Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 299
Chapter 299
Let’s die.
Prince Noah thought this while tightly gripping his cursed ears. They were both the royal family’s mark and their curse. He recalled his parents who looked at him with both pride and worry.
Let’s die.
His tail curled up involuntarily. This was the great Bariel Empire, of all places. They’d aimed to usher in a new era through the alliance of three nations, but that opportunity had mercilessly flown away. Because of his incompetence.
Let’s die.
He knew well how negatively beast-folk were perceived by the public. Even his father, a king, had lived his entire life in hiding, saying no one would understand. Thus, strategic marriages to strengthen national power were nowhere to be found in Clifford’s history.
Let’s die…
Yes. That was probably the best path now. Erase his existence through death, eliminate the shameful fact that beast-folk existed in the royal family.
Prince Noah’s eyes welled with tears at this end he’d never once considered before. He’d at least wanted to depart with his people’s farewell.
“…Though we’ll need to see the results for details, my initial assessment suggests nothing unusual.”
But then came Ian’s matter-of-fact voice.
Prince Noah rolled his eyes inside the blanket. The pooled tears rolled down with the movement. What was this man saying?
“We were quite worried since you postponed the audience with His Highness, but this is fortunate. It’s far from the dragon abnormal reaction. Though we’re still investigating, the main symptoms are fever with chills and hemoptysis.”
At Ian’s words, Prince Noah sniffled.
Did he not see?
But no? That’s impossible?
He perked his ears up even more.
“MUHAHAHA! I really am amazing!”
“Pe-perhaps are you a beast-folk too? Sorry if I’m being rude by being too surprised.”
“I’m not! No, I should say he’s not either! You seem to misunderstand. It-it’s festival time, isn’t it? In Clifford, we dress up to enjoy the festivities. Doesn’t Bariel do the same?”
The Ministry of Magic head’s group remained boisterous, and May was sweating bullets trying to stop them.
Noah felt Ian still sitting beyond the blanket. Silently waiting for him to come out first.
Noah gradually pulled back the cloth while gripping his trembling hands.
Rustle
A considerable beauty with golden hair and green eyes sat straight-backed, looking down at him. Perhaps due to the difference in eye level, for an instant, Noah felt like he really was a small animal.
Ian smiled gently and tilted his head. His hair scattered elegantly with the movement.
“Pleased to meet you, Prince Noah. It’s an honor to meet you like this. Let me formally introduce myself again. I am Ian Hielo, Head of the Ministry of Magic.”
“Your Highness! How can you come out?! Please go back inside!”
“Wow, awesome. Ears going boing!”
“Ah, g-greetings. I am Romandro, assistant to the Ministry of Magic head.”
Noah’s ears drooped. May rushed over to embrace him protectively, and the prince just sighed while patting her back.
It was too late. His identity was exposed, this was the Bariel imperial palace, and their opponent was Ian Hielo, the real power holder. He wasn’t someone they could handle by force, nor could they beg for goodwill to let this pass.
“Your Highness.”
May firmly gripped both his cheeks and whispered. Her eyes were moist – she seemed to know what he was thinking.
More than the exposed secret, Noah’s inner fracturing.
This was the true crisis.
“Please come to your senses.”
The beast ears and tail didn’t just change his outer appearance. They made the positive, sharp, and fresh prince think and feel like a beast.
Just like now. To appear so dejected, as if giving up everything. She frowned while daringly pinching his cheeks hard.
Once some time passes, he’ll return to normal. We just need to hold these people off until then. When the ears and tail disappear, how could they insist he’s a beast-folk? We’ll deny it to death – call it slander, express outrage, say they’re crazy. Then we can return home.
They could consult the royal elders after returning. Though relations with Bariel wouldn’t be the same, wasn’t Clifford the furthest country from the center of the three nations? For the kingdom’s dignity and the royal family’s existence, they could even sever ties.
Everything might feel catastrophic now, but it would be fine.
The royal family loved Noah, and the people loved Noah.
“Well then, shall we stand first?”
Ian stepped back and indicated the table. The matters they needed to discuss weren’t appropriate for the bed.
Noah nodded and followed Ian to sit in a chair. His fluffy tail dragged limply on the floor.
“Since we have little information about beast-folk, please forgive any rudeness I might show.”
Rudeness? They’d be fortunate if it stopped at rudeness. Beast-folk lived in constant fear of having their hides stripped off.
Ian gestured for May to sit too. Looking at his condition, Prince Noah seemed to need a spokesperson right now.
“……”
Well, let’s hear what you have to say.
Noah and May bit their lips while waiting for Ian’s words. What would he demand using this as leverage? Incomparably greater tribute than before? Or a vassal relationship? Knowing the royal family’s secret, he might even aim for national subversion.
As their assumptions reached despair, Noah’s eyes reddened again. Everything felt like it was his fault. But May held his hand under the table, letting him hold back his tears.
“Let me ask first. Since our conversation from now will be the cornerstone of mutual trust, please speak without deception.”
“…Speak.”
“Between Bariel and Clifford’s borders, the Magic Anomaly Detection Device recorded higher than normal readings. Given that you hide such an incredible secret, I cannot help but consider other possibilities.”
Cannot help but consider?
Beric just picked his ear, wondering what that meant. Ian was now suspecting beast-folk involvement with the Magic Anomaly Detection Device.
Of course, Ian knew beast-folk were just humans with different appearances, but he deliberately said this to provoke Noah.
“If all Clifford citizens are beast-folk and that caused the device’s abnormal readings, this cannot be overlooked.”
“What are you saying? Beast-folk have no magic power.”
“Some claim that, but when appearance changes, don’t physical senses change too? That alone already exceeds human bounds.”
