Children of the Rune – Winterer - Chapter 430

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

Episode 200.
The Face of an Angel and
the Blood Flowing Through a Demon’s Heart (9)
Of course, it was important to see Duke Arnim in person and understand what sort of man he truly was. I needed to assess the atmosphere of his household to gauge how feasible Theo’s scheme might be. Yet if that were my only purpose, there were countless other ways to accomplish it without attending such a banquet. But there was one person I could only meet here—the Young Duke himself.
Known in society as a recluse, the Young Duke received so few visitors that any excuse to seek him out would draw far too much attention. Yet on his mother’s birthday, he would surely appear before the guests, and he bore the responsibility of receiving them. Moreover, despite the modest scale, a banquet of this size would draw at least dozens of people whose presence would obscure my movements.
Yien touched his earlobes, grown heavy from the earrings, with an air of annoyance before speaking.
“But isn’t it remarkable? Lord Moro’s position within House Arnim, I mean. It’s the Duchess’s birthday. He’s their only son-in-law. Yet they send him away on a day like this.”
Before visiting House Arnim, the two of us had attempted to contact Theo first. But Theo, acting on Duke Arnim’s orders, had departed yesterday—not some other day—for the castle of Countess Fairblonde, the Duke’s aunt. Ostensibly, he’d gone to visit the Countess, whose birthday happened to fall just a day apart, but such courtesy calls could easily be made days later. The fact that the Duke had deliberately sent him away right after announcing the banquet was difficult to dismiss as mere coincidence.
“We can’t rule out the possibility that the Duke suspects Lord Moro.”
“Over his dead daughter?”
“The Duke wasn’t the only one who suspected him then. The rumors haven’t entirely died down even now.”
“He wouldn’t treat him unfairly based merely on suspicion, would he?”
“By doing this, he sends a message to everyone else that he dislikes his son-in-law or deliberately excludes him. It’s as though he’s instructing society to disregard the man. We’ll need to observe further to understand his true intentions.”
“If he intends to grant Lord Moro a title as promised before, this may create complications.”
“It’s being pursued, but the decision must wait until the uncertainties are clarified.”
“Which is why you risked coming here, isn’t it?”
When Yien smiled knowingly, Langie responded with words rather than a matching grin.
“I suspect you’d say ‘endured wearing a dress’ instead.”
Based on two reports from the Nightwalker, both of us knew what Giscar had also been told—that the Young Duke harbored a secret. We knew that there were currently two Joshua von Arnims, and that neither had ever aroused even a whisper of suspicion among those around them. The Young Duke at Jade Ring Castle had his parents and those who had known him since childhood; the Young Duke at Hyacan had a stage only he could command. Complete deception on both fronts was impossible.
Langie and Yien had deliberated extensively on this matter. Even with a hidden twin, one could not deceive one’s true parents, and it went without saying that the likelihood of possessing identical talents was low. Moreover, the Young Duke was Demonic. He was arguably the most difficult person in the world to impersonate.
Whichever was real, the other was merely a victim, and we could have left the matter to Theo and ignored it. Yet the inexplicable magic, the very magic Giscar had called a “doppelgänger,” filled me with foreboding. The question of who was genuine troubled me equally.
If Theo was the architect of the magic, the false one was likely the one at the castle. Langie, having reached the same conclusion as Maximian, believed it illogical to craft a fake and then allow it to wander the world unchecked.
Yet there was no proof.
The Young Duke’s existence was a crucial clue to understanding Theo’s actions. My negotiation with Theo was a delicate and potentially fatal scheme. If realized, it promised tremendous gain, but failure carried an equally steep price. The most important factor in assessing the viability of this plan was Theo’s intention. And the key to understanding Theo’s intention was the Young Duke.
If I could discover what Theo intended to do with the false Young Duke, I could better predict whether Theo would remain loyal to the Republican Faction until the end, betray them midway, and if so, at what point. Would Theo abandon the Republican Faction without hesitation once he destroyed the Young Duke and seized House Arnim? Or did he harbor greater ambitions and intend to maintain the alliance? Or was he the type to expose the Republican organization to the Kingdom 8th Army and seek glory? Was he merely a petty villain satisfied with seeing his enemy’s ruin?
For that reason, I had to see the Young Duke at today’s banquet. At minimum, I had to gather clues. Who was real and who was false? What did “false” truly mean?
“The Lady Pontina arrived early this morning, I hear.”
Servants’ gossip sometimes traveled faster than the Nightwalker. Langie nodded, and Yien continued.
“Her mother couldn’t attend—injured her ankle while riding. Since this is an invitation from House Arnim, it’s customary for the Duchess to send her daughter in her stead, but the East Bank gossips say this is the first time the girl has come to Keltika alone.”
Along the southeast bank of the Bluet River, which cut through Keltika, the estates of nobility clustered densely. East Bank gossip typically referred to the whispers circulating through society. Langie spoke matter-of-factly.
“It’s not a bad opportunity to observe.”
“She has merit. Duke Pontina’s cherished daughter, as they say. More than merely doted upon—she’s reportedly receiving successor training. He has an adult son as well, which is unexpected. Duke Pontina isn’t the sort to act without careful consideration, even over a beloved daughter.”
