Chapter 188
Chapter 188
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 188
Chapter Title: Equivalent Exchange
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“Magic Department Minister Ian Hielo. You must be Duke Gaudino Haiman?”
At Ian’s call, Haiman’s head slowly turned. Now facing him directly, Ian was certain he had never seen the man at the New Year’s banquet. It was an appearance impossible to forget after a single glance.
“Ian Hielo, the Minister. I am Duke Gaudino Haiman.”
A peculiar middle-aged man. Beneath neatly combed-back hair was a broad, clear forehead, angular eyebrows, and a sharp nose bridge—none of it ordinary. But even more extraordinary were his eyes, where the whites were scarcely visible. The intimidating aura seemed not from the Haiman family name, but from his gaze itself.
“Have you been waiting long?”
Ian did not offer a handshake first. By title alone, Haiman was untouchably superior, but in the current situation, Haiman represented those who had harmed the imperial palace, and Ian was the one handling the aftermath. Aware of this, Haiman observed decorum with a faint smile.
“It’s nothing compared to Minister Hielo’s efforts. Ah, this is my youngest daughter, Melania. A pleasure to meet you. I look forward to your kind regard.”
Haiman already knew that Melania and Ian had met before. But introducing her as if it were their first encounter was a subtle dismissal of Gail, the link between them.
In high society, even with prior acquaintance, one acted as if meeting for the first time at formal occasions—that was the model of propriety.
“A pleasure to meet you.”
Lady Melania lightly gathered her green dress and curtsied. Her eyes smiled softly as they met his. Her playful harmony with her father’s tune was remarkably natural.
“It may be your first time seeing me, my lady, but I have seen you once before—from a distance, when delivering a report to His Highness Gail’s chambers.”
Ian pressed his lips to the back of Melania’s hand with a smile. He maintained decorum while instantly highlighting their connection to Gail. As if anticipating his response, father and daughter simultaneously showed awkward discomfort.
“Lord Hielo. That’s precisely why I came to the palace in haste. I’ve heard that Prince Marib and Prince Gail have stirred quite the unfortunate incident, putting me in a difficult position. I wish to explain directly to His Imperial Majesty, but your mages won’t clear the way.”
It was a request to meet the emperor directly. Instead of answering, Ian peered into Haiman’s pitch-black eyes. With no whites visible, it was impossible to tell exactly where he was looking.
‘How much does he know?’
If he hadn’t yet contacted Dillaina, he wouldn’t know the emperor was frozen. No one had left the palace, so he couldn’t know Marib had stabbed the emperor.
Ian’s response now would be information to him, and guidance for his actions the moment he stepped out.
“There has never been a history of a rebel criminal being granted an audience with His Imperial Majesty, nor will there be in the future.”
Haiman’s jaw clenched rigidly at Ian’s reply. It revealed no information about the emperor’s safety while confirming the charges for the palace disturbance.
“If you have any explanations, direct them to me.”
It subtly asserted that he was the current authority in the palace. Haiman lifted his head stiffly and asked,
“Are both Prince Marib and Prince Gail unharmed?”
“I cannot disclose that.”
If Gail were alive, it would naturally undermine the Haiman family’s defenses. With Ian yielding no information, Duke Haiman’s eyes narrowed. He soon ventured cautiously,
“…A misunderstanding, I assure you. It’s true that Melania briefly associated with Prince Gail, but providing the mana stone armor was to aid the Imperial Army’s troop research. I never anticipated it would be used like this.”
Ian could have countered that the Imperial Defense Ministry had sided with Marib, but saying so would alert Haiman to the lack of palace guards. Sometimes silence pierced deeper than rebuttal—this was such a moment.
“And so, sensing something amiss, I recovered half of them as a countermeasure. I wish to report this directly to His Imperial Majesty.”
“As I said, that’s impossible.”
“By His Majesty’s command?”
The question probed whether the emperor had ordered it. No one could claim an order from the emperor without his direct command. Hadn’t Ian once dismissed Chielonia, who brought his title appointment decree from the frontier, on those grounds?
“It is the imperial family’s will.”
Ian evaded with a vague yet firm answer. Haiman covered his daughter’s hand with his gloved one. Melania regarded Ian with a calm gaze.
“I deeply regret it. Though unintentional, I acknowledge our partial involvement in this incident. I will offer the best possible compensation and, if there is a way to preserve the Haiman honor, devote all my efforts to it.”
Compensation, not reparations? Reparations implied legal punishment, while compensation was moral responsibility outside the law.
‘Clever word choice, sharp as a blade.’
The arrogant attitude of one who believed he could survive even after treason, born from knowing his own stature better than anyone.
Given his scheme to place his daughter on the throne as empress, he clearly had designs on imperial power.
‘As expected, best to keep him in check alongside Arsen.’
Ian ostentatiously furrowed his brow and muttered,
“It seems the Duke believes the empire’s security can be bought with money. No matter how full the vaults, before Variel’s centuries of authority, it’s mere pebbles.”
“Variel’s authority is built upon those very pebbles.”
“My apologies, but an investigation into the Haiman family’s ties to Prince Gail will commence shortly. You’ll pay ‘reparations’ commensurate with the findings, not ‘compensation.’”
Reparations always came with further penalties—from minor title revocation or reduced authority to imprisonment or execution. At Ian’s words, Duke Haiman twitched his fingers. A subordinate approached and handed him a pipe.
