Chapter 279
“I trust you will understand what I’m about to say.”
At Ian’s words, Xiaoshi’s mind drifted back.
The first time she wrote down her own name, when she overheard the nobles whispering behind their fans, when she learned to distinguish the seals of different departments—each moment had expanded the horizon of her life, allowing her to see the world with greater clarity.
Lying on the bed, gazing at Ian, she instinctively knew: once again, her world was about to grow.
“An ideal imperial court is one where a strong emperor stands at the center, and the powerful ministers maintain a measured distance from one another. But look around you now. Is there even a single thing here that matches that ideal?”
The emperor lay unseen in his sickbed, and all power converged on Ian. His influence was so overwhelming that it wouldn’t be surprising if it consumed someone entirely—even if that someone was Jin himself.
“As time passes, factions will unite to check my power. Yet you, by my command, stand beside His Highness and call me master. You are a dangerous figure to be cut off before Beric.”
“…I understand.”
“So, Xia. The time is coming when you must make a choice.”
Though her status had been restored, Xiaoshi still felt as if she stood between shadow and sunlight. No matter how much she resolved to move forward, the shadow seemed to cling to her. She had overlooked how the shadow stretched longer with time. She needed to gather her strength and take a firm step.
Ian sat cross-legged and explained.
“If you wish to remain by His Highness Jin’s side of your own will, it would be best to erase me from your mind. Consider this a recommendation. His Highness values you greatly, so your presence is beneficial in many ways. He is not a lonely man, after all.”
Xiaoshi sat up straighter. Ian’s words flowed like water—so natural, yet slipping through her fingers, impossible to grasp.
Tracing the faintest hint, she asked again, as if seeking a trace. Ian was right in front of her, yet it felt as if he wasn’t there.
“…Why do you say that?”
“Because what is to come cannot be proven, stopped, or even opposed.”
No matter how much Ian claimed it was for Jin’s sake, he would inevitably be checked. Once the current is set, no one can halt the tide until a new balance emerges.
But should she resist?
In Bariel, Jin’s domain—against whom? For what?
“What should I do?”
“Nothing. Or anything.”
“…I don’t understand why you’re telling me this.”
“Don’t overthink it. I know you, and you are close to His Highness. Also, I want you to know that your first attempt to rely on me ended in frustration because of the circumstances.”
At least, Ian thought Xiaoshi was someone who could be trusted to stand safely by Jin’s side.
Jin was unlike other emperors—he had parents, yet they were absent; his power was similarly ambiguous. Ian was currently Jin’s only pillar…
‘If left alone after the construction of the Magic Department’s annex, it would be truly precarious. Romandro is loyal to Bariel, but he has a precious family. Beric is out of the question. In many ways, it’s hard to find anyone as suitable as Xiaoshi.’
“…Is Captain Jarrett the one trying to check the master?”
“That’s likely, but not certain.”
Ian hoped that those checking him were truly concerned for the palace and Jin’s safety. If so, the weight resting on Xiaoshi could be naturally shared and passed on.
Ian nodded faintly, smiling.
“All of this assumes you want to stay by His Highness Jin’s side. You have time to think.”
The same went for Ian. At least until the opposing factions took shape and the annex was built, he would stand firmly before Jin.
The opposition’s reaction would surely come once construction began.
“Master.”
She heard it again—“master.” Ian smiled as if scolding her, but Xiaoshi didn’t notice.
“…I have not been discouraged.”
“Is that so?”
“I entered the selection not as a slave, but to find my worth as a human being.”
A slave’s value was inherent—there was a clear price. But a human? One had to prove their existence and increase their worth through living.
That was why Xiaoshi had continued the sparring despite her reluctance. If she won, if everyone desired her, then for the first time she would stand in the world as a human.
She wanted to show Ian that she was enjoying the freedom he had spoken of.
“But you just told me there are many ways to prove my worth, so I will not be discouraged.”
“As I said, this all depends on your choice.”
“Yes. I will choose.”
Xiaoshi answered firmly.
“I have made my choice.”
“……”
Ian smiled faintly and nodded. It was good news—someone he could entrust Jin to without worry had appeared. As Ian rose, Xiaoshi quickly added,
“Ian-nim.”
Not “master,” but “Ian-nim.” Ian smiled as if hearing a pleasant word.
“So, Ian-nim, you must choose as well.”
“Choose what?”
“Anything. Whatever you desire.”
“I…”
Ian’s voice trailed off. What did he want?
Reading books in the annex with Naum, hearing the laughter of the empire’s people from the carriage, watching sunlight and moonlight settle over Bariel.
Ian gripped the door handle and murmured,
“I have already chosen what I want, Xia.”
Creak.
The door closed, and Xiaoshi exhaled softly, staring at the wall.
‘Ian-nim has another world hidden away.’
She had glimpsed the world Ian kept secret, and her own world had grown a little wider.
Where he truly wanted to be, she did not know.
But one thing was certain: it was not here.
“In order: Luswena, Cliffford, and the Kingdom of Burgos. The gift boxes were opened and inspected from the bottom up to ensure no dangerous substances or unusual items were inside.”
Jin stared intently at the three letters laid out on a golden tray. The luxurious texture befitted the dignity of the kingdoms. Not only that—the boxes containing the letters were filled with flowers and jewels.
Jin tapped his foot impatiently.
