The Mansion Awaits Spring - Chapter 142

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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 142
Pejin had arrived with his mind made up, having even prepared the ring. April assumed he would take her refusal in stride. But when he heard her say she would marry him, he remained motionless.
His eyes held a strange mixture of joy and sorrow.
“Yes. Let’s do it.”
Only after a long pause did Pejin give his answer. April extended her hand toward him.
“Then give me the ring. I’ll put it on.”
At that, Pejin returned to his usual self and let out a short laugh. “So if you hold out your hand like that, I’m supposed to say ‘Go ahead and put it on yourself’ and just hand it over?”
“Would you rather I fell to one knee?”
“Don’t you dare.”
April spoke matter-of-factly, continuing, “Let’s not do anything that sentimental. Us two.”
“You’re right about that.”
Pejin took her outstretched hand, palm upturned, and flipped it gently. Then he pulled out the ring and slipped it onto her finger. “This much, at least. Just this.”
The jewel could have put even the shimmer of the sea to shame. April gazed at the enormous diamond, large enough to catch the light and scatter it, and murmured, “It’s huge.”
“Daeus and Lunos getting married with a small stone would be illogical.”
“True enough.”
The Head of the Lunos Family, who had always been naturally inclined toward treasures, admired the ring’s brilliant radiance as expected.
Pejin laughed quietly at the sight. “Just as one would expect from the Lunos Family. You’ve always loved beautiful things since you were small.”
“You’re talking about yourself, aren’t you?”
After hearing so much of his self-praise, April guessed as much and asked. Pejin curved his lips upward teasingly. “Why, am I as beautiful as a diamond?”
“The diamond is prettier, honestly.”
“Don’t lie. What’s a mere stone compared to me?”
Pejin answered with shameless certainty, then wrapped her hand in his and brought it to his lips, pressing a kiss to the ring.
Watching her expression stiffen immediately, Pejin reproached her gently. “You should practice your acting now. If you freeze up like that on the wedding day, people will start to wonder.”
“…Fine. I understand.”
April answered reluctantly, then looked back at the ring and asked, “But how did you manage to find such a large diamond in such a short time?”
“Oh, you know that brooch I inherited from Grandmother? The one with the large diamond at its center, surrounded by a pattern of smaller gems like waves?”
“Of course I know it…”
At his words, April’s eyes widened and she struck his arm sharply. “Are you insane? What happens to the brooch if you take it apart!”
Pejin rubbed the spot where she’d hit him and clicked his tongue once, then wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “That brooch is so large it has no practical use anyway.”
“That’s not the point. It was a treasure of the Grand Duke’s Estate.”
“What good is a jewel locked away gathering dust? I could have several pieces of jewelry made from it. Besides, Grandmother told me to give it to whoever I loved when the time came. Would you even wear the brooch as is?”
When April simply stared at him in silence, Pejin took it as agreement and continued. “Exactly. You wouldn’t. So you should be grateful I had it disassembled on my own terms.”
“That’s not what I mean.”
“Then what?”
“She said to give it to someone you love. But is it really all right to give it to me?”
When April asked with genuine concern, Pejin let out a hollow laugh. “I like you right now. So who else would I give it to?”
“You could save it for the next person you love.”
“No. It’s mine, so I’ll do as I wish with it.”
Pejin was unyielding, leaving April with little recourse.
With the wedding confirmed, April’s mind turned immediately to what she needed to do next. “Then now you have to get permission from your aunt.”
“I know. Hell, there it is—the biggest hurdle. Can’t we just tell her the whole plan and ask for her cooperation?”
“No way. I want to watch you get scolded.”
“…I’m going to lose my mind, seriously.”
Pejin sighed.
Though she spoke of wanting to watch him scolded, her true meaning was a refusal—she didn’t want too many people knowing about this plan.
After the Coming-of-Age Ceremony concluded, a tasteful and generous buffet had been laid out at the harbor, where they ate and laughed and made merry with the people there.
Once the ceremony was over, April saw the guests off.
After that, the people who remained—Pejin and Shaper Meyer—gathered at April’s villa.
The conspicuously large ring meant they had to inform Shaper of the marriage first. After Shaper’s loud exclamation of surprise subsided, April, already tired before even reaching the main topic, spoke with a weary expression. “How is it that the three of us keep ending up together?”
Pejin chimed in. “Should we kick you out?”
“Sure, and while you’re at it, take yourself with you?”
“What’s gotten into you? We’re going to be married.”
“I’m tired of it already. Sorry.”
Pejin burst out laughing at her words. Shaper, watching him, frowned deeply.
Lately, whenever Pejin appeared at the Grand Duke’s Residence, the atmosphere froze over.
