Children of the Rune – Winterer - Chapter 432

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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 196.
The Face of an Angel and
the Blood Flowing Through a Demon’s Heart (11)
Chloe’s tone carried a light sharpness, though it was not an expression of displeasure. Had her companion been of noble birth, she would never have adopted such an attitude toward someone she’d just met. Yet a lady’s companion—a conversational attendant kept by the nobility in their homes—held only a slightly elevated station above a servant. Unlike servants who merely obeyed with endless “yes, yes,” such companions had an important role: to engage in witty repartee sharp enough to lift their employer’s spirits without causing offense. Chloe treated Langie with precisely that measure of regard.
“People ought to evaluate you more fairly, Miss. Had I known you better, I might have offered you such pleasures. What a pity.”
At that moment, their eyes met once more. Shortly after, Chloe turned to Yien and spoke.
“Your friend seems to think my interests align with Father’s.”
While Chloe and Langie conversed, Yien—who had composed himself—laughed like a peer who knew nothing of the matter.
“He doesn’t know such things. He’s probably never even met Duke Fontina.”
In that instant, Chloe’s gaze swept swiftly across Langie’s expression. Then she spoke.
“Then I’ll answer. I’m interested in magic.”
Langie and Yien exchanged glances. This was an answer neither had anticipated. Before they could react, she continued.
“That’s why I’ve been considering attending the school for some time now. When I heard you study there, I thought it might be worthwhile to hear what life is like there.”
This was even more unexpected. Baroness Castello, standing nearby, looked so startled that she couldn’t even hide her bewilderment.
“Really? I never expected that. Of course, there’s nothing preventing you from attending school, but somehow it doesn’t seem to suit you. More importantly—did Father permit this?”
“That’s something we’ll discuss gradually.”
Langie spoke.
“I’ve heard it’s rare for those of high station to study magic deeply.”
“Not just magic.”
It was true that those of high station—the nobility—were generally lazy in their scholarly pursuits. Langie smiled.
“I’m astonished to hear such words from you, Miss.”
“It seems everyone has many preconceptions about me.”
“If I’ve caused offense, I apologize. Preconceptions are the children of rumor. The more prominent one is, the more false rumors tend to flourish.”
He paused briefly before adding,
“As with the Young Duke of this house.”
“Do you mean you believed those rumors that the Young Duke had become an idiot or a madman?”
Baroness Castello interjected, swallowing hard.
“Miss, such words are rather….”
Chloe waved her fan lightly.
“They’re not true, are they? If they’re not true, there’s no reason not to speak of them. Arnim Duke struck me as elegant and clever. I wonder where such rumors even originate.”
Langie spoke.
“Rumors arise from time itself.”
Chloe tilted her chin slightly, asking,
“What do you mean by that?”
“Rumors are created as time passes—naturally. Years breed more rumors, and ages breed even greater ones. The Young Duke’s rumors were born from ‘prolonged absence.’ Anything, when exchanged for time, becomes rumor. There are as many rumors as your years, as the House of Pontina’s history, as the ages accumulated in the Anomarad Kingdom.”
“You mean rumors are unavoidable—merely the sediment of time that accumulates inevitably?”
“Quite the opposite. Rumors are not sediment; they are part of the person themselves.”
“I cannot comprehend that. Do you mean even bad rumors, false rumors, are part of that person?”
“Do all people receive the same rumors? Are the rumors attached to you not different from those of the Young Duke? Why are they different? Is it merely chance?”
“That seems an unjust opinion. If bad rumors and false rumors are the fault of the person, isn’t that terribly cruel? Do those who spread rumors bear no responsibility?”
“One person who knows the truth bears a responsibility. But it’s rare to find the person who spread the rumor in the first place. Rumors emerge from shadows without substance. As people live, they naturally develop a face, a manner of speaking, thoughts—these become part of who they are. Simultaneously, reputation forms among people. When prediction is added to reputation, it becomes rumor. Sometimes a rumor strikes precisely at what was secretly hidden—a correct prediction. When the prediction is wrong, it creates malicious gossip like what you mentioned. People aren’t born with shadows, but the moment they stand in sunlight, a shadow appears. Similarly, rumors are part of oneself that emerges through the process of living alongside others.”
Chloe nodded after a moment.
“How clever. I understand what you mean. What you’re trying to say.”
Langie smiled unexpectedly.
“Do you truly understand?”
Chloe’s brow furrowed slightly.
“Are you mocking me?”
“Not at all. I said so only because people like you are rare.”
Though it could have sounded presumptuous, Chloe didn’t take offense. She simply replied.
“It must be because of the shadow that is part of me. Few people in this world believe there’s anything inside the head of a young lady in a chemise gown wearing an ostrich feather crown.”
Today Chloe wore only a delicate gold chain ornament instead of an ostrich feather crown, but it was the latest fashion and could be found on the heads of countless other noblewomen in the banquet hall. Langie stroked his chin.
