Chapter 167
Chapter 167
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 167
Chapter Title: The Emperor's Seal
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The mornings in central Bariel were always chaotic, just as usual.
Store doors that had been firmly shut overnight swung open, and imperial citizens rushed about in all directions to head to work. Noble carriages were stuck motionless amid the transport wagons, while messenger birds flapped noisily between them.
"Extra! Get your extra!"
"Oh no, what are we going to do if this happens right here?"
"Aren't you moving up front!? What the hell are you doing this early in the morning!"
"Wait a minute, hold on! Sorry, but give me a hand!"
Ian's carriage was no exception. Ian, Romandro, and Berik had been stuck waiting on the road for several minutes now. To make matters worse, the carriage right in front of them had lost a wheel, leaving no telling when they'd move.
"Extra! Second Prince Gail was attacked last night!"
Rustle!
A boy in a paper hat darted between the carriages, tossing out papers. The content was so shocking that people gladly halted their busy steps to pick them up.
"What did he just say?"
"Second Prince Gail was attacked!"
"Are you crazy? An attack in the imperial palace?"
"Hey now, what the—!"
"He suffered heavy bleeding, but his life is not in danger!"
Ian frowned at the added detail. Before the boy passed, he cracked open the carriage window and held out a copper coin. Like a bird spotting feed, the boy's eyes lit up as he rushed over, shoving in the newspaper, extra edition, and advertisements.
"Thank you, sir!"
"But is that true? Heavy bleeding?"
"I heard it straight from the newspaper office. It'll be published after lunch. Do you have a preferred paper, sir?"
At the boy's words, Romandro opened his pouch this time. A silver coin. The boy's chapped lips from the cold curved in satisfaction.
"Seems there was an intruder. All the central nobles entered the palace early, and rumors say knights were involved. Things are turning unusual."
He whispered, voice low as if afraid the information might leak. Bored with the wait, the horse began tapping its hooves. With the stalled carriage ahead starting to move slowly, it looked like they'd finally get going.
"But isn't Second Prince Gail quite close to Lady Melania of the Haiman family these days? Word is, someone moved an assassin to check him because of that."
"It's moving!"
"Give it some oomph! Push!"
"Right away—Prince Marib!"
Neigh!
As the wheel was freed, the coachman cracked the whip urgently to make up for lost time. The boy bowed toward the receding carriage, then resumed shouting as he dashed down the street.
"Extra! Extra! Prince Gail was attacked overnight!"
The window shut with a snap, cutting off the cold wind. Romandro peered at the extra edition curiously and muttered.
"Ian, hey, isn't this a problem?"
He had clearly ordered no commotion around Xiaoshi. Stab a knife into the pillow, but don't confront anyone.
"If Prince Gail bled, he might not react now, but who knows what he'll do later."
"That Xiaoshi guy looked so clever. What a dud!"
"Quiet, you fool. How many times have I told you not to act like you know Xiaoshi!"
"No one's here but us, so it's fine, right?"
The signal flare had gone off. It had exploded bigger than expected, bringing unforeseen circumstances, but the job was done anyway.
'Xiaoshi seemed averse to blood. Maybe it wasn't him—perhaps Gail inflicted the wound on himself. To find pretext against me.'
He could ask Xiaoshi for the details later.
"But the newspapers are impressive. How did they know about something that happened in the palace overnight?"
"Gail leaked it himself."
"Oh? Really?"
"Yes. From Gail's position, it's beneficial for word to spread that he nearly died—and why he nearly died."
Bariel's curse was involved. And Bariel meant the imperial citizens. If it became known that Gail's life was tied to the empire's fate, public opinion would swing in his favor.
"Whether it's Marib or Gail, it doesn't matter much to the citizens. They don't even know what they look like. Tomorrow's guaranteed no matter who becomes emperor next. But what if they learn Gail's death means Bariel's decline?"
"They'll pray he doesn't die!"
"That's what 'support' means."
Aha! Berik's eyes widened as if he'd grasped something. Praying he doesn't die is support! He grabbed Romandro's hand and muttered resolutely.
"I'll support you, Romandro."
"Well, I suppose I should say thanks."
"I'll support you, Ian."
"…I'll support you too."
Ian chuckled and played along. Berik had these amusing sides every now and then. Romandro patted the back of Berik's hand with a sigh, as if telling the wild boy to behave.
"Since His Imperial Majesty issued a gag order on the curse, this must be his way of breaking through."
"Clever. Looks like he has the press in his pocket too."
"Most newspapers run on noble funding, so their connections must reach far."
Just the sentence "Gail was attacked" could spark endless curiosity. Why? Who? How?
As they peeled back the layers to satisfy it, mentions of the curse would surely slip out. What leaks as easily through gaps as words?
"Mentioning heavy bleeding gives us a sense of the palace atmosphere."
It probably couldn't compare to the Day of Judgment when the curse was first detected. That was tension based on despair; this would be tension rooted in survival threats.
"Berik. Once inside, stay right by my side and restrain yourself."
"Master. When have I ever wandered off?"
"You haven't restrained yourself. Lord Romandro. Let's try contacting Xiaoshi's side right away once we're in."
"Got it."
