Children of the Rune – Winterer - Chapter 305

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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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Episode 75.
Finding the Cat in the Furnace (24)
It didn’t take long for Riche to grasp the meaning behind those words.
“You’re… actually relieved that I don’t resemble you!”
However, the pillow was already occupied—Maximian had settled onto it without a sound. He truly possessed a meticulous nature.
“Enough. If speaking the truth won’t get me beaten to death, then I should speak it. I’ll take responsibility for this, so you needn’t worry yourself so much, Riche.”
Riche, of course, did not agree.
“Are you joking right now? If you were in my position—your daughter threatened with murder, wandering the streets for days with two unknown men—would kind words come out, even in jest? I know you didn’t deliberately drag me into this, and I won’t deny my own meddling, but the root cause of all this is still you two, isn’t it? And yet you expect to be treated kindly?”
Maximian suddenly broke into a grin.
“If you’re worried and angry enough to say such things, then your father isn’t such a terrible person after all, is he?”
“Well…”
Riche found herself at a loss for words. Maximian rose from the bed and stretched, and Joshua, observing this, seemed to reach a decision, speaking with unmistakable resolve.
“The problem began with me, didn’t it? Riche, you only saved me when I was nearly dead. I can’t be so mad as to hide the fact that I’ve put someone who helped me out of kindness in danger. I must face your father’s judgment—whether it be scolding or worse—and speak the truth plainly.”
Maximian was not a man who required elaborate grooming like the cats; he merely swept his hair back, found his outer coat, and put it on. Opening the door, he gestured for the two to follow him out.
“Even if he’s a father you dislike, he’s still your family. If none of your family knows what’s happened to you, I can’t shake the feeling that I’ve kidnapped some innocent young lady off the street.”
The latter part of his words was already heard from outside the door.
Riche had no choice but to turn, though she still shook her head.
“It’s pointless, I’m telling you. I really don’t believe it.”
Then Joshua, who had moved toward the entrance, turned back with a faint smile.
“Maximian will understand well. No—he understood from the very beginning.”
“How can you be so certain he understood?”
Joshua’s next answer came from outside the door.
“Maximian has a father far greater than yours.”
3. The Smiling Mask
Unlike the northern masked theater where the lead actor adorns himself most lavishly, in the southern tradition, the lead actor wears no ornate mask at all. When everyone else dons masks decorated with ducal feathers, silk turbans, brilliant pigments, colored threads, and golden tassels, it is the one wearing a plain white mask without pattern who is the lead. So how must the lead perform? He cannot gain attention by standing still. He must dance, sing, and run. Unless he burns with all his talent so that no one forgets he is the lead, he will fail.
“Hmm.”
Even after hearing the entire account, Caesar Montplayne did not respond immediately. He merely stroked the large dog crouched beside him.
Joshua, interpreting this as the quiet before an explosion, couldn’t decide whether to adopt a posture of “please punish me,” feign pity to elicit sympathy, or maintain composure to appear somewhat trustworthy. He glanced across at Maximian’s face, seeking guidance.
And he realized his friend was dozing.
“Ah, well, um…”
There was no guidance to be had. He had to do whatever it took to draw Caesar’s attention away from this situation.
“I… that is… I will accept any punishment you see fit!”
“Yes?”
Joshua’s sudden outburst made Caesar blink in bewilderment.
“What do you mean by that?”
“Yes?”
Joshua himself was taken aback by Caesar’s formal tone. It was understandable in a way, but he hadn’t expected it now.
“Ah, so it’s because of our Riche? No, no—you mustn’t speak of punishment. That’s going too far. How could someone like me ever punish someone as noble as you, sir?”
Joshua didn’t know how to respond, but he seemed to have succeeded in his original purpose of diverting Caesar’s attention from Maximian. Riche, seated beside them sipping tea, wore an expression of displeasure. After all, no matter how much one dislikes one’s father, it couldn’t look good to adopt such a submissive posture before a boy of her own age.
“But still, Riche is currently in considerable danger…”
“What’s the big deal? I’m not worried about it at all.”
“No, why not?”
I was starting to lose track of who was questioning whom. Caesar drained the tea before him in one gulp, then turned to Joshua with a leisurely smile. Something about it felt ominous.
“You’re the son of Duke Arnim, one of Anomarad’s most prestigious families.”
“And?”
“Moreover, you’re the Young Duke who will inherit the title, correct?”
“That’s true, but…”
“So what’s there to worry about?”
“But this isn’t Keltika, and there’s no one here to help. There’s nothing I can change right now.”
Caesar peered into the bottom of his teacup and took the last sip, then spoke in a tone of complete indifference.
“Just take her with you and take responsibility.”
“Pfft!”
Riche barely managed to stop the tea in her mouth from spraying out, catching it with her hand instead. She swallowed hastily, choked, and coughed before protesting to her father.