“Why is Sir Ian so late?”
“Indeed. Oh, here he comes.”
As Ian entered the office, Jin gestured hurriedly for him to sit.
“Sir Ian, shall we read them now?”
“Yes, Your Highness. Please bring a knife.”
“I want to open them myself.”
“That’s not allowed. There have been cases of poison applied to paper.”
Of course, if a kingdom dared such a thing against Bariel, war would break out immediately. Still, caution was wise.
A waiting attendant carefully cut the seals with a knife. Beneath, the reply written in gold-inked calligraphy appeared.
“I will read it aloud, Your Highness.”
“Go ahead!”
—To His Highness Jin Verosion, Fifth Prince, from the great Bariel Empire, with whom we share our fate: We have learned of the arrival of spring through the invitation you sent. We sincerely congratulate you on your official appointment as heir, and Luswena is honored to join you in this glorious occasion.
A formal reply. Likely no different from those previous emperors received. But for Jin, it was a first—and a moment he would never forget.
His eyes sparkled as he urged them to continue.
“Is the king coming?”
“Yes.”
“I thought he wouldn’t—”
Romandro, tidying nearby, reflexively responded but then paused.
“…Sir Ian, the king is coming?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“I-Ian, did you say he’s coming now?”
“That’s right, Romandro.”
Except for Ian, both Romandro and Jin blinked wide-eyed. This was unexpected. They had assumed Elderth’s delegation would return, not the king himself!
Romandro congratulated Jin.
“Your Highness, congratulations. If the king of Luswena comes in person, it will add great significance to your appointment ceremony.”
“Amazing. I never expected this.”
“Well, Your Highness Jin is now the only prince, isn’t he? It makes sense to build ties early for the future. If the king of Luswena comes, the scale will be enormous. We’ll need to prepare even more thoroughly.”
Unlike the excited Romandro, Ian simply studied the letters quietly. He then nodded to the attendant to open the remaining letters.
Swish.
The attendant lightly brushed the paper’s edge before handing it to Ian. As Ian read quickly, his brow furrowed, then twisted into a grimace.
“Why, why is that, Ian?”
“This is getting interesting.”
As expected, Cliffford’s first prince, Noah, would visit.
The problem was Burgos.
“The king of Burgos is coming as well. Timothy will accompany the delegation.”
“The king of Burgos too? This truly is a festival! Your Highness, an unprecedented grand unification celebration!”
Romandro’s genuine joy made Jin smile slightly in return.
But why did Ian’s expression look so grim? Prince Noah was also an heir, so in a way, all the leaders were gathering to celebrate Jin’s appointment.
“Sir Ian, may I see the letters?”
“Of course, Your Highness.”
Jin handed the letters to Ian, hoping to understand the reason behind his concern.
But he couldn’t tell. The neat, elegant handwriting caught his eye, but nothing in the content seemed particularly alarming.
“Your Highness, do you remember why I wanted to gather the leaders of the kingdoms here in Bariel?”
Ian gently asked, sensing Jin’s intent. Was it because he hoped the kings would come in person rather than send envoys?
“It’s not the emperor’s coronation, yet the king himself is attending the crown prince’s appointment ceremony. That only serves to lower the nation’s dignity. It’s basically an admission that we’re under Bariel’s influence, isn’t it?”
“That’s correct.”
But on the other hand, the current situation within the palace was chaotic. They must be aware that the palace had been sealed off multiple times due to the civil war and the Arsen incident.
Any country surrounding Bariel that harbors ill intentions would become a serious nuisance. Ian wanted to prevent that by meeting face-to-face, strengthening diplomatic ties, and showing that the palace was still standing strong.
“It’s not easy to get Ruswena, Cliford, and Burgos—the three kingdoms—all in one place. Even two neighboring countries meeting is rare. Our diplomats stationed in each nation are watching closely; no one would dare to meet recklessly.”
“If the three kingdoms form an alliance, even Bariel would feel the pressure. It’s best for them to keep a proper distance from each other—”
Romandro chimed in, adding to Ian’s explanation. As he spoke, a realization dawned on him.
Ah, they’re using Jin’s appointment ceremony as an excuse to gather all three kingdoms at once.
“Their schedules overlap almost perfectly around the appointment day. Normally, if they were wary of Bariel, this wouldn’t happen.”
Even if the king had personally sent invitations, it was a calculated move, knowing they likely wouldn’t be accepted outright.
“We still need to keep an eye on the King of Burgos, though.”
“Why Burgos?”
“There’s an issue related to the gypsies.”
“Oh, right. The one you said you saw in the park?”
“There’s definitely a possibility.”
Burgos… I wasn’t so sure about them before. But Ruswena accepting at the same time?
“It seems they have some secret communication among themselves. Just as we want to show the palace’s strength, they’re coming to look for any cracks.”
But if that were the case, they could have done it quietly, as before. Showing up openly and sending a clear message meant they were moving into a new phase.
After all, the emperor was bedridden, and the sole heir was just a ten-year-old child. This was as good an opportunity as any. The most likely scenario was a sudden alliance between the three kingdoms.
“So, what should we do?”
Jin asked, a hint of worry in his voice. Ian smiled gently.
It’s actually a good thing. Even if they come to exploit the situation, the palace is the one creating it.
“Your Highness, on the day of the appointment, just smile brighter than anyone else.”