Margrave's Bastard Son was The Emperor-Chapter 307

A precarious wine glass that would overflow with the slightest shake.

Noah stared at it blankly before biting his lips. Keep watching and see, really. What’s with all this pushing from the front and back? Is Clifford caught in the middle looking that easy to handle?

Though anger rose with the alcohol, perhaps due to the curse, his eyes reddened first. Prince Noah drained his glass in one go, then frowned with all his might.

“Prince Noah?”

His already small eyes like slits. The pupils were hardly visible. As Damon tilted his head curiously, May, who was watching from the side, kept poking the prince’s side.

“W-wait, Your Highness. Please calm down.”

King Damon wouldn’t present fertilizer as tribute. While crafting tribute gifts showed sincerity to Bariel, it also directly and indirectly demonstrated one’s national technological prowess.

But fertilizer among countless possible items? What could lower national prestige more than that? Moreover, Bariel hadn’t even known Burgos’s fertilizer was high-grade.

This meant there was almost no trade to begin with. Even with tax exemption benefits, they clearly wouldn’t be able to enjoy the full effects.

When the tail is bigger than the head, it’s generally not expected that items that aren’t even needed would be consumed just because of tax exemption.

‘Since Burgos’s fertilizer is essential to Clifford, most of Burgos’s exports go to Clifford. Yet deliberately mentioning this means they’re willing to accept some losses to maintain relations with Clifford.’

It was testing the waters of the three-nation alliance system. Strictly speaking, rather than pushing, it would be more accurate to say they were pulling while pretending to push.

But due to the curse and alcohol, Prince Noah kept wrinkling his nose. If he relaxed his facial muscles even slightly here, he felt he might burst out in anger.

“…Prince Noah? Are you alright?”

Damon noticed something strange about Noah’s reaction. He’d expected him to naturally counter, but how…

‘Is he drunk?’

But Clifford people being heavy drinkers was a widely known characteristic. Wasn’t it a country where alcohol was cheaper than water? They even had a saying that pouring alcohol was better than cutting off water to kill a tree. At this hour, he couldn’t possibly be losing his mind from drinking just this much.

As Damon’s gaze stuck persistently, May felt her lips going dry.

Rustle.

Then, a hand clearing away Noah’s empty glass. It was Ian. He politely gave notice with his hand on his chest. To Noah, and to May.

“The prince hasn’t recovered from his travel fatigue, I see.”

“Ah, yes. It seems so. Indeed.”

“His Highness will surely understand such sincerity as sufficient. You’d better go in and rest. Even with the same illness, nights are harder than days, aren’t they?”

The potion masking the curse would also wear off soon. As Jin gestured while supporting Ian’s words, waiting attendants moved to assist Noah.

“Indeed. I’m satisfied just with the prince enjoying the banquet despite his poor health. I’ll be retiring soon as well, so you may leave your seat first.”

“Thank you, Your Highness. Then excuse us. Your Highness. Let’s get up.”

“Ian…”

“Yes, yes. I understand. It’s difficult, isn’t it? Please bear with it a little longer.”

Noah’s lips drooped down. May felt chills down her spine at his appearance, looking ready to burst into tears at any moment. No, absolutely not. She quickly shook her chin side to side while pulling the prince’s arm.

Thud!

“Waaah.”

“D-don’t make such sounds, Your Highness.”

“It hurts.”

Creating a commotion bumping into things here and there while staggering. Damon watched Noah’s retreating figure suspiciously, and didn’t easily take his eyes off even after the door closed.

‘There’s definitely something.’

What could Noah’s secret be?

If the gypsy were helping him now, he could easily find out. Damon quelled his regret with a sip of wine. It would be good to discover it by the time they depart after the appointment ceremony.

“Um, by the way, Lord Ian.”

As if reading his lord’s mind, Timothy asked Ian while pouring him wine.

“How did that matter progress?”

“Which matter do you mean?”

