The Mansion Awaits Spring - Chapter 124

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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 124
After meeting April at the Church, Pejin returned to the Town House but found himself unable to sleep properly for days.
His mind remained clouded throughout, and a heaviness settled in his chest.
His nerves were constantly on edge, scratching at him relentlessly, and each time a carriage rumbled past on the street, his heart sank with a dull thud.
Changing one’s nature was difficult. He had believed himself transformed during his academy years, living among boys who were perpetually getting dirty and making noise, yet that old temperament had returned unbidden.
As sleepless nights stretched on until nearly dawn, punctuated only by battles against his own sensitivity, Pejin began drinking each night to dull his nerves.
When he finally did fall asleep, nightmares awaited him as though they had been watching all along.
In these dreams, he was searching for April. The setting was the Lunos Grand Residence—now a completely abandoned ruin.
He had studied the interior of the Lunos Grand Residence countless times, knew its layout better than anyone else. He could recite every detail, every room, every passage.
Yet in that space he knew so intimately, he could not find her.
Whenever everything shook him, he recalled April’s words—and also what he had told her: that he would live by making difficult choices.
Though she would likely never remember it, Pejin held those words as a promise. He ate well, trained hard.
He gathered his most trusted officers and held meetings, searching for a way forward.
Then one day, an unexpected visitor came calling. A very welcome visitor indeed.
* * *
All the companies supplying gas to the Grand Duchy had their roots in the Empire.
Among them, Jonah Tabishi of the Tabishi Company was the one providing gas to the pipes of the Lunos Fiefdom where April lived.
The enormous sum that the Lunos Fiefdom paid for gas thrilled Jonah greatly. In truth, business in the Grand Duchy was barely pocket change compared to his ventures in the Empire. He had been considering gradually winding down his gas operations here and departing for the Empire. The same held true for the Tabishi Company’s other enterprises.
But having just earned such substantial funds, he thought it would be ideal to take this money to the Empire and begin new ventures there.
The problem was that he lacked sufficient capital to establish himself in the Empire. He longed to fill his coffers quickly, but summer in the Grand Duchy brought the Midnight Sun, drastically reducing the hours when gas lamps needed to be lit.
Jonah Tabishi left his house wondering if there might be anything more he could extract from the Lunos Family—if nothing else, it was worth attempting. Once he’d successfully collected that large sum before, both his greed and his confidence had grown.
He thought that if he couldn’t pay, Pejin Dieusz would pay again this time. He credited the pretty face of that woman with bewitching a man so thoroughly—and now he benefited from it.
Jonah Tabishi drove toward Pejin Dieusz’s Town House in the black elegant new car he had purchased with the gas money he’d extracted from April.
He waited in the patio, and Pejin appeared, dressed in police uniform.
Jonah clicked his tongue involuntarily.
‘The heavens show no mercy.’
Born under the same sky, yet that man alone possessed such celestial beauty—and for a moment, Jonah resented God for it.
Jonah approached with an intentional smile and asked.
“You were on duty?”
“What brings you here?”
When Pejin asked, Jonah replied.
“Since Miss April paid the gas bill, she’s continued using gas. I came about the outstanding charges for the coming months…….”
“As I understand it, the lamps have been lit only rarely since then.”
“That’s not the case. Substantial quantities are being consumed continuously.”
Pejin tilted his head slightly, studying Jonah.
The gas merchant had no way whatsoever to verify how much gas April was actually using. In fact, because of this, he clearly thought himself free to insist on whatever he wished.
Jonah continued.
“So I’d like to bill for gas at this monthly average. Where should I send the invoice?”
Jonah produced a receipt and offered it quietly.
Pejin examined the bill, then answered without hesitation.
“I’ll cover it. It’s not much.”
“Ah, is that so! Yes, it’s convenient when things move quickly. Paying monthly this way will cost you less than settling a large sum all at once.”
“That’s true.”
Pejin replied thus and immediately had the sum prepared, then spoke to Jonah.
“However…… if I find evidence that this bill represents duplicate charges, I will reclaim every coin I’ve paid, along with a very substantial penalty.”
“Yes, yes? Duplicate charges? That’s preposterous. The Lunos Residence is located in the service territory where the Tabishi Company supplies gas. No other company operates there.”
