Chapter 263
‘You are the empire’s blessing. The first noble mage! Pleased to meet you. I am Naum Ovia. Please call me Naum.’
When the original Ian was fifteen, Naum was the first person he met and exchanged names with upon entering the imperial palace. It was a summer day meeting that everyone considered a blessing without doubt, and thus couldn’t predict how it would sway both of their lives.
‘I’ll call you Ian comfortably too. You don’t know how long the Ministry of Magic has been waiting. It’s been years since we had a new colleague! You haven’t seen all of the Ministry of Magic yet, right? Let me introduce you.’
Like his short, soft brown hair, his smile was also gentle. As Naum moved, the mages averted their gaze, pretending to be busy. Most of them were from commoner backgrounds, having experienced the depths of hardship. Their persistent gazes were mixed with antipathy towards nobility itself, concern that class distinctions might form in the previously egalitarian Ministry of Magic, and wariness that Ian might harm the department by asserting his noble identity.
Naum waved his hand at them with a smile.
‘You’re all dying to meet Ian, aren’t you? Sorry, but I’m in charge, so step back and get to work. Greet him at the induction ceremony.’
Ian had never seen someone so naturally jovial as Naum before. Among nobles who were always lofty, pure, and measuring dignity, it felt like entering a new world. Of course, it was a natural sentiment since the Ministry of Magic was an unfamiliar place to him.
Anyway, was that why? Following him came naturally. Not just on the path through the Ministry of Magic, but also on the path of life.
Naum was undeniably a trustworthy colleague, an excellent teacher, and an indispensable friend. The difference in years was merely a concept. Certainly.
‘Naum. I’m deeply grateful to you.’
In a modest study inside the Ministry of Magic’s annex. Ian and Naum enjoyed visiting there to read whenever they had time. Ian, who had turned his gaze from the book to the window, suddenly said so. It was the season when the fresh summer leaves were turning to autumn colors.
‘For what?’
‘…’
For what? Can one count them one by one?
As it was an endless answer, Ian remained silent. Naum also observed the changing seasons.
‘Ian, do you know? This window is the largest in the Ministry of Magic annex.’
‘Why?’
‘When the annex was first built, this space originally didn’t exist. But the ancestor in charge of construction felt it was a shame and created it anew. Since it wasn’t in the original plan, they replaced the wall with a window, they say.’
‘Was his name Timothy?’
‘Yes. You saw it when you came to our house last time, right?’
Naum smiled proudly.
Timothy, they said, was an immigrant from the Kingdom of Burgos. The Bariel Empire citizenship certificate he received upon naturalization was preciously kept by Naum’s family. To commemorate the gratitude for allowing them to live as citizens of Bariel, not the declining Kingdom of Burgos.
‘Timothy probably didn’t know. That you and I would cherish this place so much in the future.’
‘It’s not like we only use this study.’
‘Hmm. Is that so? But there are things we can only do here.’
Ian pretended not to know and slightly turned his head.
Did he notice that I always came here when things were tough? Just as Naum was about to turn the page with a silent smile, footsteps loudly echoed from somewhere.
Tap tap tap!
This was the innermost space in the annex, where people rarely came. As it was unusual, Ian and Naum simultaneously looked towards the door.
The door opened roughly, and a cold wind rushed in. Pages fluttering, a mage’s flushed face, and a heart strangely pounding hard.
‘Ian, Naum! Damn, how long have I been looking for you!’
‘What’s wrong?’
‘His Majesty the Emperor has passed away.’
Ian had an intuition that he would never forget that moment. He felt with all five senses what a turning point in life was.
‘Ian. You’re being mentioned as the next emperor.’
‘…’
‘Did you expect it?’
It would be a lie to say he hadn’t expected it. In fact, he had guessed from the moment he entered the palace. The emperor was on his last legs, there was no heir, and Ian was a collateral bloodline of the imperial family and a sacred mage.
Moreover, he was young. From the perspective of the powerful who couldn’t directly ascend to the throne, it was a perfect condition. However, as it was such a solemn position, Ian intentionally tried not to be conscious of it.
‘Krony is looking for you.’
At the name Krony, Naum frowned. He was Ian’s nephew, the vice minister of the Imperial Defense Department, the son of Ian’s guardian who stood in for his parents. And the one who had urged Ian to hide his magical power.
As Ian tried to stand up, Naum held him back.
‘Just because he’s looking doesn’t mean you need to meet him, Ian.’
I know you always come here after meeting Krony. Naum shook his head, forcibly swallowing his words. Who knows what nonsense he’ll use to stab the child’s heart this time.
‘It’s alright. As you said, I expected this moment. So now I’m meeting him because I need to.’
Ian stood up. As he did, his pale eyes and platinum blonde hair shone even brighter in the sunlight.
Seeing this, Naum also felt he would never forget that moment. It was the moment Ian stepped forward on his own at a turning point in life, and he realized that its end was the beginning of the next emperor.
‘Naum.’
‘…Yes.’
‘I tried not to think about it, but I kept thinking. I realized that what one truly wants can’t be ignored even if you try to turn away from it.’
Emperor, the pinnacle of Bariel, one who can support and change the world.
The reason he couldn’t easily extinguish the spark of thought was probably because of the smiles and tears of the imperial citizens he met while working as a mage.
Ian lightly touched Naum’s shoulder.
‘And the position of Minister of Magic suits you.’
‘Ian.’
‘As always, I hope for your help in the future too.’