“About the gypsy under pursuit.”

“Ah.”

Externally, it was only known that “the King of Burgos is searching for a gypsy connected by special ties.” Timothy had asked for help with the investigation, and Ian had agreed to assist, so shouldn’t there be some results by now?

Damon turned his head from the door toward Ian. Their eyes met immediately, as if he had been watching him.

“Though border patrols have strengthened security and are checking, there’s no particular news. Rumors say there’s a ravine in the north where illegal immigrants commonly pass through, and we expect they used that to enter another country.”

“Why do you think that? The last sighting was reported to be in Bariel.”

Damon pointed out the inconsistency. Though Timothy and the pursuit team had last found traces in Bariel, Ian was speaking as if he’d almost confirmed the gypsy had gone to another country.

Ian smiled as if being asked something obvious.

“I say this because we couldn’t find them even searching in the imperial family’s name.”

Are you underestimating the imperial power’s reach, and in Bariel of all places? Though his smile rose gently, the point he made was brutal.

Timothy naturally intervened to change the atmosphere.

“Where does this northern ravine connect to?”

“Part connects to Ruswena, part to the northern civil war region. Since it’s a place with many gypsies to begin with, it’s more likely than Ruswena. If you wish to investigate, you’d better look there.”

The civil war region.

Being communities finely divided into tribal units, plus difficult terrain making movement and investigation challenging.

Just as hiding a tree works best in a forest, the gypsy probably went there to hide themselves. Timothy nodded in understanding.

Rustle.

“I shall take my leave as well. Similarly, having arrived late, I seem not to have recovered from travel fatigue.”

Instead of continuing the conversation, Damon rose from his seat. Eripony was said to be coming late but hadn’t shown her face, and Jin had indicated he would end soon. There was no reason to remain here any longer.

“King Damon.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

He bowed his head respectfully at Jin’s call. As Ian raised an eyebrow directing conduct, the child commanded with quite a solemn expression.

“Burgos shall depart before other countries once the appointment ceremony ends. Won’t you be short on time for crafting new tribute gifts compared to other nations? It would help save time to leave first, so that would be best.”

He assumed Burgos would present new tribute to Bariel. This indirectly announced they couldn’t defy the great nation, and while pretending to accommodate them, it blocked contact points with other nations on their return journey.

“…It is consideration like heaven itself. I shall obey.”

Damon left the banquet hall, wrapping it up with emotionless courtesy.

Jin then tilted his head back against the chair as if tired. Though Xiaoshi supported him, he felt his strength gradually draining. After all, maintaining composure at a drinking gathering until this hour in a child’s body was no easy task.

“Your Highness should retire as well. The heat downstairs seems unlikely to fade even in the pre-dawn chill.”

“Would that be alright? Eripony hasn’t returned.”

“Yes, it’s fine. More than half the guests have already left. And that side…”

Ian patted Jin’s shoulder as he suppressed a yawn while speaking.

That was exactly what the mage had been reporting earlier. That Allenara of House Sereau had entered a small room in the main building’s annex with Eripony.

“That side seems busy in their own way. I hear she’s spending an enjoyable time with the daughter of House Sereau.”

“You mean Lady Allenara?”

“Yes. I’ll handle the cleanup. Please go rest first. You must maintain peak condition to show dignity during the procession.”

Everyone’s busy laughing and enjoying themselves, but the celebration’s subject is dying of exhaustion. Jin finally couldn’t suppress his yawn and decided to follow Ian’s suggestion.

“Your Highness. You did really well today. Thank you for your hard work.”

Jin smiled brightly then hesitated. Then very cautiously requested:

“If I’m too tired to sleep when I lie down-“

If I can’t, could you read me a book like before?

Ian waited kindly for Jin’s trailing words. But when they ultimately wouldn’t come forth, he spoke first:

This content is taken from freёnovelkiss.com.

“If you can’t sleep, shall I read you a book?”

“Well, um. If you wish.”

