Children of the Rune – Winterer - Chapter 473

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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 243.
Playing Oneself (19)
“You hoped?”
“It became clear that he caught your scent at the House of Arnim’s banquet last time. Pontina’s information network is so superior that it surpasses Nightwalk among the nobility. The feelers of such an information network detected your recently conspicuous presence. In other words, he caught the scent of ambition. Knowing that what you pursue is a hopeless ambition while the legitimate heir, the Young Duke, still lives, Pontina must have harbored suspicion. What invisible force supports you? With the intention of uncovering that identity, he sent his daughter to Duke Arnim to perform a certain theatrical act.”
“That was a theatrical act?”
“Pontina would not promote a marriage that was obviously disadvantageous. That day, he performed a theatrical act suggesting he might give his daughter to the Young Duke, testing whether Duke Arnim was considering you as the heir instead of the unstable Demonic Young Duke. There was also the intention to prevent scheming and sowing discord by displaying goodwill between the two families. Simultaneously, he wanted to observe what reaction you would show watching that, but unfortunately, you were not present at that gathering.”
Theo did not answer. In the distance, the sound of Kanka soothing a horse could be heard. Wind blew through the forest.
“However, through his daughter, Pontina must have observed the Young Duke, who had been hidden until then, and reached a conclusion. That Duke Arnim’s only desired heir is the Young Duke. And that you are not being supported by Duke Arnim, and moreover, Duke Arnim is treating you coldly. The world of nobility is what Pontina knows best, so he must have quickly grasped that there is no one in that world to help you—that is, no hidden patron or relative. Thus, when he saw you with suddenly expanded activity and suspicious rumors circulating, the suspicion he initially harbored became reality. The nobles showing you favor are connected to another unidentified force. It did not take long for him to conclude that the end of that connection might touch the Republican Faction, those he always wished to root out.”
Lanji finished speaking in a flat tone. Yet Theo felt sweat forming at the back of his neck. It was not merely from the heat.
Only then did the situation become clear to him. If Pontina harbored such suspicion, all the noble members connected to Theo would come under suspicion. If the full scope of the noble members that Friends of the People most carefully protected were revealed, it would be a catastrophic blow to the organization.
“Granted. Even if all such things happened, where is the basis for saying it was my mistake? Is it not the fault of the Exile Council for hastily attempting an intelligence operation against Pontina?”
Lanji shook his head.
“No, I did not come to this place to assign blame.”
“But…”
“Because of these matters, I had no choice but to cease helping you establish your footing in society. I believe you understand this much. In truth, I intended to offer this explanation somewhat later. However, a new situation has arisen, and I had no choice but to meet you today.”
Lanji withdrew a note, roughly half torn, from his trouser pocket and handed it over. Written there in hurried script were these words:
Keltika landing successful.
Attack by corsair ship thwarted by the appearance of a savior.
Expected to reach the Castle within two days.
“This is…”
Theo began to speak but stopped, his shoulders trembling once. He was not one to fail to grasp the meaning of the note. In Keltika Bay, the corsair attempt he had prepared by pouring everything he possessed. He had believed that was the only place where Joshua and his companions, who possessed a flying ship, would appear. They appeared as expected. He had thought there was no possibility of failure. A savior? Who on earth had appeared?
Theo, who had actually prepared the naval battle, had not yet received word. Yet Lanji already held a note reporting the results of the naval engagement. Theo felt anew a fear of Nightwalk’s information capabilities.
“The naval battle occurred on the twentieth. If the calculation of two days ahead is accurate, their arrival is tomorrow.”
Theo was suddenly seized by violent rage. He had come close to success. The only thing he had missed was Joshua alive. He had thought it would not be difficult to eliminate a single young master without anyone to protect him, ignorant of the ways of the world.
Those he had hired set a fire at the theater on Blue Coral Island. When that failed, he paid a steep price and hired a top-tier assassin. Finally, he persuaded Sir Baiyer and prepared the naval battle in Keltika Bay. All of it had come to nothing, and the small but critical problem he had overlooked would now appear before his eyes tomorrow. If it appeared, what would become of his plan?
Theo’s head snapped up. He saw Lanji’s lips from which the words he had dreaded were flowing.
“What do you suppose will happen when the two Young Dukes meet?”
“How…”
Theo closed his mouth and shook his head. He had been sensing it for some time now. Nightwalk was an organization beyond his imagination. Now he had no choice but to accept it.
“Do you know which one is the real one?”
“The one who comes to the Castle from now on will be the real one.”
Theo swallowed hard. Before this man, he could hide nothing.
“What basis do you have for thinking that?”
“If that were not the case, you would have no reason to fear the visit of the fake, would you?”
“Why do you think I fear? The one who made him into two was not me, but…”
“Your friend, I presume. I have seen such a thing before.”
