Chapter 839
The expressions of the nobles entering the audience chamber were grim. This was a crisis that threatened the very survival of their houses. Overnight, they had been branded as traitors—accused of rebellion—and the emotions swirling within them were a tangled mix of tension and unease.
Some had arrived breathless, not even properly dressed. They whispered among themselves, as if unable to believe the reality.
“What on earth did the children do…?”
“I know, right? A rebellion out of nowhere?”
“Minister Ian had shown some signs before, but we? No way. It can’t be.”
“Watch your words. Are you suggesting we actually staged a rebellion?”
“We haven’t even met with them. How can we make any plans if we don’t know the facts? But they won’t show them to us, using the investigation as an excuse. It’s maddening.”
“Are you sure this is true?”
“Of course. Would His Majesty announce it if it weren’t? Minister Ian is locked up in the underground prison as we speak.”
The nobles sighed deeply. Since Minister Ian had been imprisoned, the incident seemed genuine, but no matter how much they thought about it, it made no sense.
“Isn’t it strange how quiet it’s been for a rebellion? On the way here, not a single thing was broken.”
“I heard the entire Magic Department stood against Minister Ian on His Majesty’s orders. Oh, and now that Akorella is the new Minister of Magic, be careful what you say. Especially now.”
Along with the rebellion, the minister had officially been replaced. What did that mean? The nobles groaned, anxiously awaiting the emperor’s arrival.
Creak.
At the sound of footsteps, all heads snapped around—but it wasn’t the emperor. It was other nobles, unrelated to the rebellion, third parties.
They frowned sympathetically at the restless nobles, though there was a faint, almost imperceptible smirk on their lips.
“Well, well. What’s all this fuss about?”
“Indeed. Most of the central nobles are implicated in this, so His Majesty must be deeply troubled.”
“Implicated? Watch your tongue! Nothing’s been proven yet!”
“Oh, greetings, Count Mondor. I heard your son just finished a meal in the underground prison. I know business keeps you busy, but shouldn’t you be paying more attention to your child’s upbringing?”
“Hey now!”
“If I’ve offended, I apologize. But what can I do? This isn’t just any charge—it’s treason. Given the gravity, my loyalty to the empire made me speak bluntly.”
The central nobles scowled openly but dared not respond. These newcomers were like hyenas, here to snatch away their status. No one wanted to say anything that might give away information or provide an excuse for attack.
“What brings you here?”
“There was a rebellion in the palace, and we couldn’t just stand by worried about His Majesty’s safety. We came to offer our regards and to help if needed.”
Their forced smiles were dripping with hypocrisy. Offer regards? Help? The central nobles ground their teeth, knowing full well these were attempts to push them out and claim their seats.
“His Majesty approaches!”
Creak.
At that moment, footsteps sounded outside. The nobles immediately bowed as the emperor entered, looking somewhat weary.
Jin glanced over the nobles briefly, then withdrew his gaze and sat at his desk. He busied himself with his pen and asked flatly,
“Is there nothing better to do? When the time comes, I’ll call you. Why rush here like this?”
“Your Majesty! We apologize—”
“Every time you open your mouths, it’s an apology. How do you manage to keep picking the worst times to mess up? Frankly, I’m beginning to doubt your sincerity. Either you lied, or you’re so mad you don’t even remember what you said. Either way, I don’t care anymore.”
Thud.
Jin slammed a file down in front of the nobles. They hesitated, then picked it up, their faces draining of color.
“These are the ones who started the rebellion. Do you think a few lies will change their sentence? Speak freely.”
“Your Majesty! This is all a misunderstanding! There must be some mistake. Rebellion? Impossible!”
“Yes, why would we ever do such a thing?”
“Please, have mercy and look into the truth!”
As the nobles bowed their heads and begged, Jin propped his chin on his hand, eyes deep in thought. He tapped the desk lightly, then shook his head as if resigned.
“Look into the truth…”
Before he could say more, the third-party nobles stepped forward, raising their voices in disbelief.
“Your Majesty, please do not listen to their false excuses. If what they say were true, why would the sons of the lords gather together, at exactly that time, and enter the palace with Lord Ian? They must admit the facts.”
“Exactly. I also heard that the conspiracy was hatched at Lord Charlotte’s estate. Did Lady Charlotte truly know nothing? It’s suspicious that she would use her children to gain advantage.”
“Silence! How dare you!”
“Oh my, such slander in front of His Majesty? How frightening. It’s not like this has gone too far yet.”
“Your Majesty! Those involved in the rebellion must be executed to restore order and uphold the empire’s dignity!”
The nobles looking for an opportunity pounced, driving the central nobles to the brink.
Is this why it’s important to have allies? They spoke boldly on Jin’s behalf, their momentum overwhelming. If these central nobles fell, the opportunists would reap the benefits.
Snap!
As the tension escalated, Jin gestured sharply. The chief steward promptly brought an empty glass. Jin took a red brooch from his pocket and placed it inside.
“Let’s listen together.”
“Huh?”
“Shh.”
Jin put a finger to his lips, signaling silence. After a brief pause, a faint voice echoed from somewhere.
—Is the Magic Department moving in concert? Will that suffice? His Majesty… has the Royal Guard by his side… The date… rest assured… Minister Ian. We stand with you. Yes, this is the rightful course of history. The mistake of an emperor without virtue.
The central nobles squeezed their eyes shut. This is madness!
“Is there any parent who doesn’t recognize their child’s voice?”
“Y-Your Majesty!”
