Chapter 163
Romandro glanced furtively at the letter and clicked his tongue. His father’s name, of all things. How foolish he had been to worry it would be rejected. Knowing Ian’s practical nature, there was no way he would refuse. Ian finished the letter, pressing the seal firmly in place.
“Romandro, I’m counting on you with this.”
“Of course. Viviana’s secretary is quick and reliable—just what we need.”
“I also have a proposal for you.”
“What is it?”
Ian smiled, resting his chin on his clasped hands. Though he’d risen to minister and enjoyed all the perks, there was still one thing missing. To perform perfectly, he needed an aide.
“Have you considered transferring from the Administration Department to the Magic Department?”
“To the Magic Department? Me?”
“Yes. Romandro, you’re well-versed in palace affairs and have long served in public office. Your administrative skills are exceptional—I’ve seen it firsthand since the border assignment.”
“No, no. You flatter me—ha! Ha ha!”
“Oh, you like compliments, don’t you?”
Beric chuckled, and Romandro opened his mouth to retort but stopped himself, not wanting to break the flow of conversation.
Clearing his throat, Romandro straightened his tie. Hearing such praise from the hottest topic in the palace left him at a loss for words.
“First, I appreciate your recognition of my abilities.”
“It’s not just praise—it’s my honest opinion.”
“But I’m not a mage.”
“That doesn’t matter. An aide’s role is to assist, and even if you’re not a mage, you’d be a great help to me.”
Romandro scratched his head, clearly conflicted. Ian smiled knowingly and left the choice to him.
“Of course, your opinion matters most. But as a dispatched advisor, you’d be traveling frequently. With a child on the way, you can’t be constantly on the move.”
“That’s true.”
“The salary is much higher, too.”
“Uh, hmm.”
“And being by my side would be safer.”
Romandro’s eyes widened at the unexpected remark. What did that mean? Earlier, Ian had mentioned something about the thin ice cracking in the letter—was that what he meant?
“Think it over carefully and decide. The terms will be far better than before.”
The Administration Department worked under the emperor’s authority, but the princes’ influence was steadily seeping in. Gale’s faction included Morin and Chielonia; Marib undoubtedly had hidden supporters as well. Romandro himself had been summoned to the border on Marib’s orders.
‘If the princes clash, the Administration will fracture. And if the emperor clings to his position, it’ll be uncontrollable.’
Knowing Marib’s deep involvement in the emperor’s health, this was no far-fetched assumption. Ian nodded at Romandro’s puzzled look. Romandro studied Ian’s expression carefully, then suddenly realized something and exclaimed,
“I’ll do it!”
“Excuse me?”
“Just like that?”
Beric, who had been quietly listening, stopped chewing and looked at Romandro in surprise.
“I heard Hana say that before you left for the desert, Ian, you told the servants to quit their duties at the mansion.”
“Oh, that’s right.”
“Those who listened survived; those who didn’t, died. Now I get it. If I don’t listen to you, I feel like I’m going to die.”
A seasoned survivor’s instinct in the midst of political storms. Ian had only hinted subtly, yet Romandro had picked up on it perfectly, even without knowing the full extent of the chaos.
“That’s an exaggeration.”
“There’s no exaggeration when it comes to life. I don’t intend to die until our child reaches adulthood.”
With someone responsible for him, he was even more careful about his own safety. Ian nodded approvingly.
“If you decide, submit your transfer request. I’ll make sure it’s processed immediately. I’ll be counting on you to handle things better from now on. As you can see, there’s far too much on my plate.”
Romandro glanced around the office. Aside from his chair and the sofa where Beric lay, the room was piled high with documents. Though the Magic Operations Department helped, they were mostly field agents and lacked finesse.
Knock, knock.
“Come in.”
“Ian, a servant of His Highness Marib has arrived.”
“Ah, tell him I’ll be there shortly.”
When the meeting ended, Ian had told them to bring him to the palace. He looked up wearily. Rather than trusting Gale’s curse, it was more advantageous to doubt the efficacy of the truth serum. That way, he could anticipate being questioned and suspected soon enough.
“And reschedule the Magic Department’s training. The captains are asking what kind of drills they should do.”
Ian changed his jacket, pondering briefly. Only the Magic Operations Department had mages capable of offensive spells in combat. What about the others?
“Is there a mage who can open portals?”
“Hmm, I don’t think so. It’s too difficult.”
“What exactly is a portal?”
“It connects one space to another.”
“But isn’t manipulating natural laws forbidden magic?”
Ian and the Magic Department staff exchanged glances, unsure how to explain.
“Bending and twisting space-time does go against nature’s order, so it’s forbidden magic. But a portal is more like a ‘road.’”
“A road?”