“Even between races, physical differences exist. It stops at that level.”
“Is that so? Then you’re saying beast-folk have no connection to the Magic Anomaly Detection Device?”
“Right. Clifford’s citizens have no connection to magic power or beast-folk. There might be some we haven’t identified. But officially, our last mage died ten years ago.”
Though the prince hadn’t noticed, Ian caught the child’s critical verbal slip.
Clifford’s citizens have no connection to beast-folk.
This meant only Noah inherited that blood, and inheriting the blood meant the entire royal family was the same.
When Ian smiled and curved his eyes, Noah’s tail unconsciously stood straight up. As if tension had reached its limit.
“I understand. For now, it would be best to discuss this with His Highness Jin. Since your condition seems better than expected, shall we proceed with the audience?”
May reflexively shook her head.
There was a huge difference between the Ministry of Magic head witnessing this and Bariel’s future emperor witnessing it. It would be irreversible. This wasn’t something that could be resolved by flat denial.
“The prince’s condition is still very poor. Though extremely regrettable, we cannot meet His Highness. If you’re thinking of forcing us, please stop. Our carriages are lighter now that we’ve emptied the tribute gifts, so our return journey won’t be heavy.”
A declaration that they’d rather return than meet the prince. They’d shown enough sincerity by traveling such a long distance. Forget the three-nation alliance – the nation came first. With the royal foundation at stake, what was there to fear?
Ian gestured for them to calm down first.
“Should guests’ departing steps be heavy? Of course not. Please remember. This is a period when new history opens in Bariel, a time when the world’s blessings converge. If Prince Noah’s hands aren’t heavy when he returns, His Highness will scold me.”
What scheme was this? Noah and May’s eyes narrowed simultaneously. With their similar hair colors, they looked exactly alike.
“However, this isn’t something I can keep from His Highness, so I will report it. When might you grant an audience?”
“…Tomorrow, or the day after.”
“Hmm.”
When Ian tapped the table with his fingertips, Noah’s ears twitched in sync. Trying to gauge what he was thinking inside. For the man who held sway over the Bariel imperial palace to let this pass without any demands…
“Then-“
Right! I knew it!
Noah’s eyes flashed as he shrank back. May too. They steeled themselves internally. Bring it on! Whatever it was, it wouldn’t go as he wished.
“What about tonight’s banquet?”
“…Pardon?”
A rather anticlimactic question after their expectations. When May unconsciously responded in confusion, Ian elaborated.
“The banquet. Isn’t it the first gathering of all three nations with His Highness? The Burgos delegation will arrive soon too. The occasion will be arranged around sunset.”
“We must regretfully decline…”
“One missed appointment in the ceremony schedule is enough.”
Haven’t you already used that one time by postponing Noah and Jin’s meeting? It was pressure to attend the banquet.
Noah just silently touched his ears with a troubled expression.
“But-“
“If you wish, the Ministry of Magic will assist you.”
For those who split the heavens and burn eternal flames, what’s the big deal about hiding some ears and a tail? At this sudden proposal, Noah and May exchanged glances. Why was he acting like this?
“Please do attend and celebrate the start of His Highness’s appointment ceremony together.”
The three nations and Bariel.
Those bound by alliance and the empire’s ten-year-old child.
Having experienced Eripony’s personality firsthand, they could predict how the banquet’s atmosphere would flow.
“…’Together’ celebrate His Highness Jin’s appointment ceremony?”
May cautiously echoed, catching Ian’s intent. She’d guessed Bariel would be suspicious of the three nations’ alliance, but hadn’t known they held such conviction.
“Though I’ll attend too, I can’t join the dining table. How about, shall we prepare now?”
As he said this, Ian carefully examined Noah’s ears and tail.
It would be quite a good opportunity from Clifford’s perspective. Hadn’t they considered not attending because of Prince Noah’s appearance?
Setting aside that they couldn’t refuse since this side held the sword, with the mages’ help they could at least appear at this first gathering of the three nations’ alliance.
May nodded at Noah with a meaningful look.
“Please help us prepare.”
“Very well. Since I can’t entrust this to others, I’ll return shortly. Ah yes. And Prince Noah. I’m sorry, but could you cut off a bit of your tail fur?”
A kind of proof. Since the fox appearance would fade with time, he was requesting something to leave as evidence beforehand. Beric seized the moment to approach and offer his dagger.
“I’ll lend you this! Or should I cut it myself? Though I’ve never just cut fur before.”
“……”
Noah reluctantly cut off some tail fur. Romandro carefully received it in his handkerchief, smiling awkwardly.
“Well then, please rest. Beric. You stay here.”
“Me? Why?”
“I’ll be back soon.”
He’d serve as both guard and blocker of outside contact. Beric flopped onto the sofa with a shrug, while Noah slunk back into the blankets.
Ah, the world felt dizzy, like it had flipped in an instant.
“Your Highness, are you alright?”
“Your Highness, can you drink well?”
“Hey, you-“
Creeak
Bang!
The door closed behind May and Beric’s bickering. Romandro wiped his cold sweat and asked Ian:
“Ian. Is it alright to let Prince Noah go? I think it might be fine to have him not attend at all. Ah, my heart’s still pounding, really.”
Though they could completely exclude him as Romandro suggested, for now it was better to have Noah attend.
Because—
Clip-clop!
“Lord Ian. The Burgos delegation has just entered the central district.”
There was someone living life twice.
They needed to see how he’d react when faced with variables. Whether to Prince Noah’s variable, or…
Regarding the unfamiliar existence called Ian Hielo.
Ian nodded and directed:
“Hurry and prepare to receive the guests.”