By now, a rushed interrogation was likely done. Since it was about forging truth, those linked to Xiaoshi were set.
"If word spreads that Marib is involved, the palace will change rapidly. Order all mages to halt external duties and outings, and summon back anyone who's left."
"Even those who've left the palace?"
"When the storm rages, you survive by sticking together."
"Right. A solid mass doesn't crumble easily."
Romandro nodded repeatedly, jotting orders in his small notebook. But his pen hand trembled visibly—he was quite tense. Meanwhile, Berik hummed a tune, leisurely gazing out the window.
"Hmm, hmm. Love gripping a sword. So fun. Slice the palace folk clean. Hmm hmm."
"What kind of ridiculous lyrics are those!"
"Huh? Kinda weird? Okay okay, change to ding dong ding. Hmm hmm."
Better to ignore it entirely. Romandro studiously overlooked Berik's humming and asked Ian.
"But Ian, what kind of changes do you mean?"
"First off, Marib's side will react immediately."
If word spread that the midnight attack was Marib's doing, he'd want to confirm Xiaoshi right away. But Gail's side wouldn't show him.
That would spark the first clash.
"One side will demand a formal investigation process, the other will refuse under the ringleader's supervision. If the standoff drags, the more desperate one will move first."
That would be Marib. Cornered, he'd use any means to escape. Whether force or some hidden card, unknown.
"Gail's side will scream treason and pile on every grave charge since he tried to kill the Gail tied to Bariel's fate, while Marib's side scrambles to counter."
"So, no plan to inform Prince Marib?"
"That Xiaoshi is my slave?"
"Yeah. Wasn't it on Marib's orders anyway? You told him to prove the truth."
"Best to tell him at the right time. The flare's lit, but what's the point if no one charges ahead?"
Gail had spilled blood, so Marib needed a corresponding move.
"Besides, from Marib's view, I've failed. He ordered Gail's death, yet my slave was captured alive, handing them pretext. Revealing it now would be poison, eroding trust to the point of shattering it. There'll be a chance to let it slip naturally."
Ian looked up at the nearing imperial palace. Bariel's national flag fluttered majestically as always. As the extra-selling boy said, nobles had entered with knight orders—entry permits were taking three or four times longer than usual.
"And honestly, what concerns me is something else—"
He started to speak when guards spotted Ian's carriage and approached first.
Knock knock.
"Is that Minister Ian Hielo?"
"Yes."
Ian showed his face and nodded, and the guard ordered the coachman to turn toward the palace.
"Urgent orders from above. The Magic Department Minister is to go straight to the First Palace upon entry. We'll open the rear gate—enter there."
The First Palace housed imperial family quarters and officials' offices. It meant an emergency council.
Ian's carriage bypassed the long line under guard escort and entered the palace leisurely.
"Ian, what were you saying earlier?"
"Hm?"
"You said something else was bothering you."
"Ah, yes."
The carriage was now speeding along. Ian straightened his jolting body and replied.
"His Imperial Majesty the Emperor."
"The Emperor?"
"No matter how frail and low-energy, he's the world's center and the palace's dignity. Hard to predict how he'll respond to this mess."
A variable of sorts. With Gail reaching this point on the Emperor's favor, he likely tacitly approved bypassing Marib.
'Not aiming for the throne itself, but a succession struggle. Perhaps he thinks it's fine for the victor to take it.'
The Third Prince had died in a fall. Only the gods knew if it was true. Though Gail was from the rear palace, without Marib, he was the closest legitimate prince among the living.
'If Gail informed the Emperor of Marib's assassination attempt, he'd back Gail even more.'
Ian pressed his temples with his wrist. What would a man holding everything do when cornered on the verge of losing it all?
"Look at that, Ian."
"Ooooh! Kill 'em!"
At Romandro and Berik's words, Ian turned to the window. Armed knights gathered like clouds, holding their house banners. Colorful fabrics rippled across the palace grounds.
"…It really has begun."
Factions faced off, holding positions. A tense atmosphere where one shout could send lances flying at each other. Ian's carriage passed between them and reached the First Palace.
"W-We’ve arrived."
The coachman's voice cracked with tension. Ian quickly descended, climbed the stairs, followed by Romandro and Berik.
Clack clack!
The First Palace. Where imperial family quarters and officials' offices gathered. So many people had crowded in that the council hall doors stood half-open. Those recognizing Ian parted left and right, making way.
"What do you mean by that, Prince Marib!"
Murmurs rose; officials' backs blocked the view inside. Only voices carried through.
"Prince Marib managing His Imperial Majesty's seal?"
Ian's eyes widened at the sudden claim. Pushing through the crowd, he saw Marib—hair tied tightly up—with the Emperor's seat occupied.
Those in the know knew.
That was Marib's hairstyle for hunts.
"Oh, Minister Ian Hielo!"
Marib waved with a broad smile. Before him sat a massive golden seal.
"Come on in."
The Emperor's seal.
Ian racked his brain to grasp the situation. The Emperor's seal in Marib's hands—yet last night, Gail had summoned the armed forces...
'Those confronting at the entrance were all armed.'
Ian realized. Marib was signaling he'd foreseen Gail's staged assassination as a preemptive strike.
And that how Ian himself had been used depended on Marib's actions from here on.