Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor
Chapter 62

“Things seem unusually busy at the mansion today. Is something going on?”

The woodcutter, who had come to sell wood, asked as he glanced around. In the midst of calculating money, the steward briefly looked up to eye him.

“No, it’s the same as always.”

“Is that so? Ha ha…”

A lie. The woodcutter scratched his nose with an awkward smile. Ever since the former Count passed away, the number of servants had drastically decreased, making the mansion usually quiet. Even after the advisor and his entourage joined, it had been rare for all the lights in the mansion to be on.

But today felt different.

“Is this a bit damp?”

“It’s just dew from the morning. It will dry up as soon as the sun rises.”

“That’ll be three copper coins in total.”

“Thank you.”

The steward scribbled something as if issuing a receipt and took out three copper coins from his pocket to give to the woodcutter. Just as the woodcutter was about to bow and leave,

“Hold on.”

“Yes?”

“Do you have some time? We’re currently doing some garden maintenance, and there’s a tree standing smack dab in the middle. We’re thinking of felling it unless it’s an old one.”

“Ah, I see. Just leave it to me!”

“Follow me.”

At the steward’s words, the woodcutter slung his bag across his shoulder. He was planning to go straight down and have a drink, but well, it wouldn’t hurt. Perhaps they might even give him an extra tip.

‘So that’s why the mansion was bustling.’

Somehow, the servants, who were almost invisible on regular days, were bustling about here and there.

The woodcutter followed the steward around the mansion. The ground changed from weeds to grass. He had lived in Bratz all his life, but crossing this boundary was a first for him.

“Over here.”

‘Gasp!’

As soon as the woodcutter turned the corner, he took in a deep breath at the sight of the garden. His expectation that flowers, bushes, and trees would beautifully harmonize shattered instantly.

Rows of plants were planted in a straight line as if it were a farm.

Having profited quite well during the Grula harvest season, the woodcutter instantly recognized what it was.

‘…They’re growing Grula, aren’t they? Even with a greenhouse.’

It was real. The rumors that were circulating were actually true. The steward lightly tapped his shoulder with a sheet of paper.

“What are you looking at?”

“Ah, I apologize. What kind of tree is this?”

“Gelse.”

The woodcutter answered his subordinate’s question in detail, but his attention was elsewhere—on the fields of Grula behind him. Meanwhile, Ian, who had been looking down from a window in the corridor, asked,

“How many people are there?”

“Five merchants bringing food supplies, a second woodcutter, some tailors, and then… somewhere else? Anyway, I think I saw at least ten.”

“What about the food supplies?”

“We’ve reduced them, as planned. By half.”

“Good job.”

Ian had proposed two methods for rationing at dinner.

To spread rumors.

And to maintain lax security.

The key was to stimulate human greed for something precious. Now that they had even cut down on their regular supplies, the desire for Grula would only intensify.

“Should we set up a decoy or something now?”

“No. Instruct the men under Romandro to keep a close watch. Fully armed.”

It was a slightly different directive from before. Beric, who had been looking down at the garden, turned his head to look, but Ian only felt his gaze and smiled.

“It may work in other territories or in the central area, but this is still an empty territory without an official ruler. If theft and looting become rampant, it will directly affect public security and significantly lower their quality of life. That, in turn, devalues the territory.”

Once is hard, but twice is easy.

Especially if the mansion is burglarized, the residents will easily consider looting their neighbors as well.

“So what should we do? Just let them watch?”

“Beric. Worry about yourself. You will have to get up early for a while.”

“Eh? Me? Why?”

In response to Beric’s question, Ian just smiled and closed his mouth. Then, tap tap, he knocked on the window and went up to his office.

***

“This the right way?”

“I said it’s correct!”

“Lower your voice, man. The guards will hear us!”

Two men approaching the mansion under the cover of predawn darkness.

As food supplies dwindled, rumors had spread that the mansion was filled with Grula. Left with no choice, they had to sneak in under the cover of darkness to survive.

“Ugh.”

“Ah, it’s so heavy.”

“Quickly, lift it up.”

Thieves who had just barely managed to climb over the towering walls of the mansion. Rumor had it that within the outer garden of the building, not inside, there was a garden of Grula. Even if they stole just a few and took them to the city center, they could shake off this incessant poverty.

“Hey, is this it?”

The thieves cautiously peered over at the garden. It was all dark, but it was clear that something was planted in abundance on the ground. Imagining a rosy future, they carefully began picking.

“Who would’ve known that these are worth their weight in gold, and yet they offer them to the mansion. Tsk, tsk.”

“Shut your mouth and keep picking.”

“Should’ve brought another bag.”

As the thieves whispered and giggled while plucking Grula, Romandro’s minions sighed and watched them. They had just captured one guy and were on their way back from locking him up in the underground prison, and now there were more?

“Hey-!”

“Eek!”

“Aaargh!”

When a minion lit a lighter and yelled, the thieves startled and jumped. They threw the Grula into the air and ran through the garden.

“Where are you going? You’ll wake everyone up.”

“Pl-please spare us! Spare us!”

“If anyone hears, they’ll think I’m the intruder.”

But what could they do? The thieves, caught within a short distance, fell to their knees and pleaded wildly. The two minions were tying the thieves’ arms with rope at that moment.

“You all had it tough.”

“Ah, Master Ian.”

Ian appeared with Beric, both hooded. The thieves looked up at him, gulping. What were those golden eyes, even undiminished in the darkness?

