Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 123

Chapter 123

Ian was rarely flustered, but he couldn’t help but be speechless.

Twins? If they had been of different genders, or even if they had only had the same surname, things wouldn’t have been like this. Even from a distance, the two princes looked exactly alike, as if they were looking in a mirror.

“Aren’t they amazing? Rumor has it that even their mother, Lady Dilaina, sometimes gets them confused. But their personalities are so different that it’s not a big problem. Even I can tell who’s who just by looking at them.”

“What are their names?”

Ian continued to search his memory and asked. Was there an emperor with twin brothers 100 years ago? He couldn’t remember. This was because the emperor’s brothers were often the losers in the power struggle and were intentionally excluded from history.

“The fourth prince is named Arsen. The fifth prince is named Jin.”

Ian frowned at Romandro’s muttering. Usually, twins had names that had some kind of unity, but to anyone’s eyes, the fourth prince had a noble name, while the fifth prince had a name that commoners would use.

“I know what you’re curious about. But I don’t think this is the place…”

“Let’s step outside for a moment.”

This was not something to be heard later. It was clear that one of these two would become the emperor, and there was no need to beat around the bush.

At Ian’s gesture, Romandro nodded and quickly stepped back. Beric did the same.

“Excuse us.”

They walked out of the huge arched entrance and into the hallway opposite. Unlike the grand banquet hall, the atmosphere here was filled with young and debauched nobles who were not interested in the emperor’s New Year’s speech. A few of them glanced at Ian, but that was all. They were focused on enjoying themselves by teasing each other.

“Ooh. They’re kissing over there.”

“Beric. Stop talking nonsense and come here. Lord Romandro. I know this is a disrespectful question, but is the current emperor really the 13th emperor?”

If Ian’s memory was correct, then that should be the case. He clearly remembered the words “Verocion XIII” written below the portrait. However, Romandro turned his head around awkwardly and looked around.

“Be more careful with your words. It hasn’t been long since that matter was concluded. The current emperor is the 14th.”

Ian sighed softly. He immediately understood what Romandro meant. There was such a big difference between looking at history from the distant future and living in it.

“The late emperor’s father, who was overthrown by the previous rebellion, was recognized as legitimate. Therefore, he was the 13th emperor until last year, but now he is the 14th.”

Once in power, it is not uncommon to rewrite previous history in order to legitimize it. Especially as branches diverge, there is a desire to be recognized as the rightful lineage for political standing, but since one cannot change the blood that flows in their veins, the only option is to change history.

“What are you talking about? Did they find some hidden parents?”

Beric scratched his ears in confusion. It didn’t make sense to him. How could one be the 13th and then suddenly become the 14th without the Emperor dying and being reborn? Ian, holding his forehead, murmured in response.

“History changes its meaning depending on who writes it. It’s about dethroning predecessors or restoring them. Though the current Emperor is the 14th, just as he was the 13th until last year, who knows what will happen next year.”

This suggested that in the midst of history’s flow, one cannot gauge the depth of the storm. One can only navigate forward by what is immediately visible.

‘When I received the appointment letter as a lord in the borderlands, I had heard the emperor’s name but I didn’t know him. The next generation will probably be the same… .’

“But why are the names of the twin princes so different?”

Ian asked, trying to organize the complexities in his mind. Arsen and Jin. There seemed to be a clue in the significant difference in the atmosphere of their names.

“A prophecy was made when the twins were born.”

“A prophecy? Officially?”

“Yes. The details will be in the records. It’s been ten years since then, though. It was a big deal at the time.”

The princes are ten years old. Ian nodded as he thought about this and asked to hear more. Romandro lowered his voice as much as possible and whispered.

“The firstborn will suffer a great misfortune because of the child born later.”

“……!”

Ian’s eyes widened. Although there was much room for interpretation, as befitting a prophecy, it felt like a huge signpost to Ian. Romandro stroked his beard and made a

hmm

sound.

“That’s why the two of them didn’t even share the same bedroom when they were babies. Some people thought it might be a fight for power in the future, but since their older brothers, His Highness Mariv and His Highness Gale, are already holding their ground, that shouldn’t be the case anymore. Anyway, they probably gave them ordinary names to prevent the devil from playing tricks.”

It was because of the superstition that if they lived among ordinary names, they could avoid the devil’s tricks. Anyway, if one of Mariv and Gale became the next emperor, Arsen and Jin would have to live as if they were dead.

“But as always, prophecies aren’t always right, are they? After observing them for 10 years, it seems like it’s a complete failure.”

“Is that so?”

“Since they were young, they have been thoroughly educated, and Prince Jin has been extremely kind and caring towards Prince Arsen. He doesn’t hesitate to respect and cherish him. Sometimes I feel like the older and younger brothers have changed places.”

As a result, the older brother, Arsen, had a bright and lively personality and always had a smile on his face, while the younger brother, Jin, had a calm and dignified atmosphere. Even though they looked exactly the same, everyone in the imperial family had no trouble distinguishing between the two.

“I see.”

