Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 301

Chapter 301

“Ah…”

As if struck by a hammer to the back of his head, Romandro let out a gasp. He had finally realized something was terribly wrong.

He scrutinized the still-unsorted tribute gifts below him, examining each item carefully.

Ian was right. Though they had been introduced as precious items like diamonds and other valuable treasures, looking at their sources revealed they all came from Burgos nobles. Hadn’t they even received separate greetings from each one?

“Good heavens, why didn’t we…”

Why hadn’t anyone noticed this? There had been countless officials in the reception room.

Jin’s expression hardened as well. While it was concerning that the officials hadn’t caught on, Ian had at least noticed and informed him. The real issue was that he hadn’t realized it himself.

“Though there were issues with her attitude and approach, even Ruswena presented a bow crafted in the royal palace. Since Your Highness returned it, she will likely create a new one fitted to your physique. Clifford, without question, specially crafted three sets of traditional royal instruments. But Burgos?”

Nothing.

They had made a grand show of bowing deeply and claiming to give their all, but the reality was far different. Ian crushed dried leaves in his hand.

“There’s no need to be too disheartened about not noticing. It was thoroughly calculated on their part.”

It hadn’t been King Damon acting alone. While the king faced the prince, the nobles who stood back had engaged with the officials.

“The sheer number of items and the significance and stories behind each were substantial. If they weren’t from the nobles, the quality would truly be remarkable. Moreover, they brought in a noble for each introduction, increasing the number of participants in the conversation, and above all, they showed perfect courtesy to Your Highness without any room for criticism. From breaking down barriers to every little detail – it was all a calculated move.”

And seeing through it was likely another test. How arrogant of them.

Ian’s lips curved upward as he dusted the powder from his hands. Though he was smiling, there was something genuinely deadly about it.

“Your Highness.”

Beyond mere disrespect, it was provocation, and beyond provocation, it was a declaration of war. Would they notice the significance of nobles presenting tribute gifts to the prince? As Ian posed the question with his eyes, Jin lowered his head and sighed. It was a self-deprecating, self-loathing breath.

“To think I smiled, not knowing any of this.”

“…Your Highness.”

“I smiled, thinking they had prepared well enough.”

“Your Highness. Please look at me.”

Ian knelt before Jin and met his gaze.

“Shall I tell you something interesting?”

“…Something interesting?”

“Mistakes, you see. We call them mistakes because they can be recovered from. While failures are unforgiving, mistakes allow for second chances. Your Highness has merely made a mistake, one that can be fully rectified. You said you didn’t know just now. That you smiled because you didn’t know? But King Damon won’t know either. The true meaning behind your smile.”

Just as King Damon’s exterior and interior differed, couldn’t Jin’s be different as well?

Catching Ian’s meaning, Romandro clapped his hands excessively and moved closer. He too knelt to match Jin’s eye level.

“Exactly, Your Highness! What does it matter if you didn’t know? What’s important is that you know now. Though you smiled like that earlier, we can say it was actually a calculated action to observe and seek an opportunity. Consider it that way. What would King Damon know of it?”

“So you’re saying the banquet is our opportunity?”

“Of course.”

A gathering of all three nations’ leaders. If he cleverly checks and attacks Burgos there, King Damon will interpret Jin’s earlier smile as calculated.

But if he shows no special behavior at the banquet? He’ll consider him a foolish young prince who couldn’t grasp the meaning behind the tribute gifts.

“How could we let a mistake remain a mistake when an opportunity presents itself?”

Jin rolled his eyes between Ian and the tribute gifts. Then suddenly, before he could stop himself, he asked:

“Has Lord Ian ever experienced something similar?”

“Something similar meaning…”

“Having to cover up a mistake as if it wasn’t one.”

From what he’d seen so far, Ian was someone who had navigated countless difficulties without making a single mistake.

Finding it quite an interesting question, Romandro too subtly turned his gaze toward Ian. The same went for Xiaoshi. Though no one said a word, they were all waiting for his answer.

“I have.”

Ian answered with a bright smile. When Romandro’s eyes sparkled as he tried to ask more, Ian shut him down immediately.

“But it’s a secret.”

“Ack. Why?”

“Now then, Your Highness. Let’s return to the beginning. The King of Burgos presented tribute gifts through his nobles. Please point out what this means.”

“Ah, if only Beric were here at a time like this.”

There was no doubt that if Beric were present, he would have persistently pressed Ian for answers. Pushing aside his regret, Romandro brought paper and pen to present before Jin.

“First, they’ve shown disrespect to me and degraded Bariel.”

By daring to entrust tribute gifts meant for the empire to nobles, it was tantamount to not recognizing the great nation as such.

But thinking further beyond this-

“Correct. Additionally, with an alliance of the three nations likely, we had anticipated there would be a force taking the lead. Initially, since Ruswena was connected to Hayman, we suspected their side, as they would know Bariel’s internal affairs better than the other two countries. Remember?”

