Chapter 139
Chapter 139
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 139
Chapter Title: I Swear Once More
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Romandro kept glancing out of the carriage with a fidgety posture. Darkness had fully settled, and there was still no sign of Ian returning. It had already been hours since he went inside.
Clop clop!
At that moment, far in the distance, a golden-haired boy appeared, descending the massive staircase. The surroundings were so quiet that even the small footsteps seemed audible. Romandro shook the dozing coachman awake and urged him to drive the carriage forward.
“Ian. Hurry and get in, ughhh!”
“You’ve kept me waiting a long time. Sir Romandro.”
“Oh my god, oh my god! Iiiiian!”
“Shh, it’s nothing.”
“N-No, it’s not nothing?”
He had wiped it off, but bloodstains remained on his jaw and neck, and above all, his clothes were a total mess. What on earth had happened inside? Romandro trembled anxiously, his expression frantic, unable to grab Ian or let him go.
In contrast, Ian casually straightened his collar and gave the coachman a listless order.
“Let’s depart.”
“Sh-Shall we go to the infirmary?”
“No. To Prince Marib’s palace.”
“Y-Yes, understood.”
Neigh!
The coachman, equally startled, stammered badly as he whipped the horses. Romandro, who had been staring at Ian’s state with his mouth agape, soon realized there were no wounds.
“Ian. Isn’t that your blood?”
“It is my blood. I drank Truth Serum inside. There’s no physical pain, but the side effects are severe. That’s why everyone gets scared and opposes it preemptively.”
Ian smiled, and Romandro gave a faint smile in return. He seemed somewhat relieved now. Then he noticed the Luron box Ian had taken was gone.
“Can you tell me what happened? And why to Prince Marib’s palace at this hour?”
“I could tell you, but it’s better if you don’t know the details for your own safety, Sir Romandro. A big storm is coming soon.”
“A st-storm?”
“No need to worry. We’ll always be at the center of it. Things went more smoothly than expected.”
When Romandro tried to dab at the blood with saliva on his handkerchief, Ian waved him off with a chop of his hand. Going to Marib like this was precisely to show him this state.
‘Return now. After confirming whether Wesley truly researched forbidden necromancy, I’ll send word again.’
Even if it was a top-secret matter within the Magic Department, it wouldn’t be hard for a prince who wanted to uncover it. If it was all true, Wesley would surely be expelled at next week’s high-ranking appointment council.
‘Then this time, I need to work on Marib as well.’
Running back and forth like this under the moonlight—what nonsense was this? But it was something that had to be done eventually. Power was always harder to maintain in balance than pushing from one side.
“How does the administration currently view the Truth Serum issue?”
“With real power in His Majesty’s hands, they have no choice but to follow his will. But there’s growing concern below. It’s certainly an ideal potion, but the Magic Department deems it abnormal...”
Ian recalled the palace departments one by one, counting them off. If it wasn’t much different from a hundred years later, there’d be about twenty in total. The ones close to real power would narrow down to around ten...
“But Ian, doesn’t it seem off to go straight from reporting to Second Prince Gail to Prince Marib like this?”
“It’s fine. Second Prince Gail probably knows.”
“He knows?”
It was a sort of double agent setup. Even if Ian approached both sides, it wouldn’t raise much suspicion. Romandro couldn’t gauge how the situation was unfolding and tugged at his limp hair in frustration.
It was then.
Clack!
“We’ve arrived, Viscount.”
“Ah, right. Sir Romandro, please wait again.”
With no traffic at night, they arrived quickly. Ian checked once more that the blood was still visible before opening the carriage door. The approaching guard flinched at the sight of Ian’s state.
“Have you come to the wrong place? This is Prince Marib’s palace. We weren’t informed of any nighttime visitors.”
“Correct. It’s urgent, so hurry and relay the message. Viscount Ian Hielo requests an audience.”
“Please wait a moment.”
The guard glanced at Ian’s blood-soaked clothes and went inside. Unlike with Gail’s side, his attitude toward Ian and Romandro was gentle.
“...My god, Viscount. Are you alright?”
“No problem.”
The head steward who came out to greet them had a rigidly stiffened expression. With a lifetime in the palace, his instincts told him something unusual was afoot. The steward hurriedly led Ian to Marib’s office.
Knock knock.
“Your Highness.”
“Enter.”
Marib looked the same day or night. His hair neatly tied back in a single ponytail, glasses on, sifting through a mountain of reports. He turned his head and frowned.
“Viscount Ian Hielo. What is the meaning of this?”
“Your Highness, forgive my late visit, but I have urgent news. I just came from Second Prince Gail’s palace.”
At the mention of Gail, the steward hurriedly exited and closed the door. Now only Marib and Ian remained.
