Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor
Chapter 21

“What…..”

Ian, who seldom lost his composure, was stumbling over his words. Beric strolled in, casually blowing a whistle. His behavior was as natural as water flowing down a stream.

“You, I clearly told you to wait, didn’t I?”

“I was waiting just fine. I came when I was called.”

“Who called you?”

“The butler.”

“What?”

“He came to the tavern and said I could enter the mansion anytime. As soon as he said that, I came right over. Is there a problem?”

Ian’s expression became a little complicated. It didn’t seem like Beric was lying. Given his character, he wouldn’t have sneaked in. The very fact that he passed the main gate safely was proof.

Beric stood still, looking down at Ian.

“….”

Ian’s gaze subtly shifted to the left. Beric glanced at the fruits and bread placed on the table. Noticing this, Ian sighed and nodded his head.

“Just eat.”

“Nice. I won’t refuse.”

Beric greedily shoved food into his mouth with both hands. Watching him, Ian began to grasp the turn of events.

“Is that all he said?”

“He said to keep an eye on you and report.”

“You don’t plan to take that seriously, do you?”

Chewing noisily, Beric stared intently at Ian. What does he think of me…? The one who held the sword never spoke twice, and the direction of the sword was invariably singular.

“Anyway, tell me quickly. What was that thing that day?”

“Oh. Right.”

He was so curious about whether it was magic or something else, he could hardly breathe. But what can be done? Ian spent the time as if dead when he told him to wait. Of course, the fact that there was no one around who could know about it, so it didn’t help him either.

“Alright. Listen.”

Ian began to explain the astonishing power that Beric possessed.

An unknown energy daringly presumed to be the origin of the world and the existence of God. Beric’s red eyes sparkled brightly like sunlight.

“…Ridiculous.”

“Therefore, since the magic was blocking the vitality of your body, it couldn’t be helped that you were lagging behind others. No matter how much you trained, you would have stayed the same.”

“So, you’re saying you can break through it.”

“…Don’t you know what honorifics are?”

“Woah, that’s really something….”

Beric fidgeted, repeatedly clenching and unclenching his hands. His face was a mix of joy and excitement. The strange power he had felt in the training field was truly his own. He leaned his head against the wall and burst out laughing.

“You’re impossible to communicate with.”

“Do we start now? Tell me what I need to do.”

Ian stared at him in silence. He wished to give him the power right away, but it would be a problem if the boy caused a commotion here.

Whether he knew Ian’s concerns or not, Beric impatiently tapped his foot.

“Hand.”

“Hand!”

Beric’s hand was placed on Ian’s palm.

Ian tightly gripped it and warned, “Learn to control yourself. Otherwise, I’ll only train you to death for a few days.”

“Don’t worry, hurry up!”

Ziiing.

As soon as he heard Beric’s reply, Ian activated his power. His green eyes turned golden, his hair fluttering softly. Energy flowed through them where they touched.

And a moment later.

Boom! Thud!

“Whoa.”

“What was that noise?”

The servants attending to their tasks downstairs halted at the strange noise. It sounded like it came from Ian’s room…

Knock, knock.

“Master Ian? Is something wrong?”

The answer was a bit late. Just as the servant was about to turn the doorknob, Ian’s irritated voice was heard.

“It’s fine. The table just broke.”

“What? How did that happen?”

How on earth did a perfectly fine table break?

Creak!

When the startled servant opened the door, the scene before him was a spectacle. Shattered furniture, Ian stretching out, and a man with red hair sprawling on the floor. His face was upside down, but he was definitely smiling.

“…Excuse me.”

“That’s it. Clean up after yourself.”

What in the world was this situation?

When Ian gestured as if to shoo him away, the servant backed away, sputtering like a broken machine.

“Ian.”

***

The next morning’s breakfast.

Ian stopped his knife work and looked at Dergha. At the same time, the countess and Chel also watched them.

“Seems like you’ve made a new friend.”

What did he mean, asking again when everyone already knows? Ian smiled as he set his knife aside.

“Yes, Father. His name is Berick. We met at the training grounds, and we seemed to hit it off well. Brother Chel would also recognize him if he saw his face.”

He wondered how detailed and transparent his answer should be. Dergha raised his eyebrows as if encouraging him to continue.

“I thought I wouldn’t see him at the training grounds anymore after he got expelled. Thanks to you, Father, I had a great time.”

“Expelled? Why?”

Countess Mary, who had been quietly listening, asked. Unlike Dergha, she seemed unaware that Beric had even entered the mansion yesterday.

“He assaulted his comrade.”

“My goodness. How terrible. And to think you’d keep such a person close. You must be quite a character yourself, aren’t you?”

Despite the sarcastic undertone, Ian only smiled. He had succeeded in keeping Beric by his side anyway. When the time came, this boy would be the one to slit their throats.

“If he can’t remove the shackles within a month, I’ll consider his playtime over and I’ll twist his neck myself.”

“…Yes, Father.”

He’s planning to use it quite wisely. As if he’d use the whip when shackles aren’t enough. To show his submission, Ian lowered his gaze. All he could see were Dergha’s thick fingers.

‘Fortunately, he didn’t seem to know about the furniture I broke.’

The servant must have covered for him. Although dividing food was one thing, because he got along well with Hannah, his standing among the lower ranks wasn’t bad.

‘Hmm?’

Suddenly, the diamond ring shining on his finger caught Ian’s eye. A thick gem with a flashy gold design. Dergha never seemed particularly interested in jewelry, yet strangely, he always wore that ring.

‘Is it a wedding ring?’

Ian checked the countess’s hand. However, there was no diamond on her left hand. There were opal, pearl, and ruby, but no diamond.

