The Mansion Awaits Spring - Chapter 126

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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 126
* * *
After Pejin’s visit, Miller said nothing about April.
He could not forget the look in Pejin’s eyes, the tone of his voice—that low, lonely voice that had threatened him.
He wore the face of someone betrayed by Miller. Pejin had been sincere. He truly meant to harm Miller’s family.
The boy had been on his side for so long. For Miller’s sake, Pejin had given up love, left his homeland—that was Pejin Dieusz.
That he would threaten Miller’s own life, and the lives of his family—including Heidi—seemed impossible to believe.
In the end, he confided in no one but Heidi, his beloved.
Even after he poured out the story, Miller lay awake all night, and Heidi, trying to soothe and settle him into sleep, said:
“Pejin was just too angry. He’ll be fine soon.”
Miller looked at Heidi with eyes full of melancholy.
“It didn’t seem like he would be.”
“But you said yourself—as soon as someone new comes to the Special Investigation Bureau, you’ll leave anyway. You’re only staying in the Grand Duchy this year, so there’s nothing to worry about.”
“Yes. I suppose you’re right…”
Miller nodded. He tried to sleep, but still lay awake, staring at the ceiling.
After lying in silence for a while, Miller spoke:
“On the other hand… I’m angry too.”
“Angry?”
“That he would do this to me—it makes me angry. He can do that to me. But he threatened my family. That’s—that’s not something he should do.”
……
“That’s not something he should do.”
Miller mumbled it again, his voice heavy with sorrow and a faint rage. Heidi comforted him in silence.
Since childhood, Heidi had watched the two of them—brothers who knew each other as parent and child—and now an irreparable fracture had opened between them.
She thought of April, who had caused all of it.
April had published an extra edition with the news that her deal with Miller had failed.
The exact price was printed there, and at first, the blame that had fallen on April slowly began to shift toward Miller.
It was money the Assembly could have provided. As July arrived and winter drew near, the people of the Grand Duchy grew more anxious, more restless, shaking the doors of the Dieusz house.
Meanwhile, those who had been frightened into scapegoating April Lunos as the cause of the Fog began to reconsider.
Perhaps the Fog was not her fault after all.
Perhaps they had seized the wrong person.
To Heidi’s eye, as public opinion shifted, Miller seemed left with no choice but to buy the Dye that April was selling.
* * *
Logan burst through the police station doors and reported in a bright tone:
“Jonah Tabishi has released Tabishi Company staff to begin their investigation. It’s only a matter of time before we learn where this Gas came from.”
Pol chimed in from beside him:
“And once that money-mad bastard figures out the cause of the Gas, you’ll arrest him immediately, right?”
“Of course.”
“But didn’t Headquarters say not to kill the one from the Empire?”
“But Jonah Tabishi doesn’t know that.”
Pejin continued with a pleased tone:
“We’ll squeeze him. For the price of a life.”
“Logan is quite good at setting that sort of atmosphere.”
At Pol’s words, Logan answered cheerfully:
“People tend to mistake brightness for madness without reason. But I’m genuinely just cheerful!”
“……if many people share the same opinion, there’s usually a reason, isn’t there?”
Logan let Pol’s jab pass in one ear and out the other.
In any case, Pol was right. Criminals brought in under odd circumstances paid peculiar attention to Logan. It seemed to be because of his atypical manner.
After finishing the meeting about Jonah Tabishi’s movements, Pejin began preparing to go to Lunos Residence.
Surprisingly, April called for him quickly.
Eve, who had no idea what had happened between the two of them, straightened Pejin’s clothes and said:
“Did you two fight? I see you haven’t met in ages.”
“Well, I won’t be able to see her once I leave the Grand Duchy anyway. Might as well make peace with it quickly.”
“So you didn’t fight?”
“But you know April. How would she and I even fight? I’d lose every single time.”
“Of course you would.”
“Why don’t you come along? You could take a walk with Bauman.”
“Why on earth would I take a walk with him?”
“You two seem to get along well in conversation. As companions.”
“Conversation? I’ve worked for the Dieusz Family for years, and that man knows nothing of society at all. What common ground could we possibly have?”
