Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 88

Chapter 88

Mariv showed no surprise at the sudden visit from Gale. He had anticipated it, merely reacting with calm indifference.

“What brings you here? You couldn’t have lost your way.”

“Would some fool instruct a servant to notify his presence and then enter the wrong place?”

Mariv, who had been focused on documents, finally looked up. As always, Gale’s blue eyes shone like a beast’s. The attendant who had been standing behind Gale announcing his arrival shrank back, shoulders hunched.

“Just get to the point, I’m busy.”

“Have you decided what to do about Ian being pushed for a territory lord position?”

“How interesting. What does it matter to me what becomes of Ian?”

Without permission, Gale sprawled out on the sofa. Legs crossed arrogantly, he glared at his half-brother.

“Even the lowest clerks know you plan to back that wretched whelp. Don’t pretend you don’t know what I’m talking about.”

There’s no way Iaan would be offered a lordship otherwise. Tens, hundreds were clamoring for that spot. Yet all those were pushed aside for a nobody Mariv had never even met.

“So?”

“It would be best if Molrin and his party accompany him fully when he comes up to the capital.”

“Your words are quite forceful. They sound almost like a threat to my ears.”

“Would I do that? It must be what you want to hear, brother.”

“When Ian is appointed his territory, he will immediately fall under the Magic Department’s jurisdiction. I’m sure you know what that means.”

“Ah, yes. It means he’ll be under the control of your lover, Wesleigh, right?”

It was a kind of warning that if Molrin and his party died on their way up, Ian would end up in the same unknown fate. However, this warning would be completely useless if Mariv didn’t fully recognize Ian as his own.

Mariv removed his glasses and lightly pressed his nose bridge, then wore a greatly amused smile.

“Surprising. Gale, I didn’t know you cared so much for Molrn and his party. To be honest, I didn’t think much of it before, but now you’ve piqued my interest.”

‘I have to kill them,’ Mariv decided as soon as the words left his mouth. He really hadn’t cared, too busy with work and since Molrin’s group weren’t that important in the imperial palace. But if Gale was kicking up a fuss about it, that changed things.

“I suggest you drop it.”

“And why is that?”

“Because I just visited Father’s palace on my way here.”

Gale had gone to the Emperor’s palace first before coming here. That name, Father. It always made Mariv instinctively frown. Whenever the Emperor met with Gale, something unpleasant always happened to him without fail.

‘Just like right now.’

“I’m sure you know the New Years assembly will discuss appointing the Attorney General.”

Of course. While the Magic Department and part of the Administration were under Gale’s influence, the Judiciary and Legislative were backing Mariv. The position of Attorney General, the head of the Judiciary and the fourth most authoritative position in the palace, excluding the royal family.

“I don’t understand what you’re trying to say.”

“I’m not sure if you’ve seen the list of potions recently developed by the Magic Department. There’s one called the Truth Potion, derived from extracting abilities commonly seen in gypsies. When consumed, it makes the person speak only the truth.”

Mariv, who had been sitting until now, finally stood up.

“Gale, you  bastard…”

“When I asked if it could be used as a demonstration during the Attorney General hearings, Father said that was a wonderful idea. Since so many snakes spew lies with their forked tongues, it would be quite the spectacle to have them take oaths of honesty and good faith under its effects.”

The issue wasn’t distinguishing truth from lies. The problem was that the department creating it was the Magic Department. Who could guarantee that the potion would not be manipulated to make people speak lies or declare whatever the creator desired?

Ideally it seemed like something the empire desperately needed, but the timing was off. At the very least, the Magic Department’s ill intentions had to be weeded out first before implementing something like this.

“I heard Helrot is tapped to be the next Attorney General. If you want that to happen, it would be best if Molrin and his party attend the New Year’s assembly. Otherwise, we’ll have to find another candidate.”

“Gale. What you’re doing is dragging the empire backwards. Are you really oblivious to that?”

“No, I don’t know that. Fire is dangerous but indispensable if you consider its uses. The truth serum is the same. There may be chaos in the beginning, but in time, its value will solidify. And Helrot will probably be at the center of that chaotic genesis.”

As Gale’s mouth twisted up at the corners, Marib was overwhelmed with the urge to grab everything in sight and hurl it all at him. What made this provocation worse than the others was the involvement of the Magic Department. As an overly independent agency, there were no means left to rein them in.

‘There’s no way to verify if the potion even works as claimed. Dammit. Gale, this bastard, he always, always….’

Mariv and Gale’s expressions were always inversely related. If one smiled, the other’s face soured. Mariv took a deep breath, maintaining his calm.

“You think it’ll pass?”

“Some ministers will strongly oppose it. For various reasons.”

There would be those like Mariv, pointing out fundamental issues, and others opposing simply because they didn’t want their dark secrets exposed.

“However, the overall decision regarding the checks on the judiciary will be made by the Administration. It means father’s opinion is the most important.”

As much as he hated admitting it, the Emperor had always favored Gale over Mariv. An imbalance of affection stemming from their different mothers.

“Hilarious. If that potion is implemented, won’t you be in the most trouble?”

“Me? Hmm. Is that what you think? I figured brother would find it more awkward.”

Mariv felt at a loss for words at Gale’s sly response. It was also a natural confidence, given that he had Wesleigh, the head of the Magic Department, on his side.

“Anyway, think carefully.”

“Stop pretending I have options. Whether I kill Molrin or not, Helrot will have to drink that ill-intentioned truth serum during his hearing.”

If so, it was better to just kill Molyne. There was still time before the potion issue, so he could look for ways around that.

Gale donned his coat and chuckled.

