Chapter 189
Chapter 189
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 189
Chapter Title: Taking the First Step
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As Ian's carriage arrived at the Magic Department, the mages who had been waiting in the building came rushing out one by one. With mountains of reports and approvals to handle, no one waited to see who would speak first. They followed behind Ian, striding purposefully, each tossing in their own update.
Clop clop!
"One hour from now, the Prime Minister will convene the Grand Council."
"Understood. Hand the materials over to Romandro for each division."
"Lord Ian. The corpse disposal in the imperial palace has been fully completed. We've distributed lists of the identified bodies to each division, and the unidentified ones have been incinerated. We can reinvestigate based on responses from the divisions and reports coming in after the gates open. Ah, and the necromancers are requesting a few intact bodies."
Ian took the report while walking. He seemed to just glance over it casually, but he accurately read every important detail. He signed it with his pen and handed it back.
"Denied."
"Yes. I figured as much. Given the sensitivity of the matter."
"And we've recovered five Mana Sealing Stones from Second Prince Gail's chambers. They're all either 10-gram or 50-gram sizes, fewer than the officially registered ones. We suspect some were lost during the battle with Prince Marib—that is, when Commander Riama was killed."
"Prince Marib likely had a small one on him too."
"We're searching his chambers and office right now, but no word yet. Please allow us to interrogate him once Prince Marib awakens. Here's the approval form."
"Approved. Also, request the Administrative Office to check their records. There must have been some authority adjustment regarding Mana Sealing Stone management during Wesley's tenure. It's not that long ago."
Since Wesley had handed most of the Mana Sealing Stones to Gail, tracing the flow wouldn't be difficult. Ian signed his approval and repeated the process all the way to his office.
Click.
At the sound of footsteps, Berik, Xiaoshi, and Jin inside simultaneously turned to look at Ian. The three were gathered around drawing paper, sketching something. Unfortunately, it was still unrecognizable.
"You haven't slept?"
Ian said this while glancing at Xiaoshi. He had ordered her to stay with Arsen, so her presence here was obvious. Dillaina must have taken Arsen while he was away.
"I, uh, woke up."
Jin smiled brightly, dimples forming on his cheeks. Berik, behind him, made horn shapes with his fingers and pulled grotesque faces. Dillaina's commotion must have been quite intense. The child quietly went back to scribbling with his colored pencils. The shape was growing even more indistinct.
"Are you heading out right away?"
At Xiaoshi's question, Ian nodded. He paused to think, then changed into a robe and called for Jin.
"Your Highness."
"Yeah?"
"If you can't sleep, would you like to come with me?"
"Outside?"
"I'll be attending the Grand Council. If you'd like, join me there. Otherwise, take a night stroll. Berik and Xiaoshi will be with you, so no need to worry. It's only been two days, but staying indoors all day disrupts sleep and soon inverts your day-night rhythm."
Jin blinked. Though Ian had suggested a night stroll, Jin seemed to catch what Ian really meant. Come to the Grand Council, that's what Ian was saying.
"Isn't Mother there?"
Jin had a vague idea too. With Marib and Gail pushed out of the succession picture, next would be Arsen and himself. From Ian's attitude, he could even end up confronting Arsen head-on someday.
But he hadn't expected to step into politics this quickly.
"No. She's not."
Dillaina would be busy meeting Duke Haiman. Besides, this Grand Council was focused on directly handling the palace aftermath, so she wouldn't have much involvement. For her, gathering forces and aligning with Haiman would be more efficient than attending.
"Aren't you curious? About how the palace bureaucrats discuss, decide, and handle state affairs."
He had received steady imperial education, but it was mostly etiquette, knowledge, or culture—politics had been deliberately excluded.
Partly because the twins were still young, but mostly because Marib and Gail blocked the top. State affairs had been a forbidden fruit they could only gaze at.
"It'll be interesting."
Ian smiled brightly, and Jin sprang to his feet. His eyes sparkled with rare vitality. He clenched his small fists tight and shouted.
"I-I'm curious!"
"Change into your outing clothes. Is anyone outside?"
At Ian's call, a servant entered and bowed. Jin hurried after him, and Xiaoshi naturally followed. Berik alone lounged half-reclined on the sofa, idling away. He held the shapeless drawing up to the lamp.
"Ian, look at this? Did His Highness draw me?"
"Berik, get ready to go too."
"Huh? Me too?"
"Can't have you lounging in luxury while all your masters head out."
At Ian's smiling command, Berik threw his head back. Ever since the palace chaos, he hadn't eaten properly. Stuck in a place with limited supplies, it was inevitable.
Knock knock.
