Children of the Rune – Winterer - Chapter 375

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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 145.
May Your Final Performance
Be Your Greatest (20)
Irene: We’re deciding that starting now. Be quiet and listen. I’ll explain. (Everyone gathers) The party in ten days isn’t a wedding—it’s to find a marriage partner. We sent invitations to every prestigious Family Clan across the Continent, and the responses keep pouring in. Hmph! Why are you looking at me like that? Did you think people wouldn’t even glance at someone like my Elder Brother?
Rudy: You’re right about that. I don’t think many women could tolerate Elder Brother’s personality.
Irene: Only we know that fact. What would the people of the Continent know? If they hear “Morbihan Family Clan,” they’ll think we’re blessed with infinite coffers buried beneath the earth. Of course they’ll assume marrying the young Count would be a profitable match.
Richard: Wait, isn’t that vault already empty?
Irene: What would those people know about it? Our foolish Father has spent money without restraint these past years, so our coffers are completely drained. Yet somehow, no rumors of us becoming beggars have spread.
Rudy: So Sister, aren’t you committing fraud right now?
The Siblings: Aren’t you committing fraud?
(Irene places her hands on her hips and glares at her siblings.)
Irene: Fraud? What fraud! They’re simply coming based on their own assumptions! The letter I sent those people contained nothing but the fact that the young Count of Morbihan is seeking a marriage partner. Do you think I wrote something like “The silver mines on our Island are still thriving”?
Richard: Even so, that would only invite suspicion.
Rudy: Right.
(Everyone laughs)
Anton: Isn’t that precisely Sister’s strength? Elder Brother Rudy, Elder Brother Richard—Sister is planning to sell our Elder Brother and live off the proceeds. Are you just going to nag at her? Let’s prepare the party as Sister instructed. Who knows? Perhaps some wealthy, blind-eyed Lady will be charmed by Elder Brother’s appearance and end up supporting us as well?
Irene: Exactly as Anton says. Are we just going to sit here sucking our thumbs until we starve? Come on, hurry up!
Everyone disperses. Only the youngest, Marianne, remains.
Marianne: (sings)
My Elder Brother is a confident young Count,
Yet he hasn’t a single new formal suit,
So he wears Father’s clothes, altered to fit,
But who can I blame?
We try to maintain our dignity, but we have no money,
The Warehouse holds only chaff,
And even if we find a wealthy bride,
What can anyone say?
One cannot survive long on hunger,
Dignity does not endure,
And poverty, though hidden, always becomes known.
(The lights fade.
Marianne exits, her footsteps the only sound.)
Act 8. Elan
1. A Street Extravaganza
Prepare a show for me, one woven from chaos and frenzy,
The most thrilling show in all the world.
Everyone must participate in this show.
Neither the elderly nor children can be left out.
I will delight them all.
I will captivate every single one of them.
I want them to laugh wildly,
to cry out in jubilation,
to pour into the streets on their own feet,
and dance until dawn.
Once my ship sets sail, no one can stop me anymore.
A spectacular that will sweep across the Sea and the Continent!
Kalayso had no constables to manage traffic. The sailors created order, and when they caused disturbances, the Guild would come out and handle it. Kalayso had a lord, but he effectively delegated the city’s administration to the various Guilds and remained at Holm Castle, a two-hour carriage ride away. It was extremely rare for the lord to appear in Kalayso.
However, if a day like today were to come again, it would be wise to consider stationing a permanent constable in Kalayso. That night, from the intersection where the road leading up from Pier 8 overlapped with the main road exiting the city, to where that road bent westward and climbed to the fork—at the top of what was called “Horseshoe Crossroads,” through the area known as “Theater Street”—crowds of unprecedented scale flooded in since the roads were first paved.
The first reason the roads were severely congested was the sheer number of carriages. Moreover, these were not shared carriages carrying multiple passengers or small, nimble vehicles, but mostly grand four-horse carriages.
The roads connecting to the main thoroughfare were narrow, and outside, coachmen shouted; inside, gentlemen and ladies leaned out windows to complain; anxious horses neighed; and people with no idea what was happening whispered among themselves. If one had the leisure to appreciate such a spectacle, it would be quite the sight, but no one possessed such composure. While people might somehow squeeze through, the carriages were locked in a half-hour chaos where wheels could barely turn.
If one wished to trace the source of the commotion, it would be better to traverse the rooftops of the theaters standing shoulder to shoulder rather than push through the tangled Theater Street. Following that path would lead to the Diamond Rush, an old, grand theater located in a relatively secluded spot within Theater Street. True to its role as the source of the chaos, it was besieged first by carriages on the outside and second by crowds of spectators within, resembling a fortress on the eve of siege.
In fact, it truly was a fortress on the eve of siege.
“Why won’t they come out!”
“Bring out the lead actor!”
“Come out before we break down the doors!”
