Margrave's Bastard Son was The Emperor-Chapter 314

“Your Majesty-“

Ian’s words trailed off. Judging by the subtle sounds from outside, Romandro seemed to be approaching Timothy.

“-don’t you think so?”

The nuance suggested he couldn’t understand why Burgos would question the Emperor’s firmness, the dignity of a great nation. His expression mixed smiles with displeasure, causing the atmosphere to grow cold.

Damon tilted his head, signaling not to be hostile.

“I certainly believe he’s firm. But when all three nations’ monarchs gathered at the palace and he didn’t even cast a shadow, I spoke out of concern.”

“While I appreciate the sentiment, unnecessary worry breeds anxiety. I dare request you exercise restraint.”

Polite yet discourteous conduct. Despite being Bariel’s minister, Damon was a king. How dare he speak of restraint? The king ground his teeth, swallowing his anger along with blood-tinged saliva.

Swoosh.

Ian keenly observed Damon’s reaction. The king’s purple eyes gleamed with intensity. He’d heard the king suddenly left his carriage and caused a commotion during transit, though no one knew why.

If so, there were two possibilities to consider.

Either he was drunk, or it’s connected to secrets.

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Speaking of King Damon’s secrets, what else could there be besides what Ian knew? It concerned regression. Most likely, he suspected seeing the gypsy.

If so, Ian had much work ahead. It meant the old woman was freely walking the central district, evading palace pursuit. This wasn’t just about tracking down an unusual being – it directly affected the elite investigation unit’s credibility.

“In any case, I apologize if there’s been a misunderstanding. I fear I cannot meet your expectations.”

“Are you not supporting the Crown Prince?”

“Of course not. If you’re curious, ask His Highness directly what supports him.”

Ian turned his head, adding a light cough. With his poor physical condition, the gesture suggested the visitor should leave if the purpose was trivial.

“Hmm.”

To start the game, both sides must show their cards, but much depends on who reveals first. Ian had taken the stance that he’d risk being discourteous rather than give up control of the conversation.

Damon leaned back against the chair with an impassive gaze.

Well, look at this.

It seemed no coincidence that this baseborn bastard had risen to become an imperial minister. Looking at it now, everything from receiving him while seated to wearing casual attire had been calculated moves. ȓàＮộΒĚ𝐬

Ian smiled, holding up a bell.

“Shall I call for your carriage?”

Throw out the topic first. Like a thirsty man digging a well, or a wanting person taking a step forward – it meant come in with head bowed. The smile suggested to think carefully about who would lose if the conversation ended here.

Damon lightly pressed his temple with his fingertips, closing his eyes. Then slowly, as if having made a decision, he spoke in a thin, heavy tone like a sigh.

“…According to palace investigations, the gypsy crossed to another country. Yet I found her brazenly walking in the central district.”

As expected, Damon had met the gypsy.

Ian raised his chin, signaling him to continue. With him at the desk and Damon on the sofa, there was a difference in eye level between them.

“Aren’t those who stepped forward for Burgos supposed to be elite? I feel considerable regret.”

The gypsy holds Ian’s secret. A secret blessed with imperial radiance that transcends time. Damon had already given up everything of his own, so he could no longer examine what lay in her belly.

Still, just in case, when he returns-

The moment Ian thought it would be good to whisper alone and verify any leaks, he realized.

That Damon must have done what he himself was planning to do.

He now knew his secret had been leaked.

Recognizing this made Damon’s actions even more significant.

“Well. In any case, the matter has been resolved well, so I extend my thanks.”

“You’re too kind. I’m ashamed.”

It was certain he’d met the gypsy, but had he captured her? There had been no reports of anything unusual with the carriage. Was she being secured outside rather than brought into the palace?

Various questions swirled through Ian’s mind.

Tap.

Damon snapped his fingers, drawing Ian’s attention. As if asking him to focus.

“Though it’s inadequate as repayment, I’ll tell you why the palace couldn’t catch the gypsy.”

Damon pulled out a small dagger from his breast. One sticky with blood.

“That being is light as wind and uncatchable as water. Thus, the only option is to cut her down the moment she’s within grasp. Her lack of legs is the hardship she’s endured through long years.”

Inflicting pain so she couldn’t escape when confronted.

Ian frowned as he looked at Damon.

“Perhaps due to the long wait, I couldn’t control myself. I made a mistake. I felt life breaking at the blade’s tip. She’ll likely die within days.”

“…Is that so.”

Ian remembered clearly when he met the gypsy. Hadn’t she shown no fear of death, even welcoming it?

“You seem to want to cut open my belly too. But mind well why I’m still alive.”

If the belly was cut, the secrets decomposing inside would flow out into the world, creating a river of chaos. Even those who had traded with her couldn’t know what dangers they might face when swept up in those waters.

King Damon surely knew this, and with no special reports, it would be reasonable to consider his claim false, but…

There is some possibility that can’t be ignored.

Currently, the gypsy doesn’t have Damon’s secret. So what would cutting open her belly matter to him?

Above all, Burgos harbored intentions to threaten Bariel. Having had his secret exposed, he must have deduced that a corresponding secret was consumed.

Nothing would be more appropriate than the weight of the imperial family. In other words, he might have acted believing he could learn the imperial family’s weakness by cutting open the gypsy’s belly.

The problem is that I’m not the only one who traded with the gypsy – His Highness Jin also gave up a secret. Showing a reaction here would acknowledge imperial involvement, but ignoring it means passing for now while carrying a risk factor.