"Ian, where are you taking His Highness Jin at this hour?"
Then Romandro knocked on the open door to announce himself. His arms were full of reports from outside.
"We're going to the Grand Council together. Prepare yourself."
"Oh, excellent. The bureaucrats will feel even more at ease seeing for themselves that His Highness is safe."
The Haiman side was mindful of fabricated rumors, and Dillaina hadn't seen her son. This outing would lend credence to claims that Ian had seized palace power by force. To counter that, they needed these visible actions.
"That's one thing, but His Highness Jin will one day grow up and lead state affairs himself. Better to get a feel for it early. Such situations aren't common, so it'll surely help."
It was aimed at formal prince education. With his emperor father frozen in stasis and his mother shielding only his brother, who else would teach him?
In a way, it was an opportunity for Jin. The one guiding him step by step was the emperor himself. What could be more reliable than the emperor's path taught by the emperor?
'...I was betrayed and beheaded, so I know the worst paths to avoid. I have much to teach Jin.'
He hoped his experience would become Jin's wisdom.
Ian gathered his documents and smiled brightly.
* * *
The carriage racing toward the Grand Council hall.
Jin pressed his forehead to the window alongside Berik, peering at the palace night. Having always lived by strict routines, this was his first time out so late. Fortunately, the half-destroyed palace looked passable in the darkness.
'It's fascinating. The night isn't as dark as I thought.'
"Your Highness."
At Ian's call, Jin turned his head. His silver hair shimmered bluish in the moonlight.
"There's something I need to tell you before we go in."
"What is it?"
Romandro cleared his throat awkwardly and lowered his gaze. The mood suggested it wasn't pleasant news.
But Jin sat up straight and met his eyes firmly. Nothing Ian had said so far had ever harmed him. Whatever it was.
"Lady Dillaina is currently the sole guardian of Arsen and Your Highness Jin in the palace. Legally and morally, no one can deny that."
"But Lord Ian is here too."
Ian smiled faintly at Jin's response. He was a deep protector at heart, but to outsiders, it wouldn't look that way. He was wide open to accusations of propping up a powerless prince to monopolize palace power.
"If Lady Dillaina wants to see Your Highness today, like before, I'd have no choice but to step aside."
For a moment, a shadow fell over the window. The moon had slipped behind clouds, but Ian felt as if Jin's face had darkened.
"Regardless, she's Your Highness's mother. We'll soon wrap up the cleanup and reopen the palace, and then the justification for protecting Your Highness vanishes."
"Then what exactly..."
"There's one way. But it's burdensome even for Your Highness, so I'm asking your opinion in advance."
Jin easily recalled the afternoon two days ago.
Facing Marib in his chambers. The cool breeze. A head rolling with a thud. Arsen's whisper. His mother releasing his hand.
"You're saying Mother handed me over to Brother Marib?"
Ian nodded briefly.
She had begged for her life from a traitor to be etched in history, handing over Jin. To save Arsen, yes, but Jin was still noble imperial blood. It was a choice no guardian should make, the sole justification to separate Jin from Dillaina.
"If you permit it."
If Jin permitted, he'd reveal it and free him from her grasp.
The child fell silent, and only the sound of hooves filled the carriage. Ian waited for an answer without pressing. He was to be emperor. Each choice must be his own.
"Lord Ian."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"I want to live."
The child's answer, after a long pause, was concise. Still caressing his unhealed wounds, he gazed beyond the window at that day too.
"But being with Mother now feels like dying. Whether body or soul."
He couldn't fully abandon her. She was his mother.
The name that countless bestowed the world's utmost respect upon simply by uttering it: Mother.
"So when I feel I can endure on my own, I'll go see her. By then, even if she doesn't embrace me, I can embrace her."
And when Arsen's whispers no longer bound his heart.
He needed a little time. He could endure that much. Even if everyone whispered he was the abandoned prince.
"A splendid resolve."
"Help me, Lord Ian."
Screech.
The carriage stopped. As the door opened, Ian stepped down first and extended his hand to Jin. An answer in action. That he'd always hold out his hand like this.
Tap!
Jin lightly touched down and soothed his pounding heart as he looked up at the Grand Council building. High officials' carriages lined up, and mid-level managers from each division clustered, exchanging information chaotically.
"Your Highness, remember this night."
Holding Ian's hand, Jin ascended the steps one by one. People spotted Ian first, then recognized Jin beside him. The crowd parted left and right, bowing their heads in greeting to Jin.
"Today is the day Your Highness attends the Grand Council for the first time."
Then, with a smile, he whispered very softly.
Even Arsen hasn't come here. One step closer to the emperor's seat.