Children of the Rune – Winterer - Chapter 36

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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 36.
Breaking Through the Trap, Into the Storm (6)

October was drawing to a close.
In two days’ time, it would be Isabella da Belnoir’s—that is, Countess Belnoer’s—birthday, and Belnoir Castle would host the grandest celebration of the year.
Acceptance letters had been arriving for days, and word had come that many guests would arrive today.
The reason the Countess’s birthday warranted the most lavish party rather than the Count’s remained unclear, though the servants attributed it to the magnanimous Count’s love and respect for his wife.
Yet there were peculiarities that such an explanation failed to account for. The mystery unraveled as the guests began to arrive.
“Brother, hurry, hurry! Amelie Aunt and Uncle have arrived from Keltika with Silviet and Julina!”
According to what Rosnis had heard drummed into her ears for days, Silviet and Julina were the daughters of the Countess’s younger sister, born after her marriage to Marquis d’Argenson. They were said to be fifteen and twelve years old, respectively.
Both were lovely, but what impressed Rosnis most was that they were girls refined in the courtly etiquette of the capital—something she, living in the provinces, greatly envied.
“You absolutely cannot make a mistake, understand? If those girls find fault with you, it will be absolutely disastrous!”
Having rattled off these warnings, her expression suddenly shifted.
“But today I’m the hostess, so I must act like one! Besides, I’m the daughter of the Count’s House! There’s nothing I should be inferior to them about!”
Listening to Rosnis speak with such unguarded honesty, one felt as though the entire world revolved around whatever captured her interest.
At least Rosnis was not the sort of girl who feigned innocence while harboring sinister intentions. She was true to her desires and possessed the enthusiasm to pursue them.
To meet Rosnis’s demands for a flawless appearance, Langie’s assistance proved invaluable.
As the four of them—Rosnis, Langie, Camia, and myself—made our way to the Reception Room, Rosnis glanced at Langie and let out a quiet laugh. I had no idea what it meant, but something was clearly afoot.
“Come in, all of you.”
It was the same Reception Room where I had first met the Count’s family when I arrived at Jineman Manor. But this time, there were many more people present.
Besides the Count and Countess, there was the Marquis d’Argenson’s family that Rosnis had mentioned, their servants, and three other people I had not been told about beforehand.
An elegantly dressed woman, a young man of about twenty with a gentle demeanor, and a boy around my own age—these were the three.
Suddenly, Rosnis’s face flushed crimson.
“Ah, um… Good day, Amelie Aunt, and Uncle. Elinor is here as well, I see. I’m all the more delighted not to have heard of your arrival beforehand. I do hope all my cousins will rest comfortably during your stay.”
I was in a position where I had to wait for the Count’s introduction. As Rosnis and I approached the table, the Count called me closer and, placing a hand on my shoulder, spoke.
“This boy is a ward I took in long ago, hailing from Trabaches, and his name is Boris da Belnoir. He was originally meant to remain with his biological father until adulthood, but an unforeseen accident claimed his father’s life, so I brought him here earlier than planned. He is now a member of our family, so do take note of his face.”
Despite being merely a temporary ward, the Count’s tone held not the slightest hesitation in introducing me to his relatives.
I felt a wave of resistance instead. Was I not, in effect, deceiving even his relatives? Was this what the honor of the Count’s House amounted to?
After the introductions concluded, the relatives who had not seen each other in some time sipped refreshments and began conversing politely.
The Marquis d’Argenson’s wife regarded me with a gaze that bordered on discomfort—a trait she shared unmistakably with her sister.
“Indeed, it is only natural that Belcruze is renowned throughout the entire Continent. Being here, one’s heart feels so expansive. The weather is lovely, and I have a feeling tomorrow’s party will be splendid—my heart is already racing with anticipation.”
The woman called Elinor was short in stature with a kind expression. Her manner of speech was gentle, standing in stark contrast to Amelie.
Amelie promptly took up the conversation.
“This place is pleasant enough, but surely the most magnificent destination is Hyacan. I hear owning a villa somewhere on one of Hyacan’s southern islands is a lifelong dream. I’ve only been once, but it was like paradise on earth. Have you ever been?”
“No. But I find myself perfectly content here. This is the most beautiful place in the kingdom, after all. And Belnoir is also renowned as a lovely castle.”
Yet the Marquis’s wife, despite being a guest, seemed utterly incapable of backing down.
“That is only because you have not yet seen Hyacan’s southern islands. Once you do, your mind will change. It is not merely rustic scenery—beyond the azure sea and white sandy beaches lie verdant islands stretching to the horizon…”
At that moment, Countess Isabella spoke up.
“Amelie, enough of that talk. I am already looking into acquiring a villa there. If all goes well, I shall invite you all, and we can visit together.”
The two sisters, now Countess and Marquis’s wife respectively, were of similar age, yet standing side by side, the elder appeared considerably older. Her authority was proportionally stronger.
Though his tone was gentle, the implication of “stop spouting nonsense” came through clearly, and the Marquise immediately fell silent. I caught a glimpse of the Marquis d’Argenson signaling his wife with a glance.
“Well then, now that we’ve exchanged greetings, children, off you go to Boris’s room and play together. Since you haven’t seen each other in so long, you should deepen your bonds.”
At the Countess’s words, Rosnis rose first and bowed to the adults, excusing herself. The other children stood as well.
