The Mansion Awaits Spring - Chapter 213

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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 213
“What time is it? Why aren’t you asleep?”
Pejin had appeared in the depths of night himself, yet there he was, offering reproach the moment she opened the door.
She couldn’t fathom how he’d returned so quickly, but the sight of his face brought relief first—and when April spotted him standing there, she wrapped both arms around him without hesitation.
“You’re back early.”
At her unexpected welcome, Pejin’s brow furrowed slightly as he held her in return.
“Why such a greeting? A victory gift?”
“Yes.”
“I like it.”
After burying her face in his chest for a moment, April had sufficiently grasped that Pejin was truly back. She lifted her head to look up at him and asked.
“But why are you here? Better yet—how are you here?”
“There’s too much to do back here, so I came back. We need to hold a meeting. Ah, can we hold it here?”
“Why ask something obvious? You live here.”
At April’s reply, complete with a furrowed brow, Pejin’s expression—stiffened by fatigue—softened.
“True enough. I just needed to confirm it.”
“If you doubt it again, ask. I’ll confirm it for you once more.”
“Wow, you’re really good at this. Isn’t it strange to be treated this way?”
Pejin spoke with a teasing lilt, then beat April to the punch, noting the worry she couldn’t hide in her eyes.
“Actually, I’ve caught a cold.”
“A cold?”
“Yeah, so my voice—which was already strange—has gotten worse.”
“You’re from Right Island. How are you catching colds so easily? Did you jump in the sea?”
“Not that. I was cold without you.”
A smile crossed Pejin’s face at how naturally April had called him a “Right Island person.” He pulled her close, wrapping both arms around her. Then he murmured, almost as if sighing.
“Ah, why do I like you so much? Just seeing your face lifts my spirits.”
April could tell from the sound of his voice alone that his throat was in poor condition, but she said nothing about it for now.
He’d come all this way through the blizzard with a face weathered by exhaustion because he didn’t want to talk about such things.
Of course, that didn’t mean she planned to let it rest forever.
Resting against the arms that encircled her, April studied his face as she spoke.
“You look ugly tonight.”
“That’s what you say to someone who’s rushed through the night?”
April laughed at his reproach as though it were a jest. But her laughter was brief, and her face darkened again as she asked.
“Did many people die?”
Pejin nodded.
The enemy’s losses had been far greater, but Right Island’s damage was not insignificant.
Most of the deaths had come from the navy. With the number of missing also substantial, the naval forces who’d barely finished the naval battle and the fishermen who’d remained in the harbor were working together to search the night sea.
April looked up at him for a moment, then raised her hands to his shoulders. Sensing she was examining him, Pejin asked.
“What are you doing?”
“Is it the cold?”
“What?”
“Your body is trembling.”
At April’s words, Pejin stilled. Then he placed his own hand over hers where it rested on his shoulder.
The trembling was indeed there, just as she’d said. Pejin exhaled quietly.
“Really is trembling.”
April listened to him murmur this, then spoke in a soothing voice.
“Or are you afraid?”
……
Her question brought the trembling to a momentary halt.
After thinking for a while, Pejin nodded.
“Yes. I’m afraid.”
Pejin’s murmur continued.
“So this is what fear feels like. I haven’t felt it in so long—it’s strange.”
“Lucky you.”
At April’s reproach, Pejin laughed despite himself.
Only after hearing her words did he recognize that he’d been afraid.
And once he’d acknowledged that fear, his thoughts turned to what he didn’t want to lose.
Defeat in war.
The lives of Right Island’s citizens.
Or losing their freedom.
His own death.
And in the end, he understood the source of his fear—what he was most terrified of losing.
“I’m afraid you might die.”
……
“That’s what I fear most. Truly, it is……”
Speaking thus, Pejin buried his face against April’s shoulder, and his body began to tremble in earnest. Before her, who understood his heart, he could hide nothing. As always, the space beside April Lunos was a haven of peace for him.
Pejin, lacking the strength to remain standing, fell asleep the moment he finished his bedtime preparations—collapsed into slumber like a man no longer conscious.
April, lying beside him, raised herself up with a sigh.
His voice must have sounded strange even to his own ears. And yet on this harsh night, Pejin had come all this way to meet her.
He must have judged that coming in person was the best way to set her mind at ease.
April stroked his hair.
A sweet soap scent wafted from the silken strands that slipped through her fingers.
When he’d first stood before her door, the smell of gunpowder had clung to him; but before settling into her bed to sleep, he’d washed it away completely.
As April stroked his hair, Pejin stirred slightly and buried his face in her chest.
April apologized.
“Sorry—did I wake you? Sleep more.”
At her unusually tender apology, Pejin gave a small laugh. And as he did, he murmured.
“Love me more.”
“Can’t do that. Sleep.”
“No. Touch me more. I love your touch. Because I love you.”
Pejin spoke drowsily.
“I love you, April……”
After murmuring this several times, he slipped back into sleep.
April found herself exhaling quietly, and she drew him close, soothing him gently.
All in all, she thought, he was a difficult man to hate.
* * *
Pejin did not sleep long. The tension born of heavy responsibility prevented him from falling into a deep slumber from the start.
Only after he woke and completed his meeting preparations did the conference attendees enter the Lunos Grand Residence’s Conference Hall.
The Conference Hall held every War Department meeting participant except Shaper, who was undergoing maintenance at Lunos Harbor.
Though it was a meeting held after victory, the atmosphere hung heavy and oppressive.
First, there came a brief account of the battle that had taken place at Lunos Harbor.
When that concluded, Pejin opened his mouth.
“Our firepower is insufficient. Once war begins in earnest, we won’t be able to hold out long.”
He’d barely managed to stop this bombing, but he felt more thoroughly than ever that there would be no second chance.
As Pejin—who had actually been in the field and knew the situation of both islands best—continued his explanation on that point, those attending the conference fell into silence.
Of them all, only April sat with her arms folded, eyes fixed intently on Pejin.
This detailed explanation of Right Island’s current circumstances was, in truth, meant to convince just one person.
The greatest firepower on this island was held by the fiefdom of his intended target for persuasion. And Pejin was telling her that he might need to use that firepower.
April finally let out a bitter laugh.
Just hours ago, the man had sworn his love in her arms; now he was urging her to destroy the most precious thing she possessed.
One was this residence—where she’d been born and raised, where she’d fought desperately to protect, and where she now lived with Pejin. The other was the life of Pejin Deus.
April cut in on Pejin’s explanation of the situation.
“So you’re saying we should blow up the Lunos Grand Residence?”
At her words, the atmosphere of the conference hall grew even heavier.
As if anticipating that sharp voice, Pejin answered calmly.
“Of course, nothing like that would ever happen without your permission. I understand how much you despise the idea. It’s absolutely not a demand.”
“Let’s talk outside. Is that alright?”
April spoke thus and stood first.
Pejin sighed, asked the chair to continue the meeting, then looked toward her and nodded.
“Yeah, this concerns your personal property after all.”
“Right. Personal property.”
April murmured this with a derisive snort. Then she turned sharply and left, with Pejin following in her wake.
The two of them now stood on the Rooftop of the Lunos Grand Residence, where no one could hear their conversation. Under Bauman’s oversight, it was always kept neat and tidy, though the cold wind wrapping around them was unavoidable.
Standing there on the rooftop, April spoke first.
“Try to convince me.”
She continued, her face expressionless as she looked at Pejin.
“Try to convince me to make a choice that gets you killed.”

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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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