The Mansion Awaits Spring - Chapter 192

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Episode 192
April remained silent for some time, though her gaze drifted occasionally to the scar on Pejin’s cheek.
Meanwhile, the Gondola descended toward the Plateau near the mountain’s summit.
A single peak rose on one side, and from it a ribbon of waterfall cascaded down.
On the flat ground stood a small Mountain Lodge buried in snow, where they could rest briefly. Upon entering, servants had already kindled the hearth, and the warmth that filled the space was enough to shed their outer coats. The interior air carried a comfortable heat.
April wandered through the Mountain Lodge, admiring the beautiful decorations arranged within.
“You’ve done a lovely job with this place.”
“I came early and arranged it myself.”
Pejin replied casually, setting the Picnic Basket he’d carried all this way down on the table.
In that moment, April stood at the window overlooking every sea in the world and drew in a breath. The Sea lay so far below that no salt air reached her—only the scent of forest and snow.
She exhaled, then spoke.
“The world is surrounded by Waves.”
Pejin answered her murmur with a touch of self-mockery.
“No wonder living is never easy. The Waves keep washing in relentlessly.”
“I suppose life is just meant to be hard.”
As they spoke, Pejin began unpacking the food onto the table.
April reached toward the Picnic Basket to help, but Pejin caught her hand and gently moved it away.
“I’ll handle it. This is a date I’ve prepared, after all.”
“So I can only touch things if it’s a date you’ve arranged?”
“What, are you thinking of preparing one for me too?”
“I don’t know.”
“Now you’re getting me excited.”
Pejin grumbled as he arranged the food appropriately on the table.
Inside the Picnic Basket lay a tablecloth and, carefully matched to its pattern, a Dish filled with flowers. But the flowers had frozen during the journey up, so Pejin merely glanced at them and left them in the basket.
The food he’d brought consisted of bread, Cheese, and Chicken Dish—a well-prepared stew made with Wine.
Pejin retrieved a small pot from where it hung in the kitchen and began heating the Dish. Then, noticing April examining the Dish and flowers in the Picnic Basket, he asked her.
“Do you want to take them out?”
“A Centerpiece would be nice.”
“Just give me a moment—stir this for me, would you?”
Pejin handed April a wooden spoon, and she gave him a pointed look.
“I thought you said not to help?”
“I wouldn’t presume. Please, help me with this.”
“Fine, I’ll keep an eye on it.”
April answered primly, then let out a small laugh.
Finding her adorable, Pejin without thinking pressed a kiss to her forehead, then hesitated and pulled back. He leaned down to search her expression for any sign of anger.
April, who had gone rigid—even more so than Pejin himself—narrowed her eyes and asked.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“I was checking if you’d be upset. You don’t seem to be, actually.”
“It doesn’t seem like something to be angry about.”
At her response, Pejin stared at April, then suddenly brought his lips to hers. After pulling away to check her expression again, he spoke.
“Oh, this one makes you angry. Got it—so anywhere from the forehead to just before the lips, then.”
“Did you consider that maybe it was about frequency?”
“What, so lips are fine as long as it’s occasional?”
“That remains to be seen.”
“Understood. I’ll figure it out through experience.”
Pejin spoke with audacious confidence, then set about finding a Centerpiece to replace the frozen flowers. He discovered Pine Cones in a small wooden dish and, arranging evergreen needles and Pine Cones in the Vessel, placed it on the table. Then, observing the pot April was stirring with the wooden spoon, he said.
“That’s done. Well done.”
“Let’s eat—this is the Dish I made.”
“You’re shameless sometimes, but even I have to admit that counts as cooking on your part.”
Pejin offered a reasonable acknowledgment, then ladled the Dish into two bowls and set them on the table.
April lifted a spoonful to her lips and first breathed in the aroma. A blend of various spices filled her nostrils. When she tasted it, a richness spread across her palate in waves.
“It’s delicious.”
“Thank goodness.”
Each spoonful satisfied her so thoroughly that April cleaned every last bite from the generous bowl Pejin had filled for her.
