A Mage Reborn: Legacy of the Fallen Emperor
Chapter 67. Brothers

Chapter 67: Chapter 67. Brothers

Marib drew the bowstring back to its limit, pressing it close to his body. He felt the wind, but paid it no mind as he loosed the arrow. He wasn’t aiming to hunt any beasts, after all.

Whoosh!

The arrow, tracing an arc through the air, struck a pointless target and fell. A deer, startled, fled into the distance. The ministers watching nearby let out sighs of disappointment masked as laughter.

"Ah, what a shame."

"Indeed. An unfortunate gust of wind, of all things."

"Well then. It seems Lord Derentio is currently in the lead."

"Your Highness, allow me to try."

Once a month, an unofficial event was held. The Imperial Family, key ministers, and a select few nobles gathered under the guise of fostering camaraderie, but it was truly an extension of politics – a tedious yet crucial affair.

"But, Your Highness, is Prince Gale not present today?"

Marib, who had been about to pick up a bow, paused. The strained relationship between him and Gale was known even to the lowliest slaves in the Imperial Palace. Yet, the minister had uttered his name so casually.

Several officials subtly glanced at the First Prince, but Marib replied calmly, "That’s right. I wonder what’s keeping him so busy."

There was one curious point since the lord appointment had been overturned and Molin had been sent to the frontier. Gale had been conspicuously absent from Marib’s presence. There were no particular rumors circulating, and judging from his father’s hints, Gale seemed to be visiting that place frequently.

Which meant he was deliberately avoiding only Marib.

The minister, oblivious to the deepening furrow in Marib’s brow, drew his bow and muttered, "His Majesty hasn’t been out for quite some time due to his declining health, either. It’s truly regrettable."

"...Regrettable?"

"Indeed. Back when Your Highnesses were young, it was so lively and enjoyable. Though, there were many instances where we missed our prey due to the commotion..."

Whoosh!

Just as the minister was about to release his bowstring, an arrow suddenly shot out from beside him. Marib had fired his bow carelessly. Another deer, startled, bolted away.

"Like that?"

"Y-Your Highness?"

"I also find it regrettable. It seems the Minister is not satisfied with me. Perhaps it’s because my hunting skills are so lacking."

"Ah, what are you saying, Your Highness? No, absolutely not."

The minister, sweating profusely, protested vehemently. He even used his hands in a desperate attempt to deny it, but Marib simply smiled and turned his back.

"Carry on. I need to rest."

"Ah. Yes, yes. Yes, Your Highness."

Marib removed his gloves and left. The ministers subtly rebuked the one who had made the mistake and urged him to take up his bow.

Lying down beneath the tent, Marib pressed a hand to his furrowed brow, weary.

"Are you alright, Your Highness?"

He hadn’t slept for days due to the accumulated workload. Coming out to shoot arrows in such a state was, of course, a strain. His aide poured him a cool glass of water and checked on him.

"A messenger pigeon has arrived from the frontier."

"From Romandro?"

"I believe it will be a gift for you, Your Highness."

Marib looked up at his aide, puzzled. The aide, after confirming that no one was around, lowered his voice.

"First, Romandro reports that they’ve discovered a crop that can solve the famine. Ian is leading the effort to distribute it in Bratz, and they expect to see results by this winter. The same goes for taxes at a normal harvest level."

"This winter?"

The green leaves were already turning yellow. What kind of crop could possibly show results by winter? The cultivation period would have to be less than two months for that to be possible.

"It’s called Gula."

"Gula? The poisonous weed I know?"

Marib immediately retorted, his tone incredulous. Had Romandro gone mad after being sent to the borderlands? It was a weed that grew in filthy places and was even poisonous.

And that could solve the famine?

He suddenly felt a wave of exhaustion.

"I’m going to lose my mind."

"I thought the same at first, but the details below are quite remarkable. Gula’s seeds are edible, apparently. They say it tastes surprisingly good, and it’s quite filling. It seems they’ve already made significant progress in culinary research."

Marib, though displeased, gestured with his hand. The aide quickly presented him with the letter.

"Cultivation methods? Ha! How is that any different from growing weeds?"

"The cultivation period is very short, just one month, and one seed yields more than ten seeds in return. It doesn’t matter what kind of soil or water it is, either."

Marib carefully read through Romandro’s report.

Certainly, if what was written was true, it might not be entirely impossible to overcome the famine. Among existing famine relief crops, it had conditions that were arguably the best.

But the mere thought of Gula made him feel disgusted. How could anyone eat that?

"What’s next? Is that all? It’s a rather unimpressive gift."

"Ah, and..."

The aide leaned in, lowering his voice even further.

"A letter of recommendation for Ian to be the next lord, and..."

He was of a criminal’s bloodline, but if it was true that he was a magic user, that was of little consequence. No. On the contrary, they would have to carefully coax him and keep him from running away. It seemed Romandro and the people of the territory had placed their full trust in him. With a letter of recommendation, there was no issue at all.

The real problem for Marib was...

"Molin’s ring was enclosed."

