Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor -
Chapter 81
“That man is…”
Among those who rushed over upon hearing the servants’ screams was one of Romandro’s men. Wasn’t he the one who killed Collin in the Merellof trade delegation on the way to the Sherion mountains?
“Lord Ian. That man is the one who caused trouble in the Sherion mountains.”
“That man did? Are you sure?”
“I saw it with my own eyes. I even saw him kill Collin.”
Ian looked back at Countess Merellof again. She was momentarily startled by Ian’s golden eyes, but soon she was fussing with a sharp voice. Yet, her hand did not leave Clark’s shoulder.
“I told you, I hate everything about Merellof!”
“So you interfered with the trade delegation?”
“You’re thankful for that, but what is this?”
“You were the one who rushed first. He’s alive, so stop making a fuss.”
At those words, the countess confirmed Clark’s faint breath. Gradually, her own breathing also steadied.
“How did you know that Collin was our planted man?”
“There was a mass disappearance from an illegal gambling house. It coincided with the news of your attack. A man who worked there disappeared and then reappeared, naturally raising suspicions.”
“What about the count?”
“How would I know? That old fool of a count. He didn’t issue a single order regarding the investigation of the incident. He probably doesn’t even know that Collin worked there.”
As expected, it was a more absurd situation than Ian had anticipated. Count Merellof had completely ignored Ian’s ambush. Despite being an incident caused by his own citizens, he showed no concern.
“Are you lovers?”
“…It’s not like that.”
“Really?”
Given their interaction, nobody would believe otherwise. Romandro was just looking around curiously. Ian nodded, indicating he had made his decision.
“Move this man to an empty room.”
“Yes, Lord Ian.”
Following Ian’s order, the soldiers lifted and supported Clark. Countess Merellof looked alarmed but couldn’t argue. If her servant returned unconscious from an outing, it would certainly raise suspicions in the mansion.
“I can’t say I knocked him out, can I?”
“…I didn’t say anything.”
“Good. Countess, let’s then discuss and align our stories in detail.”
Ian smiled and extended his hand to her. The countess watched Clark being taken away, then grasped Ian’s hand and stood up. Ian slowly untied the bindings on her wrist.
“You want freedom, and I want the tribute. But as long as the count’s brother stands in the way, there’s no guarantee I’ll be compensated later.”
If Countess Merellof’s actions were to be exposed in any way, it would only complicate matters for Ian. He could be accused of neglecting or even abetting the count’s murder.
She understood what Ian was implying.
“…You’re talking about the Grula trade, right?”
Countess Merellof’s words were met with an affirmative smile from Ian. He had noticed her quick wit and sharp mind, perhaps honed by a life of hardship. She was, in fact, remarkably intelligent.
“Yes. I’d like to maximize the profits from the Grula trade as soon as possible.”
“I’ll act as a decoy then.”
“It’s more than being a decoy. I need you to persuade the count. Frankly, Merellof has no real solutions at the moment, right? The way to Hawan Kingdom is blocked, and so is Sheyron. It’s the perfect situation for a famine.”
“By the way, was the Hawan Kingdom robbery also your doing? If so, I must say it was a bit excessive.”
“No, that wasn’t our doing.”
“Then it must be a divine blessing. I envy you.”
The countess played with her bruised wrist and opened her eyes wide. Then she instructed the servant standing behind her.
“Bring me two dry cloths. Make sure they’re clean.”
“Uh… Oh.”
As Ian signaled with a flick of his eyebrow, the servant quickly bowed and retreated. It seemed she planned to collect the drug powder again.
“So, I expect your full cooperation until the deal is completed.”
“Don’t worry about that. I’ve waited through several winters already. A few more days won’t make a difference.”
“Waited for winters?”
“Yes.”
Ian suddenly felt the depth of her hatred. Winter was the season of death, a time when many died, and funeral processes were hindered by snow and wind.
“Take good care of Clark.”
“Of course. Oh, when you leave, I’ll give you some Grula as well. We can say we traded Clark for Grula. That should work.”
While not entirely satisfying, it was the most plausible plan for the moment. Having paid the price and acquired the Grula, Count Merellof would likely utilize it to its fullest, experiencing its true value firsthand.
It was akin to a ‘taste test’, using the language of the marketplace.
‘And if any problem arises, Countess Merellof could serve as a useful hostage.’
With this thought, Ian hurriedly instructed Hannah. The day was growing darker. Even if she left now, the countess would only reach the mansion by midnight. Any further delay might arouse suspicion.
“Hannah. Bring a small bag of Grula to the front gate.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Prepare the carriage! The countess is returning home.”
“Yes! Prepare the carriage!”
As everyone went outside to prepare the carriage, a servant hesitantly tried to cover the glass lid over the drug powder, but the Countess Merellof firmly stopped him.
“I’ll handle it.”
