The Mansion Awaits Spring - Chapter 214

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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 214
After hearing April’s words, Pejin spoke with a calm that seemed almost unreal.
“April, I know what you’ve been living for. But if this island falls, there’s nothing after that. You’re the most important thing in the Lunos Family, April.”
……
“As for the Grand Residence, the Grand Duke’s House will compensate you somehow.”
“What can you take from a dead man?”
At her savage words, Pejin let out a bitter laugh.
“Who’s dying? I’m fine. Doctors always exaggerate everything anyway.”
“How can you be so certain of that?”
“I’m fine, I’m telling you. Truth is, well……”
Pejin held her gaze steady as he continued.
“If you’re content to blow up the residence, then I want to give you victory. I don’t care if I die, as long as your ambitions are realized.”
To April, the fact that he could wear such a radiant expression while speaking of his own death seemed genuinely, truly strange.
“April, this is my dream.”
……
“Once I started loving you more than my own life, it became my only dream. No, rather—it’s probably the first real dream I’ve ever had. Your victory.”
Why was this island always so cold?
April had lived here her entire life, yet still, there were times when that chill tormented her.
Some days she wanted to leave this place. Since she’d never lived anywhere else, the alternative was hazy—just some imaginary place beyond the island, somewhere to escape to on a whim.
April gave no answer to Pejin’s words and simply turned away.
Pejin remained where he stood, giving her a moment alone, before returning to the conference chamber.
The meetings continued without pause. Throughout, soldiers and police came and went, delivering reports from various quarters.
When Pejin suggested a brief recess, a Naval Officer happened to arrive from Lunos Harbor.
April called him aside and asked quietly.
“How serious is Pejin’s condition?”
At April’s question, the Naval Officer’s expression grew uncomfortable as he replied.
……Nothing out of the ordinary.
It seemed they’d coordinated their story before departure.
The fact that even this Naval Officer would say such a thing meant that Shaper had agreed to align with that account. Usually such rivals, yet only in moments like these.
“You’re choosing sides very conveniently. Do you really think it’s right for a husband to hide his illness from his wife?”
“That’s not… it’s not what I…”
“If not that, then what?”
“No… I…”
“Speak plainly. Say exactly what you mean.”
This Naval Officer had heard that before departure, Pejin had said a soldier couldn’t deceive a merchant, so he had to go himself. The words proved true to form.
April pressed harder. Unable to withstand her interrogation alone, the Naval Officer’s face crumpled and he opened his mouth.
“A Rasa vessel arrived carrying a large quantity of explosives. They seemed intent on obliterating the harbor beyond use. Nearly all the revenue potential from Right Island at present is concentrated in that port, you see.”
“Yet you protected it.”
“Yes. His Highness and the Commander both ordered the harbor defended at all costs. We had to sink the enemy vessel before its cannons could reach the port. However, Right Island’s naval firepower alone couldn’t sink the enemy ship. So His Highness suggested we make use of the small rocky outcrops near the harbor.”
The Naval Officer sighed once and continued.
“As you know, our ships are weak in durability but extremely fast at changing direction, with very shallow draft. The Commander guided the navy perfectly, and the enemy vessel followed obediently into the rocky strait. Then a hidden reef the enemy didn’t detect dealt heavy damage to their hull and began sinking them. However, the ship had drawn so close to the harbor by then that some of their firepower bombarded the wharf.”
“How severe is the damage?”
“The fishermen remaining at the harbor say it can be repaired within about a month.”
“That’s fortunate.”
After the Naval Officer finished his report, he sighed once more and began relaying Pejin’s condition.
“And when that gunpowder dust was blown about by the wind and covered the harbor, His Highness began coughing.”
“……Was it serious?”
“Actually… I only heard secondhand, so I can’t say with complete accuracy. They say he was moved directly to the Villa, and besides a few police officers there and Commander Shaper, I don’t think anyone knows exactly. In any case, from what I know, a doctor was called in, and not long after, His Highness came back outside. The Commander tried to stop him, but he was stubborn as they come.”
