Chapter 182
Chapter 182
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 182
Chapter Title: The Day Comes to an End
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“The Emperor has passed away?”
Ian muttered in confusion as he looked down at the letter. Honestly, it was completely unexpected. He had assumed the Emperor was still alive, piecing together the fact that Marib had shown him the seal rather than the body, along with the original history where he had lived a long life.
“…He is alive.”
Beols replied, glancing toward the painting behind him with his chin. His gaze darkened as he spoke of life.
“But he is not among the living.”
“Please explain in detail.”
“Last night, Prince Marib entered His Majesty’s chambers to do him harm and seized the seal at the same time. I was right there beside him, but it happened in an instant, and I couldn’t stop it. It is a disgrace for the captain of the Imperial Guard.”
The betrayal by Riama. The aged Emperor. The bedroom sealed off on all sides. And Marib aiming for his father’s throat. Ian could easily picture the scene from that night.
“It was written inside the secret passage. He anticipated countless possibilities and scenarios, and one of them came to pass. Therefore, per His Majesty’s command, I deliver this to Lord Ian.”
Ian took the letter. Blood was thickly smeared on the tightly bound string. It was likely the trace of an enfeebled old man.
“The Emperor—”
“Has frozen himself.”
“……!”
“His condition was already poor to begin with, and the blood loss was severe. It was a decision His Majesty made himself.”
Come to think of it, Beols’s clothes were also splattered with blood. Given how much blood an old man like that had shed, his state was all too clear. Just before his last breath could leave his body, the Emperor had sealed himself away in eternal time. He was a man whose life held meaning from birth until death.
“He worried that today’s chaos would spiral out of control. If the Emperor passed away, it would truly overthrow everything.”
“I agree. Once word spreads that the throne is empty, even the riffraff will seize the confusion to indulge their greed. There’s a risk that even a spark capable of evolution could consume the entire Empire.”
“…When the time comes that His Majesty’s death no longer threatens Bariel, he asked that the freeze be lifted then.”
“There are those who wield healing magic.”
“I cannot guarantee it. The moment the freeze is lifted, we don’t know what state he’ll be in.”
Ian pondered for a moment before pressing his forehead. First things first, he needed to read the Emperor’s letter.
“And you’re entrusting that to me?”
“Precisely to ‘a third force that stands with neither prince.’”
The Emperor was said to have lived long, but was the underside of the original history like this? Even at the moment death was to be met with death, the Emperor did not die. That was the final duty an Emperor bore.
‘Right. I wondered how he lasted so long, looking like he’d collapse any moment at the New Year’s gathering.’
Beols gestured as if urging him to open the letter quickly.
“I don’t know what’s written in it either.”
“Was that you speaking to me earlier?”
“Yes. I apologize for testing you without intent. It was His Majesty’s will, so please forgive me. He was extremely concerned about Princes Jin and Arsen getting caught in the chaos.”
Swoosh.
Unlike the thickly rolled parchment, the contents were brief.
⁝
-Marib and Gail shall have their rights and wrongs laid bare in trial. In particular, Marib shall additionally have the imperial surname permanently stripped.
-Protect Jin and Arsen well. One is light, the other darkness. On the year they come of age, seek out the Galra priest once more.
⁝
It was no different from a will. Most of it concerned the disposition of the princes, with brief instructions on wrapping up the various national projects he had been overseeing.
Ian folded the parchment again and looked at Beols.
“How can we prove this is His Majesty’s letter?”
“The seal.”
“Marib seized the seal.”
“His Majesty had a personal seal he used for letters to foreign kings. It can be verified by comparison.”
“And Lady Dillaina? Shall we inform her? If His Majesty is gone, the Prime Minister and Lady Dillaina will temporarily take his place.”
“His Majesty said that judgments regarding the successor should be decided through discussion between Lady Dillaina and the third force.”
‘Beols will guard and oversee the entire process.’
Ian set the letter down on the table and thought deeply. Then, once this incident concluded, Jin and Arsen—that is, the confrontation between Ian and Dillaina—would divide the palace.
For now, more power and authority had shifted to Ian, the one who had saved their lives.
Knock knock.
At that moment, a knock came from outside. Ian tucked the letter into his bosom and gave Beols a look.
“First, let’s end this day’s nightmare.”
“Yes. Just handling the aftermath will be a massive task. There’s no time to waste. Once the palace is sorted, we’ll move His Majesty’s frozen form.”
Click!
When Ian opened the door, Romandro startled and stepped back. He had clearly heard voices inside, so how was only one person emerging?
Ian draped his robe over his shoulders as he passed him.
“I’ve received a letter from His Imperial Majesty. We’ll begin properly restoring order to the palace, so prepare yourself.”
“Pardon? A letter from His Majesty? Where is he now?”
“Romandro. Before that, one thing I’d like to ask.”
“Yes, yes. Ask away.”
Romandro spoke deferentially, mindful of the surrounding gazes. There had been something puzzling him for a while, but he’d brushed it off as unimportant.
“Where is Lady Dillaina’s family from?”
Both Marib and Gail had mentioned Dillaina’s family once each. Given that she had risen to the position of consort, her influence was surely no small matter, but today was the day all the central nobles had split apart. Yet no mention had come of forces loyal to Dillaina.