It wasn’t like the typical thinking of Right Island people—that filling one’s stomach was all that mattered.
Pejin had nagged her so often about eating nothing but pancakes that she’d decided to explore food a bit more.
After the meal, they unpacked the Tea and Biscuits from the Picnic Basket.
The food was from a farm, but the Tea was supplied to the royal court. The Biscuits, though stale from age, were merely adequate, but the Tea was exceptional.
Sipping the Tea, April spoke.
“Rasa uses a great many spices. Even the Tea has flavor infused in it.”
“Compared to Right Island, certainly. Besides, we don’t really care what grows here.”
“Tell me some drawbacks of Left Island. It’s unfair. Can the weather really be this different just because the latitude is somewhat different?”
“It’s more than just somewhat different, honestly.”
“Whose side are you on?”
“I’m on your side no matter what happens, but even so, some things just are what they are.”
“I don’t want to talk to you anymore.”
“Suit yourself—I’m content just looking at you.”
“Don’t look at my face either.”
“How can I not?”
“I could cover it.”
“That would only inconvenience you.”
Pejin smirked and set down his spoon entirely, resting his chin in his hand to gaze at her. The pettiness of this squabble struck April as absurd, and she let out a short laugh. Then genuine laughter burst from her.
“I become so childish when I’m with you. I’m not like this normally.”
“I have no idea why, but I only get like this when I’m with you too.”
Pejin replied and laughed along with her.
Gazing at her with that smile, Pejin opened his mouth.
“Actually, I know why. I love you, which is why I’m like this. But why do you think you’re the same?”
As candlelight flickered across the sharp planes of his face, Pejin declared his love and waited for her answer.
He clearly understood his own appeal with remarkable precision. He grasped exactly which expressions, which tones of voice, could captivate another person.
April did not reject his allure and slowly parted her lips.
“Because you started acting childish first.”
“So you’re accepting my childishness because I’ve fallen in love with you and become this way?”
“Yes.”
“And you don’t love me?”
Originally, Pejin was not the type to press questions with such persistence. On the contrary, he tended to evade difficult matters and felt uncomfortable with direct inquiries.
But now he did not retreat. Like Waves crashing against rock, so utterly unshaken that the impact seemed to affect him not at all.
Because of that composed demeanor, April did not fully grasp how thoroughly her answer could shatter him into pieces.
“Love…”
She released the word but added nothing more. Pejin leaned back in his chair and laughed like a child.
He knew that even if April answered that she loved him, he would not be satisfied with that answer. So this hesitation—this was perfect.
He had endured countless false declarations of love. Perhaps that was why love itself now seemed something he was not permitted to have.
Above all, Pejin did not want to cause her pain through this emotion that gnawed at him from within.
After laughing for a long while, Pejin spoke to her.
“April, listen.”
“I’m thinking about my answer. Give me a little more time.”
“I’m not trying to rush you.”
He gazed at her with eyes that mimicked the warmth of the teacup he felt in his hands.
“Even if you choose the world over me, I won’t hate you.”
“What are you suddenly talking about?”
April furrowed her brow in question, and Pejin answered.
“When War begins. When somewhere an explosion is said to be necessary once more.”

“Just do what you have to. Don’t be afraid.”
At his words, April’s expression gradually hardened.
“That was just a scare tactic in a news article. It won’t actually happen. Besides, the doctor said that any Fog at all would be dangerous for you—you know that.”
“Ah, I shouldn’t have mentioned it. I’ve given you unnecessary worries.”
“Let me say it again: that situation won’t come to pass.”
“It won’t. But what if. What if my life and the lives of Right Island’s people were placed on opposite sides of a scale?”
“That’s why I’m telling you that situation won’t come.”
“We’re standing on top of the worst situation right now. Even if the worst we see now becomes the best, I wouldn’t be surprised. I know you’ll choose the many. I just want you to understand that.”
“Understand what?”
“I love the word ‘love.’ It seemed like the most truthful thing I could say. April, I…”
Pejin’s voice sounded like the roar of Waves heard from a distant shore.
“I truly love you. Every choice you make.”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————