The Mansion Awaits Spring - Chapter 188

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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 188
Lian spoke up immediately, voicing what he’d been meaning to say.
“Ah, your uncle met with His Imperial Majesty and returned, didn’t he? When he came back, he said it’d be better if you met with him sooner rather than later.”
“The Police Chief said that?”
Pejin asked for clarification, and Lian nodded as he spoke.
“Yes. He said to have you talk with him and give your report.”
…….
“Well, it makes sense, doesn’t it? From the Empire Police’s perspective, they need to understand the Lunos Family’s position as Head of House. Right now everyone—citizens and nobles alike—they’re all anxious.”
“Did His Imperial Majesty give his permission?”
“No. He’s absolutely set on the declaration of war. He doesn’t need the Lunos Family’s opinion at all.”
Pejin nodded, and Lian continued.
“Your uncle is aware, too—he knows you’ve been trying to postpone the war by unsettling public sentiment.”
“Why does he treat me so kindly?”
“Because he believes it’s right to avoid war if you can.”
Lian murmured this, then smiled as he spoke again.
“So? You’ll meet with him?”
“Of course I will.”
Pejin answered without the slightest hesitation.
Once he’d given his definite answer, Lian unfolded a map on the table.
“This is the Ragnar Family Island. It’s quite large, and we have three villas spread far apart. I’ll give you one of them.”
Lian pointed to one of the villas with his finger.
Pejin stared at the villa almost fixedly, then exhaled a sigh into the empty air.
Suddenly he was trembling far too much. It had been so long since he’d seen April, and the mere possibility of it was enough to make him dizzy.
While he was looking at the villa, Lian spoke.
“But there’s no chance of an explosion, right?”
“How would I know April’s heart? We’ve been living so far apart even after marriage.”
“You—”
Lian raised his voice without thinking, then lowered it as he spoke again.
“It’s dangerous. If an explosion that large occurred, not only would the Right Island be wrapped in fog, but the Left Island as well.”
Since he’d barely survived the Factory incident, the doctor had warned him countless times.
His bronchial tubes had suffered severe damage; the fog generated on the Right Island would steal his life.
Lian asked.
“The Head of House knows about your health condition too, doesn’t he?”
“He does.”
“Then……”
“But if April ever faced a choice between me and something else—she would never choose me.”
“What?”
“Because there’s something more important to her than me.”
Even if some affection for him remained in her heart,
mere sentiment could never shake April Lunos.
At least of this one fact about her, Pejin could be absolutely certain.
* * *
April’s expression hardened before joy at seeing Logan, whom she hadn’t seen in ages.
“Can you come here? What’s happened?”
As she descended the stairs asking this, Logan waved his hands in reassurance at her expression.
“No, no! The Police Chief isn’t hurt. He’s actually in good health.”
“……Is that so?”
“He certainly causes trouble though, doesn’t he?”
Logan spoke teasingly and laughed cheerfully. Seeing that laugh, April was assured that nothing was wrong and came down the rest of the stairs.
She asked.
“So what brings you here? I’m glad to see you, but I wasn’t sure if you should come.”
“Ah, there are two reasons. One is……I’ve left the police force.”
“You’ve left the police?”
April’s expression became complicated.
She spoke with genuine sincerity.
“I’m truly sorry, but you lack the skill to become a Mage.”
“I’ve practiced so much. Want me to show you how completely I’ve changed?”
“Later. When you have more time.”
April cut him off with her refusal, and Logan’s expression fell. But he soon smiled slyly.
“Actually, Captain Joyce’s ship has returned, hasn’t it?”
“Yes. It returned. Then went back out again.”
“My investment came back as well.”
“And you reinvested immediately.”
“Of course. Last time was about pioneering the trade route, but now is when real commerce truly begins.”
Logan spoke on with his characteristic childlike smile.
“My gamble succeeded. So I’m going to return to the Grand Duchy and live there.”
“What will you do?”
“Police work. I’ve always been police, so what else would I do going forward? I’ll pursue Magic as a hobby.”
Logan spoke with a gravity that now seemed quite genuine.
“Fortunately, this time the Head of House made a bombing threat, which pushed back the declaration of war that had been scheduled for next month. According to what the police have learned, it’s expected to be around April of next year. The war will be declared shortly before that.”
“……So it came to this after all.”
Actually, she’d already heard this from a letter she’d received from Pejin. But because it had to avoid censors, all the details had been inaccurate, so now everything was being filled in. Logan continued.
“So what I’m saying is, it seems neither Paul nor the Police Chief will be staying with the Empire Police. Wouldn’t the same apply to them? Even if they leave the police, they’ll still be doing police work here. So I’m going to establish myself in the Grand Duchy Police first.”
His expression was so serious that he seemed genuine. But when he finished, there was still a hint of playfulness mixed in.
Logan clenched both fists and thrust them upward.
“So now I’m going to be your senior!”
Seeing Logan with such ambitious plans, April couldn’t help but burst out laughing.
After laughing brightly for the first time in a while, April murmured as if baffled at herself.
“I’m laughing even after hearing about the declaration of war.”
“Yes. That’s how we’re able to keep living even in a life of endless pain.”
Logan said this, then belatedly remembered something.
“Oh, I almost forgot to give you something. Here, please take this.”
April received a small document he hurriedly drew from his inner pocket.
As she unfolded it, April asked.
“What is this?”
Since it only contained the name of Lunos Harbor, a date, and a time, April wore a puzzled expression, and Logan explained.
“The Police Chief has requested a meeting with you. You need to develop a plan for what comes next.”
“I see.”
“If the Head of House approves, you’ll both board a coastal patrol boat there and travel to the villa owned by Police Chief Ragnar. You can discuss future plans there.”
“……I see.”
Though they said they’d discuss future plans, she couldn’t claim there was no affection woven into this plan at all.
The last time she’d seen Pejin was a day in April.
Now October was beginning, so it was nearly half a year since they’d last met.
April exhaled a soft sigh, and Logan spoke as if understanding her heart.
“Since I’ll be going back and forth between you from now on, I’ll relay letters somehow. So if you don’t want to meet, there’s no need to force yourself. This isn’t my opinion—it’s the Police Chief’s.”
…….
“The Police Chief knows you may not have forgiven him.”
Logan spoke with such composure, then took a deep breath again.
“Well then. I should go. To secure a position with the police.”
“Yes, thank you for telling me.”
“I’ll see you on the date written there.”
“Officer.”
At her call, Logan, who had been hurrying away, stopped and turned. Then April continued.
“Thank you for investing in my trading ship. Thanks to you, I’ve gained a great deal of provisions.”
“And.”
Logan laughed cheerfully at that point.
“You’ll gain even more!”
With that, he dashed off toward the Grand Duchy Police Headquarters.
Since he was a perceptive person, April guessed he likely already knew that she was earning foreign currency.
Pejin was surrounded by capable and loyal people.
When her superior, whom she’d thought was merely eyeing the position of Police Chief, said he’d return to the homeland in the face of war’s threat, Pejin had found those who could say they’d go first.
Standing in the lobby, April turned her body and looked toward the back of the Residence. The Sailor’s Residence was in that direction.
In the cold October wind, she closed her eyes for a moment.
For Pejin, the Empire Police was essentially everything he had lived for.
Yet he was planning to abandon it and return to the Grand Duchy.
The Residence was the same to her.
What she believed was most important in life.
What she relied on most.
What she loved most.
She kept her eyes closed. Whether she could truly abandon that love.

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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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