“Such a shadow certainly exists, but there are quite a few people who think differently of Miss Chloe. Above all, you carry the blood of the wise Queen. What do you think? Is that also a shadow?”
“The Queen is far too noble, dignified, and brilliant to be compared with me. So yes, that too could be called a shadow.”
“Since you have an interest in magic, your direction might differ somewhat from the Queen’s. Magic isn’t a study of people, after all.”
The probing grew increasingly intense. Yien was becoming anxious. It was still difficult to be certain that Chloe had summoned Yien merely to ask about school life. In such circumstances, asking Chloe whether she had any intention of becoming a politician like the Queen carried considerable risk.
Chloe answered clearly.
“If it’s necessary, I’ll do whatever it takes. I’m not in a position to choose my future. Neither are you, Yien.”
Yien, who had already chosen her future, could only offer an awkward smile.
“But if I had a brief reprieve… I’d like to try attending school at least once. Yien, what is your school like? I heard it’s called Royal Grome School. I’ve heard there are children from other families attending there too.”
Yien stiffened. In a million-to-one chance—absolutely a million-to-one chance—if Chloe were to enter Grome School, both Yien’s and Langie’s range of activities would inevitably narrow considerably. Even if Chloe herself showed no interest in their work, Duke Pontina would certainly send a considerable number of loyal followers, severely restricting not only school organizations but also external contact, particularly communication with the Exile Council.
And most importantly, the fact that Chloe had met Langie at this gathering was a major problem. It wouldn’t seem strange that Langie, introduced as Yien’s chaperone, was a student at the same school, but if one side made even a slight mistake afterward, what should have remained one issue would become entangled into two, inviting suspicion. In the worst case, it could result in the entire Keltika 3rd District, for which Langie was responsible, being dragged into it.
“Ah, well, I couldn’t really recommend it.”
Chloe tilted her head slowly.
“You don’t approve? Then I could simply transfer.”
“Ah, no, that’s not it. What I mean is, you. I don’t think it would suit you well.”
“Why?”
Yien forced out an answer.
“Well, there are many children from families of lower status attending. They take classes together. There are students far from refined…”
Chloe unexpectedly cut her off.
“I don’t mind such things.”
Langie opened his mouth.
“I apologize for repeatedly saying ‘unexpectedly,’ but that too is unexpected. Do you think you could become friends with such students?”
Chloe, as if catching his intention, turned the question back.
“Do you think it’s impossible for someone like you?”
“I wasn’t raised as nobly as you, so I don’t mind the status of anyone worth being friends with.”
The arrow had been returned immediately. Yien too was curious about Chloe’s response. Chloe picked up a triangular slice of cheese and spoke.
“I see. But I’m different from you. In other words, the meaning of ‘not minding’ differs. I don’t think I must necessarily become friends with whoever is beside me. And I’m not particularly inconvenienced by being surrounded by people who aren’t friends.”
Though her expectation was thwarted, Yien suddenly found it amusing. She felt she was beginning to understand what kind of person Chloe was. How would Langie have heard that response?
Langie spoke without smiling.
“I believe that’s possible. But my reason for discouraging your admission to Grome School is something else.”
“You as well? What’s your reason?”
“Royal Grome School doesn’t teach magic.”
It was a straightforward answer. Chloe swallowed her cheese and burst into laughter. Her laugh was surprisingly quick and bright.
“Aha, I see. I didn’t think I was going to school solely for magic, but if I’m interested in magic, it would be silly to attend a school that doesn’t teach it. Very well. Then I suppose I should look for a proper school that does teach magic. Of course, assuming Father permits it.”
“Such schools certainly exist.”
The conversation could have ended there, but Langie spoke. Chloe tilted her head curiously.
“Do you have a place you’d like to recommend?”
“If it’s magic you’re after, Nenyaple in the Southern Region is the most renowned. If you’re truly considering the path of a mage, I can recommend nowhere else.”
Was Langie thinking it would be best to send Chloe far away from Duke Fontina?
“Karl’s right. I heard you need to graduate from Nenyaple to continue research. They control almost all the magical materials and formulas for reagent synthesis. The truly important things—they don’t even show those to people who aren’t from Nenyaple.”
“I never said I was going to become a mage.”
Yien thought to himself that Chloe spoke this way now, just as she had in the past, and he stifled a quiet laugh.
“It’s not Keltika, and since it’s such a distant school, there’s little chance I’d actually go. But a magic school in the Southern Region… I do want to see it. If I ever get a very long reprieve.”
Chloe turned her head toward Langie.
“But seeing that you two are both discouraging Royal Grome School, it seems no one wants to be my classmate.”
It was said without a smile, too pointed to be mere jest, and for a moment Langie couldn’t think of a response. Then applause echoed from the Banquet Hall.
“Ah, Miss. It seems it’s time.”
At Baroness Castello’s words, Chloe nodded.
“The Duchess has asked for me, so I should take my leave. Yien, it was lovely to see you after so long. And you as well, Liris.”
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.

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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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