“There’s the precedent of Queen Anliche of Anomarad.”
Queen Anliche was the Young Lady Pontina’s aunt. If she resembled the Queen—renowned as a strategist and warrior—and if Duke Pontina, a man of exceptional political acumen, was considering her as a successor, she was worth watching long-term. From that perspective, this banquet was indeed rich with material.
“More importantly, Rosnis da Belnoir received an invitation as well. Will that be all right?”
Yien’s question showed she knew Langie had once served the Belnoir Family. Langie smiled.
“She’ll probably arrive a bit late.”
“You’ve arranged something?”
“If we were to meet, it would be difficult to simply pass by.”
“You’re trying to make her disappear before she arrives?”
“But before that, I’ll need to hurry if I’m to settle all my business.”
Yien chuckled softly, but soon pursed his lips and rubbed his forehead where Tiara’s jewel had touched it.
“I’ll need to keep my ears sharp. Since Roznis happens to be staying in Keltika, I couldn’t very well exclude her from the invitation. I suppose it’s better than having the Count himself make an appearance.”
The carriage lurched to a halt before the city gate. Yien exhaled softly, smoothed down the hem of his dress, and adjusted his appearance. As the attendant opened the carriage door, Langie descended first and offered his hand to help Yien down. Unlike the unbecoming posture he’d maintained inside the carriage, Yien descended with practiced grace, careful not to tread upon the trailing skirts. Soon the two figures vanished into the castle.
The House of Arnim, despite the power it wielded, had not cultivated much renown in high society. The Duchess, who should have been at the center of such social circles, was in poor health; the Duke himself was a martial man who did not enjoy parties; his only daughter had been a delicate creature unfit for public display, and she was now dead. Only the son remained, and he had spent so much time wandering to the countryside and the islands that since the Divine Kingdom’s establishment, his time in Keltika had been far too brief.
The last time Keltika’s society had seen Joshua was at the banquet when Ivnoa died. In the year that followed, Duke Arnim held no gatherings whatsoever, heeding his uncle Hispania’s counsel, and during that time Joshua had departed for Hyacan. In this manner, rumors had naturally proliferated.
Few people, as Yien had heard, offered honest assessments. Most preferred to embellish idle gossip. The Young Duke was so exceptional that ordinary people held no interest for him. He was rude. His mind seemed somewhat peculiar. Even if he appeared normal, one could never predict what he might do next. He was frightening, like a madman. He had already lost his mind, but his parents were desperately concealing it. His health was deteriorating; he might die soon. He was becoming an idiot like his sister.
Some of the rumors were so malicious they might as well have been deliberately spread, yet because there were so many, no one believed them entirely. However, people were curious about the truth, and those who had come to Jade Ring Castle after so long were greatly interested in seeing the Young Duke.
Considering that House Pontina remained on its estates outside the capital, it would not have been strange for them to be the rulers of Keltika’s high society. It was only natural that people wished to know what sort of person this young duke of such a family was. Even if he seemed to have certain complications as a marriage prospect.
A white piano had been brought to the banquet hall today. Since the Young Duke had first become known for his musical talent in childhood, everyone assumed there would be a performance this evening. A beautiful recital would help quell the rumors and win people’s favor. It might be a better approach than conversation. The Young Duke was not someone who won affection through dialogue.
Yien stifled a laugh as he listened to the whispers around him. Even he, who had not seen the Young Duke directly, could tell that most of what was being said was baseless rumor. He was grateful for the fan that could conceal his expression. Having kept himself distant from society for so long and lived as he pleased, Yien’s expressions were remarkably candid. Among nobles who all wore picture-perfect faces, anyone who met his gaze would be startled.
“Excuse me, but are you perhaps Miss Amaranth?”
Yien was taken aback by someone suddenly addressing him as an acquaintance. Turning, he saw a tall lady who appeared to be in her thirties, tilting her head slightly with a smile. Yien could not recall who this woman was. He could have deflected, but instead answered with a mixture of his usual manner.
“How is it that I cannot recall which family such a refined and elegant lady belongs to? Please forgive my rudeness.”
“Ah.”
The lady laughed without covering her mouth, then tilted her head again as if by habit.
“There is no need for such words. We have never been introduced, so it is I who was rude. I recognized you only by your beautiful tiara. I once saw Countess Amaranth wearing that very piece. The Countess looked splendid in it, but it suits you wonderfully as well. This is why family heirlooms are so precious.”
“I am delighted to meet someone who knows my mother.”
He answered thus, but felt somewhat tense. There was no guarantee his mother had not engaged in unnecessary rambling as she had with that young lady named Sylviet de Argenson before. That girl had been persistently trying to visit him at school, which had been quite troublesome.
“Forgive my late introduction. I am Marina da Castello. I came to this gathering with Lady Pontina. Since it was the Lady’s first time coming to Keltika alone, I received a special request from the Duchess to accompany her. Thanks to that, I have had the honor of meeting you.”
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 the contents of this book, written consent from both parties is required.

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