The Mansion Awaits Spring - Chapter 153

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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 153
While that was happening, the car carrying Pejin and Rian also passed the Lunos Grand Residence and arrived at the Lake within the Fiefdom.
The wedding venue had been arranged in the Glass Greenhouse by the Lake, which Bauman had spent months restoring. Thanks to his efforts, the beautiful structure once called the Swan’s House had regained much of its former splendor.
Stepping out of the car, Rian gazed in wonder at the Glass Greenhouse standing before the Lake.
“……The architecture of the Grand Duchy really can’t be compared to the Empire.”
“Of course. They build everything there like it’s a financial exchange. Even our police headquarters.”
“It’s pretty tasteless, isn’t it?”
“Tasteless barely covers it.”
“Honestly, I’m embarrassed every time I walk into police headquarters. I worry people will laugh at me.”
Pejin grumbled and tried to thrust his gloved hand into his pocket because of the cold, but Rian pointed out that the bridegroom shouldn’t behave so rudely, so he withdrew it.
The two men made their way toward the greenhouse.
* * *
Leon, an employee of the massive Underground Factory adjoining the Lunos Fiefdom and a native of the Grand Duchy, had been gripped by extreme tension right up until the day before the wedding.
He was anxious that something might go wrong with the Explosion Plan and cause it to fail.
Among the employees working at this factory, Leon was the only one whose parents had both come from the Grand Duchy.
This had been the primary reason Pejin had drawn Leon to his side, though another factor was Leon’s reputation as someone who rarely deviated from a carefully laid plan.
Even on the day of the Lunos and Dieusz Family wedding, Leon had repeated the steps he needed to complete in his mind many times over—so thoroughly that he would never forget the sequence, no matter how flustered he became.
He recalled the day they had drawn up the plan step by step at the Lunos Grand Residence.
Pejin had been certain that the Empire would shut down the Fuel Extraction Factory on the day of the wedding.
He had said so.
“The Empire nobles will be here on the wedding day. There’s no way they’d release Toxic Substance. Especially not from the very place where the wedding is being held.”
Leon had agreed with him.
“That’s right. I don’t know what the Grand Duchy thinks of its own Fog, but harming the health of Empire citizens would be a serious matter indeed.”
Watching the two men talk, April’s jaw clenched visibly.
The fact that Empire citizens valued the lives of people from the two Islands differently was no longer surprising news to her. Yet familiarity did not stop the anger.
Though Leon had been confident in this reasoning, he could not hide his anxiety until the official announcement actually came down that the factory would be shut on the wedding day—worried that something might somehow go wrong.
Fortunately, the announcement had come, and the factory had shut down beginning the day before the wedding.
Yet they had only stopped extraction; unlike the Victory Commemoration Day, the factory still had most of its staff present. In particular, nearly all the researchers remained on site.
Leon made a safety inspection, walking around the factory. Then he stood at the location where the accident would occur.
He looked up and muttered in an incredulous voice.
“The audacity of those two, getting married right here……is something else entirely.”
Leon had never been this frightened in his life. He wanted to run right now. He wondered if the two people getting married today felt this way too.
He clasped his hands together and pressed them firmly against his heart.
“Let go. Let it go.”
Pejin had thought it better to drown while swimming than to live with only his neck above water, and Leon had agreed. If Right Island collapsed completely, their treatment would only grow worse.
Even if the land was weak, the lives of those with somewhere to stand and those without would be vastly different.
Leon released his grip on Left Island and turned around to swim.
The pipe connected to this Lake was the source of most accidents at the factory.
A Plug covered the pipe to prevent the Lake’s water from flowing backward. Accidents always happened because the Lake’s water had flowed back in.
Pressure built up in the massive tank where the gas that needed to be released accumulated, and accidents occurred.
Leon climbed the ladder to the ceiling where the pipe leading to the Lake was located. From ground level, the sound of music from the wedding reached him.
He moved the handle connected to the pipe.
