Chapter 250
Chapter 250
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 250
Chapter Title: Opposition Nobles' Signatures
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A dim office. It was the hour when the sky was just beginning to lighten with dawn.
Ian reviewed the documents with a steady gaze, then pinched the bridge of his nose. It was because of the conversation he'd had with Jean earlier, which lingered in his mind. Was it because he'd reached his physical limits again? He couldn't focus easily.
'Your Highness. Please keep this a secret between us for the time being. My mother is the type to inform me first if there's good news. Since she doesn't seem to know, it would be best if we pretend not to know as well.'
'Yes. I'll do that!'
'But they say she's very beautiful?'
'Very, very.'
It had already been proven by the Arsen incident that the Roberside Jean met in his dreams was not a hallucination. Vivianna had hinted at it too, and now his younger brother. He had no idea what his ancestors were up to, but it was only natural that none of these hints could be dismissed lightly.
Could it be that Philia had borne another child besides the bastard Ian? Or was Derga another bastard of Bratz?
Tap, tap.
No. Ian lightly shook off the ink from his pen nib. If Derga had another bastard, he would have known about it long ago.
Did he have many opportunities? Rumors would surely have spread among the residents during the fall and reconstruction of a territory. As expected, Philia or the Nerthern side seemed most likely.
'In that case, it is only right to bless them.'
Ian simply thought that as he signed the document. Philia wasn't even his birth mother, and even if she were, it wouldn't be a problem.
On the contrary, it was something to welcome. There was almost no chance he would go down to Hielro Territory in the future, so their child would be the first step toward cultural integration and the foundation of a solid alliance.
'Above all, it's truly fortunate for Philia. Yes. Living happily. That's everything, isn't it? What more could there be?'
Everyone in the imperial palace fiercely clashing, conflicting, and reaching compromises—that process was all for such things.
A complete individual life forming a grand history. Sometimes, when the surroundings swirled too chaotically, he forgot where he was headed. But surprisingly, whenever that happened, Ian always found his way in the smallest daily matters.
"Kuhhh...."
For example, Berik's snoring as he dozed off in front of the magic heater. Even that could be seen as a complete individual life, in a way.
Hm. Ian seriously watched the sight before closing the document folder.
[Report on Seized Magical Items from the Seven Houses]
[Overall Asset Status of Central Nobility]
[Request for Judiciary Cooperation]
....
In contrast to the peaceful office atmosphere, the titles of what he was reviewing were all ones that could stir up storms.
Knock, knock.
"Excuse me."
"Come in. I'm just finished."
"Ah. Good timing. Serro was just—"
A mage entered with a haggard look, as if she'd been waiting. She hugged the stack of document folders to her chest, then froze upon seeing Ian. Pale skin, darkened eyes, and....
"Ian, your nose is bleeding."
"Hm?"
A faint red streak under his nose. Ian jerked his head up in surprise, and the mage quickly handed him a handkerchief. Berik, who had been snoring loudly, noticed the commotion and bolted upright. Drool trailed from the corner of his mouth.
"Whoa, what? What!"
"You're being noisy, Berik."
"Blood's coming out, Ian! Crazy! Double nosebleed!"
"Are you trying to wake everyone else?"
"Should I wake them? Want me to?"
"...Go fetch Captain Hail."
Ian lightly gestured for Berik to go.
He stumbled out the door in a big lurch. Seeing that, Ian could understand why strange rumors circulated in the Magic Department. He pressed the handkerchief to his nose and leaned his neck back against the chair repeatedly.
"Anyway, what's with Serro?"
Ian asked again with his eyes closed from fatigue. The mage, who had been quietly observing his appearance, startled and continued her report.
"It's said that resistance from Haiman and the seven houses is fiercer than expected. Since they were the pillars supporting the center, there are various difficulties in the judiciary and administrative offices' work."
It wasn't just about lives ending; the very survival of their houses was at stake. And there were seven houses, to boot.
If you included all their members, servants, and even loose connections through regional ties or schoolmates, binding them all would mean Variel Empire sacrificing something no different from cutting off its own left arm. It was a sacrifice that could never have been made without envisioning a better future.
"And?"
"Because the schedule is delayed, the Serro House has stepped forward as representative to collect signatures from the opposition central nobles."
"Opposition central nobles?"
Well now? Opposition?
Ian finally twitched his eyebrows and turned to the mage. Somewhat unexpectedly.
It was very early. It had only been a few days since Haiman had been excised from the lump known as the central nobility. For the remaining ones to name themselves and form a group in that time was surprising enough. Especially calling themselves the 'opposition'—that was even more meaningful. Since it wasn't specified what they were opposing.
"Yes. It's already been submitted to the judiciary, and the matter has spread throughout the streets. Of course, not the 'Mana Confirmation Ritual' incident, but regarding the treason of the seven houses."
Serro was just a stopgap. Filling Haiman's vacancy, diluting the overt checks from the palace, and a means to bind other nobles as they wished.
Yet they stepped forward first to lead the opposition signatures? Ian lightly shook the feather attached to the back of his pen.
'It goes without saying that Haiman and the seven houses need to be swiftly purged for opportunities to come to them. They must be awaiting Haiman's downfall as eagerly as the imperial household. But moving like this without any hint....'
What to call it. It felt off, to put it right.