“Lady Dillaina? She’s the daughter of the Carbo family.”
“Carbo? You mean the Carbo Temple?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
The Carbo Temple. A place of deep history from the founding of Bariel, said to have conveyed the will of the gods to the Emperor. Because it had bestowed blessings upon the imperial family, it was still passed down as the epitome of divinity.
“Ah, it started when they adopted war orphans and gave them the surname Carbo. Among them, a man named Roberside who didn’t take the path of priesthood won a title for victory in a monster battle, and it’s continued to this day.”
Romandro added the explanation, figuring Ian, raised in the borderlands, might not know. A lineage both historic and symbolically prominent. It made sense why Marib had said he’d spare her life out of regard for her family.
“The Carbo family has roots in the temple, but with each generation, their identity has faded.”
“The oracle regarding Princes Jin and Arsen came from Carbo as well, then.”
“Most likely. What good is a powerful family background? Once received, it became a curse. Anyway, a message from His Majesty?”
Why was Dillaina’s family so important? In this situation!
“And I hear Prince Gail is handing over the Mana Sealing Stone. What do you plan to do?”
Ian’s footsteps halted as he headed to the lobby.
The Mana Sealing Stone, the only means to check the mages. With it, nothing could stop the Magic Department.
‘It would ensure immediate safety. But it’s not ideal.’
Checks and balances create equilibrium, and equilibrium brings peace. Ian was a mage, but at the same time, an Emperor. He knew well how dangerous an imbalance of power could be.
‘Distribute it—’
First, gather everyone, then divide it appropriately.
‘Especially to Jin.’
“Everyone, listen up.”
Ian called to the mages. Those who had been tending to their tasks all stopped and turned to him.
“A message from His Imperial Majesty has arrived.”
“Pardon? From His Majesty?”
“Is he safe? Where is he now?”
“…There is no danger to his life. This is a letter from His Highness proven by a seal other than the imperial one.”
Rustle.
Ian held up the letter, covering the bloodstained part with his hand. Sensing the shift in the mages’ mood, the other officials began gathering one by one, murmuring.
“From this moment, the Magic Department withdraws its declaration as a neutral zone and will eliminate the forces of Marib disrupting order in the palace. Prepare amplification magic.”
“Yes, understood!”
At Ian’s command, the magic tool fabrication team rushed inside. To retrieve the magic amplifiers that served as megaphones.
In the meantime, Ian continued issuing orders.
“Gail will also be captured alive and put on trial. The Magic Department will show no mercy to those who resist.”
“Lord Ian, we have it here!”
A long stand with a round disc attached. Condensed mana rippled in the small hole drilled into it.
Ziiing. Ziiing.
“Just speak into it.”
“Make sure it doesn’t reach outside areas or nearby settlements.”
“Yes, no problem!”
Ian carefully opened his mouth.
[I am Ian Hielo, Minister of the Magic Department.]
Whiiiing—
His voice rode the mana, echoing throughout the palace. Fallen soldiers, hiding officials, fleeing people—even untethered beasts—all froze at the unfamiliar voice ringing in their ears.
[All who live, focus. I convey this after receiving His Imperial Majesty’s message.]
Berik rubbed his ears every time Ian spoke. It sounded like it was said once in front and again inside his ear canal.
[The First Prince Marib is hereby expelled from the imperial family. Those who followed him, drop your weapons and surrender immediately. Otherwise, you will be judged as traitors and punished severely. The Marib you trusted and followed will be captured alive by the Magic Department and executed before your very eyes.]
He spoke of death calmly. If Marib had come to his senses, he was likely hearing this broadcast now as well.
[And the Second Prince Gail.]
Ian stared straight ahead as if facing Gail directly.
[I, Ian Hielo, have lifted your curse in the honor of the Minister of the Magic Department. Bariel’s fate is no longer yours. You too must bear responsibility for this incident.]
He declared it. The curse left by Wesley was gone. Gail could no longer use it as an excuse to cling to life. Whatever the trial’s outcome, he would have to endure it.
[From now on, the Magic Department and mages will restore order to the palace. Those who sided with Gail, take note. Surrender or death.]
“Surrender or death!”
“Surrender or death!”
The mages took up the chant, and the cry spread.
They were the people of the palace who had sought safety in the neutral zone. Now it was time for them to return to their posts and work toward normalcy.
“Move out. And bring me Gail.”
“Yes, understood.”
“Leave body disposal to the mages. Romandro, survey the damaged buildings and submit reconstruction plans by tomorrow. Prioritize disarming the soldiers. Then, urgently admit the high officials waiting outside.”
Peace was easy to shatter but hard to rebuild. Ian would put his head together with his staff for the peace of the current palace.
[The chaos is over. Survivors, rejoice all, and let the present flow into the past. Tonight will differ from last night.]
Ian drew a breath, gazing at the blood-soaked corpses. One day—since Siaoshi entered Gail’s chambers and fired the signal flare, it had raced breathlessly to this point.
[Celebrate the end of this day’s nightmare.]
“Demosha!”
“Demoshaaa!”
Unsure what it meant, but for something worth celebrating, they ought to share the gods’ blessings. Starting with the warriors’ resounding shouts, the mages raised their fists. As sunset bathed the half-ruined palace, the palace gates opened. As if a new history were beginning.