The Diamond Rush, with every lamp brilliantly illuminated, seemed to be ablaze as it welcomed the largest audience in its history. The entrance, reception hall, and central staircase were packed with nearly a hundred people, and the performance hall with its wide-open doors was completely occupied by spectators all the way to the stage. An hour had passed since the performance ended, yet few had left. Their sole objective was one thing: to reach the Dressing Room.
There were two large dressing rooms, each beginning beneath the stairs on either side of the stage, running along the walls where the box seats were located, and connecting to the waiting rooms on either side of the main entrance. The dressing room on the left when facing the stage was shared by supporting actors and dancers, while the relatively smaller one on the right belonged to the Choir. Somewhere behind these two rooms, there had to be a private dressing room for the lead actors.
However, most of the spectators did not know the theater’s layout. Only a tiny fraction had visited before, and among them, no one had ever been to the lead actor’s dressing room. The Diamond Rush had not been a theater worth visiting until now. Especially not for the predominantly Nobility-born audience that made up the vast majority today.
In such circumstances, they knocked on any dressing room door they could find. They thought that once they entered any of them, they would surely find a path to the lead actor’s dressing room. However, after the finale and curtain calls ended and the actors exited, every dressing room door was locked as if by prior agreement, infuriating the noble spectators.
Moreover, the Theater Master who finally appeared was a woman who only appealed to the spectators to leave. Of course, nobles who found the Theater Master beneath their notice would never listen to what Etern had to say.
“Be quiet! This is not proper etiquette! Why can’t we meet the lead actor?”
“Why are you locking the doors? We simply wanted to pay our respects because we enjoyed the performance!”
“I absolutely must see their face before I leave! Do you know who I am? How rude!”
Etern bore the assault of these troublesome people while struggling to maintain a smiling expression, though she was making her best effort.
“I understand your wishes well. However, as you can see, there are far too many of you to greet each person individually, and above all, if such a large crowd suddenly gathers, there is a risk of accidents. There is a second performance tomorrow at noon, and it is the final performance at that, so we cannot afford any complications, can we? Please leave for today, and if you absolutely must see the actors, please come to tomorrow’s performance….”
A noblewoman snapped back.
“Of course I’m coming tomorrow! But tomorrow is tomorrow, and today is today, isn’t it? Who can guarantee there won’t be even more people tomorrow?”
“Look outside. It’s not like we can leave anyway!”
Indeed, those who had given up and tried to go home mixed with spectators coming from other theaters, completely clogging the roads, making it obvious that leaving would be impossible. Since the spectators who came to the Diamond Rush brought their four-horse carriages, the roads had become this congested, and the protests from nearby theaters were considerable.
Etern sweated profusely dealing with the crowds, but she had no intention of acceding to the Nobility’s demands. Her conviction was that Joshua appearing in such a situation would be absolutely dangerous.
It was at that moment. Suddenly, the door to the left waiting room opened slightly, and a dancer slipped out. The crowd could not let such an opportunity pass.
“It’s open!”
The dancer fled, but as people grabbed and pulled the open door, the interior finally came into view. The waiting room and inner dressing room contained only a few frightened dancers, but beyond them, another door was visible.
“There!”
Dozens of people rushed forward and opened the door. The first person to look inside thought they had finally found it and cried out.
“Here!”
With that shout, the waiting room and dressing room were instantly filled with dozens of people. Still not satisfied, more continued to pour through the door, reaching a dangerous situation.
Piano music sounded from somewhere.
“Huh?”
The momentum of those pushing forward faltered. Those on the outside turned to look back. There were two pianos in the hall: one included in the orchestra, and the prop piano that had been on stage. The curtain had not yet fallen, and the person seated at the prop piano, positioned so the performer was visible, immediately caught the eye. Exclamations erupted from among those near the stage.
“He’s here!”
“There he is!”
The people nearby quickly encircled the piano. Others rushed over, and soon several layers of spectators formed around it. Yet unlike moments before, the densely packed crowd made no commotion—no one had instructed them, and still they held their very breath. They had to listen. A performance was underway. Their beloved protagonist of the evening was playing.
Joshua sat at the piano with his eyes closed.
The melody was unfamiliar—not part of the scheduled performance, nor anything I’d heard before. The playing was spirited yet unhurried, possessed of a leisurely grace that felt perfectly pleasant. If I had to describe the feeling, it was almost ironic, as though the music itself were commenting on the very moment unfolding.
The chatter that had filled the space moments before vanished entirely, leaving only the piano’s voice to resonate through the Grand Hall.
“Ah…”
Etern found a suitable pillar to lean against and exhaled slowly. She had just received a note from the dancer who’d fled the Dressing Room. The situation had barely settled, and she’d been anxious about what might happen the moment the performance ended. But as she unfolded the note, a quiet laugh escaped her.
Children of Rune – Winterer
Author: Jeon Min-hee
Publisher: 14 Months Publishing
The copyright to this book belongs to the author and 14 Months Publishing.
To reuse all or part of this book’s contents, 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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