Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor Chapter 122

Episode 122. The next emperor

Gorgeous gold threads tightly laid on precious fabric. Although he was adorned with so many jewels that he could put the crown to shame, the emperor was like a withered old tree.

Wrinkles with deep traces of age and pupils with half of their color gone. Plus, the dark skin color didn’t seem surprising at all even if it happened today or tomorrow.

‘Looking at your face, I vaguely understand.’

Ian remembered him without difficulty. I immediately remembered the portrait of the emperor hanging at the left end of the hallway. I was impressed in part because he had such a bad complexion, but I also heard that he lived a long life with that kind of appearance, so it stayed in my mind.

‘Then, after the author… … .’

Ian’s head automatically moved behind the emperor. The princes, Mariv and Gale, were coming in one after another. Unlike before, they were dressed in full uniform, and their appearance was magnificent. The other princes were seen turning back and leaving without even thinking about going up to the stage.

‘The next emperor will have silver hair and blue eyes. And he had a cut from his left forehead to his right chin. But I can’t see any other princes here.’

Marib and Gail definitely not. Let alone the scars, the facial features themselves are different. Ian constantly glanced around him, remembering the face of the next emperor.

Whatever, whatever. Such cases may be rare, but if the prince, like Ian, died and brought in an outside legitimate child, the dukedom had to be checked as well.

‘Silver hair, silver hair… … .’

Still, silver hair is not a common hair type. If you see it, you’ll probably recognize it right away.

It was the moment when Ian slowly looked away, feeling relieved. He realized that Mariv and Gale, standing behind and on either side of the Emperor, were watching him. In some ways, these are looks of interest, but in other ways, they are looks that convey a sense of surveillance and caution.

‘hmm. When you put them together like that, it’s true that they are brothers.’

The two were looking straight ahead at a distance, so it seemed like they didn’t know that the other was looking down at Ian.

Ian pretended not to notice and fixed his head towards the emperor. The nobles next to him could only look at the princes in confusion.

“Why, why do you guys look at me like that?”

“You’re looking at Ian, not us.”

“There is definitely a different hero today.”

“… I have no idea what you’re thinking. “Be scared.”

“Shh. Be quiet. Your Majesty will speak.”

The whispering chatter of the nobles was completely cut off. This is because the emperor took a step forward. He pursed his dry lips a few times and smiled kindly.

“A year has passed like this for the great empire of Bariel.”

Although the words were quietly spoken as if squeezed, the emperor’s voice echoed throughout the large banquet hall. This too was a magical power. A voice without a sense of space, as if ringing in my head. Beric was startled and his body twitched.

“I personally encourage those who worked hard for the empire this year as well. Surely the flowers in full bloom next year will be brighter, the fields will be golden, and the returning wind will be warm.”

It was the emperor’s New Year’s greeting. The nobles smiled politely and nodded slightly, looking up at the emperor in an attitude of listening. He went through the past year, pointing out the big and small things that happened in the empire this year.

“With the restoration of the temple due to the great earthquake in the spring… … .”

To be honest, the emperor’s speech, which went on endlessly, was boring. Ian glanced back and made eye contact with Romandro and Beric.

‘re! mi! doesn’t exist!’

Puff cluck. Beric spoke to Ian with his mouth, and Romandro was just sighing as if half his soul had disappeared. When Ian smiled and looked forward again, his name was called.

“Bratz, a rebel family on the border, has been exterminated. If those who oppose the great empire Bariel want to see their future, let them look there.”

Clap clap clap.

The nobles responded by applauding lightly. This was a solid reminder that in the future, if there is a family that evades taxes and takes bribes, they will end up in the same situation as Bratz. At the same time the Emperor said those words, Mariv glanced at Gale and smiled. On the other hand, Gail just shows no reaction and has no expression.

Sigh.

Ian now realized that his name would be called. This is because the Prime Minister approached holding a pedestal decorated with flowers. The Emperor nodded his head slightly and continued.

“I will erase Bratz’s name from history forever and establish a new family by the emperor’s orders.”

One by one, the gazes of the nobles returned to Ian. Now was the moment to officially step into their world.

“Ian.”

When the emperor himself called the name, the nobles spread out to the left and right to create a path. The melody of the Imperial Palace Band continued with applause, and Ian moved forward with a smile on his face. As I stepped up to the stage, I could see the emperor’s face in more detail.

‘How old are you? I know he lived a long life, but he looks really unwell.’

Ian knelt down on one knee to show respect, and the emperor himself patted his shoulder with his hand.

“Ian. “It’s nice to see you here.”

“It’s an honor. your majesty.”

“You are of the blood of Derga Bratz, but I acknowledge that you have contributed to suppressing traitors for the Empire. “He is also a talent that is absolutely necessary for the development of the Bariel Empire.”

At the emperor’s gesture, Ian stood up and straightened his posture. A brooch hangs on his chest. It was a design with white flowers in full bloom behind the X-shaped sword. This would become Ian’s family crest from now on.

“What on earth is that?”

“well. “It’s hard to see, but it looks like a white flower, right?”

“You mean white instead of a flashy color…” … .”

