The Mansion Awaits Spring - Chapter 172

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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 172
The moment April returned from the Bank to the Residence, she made for the Study. On one wall of the Study, the one the previous Head of House had used, hung a World Map.
April found Polana on the map.
“They’ve arrived.”
Polana had been her first choice of destination, though she’d prepared several backup routes since the Sea conditions were unpredictable. And yet they’d made Polana. It was exactly the sort of result one would expect from Irsa, who’d insisted from the start that the first route was the right one.
April pointed at Polana with her finger, then slid it in a straight line all the way to Right Island.
When they returned, the next ship would be laden with liquor, and the one after that with far more diverse goods.
And one day, perhaps weapons would be transported.
April slid her finger across to Left Island.
Since seeing the capital of Rasa, April had often felt as though an overwhelming, towering hand was pursuing her, trying to consume her whole.
Standing before such a fearsome opponent, all her abilities seemed to diminish drastically. It was likely more than mere feeling. Both her intellect and her physical strength withered under that crushing weight.
She traced her finger across the map again.
From Left Island back to Right Island, then connecting to Polana.
The world seemed vast one moment, yet confined the next. But once she beheld how broad and narrow the world was at once, the fear receded. Knowing she wasn’t trapped in a dead end loosened the paralysis and restored her judgment.
Still, what mattered in voyages was the return, not the departure—yet the sailors of Right Island seemed to love drifting. Her father had often grumbled that they cared only for leaving, not coming home.
“When you return, I’ll buy you meat and let you drink your fill. I’ll give you the finest clothes, and also…….”
She continued speaking, tapping her finger rhythmically on the map to entice the sailors of Polana back safely.
“I’ll let you sail as much as you want.”
April made that promise. That these wanderers would be allowed to voyage as much as their hearts desired.
It was also a vow to herself: to send ships across the entire world for the rest of her life.
Having made that oath, April turned toward the fireplace. She withdrew the Letter she’d received from the Bank.
[Your merchant vessel has reached Polana.
—Pejin Dieusz]
From the circumstances, it seemed Pejin couldn’t communicate with her directly. To leave no trace of evidence, April folded the Letter and placed it in the fireplace. Watching the paper burn cleanly, she felt a strange pang at the waste.
Standing there, she pondered how to spend the payment he’d given her.
As she watched the logs burning in the fireplace, the answer came to her.
She would invest this money in the most fundamental thing.
* * *
“The voice isn’t coming back, then?”
When Pejin asked, the young attending physician who’d been treating him since he regained consciousness answered.
“That’s unlikely, I’m afraid.”
“Ah, my clear and beautiful voice.”
As Pejin lamented, the physician, now accustomed to his arrogant demeanor, replied.
“At least your face came through unharmed.”
“If my face were damaged, I wouldn’t eat or drink and would lie in bed. I wouldn’t be able to get up.”
“It’s not serious enough for that, but you mustn’t exert yourself much. The tracheal damage is severe—you could experience breathing difficulties at any time. Absolutely no smoking.”
“Yes, you’ve said that more than ten times.”
“You can’t visit Right Island for the foreseeable future.”
“…….”
“You heard me? You can’t. If you’re exposed to the gas again, you’ll have a seizure and die on the spot.”
“But the capital is just as thick with pollution, isn’t it?”
“Yes, so you should avoid the capital as much as possible too.”
“Would your teacher be as harsh in their words?”
“They’d likely be even stronger.”
The physician rebuked him and left the Hospital Room.
Logan and Paul, who’d been standing by the window, glimpsed the door closing fully. Then Logan spoke first to Pejin.
“You’re still going anyway, aren’t you?”
To his words, Pejin neither confirmed nor denied, but Paul alone grew serious and spoke to Logan.
“Of course not.”
“Try to stop him. See if it works.”
“You’re not going, are you?”
As Paul turned to ask him, Pejin shrugged in reply.
“It’ll be fine for a bit. The Factory’s shut down anyway. The air’s actually better there than here.”
“Isn’t that precisely what I’m worried about—unforeseen circumstances!”
Paul’s voice rose.
Usually Pejin would have been irritated, but now he recognized that Paul was angry out of concern for his life, and he answered calmly.
