Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 113

Chapter 113

“Alright! If everyone is ready, let’s set off!”

“Did we forget anything? Do we have enough water and food?”

“We’ve loaded another carriage full of supplies. The higher we go, the more snow we’ll encounter. We won’t be able to travel fast, so we must keep moving constantly, except at night.”

“Right. We can’t afford to be late. Let’s get going.”

Romandro urged the coachmen on, wrapping his coat tightly around him. The workforce prepared in just a few hours was quite impressive for such short notice, a testament to the marketplace’s efficiency. The coachmen looked robust, and the horses’ coats gleamed, indicating they were well-cared for.

It was a silent bribe, pleading for a favorable view of their situation.

“Ian. Has Hasha not come yet?”

“Hasha? Who’s Hasha?”

“You saw him earlier. The dog.”

“…A dog?”

Romandro tilted his head in confusion at Beric’s words. Indeed, he had only seen Hasha share a meal with Beric, not heard him speak. Ian, closing the carriage’s back door, added,

“I’ll explain on the way. There are too many eyes and ears here.”

“Ah, I see. Let’s do that then.”

“There he comes.”

Beric smirked, spotting Hasha bounding down a hill in the distance, a family photo clenched in his mouth, panting as if worried he might be late.

“We’re all here now. Let’s depart.”

“Understood. Coachmen, take your positions!”

“The lead carriage will move out slowly!”

Hasha managed to climb into the slightly ajar carriage door and nestled into Ian’s embrace. The carriage procession slowly made its way out of the still unsettled street, with residents gathering on either side to wave lightly.

Clip-clop!

“Take care!”

“Safe travels, my lord!”

“Please, go inside!”

The market overseer followed alongside, bowing his head until the very end. Ian sent a warning glance to be cautious and then closed the curtain.

Snap!

Romandro sat opposite Hasha, unable to hide his tension.

“Are you afraid of animals?”

“No? It’s not that.”

“Yet, your neck seemed to retract.”

Romandro swallowed hard, managing only a forced laugh. He might not be scared, but he was clearly uncomfortable. Hasha, having caught his breath, gracefully offered a greeting.

“Pleased to meet you. I am Hasha Togundai.”

“Ah, my apologies. To be honest, I thought I was hearing things because you were magic users. Sometimes those with heightened senses seem almost mad—no offense intended. Ahem.”

Upon hearing Hasha’s voice, Romandro confessed immediately, then hesitated before taking Hasha’s paw, mirroring Ian’s earlier gesture.

“Pleased to meet you as well. I am Romandro, an advisor to the imperial court.”

During the carriage ride, Ian shared the events of the night, starting with Wesleigh’s atrocities, the tragedy of the Astanians, the massacre of the villagers, and the mysterious band of thieves.

Romandro frowned as he listened.

“Necromancy? The Ministry of Magic did gather necromancers from various races a few years back.”

“Was it an official decision?”

“As far as I know, it was approved by the assembly. There was no nominal reason to object.”

The undead legions created by necromancy were incredibly useful in warfare, so the practice wasn’t seen as problematic despite ethical concerns. Politics undoubtedly played a role.

‘If a powerful force capable of unifying conflict zones emerges, it becomes a threat to Bariel. Pretending to seek peace while maintaining balance is far more advantageous for overall control. I’m not sure what Wesleigh had in mind, but from the empire’s perspective, it wasn’t a bad move.’

Ian pondered deeply.

However, Wesleigh was a magician before a politician. As someone who revered mystical powers, the woman would know better than anyone the dangers of breaking taboos.

‘Why go to such lengths?’

It couldn’t be a rebellion.

There was no mention of undead involvement in the history Ian remembered. As Ian furrowed his brows in thought, Hasha rested his chin on Ian’s knee.

It was too soon to shake off the weariness of the previous night.

Ian understood Hasha’s meaning and simply stroked his head in response.

* * *

Clip-clop.

The carriage ride smoothed out, indicating a change in the road. Ian, who had been attempting to rest in a seated position, opened his eyes to this change. The road had been paved.

As he drew back the curtain, Ian couldn’t help but take a deep breath, feeling something stir within him. The capital of Bariel, in all its grandeur, lay ahead in the distance.

Even from a high vantage point, the city’s vastness and prosperity were evident, far surpassing Bratz, which was on the border.

‘It was late spring when I crossed the great desert, so I’ve returned after four seasons.’

The irony wasn’t lost on Ian. His personal journey had advanced merely four seasons, yet the world’s timeline had shifted back over a century.

He reminisced about his life in the palace as he took in the metropolitan view, a life that, despite its tragic end, wasn’t devoid of happiness, as evidenced by the smile that unknowingly graced his lips.

“…Ian?”

“Beric. Look ahead. That’s the capital.”

“Wow! Finally!”

Stirred by the mention of the capital, Beric shook off his drowsiness and got up. Their journey, which had been relentless during the daytime over ten days, was nearing its end.

“We’re almost there? Oh! We should arrive in a couple of hours then.”

Romandro too peered out the window, his hair still tousled from sleep, eagerly anticipating the reunion with his wife and child, his excitement palpable.

“Driver! Can we go a bit faster? I’m dying to get there!”

At Beric’s request, the coachman cracked his whip with vigor. Ian, too, felt an unusual flutter of excitement.

After all, it was his homeland where he was born, grew up, and died, laden with the essence of his life. Among the myriad buildings, he instantly located the palace.

‘The palace.’

The palace of a century ago stood as solemn, magnificent, and steadfast as ever, anchoring the world’s center.