“…”
Because he had not decided his course of action beforehand, he could not help but reveal a gap. It was a mistake not to anticipate that this matter would be exposed. Had he known such a day would come, he should have decided in advance whether to evade further at this moment or to confess honestly and seek cooperation. Having failed to do so, Theo’s unstable demeanor was no different from exposing all the truth.
“I would like to hear the basis for your conviction. The thought that you suspected me without grounds displeases me.”
Lanji smiled coldly.
“To use a fake efficiently, it would be logical to keep them by your side. That the Young Duke, who was free-spirited enough to perform secretly on stage in Hyacan, has remained at the Castle without even going out. That the Young Duke from afar is being pursued. All of these became subjects of consideration. However, above all else….”
Langie lowered his eyes and observed Theo’s hands. He could see them fidgeting nervously, interlacing and then releasing.
“It was because you were not present at that party gathering that day.”
Then Kanka stirred, making his presence known. Neither of them turned around, but Kanka shifted slightly and drew closer to them both.
“You said you could manipulate the Young Duke as you wished. Duke Arnim excluded you in an utterly illogical manner and held a family banquet, allowing the Young Duke to meet Pontina. And the orchestration that day was flawless. Because it was flawless, I understood that everything rolled forward exactly as the two Dukes intended, without error. Through reverse reasoning, I can deduce that one person had to be absent from that place. If the marriage between the Young Duke and Pontina were to succeed, the person who would suffer the greatest loss would be your son. Therefore, from your position, you would have had to obstruct such an event by any means. Considering Duke Arnim’s intention to send you far away and strengthen the bonds between the two houses, I even arrived at the suspicion that Duke Arnim already knew of what you had done.”
A sharp crack sounded again from Theo’s fingers.
“Since when have you known?”
“That is not the point, is it?”
“I did not intend to lie.”
As the moon tilted, Langie’s pale chin became slightly visible.
“Regardless of your reasons, you did not tell us the truth. When I heard your unconvincing explanation last time, I felt the need to investigate, and I simply did so. Had you succeeded, we might not have needed to pursue this matter. But now your hidden actions have become our problem. Therefore, I cannot help but ask.”
Lips bathed in moonlight pressed thin, then parted.
“What is your alternative to reverse the situation at this point?”
“….”
Theo’s mind burned. Since moments ago, he had been thinking of only one thing. It was not a simple matter. He had to persuade Anistan. Anistan had already ceased conversation with Theo. It was after Theo finally granted the Salaryman’s request to strengthen his hand. After Anistan retreated into a house in the corner of the Forest, Theo had not sought him out. Believing that given Anistan’s nature, he would not completely sabotage Theo’s work, he had decided to leave him alone. He had no interest in the problem that held Anistan captive. Time seemed a better remedy than ineffective persuasion.
But now he needed Anistan.
Thoughts of difficulty and thoughts of possibility crossed his mind, bringing ever-increasing heat. When he could no longer bear even thinking further, Theo spoke abruptly.
“I have an alternative.”
“Is that so? Please explain.”
“The operation scheduled for September 27th… I will move it forward. To tomorrow at dawn.”
Langie’s head moved slightly, then stopped.
“Will that be possible?”
“Yes. I need no assistance. I intend to accomplish it alone.”
“….”
Langie fell into thought with his mouth closed for the first time. Theo found this fact unbearably satisfying.
“It is true that I received the impression of being blamed for all the problems that have occurred thus far. I believe you would understand that it was difficult to listen to such talk comfortably. However, as you said, such matters of responsibility are ultimately trivial things. Therefore, I will prove my worth through another method. Your suspicions… I will accept them for now as the fate of someone like me who must enter a new organization. Once the work succeeds, I believe there will come a day when even such matters receive an apology.”
Langie turned his gaze toward the River again. The one or two lights that had been visible beyond the River had long since disappeared.
“What do you intend to do with the Young Duke who returns to the Castle?”
“It is all part of the plan. Whether he lives or dies, he will never appear in noble society again.”
Langie descended from the railing.
“At 7 o’clock tomorrow morning, I will have a carriage waiting on the path you always used to escape from Jade Ring Castle Forest.”
Theo’s brow furrowed.
“An escape plan is not necessary.”
“Preparation is our way. Then, I hope we do not meet tomorrow morning.”
Langie turned his body. A narrow path leading deeper into the Forest lay beneath his feet. As he passed before Kanka, Kanka observed Langie carefully. It was brief. Langie soon vanished into the Forest’s shadow.
Theo gazed at the River and continued his thoughts alone. Only when Kanka approached did he finally turn around. Theo did not wish to wait for whatever Kanka might say. In other words, he did not wish to hear it.
“Let’s go back.”
Children of Rune – Winterer
Author: Jeon Min-hee
Publisher: 14 Months Publishing
The copyright of this book belongs to the author and 14 Months Publishing.
To reuse all or part of this book’s content, you must obtain written consent from both parties.

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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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