Some nobles sneered subtly, but Ian didn’t care. This is because, unlike the last name, the family emblem was decided by Ian himself.

‘You don’t even know it’s a Gula flower.’

In the borderlands, gula is already an indispensable crop. Gula would soon be commercialized throughout Bariel, which meant the end of the great famine. To make it clear that Ian led the feat, the family crest itself was made of a Gula flower.

In the future, this white flower will become the most honorable symbol in the empire.

“Therefore, I appoint you as Viscount Hiello.”

Ian Hiello.

That was Ian’s new name. Ian willingly bowed his head and greeted with dignity.

‘Hiello? ‘I’ve heard it a lot somewhere.’

However, the name somehow sounds familiar. Since I can’t remember it right away, it doesn’t seem to be the name of a noble family… I think I heard it somewhere.

Hiello, hielo.

Ian continued to chew on his new last name as he received his title.

“For the glory of Bariel.”

“For the glory of Bariel.”

Ian put his hand on his chest and pledged allegiance to the emperor. Mariv, who was watching from behind her, smiled brightly and gave her applause. Gail is also ceremonial, but the same goes for it. The spirit lights that filled the banquet hall created a beautiful flow and scattered like pollen.

Clap clap clap.

“Viscount Ian Hielo. “Congratulations.”

“thank you. “Viscount Hawkman.”

“Oh, do you know me?”

“It would be correct to say that I know Lord Fürne, the Viscount’s son-in-law. Humanism, I benefited a lot from that.”

“Nice to meet you. “I am the Marquis of Hainis.”

“Marquis. “It is an honor to meet you.”

When Ian came down, the nobles’ reactions became a little more flexible. Just because he was given a name by the emperor. Nothing has changed between Ian before and Ian now. Of course, there were still more forces that could not approach and were whispering behind his back, but it was clear that Ian was currently the center of the social circle.

“Next, I would like to praise the merits of the Battle of Roxan. Hale, Tommy, and Nakina from the Ministry of Magic.”

Ian’s turn was over, but the New Year’s party continued. This was because there were many knights who had contributed in large and small wars, and there were also several nobles who achieved success. As the voices congratulating Ian gradually subsided, he cautiously walked behind him.

“Ian! “Here we go!”

“Hey! Master Ian Hiello~?”

“You are truly a viscount now. Noble man. “Congratulations!”

Romandro and Beric must have been looking for him too, so they ran into him right away. It was quite nice to see him celebrating, whispering and not being able to hide his joy. Ian smiled and nodded his head.

“It will take a while for the magic power confirmation ceremony to continue.”

“okay. “Now I just have to stand and look, so I feel really at ease.”

Everyone was climbing up using the stairs next to the podium rather than the red carpet in the center, as if there was no one like Ian who completely changed his status.

“By the way, Romandro.”

“huh?”

I entered the entrance and walked straight ahead so I didn’t even notice. On the second floor above the door, women were sitting in groups of twos and threes watching the New Year’s party.

“Are the people sitting upstairs your Majesty’s concubines?”

“iced coffee. yes.”

A line has been thoroughly drawn. Except for the emperor, empress, and prince, the rest of the family members are all one step back from the center of power.

‘ah. ‘Silver hair.’

Ian found a woman sitting among them. Her hair was tied up, her posture was dignified, and she seemed to be in quite a high position among her concubines. Ian gently called Romandro again.

“Do you know who the silver-haired concubine over there is?”

“who? Silver hair? iced coffee.”

Romandro glanced around and whispered quietly. The place they were in was quiet, and everyone seemed to enjoy secret chatting among themselves rather than the emperor’s words, but this was the imperial palace. Isn’t this a place where you have to be careful with every single word?

“It’s Delina.”

Delina. The biological mother of the 4th and 5th princes, and currently the only concubine who is by the emperor’s side and assisting him. The other concubines only married for political reasons and did not have much interaction with the emperor, who was old and likely to die soon.

However, because Delaina had sons to protect, she had to hold on to even the slightest bit of strength, so she directly assisted the emperor and actively led events in the palace.

“The New Year’s party was also prepared by Delina on behalf of His Majesty the Emperor. “You are looking after all kinds of internal affairs, and you are filling the empty space of the Empress well.”

Delaina has silver hair.

if… … .

“Do your sons also have silver hair?”

“huh? That’s right. “Her hair resembles her mother, Delaina, and her eyes resemble her father, His Majesty the Emperor.”

It means blue eyes. Ian was certain that the next emperor would be Delaina’s son. So, the question is who is the 4th prince or the 5th prince? … .

‘With both the 1st and 2nd princes being pushed from the throne, the order of the 4th and 5th princes has no meaning.’

Ian continued to look upward to see if he could see the prince.

It was then.

“… … !”

A child who appears to be about fifteen years old appears next to Delina. Ian immediately recognized the man he had seen in the emperor’s portrait. When that child grows up, he will become the man in the portrait.

“Romandro. Or, I… … .”

The moment I was about to ask whether that child was the 4th or 5th prince.

Another boy who looked the same appeared. Romandro glanced upward indifferently and answered.

“iced coffee. okay. “The 4th and 5th princes are twins.”

fantasy,