The Mansion Awaits Spring - Chapter 105

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Episode 105
“I’m glad you remembered that.”
Unlike Irsa, who had made the decision with great effort, April’s response was far too lukewarm.
“Then go and prepare.”
Irsa asked, narrowing her brow.
“Why are you so calm about this? I’m making a difficult decision here.”
“You were going to do it anyway.”
“Am I really that transparent?”
“Not exactly. But somehow, when it comes to ships, I feel like I know what you’re thinking. I’ve been around sailors for a long time.”
“Fair point.”
Irsa nodded, adjusting the strap of her bag as she spoke.
“Tell the Navigator to come to that house too.”
“Will do.”
With that farewell, April turned toward the residence while Irsa headed down the hill.
As Irsa drew closer to the sailor’s dwelling, her pace quickened.
Upon entering the Sailor’s House, she liked it even more. The air inside carried the pleasant scent of aged wood. There was plenty of provisions and furnishings.
Delighted, Irsa explored the house until she found a room that suited her perfectly, where she tossed her bag. As she was inspecting the kitchen, she noticed someone was in the house and suddenly threw open a nearby door.
Inside stood a woman wearing spectacles who looked rather intelligent.
Upon discovering her, Kritz, an investigator from the Special Investigation Bureau’s Division Three, offered a respectful bow.
“Hello. You’re Joyce, aren’t you?”
“What if I am?”
“I’m conducting an investigation with the lady’s permission, and I was hoping to ask you a few questions.”
“Ah. Is this about answering those questions from earlier?”
“Yes, that’s me.”
Kritz continued, replying with little hesitation.
“The question I wanted to ask is about the smuggled liquor you were sending to Left Island.”
“Smuggled liquor?”
“Yes, that spirit forbidden on both islands. Would you happen to know where it can be obtained?”
At Kritz’s question, Irsa rubbed her neck and asked.
“Do you like to drink?”
“Yes, very much.”
“Why not talk about it while we have a drink? There’s plenty of liquor outside.”
“Is it… alright to drink that?”
“Of course. We brought it here for you all to drink.”
Irsa spoke and led the way to the kitchen. She retrieved a bottle and poured a glass for each of them, then said.
“Here’s to getting along.”
“Thank you.”
Kritz offered her regards and drained her glass in one gulp.
Irsa couldn’t understand why Kritz was investigating the whereabouts of smuggled liquor.
What was certain, however, was that several bottles of that very liquor had been in her room.
For someone who loved drink so much to have brought bottles here and yet never touch them suggested the liquor was trouble indeed.
Irsa was curious about why she was researching it, but she asked no questions. It was a sailor’s instinct.
Both this investigator and April were clearly searching for answers to some dangerous question. Including that, Irsa found herself growing more and more fond of this fiefdom.
* * *
Having sent Irsa to the Sailor’s House, April began climbing back up the hill.
When spring rain fell like this, sparse white wildflowers would bloom on that hillside.
April wanted to feel the spring rain a little, so she lowered her umbrella. Light, gentle raindrops dampened her face.
She arrived at the residence after walking through the brief shower and spotted Pejin sitting on the porch.
Pejin frowned as he watched her return soaked from the rain.
“If you’re going to walk in the rain, why carry an umbrella?”
April laughed despite herself and replied.
“So you’re not a guest. You show up whenever you like and leave whenever you like.”
“That’s how it’s always been. Why act surprised now?”
“What are you doing here?”
“I’m hungry.”
“What?”
“Get me something to eat.”
“Find something yourself.”
“Well then, come with me.”
Pejin spoke as he swiftly caught April’s hand and tucked it into his pocket.
* * *
Before coming to Lunos Residence, Pejin had to endure the persistent pleas of Pascal, the butler at the Town House.
“Young master, why have you been skipping meals lately? Truly!”
“Why are you angry over something so trivial?”
“Trivial? Do I have no reason to be upset? I prepare meals for you, and you send them back untouched. You spend all day bathing instead. What will you do if your health suffers?”
“I’m not eating because it’s not food I want.”
Pejin grumbled, though he couldn’t deny that his already sensitive nerves had grown even more frayed in recent days.
Especially when it came to food. He had no appetite for anything.
Growing tired of the scolding, April came to mind.
Whenever he was with her, he never failed to eat. In fact, last winter at the market, he’d taken food she’d left half-eaten and finished it cleanly.
Had he ever done such a thing before?
Eaten food someone else had already bitten into?
That action, which he had no memory of ever doing, had slipped out unconsciously with April.
It was simply fine with her. With April Lunos, the usual boundaries didn’t apply.
He’d come here thinking he might starve to death otherwise, but April was completely unaware of this fact, so he furrowed his brow as he followed along.
“You show up out of nowhere asking for food. What’s wrong with you?”
“Just happened to stop by. I need to check the gas pipes again too. And I should get that money back from Tabishi.”
“You absolutely must get that back. By any means necessary.”
“I will. I’m starving because I don’t have that money, after all.”
Making his exaggeration both absurd and touching at once, Pejin went to the pantry as if it were his own house and pulled out an armful of potatoes and butter. He then cut an X into the potatoes and stuffed thick slices of butter into the cuts before placing them on the hearth to roast.
While Pejin was helping himself to the residence’s stores, April began looking around to see what food she had of her own.
The people who had helped with the Lunos Grand Residence’s affairs since the funeral continued to be employed through Bauman afterward to do kitchen work.
As their numbers grew, the pantry stores expanded to feed them all.
Right Island could only reliably harvest potatoes, so almost all other ingredients came from Left Island. As a result, even April, who had grown up affluent, didn’t know exactly how to handle certain ingredients.
April pointed at some meat and asked Pejin.
“Do you know what kind of meat this is?”
“Venison.”
“Oh. Now that I think about it, you and Logan both like hunting, don’t you?”
“Logan said that?”
“Yeah.”
“They’re pretty close these days.”
“I impressed them with my charm.”
Pejin didn’t understand April’s joke at all, but he didn’t bother asking for details.
He found a solid-looking loaf of bread, cut it down the middle, tucked ham and butter inside, then spread a generous layer of jam made from leftover fruit.
April looked at him with disgust and asked.
“What are you making right now?”
“Food I’ve been thinking about.”
“It just looks like you’re making something high in calories.”
“Exactly. That’s the whole point.”
Pejin said calmly, then pulled the sandwich and roasted potatoes from the hearth and placed them in a basket.
He’d used so much butter on everything that the very smell of it seemed to have soaked into his clothes.
With the basket filled, Pejin grabbed some wine and headed to the dining room with April.
The dining hall, which hadn’t been used in some time, had been thoroughly repaired following the funeral.
Though they hadn’t put much effort into grand decoration yet, as it continued to be used like this, it would gradually take on more character and recover its original beauty.
Sitting in a seat near the window, Pejin laid out the food and filled his wine glass generously.
April took a sip of wine and watched Pejin eat in a rush with suspicious eyes.
“Were you starving? Why eat so frantically?”
When April spoke, Pejin, who had taken a large bite of sandwich, gestured to show he was already eating.
While April waited, he gulped down wine to help swallow his food quickly, then let out a large breath.
It was the kind of eating of someone who has just discovered fire while freezing to death—the frantic way he rubbed warmth back into himself made watching April uneasy.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————