Ian turned around with the thought that he should meet the two princes once. The sound of the imperial orchestra gradually coming from inside was getting louder. It was possible to guess that the ceremony of awarding titles was over with the emperor’s speech, and that there was a short break.

“Let’s go in. We can talk about the details when we get to the mansion.”

“Details? Isn’t what we’ve talked about so far the details?”

What else is he curious about?

Romandro scratched his chin, but Ian just nodded and took the lead. Beric followed right next to him and laughed.

Tap tap!

“Ian. But-“

“Master.”

“Ah. Master. But what about dinner?”

“It’s still a long way off. We have to finish the magic power verification ceremony before we can move on to the dinner party.”

Beric made a shocked expression, as if the fact that dinner was still far away was more important than the title correction. He should have eaten more dinner if he had known this. It was a mistake to listen to the advice to eat lightly because he was wearing a tight-fitting outfit.

Swoosh

.

As Ian returned to the banquet hall, the atmosphere had definitely changed. The emperor and the princes had gone up to the second floor to watch the rest of the program, the music was more lively, and the spirits were even busier.

“Baron Ian Hielo, Your Grace.”

At that moment, a voice called him from behind. He turned around and saw a man in a mage’s uniform bowing politely. He seemed to be a clerical officer in charge of the event at the Ministry of Magic.

“I would like to give you a brief explanation of the upcoming mana verification ceremony. Please come this way. Minister Wesleigh will explain it herself.”

Wesleigh. Gale’s lover and the head of the Ministry of Magic. As far as Ian knew, all the current evil deeds were centered around Wesleigh. Ian gestured to Beric to follow him.

“Sure. Let’s go. Lead the way.”

“Yes. This way.”

He walked around the back of the stage and immediately recognized the woman named Wesleigh. Black hair tied in a bun, pale skin, and lips red as blood. She was wearing a cape that only a minister could wear.

“Good evening, Minister Wesleigh.”

She was leading the verification ceremony when she turned around. And as soon as she saw Ian, she twisted her lips and made a strange smile. She was beautiful, but she also had a tremendous sense of oppression. Perhaps it was because Ian knew Wesleigh’s true colors that he felt that way.

“Oh! Who is this? You must be the noble lord from the humble illegitimate line of borderlands, Baron Ian Hielo?”

Wesleigh clapped her hands and raised her voice. The surrounding mages also glanced around and tried to hide their snickers. Beric frowned irritably, but when he met Ian’s eyes, he patiently looked at the distant mountains.

“Nice to meet you, Minister Wesleigh. If you don’t mind, may I ask your family name?”

Ian smiled and offered Wesleigh a handshake, pretending to be indifferent. It was an attack that most mages were of commoner origin. No matter how much she wore a coronet in the palace, Wesleigh would not have anything that could be called a family name.

At the same time as her lips hardened, the laughter around her also stopped instantly.

“Baron Ian Hielo. As a minister, I am in the same position as a court mage.”

It was not an actual title, but it meant that she had the corresponding honor and authority. Ian smiled, pulling his hand back awkwardly.

“

Ah

. I apologize. I thought I hadn’t heard Minister Wesleigh’s family name because I was ignorant.”

The nuance was that she was talking too long about not having a family name. Ian did not avoid the blatant and hostile gazes of the mages, but met them one by one. There was no reason for Ian to back down.

“It would be quite a sight to see you reduced to slavery after being so arrogant.”

“Thank you for your concern. Contrary to rumors, the Minister of Magic seems to be very kind.”

He had no worries about being demoted for not being able to pay the 10,000 gold coins. On the contrary, since it made his status free, wasn’t it something to be grateful for?

In that case, joining the Ministry of Magic would be almost like Ian’s choice.

‘Leaving aside Mariv’s orders, or, well, the construction of the annex and all that.’

Wesleigh stared at Ian and sharpened her gaze. She hated to see that little thing, who had just received a noble title, act so arrogantly.

“Ian. Soon, we will proceed with the mana verification ceremony. Therefore, if it is confirmed that you have mana flowing through your body, you will receive an official request for admission to the Ministry of Magic within tomorrow.”

“Oh. It is an honor, Minister.”

“It’s a cliche greeting. Do you have a department you prefer?”

Wesleigh’s lips twisted into a smile. It was clear that she was up to something. Ian chose silence instead of answering and looked down at the atmosphere of the surrounding mages, including Wesleigh.

‘They’re definitely up to something. Could it be what I expected?’

“Yes. What would a country bumpkin who just came up know? You’ll have to have someone next to you tell you before you can answer.”

That meant Mariv. It meant that she knew Mariv was sending Ian as a spy.

“But the Ministry of Magic needs performance based on ability above all else. We don’t treat those who just sit around and collect taxes like parasites. I don’t know how much mana you have, but you’ll be assigned to a department that suits you.”

Ian couldn’t help but smirk. It was what he had expected when he first entered the New Year’s party. To bet on the light of the prophecy and not react at all.

“Oh. Is that so?”

Ian answered as if he were ignorant, but Beric, who was standing next to him, could tell that there was a hint of laughter in his voice.