The Mansion Awaits Spring - Chapter 103

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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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Chapter 103
What truly gave him pause was Pejin’s frozen expression throughout the funeral. The moment the ceremony ended, he left the Fiefdom before Miller and Heidi could depart.
Rising early from bed and stepping out of the bedroom, Heidi found Miller tilting a wine glass and sat beside him with an alarmed expression.
“You’ve been drinking all night?”
“Heidi.”
Miller buried his face in Heidi’s shoulder and murmured.
“I’m afraid. I can’t sleep.”
He pulled her close around the waist.
Heidi embraced him in return, stroking his back with concern, and asked.
“What part frightens you?”
“April gaining strength frightens me, and Pejin… starting to hate me frightens me.”
“That won’t happen! Pejin will love you for a lifetime.”
“Yes, I know. But love and hatred are separate things, aren’t they?”
Miller’s shoulders trembled.
Heidi stroked his shoulders and asked.
“Should I go check on him?”
“No. If I send you, it will only anger him further. This time, I have to go.”
Miller drew a deep breath and rose to his feet.
Heidi had seen this man in this state once before—when he married April, afraid of losing her.
Though she pitied him then, he soon found a way through it, and they obtained the result Miller desired.
Would it be the same this time?
As she was thinking this.
Footsteps drew closer to where the couple stood.
Miller instinctively recognized those steps as Pejin’s and spoke to Heidi.
“I’ll go talk to him.”
“Can’t you speak here?”
“No. I think this is something we need to discuss alone.”
Miller spoke thus and stepped out into the corridor.
* * *
Until a hundred years ago, before the king’s head flew to the Left Island, the corridors of the Grand Duke’s Residence had been called the royal palace—they were broad and beautiful.
Some corridors even had names, and modest ceremonies were held within them. It was a building constructed with such lavishness that nothing was spared.
Even on a gloomy day like today, the pristine white wallpaper and gilt gleamed beautifully.
Miller watched Pejin walking slowly through that magnificent corridor. The beauty that even the weather could not diminish lost its light when that young man walked.
Miller would have surrendered his own life for his one and only blood relation. It was only natural that he did not wish to be hated by one he cherished so dearly.
“Why do you look so betrayed?”
Miller asked quietly.
Pejin, who had drawn near, stopped and opened his mouth.
“Because I feel betrayed.”
“I’ve never betrayed you.”
“You said you didn’t know about the Fog. You lied—how is that not betrayal? Since when did you know that the Fog came from the Empire?”
As Pejin asked, Miller first surveyed his surroundings.
No one was in the corridor.
Of course, whether anyone was listening or not, Pejin would perceive far more keenly, and even if someone did hear, word would not leave this Grand Duke’s Residence. Those who worked here were tight-lipped.
Miller was no different. He did not wish to say anything to Pejin. He was drunk, and he knew that every word he spoke would only stoke the young man’s anger.
Miller embraced Pejin and spoke.
“Stop asking questions.”
“Don’t dismiss this like this.”
“Pejin, I had no choice. You’re also left with no choice but to feign ignorance, aren’t you? Forced to deceive April, I imagine.”
……
“Like I said—just be on my side. You love me, don’t you?”
You love me, don’t you.
Pejin laughed softly despite himself at those words.
Whenever the burden of playing a parent to Pejin became too much, Miller had held his younger brother and spoken those words.
You love me, don’t you.
You love me, don’t you.
The words seemed to work like an incantation, freezing Pejin in place.
There was no other way. It was the truth, after all.
A fact that, even when forgotten, would resurface the moment Miller reminded him of it.
The Pejin who, before departing for the Empire, had always nestled into Miller’s arms, had now grown tall enough to bow his head slightly for his brother.
He lowered his head further and spoke.
“Love has always been what mattered most to you, hasn’t it?”
“It has.”
“When I was young, that felt so romantic.”
Pejin slowly straightened his posture.
Miller found his cold gaze utterly despairing.
“But now?”
“Now, thinking about it, you simply wanted to have everything you desired. And that’s still true.”
……
“You really haven’t grown up at all, have you?”
He murmured thus. Then he pushed his brother away, but as the alcohol surged through Miller and he stumbled, Pejin caught both his arms to steady him.
Pejin opened his mouth.
“I understand. I won’t ask you anymore.”
“……Yes, please do that.”
“I’ll figure it out on my own—what you did to be with the person you love.”
At his words, Miller, deeply intoxicated, laughed hollowly. Then he spoke to Pejin.
“You won’t do the same, will you?”
“What do you mean?”
“You won’t choose love the way I did, will you? Right?”
Pejin gave no answer. Yet Miller, as though he had anticipated the silence, simply smiled.
Miller released Pejin’s hand and leaned against the wall as he spoke.
“Go on. Don’t get hurt. Eat well. You don’t eat properly when you’re in a bad mood.”
“I do now.”
“What do you mean you do? You’re the same as always. You’re only less sensitive when someone you care for is beside you.”
At Miller’s words, Pejin seemed to recall something, grew thoughtful for a moment, then turned and left without a word.
The gloom deepened, and soon rain began to fall. Spring rain.
Miller watched Pejin’s retreating figure for a long while as he walked down the corridor.
* * *
After the funeral ended, bankers came and went daily at the Lunos Family Estate.
Before the funeral, these bankers had avoided meeting her eyes when she appeared at the bank, but now they lingered around the Lunos house.
Most of them left the bank, clicking their tongues, the moment they heard April’s answer: “I will send the trading ship to sea.” It was far too risky an investment.
The eastern waters of the Right Island had strong ocean currents and heavy sea mist. Without captains who seemed to have swallowed a compass, it was not easy to break through that haze and venture forth.
Moreover, the seabed terrain there was extremely perilous. Many ships departed from the Right Island, but the reason foreign trading vessels could not reach the Right Island was precisely because of this terrain.
The only advantage the Right Island had in such terrain was the shape of its vessels, which could navigate in shallow waters.
Yet word came from Logan that was most welcome—the Navigator had safely crossed to the Left Island and succeeded in negotiating Irsa’s release.
April stepped outside the residence to wait for Irsa.
Hannah, who had come outside to wait with April for Irsa, pointed to Sebio.
“Miss, look at Sebio’s Raincoat. Fred’s Grandmother made it for him.”
At those words, April turned and burst into laughter.
“Her craftsmanship is remarkable.”
After Fred and Hannah decided this autumn to enroll at a school in the Capital City, Fred’s Grandmother had come to the Lunos Residence nearly every day, preparing food, knitting things April needed, and sewing.
Fred was a child born with considerable artistic talent. And from whom it came was abundantly clear.
Had Fred’s Grandmother received artistic education from childhood, she would surely have become a renowned artist. With better materials, her skill shone all the brighter.
Among the things Fred’s Grandmother made, many were beautiful, but especially striking was a waterproof Raincoat she had made for April after the funeral, crafted from waterproof fabric.
Using black waterproof fabric blended with rubber, Fred’s Grandmother had created a splendid women’s Raincoat.
When asked where she had found such a fine design, she said she had imitated the Raincoats worn by noble women in the Capital City and added her own touches.
In any case, what Sebio wore was a Raincoat sewn together from scraps of fabric left over after making April’s.
Made to resemble April’s as closely as possible, it looked as though someone had attached a name tag declaring who the hunting dog’s master was.

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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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