Half of the central nobility was Haiman's faction, and the other half condemned them. If Serro 'more outstandingly than expected' took the center of that?
Once the seven houses vanished, how much could Serro's size swell from devouring the scraps? Could one really assert it wouldn't birth a second Haiman?
'Showing too much zeal depending on the situation can be tricky in its own way, Lord Serro.'
Ian clicked his tongue inwardly. His true intentions weren't clear. Was it to drive a wedge of loyalty into Jean and Ian—that is, the palace? Or to scheme for the future and open a new horizon in the noble world?
Whatever it was, he was now precariously stepping on the line Ian had drawn. Without permission to step.
"Understood for now."
First, accept what had happened. Whatever the intent, it was wise to take it.
At that moment, Captain Hail flung open the office door in urgency.
Crash! Bang!
"Minister! Excessive bleeding!"
"Ah, Captain Hail. Come here and give me some mana."
"M-mana?"
Ian waved his hand casually, and Hail halted his steps.
What? Mana again?
Hail rarely felt physically strained, but now he felt cold sweat. He couldn't even gauge the size of Ian's mana reserves. It would be cleaner and easier to roll around in a magical beast battle a few times.
Berik, following behind, pushed Hail's back to hurry him.
"What are you doing? The master wants mana!"
"Hey, this isn't your business, is it?"
"Your business is your business! My business is your business!"
The mage, who had been listening quietly beside them, swapped the handkerchief and suggested.
"Ian, why don't you rest instead? Even for a mage, recovering stamina with external mana has its limits. It would be more effective to take a deep sleep. You slept just one day and then dove right back into work."
It was contradictory to come for approvals at dawn if she was worried, but Ian saw the merit in the advice. As he headed to the inner room with the bed, he asked.
"Serro has left the palace by now, right?"
"Yes. He received the Silence Spell first thing."
A special privilege gained for wanting to become Ian's force.
Ian sat on the edge of the bed, pondering deeply. Serro seemed thrilled at the thought of succeeding Haiman right now, but openly scolding him would create new variables in the calculations.
In that case—
"After lunch, bring Lady Melania here. Say we'll have a meal together."
"Here?"
"As you see, I'm busy, and the lady is confined, isn't she?"
"Understood. I'll do that. Sleep well. I'll come back for the rest of the reports then."
The mage shrugged as if she didn't understand, then left the office. Captain Hail tried to sneak out after her, but Berik clung to his arm with all his strength.
"Where you going! Ian wants mana!"
"You seem better suited than me."
"Oh? Is that so? Ian, really?"
"No. Captain Hail, come here quickly."
Ian neatly arranged the pillow. Then he lay down primly in a proper position, wiggling only his fingers.
Captain Hail stroked his rough beard and pulled a chair to the bedside.
Slide.
"I think I need to get a mana booster shot."
"I heard Captain Acorella took one because of me. Were the side effects okay? If not too bad, maybe I should just inject myself."
'Dragon Scale' was among Haiman's charges. Acorella's active cooperation was needed, but since taking the mana booster, she had secluded herself on the surface and wasn't showing up easily. Some said it was due to side effects, others that she was just immersed in research as always.
"Yes. Well. Yesterday she seemed the same as usual, except sweating a bit. Being in the experimental stage, even the creator didn't know the side effects. She was feverish alone, laughing, recording something.... I thought she was crazy."
"Captain Acorella was always crazy."
Bzzz. Zzz.
Ian chuckled at Berik's retort. That wasn't something for anyone else, but certainly not from Berik.
Ian tapped the bedside to signal quiet, and soon fell into a deep sleep.
* * *
Whinny!
Creak!
Melania descended from the carriage, fully hooded in her robe.
After Ian left like that, how much she had blamed herself and bitten her lips. She shouldn't have said that then, she should have approached a bit more like this, he would have reacted more strongly, and so on. With her surroundings shrouded in darkness, even a sliver of hope felt all the more desperate.
"This way."
Ian had called for her again. In some way, it meant Ian was biting. Melania calmly followed the mage's guidance to the office.
"No, wait! Lord Romandro, that's mine?"
"You punk, since when is anything here yours? Ian bought it all."
"I'm the one who eats the most here, so it's mine!"
"Sia, come eat too."
"No, master. I'm fine."
"Ting. Damn, same subordinates but such different cost-performance. Berik, you need to reflect. Ack! Did you splash? Did you just splash?"
The mage, about to announce her presence, glanced at Melania. This wasn't some border school lunch hour; it wasn't the kind of commotion fitting for the Magic Department Minister's office. As the mage cleared her throat to announce Melania's arrival—
"But Ian, why are you calling Haiman's youngest daughter?"
At Berik's question, Melania swiftly grabbed the mage's wrist. Just a moment, please let her eavesdrop a little. It was a desperate plea unfit for her position, so the mage hesitated in surprise.
"Hm. Berik, have you ever seen a fighting match?"
"I've even run in them myself. But why fighting all of a sudden?"
"There, there's a champion and a challenger. To put it that way, Haiman is the champion, Serro the challenger."
"And us?"
"We're the ones presiding over the match, the organizers?"
Ian spoke cryptic words with a faint smile. The moment Melania, ear pressed to the door eavesdropping, frowned—
"Well then, Lady Melania. That's enough eavesdropping. Come in."