Children of the Rune – Winterer - Chapter 492

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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 262.
Beneath the Almond Tree (5)
Anna Eisenelmo gazed up at the towering main gate of Grome School, her expression wavering with anxiety. The maid’s headdress she wore concealed her face from view, shielding her emotions from passersby.
It felt similar to the first time she had come here long ago—half curiosity, half dread. Perhaps the memory wasn’t entirely accurate. Above all, she was alone this time.
The Gatekeeper had been watching Anna pace nervously for some time now. The moment she realized this, she suddenly steeled herself and walked boldly inside. She believed it was better to act and make a mistake than to hesitate and fail.
“I’ve come to deliver something to one of the students here.”
When Anna gave her name and pulled back her headdress to reveal her face, the Gatekeeper nodded immediately. He remembered her from when Langie had brought her before, when she had helped in the Dining Hall.
“Did you leave here and find better work elsewhere?”
Anna smiled with practiced ease.
“It’s all much the same wherever you go.”
“You’d better save up quickly if you want to marry.”
“I don’t know. I’m just hoping the man who’ll take me is saving up.”
“My, what ambitious dreams that young lady has.”
Anna laughed softly as she exchanged pleasantries and entered the school. The moment she turned away, her smile vanished and her expression hardened with tension. The stark contrast between her performance and her true self was a weakness, but she didn’t yet have the nerve to mask it seamlessly.
The student she sought was obvious. She had memorized where his chamber was. The jar she carried, wrapped as though it contained something precious, held nothing more than ordinary soup. She had prepared excuses in case she encountered the wrong person. But even if she found him, he would certainly be shocked. He would have received no warning of her visit.
He couldn’t have. This visit was entirely her own initiative. She had cobbled together awkward explanations for the occasion, but she doubted he would welcome her. Yet waiting any longer was unbearable. The uncertainty consumed her, or rather—if she was honest—her curiosity was overwhelming.
The school’s layout was familiar to me. I made my way directly toward the Student Dormitory. Afternoon classes had just ended, and many students walked across the grounds. The weather was clear. Several students sat on benches with snacks in hand.
When I reached the Gallery Corridor and approached the stairs leading up to the Student Dormitory, I blinked several times. I needed to steady myself. Standing at the entrance at the top of the stairs was the person I had come to find—though for some reason, he kept shaking his head as if to clear it.
What should I call him? Ah, yes.
“Young Master Liareed!”
Patrick Liareed turned, and our eyes met. For a moment, his eyes widened. He seemed far more startled than I had anticipated.
There was no time to hesitate. I quickly climbed the stairs.
“Oh, there you are! I was worried you might not be here.”
Patrick looked as though he wanted to say something, but the passing students prevented him from speaking. I thought this was fortunate—it would spare me from a scolding.
“Why did you come?”
“To deliver this to you, of course. The Nanny insisted it be given to you directly.”
Patrick practically snatched the jar from my hands and said,
“There, you have it. Now go.”
“But, I… that is…”
I couldn’t simply leave. There was something I needed to ask, and it had taken all my courage to come this far. Patrick looked restless as he watched me, but I couldn’t understand why.
“Why exactly…”
Patrick suddenly fell silent. An unfamiliar voice came from behind me.
“Thank you for your assistance.”
When I turned around, a soldier in military uniform stood before me. I thought his uniform looked familiar, but in the next moment, I involuntarily caught my breath. Coiled around the brim of his cap was a black lizard.
The soldier paid no attention to me. A maid running errands was as invisible as a ghost to him.
“Oh, it was nothing. I didn’t even know such a place existed, but I got to see it. Got a bit dusty, though. If you need help again later, just call. Hehe.”
“I appreciate your kindness. Then I’ll take my leave.”
The soldier saluted with impeccable composure and descended the stairs. Once he had moved far enough away, Patrick sighed and gestured for me to follow. I bowed my head like a proper maid.
“Yes, yes.”
As I followed him, the pounding in my chest gradually slowed. Patrick quickly locked the chamber door behind us and pulled me inside by the wrist. The curtains were already drawn.
“What on earth is happening? Why did he suddenly show up? Did you see who that person was earlier?”
“The Kingdom 8th Army… right?”
“The Kingdom 8th Army, and the one in charge of our school, that’s what I’m saying. He’s thorough as a cog in a machine and has no emotions whatsoever. Do you have any idea how hard I’ve been working to butter him up? Why did he have to show his face at such a gathering and make his presence known? Why didn’t you leave when I gave you the signal to go? Do you want to be hunted by the Kingdom 8th Army that badly?”
Anna hesitated but couldn’t find an appropriate response.
“I’m sorry….”
Patrick paced the chamber alone, barely managing to calm himself, then sighed and gestured to Anna.