“Yes. Understood.”

Jin muttered while looking away. Then with very light footsteps, pitter-patter, he left the banquet hall.

Creeak.

What a truly long day it had been.

He had received and responded to all three nations’ leaders, and led the banquet too. Though Jin resolved not to fall asleep immediately, throughout that night no request came for Ian to read him a book.

Only word that His Highness had fallen asleep while washing up, snore snore.

***

Flash!

It felt like a sudden intake of breath that had been held.

Noah blinked at the white ceiling. Elaborate and delicate lighting – this was the bedroom of the guest quarters Bariel had provided in the annex palace.

Why was he lying here? Hadn’t he just been talking with the King of Burgos? Was it a dream? Which parts?

“M-May?”

The moment Noah muttered.

A maddening hangover struck like lightning. When he twisted his body at the feeling of nails being hammered into his head, now his stomach churned.

Unable to move yet too painful to stay still. He’d never experienced anything like this in his life.

“…Ah, May!”

“Oh, you’re awake!”

Beric suddenly appearing in Noah’s view. He must have been at the headboard, as his face appeared upside down. When Noah frowned, Beric frowned right back.

“Wow, you still reek of alcohol. Even now.”

“…Why are you here? Where’s May?”

“Ian called her to eat, but good timing. Since you’re up, can I go too? They said I could serve myself meat during the festival period.”

“Wait.”

When Beric tried to run to the door excited, Noah grabbed him. He pointed to the water bottle on the table with twitching fingers.

“Water.”

“Tsk. I don’t usually do this kind of thing.”

Though he doesn’t usually do it, there was exactly one reason he had to. Because Ian told him to serve well.

“What happened yesterday?”

“Not yesterday, the day before.”

“What?”

“The day before, I said. Two nights have passed.”

Noah blinked in surprise while drinking water.

So according to Beric, he had gotten dead drunk at the banquet and been lying down for two full days.

Isn’t this a first? The severe hangover is a first, losing consciousness and memory like passing out is a first.

“Just what…”

“Ian said it seems like it was because of the medicine’s side effects and this and that.”

“If two days have passed, what about the appointment ceremony?”

“Ta-da! Today, of course!”

“Damn it all.”

There’s zero nutritional value in this conversation. When Noah glared at Beric with a frown, he received the gaze back as if somewhat curious.

“It’s true.”

“What is?”

“They said your personality would change when the curse lifted, and it’s kinda…”

The words ‘you’ve become like a beggar’ rose to his throat but he held them back. Ian had warned him to be careful, and if he caused trouble he might really not get to eat during the whole festival period.

Rustle.

Noah felt his head. With two days passed, the curse’s time limit had passed while he slept. He leaned back against the pillow with a sigh of relief.

“Hurry and call May.”

“Yes, yes. Got it. Do you remember anything?”

“Remember? Remember what?”

At Noah’s question, Beric raised the water glass.

“I am the prince of the cream grape country! How dare you mock the grape country, waaah!”

“…?”

“This is tears, snot, and vomit blegh.”

“I’m not in the mood for jokes right now.”

“Oh. But I’m not joking.”

When Noah gave him a cold look, Beric scratched his nose awkwardly. Just then-

Creeak.

May and Ian entered together after finishing their meal. As if it really was the appointment ceremony day, both were in formal uniform. Ian checked his watch while greeting him.

“Fortunately you woke up in time. It would have been troublesome without word from you today too. The main appointment ceremony is in a few hours, so hurry and prepare, then review and seal the proposal.”

“What proposal?”

“…Since Your Highness wept sadly about being pushed from here and there, I drafted and submitted a proposal. Get the details from Delegate May. Beric. Come out. Let’s go.”

Cried? Me? Damn it, damn it!

Though bewildered, Noah maintained his composure as he accepted the documents. Though he had no idea what kind of proposal it was, if it was nothing important he’d tear it…

Navigate to Other Chapters