The next minister, so if Ian becomes emperor, it’s as if even a kind of cabinet has been decided. The mage bowed his head, pretending not to hear, and walked out the door. Ian also had no hesitation.
Left alone, Naum held his forehead and closed the book Ian had left open. Of course, he too would always stay by Ian’s side if he could.
Like this, it would be an unparalleled honor to help with the aftermath, like closing a book, and lead the empire’s brilliant future together.
But before that-
‘Ian. Becoming emperor means abandoning yourself.’
It’s just regrettable.
What kind of place is the imperial palace? It’s a place where blood storms lurk silently aiming for each other’s necks, and where numerous desires gather to form a deep pool.
Can a child standing alone really endure it?
He probably can endure. He might break, but.
‘Haah.’
Swish.
Naum also tidied up the book he was reading and stood up. When Ian returns here after meeting Krony, it might be better if he’s not around.
If he had decided to devote his life to Bariel, then he had no choice but to join him. Even one connection was a miracle, yet they had formed bonds as teacher and student, friends, and colleagues.
‘May God’s protection be with you’
Naum unconsciously drew a small magic circle on the window. Hoping that when Ian comes here to relieve his sorrows, it won’t be too painful.
***
The ministers and officials from each department gathered for the grand council exchanged awkward glances. With a mountain of matters to discuss, bundles of documents were placed at the back of the spacious conference room. Even if they proceeded urgently, it wouldn’t be enough, yet two key figures were lost in thought.
“Well then, next item. It’s from the Culture Department. Of the 105 paintings received from House Hayman, they propose exhibiting 30 at the Imperial Palace National Art Museum, 17 for the imperial family’s private collection, and putting the rest up for auction. Your Highness Jin. Have you checked the list?”
“Huh? Ah, yes. I’ve checked.”
One was Jin-
“Then do you agree?”
“…As far as I know, not all the official appraisal reports have been submitted yet.”
And the other was Ian.
As Jin answered hurriedly, Ian added while flipping through documents. On the surface, he looked no different from usual, but Romandro and some other officials knew. That Ian was continuously lost in silent contemplation. Usually, he would have told Jin what to say before he answered like that.
The Minister of Culture continued his report, watching the two carefully.
“House Hayman conducted separate art appraisals annually. We plan to proceed based on that instead of official appraisal reports. But because there are so many, it’s taking a long time.”
“I object. We can’t trust House Hayman’s appraisals. Some might have been intentionally undervalued to evade taxes, and others inflated for profit.”
“Well, that… The appraiser in question worked for the imperial palace until two years ago. We thought there wouldn’t be an issue with trustworthiness, but.”
“Then it would be easier to appraise the appraisal reports rather than the artworks themselves. What do you think, Your Highness?”
Ian turned his head to the side to ask Jin’s opinion. Jin, who had been staring blankly at him, startled and turned his head.
“Oh, I think that’s right.”
“Then, that would be best.”
What’s this?
Quintana tilted her head, fiddling with a dry cigarette. His Highness Jin’s attitude was clearly strange. Wasn’t he usually the one who would look at Ian with sparkling eyes and follow his every move?
But now he seems uncomfortable, and there’s an awkward feeling.
As if he’s suffering alone…
‘Lord Ian is definitely different too.’
Wasn’t his perception usually extraordinary? It’s wrong from the start that he hasn’t noticed Jin’s obviously different attitude.
“Very well. Let’s handle the matter of appraisals that way. Next item.”
Bang bang!
The Prime Minister tapped his gavel without delay, leading the meeting. Dealing with relatively less important matters quickly would help reduce the meeting time even a little.
If Ian and Jin continue in this state, the meeting might go on until the next day.
“It’s about the distribution of authority over magic sealing stones. An agenda from the Ministry of Magic. Hmm, regarding the total known quantity, they propose 50% for His Majesty the Emperor, 30% for other imperial family members, and 20% for the Ministry of Magic.”
As the Prime Minister recited, Jin startled and looked down at the documents. The same was true for officials from other departments. Weren’t magic sealing stones the only means to check mages?
It was a way to bring those close to divine power down to human level, yet they’re handing over more than half the authority to the imperial family. This was something even Wesleigh, who had close ties with Gale, couldn’t do.
“Are these ratios correct? Minister Ian Hielo?”
“Yes. As Minister of Magic, I felt many things while experiencing the civil war. First, a comprehensive inventory and definite management of magic sealing stones is necessary, and balanced relationships are always needed for absolute power. For the wellbeing of the imperial family and an unwavering center, I believe this is appropriate. Currently, besides His Majesty, Your Highness Jin is the only imperial family member, so it would be right to give Your Highness Jin 30% authority over magic sealing stones.”
Jin’s eyes grew wider and wider. It was no different from handing over a knife with the sharp part towards the Ministry of Magic.
“Hmm. What about Idgal?”
“…The Ministry of Magic is conducting its own investigation. It seems we’ll settle on tracking and eliminating it as the way to reduce confusion.”
“I see. Your Highness Jin. What is your opinion?”
“Me?”
Arsen’s whispers, Hayman’s instigation, and Ian knowing about passages only the imperial family should know. While his mind was confused and complicated, surprisingly, he felt like it was clearing up. Jin nodded dazedly.
“…I agree.”
Ian, facing him, raised his eyebrows and smiled. As if asking what’s wrong. He had finally noticed Jin’s strangeness. Jin smiled to indicate it was nothing.
Quintana watched the two quietly, then slipped the cigarette back into her pocket. It seemed this needed to be looked into more deeply.
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