The Mansion Awaits Spring - Chapter 140

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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 140
* * *
Since a new Empire Police commissioner was scheduled to arrive at headquarters soon, Pejin gathered a handful of Grand Duchy officers from the station under the pretext of a morning briefing and posed his question.
“Who hasn’t undergone a Dieusz-Style Coming-of-Age Ceremony?”
At that, four others raised their hands in addition to Logan. Some were as old as twenty-five.
Pejin asked again.
“We’re going to Lunos Port soon to hold a Dieusz-Style Coming-of-Age Ceremony. Whoever doesn’t want to go, lower your hand.”
But not a single hand came down.
Five in total, Pejin included.
Paul swept his eyes over the group, then turned to Pejin. “Can’t those of us who’ve already undergone the Dieusz-Style Coming-of-Age Ceremony attend as well?”
“What for?”
“To watch, sir. Don’t leave me out.”
Before he could even finish speaking, the officers who had already undergone the ceremony shot their hands up.
“I want to watch too! I can’t miss such a rare spectacle—someone having their coming-of-age at twenty-five!”
“Well, who actually *wants* to have their coming-of-age at twenty-five?”
“We can’t possibly miss something this extraordinary.”
With that, all twelve Grand Duchy officers from headquarters volunteered to participate in the ceremony.
Logan, who would have to arrange the duty roster for these officers, cradled his head in his hands as he spoke to Pejin.
“I’ve already undergone the Imperial-Style Coming-of-Age Ceremony.”
“So have I.”
“I received flowers and perfume.”
“Don’t you also get a kiss?”
“That’s not an official part of it.”
“I got quite a few. I heard it was mandatory.”
“You were swindled.”
“Well, there’s no getting them back now. I’ll just have to forget about it.”
Pejin brushed the matter aside and turned to regard the twelve Grand Duchy officers.
Their participation in this ceremony was, in essence, a declaration of their future path.
They would follow Pejin Dieusz. Come what may.
Once everyone had withdrawn after making that decision, Logan and Paul signaled to Pejin that they had something to discuss.
While the remaining headquarters officers busied themselves preparing for the incoming commissioner’s arrival, Logan and Paul remained in Pejin’s office.
Logan spoke in a low voice, mindful of who might overhear. “Actually, sir, I’ve developed a new Magic technique—”
Paul cut him off with a mime of zipping his lips, interrupting his attempt to lighten the mood. “This isn’t the important matter, Commissioner.”
“But it is important!”
“Enough of that. This is about Hannah Coski.”
At his words, Pejin’s brow furrowed as he fixed his gaze on Paul.
Paul continued. “That little girl was staying at April’s mansion, but she hasn’t entered the dormitory recently. And just recently, our Grand Duchy officers stopped her father from dragging her off to the factory.”
“Someone tried to drag the Lunos Family’s servant away?”
“Exactly. But that girl made them swear—absolutely *swear*—never to tell April.”
“And April still doesn’t know?”
“No, not yet.”
Pejin nodded.
Since the other officers would certainly be uncomfortable around him with the new commissioner arriving, Pejin seized the opportunity to slip away and left the headquarters building at once.
* * *
He went to find Hannah Coski.
The girl, who had been in class at school, came rushing out with a puzzled expression when she heard of Pejin’s arrival.
Hannah tilted her head, trying to guess why he’d come, but her face went pale in an instant. “Is something wrong with the lady?”
“No. Calm down.”
“Please, if anything happens to her, tell me right away.”
“You’ll find out soon enough even without me telling you. You’re one of the people April values most.”
At Pejin’s words, Hannah released a relieved breath. “That’s true, I suppose.”
“But about you.”
“Yes?”
“Your father’s been causing you trouble, hasn’t he?”
At Pejin’s words, Hannah’s eyes, which had relaxed moments before, sharpened again.
Pejin let out a dry chuckle and continued. “Don’t be on guard. I understand—I have family I’d like to kill too.”
Pejin was quite impressed by the look in Hannah’s eyes.
“You’ll make an excellent officer.”
“…Really?”
“Yes. So I can’t waste talent like you on something as trivial as saving the life of a worthless drunk. So be patient and wait a little longer.”
“What if he harms the lady?”
“That’s something I’ll handle.”
At Pejin’s words, Hannah clenched her teeth hard, then drew in a deep breath.
“When I become an Empire Police officer, will I stop being afraid of things like you are?”
At the girl’s question, Pejin’s brow creased.
Hannah went on. “The Grand Duchy Police are incompetent. I want to become an officer like you.”
At Hannah’s earnest words, Pejin found himself momentarily speechless.
He’d never imagined he would become the dream of a child who wanted to be a police officer. It was a very bad dream to have.
Pejin spoke. “If you become an Empire Police officer, April won’t like it.”
“Really?”
“Ask her when you see her. And by the time you become an officer, the Grand Duchy Police will be far better than they are now.”
At Pejin’s persuasion, Hannah hesitated for a moment, murmuring to herself.
“I can’t do anything the lady would dislike.”
“Of course you can’t.”
Then, raising her voice clearly, she answered: “Yes, I understand!”
“Good. Now go back and study.”
“Goodbye!”
After bowing respectfully and hurrying off, Hannah suddenly came running back to Pejin. “You have to protect the lady for sure!”
At that, Pejin laughed.
“I’ve already staked my life on it.”
At his words, Hannah broke into a bright smile. Then she rushed back to class to learn even more.
* * *
After Pejin and Leon left, April had begun preparations for the ceremony almost immediately.
Though more people were expected than she’d anticipated, the increased numbers didn’t expand the workload significantly.
After the merchant vessel captained by Irsa Joyce departed, the port, which had grown somewhat quiet, began to bustle again with ceremony preparations.
Preparing a buffet with enough food for everyone settling in the port was a tradition passed down from their pirate days.
The port dwellers took great joy in preparing the luxurious food they themselves would eat with their own hands.
Eve’s presence was indispensable for April’s preparations of the traditional ceremony.
She’d already been planning to arrange an opportunity for Bauman and Eve to meet, and this was the perfect chance.
April brought the two of them to the port together, and they worked surprisingly well as a team—better than she’d expected.
Eve possessed a clear aesthetic eye, and Bauman had the deftness of hand to match her vision.
“I’d like to add more flowers here, so could you raise the platform higher, Bauman?”
“How high would you like it, Eve?”
The fact that they dropped formalities and were calling each other by their given names within a day of arriving was most encouraging.
Watching Bauman rush over eagerly at Eve’s call, April had to suppress a smile.
Once Pejin departed for the Empire, Eve would no longer need to stay near wherever he was living. If she came to reside in the Lunos Family Estate, it would be incredibly reassuring for April.
The ceremonial space that Eve and Bauman had created on the Breakwater was flawless and beautiful.
Bauman had constructed a beautiful gate in the middle of the Breakwater, and with the help of the port dwellers, it was done in no time.
A gate where sea and land met.
It was a spiritual gate signifying that a child of Right Island had come of age to venture out to sea.
Standing beneath that gate, April fell into contemplation—about the ceremony that would take place tomorrow, and mostly about marriage.

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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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