Children of the Rune – Winterer - Chapter 183

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 183.
The Call of the Sealed Land (29)
The eyes of those gathered in a circle were divided—half fixed upon the young boy called Smicros, and half upon the face of the Regent, whom they had not seen in some time.
The Regent had grown terrifyingly gaunt over recent years, his bones jutting so sharply they conjured the image of a skull.
A few words of blessing were spoken, and Smicros revealed that his calling was to tend the Forest. As the young boy bowed his head, the Regent cupped water in both hands and poured it upon his crown. Yet his hands were so skeletal that only a meager trickle fell.
“Will you remember the three duties of the Pilgrims, pursue them throughout your life, and teach them to your descendants?”
“I shall do so.”
“Will you obey the law of the Moon Queen, and through faithfully fulfilling the obligations placed upon you, protect your rights?”
“Yes, I shall do so.”
“Will you resist all threats to Moon Island and dedicate yourself to its safekeeping?”
“Yes, I shall do so.”
“So be it. From this day forth, you shall live your blessed life as a Pilgrim, heir to the Ancient Kingdom.”
Smicros accepted the daffodil flowers offered by the young boy beside him, water still dripping from his hair.
Turning toward the gathered people, he approached first his Mother and presented the flowers to her. In this manner, he distributed them first to those closest to him, and the remainder were shared among the others.
The second and third initiations proceeded similarly. The fourth was Liriope. She stepped forward and exchanged words with her Father much like those before, though his final pronouncement differed slightly.
“Now you shall live your blessed life as a Pilgrim, heir to the Ancient Kingdom, and as the successor to the Regent who stands in the stead of that King who shall one day return to rule over them.”
Having spoken thus, the Regent suddenly lifted his head and swept his gaze across the assembled people, then spoke.
“I hereby proclaim that Liriope has this day acquired the title of ‘Sosipolis,’ traditionally granted to the heir. From this moment forward, all Pilgrims upon the Island shall address her as ‘Liriope Sosipolis,’ and her counsel shall be respected second only to myself and the Priesthood, provided it does not contradict the law of the Moon Queen.”
It was a bombshell declaration no one had anticipated. None among the Priesthood had been forewarned of this matter.
Liriope had not yet graduated from Skoli, and it was far too early for her to receive a title that required others to address her with formal speech. Even if she were to graduate from Skoli next year, she would need to be over twenty years old to possess such momentous privileges.
Yet the Regent had announced all her rights so abruptly that no one dared raise objections, only exchanging glances among themselves.
Though all of this was hastened greatly compared to precedent, since these were privileges Liriope would eventually possess regardless, it was difficult to challenge the Regent’s authority.
It was then that someone parted through the crowd—the person Daphnen had been seeking all this while.
The figure who bowed slightly before the Regent before straightening and speaking was none other than Isolet.
“Your Excellency the Regent. Though it is irregular to speak during the ceremony, I cannot refrain from addressing a grave error. The title ‘Sosipolis,’ which in the language of the Ancient Kingdom means ‘the well-being of the realm,’ has since ancient times been recognized only for the heir to the King himself. Your Excellency, as the current Regent, naturally does not possess such a title. Indeed, the very act of bestowing a title upon the Regent’s successor is something long forgotten, not merely before Your Excellency’s reign but for ages past. Therefore, if Your Excellency wishes to grant a title to Liriope, I believe the title ‘Siopi’—meaning ‘Silence’—which is traditionally bestowed upon the Regent’s successor, would be more appropriate.”
Only Zero and Isolet on the Island possessed the knowledge to point out such matters.
The others could not possibly know what titles were granted to the King’s heir or the Regent’s successor in the Ancient Kingdom.
They scarcely even knew the language of the Ancient Kingdom well enough to understand the meaning of their own names.
Yet Daphnen observed Isolet as she spoke with feelings somewhat different from those around him.
The moment he saw her again after so long, his heart had raced with an ache so sharp it was almost painful, but as he listened to her words, he felt his dark premonition solidify into certainty, and he did not know what to do.
Isolet was now confronting the Regent. Just as Ilios had done long ago, she was boldly refuting the Regent’s words with her own knowledge.
Yet she had clearly told herself she would not struggle against them, following her Father’s final wishes. Why had she changed so? What shift had occurred in her heart?
Could it be that this stemmed from his own attempt to remove himself from Isolet’s life?
Silence fell among the people. Yet most affirmed Isolet’s words through quiet murmurs.
Even now, the authority of Isolet’s knowledge was not insignificant to them. Moreover, having witnessed the Regent’s attempt to grant Liriope unprecedented privileges, they felt a tremor of fear and inwardly hoped Isolet’s words would be accepted, their eyes turning toward the Priesthood.
Isolet took a step back. Then she spoke again.
“The title ‘Siopi’ carries the meaning that the Regent, who is the King’s proxy, and the successor who will inherit the Regent’s position, should be conscious of where they stand and demonstrate virtue through silence rather than asserting authority. I do not know if she is of an age to understand such things, but should she receive the title, it would be proper for her to take its meaning as a caution against herself.”
