knocked on the door. It was a signal to stop their whispered discussion. May straightened up in surprise. Prince Noah just looked at him with a composed expression.

Ian adjusted his outer clothes, sat down, and crossed his legs. His eyes seemed to say, well then, let’s see what solution you have for taking responsibility for this situation.

“Lord Ian.”

“Yes, Prince Noah.”

“…First, let me say this. All my actions in Bariel were my unilateral decisions, and His Majesty knows nothing of them. So if there are problems, they are my problems alone. I will pay whatever I can from my position, so please do not hold Clifford responsible.”

“That’s impossible. Didn’t Your Highness come here as Clifford’s delegation? Moreover, as the likely successor, Your Highness’s intentions must be interpreted as Clifford’s intentions.”

“The attacker was a mage. Then isn’t there also a problem with Lord Ian not properly managing his subordinate? Knowing magic’s greatness, I believe you understand how dangerous that one person’s threat was to us.”

“But it was a jewel bestowed by His Majesty. Rather than being robbed, you traded it to rogues, which is the height of disloyalty. And for Idgal in return?”

May felt like she would suffocate in the conversation building without gaps. No matter how she looked at it, Ian seemed ready to tear Clifford apart, so how did the prince judge they might have a chance?

“I beg forgiveness for mistakes. When I meet His Highness the Crown Prince, I will sincerely apologize. I will also pay appropriate compensation.”

“Appropriate compensation. I’m curious.”

“I’ll add military agreements to the alliance.”

Mysterious individuals had handed over Idgal to Clifford. Almost without economic gain at that.

He hadn’t thought of it at the time, but he could get a clue from Ian’s reaction. If Idgal was widely released to neighboring countries, Bariel’s military power would take a strong hit.

“You were making deals behind our backs while facing an alliance, so what should we trust?”

The power difference between Bariel and the three nations. In terms of soldier numbers, they were equal, or perhaps the three nations were slightly superior. Yet the reason they could reign as a great nation over the three nations was just one thing – the presence of solid mages.

“Let’s make a magic contract here.”

“Your Highness!”

Unlike the startled May, Ian just smiled slowly. Though he had roughly expected it, the response came faster than anticipated. It must mean the prince felt an overwhelming sense of responsibility.

“If Idgal circulates in Clifford, naturally the same will happen with Burgos and Ruswena. No, perhaps it already has.”

Ian touched his cheek while resting his chin. Was King Damon of Burgos’s confidence connected to this? Idgal was already in circulation in the Hawan Kingdom, so there was a high possibility that the adjacent Ruswena had also encountered it.

If mages’ power was threatened, the alliance with Clifford would certainly become important.

“You said Your Highness isn’t Clifford’s representative, so what meaning would making a contract with you have?”

“And aren’t you just a minister of one of many departments? The person I need to see is in the imperial palace, so this seems like a very suitable deal for both of us.”

Under the table, May clasped her hands tightly and prayed. If possible, she wished she could give her life to calm this situation.

After pondering briefly, Ian finally nodded.

“Alright. But there are conditions.”

“Essential for a contract. Tell me.”

“First, I will report to the imperial palace. That the whereabouts of His Majesty’s bestowed jewel have become unclear. And second, I want to make the contract with both Your Highness and Clifford’s king.”

“With Father?”

Ian smiled and nodded. Since the prince kept trying to cut ties using his status, he wanted to make a contract with the king to prevent that entirely.

“Is there a problem? In exchange, I’ll speak well to ensure no responsibility is sought for the jewel’s loss.”

“…What about the Idgal?”

“We’ll discuss that with Clifford’s king.”

“I want to know the alliance details.”

“Shall we discuss that together before the king as well?”

Noah swallowed a sigh inside. He had wanted to handle it at his level, but Ian wasn’t someone who would allow that easily. He wasn’t in a position to make further proposals either.

The prince finally answered that he understood.

“Then when…”

Just as he was about to ask when they should arrange the meeting.

The guards blew the buffalo horn again. Having heard it during the chaos earlier, their bodies reflexively tensed. The guards waved white flags while announcing to those around:

“Cavalry from Clifford are approaching!”

“They’re waving flags from that side too! They’re from the kingdom! It seems they’ve come to check since the delegation’s return was delayed!”

At the news of soldiers coming from Clifford, people all ran toward the border. And they waved with all their might to show they were here.

“Over here! Here!”

“The prince is here too! Do something about the carriages!”

“We were attacked by the mages-!”

“Watch your mouth, fool!”

“Um, that is! The mages are here too! Here! Be careful!”

The cavalry recognized that something had happened, and one immediately turned back. It was to request reinforcements. Watching this, Ian addressed Noah.

“Rather than setting a separate date, it would be better to do it while we’re here. How long would it take to the kingdom if we just rode horses, not carriages?”

“If we ride without rest, we should arrive by nightfall.”

“Hmm. Is that so?”

By then the mages’ magical power would also be recovered. They could finish business there and return straight to the imperial palace. Ian stood up and gave instructions.

“Guards, temporarily allow the Clifford soldiers entry, help with cleanup and organize this place. We will escort the prince into the kingdom.”

“Ah, yes. Understood.”

“Don’t forget to submit reports.”

“Here’s the messenger bird, Lord Ian!”

“Everyone hurry.”

Ian wrote just a brief situation explanation at the table, tied it to the messenger bird’s leg, and sent it flying.

Soon after, Ian’s group and Noah and May mounted horses received from the cavalry. Beric giggled excitedly while asking May.

“Hey. Does the grape country really have lots of grapes?”

“…”

May rolled her eyes. Though she hated to admit it, it was true.

Wine was their main product, and wasn’t it a country where every front yard had at least one grapevine? May deliberately ignored him and pulled her horse’s reins first.

Neigh!

“Let’s go! To eat grapes!”

“Shut up! The sewer water-!”

“Let’s go drink it!”

Beric galloped ahead. Following him were the mages, May, and Noah. The smell of the brisk wind. Just crossing the border, and already the air felt different.

Ian caressed the Idgal tied at his waist and lowered his body fully. The horses began to run even faster.

Story Arcs

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