“…Are Lady Dillaina and the twin princes safe?”
The low question emerged with the tobacco smoke. The duke’s black eyes swiftly scanned Ian, gauging the situation.
“They are unharmed.”
“If I cannot see His Majesty, then at least Lady Dillaina.”
“That is denied.”
“Denied?”
Haiman’s lips twisted slightly at Ian’s words, as if seizing on a clue. “Denied” meant not her will, but Ian’s alone.
“Why?”
“For maintaining order within the palace.”
“Lord Ian. To an outsider now, it wouldn’t seem that Princes Marib and Gail caused the disturbance, but that you overthrew and seized control.”
“Ahem! Khm!”
Romandro, listening from behind, let out an irritated cough at Haiman’s words. Haiman’s escort knights also sensed the tension and scowled. In the thickening atmosphere, Haiman leisurely repeated his request.
“Inform Lady Dillaina that Duke Haiman seeks an audience.”
The attitude implied that refusal would confirm the misunderstanding as truth.
“Very well. However, only the Duke is permitted—excluding Lady Melania—and palace guards will accompany you. You cannot deny the suspicion of colluding with Prince Gail.”
Ian rose, issuing the remaining instructions. Entry had been at their whim, but exit would not be. Even the emperor himself could not contact the outside until the palace was secured.
“Are there attendants waiting for the Duke at the palace gates?”
“Indeed.”
Precisely, his knight order waited with orders to rescue him if no word came within a day. Like entering a tiger’s maw with a safety line secured at the waist. Ian, expecting as much, continued,
“We will complete initial cleanup within three days. No one may leave before then, so I’ll have the gatekeeper relay this. Farewell.”
Creak.
Ian said this and exited. His footsteps faded, leaving utter silence. Melania leaned back with a sigh.
“What now, Father? Prince Gail seems alive. Prince Marib is something else—couldn’t even kill that one while turning the palace upside down.”
“No need for concern. Dillaina is the key.”
“Lady Dillaina?”
Haiman murmured, slowly replaying his conversation with Ian.
“Think about it. If Marib and Gail are stripped of succession for treason, the twins are next. They’d be strong candidates for the next emperor. But they’re still too young.”
“Lady Dillaina would act as regent.”
“Exactly. Thus, she’d naturally hold real power in the palace. But from Ian’s demeanor, power is clearly tilting that way. She may step back now for cleanup and such, but if this momentum continues, it’ll burden her.”
Above all, Ian’s attitude toward Haiman was hostile. Surely some loose screws in the palace bureaucracy would want to cling to Haiman’s value.
‘The one perfect to check whoever subdued Marib and Gail is Haiman. Best to push that angle and bide our time.’
Unaware that Arsen and Jin had split, Haiman had successfully inferred the situation. Meeting Dillaina would make it all certain.
“Sigh. What a mess this is. Both Prince Marib and Prince Gail ending up like this. A failed investment.”
Melania sipped her tea with a weary nuance.
“If we’d known sooner that Prince Marib was tied to the Rutherford Merchant Group, would things have differed?”
Rutherford, the enigmatic caravan of alchemists. The source of Marib’s orange gems, and long-time trading partners of Haiman. So secretive, he hadn’t imagined ties to a prince.
“No. Daughter, the process might have changed, but the outcome would be the same. History’s choice is absolute.”
Too late to learn. Only after allying with Gail did he notice Rutherford’s processed gem flows. Tracing them led to Marib, and soon Haiman guessed Marib had acquired something akin to mana sealing stones in preparation.
‘If Gail won, good. If Marib won, attach via Rutherford. That’s why only half the mana stone armor was sent.’
He’d walked the tightrope, but it snapped. Fortunately, betraying Gail would grant them another chance.
“Go arrange a private meeting with Dillaina.”
“Yes, my lord Duke.”
Tap.
Melania recalled that child from the frontier upon hearing Rutherford’s name. Ian Hielo’s face overlaid her faded memory. Once deemed similar, it wouldn’t easily fade.
* * *
Meanwhile, Ian’s group exited. Romandro opened the carriage door, asking worriedly. Even so, allowing Haiman and Dillaina to meet felt deeply concerning.
“With things as they are, I’m not sure we should let them meet. Aren’t they prickly enough to handle separately?”
“Riding the same boat means sharing will and weaknesses. No need to fear them growing larger. The bigger they are, the easier the target, wherever struck. To create pretext for checks, give them someone to hold onto.”
“True, but still.”
“And that conversation yielded quite the harvest.”
“Hm? A harvest? Really?”
Romandro seemed unconvinced. Understandably—they’d entered as blank slates from outside, while Ian held the information.
Any talk would benefit Haiman due to the imbalance, naturally.
“Didn’t they tell us directly?”
“Strange. I wasn’t absent once.”
“He said outsiders might think I’d overthrown and seized control. Words express thoughts. It means they’re considering it as a way to reverse the situation.”
Romandro’s mouth fell open. Absurd, yet it made sense! Fabricated rumors among unaware imperial citizens would deal a blow—especially to Jin’s succession.
“Smile, Lord Romandro. The situation isn’t bad.”
Ian leaned his head against the window and grinned. Romandro awkwardly lifted his lips in response. Clop-clop, the carriage carried the two toward the Magic Department.