Children of the Rune – Winterer - Chapter 495

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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 265.
Beneath the Almond Tree (8)
Riche, speaking as someone who worked with clothing, found herself nodding in agreement before something felt off, and she quickly shook her head. Rozay continued speaking.
“So if you wouldn’t mind, I’d like to gift you a new outfit as a celebration of your recovery. Would you permit me?”
Joshua shook his head. He appreciated the kindness, but he had to leave tomorrow. Even as he declined, a sudden thought crossed his mind—perhaps the last Count Armorique that Rozay had seen was not him at all.
“Never mind that. I came today because my friend wanted to see the Costume Workshop. Would it be alright if we looked around a bit?”
“If it’s a friend of yours….”
Rozay’s gaze shifted not to Maximian, but to Riche. The visibly nervous Riche opened her mouth.
“Riche… Avril.”
“Riche, yes, if your name is Riche… Miss Clarice?”
“Pardon?”
Riche stared with widened eyes as Teacher Rozay laughed aloud.
“Did I guess right? If it were me, I would have chosen a name like that.”
Riche laughed awkwardly, clearly flustered.
“I would never choose a name like that.”
“Why not?”
“It doesn’t suit me.”
As Rozay tilted her head in confusion, the tall tower atop her hair tilted with her.
“Miss Clarice’s name carries nobility and elegance. Some people even deliberately change simple names because they find them lacking, but how blessed is your name? When dealing with distinguished guests, that name is absolutely invaluable. They would find ‘Clarice’ far more skillful and trustworthy than simply ‘Riche.'”
“Wait, distinguished guests?”
“The noble ladies who will one day entrust you with their summer party dresses.”
“H-how did you know that?”
Rozay smiled warmly. The wrinkles on her face spread and folded like a fan. Riche knew that Miyu Rose’s age—difficult to pin down between forty and sixty—leaned closer to sixty.
“If I’ve spent this many years working with fabric and couldn’t recognize hands like yours, the spirits would surely come to claim me.”
….
Before Riche could even offer her thanks, a new Workshop Employee approached from behind Rozay.
“Celine.”
“Everything is prepared, Teacher.”
“Good.”
Rozay rose from her seat and bowed to Joshua.
“Come now, Count Armorique and friends. Though it may be troublesome, please follow me. I have something to show you.”
As Joshua rose with a tilted head, Maximian glanced at Riche, who seemed lost in another world, and nudged her to her feet.
Following the corridor, they came to a locked door at the far end. Only Teacher Rozay and the head seamstress possessed the key to this chamber—a room prepared entirely for a single patron.
Teacher Rozay produced the key and unlocked the door. Joshua spoke.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve been here.”
“Indeed? I’ve been so disappointed not to see Count Armorique in this room all this while.”
Joshua merely smiled faintly. The door opened, and the three followed Teacher Rozay inside. Riche looked around with the most interest. The spacious chamber had a large mirror on each of its four walls. Behind each mirror stood white oak wardrobes inlaid with the symbol of the Miyu Rose Atelier. All were closed, their contents unknown, but together they could easily hold a hundred garments.
Joshua, who had been gazing at the front, turned to Rozay.
“Surely all of that isn’t my clothing?”
“Of course it isn’t.”
A single garment hung on a mannequin-shaped clothing rack positioned in the center of the chamber. Golden cord trim twisted twice along the closures adorned the sleeves with embroidery—a variation of Miyu Rose’s signature rose motif—while the voluminous hood and blue ribbon attached to the white robe suggested….
“A mage’s robe?”
“Did The Mage commission this?”
At Maximian’s murmur, Rozay clapped her hands sharply.
“You’ve guessed correctly.”
Rozay then extended her hand toward Maximian.
“Since I couldn’t take your measurements, I enlarged it slightly from Count Armorique’s pattern. I’ve also adjusted the length a bit. Please try it on. I’ll make any necessary corrections.”
Maximian first wore a bewildered expression before his brow furrowed.
“What is this? If you’re joking around, it’s not funny.”
Rozay remained unmoved.
“You are Maximian Lipkne, are you not? Therefore, the commissioned garment is indeed yours.”
“When did I ever place an order? Do I know about this? Have I even seen it before?”
“Not all commissions come directly from the client themselves.”
Beside him, Riche murmured, “It looks like a robe I’ve seen somewhere before.” Maximian turned to look at Joshua. Joshua hastily waved both hands.
“It wasn’t me.”
“Then who on earth….”
At that moment, a voice came from behind.
“It was me.”
Maximian spun around and retreated to the corner of the chamber as though he’d seen a monster. Juspian had appeared and now stood with his arms crossed. Only then did Maximian understand the meaning of what Riche had murmured.
“What in the world is going on in this man’s head….”
Maximian looked at Juspian’s appearance, then back at the hanging robe. The two garments were virtually identical except for minor decorative details. A moment later, Maximian cried out.
“Even if every mage in this world wore the same clothes, it wouldn’t be forgivable!”
“How could every mage in this world wear the same clothes? You rotten fool!”
Maximian paid no mind and pointed accusingly at the robe with fervor.