“Why? Are you going to claim this is some kind of mental manipulation by Lord Ian?”
The central nobles hesitated, unsure.
Seeing this, other nobles stepped forward.
“The Magic Department directly subdued Lord Ian. If there had been mental manipulation, there would be evidence.”
“Exactly! How can central nobles refuse to admit their faults and cover up with lies? You should all be ashamed.”
Damn them… The saying goes, ‘a meddling sister-in-law is worse than a tiger,’ and this is exactly that.
Jin watched the scene with amusement. They fought among themselves, a chaotic mess. After a while, he raised a hand.
“Enough.”
The noise died down instantly. Jin continued.
“Those not involved, step outside for now.”
The third-party nobles reluctantly licked their lips but dared not defy the emperor’s order. Meanwhile, the central nobles were left in utter confusion, staring at Jin.
“A child’s crime is the parent’s crime.”
“Y-Your Majesty.”
“No matter how unaware you claim to be, the law of collective punishment applies to treason. The family must be destroyed, and their kin enslaved to atone for generations.”
If this were any other matter, they could have saved their houses by ruthlessly cutting off the guilty children. But not now. Everyone had to share responsibility for the current crisis.
However—
“This time, an exception might be made.”
Jin decided to offer a slight reprieve.
All seven great central houses were implicated. Even with the palace’s solid evidence, pushing them too hard could spark a real rebellion. If he drove them to the edge, who knew what might happen?
Still, with the Magic Department and opportunists everywhere, there was little he could do. But more chaos would only harm the palace.
“It doesn’t matter who sits in the noble seats. Whether they conspired in rebellion or not, as long as they are loyal to the crown.”
“The investigation will take some time. This is an unprecedented case, involving young heirs rather than the heads of houses.”
But exceptions aside, responsibility could not be avoided.
“If the empire’s people find the situation acceptable, and it aligns with the empire’s ideals, I will keep the door open. But think carefully. The authority and honor of the royal family are sacred beyond all else.”
They might escape death. If handled well, they could even save their family names. But all their businesses, privileges, ancestral lands, and treasures would be forfeited.
“To escape treason charges, they must surrender everything without hesitation. Any attempt to bargain will be their end.”
Jin’s true intent was vividly clear to everyone who heard him. Their faces, etched with both hope and despair, spoke volumes.
“Let all the attending nobles hear this. Since the Iri have just entered the palace, you too will undergo investigation. Any family with even the slightest connection to them will be subject to scrutiny.”
The nobles present looked as if they’d been struck by lightning. It was rare for noble houses to sever ties completely, even among bitter rivals. In other words, every noble gathered here was now under suspicion.
“By now, palace soldiers have likely arrived at your estates. I expect your full cooperation during the searches. Any resistance will only bring you trouble.”
As the soldiers combed through their homes, any hidden business scandals or secret dealings between families would be exposed. This would serve as a powerful leash for the palace, allowing it to extend its influence over all the central nobles under the pretext of these investigations.
‘What a remarkable gift, Lord Ian.’
Jin smirked softly and glanced at the guards standing behind him.
“What are you waiting for? Escort them to the interrogation room.”
“Your Majesty!”
“Your Majesty! Please, just a moment!”
Though the nobles protested fiercely, none dared to resist the soldiers outright, fearful of incurring the emperor’s wrath.
Jin sharpened his pen and asked, “What about the Prime Minister?”
“He has entered the palace.”
“Summon him this afternoon. He must be busy now.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Jin let out a quiet sigh. This was perfect. Now he could reorganize the personnel for his own Bariel faction.
The closest seat would be the starting point. With the Minister of Magic already replaced, the signal had effectively been sent.
“Any new reports from the interrogation room?”
“They used truth serum on the young magicians in the Ministry of Magic. The investigation confirmed evidence consistent with the charges. The suspects still claim their innocence, though.”
“And Lord Ian?”
Jin’s hand tightened involuntarily around the pen. He wanted to speak with him soon, but given the circumstances, opportunities were scarce.
The chief steward bowed his head and replied, “Lord Ian is cooperating fully with the investigation, Your Majesty. There’s no need for further concern.”
“Speak honestly! Don’t even think about lying here!”
The interrogation room, adjacent to the underground prison, was tense. The guards outside exchanged uneasy glances, lips tightly sealed. They still found it hard to believe that former Minister of Magic Ian Hielro had conspired in treason. But the harsh voices and threats from inside confirmed the grim reality.
BANG!
“How dare you betray His Majesty! You bring shame upon the Ministry of Magic! Ian Hielro, I ask again: explain what was discussed at Charlotte’s estate. The recording from the mana stone is poor quality, with many gaps!”
One mage slammed his fist on the table, while another whispered under his breath.
“Dude, calling him a ‘shame’ might be crossing the line.”
“Oh? Is that so?”
Ahem. Then, once more.
The mage slammed the table again.
“Do you admit your guilt or not?!”
Another mage squinted sharply.
“Take it easy. You’re shaking the cake plate.”
“Alright, alright.”
Across from them, Ian calmly took a small bite of the chocolate cake on his plate. Then, with serene composure, he answered.
“…I’ve already said several times that I admit my guilt.”
Not much variety in his lines, was there? The mages chuckled awkwardly before raising their voices again.
“Ian Hielro! You are a criminal!”
Ian ignored them, focusing instead on the sweetness spreading in his mouth. Was this cake always this sweet? Too sweet, in fact—so much so that it made him furrow his brow involuntarily.