“I’m sorry. For losing my temper. Come sit here.”
Patrick was younger than Anna. Yet he was nobility. No matter how hard he tried to forget that fact, moments like these made him lose his nerve. And truthfully, Anna was at fault, just as Patrick said. She sat in the chair across from him. Patrick asked.
“What brings you here?”
“Well, I wanted to know how to get in contact with Rosencrantz.”
“Why him?”
“I have something to tell him.”
Patrick pointed to himself with his thumb.
“Tell me.”
“Can you reach Rosencrantz, Liareed?”
“No.”
Patrick added after a moment.
“But the chances of reaching him are somewhat better.”
Anna sensed that Patrick was hiding something. But she couldn’t just interrogate him outright. In any case, there was no reason not to tell Patrick.
“I overheard people from our organization talking in the Craft Workshop where I work, and they were discussing Rosencrantz. They said that this time he attempted something reckless and failed, so his position would become precarious. And there are people trying to connect his mistake all the way to Giscar, which means Giscar will likely be summoned to appear before the Exile Council. They’re deliberately not planning to call Rosencrantz. That way they can exploit the teacher’s humility.”
As she spoke, her face grew increasingly flushed. Anna firmly believed that whether she had power or not, she must do her best to protect those connected to her. In the Friends of the People, Giscar was like a father to her. Even if Anna didn’t think of him that way, others still would.
Patrick nodded.
“There aren’t many people in the Exile Council who want a direct confrontation with Lanji.”
Patrick had never been Giscar’s student, but having spent so much time with Lanji, he had emotionally aligned himself with that faction.
“Don’t you think, Liareed, that the Exile Council ordered Rosencrantz to push through with that reckless plan last time?”
“That operation was handled by Lanji, Yien, and Hailjer, so I don’t actually know the details.”
Patrick paused and curved the corners of his lips upward.
“But I do know that Lanji is far from being reckless.”
“Exactly? Isn’t it backwards for the Exile Council to hold Rosencrantz responsible for this? And trying to drag Giscar into it is making a mountain out of a molehill.”
“You use difficult words well.”
“What? Not particularly….”
Patrick thought for a moment, then nodded.
“I can’t reach him now, but I think I will soon. Since it concerns Giscar, it would be good to pass the message along.”
“He’s far away right now?”
Anna had heard something about this too. Patrick affirmed it.
“He’s probably in another country.”
“Will he return soon?”
“Probably.”
That was enough. Anna stood and apologized again, and this time Patrick smiled and said it would be fine. As Anna adjusted her hood and left, Patrick opened a jar.
“I’m not sure if this is even edible.”
It had cooled, and the aroma was indistinct, but he couldn’t bring himself to discard what a colleague had brought him. He summoned a servant to reheat the soup.
Anna stepped out from the school entrance and quickly blended into the crowd of people on the street. But just before her figure disappeared, a man who had been loitering near the door began to follow her.
4. The Fish Tavern and Rose Valley at Night
That night, there were roses, wine, and friends.
Summer danced, and the streets sang.
I raised my glass to toast the beauty of the roses
and to the health of my friends
and to the future of wine.
The last seems most important, for anyone
must have well-aged wine to meet again.
The Castle stirred with activity after a long silence.
Joshua, walking through a Gallery Corridor where sunlight could not reach, stopped before a painting. A moment later, his lips moved as he spoke.
Sister, hello.
Behind him, a maid hurried past carrying something on a tray. She must have greeted him, but Joshua gazed only at the painting, as if he perceived no presence at all.
Ivnoa, her cheek buried in hair that shone like golden light, looked down at her brother. Or perhaps at something beyond him—beyond the wall, or farther still, at someone who could not be found.
Joshua’s lips moved again. Now this painting looks like you, Sister.
It was a voice no one could hear. Yet there was no need to speak aloud to the dead.
Sister, it’s me. I think I won’t need to run from you anymore.
I wanted to find in you something that existed nowhere else in the world, and because of that meaningless hope, I couldn’t love you, couldn’t love myself, and ran away thinking I was too cowardly to love anything in this world.
But now, I think I understand.
Your brother was terribly late.
Another person passed by. Of course, they didn’t brush against his sleeve. Each time, they stopped their steps, bowed their heads, and carefully passed behind him. Joshua was unaware of their presence. He didn’t notice the light at the end of the Gallery Corridor growing slanted, the shadows deepening. Just as someone had once done in that very place.
For now, I can only leave you alone, but perhaps we’ll be together soon. As paintings hung side by side.
As Joshua turned, Ivnoa’s expression changed subtly. Her eyes spoke: The longer the reunion is delayed, the better.
Joshua shook his head and smiled softly.
“Now that I’m with my brother-in-law, you don’t need me anymore?”
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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