‘The cut is too crude.’

Observing further, he noticed that the diamond cut was peculiar. A gem’s purpose is to reflect light and shine brightly, but Dergha’s was rounded in a way that seemed distant from that purpose.

It’s almost as if it’s meant to be worn rather than displayed…….

Clatter.

“Tsk, tsk.”

“If you still make such mistakes, what will become of you?”

“Oh. I deeply apologize.”

Ian had unwittingly dropped his fork. Faced with the stern gazes of the count and countess, he quickly apologized and turned his head.

Soon, the icy dining time ended and everyone left the dining room, but Ian didn’t move. The servants approached with hesitation and asked.

“Master Ian, was the meal insufficient?”

“The tutor will be here soon, we’ll make sure to prepare a hearty snack.”

They needed to clear the dishes, but since Ian was still lingering, they couldn’t move. He looked out silently before murmuring.

“The ring that father wears, it’s not a wedding ring, is it?”

Such a random question. But the servants answered as much as they knew.

“As far as we know, it’s not. The countess’s ruby ring is said to be the wedding ring.”

That’s why her magical brooch was red. Ian propped his chin and tapped on the table. The more he thought, the more certain he became.

‘The gestures of reaching under the desk, the mystery key the butler had, and this diamond ring.’

It seemed not the type to insert and turn, but to press somewhere. Does the safe react only to the diamond? No, then the butler’s key should also have a gem embedded.

The difference between the two would be…

‘Material.’

Dergha would never entrust the master key to anyone else. The key the butler carried was more a piece of a test than a symbol of trust.

The only thing that comes to mind considering its direct connection to security is that there might be electricity running inside.

“Ha.”

What a wicked and clever lock.

The servants glanced at each other and Ian, but he didn’t move. It wasn’t until much later, when the tutor was about to arrive, that he stirred.

Squeak.

Ian, who had opened the door, gave an instruction to Beric.

“Get out.”

“Huh? Why?”

Thump!

Beric, who was in the middle of doing push-ups, suddenly fell forward. Whether he fell or not, Ian began to tidy up his desk.

“The private tutor will be here soon.”

“So what? Can’t I stay a little longer? The room is so big.”

“I have important matters to discuss. When the servant brings snacks, you take them and go back.”

“If that’s the case, fine!”

Beric, who was hungry, grabbed his jacket and left the room. Shortly after, the tutor arrived on time. He peeked towards the door and asked Ian.

“Young maste, who is that person just now?”

“Please, take a seat first. There’s something important I need to discuss.”

The unusually serious Ian felt strange. The tutor sat on the sofa without even taking off his coat.

‘Now that I have found the key to the safe, all that remains is the plan.’

He needed more people to help him, after Hannah and Beric. Someone close to Dergha, someone he could spend a long time with.

“What’s the matter?”

“Sir. Are you perhaps acquainted with Sir Molrin?”

The tutor stiffened at the sudden question.

“Ah, ah, no?”

“I thought there would be a connection just because you graduated from Bariel University, but it turns out you were also close with Dergha.”

I didn’t know a normally calm person could make such an expression. Ian leaned back in his chair with a slight smile in his heart.

“That, that can’t be! Such a coincidence!”

“Then I can report this to my father, right?”

“No! That’s, that’s not what it is!”

A strong denial is often a confirmation. The tutor grimaced as he chewed his lips. If Dergha learned of this, it would be truly difficult. His life might not be at risk, but he would certainly lose his job, and he would certainly be kicked out of the Bratz domain in no time. There was no better place to study than the Great Desert.

“…It seems you have some misunderstanding, young master.”

“No. It’s just that I’m almost certain my father is spying on me through you, and behind the scenes, you spied for Sir Molrin.”

Is this the same Ian who was always so slow and seemed uninterested in everything? The tutor could feel himself growing speechless in astonishment.

“Moreover, you tried to break into the butler’s room on Sir Molrin’s orders.”

“Wait! That’s not true! I’ll explain everything, just calm down, calm down.”

“Sir, you are the one who needs to calm down.”

Ian showed him a cup of tea and smiled faintly. The tutor began to defend himself, stumbling over his words, carefully choosing each one. It all started from the very beginning, when he first met Molrin in Bratz.

“I did indeed discuss matters about Count Derga and you. But, that’s a process every parent does. Initially, when I was in charge of young master Chel, I used to talk about him.”

“Hmm. Is that so?”

He decided not to mention the letter. There was no need to reveal that much.

“Then, you also started attending, and I found out that the central committee’s officials were coming. I really expect that Sir Molrin to come. He is my relative, but this was the first time I’ve seen him since I left my hometown.”

“It must have been a while.”

“It’s been almost 10 years.”

It’s as if he had been immersed in his studies for 10 years. He ruffled his hair as if something was wrong.

“So, we exchanged greetings, and I couldn’t help it. Research requires more money than you’d think… he said he would subsidize my living expenses if I relayed what happened in the house. There was no way for me to refuse, and I didn’t really talk about anything important.”

“If it wasn’t important, then it wouldn’t matter if my father knew about it.”

“M-Master!”

He felt dizzy. It was just a bluff to gain the upper hand, but the reaction was more intense than expected. Perhaps it’s because his research, to which he dedicated his life, is at stake.

Ian sighed and smiled. “You seem like you’re about to collapse if I say another word.”

“Please. Keep it a secret from the Count.”

“Sir, do you know why I didn’t tell my father directly and brought this up to you……”

The tutor’s faded pupils trembled. He wasn’t too sharp when it came to these matters.

“Don’t you understand it yet?”

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