“It creates a path between two spaces. However, the farther the distance, the more exponentially the magic power required to maintain it. If the portal breaks mid-transit, the traveler could be in danger, so it’s rarely attempted.”
Ian stopped his explanation, assuming they’d understand once they saw it. He ordered training on portals and stepped outside.
A carriage waited in front of the building. The servant, nervous from Marib’s urgent message to bring Ian quickly, hurriedly guided him.
“We’ll hurry, Minister.”
“Ian! Shall I come with you?”
“No need. I’ll be back soon, so stay put.”
Ian waved off Beric, who was running up. Marib, likely agitated after his defeat by Gale, might cause trouble if brought along. The carriage left the Magic Department garden without delay, and Ian drew the curtains closed.
At sunset, Marib’s palace was bathed in deep crimson as always. Despite the warm hues, the atmosphere felt cold and tense. Ian noticed the servant guiding him was holding his breath.
‘They must have had a rough time.’
It was brutal. Marib had probably thought today he could finally drive Gale out of the palace. But Gale had survived and even dared to mention the ‘guild’ to him. Ian could imagine Marib’s frustration—and how he’d taken it out on his servants.
A quiet message announced Ian’s arrival, barely audible like an ant crawling.
“His Highness Marib, Minister Ian Hielo has arrived.”
“Let him in.”
The door creaked open, revealing Marib with his hair undone, glaring at Ian. There was nothing princely about him—raw and unrefined.
The room was a mess. Glass ornaments lay shattered, and the servants cowered, absorbing their master’s wrath. Their clothes were torn, bruises visible on their skin.
“Sir Ian, please sit.”
“Your Highness, are you all right?”
“Sit, sit.”
Marib smiled faintly and gestured to the sofa. He twisted his hair into a bun and leaned back opposite Ian. His eyes curved delicately, clearly smiling, yet no emotion could be felt.
“At the meeting, I made a plea.”
“No, Your Highness, I was surprised as well.”
“You understand me, don’t you? Gale’s trick was obvious, yet the truth serum failed to detect it.”
Ian sat up straight, staring ahead. He knew no answer now would satisfy Marib’s desires. Not now. Not yet.
“There was no problem with the serum. I drank it myself to prove it. If you wish, I can bring a new batch now to demonstrate.”
“Hahaha! Ha ha!”
Marib burst into laughter, clear and ringing, but the servants trembling on the floor were terrified.
“Sir Ian, I trust you. The serum is fine. But Gale clearly avoided its effects, didn’t he?”
It was contradictory. Though he trusted Ian, Marib believed Gale’s evasion meant Ian had somehow intervened.
“I will investigate that matter again.”
“No need. Gale’s curse has been confirmed, and he escaped the serum’s effect. How can you reuse a net full of holes?”
He was saying he no longer trusted the serum. Ian’s expression remained unchanged. It was time for Marib to reveal what he truly wanted, and Ian was ready to listen.
“So, I will cover your true intentions with something else.”
“Your intentions?”
Ian chuckled inwardly, recalling the humiliation Marib had suffered at the meeting. Though he’d summoned his subordinates to prove the serum’s reliability, none had stepped forward. It must have been embarrassing in front of Gale.
“Give the orders.”
“Ian Hielo, Minister of the Magic Department, you are the head of the department and, by His Majesty the Emperor’s command, the chief responsible for resolving this crisis.”
“Indeed.”
“Then break Gale’s curse as soon as possible. Whether it’s real or not doesn’t matter.”
Marib didn’t believe in Gale’s curse. So whether it was truly lifted was irrelevant to him. Ian felt the same way, but hearing Marib speak like that, he could sense the unspoken orders that would follow.
‘Ah. He’s sharpening his blade now.’
“The process of breaking the curse will be dangerous and complicated. Even if Gale dies as a result, who would mourn him?”
“Your Highness Marib.”
“They might feel some regret, sure. But if the one who shackled Bariel’s fate dies, everyone will breathe a sigh of relief.”
Kill Gale.
By any means necessary, announce that the curse has been lifted and eliminate Gale at the same time. Only then will I no longer doubt your loyalty regarding the Sildam potion.
That was Marib’s message.
“Your Highness Marib, but what if the curse is real? What will you do about the consequences? It won’t just affect Bariel, but you as well.”
“No. I absolutely don’t believe it. Wesley, dying from a love affair, would he really cast such a curse? And one that benefits Gale?”
Marib slowly bowed his head to Ian, grinding his teeth as he warned him. His faith was wavering, so it was best to hold on tight before it slipped away.
“You’d better handle the aftermath carefully, Ian. Just because something’s in your hands doesn’t mean it’s truly yours. Who made you this way?”
Ian thought he had made himself, but he was clearly wrong. Maybe he’d never realize it, even until death.
This moment was something Ian had created himself.