The Mansion Awaits Spring - Chapter 108

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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 108
When Paul noticed Kayani had stopped, he spoke to him in a pleasant tone.
“What’s on your mind?”
“Oh, I was just lost in thought for a moment.”
Paul turned toward Pejin and April as if he understood perfectly, and spoke.
“There’s nothing to worry about. Those two know better than anyone that marriage won’t work.”
“……Is that so?”
“Absolutely.”
“The Grand Duke will oppose it with his life on the line……. Still, I do worry. Though I hardly have the right to.”
“I understand.”
Kayani nodded, then gestured toward the slope below and asked.
“But isn’t that Shaper Meyer following us?”
“Ah, yes. The chief guard and April both told me to let him be. He said we need hunters for safety since there are many wolves around here anyway.”
Shaper Meyer, Pejin’s distant cousin who had once broken into April’s home and been thoroughly beaten for it, was following them unnoticed.
It was unclear whether it was better to let that ruffian loiter around the Lunos Residence or to have him follow April’s group, who had weapons, but since April had chosen to let him come along, Kayani decided to accept it as is.
After confirming her luggage was loaded into the carriage, April turned back to Kayani.
She hugged him lightly and patted his back as she spoke.
“Take good care of the Lunos Family for me.”
“Yes, sister. I’ll keep watch…….”
As Kayani spoke, he glanced back and saw Fred and Hannah standing behind Bauman, their eyes narrowed in wariness.
From April’s perspective, she had entrusted the residence to the most trustworthy person, but from the children’s perspective, it was not so simple.
Kayani sighed and spoke.
“It won’t be easy winning over those two little ones.”
“They’ll warm up to you quickly if you teach them.”
“So I’m to be a tutor, then?”
“If I can employ a tutor with credentials as good as yours, I’d be shameless not to.”
Kayani laughed warmly at April’s jest. Then he nodded emphatically and asked.
“What do the children like? What should I teach them?”
“Mathematics. I can’t teach it at all. I’d like them to study it properly before they enroll in the autumn.”
“I see. Yes, I’ll focus on teaching them mathematics.”
At Kayani’s kind words, April spoke.
“They’ll take to you quickly. Actually, don’t let them like you too much. They’ll cry when you leave.”
“Yes, I’ll make sure they like me just the right amount.”
“Hmm. This feels strange.”
It had been a house where she couldn’t move for seven years.
Though it had grown tiresome at times, now that she was leaving it in someone else’s care for a long journey, her feet wouldn’t move forward.
Fearing she’d find it harder to leave the longer she stayed, April said goodbye to the children and Bauman, then headed toward the carriage.
She looked back at the Lunos Grand Residence several times.
After the spring rains, white wildflowers had bloomed around the Lunos Grand Residence. Though they were sparse, to the people of Right Island, the residence seemed buried in flowers.
April, standing apart and gazing at it, came to realize that she truly loved that house.
Her chest tightened.
She thought that love exists not only between people and people, but also between people and places.
* * *
After April left, Kayani returned to the residence.
At his approach, Hannah and Fred drew themselves up with expressions they tried to make fearsome and hid further behind Bauman.
Kayani bent at the waist and spoke.
“I haven’t come to take the house. I’ve just come to look after it for a while.”
“But the lady——”
“Hmm?”
Hannah twisted her expression and continued.
“The lady said if she died, the young master would protect this house for us.”
“You mean me?”
“Yes.”
“Ah, I see.”
Only then did Kayani understand why the children were so wary of him.
Since April had no heir, should she suddenly die, the Lunos Family would have to be entrusted to someone.
April had decided in her heart that it would be Kayani Merrow, and had told the people living in this Grand Residence about it many times.
Kayani understood why April had not told him this herself. It was because of Eleonore.
Aside from her affection for her husband and April, she could not let go of her resentment toward the Lunos Family. So it seemed she had not been able to tell Kayani that he was currently the most likely heir.
Kayani smiled gently and spoke.
“That won’t happen. Besides, sister will probably outlive me anyway, won’t she?”
“……But still!”
“Really. As for me…… well. What do you two want to become when you grow up?”
The two children answered despite their wariness at Kayani’s question.
“A police officer.”
“An architect…….”
“And before you settled on those dreams?”
The two children blinked and thought for a moment, then Hannah spoke first.
“I was originally going to learn architecture and become an architect.”
“So you decided to become a police officer instead?”
“Yes. I like that better. I’ll be better at it.”
At Hannah’s answer, Kayani nodded and spoke.
“I’m the architect among your old dreams. Once you settle on a different profession, the old one becomes nothing.”
“Really?”
“Yes. So then. For now, I’m going to be your teacher. I’ll teach you mathematics. It’s very fun.”
“If it’s fun, I want to learn it.”
“Perfect.”
Kayani’s eyes crinkled with a smile as he gestured to the children to study.
After Hannah and Fred left for the study room April had provided, Bauman sighed with relief and spoke with deliberate humor.
“You’re quite the persuader, saying mathematics is fun.”
“It’s genuinely fun for me, though.”
“Is that so? Well, everyone has different tastes, after all.”
Bauman spoke pleasantly as he and Kayani moved toward the study room.
“I do hope our lady becomes acquainted with more good people. Though of course, kind souls like the young master are hardly common.”
At Bauman’s compliment, Kayani gave an awkward laugh.
Bauman was grateful that reliable people were gradually gathering around April. Especially lately, as he felt his strength declining more noticeably than before.
Kayani sensed instinctively that he did not have very much time left.
He hoped his body would hold out a little longer. At least until the merchant vessel April had sent returned from the distant sea to Lunos Harbor. He was curious to see her face then.
He was certain it would be beautiful, Bauman thought, and smiled.
* * *
April too was annoyed by Shaper continuing to follow them, but more bothersome was Sebio, who had come along with her.
In the carriage with Pejin, April had no choice but to keep soothing Sebio.
“It’s fine. He’s nobody important, so bear with it, Sebio.”
“Should we have prevented him from following?”
When Pejin asked, April shook her head.
“Better than having him lurk around the residence.”
“Though Kayani Merrow doesn’t seem like he’d be good at fighting.”
“You never know.”
April replied and then, looking at Pejin sitting across from her, spoke.
“You might beat him if you grow a bit more.”
At her words, Pejin burst out laughing.
“Who? That model student? Big dreams.”
“Are you strong?”
“Can’t you tell?”
“No. I can’t tell from looking.”
At April’s provocation, Pejin scoffed. And when Sebio didn’t like the expression on his face, the dog bared his teeth and growled.
Pejin gestured at Sebio with a weary expression.
“Tell him to stop that.”
“That’s too complicated a command for a dog to understand.”
“……And does that old woman have eight hands? Why does there keep being more knitting every time we pass by?”
“Her hands are fast. Originally she used it to pay for Fred’s grandfather’s medicine, but now Fred’s wages are enough that she only makes things for me.”
“How much are you paying those kids?”
“Enough to live on.”
“You’re doing well. And you’re sending them to school too? There’s no difference from having children.”
“Were you being sarcastic?”
“Yeah. But you wouldn’t listen to my opinion anyway.”
“No.”
“Then just let me ramble on my own.”
As they spoke like this, Sebio’s vigilance intensified as the sound of Shaper’s approach grew closer.
When Pejin gestured for him to come closer, Sebio quickly settled down beside him.
At last, the horse carrying Shaper’s party overtook the carriage, and the carriage came to a halt.

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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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