“We’re passing the city walls!”

“Wow!”

As they went under the towering city walls, Hasha and Beric leaned out the window to gaze upwards, awed by the impossibly high gates that opened and closed rhythmically.

Romandro, with a hint of pride, began to explain the sights one by one to his companions.

“That’s the power of magic. Things that cannot possibly be done by human strength alone. Thanks to it, life in the capital is much more comfortable. That’s why the capital collects a bit more in taxes compared to other territories.”

“Amazing.”

Beric’s reaction was like that of a child encountering new wonders. Among the carriages entering in a line, many, like Beric and Hasha, had their heads out, likely their first time entering the capital.

“Lord Romandro! They’re asking for your identification!”

“Ah, right. Here it is!”

“Thank you.”

Romandro’s advisor ID significantly simplified the entry process, allowing them to enter the city much faster than the other waiting entrants, speeding up the carriage once again.

“Beric, do you see that road over there?”

“Where, where? The golden road?”

“That’s reserved for the imperial family, so be careful not to venture onto it. And over there is the Skyway where the mail is delivered by flying.”

“Wow! There are shining lines in the sky!”

“That’s the Skyway, made with magic. Similarly, when you’re up high, be careful not to throw anything or such.”

“Am I a child?”

“Worse than a child, that’s why I’m saying this. Remember what I’ve told you on our way here, Beric?”

“Yeah, yeah. Don’t pick up anything with your hands when eating except for bread.”

“Also, in the capital, it’s polite to smile with your eyes when you make eye contact with someone. And if you need to speak or pass by someone, it’s good to start with a greeting, like ‘Dear’ or ‘Good morning.’”

“Ah, that’s quite strict.”

“Commoners are exempt, but those of some repute should adhere to these manners. If Ian receives a baronetcy, you, as his escort, must also maintain decorum.”

Throughout the journey, Beric had to endure Romandro’s crash course in etiquette, his expression souring as if his ears were bleeding, but Romandro’s lecturing showed no signs of stopping.

“Shall we head straight to the palace?”

At Ian’s question, Romandro, who had been firing off instructions, paused. He then looked out the window and shouted to the coachman.

“Driver! Turn towards the mansion!”

Though protocol dictated that they report to their superiors immediately upon entering the capital, the nearly fortnight-long journey through harsh winter conditions had taken its toll on everyone.

Not just in terms of fatigue, but their attire and cleanliness were not up to the standards of the palace’s dignity.

“Lucky we arrived in the morning. We can wash up and take a break before heading out in the afternoon.”

“That seems wise. You must be eager to see your wife.”

“Heh, it’s not particularly that, ahem.”

At Ian’s words, Romandro’s knees began to tremble with anticipation. How long had it been since he last saw his wife, whom he had dreamt of so fervently? Romandro’s residence was located in a high-end residential area, not far from the palace.

“Let’s be especially mindful of our conduct from here on. This is where the palace officials reside.”

“Understood.”

“Okay~!”

“It’s not ‘okay,’ you!”

“…Understood.”

Romandro’s stern look prompted Beric to reluctantly correct his response. His expression clearly showed his annoyance, but he had no choice.

Screech!

“We’ve arrived, Lord Romandro.”

“Ah, thank you for your efforts.”

Romandro hurriedly alighted from the carriage and entered the courtyard. The mansion, while not huge, was spacious enough to be perfect for a newlywed couple.

“Viviana!”

Romandro’s voice cracked as he called out his wife’s name. Soon after, a rustle came from inside, and a servant emerged to greet him.

“My lord, Romandro! You’ve returned!”

“Yes, where’s Viviana?”

“She’s inside. Just a moment! Madam! Lord Romandro is here! Please come out!”

At the servant’s call, a woman in her thirties hurried out, carefully cradling her prominently swollen belly.

“Darling!”

“Viviana!”

The wife joyously embraced her husband, and Romandro, too, gently patted his weeping wife’s back, sharing in the emotional reunion.

“Ian, should we unload the luggage?”

“Yes, let’s do that.”

While the attendants were organizing the carriage, Romandro and his wife continued to embrace each other, whispering words of love. Once their emotions had settled, Romandro, wiping the corners of his eyes, called Ian and Beric over.

“Ian, Beric! Allow me to introduce you. This is my wife, Viviana.”

“Hello, dear Baron, and Sir Knight. I am Viviana. I’ve heard so much about you through letters. Thank you for being so kind to my husband.”

As Viviana extended her hand, Ian kissed the back of it and nodded in greeting.

“It’s nothing. I, too, have received much help from Lord Romandro.”

“Please come inside! I heard you’d be staying with us for a while, so I’ve prepared a room.”

“Thank you, madam. Oh, and we’ve had an addition to our party along the way.”

“Oh my! What a splendid dog.”

“We should share the tales of our fifteen-day journey with the madam as well.”

“Please, come in. Minnie! Let’s prepare some warm tea.”

“Right away!”

As Romandro motioned to guide them inside, he signaled to the attendants unloading the document boxes.

“You’ve all worked hard. Go home and rest now, and wait for my call.”

“Lord Romandro, what should we do with these?”

“Leave them as they are for now. We’ll have to go to the palace in the afternoon anyway.”

“Understood. You’ve had a long journey.”

“Thank you for your hard work!”

With a smile that seemed to hurry his subordinates home, Romandro entered the house, thinking they had half a day of leisure ahead.

He had completely forgotten about the regular palace social gathering attended by Mariv and Prince Gale scheduled for that day.