“This is why you and I are so different, brother.”

“…What?”

“You’d do it like that. Regardless of Helrot’s character, if you intend to take him down, you will.”

Helrot was exceptionally competent and had outstanding external reputation and achievements, a rarity. Breaking someone like that out of spite made no business sense. At least not for Bariel’s future.

“I really don’t like how you think that way. Is it because everything was handed to you from birth? You have no concept of what’s precious. Whether people or things.”

At Gale’s words, Mariv could no longer hold back and shouted.

“Everything was given to me from birth? What nonsense! I don’t have to humor your loose tongue.”

“Well, I’ll take my leave. Hopefully, no bad news will come your way.”

Bang.

Slam. Gale left Mariv’s office just like that. At the same time, an aide cautiously entered, while Marib sat with his head in his hands, face downturned.

“Your Highness, are you alright?”

“…I’m fine.”

From Gale’s behavior, if Molrin died, he could probably send additional investigators too. Grinding his molars, Mariv ordered,

“Convene a general assembly immediately.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

The aide placed a letter from the border on the corner of the desk and left. It was a pile of reports consistently coming from Romandro. Requests for decisions on Molrin’s fate were repeated, but Mariv could only reply with ‘hold’.

“Damn it.”

A deep frown formed on Mariv’s handsome brow. He felt like plunging a sword into Gale’s neck right then and there.

***

“Why, are you concerned about Molrin? Since he’s underground all the time, I sometimes forget he’s even there.”

At Romandro’s comment, Ian shook his head in denial. He was merely trying to gauge why a decision on the administrator’s disposition was still pending.

‘It seems like a command to hold off has been issued, probably due to some manipulation by Gale’s side. Surprising. In other words, is Gale trying to save Molrin?’

Was Molrin that important? Ian wasn’t sure. Though the man was in charge of Bratz, it seemed like he had been pushed out of the Administration. And while his loyalty was excellent, his overall job performance had too many limitations due to his age.

Whether Molrin had hidden value or Gale had the tendency to properly look after his own men…or something else…

‘Is it about Bratz?’

The reason it had to be Bratz among the many border areas. Ian suddenly realized something he had overlooked. He had assumed that covert operations for troop deployment were being conducted in other border areas too. But there was no way to know for sure.

‘It doesn’t seem like there’s any reaction from Merellof’s side.’

It seemed Romando visiting from the capital was a rarity these days. As Ian sank into thought, they had arrived at the parlor where Lady Lien was without him realizing.

“My lady?”

“Oh, are you done with work?”

She was half-lying on the sofa, looking bored and restless. Her hair was slightly disheveled, whether from her posture or the count’s doing was unclear.

“No, we’re still in the process of moving.”

“It seems it will take all night.”

“If you wish, I could show you around the estate.”

“If I do that, my dear husband will probably throw a fit again, so I must politely decline.”

After blowing on and scrutinizing her nails, the lady murmured excitedly about her glorious plans ahead.

“You should start counting down the days from today. In one month, you’ll be able to meet your expectations.”

“One month? What are you talking about?”

“Oh, darling.”

Lady Lien greeted her husband with a nonchalant smile, radiating charm.

Count Merellof looked at Ian and his wife suspiciously, alternately scanning them. The presence of a young man near his wife’s age, especially one as objectively handsome as Ian, was precisely the kind of situation to set off the Count’s nerves.

“I meant in a month we can start harvesting grula. That’s what we were talking about. Are we done? I’m exhausted and can’t wait any longer.”

In a month. That was precisely when the side effects of the hallucinogenic sleeping pills would appear. The day the Count would stop breathing in his sleep. Ian understood the lady’s intention but pretended ignorance, nodding along.

“When I saw earlier, it looked like there was still some time.”

“Oh, Sir Ian. Actually, I received a call from the Hayman Bank in Merellof just now.”

“I see. Please go ahead.”

“Well, there has been an increase in robberies in other regions lately. And I don’t know if you knew, but with winter here, it’s become very difficult to cross the mountain range.”

“And?”

Hmm, something smelled fishy about this sob story introduction. Romando snorted out wisps of breath, bracing to slap him down.

“The bank asks if we could postpone the payment processing date by just one day because they’ve run out of check stock.”

“But Count, this puts us in a difficult position. The ink on the contract hasn’t even dried yet.”

“Then what, should we come to your estate and transport the remaining gold by carriage?”

The remaining 2,500 gold coins. It was hard enough transporting 1,000, and now they’re asking to move 2,500 more. Romandro twitched at this, and Ian stepped forward to address the situation.

“But Count, this clearly constitutes a breach of contract. We were expecting the remainder of the payment in cheques, as outlined in our agreement, weren’t we? The contract states that the remaining amount would be paid in the agreed manner.”

“

Cough

. That’s why I’m seeking your understanding.”

“I’m not interested in a losing deal.”

At Ian’s words, Count Merellof grimaced noticeably. He had tried to slyly smooth it over but Ian was being firmer than expected. The Count turned to his wife and said,

“Darling, quit being stubborn and put up some collateral instead. Your necklace, earrings, rings. Roughly enough to match the amount.”

Caught off guard by the Count’s demand, the Lady barely suppressed a scoff.

Oh well, if he wants to pick a fight, might as well go at it.

She removed the jewelry adorning her body one by one and laid them on the table.

‘Huh?’

Then, a ring caught Ian’s attention. It was on the Lady’s left index finger… and the jewel in it was strikingly familiar.

‘Is that a topaz? Or…’

The same type of gemstone as the necklace found in Ian’s flowerpot?

He moved closer and picked up the ring for a closer inspection.