There was no need to try to remember. It was a conversation they’d had before meeting Queen Eripony. Jin muttered thoughtfully:

“You mean Burgos is the driving force behind the alliance?”

“Yes. Not recognizing Bariel as a great nation – while this degrades us, it simultaneously elevates Burgos’s own status. Moreover, it sends a message to Ruswena and Clifford.”

Look here. The alliance of three nations can stand against Bariel, and Burgos is taking the lead. Having drawn the bowstring first, the two nations behind them should undoubtedly follow.

Romandro, who had been quietly listening, carefully added his thoughts.

“Ah, Your Highness. Come to think of it, the Burgos nobles are quite extraordinary as well. No matter what the king’s orders might be, these aren’t offerings to their own country but to another nation’s prince. Family heirlooms and crops so precious they themselves couldn’t use them – to send so many, so easily… Now that I realize it, I can see it clearly.”

Nobles are beings who calculate gains and losses like demons. For them to offer family treasures means they’ve anticipated equivalent profits, but there’s no apparent way to determine what those might be.

Just as Ian was about to add an explanation-

Xiaoshi, who had been quietly maintaining his position, raised his hand.

“…Xiao?”

“Your Highness, I apologize, but might I dare offer a word? Though it’s a humble experience, I truly wish to share it.”

“How can experience be divided into humble and noble? Tell me.”

Ian was somewhat surprised. He had never seen Xiaoshi offer commentary before. Given how natural Jin’s response was, this probably wasn’t the first time.

‘You’re doing far better than I thought.’

It seemed Xiaoshi had been fulfilling his role admirably at Jin’s side in Ian’s absence. Ian gestured for him to come closer, signaling his agreement.

Carefully taking a seat on the sofa with the three others, Xiaoshi began cautiously:

“It was long ago, when I was very young.”

“How young exactly?”

“As I don’t know my age, I can’t say precisely. But I was shorter than the reeds then, so quite some time ago.”

Hup. Romandro closed his mouth, wondering if he’d touched upon a painful memory. Though Xiaoshi didn’t seem particularly bothered.

“My master at the time was a loan shark. Even to my young eyes, he would readily lend large sums to those who clearly had no ability to repay, and would even help find and arrange property for them.”

He couldn’t remember which master this had been. But through the long years, certain words remained etched in his mind.

“One day, that master’s child must have harbored the same doubts as me, for they asked their father. Why he would lend money and goods even to such people. And the man answered thus.”

“…What did he say?”

“It will all return eventually.”

He had lent so freely because he was confident in recovering it all. This psychology would likely apply to the nobles of the Kingdom of Burgos as well.

“Could it be they presented these tribute gifts because they’re certain they can recover them? And before that, we can guess the king’s power must be strong enough to propose such matters.”

“Right. Even a king can’t easily raid the storehouses of nobles in distant provinces. I heard he hasn’t been on the throne long, but while demonstrating his considerable influence…”

“While demonstrating? What is it, Romandro?”

Jin urged Romandro to continue, but he only opened and closed his mouth without readily producing sound.

The confidence in recovery and strong royal authority.

For the correlation between the two to be established, there was only one assumption needed.

“Your Highness.”

Romandro seemed unable to speak, merely swallowing repeatedly. Ian spoke in his stead.

“The three nations haven’t formed an alliance until now because they were mindful of Bariel. Being mindful meant there was tension between nations, which in turn implies national sanctions across various fronts.”

“Then…”

“Political, economic, and cultural sanctions. Or war.”

War.

Assuming that made it much easier to guess the nobles’ calculations.

If the imperial palace falls, not only could they recover their family treasures, but wouldn’t they be granted wider territories and wealth in terms of contribution? Besides this, there was no proper profit worth an equal exchange.

“…War?”

“No need to be surprised. If the three nations form an alliance, physical conflict, large or small, is unavoidable.”

If war was being considered, everything about Burgos made sense. From their provocative attitude to not spending a single coin of the kingdom’s wealth.

“Hmm. Makes sense. The tribute gifts are too extravagant to say the king had no money and had to beg from his nobles. It’s not the kind of loyalty you’d show to a penniless king.”

Romandro clicked his tongue with his arms crossed. Various thoughts and calculations seemed to be mixing in his head. But how could they fathom King Damon’s true intentions while just sitting here?

Ian closed the lid of the tribute gift box and addressed Jin.

“Your Highness.”

The cold smile that had seemed to fade during their conversation returned to his lips.

“Rather than staying here, you should return. It would be best to prepare something to return to Burgos along with the banquet.”

To dare such an impudent act against the great empire of Bariel, and at Jin’s appointment ceremony no less – a historical turning point. Ian, stating this wasn’t something he could easily overlook, unconsciously took the child’s hand. Jin didn’t refuse. Suddenly, he realized it had been a while since they’d held hands like this.

“…Very well. We’ll do this properly.”

“Of course. You can do it, Your Highness. It’s time to change the meaning of that smile.”

That he would help. The mind of one who could see the future was as good as his own.

Ian nodded and rose from his seat.