The Naval Officer, who had carelessly called the Grand Duke stubborn, hastily covered his mouth. But reassured by April’s nod to continue, he went on.
“Still, since he arrived here safely… perhaps it wasn’t as serious as we feared? You’ve seen before how he’s gone into the sea and didn’t catch cold from it.”
Regarding Pejin’s actual condition, it seemed only those closest to him truly knew.
April nodded at the explanation and dismissed the Naval Officer.
In any case, the fact that even a Naval Officer not especially close to Pejin had witnessed his coughing was evidence that his symptoms were grave.
Pejin must have hidden his condition even from those nearest to him—yet it had become visible even to strangers.
April stood for a moment, then headed to the room Pejin had been given. She opened the door without knocking, and Pejin, who had been standing before the open window, turned to face her.
His face was pale, and the handkerchief in his hand was soaked with blood.
Pejin tucked it into his pocket and spoke.
“Is this your house? Why do you march into someone else’s room like that?”
He chided her, but his expression betrayed a smile he couldn’t hide.
That face that always welcomed her, today it only kindled her anger.
Seeing her angry expression, Pejin ventured carefully.
“Did you ask that Naval Officer about my condition?”
“Yes.”
“I thought you’d let it go.”
“I did let it go. I didn’t ask you, did I?”
“It’s fine. It wasn’t even serious.”
With that, Pejin turned toward April.
“Let’s go. I’m hungry.”
……
“Since merchants have been coming and going here, there’s much more food now. It was only pancakes because merchants weren’t around. I see now.”
April listened quietly to him and gestured to a chair.
“Sit. We need to talk.”
“About what?”
“Just sit first.”
She said so and asked the Servant to prepare tea.
While the tea was being readied, April looked around his room.
There were only two things.
Materials related to war, and April Lunos.
Maps of the two islands, and more detailed coastal and nautical charts.
Scattered among all those numbers were traces of April Lunos—gifts she’d given him, letters, books with her photograph tucked inside.
It seemed the only things truly meaningful to him were those two.
April murmured, her voice hollow.
“Your life really is boring. War or me, that’s it.”
At her words, Pejin laughed.
“Actually, it’s just you. The war—I only want to win it for you.”
“Is that enough? Nothing but me?”
“Enough?”
Pejin laughed as if bewildered.
“I had nothing before. Then I got one thing.”
……
“It’s more than enough. It’s perfect.”
He spoke with a pleased expression.
Just then the Servant arrived with tea. After pouring and setting a cup before each of them, the Servant left. Only then did April, having gathered her thoughts, speak.
“Pejin, you said something last night, didn’t you? That you were afraid I’d die.”
“I did.”
“I thought about it… and I can’t accept it. Because I’m frightened too.”
At her words, Pejin nodded.
“I understand. That you don’t want to send anyone around you anymore—”
“That’s not what I mean.”
At her interruption, Pejin paused and looked at her.
She continued.
“I won’t accept you dying.”
Even at April’s words, Pejin tried to convince her again.
“I told you. I want you to have this sea… everything. And I wouldn’t hesitate to give my life for that.”
To his words, April answered with quiet firmness.
“I refuse.”
“What do you refuse? It’s your only goal.”
“No. I can build things up again from the beginning, one piece at a time. I know from experience. The things I thought mattered at first—they don’t. What matters is this sea. What matters is the Lunos Family’s trading partners beyond that sea. And what matters most of all is me.”
……
“If I survive, I can create anything again from nothing. I can do it. I matter most. What I want matters most!”
Her voice rose with mounting emotion, but then she drew a breath and composing herself, spoke again.
“So no matter what I possess, I won’t accept your death.”
April looked at Pejin, who had hardened into silence, unable to utter a word—whether from good reason or bad—and declared.
“I’ll throw away everything I have to save your life. That’s my choice.”

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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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