The Mansion Awaits Spring - Chapter 12

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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 12
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After sending April away, Pejin turned toward home. He’d given her the carriage, so he would need to hire a private one, but the thought of riding in a common cab didn’t appeal to him.
Two Town Houses belonging to the Grand Duchy stood just beside the Town Square.
Pejin had inherited one of them and made it his residence. It wasn’t far, so he decided to walk home instead.
Even at this late hour, the lit streets held no shortage of pedestrians.
With people moving about until deep into the night, burglaries had declined. But in their place, crimes of intoxication had flourished to fill the gap. In the end, police deployment remained at much the same level as before.
Walking alone gave him plenty to think about.
He recalled April stepping into the street to hail a carriage, and that same carriage rushing at her to strike her down.
If he hadn’t run to her aid, an accident would have happened.
The Grand Duchy Police had made full use of their largest escort carriage in transporting and arresting April Lunos, producing the powerful impact that had been anticipated.
People grew certain of her identity as a Witch. All those who had lost family to the Fog cursed her.
It was exactly what the Special Investigation Bureau had intended.
The effect had been better than hoped. Pejin had deliberately fanned the flames of his own hatred toward April Lunos, fighting against any impulse to pity her.
He deliberately distorted the memory of her—the way she’d covered her face with both hands and laughed while weeping as he tied her shoelaces.
He chose to remember her as having worn a cruel, mocking smile instead.
The moment he stepped into the Town House after his walk, Pejin bathed in warm water.
He was naturally rather fastidious and sensitive about such things.
The water temperature had to be precisely right, and the feel of his nightclothes had to be consistent.
Above all, he deeply disliked his servants addressing him, so almost no one spoke to him unless the matter was of genuine importance.
As a result, the Town House was usually quiet—though no doubt lively conversation continued among the servants gathered on the first floor and in the separate quarters where the kitchen was located.
The butler Pascal was almost the only person who would speak to Pejin first.
The old man had cared for Pejin since childhood and understood him better than anyone; Pejin, in turn, held genuine affection for his butler.
Pascal had come here on Miller’s orders to look after Pejin, and had since been helping him adjust to life in the Grand Duchy.
Pascal spoke in his characteristically gentle voice.
“Young master, a letter has arrived from Central Headquarters. Shall I show you to the Reception Room?”
“Let’s go.”
Pejin answered and narrowed his eyes briefly.
The butler having someone wait in the Reception Room meant it wasn’t an ordinary mail carrier, but rather a police officer from Central Headquarters directly. Which in turn meant the letter he was about to receive was no mere courtesy message.
As the butler brought him a dressing gown to wear over his nightclothes, Pejin spoke.
“Bring me my duty uniform instead.”
“Of course, sir.”
The butler draped the gown over his arm and immediately instructed a servant to fetch the duty uniform.
Pejin’s assessment proved accurate.
He entered the Reception Room, spotted the police officer waiting in a chair, and let out a soft laugh.
Hearing that laugh, the officer rose with a bright face.
“Pejin.”
“Lian.”
It was Lian Ragnar, who had graduated from the Military Academy alongside Pejin.
Not as openly as Lian, but Pejin too made no effort to hide his gladness, spreading his arms to wait as Lian approached, and they embraced each other, patting each other’s backs.
Gladness mixed with growing puzzlement.
At the name ‘Lian,’ the butler who had been standing behind Pejin started in surprise and hastily withdrew.
Lian Ragnar—a police officer of the Empire and nephew of the Emperor of Ragnar. The Emperor cherished his youngest sister above all else, and Lian was her eldest son.
That Lian Ragnar had come to this Town House without notice and without going through the Grand Duchy residence.
The informal arrival of a member of the Imperial family lit up the entire Town House.
Lian wore an awkward expression in the sudden bustle that broke the silence.
“I tried to come quietly, and now you’ve made it a fuss.”
“If you’d told me you were coming, this wouldn’t have happened.”
At Pejin’s reproach, Lian laughed sheepishly and sat down. Then he spoke.
“It’s been a long time.”
“What do you mean, long time? It’s only been two months.”
“At the Academy, we were stuck together whether we liked it or not. You even spent your holidays at my family’s house.”
“Put that way, it has been a long time.”
Saying so, Pejin rose briefly to lock the Reception Room door from the inside.
When he returned to his seat, Lian spoke.
“His Majesty is curious about how you’re faring.”
“Get to the point. Before they bring the liquor.”
“That is the point.”
“Stop joking. Northern liquor is harsh, and I can’t drink much of it.”
“And you?”
“I drink it fine, naturally. That was for your sake.”
Hearing Pejin’s cocky reply—the kind he’d grown accustomed to during their Academy years—Lian broke into fresh laughter after two months.
Lian continued.
“Well, His Majesty wants to know what you wish for.”
“What I wish for?”
“Yes.”
“Obviously, the Central Headquarters. There’s nothing else to—”
Pejin stopped mid-answer without thinking.
Lian continued softly.
“It would certainly please His Majesty to see an Imperial man become the head of the Grand Duchy, wouldn’t it?”
It was a question about whether Pejin wanted his brother’s position.
And if he did want it, it was a command to do whatever necessary to claim that seat.
Pejin suppressed the atmosphere with a laugh and spoke.
“I have no interest in my brother’s seat. Miller isn’t extraordinarily capable, but when I returned after seven years away, the Grand Duchy had become tremendously prosperous.”
“Are you certain?”
“What do you mean?”
“That it’s merely prosperous? Nothing else?”
At Lian’s question, Pejin lifted his head and met his eyes.
The beautiful eyes Lian had inherited from their mother felt cold—something Pejin had often sensed even during their days as cadets.
Both of them knew that when they eventually competed for the position of police chief, they would become each other’s greatest rival.
And so if one of them reached that peak first, the other would ultimately retire without ever reaching the summit.
That was the nature of being classmates—the person who became your greatest support also became your fiercest competitor. One was both cold and hot, and hot and cold at once.
Pejin withdrew a cigarette and lit it in his mouth.
After this pause, he leaned back in his chair.
“That’s not an important question.”
“Why?”
“Because I love my brother.”
Pejin’s answer was clear. Satisfied that he had no interest in the Grand Duchy’s leadership even if the Emperor offered it to him, Lian smiled and changed the subject.
“How is life in the Grand Duchy treating you?”
“So far, so well.”
“Do you want to return to the Empire?”
“I’ll adapt a little more first.”
What Lian had come here to convey had already been precisely communicated to Pejin.
As a police officer of the Empire, he was to show absolute obedience to the Imperial throne.
It was such an obvious matter to Pejin that he wondered why Lian had come in person to relay it.
If ordered to feign death, to kill. If ordered to kill, to stain his own hands with blood directly.
During his cadet years, Pejin had been taught this, and he harbored no doubt that he would carry it out.
“I’m puzzled why you came all this way to tell me something so obvious. Did my loyalty require this kind of confirmation?”
Lian continued at Pejin’s words.
“That’s not it. I came partly to see your face, too. How is the Special Investigation Bureau?”
“I haven’t accomplished anything yet.”
At his answer, Lian’s eyes grew noticeably colder.
“I watched you throughout our cadet years. You’re not the kind of person who would have accomplished nothing by now.”
“You’re overestimating me.”
“No, I’m assessing you correctly. You haven’t done nothing—you’re carrying out some other mission.”
Lian was right. When Pejin replied only with cold mockery, Lian pressed further.
“Specifically, what mission has His Majesty commanded you to undertake?”

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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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