It was like Damon throwing a dagger.

He could dodge it, but he could also catch and stop it.

In the former case, it might be fine if done well, but if not, Jin standing behind would also be in danger. In the latter case, he’d give up one hand, but could definitely protect Jin behind him.

“Would you…”

Ian tapped his left hand on the desk.

Yes. How difficult could it be to give up this one thing? When weighing various options, choosing the lighter risk was wise.

“Show me the gypsy?”

“For what purpose?”

As Damon smiled, Ian smiled too. Though they harbored different thoughts, their desires were the same. To discover hidden truths.

Who in the imperial family took my secret?

Is the gypsy truly dying?

Now it’s your turn to bare your teeth first, Ian. Damon’s black short hair flowed down smoothly with his nod. In response, Ian extended one hand to deflect the blade.

“I received something from the gypsy that I’d like to return.”

Not advancing toward the imperial family. Making Damon’s gaze fall to his feet.

“It’s been heavy carrying it around.”

Damon’s expression twisted strangely. A satisfied look of finally finding something.

He rose and approached Ian’s desk. Leaning on it, he peered into Ian’s absinthe pupils as if examining his inner thoughts. Such pretense, whispering as if revealing truth.

“Even the stars in the night sky cannot overcome one death before falling, let alone two. Naturally, the weight cannot be borne.”

Foolish king, alone thinking himself the protagonist of the world. I wonder what expression you’d make knowing there’s another bearing this burden. The smile on Ian’s lips turned to scorn, but Damon continued muttering unconcerned.

“Indeed, such rumors don’t arise by chance.”

Ian briefly pondered what he meant before realizing. Damon was misunderstanding Ian’s secret. The secret of birth raised by Haiman Ga, the rumor that Ian was of royal blood.

Not entirely wrong, but convenient. Likely Alenara leaked it to Eripony, and Eripony to Damon.

“In truth, you were more promising than the prince. How many secrets could that child possibly have?”

“King Damon. Though it’s true we’re entangled in a meaningful bond, you’re being quite disrespectful. Exercise restraint. His Highness Jin is Bariel, and you are Burgos.”

When Ian sternly rebuked him to stop, Damon looked puzzled.

Ian is of royal blood. And he knows the future.

Naturally, shouldn’t he and Ian work together? A power player of royal descent standing back like this surely meant there were hidden issues.

“Lord Ian. We could have a relationship beyond what you imagine. When a new bloodline seeks to sit on the imperial throne, disregarding legitimacy, what could be more certain than foreign power?”

Let’s carve up Bariel. Then Burgos can grow, and Ian can bloom.

Hearing Damon’s proposal, Ian smiled wryly and shook his head.

“I know how you’ve been searching for the gypsy. In your previous life, the fate of Burgos, including yours, was truly harsh.”

It was so before, and it is so again.

Only the killer and killed had changed – the bloodshed between family remained unchanged.

“Thus, you dream of a different future. An era of prosperity, fertile soil, and a flourishing nation.”

Damon slowly rose and stepped back. He’d noticed Ian’s attitude wasn’t favorable. Though they were bound by secrets, he couldn’t understand why Ian was acting this way.

It was a definite opportunity, joining hands with him!

“But, do you know?”

The table touched Damon’s back. The vase wobbled slightly. Ian smiled regretfully as he delivered what amounted to a declaration and curse.

“Ah. You wouldn’t know. That’s why you searched for the gypsy.”

“…What are you trying to say?”

“The gypsy told me. King Damon will walk a fate no different from his previous life.”

Grind.

Damon’s molars clenched hard. Nonsense! Much had already changed, and more would change.

“More precisely, that’s Burgos’s fate. So even if King Damon knows the future, it doesn’t hold much appeal for me.”

“Nonsense.”

“Whether it’s nonsense or not, you can ask the gypsy. Since you say she’ll die soon, you’d better hurry and ask.”

When Ian gestured toward the door with his chin, Damon glared viciously. What did he know to speak such impudence? After all he’d done for Burgos’s new future.

Like there cannot be two suns in the sky, when Burgos claims glory, Bariel’s naturally fades. Though Ian wasn’t one to stand by and watch this happen, Damon failed to properly grasp this, like trying to complete a puzzle with missing pieces.

“Interesting. What sort of situation do you think you’ll face when the Crown Prince learns your identity?”

“It cannot be proven. And as you said, ‘we’ are bound by secrets, aren’t we?”

If his secret leaked, Damon wouldn’t be safe either. Wasn’t he the one who drove his mother and father apart and caused their deaths? Moreover, numerous bastards remained in his homeland. If such conduct came to light, it would clearly threaten his royal authority.

In a situation where noble loyalty might flow anywhere due to the jewel collateral incident, Damon grabbed the vase at his fingertips and threw it at Ian.

Crash!

Glass shattering against the desk into pieces. Ian slowly rose from his seat and smiled.

“Your Majesty. Are you injured?”

“…”

“If your noble person were to be wounded, it would be troublesome for me.”

“Oh? I like that. If spilling blood could make you so troubled.”

Ian walked past the shards and sat opposite Damon.

Now there was primarily one thing he wanted to know.

Whether Jin standing behind would be unharmed, so-

“I need to see with my own eyes if the gypsy is dying. We will investigate the Burgos delegation, so I request your cooperation.”

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