With one hand covering her nose and mouth and the other carefully transferring the powder, her caution was evident. Given that Beric had fainted just from the smell, the potency of the drug’s components was alarming.
“But if he dies too soon, it would raise a lot of suspicions.”
“I’ve told you, one time won’t kill. It neutralizes with liquid components, preventing a reaction like Beric’s.”
Instead, it would induce a dreamlike state, making it difficult to distinguish between dreams and reality. The side effect was a gradual sapping of vitality during sleep – a purposeful design for the Countess.
Click.
After securely closing the box, the Countess slipped it into her pocket and quickly walked down the corridor. Ian followed her to complete the farewell.
“Will you not see Clark before leaving? It might be a while before you see him again.”
“I’ll manage. And we’re not… in that kind of relationship, remember?”
Ian merely nodded in response.
“Our family will escort you to the mansion. Please, have a safe journey.”
“Look forward to good news, Sir Ian.”
After receiving a light kiss on the back of her hand, the Countess closed the carriage door. As she left, Ian thought of the bruises spreading from her ankle. Would she be safe returning to Merellof tonight?
“Countess?”
“It’s alright. For now.”
Before Ian could say more, the Countess gently shook her head. Despite not resembling her mother in any apparent way, enduring her husband’s beatings often reminded her unintentionally of her Dryad lineage.
“For now, I can bear it.”
“Departing now.”
Wheeze! Creak!
The Countess looked back through the small window, exchanging final glances with Ian. Romandro wiped his face with a handkerchief, watching the carriage leave the estate.
“What’s going on here…?”
“Today’s events with the box will be overlooked in exchange for the Countess’s support in the Grula trade.”
“The box, that’s not poison, is it? How’s Beric?”
“One time won’t kill, I’m told. He should be dreaming right now.”
“Eh? Really? He was cursing so much earlier.”
“With Beric, I can guess what his ‘good dreams’ might entail.”
Ian laughed as he re-entered the mansion, only to hear loud thumping upstairs. At this hour, there was only one person who would cause such a commotion.
“Open up! What are you trying to do!”
Bang! Crash!
The cries of a man named Clark seeped through the door. The situation seemed on the verge of getting out of hand, causing the servants to back away anxiously. Ultimately, it was the Cheonrye tribe warriors who stepped forward.
“Should we knock him out again?”
“It’s really loud in the middle of the night, seriously.”
“Leave it. I’ll talk to him.”
Ian gestured for them to stop and approached the door. He tried to inform Clark of the situation during a brief moment of silence.
“Your name’s Clark, right?”
“…Lord Ian?”
Thud!
But Clark’s frantic cries came first. Desperately grasping the doorknob, he almost wept, begging. The last image he remembered of the Countess was her being tied up, so his reaction was understandable.
“Lord Ian, please, please save her. Everything Countess Lien did was for us. If it weren’t for her, over a dozen of us would have been killed by the Count by now…”
Each time the Count was about to beat a servant to death, the Countess willingly took their place. It was a well-known fact in the mansion. Despite her usually unsociable nature, everyone was grateful to her.
“So, the Countess did that.”
“Yes, yes… I swear to God. So please, I’m begging you, just open the door to let me see that she’s safe…”
“The Countess just left the mansion to return home.”
“…Is that true?”
“Yes. Since your life is now a bargaining chip in our mutual interests, just wait quietly. Any commotion you cause will only burden the Countess.”
Only the sound of sniffling came from inside. Ian didn’t expect an answer and simply instructed the servants to keep a close watch on the door.
* * *
The atmosphere at the Merellof Mansion was unusual. The Countess, who rarely went out, had not returned even after sunset.
The Count didn’t mention the Countess, but his silent and deadly aura was palpable.
“Ah, there!”
In the distance, a faint light emerged from the darkness. The silhouette of a carriage pulled by two horses became visible. The servants quickly ran out to greet the Countess, who appeared somewhat weary.
“Why are you so late?”
“Where’s Clark?”
“Have you had your dinner?”
“Madam, the, the master…”
The servants, clearly on edge, tried to speak, but the sudden appearance of the master forced them to remain silent.
“Lien.”
“I’m sorry. I’m late, aren’t I?”
“I really don’t understand what’s going on here.”
“There’s a lot I need to discuss with you.”
“Tell me now! Explain everything.”
The Count’s bellowing voice made the servants shrink in fear. However, the Countess, unaffected, smiled and shook her pocket as if to show something.
“I traded Clark for some Grula. Sir Ian was stubborn about the price, so it took some time.”
The Count, who had been furious up to his head, paused for a moment.
The Countess’s visit was a precursor to the Grula trade, not the main deal itself. Yet, she managed to acquire Grula so quickly.
“My dear?”
The Countess beamed with a bright smile. She was well aware of what the first step in being an effective intermediary, as mentioned by Ian, entailed.
“Shall we taste some of this? I have a lot to tell you, and it might be good to discuss over a taste of Grula.”
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