“I see.”
Though the conversation ended there, the moment Jonah heard such words, unease crept over him.
The instant Jonah collected the payment and left the Town House, he headed straight for his company office. He needed to verify the source of the gas being consumed at the Lunos Grand Residence.
* * *
Once repair workers and sailors began gathering at the previously empty Lunos Harbor, the first establishment to appear was a tavern.
Rather than merely a tavern, it served the functions of an inn like those in other ports, and sold meals as well.
After the Lunos Family’s fall, people had departed, but the buildings remained. All that was needed was to find someone to run a tavern, and fortunately, a willing candidate had appeared.
April accepted no payment from those who gathered at the harbor for use of the land.
She stood on the deck and gazed back toward the harbor. Irsa, who had followed her aboard, spoke.
“You should be watching the sea. We’ll be heading out to it.”
“I’m not going out to sea. You can watch it for me.”
“Fair enough.”
Irsa laughed softly and turned her body toward the sea before asking.
“But shouldn’t you be collecting fees? The numbers are small now, but as more people gather, that could become real money.”
“Did you ever see the Lunos Family collect drinking fees from the sailors?”
“Not at all. But that’s old history.”
To Irsa’s comment, April replied.
“The old stories always have their own logic. Everything begins when people gather.”
She continued, watching the busy harbor below.
“What I need most right now is to fill my spaces with people. I would pay for it if necessary, so how grateful should I be that they come of their own accord?”
“Including the sailors?”
“The sailors are what that story represents.”
Irsa laughed softly at April’s answer, turned to gaze over the harbor, and spoke.
“True. With the Left-handed Captain here, so many have gathered. Yes, I should be grateful too, as you say.”
As Irsa spoke thus, gazing toward the harbor, she noticed Pejin Dieusz standing there and turned back to April, who was looking in the same direction.
Reading the look in both their eyes, Irsa asked.
“Should we chase him off?”
“I’d like to, but are you confident your police won’t catch you?”
“……No.”
“What about the other sailors?”
“Why did we live so recklessly all this time…….”
Irsa sighed, and April nodded toward the dock and spoke.
“If you start roughing up the crew, we can’t cast off. Take them and keep them at the tavern.”
“There won’t be any trouble?”
“No. He probably just has something to say.”
At April’s words, Irsa nodded and descended to the harbor. As she herded the sailors toward the tavern, pushing their backs, Pejin climbed onto the dock.
April also came down the ladder hanging from the ship to meet him. It had been two weeks since their last meeting at the Church.
Pejin seemed to have grown slightly during those two weeks. His build appeared improved as well.
April spoke first.
“You look well.”
“Yes, I’ve been managing.”
“Why did you come?”
“I’ve made up my mind.”
At Pejin’s words, April asked in return.
“About what?”
“To cooperate with you.”
“With me?”
April’s eyes narrowed as she repeated the question, and Pejin continued calmly.
“You said it yourself, didn’t you? That you wish the Grand Duchy to survive independently, without regard to the Empire.”
“Yes.”
“But that’s impossible.”
……
“If the Empire’s military marches in right now, the Grand Duchy will vanish.”
“I know.”
“We need a military of our own.”
“Don’t we already have one?”
“We have soldiers, not an army. And frankly, descendants of pirates without a navy makes no sense.”
“That’s…… true.”
“So here’s the thing.”
Pejin looked up at the ship, then back at April as he continued.
“A new director of the Special Investigation Bureau is coming, and they’re asking me to stay at least until December to handle the transition—so we’ll experience the Fog together once more. After that, I’ll be leaving for the Empire, and we likely won’t see each other again.”
“I…….”
“I thought what we saw at the Church would be the last time. But the world doesn’t bend to our wishes.”
Pejin spoke lightly, but April did not smile.
Instead, though Pejin sensed hatred in her eyes, he smiled as though he’d heard a jest. And he continued.
“You may not know it, but I have considerable wealth. I’m quite good at investments.”
April could understand what he was about to say without hearing the rest.
“I believe you’ll fail, April Lunos. But I still think this is your only chance.”
……
“Use my fortune. For achieving your goal.”

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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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