“First, forgive me for visiting Second Prince Gail without informing you. To make it seem like you were unaware of my movements, as it felt certain they’d use Truth Serum.”
“Then that blood is a side effect of the Truth Serum.”
“Exactly.”
They said the research was incomplete, and it truly was a spectacle. And they wanted to commercialize it like that? Insane.
“While investigating the Luron Stone information you mentioned before, it was revealed that the estimated deposit is in the current Hielo territory.”
Ah, Marib let out an internal exclamation. So that’s why Gail coveted it so much. That’s why he kept pestering about the Truth Serum issue. Ian watched Marib’s complexion and continued.
“Thus, Second Prince Gail summoned me and ordered me to supply Luron Stones to the Magic Department. It seems difficult to refuse.”
“That cannot be. Supplying Luron Stones would give them leverage on the Truth Serum agenda.”
“Your Highness. Isn’t the biggest reason for opposing Truth Serum the Magic Department itself? With its head Wesley being Gail’s man, there’s no trust in the potion itself.”
Even if they say it’s the truth, it forces lies, and who knows when that unidentified liquid might kill you.
Marib adjusted his glasses and calmly countered.
“And?”
“If Minister Wesley falls and the Magic Department gets a new head, it becomes no problem at all.”
Minister Wesley falling?
Absurd, but if it happened, it would be an unparalleled boon for Marib. Gail’s core faction would disintegrate.
‘But how on earth? Wesley won’t step down voluntarily, and the only way is Gail discarding him—but why would that bastard discard Wesley?’
At that moment, Marib suddenly thought of the Hyman family’s youngest daughter. Rumors said Gail was putting in so much effort recently—could it be a falling out with Wesley over her?
The youngest daughter of the great family monopolizing banking in Bariel, with mixed royal blood from a neighboring kingdom, famed for her beauty in high society. Word was she spent the entire New Year’s ball glued to Gail.
Ian slowly gauged his expression and continued.
“If I may be so bold, do you know how the Magic Department selects a new minister if the seat becomes vacant?”
“The Magic Department prioritizes ability above all, so surely...”
As Marib’s words trailed off, Ian sat straight and nodded. He had sensed something extraordinary at the Mana Confirmation Ritual, but not to this extent.
“Second Prince Gail seemed greatly impressed by my mana at the Mana Confirmation Ritual.”
Marib had thought him capable, but not in terms of ‘compared to Wesley.’ He’d just seen him as a lucky find from the border nobility.
“So it seems he’s scouting candidates one by one for the next minister. Thus, I predict Second Prince Gail will oust Minister Wesley.”
“There must be some hidden motive. Gail would never, ever discard Wesley lightly.”
“I’m not sure about that far, Your Highness. But if the minister falls and an opportunity comes to me...”
What was this guy saying? A newbie mage fresh to the department mentioning the minister position. But Ian didn’t hesitate.
“You could proceed with the Truth Serum agenda. To gather internal forces, an external alliance is needed. If you approve Truth Serum, I could use it to rally people.”
How many departments were tied to Truth Serum?
Mana Stone Management Division, Potion Research Division, Magic Experiment Division...
“Can you do it?”
“I will. If Your Highness helps a little, it’ll be smooth.”
Marib thought.
If Gail ousted Wesley, he’d surely have a marked successor for the Magic Department. But opportunity falls equally on all unexpectedly. Ian was a newbie, but still a Magic Department mage. Couldn’t rule it out.
“Ian. It all sounds good, but I still can’t buy that Gail and Wesley will split. It feels like some far-fetched dream nonsense.”
Would Gail really discard Wesley? No, would Wesley even be discardable? Marib narrowed his gentle eyes and glared at Ian.
‘Pushing Truth Serum like this... could he be on Gail’s side?’
Ian noticed the gaze and bowed his head. Quick-witted people were exhausting.
“I mentioned Truth Serum because I’ll become the large-scale Luron Stone supplier. That’s the biggest issue with Luron Stones now, and with all other departments opposing except the Magic Department, passing the agenda would greatly establish its position.”
Not an illogical argument. Marib lifted his head and prodded Ian’s chin with his pen.
The younger brother thrusts a sword, the older a pen.
“I understand. But first, Wesley must fall, and then you must prove yourself in the Magic Department.”
“No worries, Your Highness.”
Zing. Ziiing.
Ian released his mana confidently in response. His green eyes turned golden, mana’s light swirling around. If nothing else, this was unrivaled.
“I swear, this light is surely for Your Highness.”
“Very well. I’ll expect it.”
Marib lightly tapped Ian’s chin away and stood. Scheme or not, pulling Wesley down would mean something.
Ian lightly rubbed his nape and gave a faint smile.