The Mansion Awaits Spring - Chapter 128

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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 128
Pejin answered so smoothly that it was now April’s turn to wear a bewildered expression.
In the meantime, Pejin spoke.
“It’s a good idea. I’m not sure how much in resources that factory extracts and ships out, but it would be not only a significant source of power for the Grand Duchy, but a blow to the Empire as well.”
“Right, that’s what I think too. So I brought it up, but……”
“But?”
“You’d really do it that easily?”
April asked it like that.
She knew as well as he did that this was not an easy question to answer.
By merely telling her about the gas used in the basement, Pejin had already stepped into a field of demons clawing at his heels, dragging him toward hell.
And beyond that, helping her seize the factory was something else entirely.
Pejin added to his words while stirring sugar into his teacup.
“It’s something you can’t do without my help anyway. So why do you look so surprised?”
“That’s true, but……. I thought it would take you a very long time before I could actually get you to help.”
“Come to think of it, you’re right.”
At April’s words, Pejin crossed his arms and spoke with a mischievous expression.
“Come to think of it, did I really agree so easily? Paying the price of life means wanting to live, and this puts that life in danger.”
“……I shouldn’t have said anything.”
At April’s murmur, Pejin let out a small laugh and spoke.
“I’ll help you. I’m going to help, but I’m curious what argument you were planning to make.”
“I was going to make you feel sorry. If you want to hear it, I’ll tell you.”
“I don’t need to hear an argument like that.”
Having rejected her so, Pejin acted as though nothing had happened, leaning toward her with an expression as if he were falling in love, his elbow on the table and his chin in his hand.
“You’re doing well. Keep going.”
“What?”
“Keep using that approach on me.”
April found it strange that Pejin seemed to be enjoying himself.
He had the leisure now to enjoy the fragrance of tea and the sweetness of sugar. The fact that he sat across from her and was enjoying this moment struck her as unbelievable, so she asked him.
“You’re happy?”
“It’s not bad. Why?”
“Just……. Now that I think about it, it’s a relief that it’s not bad.”
She closed her eyes for a moment, looking tired, and murmured.
“I have so much to do with you. So much to ask of you. That’s why.”
“If I were to become depressed because I missed you, wouldn’t that make things harder?”
“Yes.”
April opened her eyes again and looked at Pejin.
“I don’t want to waste any more emotion on you.”
“……”
“The same goes for hating you. That’s too difficult.”
Pejin was watching her lips. With those beautiful lips moving so slowly, she spoke words that carved out his soul.
“Having great ambition didn’t mean having small love.”
“……”
“I really did love you.”
Pejin thought he preferred it when she cursed at him and slapped his face instead.
That emotion had been almost bearable.
She had tried to erase him from her world. It was an attempt to go back to before they’d ever met.
It was hardly surprising. Hadn’t April tried to erase even the happy memories she had with her parents?
It was the best method she had already tried before.
April continued.
“So.”
“How are you planning to seize the factory?”
When Pejin asked, April shook her head.
“That’s too big a matter. I wanted to relax a bit and make some small talk instead. About Madam Eve, or about Shaper Meyer.”
“Both are topics I’d rather not discuss.”
Pejin’s face showed reluctance, but he spoke as if he had no choice.
“What do you want to talk about first? Since Madam Eve’s feelings seem clear, should we create an opportunity to understand Bauman’s heart? Or do you have a plan to make Madam Eleonore give up on Shaper Meyer?”
“I said I’d wait a bit longer on Shaper. I like the lineage.”
At April’s words, Pejin grew incredulous and spoke with an excitement he hadn’t shown before.
“That’s exactly the problem—stop judging by lineage alone and look at the person. Are you confusing Shaper Meyer with someone else right now?”
“Not confused at all. He’s that ruffian on our porch.”
“See? You’re calling him a ruffian too.”
“But he’s become more grown up. In his own way.”
“He’s at the age where he’s just becoming an adult, so you can’t use that as a merit. Besides, the age gap between you two is considerable.”