He had been bringing a staggering number of officials with him, cutting a swath through the nobility of the Estate. For such a Pejin to be trading light jabs with her in such a relaxed manner was something Shaper found unbelievable.
Shaper leaned close to April’s ear and whispered. “Don’t trust that man. He’s dangerous. Two-faced.”
“I know.”
“You don’t!”
“I’ve seen more of him than you have. And if you’re going to say all that, why bother whispering?”
At her words, Shaper, who had been focused on warning her about Pejin, awkwardly stepped away from her.
It was unclear how these two had come to talk of marriage and such things, but it was clear they were plotting something together.
The evidence lay in Pejin’s demeanor. If this were a marriage born of genuine affection, he would have looked far happier than he did now.
Shaper fixed his gaze on April and spoke. “Tell me too. What are you planning to do?”
……
When April hesitated, Shaper thumped his chest loudly. “If it concerns the safety of the Estate, I’m on your side.”
At his confidence, April laughed softly, like one amused by an endearing troublemaker. But Pejin’s expression hardened.
Until now, Pejin had despised Shaper’s blind devotion.
The way he charged forward without seeing the situation, like some kind of madman trampling through obstacles.
Yet that very tendency was making April smile now.
“You really are too honest.”
The reason for that smile came from her lips.
Then Shaper’s face flushed and he blurted out defensively. “You’re just trying to mess with me again!”
“Not at all. I like your honesty. The world needs people like that.”
At her compliment, Shaper’s face immediately reddened, and he complained, “What…what kind of scheme is this?”
“There’s no scheme.”
“How can there be no scheme? You’re sweet-talking people into doing whatever you want!”
“That’s not my intention.”
“It is! Most people will listen to someone who looks like you!”
“Even if that’s true, it’s not intentional on my part.”
At her words, Shaper’s mouth went dry, and he hit the back of his own head with a pained look. “Ah, can’t beat someone who spent seven years locked away.”
At his muttered complaint, laughter burst from April, and she seemed at ease.
Pejin could never be truly honest with her. Such was his nature, and such were his circumstances.
He was so riddled with lies that he couldn’t even tell which part of his heart was genuine.
Pejin spoke first. “April wants to acquire a factory beneath the Lunos Fiefdom.”
“There’s a factory beneath the fiefdom?”
Shaper frowned, baffled from the start.
Regardless, Pejin continued. “We’re going to cause a small explosion within the Lunos Fiefdom.”
At his words, both April and Shaper turned sharply to look at him.
Pejin pressed on. “But people from the Empire must be caught up in the accident. A few deaths among the Estate’s people won’t become headline news in the Empire.”
“So…you’re inviting the Empire’s people as wedding guests?”
“Exactly.”
At Pejin’s matter-of-fact reply, Shaper looked at April instead. “So you’re going to cause an explosion in your own fiefdom?”
“Yes.”
“And you’re having a wedding ceremony just for that?”
“That’s right.”
“Am I the only one who thinks this is strange? You two are planning something this extreme and there’s nobody trying to stop you?”
“There isn’t.”
“Then is that something in itself? If someone this extreme wants something, she can’t be stopped anyway?”
No, Shaper wasn’t asking that last part to April. He was more musing to himself as he let the absurdity of the situation sink in.
“Is it really that unreasonable?”
April tilted her head, genuinely puzzled by his reaction.
Shaper’s mouth fell open, and with an expression of utter defeat, he smacked his own forehead. “Ah, what good are words against someone locked away for seven years.”
At his muttering, laughter tumbled from April once more, and she seemed genuinely relaxed.
Pejin was someone who could never be fully honest with her. That was his inherent nature, and the circumstances demanded it.
He was so steeped in falsehood that he could not even discern which part of himself was sincere.
Pejin opened his mouth first. “April wants to acquire a factory beneath the Lunos Fiefdom.”
“There’s a factory beneath the fiefdom?”
Shaper’s brow furrowed in confusion from the very start.
Pejin continued regardless. “We’re going to cause a small explosion within the Lunos Fiefdom.”
At his words, April and Shaper both turned sharply toward him.
Pejin continued. “But it’s essential that people from the Empire get caught up in the accident. The Empire won’t make news of a few deaths in the Estate.”
“So…you’re inviting people from the Empire as guests?”
“That’s right.”
At Pejin’s calm answer, Shaper turned to look at April. “So you’re the one causing an explosion in your own fiefdom?”
“Yes.”
“And you’re holding a wedding ceremony just for that?”
“That’s what I said.”
“Is something wrong with me? You two are planning something this drastic and nobody’s tried to stop you?”
“Nobody has.”
At April’s firm answer, Shaper clutched his throbbing forehead in both hands.

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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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