“What nonsense are you spouting! Cough, who’s taking whom anywhere?”
Joshua’s expression had gone blank as well.
“Wait, that means…”
Caesar began chuckling to himself, while Riche’s face flushed red and she shot to her feet.
“Do you think you have the right to decide my life on a whim? This is exactly why I didn’t want to tell you from the start. I should have handled it myself, whether I lived or died. What’s this nonsense about getting rid of me like some annoying growth? Honestly, if I were dependent on you for survival, I’d be crying my eyes out in misery!”
“No, Riche. I think you’re misunderstanding something.”
Caesar continued with that smooth, infuriating smile.
“I never said I was marrying you off to this young lord. Why are you jumping to conclusions like that?”
“…”
Riche was left speechless, her face flushed as she breathed heavily. Joshua scratched the back of his head and interjected.
“Then what do you mean…? So taking her with me and… what exactly am I supposed to take responsibility for?”
It was then that Maximian’s voice came, though I’d thought he was still dozing.
“A fair observation.”
Looking back, his eyes were still half-closed, but his voice was clear.
“‘Taking her with you’ and ‘taking responsibility’ mean exactly what they say. You need to leave this island, and you shouldn’t leave her alone—travel together.”
“Exactly.”
Caesar raised his hand and clapped twice.
“That one’s sharp. I could tell even when he was dozing.”
Joshua’s efforts were in vain.
“I knew from the start how I’d play this. Yes, just as I said. If you’re going to cause trouble involving a girl, you should at least have that much sense of responsibility.”
The man had a real talent for choosing words with awkward connotations. But just as Joshua nodded in understanding, Riche shook her head firmly and spoke decisively.
“I’m not leaving. I can’t abandon everything I’ve built for my life. The Costume Workshop, the restaurant—it took so much effort to establish myself and support myself through my own strength. I have no intention of starting over somewhere else.”
Maximian rubbed his eyes, drained the tea before him in one go, let out an exclamation like someone who’d had a drink, and after handling several things, he sighed toward Riche and began to speak.
“I’m sorry to say this, but that’s not a matter of choice. Try to understand the gravity of the situation. On this small island, where would we hide you if you’re caught up in something like this? We’re not trying to drag you along by force. We’re simply trying to arrange the safest measures possible for you, who got involved through no fault of your own. Do you think it’s pleasant or convenient for us to travel with a girl who lacks practical skills? We’re simply willing to bear it because we bear responsibility for what we’ve done.”
Maximian’s last remark was purely meant to provoke Riche, and she, true to her hot-blooded nature, took the bait immediately.
“I lack practical skills? That’s hilarious. I’m far better than both of you combined. Can you make four days’ worth of meals with just an onion? Can you patch torn trousers with socks? How many years have I been supporting my family’s livelihood, and you’re talking about practical skills in front of me?”
“Strange examples. Can’t you imagine the trouble a girl would cause, getting caught in the rain and taking to her bed sick?”
“I’ve never caught a cold from rain in my life! I’m nothing like those delicate nobles who take to their beds at the slightest ache!”
Joshua laughed awkwardly beside me and spoke up.
“Was that meant for my ears?”
Maximian paid him no mind.
“Walk for just one day and he’ll be whimpering about sore feet. Since Jo can’t even take care of himself, I doubt he’ll be carrying anyone on his back. Looks like it falls to me.”
“Don’t you dare expect me to ride on your back!”
Caesar glanced around the table, then poured more tea into both Maximian’s cup and his own while muttering.
“Well, it’s settled then. Each of you should remember the resilience you just boasted about and show it off on the journey.”
When Riche looked back at Father with a bewildered expression, Maximian mimicked Joshua’s manner, sipping his tea with elegant grace before shrugging his shoulders.
“He said he’d carry me if I got sick. It seems we’ve found ourselves a remarkably capable companion, Jo.”
Joshua felt laughter bubbling up even as he felt apologetic, his expression turning awkward as he replied.
“Still, wouldn’t it be better if I did most of the carrying?”
“You carrying me? I’m sure you’d do splendidly.”
Caesar let Riche’s barrage of words go in one ear and out the other as he turned to Maximian.
“Where exactly are you headed?”
“To Anomarad, and if possible, to Keltika.”
“That’s quite far. Do you have any way to get there safely?”
Maximian smiled, raising only one corner of his mouth.
“Unfortunately, I don’t.”
“Regardless of the content, your reply is remarkably confident. I have a method that’s somewhat clumsy and carries a high chance of failure, but if it succeeds, things become quite convenient. What do you say?”
Children of the Rune – Winterer
Author: Jeon Min-hee
Publisher: 14 Month Books
The copyright to this book belongs to the author and 14 Month Books.
To reuse all or part of this book’s content, written consent from both parties is required.

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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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