A young man who appeared to be nearly twenty also rose and spoke.
“I’ll join my younger siblings for a chat as well. Especially since it’s been such a long time since I’ve seen Rosnis. Then I’ll see you again shortly, Mother.”
Upon entering Boris’s room in Moonshine Tower, the young guests all looked astonished.
And with good reason—it was a room so grand and elaborate that one could hardly imagine it belonging to someone their age. Yet only one person voiced their honest impression.
“Wow, this room is really something. What a magnificent place.”
The boy, introduced as the second son of Elinor, was named Errol von Hamizen.
Errol rolled his wide eyes all the way to the ceiling, then grinned at Boris. It was a refreshingly unaffected smile for a nobleman.
“So you’re Rosnis’s older brother. I’m pleased to meet you.”
Rosnis interjected with a laugh that seemed slightly exaggerated.
“No, actually he’s the same age as me. We’re not twins, though, so we just decided to call each other older and younger brother between ourselves.”
A girl named Julina spoke up abruptly.
“It seems Rosnis is already quite close with your adoptive brother?”
Julina d’Argenson was said to be Amelie’s twelve-year-old second daughter. But her tone was hardly kind.
There was an undertone suggesting it was rather crude to welcome an adoptive brother of unknown origins and boast about it.
Rosnis reacted immediately with sensitivity.
“Don’t your parents always tell you to get along well with your siblings? Maybe you wouldn’t understand since you don’t have an older brother, Julina.”
The girl named Julina refused to back down.
“What are you talking about? Silviet and I have plenty of people who act as older brothers to us. In Keltika’s social circles, it’s become fashionable lately for children from good families to form adoptive sibling bonds. Just look at the young heir of the Pontina Ducal Family—how well he treats my sister. Well, I suppose you wouldn’t know about our trends since you grew up in the countryside.”
Whether due to her youth or her nature, Rosnis struggled to tolerate subtle mockery.
When a name she had recently taken interest in suddenly appeared in Julina’s story, she couldn’t help but ask.
“The Pontina Ducal Family? Where is that?”
“My goodness, you don’t even know the Pontina family? Isn’t that Queen Anliche’s maternal house? They’re considered the foremost family in Keltika’s social circles, and you don’t even know of them? You’re going to have quite a hard time when you debut in Keltika society later.”
At Julina’s arrogant tone, Rosnis flushed with emotion she couldn’t hide.
Yet having been educated to conduct herself as a noblewoman should, she restrained herself from shouting as she might at a servant, and replied instead.
“That’s not your concern. From what I’ve heard, the Pontina family has a remarkably beautiful daughter. Someone with such a sister would surely have refined taste.”
“Hmph, I could go on all day! Look at my sister. You have no idea how popular she is among young nobles these days. If you’re talking about the Pontina family’s daughter, you must mean Chloe? She’s pretty enough, but she’s still far from matching my sister.”
Boris thought absently that the girl named Chloe must be a real person.
Unlike Rosnis, Julina showed no caution in her speech. Rosnis, having grown up in a rural manor, had been consistently educated in refined manners, but Julina, who had competed alongside her peers in the social circles and built her own society among noble children, had already grown accustomed to the barbed tongue of adults.
And she didn’t stop there, immediately continuing.
“My sister Silviet will become a duchess once she’s a bit older!”
“Be quiet, Julina.”
Silviet, who had been sitting in silence, cautioned her younger sister. Boris glanced at her.
At fifteen, beginning to show her womanhood, Silviet had a slender figure and a refined face that was quite attractive, though honestly not striking enough to turn heads.
Moreover, Boris received an unfavorable impression from Silviet’s narrowed eyes and expressionless face. Despite appearing elegant, there was something sinister about her demeanor.
Julina closed her mouth but didn’t forget to flash a triumphant smile at Rosnis. Then the older young man spoke.
“To engage in such tension the moment we meet again—it’s not a pleasant sight. Cousins should get along well. Rosnis, Julina, and Silviet too.”
Rosnis quickly shook her head.
“No, Oscar. I’m genuinely delighted that everyone could gather this time. There are no peers my age nearby, so I’ve been terribly bored. You have no idea how eagerly I’ve awaited your arrival.”
For Rosnis, this was unexpectedly mature—so much so that Boris found himself momentarily puzzled.
It appeared Rosnis held genuine affection for this cousin. Her words eased the tension, and soon a warm, familiar conversation began to flow between them.
“How beautifully you’ve all grown. Silviet has become quite the young lady, hasn’t she? I can imagine how sought-after she must be in Keltika’s social circles without even asking.”
Oscar von Hamizen appeared frail in body, yet a smile never left his lips. Silviet and Julina had attended last year’s gathering, but the Hamizen family—distant relatives—had not visited in several years.
This was why Rosnis had flushed upon entering the Reception Room. When younger, she had adored this gentle cousin and followed him about devotedly.
Yet now, a few years older, Oscar seemed far too delicate. The fascination of her childhood had not returned; only a comfortable familiarity remained.
Rosnis found her own transformation curious, though she could not discern its cause.
“So you’re Boris? I’m Oscar von Hamizen. Since I’m Rosnis’s sixth cousin, that makes us relatives as well. Let’s get along well from now on.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Oscar.”
They exchanged a handshake. Boris felt a twinge of guilt at deceiving someone so guileless, but he suppressed it easily. What guilt could he harbor for what he did to survive?

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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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