Even so, Eve did not say she wouldn’t go to Lunos Grand Residence.
Both had lost their spouses, so Pejin thought it would be nice if they got along well enough to be companions. Of course, whether they grew closer than that was their own business.
Pejin could not imagine romance for Eve, whom he had long regarded as family, so after recommending a companion, he spoke seriously:
“He might look decent at first glance, but if he’s not right, drop him immediately. You shouldn’t be with a bad man.”
“I’m already this old and I’m getting lectured on romance? By a young man barely grown?”
“It’s not a lecture, but if you’re going to be with someone, he absolutely must be good. He has to meet my standards.”
At that, Eve said with a sharp edge to her voice:
“Bauman seems to be meeting your standards just fine.”
“He’s impressive. And he’s strong.”
“Impressive, my—”
Eve scoffed, but in the end, she followed Pejin to Lunos Grand Residence.
* * *
Before Pejin arrived.
There was already a guest at Lunos Grand Residence.
Shaper Meyer, son of the Grand Duchy Police Commissioner, stood in April’s rooftop garden.
Shaper said with admiration:
“If you threw a party here, it would set the Grand Duchy’s Social Season ablaze.”
“I don’t think anyone would come.”
“You just need to plan it well.”
“Anyway, I will have a party. I have to get married, after all.”
At April’s words, Shaper narrowed his brows and asked:
“What about Pejin?”
“What about Pejin?”
“Aren’t you two seeing each other?”
“Even if we are, what could we do about it?”
“Even so.”
Shaper continued, his expression uneasy:
“It’s the first time I’ve seen Pejin like this.”
“Like what?”
When April asked, Shaper, thinking of Pejin, murmured:
“Not avoiding, I guess? That’s his specialty, after all. He spots difficult things from far away and weaves around them somehow. God, it was annoying when we were kids.”
“Right. He really was infuriating.”
“Wasn’t he? It wasn’t just me, right?”
Shaper continued, pleased to find agreement:
“But the thing is—he’s not avoiding now. Not traps, not obstacles.”
……
“If you changed him like that, it’s impressive.”
At Shaper’s words, April only smiled faintly and said nothing. She didn’t ask herself whether it was impressive. She knew Pejin well too.
April turned to the real business:
“I called you for a reason.”
“What is it?”
“What if. Just what if. War broke out between the Empire and the Grand Duchy? Which side would you stand on?”
At her question, Shaper’s face showed that he’d never heard anything so absurd:
“Of course the Grand Duchy. Did you really ask that?”
“But the Meyer Family is leaving for the Empire soon, right?”
“Yes, that’s my parents’ decision so I’ll follow it. But if war breaks out, I’ll come straight back to the Grand Duchy.”
At Shaper’s firm answer, April smiled more brightly and said:
“You say that with such a sullen face.”
“What’s sullen about it? You and Pejin are the same—you’ve got pretty faces, but your mouths are always picking fault with everything like you’re determined to find something to criticize.”
“Is it my fault that you give me so much material to pick at?”
“Stop teasing me!”
At Shaper’s aggrieved protest, April burst out laughing.
As she laughed, Shaper felt inexplicably flustered, touching his ears with his hand as he asked accusingly:
“So? Is that all? Do you have anything else to say?”
“That was a question. How could it be all I had to say?”
“If you keep answering like that, I’m leaving.”
“No, I’m sorry. I’ll stop.”
April caught Shaper’s arm as he turned to go.
Startled by her hand, Shaper shook her off sharply. Then, thinking he’d been too rough, he tapped the back of her hand once in apology and asked:
“What? Tell me.”
“I want the Grand Duchy to become strong.”
“So do I.”
“You just happened to graduate from the military academy and you’re a soldier.”
“I am.”
“What do you think about the Grand Duchy’s military system?”
“I think it doesn’t exist. As a system.”
“If the trade ship comes back safely—”
“It won’t.”
At Shaper’s response, April narrowed her brows. But she went on:
“Even so, if it somehow does, I’ll invest in you. Why don’t you try to build a system? Just copy the Empire’s.”
At April’s words, Shaper laughed softly.
“Why are you proposing my own dream to me?”

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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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