* * *
Kritz, once an investigator for Section 3, now that she had ended her collaboration with the Empire Police headquarters, was staying in the area that Irsa had overseen where illegal liquor was produced.
April had immediately purchased the area once she learned the truth. Moreover, she had stopped the illegal export of the liquor itself. Since then, Kritz had continued her research on water quality improvement.
She had been invited to the wedding today and met Logan from the Empire Police headquarters in front of the ceremony venue by the Lake.
“Oh, Logan.”
“Kritz, you came too!”
Logan greeted her cheerfully.
Logan confirmed that no one was nearby and asked with a serious expression.
“How far along is the water quality improvement?”
“Not at all. Until we can stop the poison seeping into the wells where the illegal liquor is made……it won’t be possible.”
Kritz spoke and looked toward the Lake.
This Lake was the pride of the Lunos Fiefdom. It was enormous in scale, and the scenery around it was beautiful. In winter, it would freeze over and could be used as a skating rink, but it hadn’t frozen at all yet.
While investigating the illegal liquor, Investigator Kritz had discovered that the water used in it was contaminated.
And she had learned that this water was connected to that Lake, and that the wells could not be restored until they could block the gas being discharged through the Lake.
Pejin approached them as they spoke. He had greeted so many people today that he was exhausted, his expression openly displaying displeasure.
Pejin spoke.
“Both of you, get inside quickly. The ceremony is starting.”
“What kind of face is that for a bridegroom? Smile, would you?”
“Shut it. I’ve used my daily quota of smiles. More like I used a week’s worth in advance. Damn it, there better not be another wedding in my lifetime.”
Pejin vented his irritation.
By the time he had expressed some of his dissatisfaction, Kritz—who had revealed the factory’s cause to April—bowed and apologized.
“I’m sorry. For the betrayal.”
“Why apologize? You did well. We couldn’t have hidden it forever anyway.”
Pejin replied offhandedly, then turned toward the Lake and continued.
“Besides, look over there.”
At his words, they turned to look, but Logan and Kritz, unable to see any connection between having their real work discovered by April and the beauty of the Lake, squinted their eyes.
Small fountain-shaped lights had been installed around the Lake. Light glowed from within them. The countless sparks reflecting on the Lake held a quiet beauty.
Logan tilted his head and spoke first.
“It’s absolutely stunning, isn’t it?”
“It certainly is, in my eyes as well.”
As Kritz agreed, Pejin clicked his tongue and spoke.
“On a cold night like this, it hasn’t frozen. Not at all. When I was young, I came here in November and skated. But it’s December now and still……”
Now that he mentioned it, that was true.
Kritz murmured in a lowered voice.
“It’s because of the heat from the factory.”
“Right. And originally, you could see every kind of bird here. All sorts of birds would fly in year-round. There were plenty of deer too. But look. Not a single bird, are there?”
“Now that you mention it……”
Logan trailed off, expressing his agreement.
The Lake, not even a thin skim of ice on its surface, shone like a mirror, yet no bird’s chirp could be heard around it.
Pejin continued.
“Even beasts understand. That this Lake is contaminated.”
“……”
“So thank you, Investigator Kritz.”
Pejin gestured toward the Lake as he spoke.
“When birds fly here again, some of the credit will be yours.”
With that, he ushered all the remaining guests inside and positioned himself in front of the Glass Greenhouse.
The Glass Greenhouse was filled with an abundance of flowers blooming beautifully, as if the world had surrendered all its blossoms to this place.
Crystal ornaments suspended from shelves along the walls gleamed dazzlingly even in the small light of candlelight.
Whether viewed from outside or within, it was a beautiful ceremony hall.
The greenhouse doors stood wide open, and the guests turned their bodies to wait for the carriage bearing the bride.
At the appointed time, a carriage decorated with red roses arrived, and the bride descended from within.
Pejin let the guests’ exclamations pass by his ears as he gazed at April steadily.
Golden hair adorned with small flowers, trailing a long Wedding Dress as she approached—the bride of only one day.
His beloved, whom he would perhaps not see for some time.

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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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