The Mansion Awaits Spring - Chapter 120

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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 120
“Close the factories?”
“Yes. If you do that, I’ll hand over not just what I currently possess, but the mineral veins the Lunos Family owns as well—to the Grand Duke’s Residence.”
Miller realized two things at once: that April had discovered the cause of the fog, and that he already knew this fact from the beginning.
Miller forced the corners of his mouth upward into a smile at April’s proposal.
After searching for words to say, Miller finally spoke.
“Do you know how many jobs those factories create? Do you think the world just changed on its own? The Dieusz Grand Duchy would never have developed this far without the Empire’s support.”
At his refusal, April answered calmly.
“I know it’s difficult. But the factories must close. As quickly as possible.”
“Why?”
“Because those factories are the cause of the fog.”
Miller fixed his gaze on April’s eyes to discern whether she was testing him.
Even upon careful examination, that quiet rage she held toward him remained unchanged.
Eyes that stood ready to punish him whenever the opportunity arose.
And yet she was asking him to close the factories for the fog’s sake—in exchange for handing over his overwhelming weapon.
Miller considered continuing to lie.
But he knew such lies would not last long. He knew he was terribly weak at deception, and that April would ultimately see through him.
Miller abandoned the thought of deceiving her.
“I know.”
“…Know what?”
“I know the factories are the cause of the fog.”
He watched April, who did not immediately understand his answer even after hearing it clearly.
Reluctant as he was to admit it, there was something undeniably righteous in her. She seemed unable even to imagine that Miller would knowingly leave the fog’s cause untouched.
Whether then or now, she was a woman who did not compromise easily. And that rigidity now drove Miller Dieusz into profound shame.
To escape that shame, he continued speaking.
“But April—do you know how many people have died from that fog over the past three years?”
“No.”
“Exactly seventy-four. And before that, do you know how many people died of starvation in a single year?”
Miller realized April was not in a state to respond to his words, and he spoke more rapidly.
“Just among those visible to us in the Capital City alone, roughly one hundred people died each year from hunger. From food shortages. From blight on what little grain we had. But since the Empire’s factories transferred here in large numbers, now far fewer people starve to death. Don’t they?”
“…Are you offering excuses now?”
“In any case, deaths have decreased. And with that dye you’ve brought, those seventy-four won’t die in the future either. So closing the factories means…”
“Miller.”
April cut him off.
“Don’t blur the origin of the problem. You always do this. You did it before, and you’re doing it now.”
Miller flinched at the cold steel of her voice.
For a moment, the late matriarch of the Lunos Family came to mind. April continued with that same expression, that same tone the matriarch had used when reproaching him.
“Fine, let’s say you want to have everything. But you don’t want to be hated either? You wanted someone to tell you that you bore no responsibility for those seventy-four deaths?”
“Then what am I supposed to do? How?”
“I came here thinking this is the moment when you, at least, must take forceful action. This is the Dieusz Grand Duchy, and you are its ruler.”
“Right, a duchy, not a kingdom. So there’s nothing I can do.”
“No one else can do it. You killed my parents, yet still I came searching for you. That is your task—your responsibility.”
“I don’t have…”
“Don’t try to evade this!”
Seeing Miller about to protest again, April burst out. Then she exhaled roughly and continued.
“If you can’t bear responsibility, then end your life. Let it fall to someone else.”
“Someone else? Who?”
“Anyone! The Council, your sons!”
“Or are you referring to Pejin?”
At that name, April’s response halted.
Miller, who had gotten exactly the reaction he wanted, continued.
“You don’t truly believe those boys could solve what I cannot, do you? So what you really want is to hand my responsibility to Pejin, isn’t it? But do you realize—or perhaps you already know—what that means?”
“…What are you talking about?”
“Pejin’s duty has always been to protect the Empire, hasn’t it?”
April faltered at his barbed words.
Miller thought, as always, that he need only dodge the arrows that would return to him. Pejin made an adequate shield for now.
He disliked anyone being angry with him. He disliked it when those he loved felt that way, but he disliked it just as much when those he despised returned his hatred.
How can I do anything about this?
Would the situation have improved if he had married April quietly, as his parents had wanted?
Miller thought that even then he could not have stopped the Empire, and besides, a life without his love was unimaginable.
Miller continued speaking to April, who had gone rigid.
“Should I end my life? You’re just like your parents. Whenever you disagree or dislike something, you want to kill. But don’t forget—you’re still under police surveillance. Less than a year has passed since your seven-year probation ended, and already you’re speaking like this to me. You shouldn’t.”
“…”
As Miller spoke, to him April seemed like some object that had always stood in that place.
Pejin siding with the Empire was far too natural. If such a situation arose, was it not equally natural that Pejin would know first, before anyone else?
Yet Miller found it strange that she had stopped so still.
Was it because she loved him?
True enough—love always ruined everything.
Miller took a step toward her, as she did not approach him.
“April.”
Only as he drew near did April finally open her mouth.
“Of course I resemble them. My parents.”
“What?”
“Actually… it brings me peace.”
At her wholly unexpected words, Miller’s eyes narrowed.
April smiled, her mouth turning upward, and continued.
“Originally… girls who enter the social season at fourteen think all their problems stem from not being beautiful enough. I did too. So I was sorry to my parents. I thought they died because I couldn’t win your love.”
“It’s not entirely unrelated.”
“No, it’s completely unrelated. I understand that now, hearing you go on about it. My parents made the right choice. Now I’m certain of it.”
She was laughing, her voice rising with laughter.
“The last thing my parents said when they died was this.”
“It was inevitable anyway.”
“We love you.”
“It was inevitable anyway, they said.”
Miller was not troubled by her laughter.
April Lunos had always been this way. When she grew furiously angry, she burst into laughter—like a witch dancing upon the flames she had set across the world. As though that laughter and that rage were the very essence of her being.
What troubled him was that her laughter had nothing to do with Pejin. What troubled Miller was only this: that love had not shaken her greatly.
Miller rang a bell once, summoning his guards.
A single palace knight entered the study and positioned himself between April and Miller.
Regardless, April continued speaking.
“My parents had to kill you then. You were unfit to be the ruler of this Dieusz Grand Duchy. You are a murderer who took seventy-four lives!”
“Silence!”
“No, you cannot silence me. Not even if you kill me. You don’t understand what you’ve done wrong, do you? You think it was unavoidable? That very thought—that it was unavoidable—is your greatest excuse for your crimes, and you still refuse to face it!”
Miller’s clenched fists began to tremble with rage. The palace knights, unable to forcibly remove a noblewoman, stood in confusion.
April placed the bottle back in her bag and, of her own will, turned to leave.
Miller spoke from behind her.
“I’m going to report what you just said to the police. Your threat to kill me while still under surveillance will be grounds for punishment.”
At his words, April’s laughter rang out.
She walked back through the ornate corridor and departed the Grand Duke’s Residence.

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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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