“Three years. By that logic, Madam Eve and Bauman have a seven-year difference?”
“Yes, and that bothers me too. No matter how I think about it, nothing beats someone your own age. Younger won’t do. Too childish.”
April had no idea that Pejin was speaking with Kayani Marrow in mind.
“I don’t like people my own age.”
“Then let me list the advantages of being the same age.”
“Fine, then I should try dating another man my own age. I’ll learn from experience.”
“There’s no man your own age with decent lineage in the Grand Duchy.”
“What about Paul?”
“……Are you insane? My subordinate is absolutely not an option. It gets too complicated.”
When Pejin grew serious, April muttered to herself, “Then what am I supposed to do?”
As they talked like this, April said something.
“Madam Eleonore is going to host a party here.”
“Women other than you are participating, aren’t they?”
“She probably won’t invite many women of marriageable age.”
“That’s appalling.”
“That’s what having parents means.”
“We don’t really know. We only know what it’s like not to have them……”
At Pejin’s thoughtless murmur, April looked at him.
Any nobleman in the Grand Duchy remembered the funeral of the late Grand Duke and Grand Duchess, and so they all felt sympathy for that boy.
April recalled the boy in mourning clothes weeping bitterly and asked.
“How did you do it? Accepting that your parents were gone?”
“I.”
Pejin set down his teacup and thought for a moment before answering.
“I had my brother.”
“……”
“He comforted me all day long. Told me it was okay because he was there. For a very long time, he comforted me while his own heart ached.”
Having recalled it that way, he shrugged his shoulders.
“People are multifaceted by nature, aren’t they?”
“Yes.”
“I will still love my brother, probably until the moment I die. And in that moment, I’ll hate him.”
For Pejin, loving what he hated was something he’d never tried before, and it wasn’t easy.
He thought April’s feelings toward Miller might have been like that. She had taken that hatred away, but had actually erased the hatred she harbored for Pejin himself.
Pejin spoke.
“And when you think about it, you were there too.”
“Me?”
“Yes, though you probably won’t remember it, there was that.”
Saying so, Pejin asked in his characteristic sharp tone.
“Well, that should be enough small talk. So, do you have a plan to seize the factory? If I’m going to help, there needs to be some framework. How are we going to proceed?”
“Ah, I’ve thought of two things. One is to make them think there are no more buried resources.”
“And the other?”
“To increase the danger.”
“……Danger?”
“The danger that it could explode at any moment.”
April continued.
“So I want to plant the idea that the blast could reach the Empire as well. The fear that Left Island could also be engulfed in that fog. I’m even prepared to allow this Grand Residence to sustain some damage.”
The moment Pejin learned of his brother’s crime, he had immediately threatened Miller’s life, but he found April’s quiet anger fascinating.
After a long time, she had learned to be angry calmly. Pejin watched her anger in silence and found himself drawn into it.
When December came and he left, he would not see her again. If she wouldn’t even meet him, this might be his last chance, so Pejin observed her carefully at every moment, taking her in slowly, and loved her slowly.
Pejin spoke.
“I should learn more about the factory.”
“You really need to know it well. It would be good if there’s someone who knows the interior well. But the best thing……would be if I could go and see for myself. I know my own Fiefdom well.”
“If that’s the case, there is such a day. Exactly one day.”
“What day?”
In response to April’s question, Pejin answered.
“The only day when everyone in the Empire rests.”
“There is such a day?”
“There is. Empire citizens value holidays more than Grand Duchy people. Among them, the most certain Holiday.”
As Pejin seemed to be building suspense, April asked.
“When is it?”
“When was the departure date? It would be around then.”
“September 4th.”
“Ah, then the date works perfectly.”
“So when is it?”
As April pressed, Pejin answered calmly.
September 7th.
At that date, April paused, then burst out laughing.
September 7th.
The Victory Commemoration Day of the Rasa Empire.
The day of victory over the royal family of Right Island.
The day the Empire celebrated this warm world that its people enjoyed.
Laughing like that, April spoke.
“The perfect date.”

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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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