“So why must I wear such a thing? Just looking at it fills me with revulsion!”
Juspian held a thin book in his hand. He flipped through it rapidly, then snapped it shut and struck Maximian’s back of the head with it without hesitation.
“What do you mean by that? How dare you find fault with a supreme-quality robe crafted to match my superior aesthetic standards? Do you even comprehend what an honor it is to wear a robe of the same design as mine? I made this decision after careful deliberation, and yet you dare voice your complaints?”
“Why do you always decide everything on your own without asking anyone!”
“What could you possibly know about a mage’s robe to have an opinion? Can you even fathom what significance that robe holds? If you understand, then tell me!”
“What’s the point of knowing such things!”
“There you have it! Your shallow perspective laid bare in a single phrase, yet you dare resist like beans being roasted? Hold your tongue, put on this garment, and go to Nenyaple as I command!”
Joshua turned away and covered his mouth to suppress his laughter. The mere thought of Maximian dragging that loose, sack-like garment all the way to Nenyaple was enough to make him die of amusement. And when Riche beside him murmured, “If we’re naming it, I’d call it the Robe of Ultimate Beauty,” Joshua found it impossible to contain his mirth.
“Besides… now that I think about it, I’m not even a mage yet!”
“Of course you’re not, you fool.”
“So I’ll wear the robe after I become a mage. Agreed?”
Juspian swung the book a second time, but this time Maximian was not about to take it passively. Whether the strike connected or missed, Juspian cried out.
“Do you understand the world of mages? When you go to Nenyaple, everyone will certainly know of my introduction, but if you arrive looking like a dissolute vagrant as you do now, what becomes of my reputation before Headmaster Calmarin?”
Maximian’s expression finally showed understanding of the situation. Of course, this did not mean he had accepted the command to wear the robe. Maximian offered no counterargument, but Joshua was now dying of laughter at the phrase “dissolute vagrant.”
“I understand, but wouldn’t it be even more ridiculous if I borrowed your robe and went in it? I barely know a shred of magic, and now I’m only going to learn the basics—what use is some frozen, premium-quality robe?”
“That robe is a rare emblem signifying that you are under my patronage! You ungrateful wretch, even when I bestow favor upon you, you fail to appreciate it, and yet….”
Around that time, Maximian suddenly realized something else and cried out.
“Wait, I almost forgot—I’m not actually going to enroll right now!”
Joshua, who had barely regained his composure after Riche patted his back, was laughing so hard that I wiped away tears as I spoke.
“That’s right. He’ll be back in a little while.”
But Juspian paid no attention.
“You don’t understand my deeper intentions at all. You know nothing of magic, nothing of school, nothing whatsoever. What needs preparing isn’t just a robe. There are mountains of places I must visit before tonight. Come on, let’s hurry.”
“Visit? What exactly are you preparing for?”
By then, Juspian’s form was beginning to fade gradually. Even so, he opened the book he was holding once more.
“Let’s see. First, I’ll need spell scrolls and parchment, quill pens, magical ink, and paperweights. I absolutely need a piece of blue stone to carve a seal. I should buy several demon-warding pouches too—you can’t store materials imbued with mana just anywhere. I’ll need two sets of cloaks and boots each. And several introductory texts….”
As he spoke, Juspian gestured a farewell toward Rozay. She, of course, received it with an elegant bow.
“Why do I have to prepare all this now….”
Maximian’s retort grew increasingly distant, as though heard from far away. Eventually, both their figures vanished from the chamber. The last thing heard was, ‘I’ve never seen someone so ungrateful even when given such things…’
Riche glanced around several times before speaking.
“He really left? Will he be all right?”
Joshua didn’t seem particularly worried.
“He’s departing tomorrow morning anyway. They’ll send him back in time.”
Rozay smiled softly.
“Then Count Armorique will be taking this robe with him?”
“Indeed.”
When the two of them stepped outside, it was the dead of night. Stars that had adorned the eastern sky had long since risen to the celestial sphere, gazing down upon them.
“It’s rare for Rozay to praise anyone.”
As Joshua murmured this, Riche, who had begun walking ahead, turned back and shrugged.
“Maybe she was just trying to humor you since I came with you?”
“No.”
Joshua walked up beside Riche, his hands thrust into his pockets.
“No, that’s not it. Rozay has never praised me, not once.”
“Really? I find that hard to believe.”
“It’s true.”
Joshua smiled as he saw the surprise on Riche’s face.
“I even know why.”
“Why?”
“No matter how brilliantly someone accomplishes something, Rozay won’t praise them unless they intend to continue doing it.”
Riche fell into thought and resumed walking. Faint light spilled from inside the shuttered shops, illuminating the ground beneath their feet.
“Didn’t you want to visit Rozay’s atelier while staying at the Manor?”
“I’m not sure.”
Riche kicked at a pebble. The alcohol had mostly worn off, but somehow it felt as though she were intoxicated by something, the flickering light seeming to sway.
Children of Rune – Winterer
Author: Jeon Min-hee
Publisher: 14 Months Publishing
The rights to this book belong to the author and 14 Months Publishing.
To reuse all or part of this book’s content, 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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