“Did you come to steal?”

“Uh, well that’s…”

“We did wrong! We’re struggling so much just to eat that we…”

Ian looked at the thieves and clicked his tongue slightly.

“You should’ve waited a bit. Why did you have to do this?”

“Eh?”

“Lock them up in the underground prison.”

“Yes, Master Ian. Will you not require any additional escort today?”

“That’s right. Beric alone is enough.”

Ian and the mansion’s minions exchanged some incomprehensible conversation. As the bewildered thieves were led away to the underground prison, Ian and Beric exited through the main gates of the mansion.

It was their second day in a row going out.

“Haah.”

“Take a nap or something.”

Instead of responding, Beric tapped the sack of Grula seeds on his back. The gesture indicated that he was as busy as Ian.

Soon after, they arrived at a civilian residence on the outskirts.

“That house over there has twins, they say.”

“Really? Then let’s go there first.”

Since it was late, the lights were out. Ian cautiously knocked on the door handle as he stepped into the yard.

Knock, knock.

“Is anyone there?”

No response. So, once again,

Knock, knock.

“Could you please come out?”

A faint light then turned on from the window. Shortly after, a man with a deep, sleepy voice asked,

“Who is it?”

“It’s Ian.”

“…Who?”

“Ian.”

Creak.

Perhaps because he was still half-asleep, he seemed to be slow in understanding the situation. The door opened slowly. Blink, blink. Upon seeing Ian, the man’s eyes widened and he recoiled.

“Master Ian?”

“Shh. You’ll wake the children.”

“What brings you here?”

He knew Ian, but he had never thought Ian would know him. And why should he? The man was just an ordinary subject. It was shocking to hear someone he had no personal connection to mention his children.

“Did I do something wrong…?”

Given the situation, it was natural for him to feel uneasy. As a look of fear momentarily crossed the man’s face, Ian silently unsheathed the hilt from Beric’s sack.

Swish.

“What is this?”

“Grula seeds.”

“Excuse me?”

It was a sack of Grula seeds.

“It may not be a miracle drug as rumored, but it is true that the imperial advisor enjoys it, and it is both delicious and nutritious. Right now, it’s strictly controlled in my residence, but I plan to distribute it freely throughout the territory soon. I’ve been continuously suggesting this to the advisor. So hold on until then, and if any neighbors want some, feel free to share generously.”

“Master Ian!”

“Since you have multiple children, I’ll give you some first. I can’t stay for long; the number of houses I have to visit is huge. You know that these are just seeds, right?”

“Ah, of course. Everyone in the territory knows that now.”

“Just have a little taste, and plant the rest. One seed can yield more than ten Grula.”

What kind of midnight gift is this! The man nodded repeatedly, deeply moved. As Ian patted him on the shoulder and left the yard, the man bowed repeatedly as he followed.

“Thank you!”

“Everyone in the next house will wake up.”

Hmph! At Ian’s words, the man quickly covered his mouth. When Ian disappeared into the darkness, he cautiously returned home. The dim lantern lit up brightly.

“…Ian, you’re really incomprehensible sometimes.”

“I understand you quite well. You look like you want to lie down right now.”

Beric squinted his eyes, as if tired. Distributing Grula in the middle of the night, and doing so personally. Ian understood that Beric could not understand this.

“While the palace’s emissaries monopolize and cultivate Grula, supplies will decrease. On a night where people are worrying about the harshness of the coming winter, how would it look to them if I share these Grula?”

They’d likely feel it’s a grace sent by God. They would then feel grateful, and that would soon bring support for Ian.

“Ah, I’m so tired.”

“Let’s get moving. The next stop is where the children are. Kids are usually good at spreading rumors.”

There were households like the one with many children but also areas where the boundaries were blurred, like the red-light district where Ian’s mother, Philea, used to live.

“What’s going on? Not sleeping at this time of night?”

“Mom, Mom. They say Master Ian’s here?”

“What? Why is Master Ian here?”

“He’s sharing Grula! Grulas!”

As many people were active during the night, it was much noisier here compared to other places. Ian, while handing out the Grula, warned the children in a whisper.

“Bratz people barely have enough for themselves, so never give it to outsiders. Understand?”

“Yes! Can I eat it now?”

“Me too!”

“Alright, line up. I’ll give you more.”

Ian exchanged greetings while patting the heads of children riding Grula.

Following Ian and Beric stealthily was a man.

Swish.

The man confirmed that they returned to the mansion as dawn approached. After a time delay, he also entered the mansion, and the place he arrived at was the guest room in the annex where Molrin’s group was staying.

Creak.

“You’ve arrived?”

“Yes.”

The man was D’gor. He tossed his hood onto the bed and let out a baffled laugh. Mack, who had been waiting all night without sleeping, sighed deeply.

“What were they doing going out in the middle of the night?”

“Distributing Grula, and very openly at that.”

“What?”

At D’gor’s words, Mack took a swig of wine. Molrin, who was sitting by the window, also chuckled.

“That guy… really has a naive side.”

Surely, in Romandro, Ian’s name wouldn’t be excluded from the discovery of the Grula. The palace’s operations were managed meticulously, and the support from the citizens of the territories was also perfectly managed.

“It looks like he will continue to go out only with Beric for a while in the early morning.”

At D’gor’s words, Molrin turned his deeply sunken eyes. It was an excellent opportunity to aim for Ian’s neck under the cover of darkness.