“April came all this way to wake me up.”
“That’s just—”
“She brought the consent form to stop my life-sustaining treatment. I should apologize to her in person.”
“You could do it in writing.”
“And I want to see her.”
“…….”
“It can only be resolved if I go myself.”
At Pejin’s words, Paul clenched his fists, and with a choked expression, left the Hospital Room.
After he left, Logan spoke.
“Why try to stop you, anyway? I gave up from the start, like you should.”
“His heart’s too soft. Looks aside.”
“Too soft is right. And don’t criticize my looks—I’m decent-looking enough.”
“You look like some rich man’s spoiled son. Annoying.”
“Who here isn’t some rich man’s spoiled son?”
“No one. That’s why we’re all annoying too.”
“That’s true enough.”
Logan had lost his father young, and his oldest brother had taken all the wealth, leaving him with little to inherit—but the family itself held considerable fortune.
Pejin spoke.
“The Emperor’s 20th Coronation Anniversary is coming up soon. There’s no better day to announce that I’ve regained consciousness. After that, I’ll visit the Dieusz Grand Duchy.”
“Do that. You’ll make a magnificent entrance at the coronation ceremony.”
“I have to be magnificent. My face is what matters at this event. Having to look this good is tiring.”
Pejin recalled the coronation anniversaries he’d attended before.
It was the day the Emperor showed the world who he was. A day to reinforce both fear and longing.
Especially this year, many nobles were furious with the Emperor over the Factory accident, so the scale would likely be even grander.
He thought that if he could just endure that one day, he’d see April—but his heart lurched at the thought of what expression she’d wear when she saw him.
Pejin pushed worry aside with longing and spoke to Logan.
“Tell the Empress I’d like her to invite the Grand Duchess to this coronation ceremony.”
“Invite her to the coronation ceremony?”
“Yes.”
“Right, you did say that before. To invite the Grand Duchess to the Empire’s Social Season…….”
Before the Factory accident, Pejin had given Logan that order.
To invite Heidi Dieusz into the Empire’s high society, and separate the Grand Duke and his wife.
Logan nodded in understanding.
“Who are you thinking of?”
“April.”
Pejin reached for a cigarette absently, then remembered he couldn’t have one and clenched his fist in frustration. He exhaled deeply and continued.
“If I separate the two of them, it’ll be easier to shake Miller Dieusz.”
“It’s sound logic, but you’re remarkably rational. Admitting that the Grand Duke needs the Grand Duchess—that must be the hardest thing for you of all.”
“That’s just how I am.”
Pejin replied, unclenching his fist. He imagined his hands closing around Miller’s throat. Even in imagination alone, his grip felt weak.
He hated Miller with every fiber of his being, yet when the moment came, he doubted he could kill him.
It was nauseating beyond measure, and yet somewhere in his heart still lived a longing for the brother who’d held him in place of his parents, despite everything.
His arm went numb from the tension. As he wrapped one arm around the other, Logan spoke.
“I’ll call the physician.”
“Not necessary.”
“If you want to kill someone, use a gun.”
“That won’t do.”
Pejin clenched his fist again with effort and muttered.
“I’ll kill him with my own hands and carry the guilt my whole life.”
Logan dimly sensed who that person was. He stopped joking and knelt on one knee before Pejin.
“Whatever it is, you must succeed.”
Logan pulled at his arm to loosen the tense muscles as he spoke.
“Because your success is my glory too, Chief.”
Looking down at him, Pejin grumbled.
“Of course it is.”
Once he’d loosened all the tension from his arm, Pejin could finally move it freely.
After Logan left, Pejin rose and walked toward the mirror.
Catching sight of his own face, Pejin clicked his tongue.
“Pathetic.”
He’d spent far too long bedridden; his face felt ruined. At this rate, even if he had a chance to see April, he wouldn’t want to.
In truth, deep down, he felt it might be better not to see her at all. He feared that once he saw her face, he’d long for her again, and desire would surface anew.
He was afraid of wanting more and more the moment he saw her.
Being scolded for doing something dangerous was almost a comfort. But if April looked at him coldly and asked why he’d come back after leaving, he felt he’d freeze on the spot.

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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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