As Isolet finished speaking and withdrew, Liriope’s cold eyes followed her figure. Daphnen was watching that very gaze.
Isolet’s movements were as swift and unwavering as ever, yet to Daphnen’s eyes, they possessed the discipline of one preparing for battle.
If Isolet had resolved upon anything with such certainty, Daphnen had no confidence he could change it.
That was precisely why he hoped she had not made such a resolve. Isolet, though individually a person of exceptional merit, had Ilios become exceptional for that very reason?
To directly challenge The Regent’s power without any supporting faction was nothing short of a battle lost before it began.
Yet if Isolet were to undertake such a struggle regardless, Daphnen himself could never simply stand idle and watch….
As The Regent remained silent, Liriope spoke first. She addressed Isolet with the proud tone she had gradually cultivated over the past year.
“I understand your meaning well enough. Of course, the title ‘Theophi’ is sufficient for me. Even without such a title, I would have no objection, but since Your Excellency bestows it upon me personally, I have no reason to refuse. Truth be told, I lack even the knowledge to compare whether ‘Sociapolis’ or ‘Theophi’ is correct. But such distinctions are unknown to ordinary people like us, unless one is rather peculiar, are they not? Therefore, it cannot be called an error that I do not know. In any case, whether that title was ‘Sociapolis’ or ‘Theophi’, the authority I inherently possess does not change. Is that not so?”
Isolet replied without a smile.
“Indeed, you speak truly. The authority of The Regent does not derive from title or birth, but is acquired through the genuine support of the people. So long as such support exists, that authority cannot possibly change.”
Liriope cleverly painted Isolet as an “odd person,” drawing the surrounding people to her side, and rather than diminishing her own standing through pointless disputes over titles, she sought to emphasize the privileges she possessed from the beginning.
Then Isolet immediately countered with “If the people do not acknowledge it, how could you possess such privilege?” It was a refutation so sharp that anyone with even modest discernment would perceive it.
The Regent opened his mouth.
“I understand your words well. The matter of titles shall be decided after further discussion with the Priesthood, so speak of it no more. As for the authority Liriope possesses from birth, none gathered here are ignorant of it, and therefore there is nothing further to discuss on that matter either.”
The Regent, having blocked the dispute by repeating fundamental principles, gestured with his eyes to the girl holding the daffodil bouquet to present the flowers.
As Liriope received an armful of daffodils, her eyes brightened as though the moment she had desired had finally arrived.
She walked toward the assembled people, and for a moment Daphnen was seized by the illusion that she was approaching him. No—it was not an illusion.
Liriope came to a stop before Daphnen, who stood slightly apart at the edge of the gathering, and readily extended the first daffodil to him.
“Take it.”
Though he had witnessed the purification ceremony for several years now, he had never once seen anyone refuse the flower offered by the one who had undergone the rite. Of course, most had given their flowers to family members.
Daphnen felt oddly unsettled, but considering Liriope’s position as she concluded this important ceremony, he accepted the flower for now.
Then Liriope turned sharply toward the gathered people and spoke with resolve.
“Did you see? I believe you all understand what the first flower of the purification ceremony signifies. As you can see, he has accepted it. Therefore, from this moment forward, I declare that he is my betrothed.”

The one most astonished was Daphnen himself.
At first, he thought he had heard a jest. But observing Liriope’s unsmiling expression, the reactions of those around him, and above all The Regent’s silence, he instinctively grasped that this was no joke and not a matter easily withdrawn.
So many thoughts flooded his mind at once that he found himself momentarily unable to gather his bearings.
A moment later, Daphnen’s instincts drove him to turn his gaze and search for one figure’s shadow. When he found Isolet’s expressionless eyes, he felt his heart sink in a peculiar way.
Her eyes spoke nothing, yet from that gaze he obtained all that he needed.
Daphnen opened his mouth boldly toward The Regent.
“Your Excellency The Regent, how am I to interpret what I have just heard? I must first confess that, having come from the Continent originally, I did not know what the first flower of the purification ceremony signifies. And furthermore, I must say that the declaration just made is entirely unexpected to me.”
Since his counterpart was The Regent and the perpetrator of this absurd act was The Regent’s daughter, he spoke with the utmost deference.
The murmuring people all turned their gaze toward The Regent. Yet what The Regent said was even more unexpected.
“The meaning borne by the flower of the purification ceremony is merely customary. Regardless, the successor of The Regent has always chosen a partner as they wished and whenever they pleased. You two differ by but a year in age, which is suitable, and your factions differ—Silver Hawk and Bronze Leopard—which is also suitable. You would do well to accept.”
It was infuriating. As the shock of being struck subsided, anger slowly rose within him.
Whether it was Liriope or anyone else, they could not handle matters concerning him as they pleased.
He had lost his family clan in childhood and survived alone, enduring through the years. He had believed that only memories of those he cherished bound him, yet they would treat him thus—like an object, in such an shameless manner?
What strange customs did he not know of, and what manner of nonsense was this talk of betrothal at merely fifteen?
“I refuse. Do not meddle in my life as you see fit. I have no memory of granting permission for such a thing.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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