"What?"

His voice had been louder than he intended, causing one of the ministers standing some distance away to glance over. Marib pulled the tent curtain closed and asked, startled, "Molin’s ring?"

"Yes. According to Romandro, Molin attempted to kill Ian. His subordinate, Petreio, led the effort, gathering mercenaries for an ambush, but they failed. They are all currently in custody, he says."

Marib, listening to his aide’s explanation, flipped to the back of the report. A luxurious ring lay on the table, and he quickly confirmed the inscription on the inside, proving it belonged to Molin’s family.

"He says he leaves the decision of their punishment to Your Highness."

"Ha."

Marib felt his mind becoming increasingly clear. He’d thought so ever since he’d heard they’d brought in the Tenryo tribe. What he was doing was remarkably useful.

He realized that his association with Molin was an obstacle to receiving the lord’s recommendation.

And he showed it through his actions. He was showing that he had no connection to Molin, or more precisely, to Gale’s side, and that they could safely make him the lord. What more convincing plea could there be?

Marib’s fingers, deep in thought, tapped rapidly on the table.

Tap, tap.

"Your Highness?"

"Does Ian have any remaining family?"

"Not that I’m aware of."

He did have a birth mother, but she was reported missing before the battle even took place.

"Write a letter. If he’s a magic user, it should be easy for him to come to the capital. What on earth is he thinking?"

The primary concern was preventing Bratz from falling into Gale’s hands, but judging by Ian’s actions, he might be able to gain more than that.

It’s perfect timing. He’d be useful in the Magic Department.

There was a shortage of mages, and because of that, they were highly unified, with most of them being Gale’s subordinates.

Marib, as his aide had said, felt as though he had received a gift. He rose cheerfully and picked up his bow again. The Emperor’s permission was absolutely necessary to proceed with the lord’s appointment, but it was the ministers’ repeated entreaties that would urge him on.

"Have you caught anything?"

"Ah, Your Highness. The deer seem to have very long lives today."

Just as Marib was smiling and drawing his bow...

Whoosh—!

An arrow with a long tail trailing behind it whizzed past him. It was so sudden that only the black cloth tied to the arrow left an afterimage. Unlike the terrified ministers, Marib’s face hardened as he turned around.

"Gale."

Black hair and blue eyes that seemed to hold the sky. The long, sharp slant of his eyes was, as always, arrogant.

Gale, on horseback, held up his bow.

"My apologies, brother. I was in a hurry to shoot."

"...Your skills have become quite lacking."

"For someone lacking, it seems to have hit the mark quite well, don’t you think?"

Marib followed Gale’s gaze and turned his head. A deer, its neck pierced cleanly through, lay on its side. The black cloth tied to the arrow fluttered in the wind.

Gale approached the ministers and greeted them naturally with a slight nod.

"I apologize for being late. I was busy with work."

"Not at all, Your Highness. It feels like it’s been a while."

"Have you been well?"

Gale casually nodded to the ministers. If not for the blue eyes he had inherited from the Emperor, no one would have believed that the two shared blood.

"Brother, you’re not upset that I caught it, are you?"

Gale raised his eyebrows, feigning an innocent expression. Whenever the two were together, they were always at each other’s throats, so the ministers slowly backed away, fidgeting.

"Now, uh, shall we, uh, wet our whistles?"

"Shall we? Brother. It’s hot. Yes. It’s a hot day."

"Your Highness, please rest for a moment."

"You there! Fill the quiver with arrows."

Leaving the noisy old men behind, Marib smiled softly. It was clear he had come all this way for a reason. Normally, it would be difficult to guess, but he had just read the letter from Bratz.

"Yes. Even in your busy schedule, you’ve shown yourself. Should I thank you, brother?"

"Am I as busy as you, brother? You must be incredibly busy with state affairs and whatnot, yet you consistently attend these trivial hunting gatherings..."

As the legitimate heir and official successor, Marib had the most work in the Imperial Palace. It had become even worse since the Emperor had taken to his sickbed.

Gale glanced at the minister who was chuckling meaninglessly at the back and continued, "And you’re so concerned about the frontier, too. If you were to collapse from overwork, no one would be surprised."

"But everyone would be surprised that you’ve been taking such an interest in that area lately."

"Do you still receive reports from your advisor?"

"Is there a reason I should tell you?"

Gale slowly scanned Marib’s face.

At some point, Molin’s reports had abruptly stopped. But judging by the looks of things, Romandro’s reports were still coming in. That meant something must have happened to them in the Bratz territory.

Marib smiled brightly and warned Gale, "I don’t know what you’re up to."

Gale scoffed inwardly. He had been suspicious ever since Marib had suddenly attended the general assembly and interfered. Marib was also aware of something.

"It would be best if you stopped concerning yourself with the Bratz territory. A letter of recommendation for the next lord has arrived. I have no objections, so I plan to proceed quickly."

Gale’s face crumpled. In contrast, Marib smiled brightly and drew his bowstring tightly. The arrow, tracing a clean arc, struck the dead beast’s neck.