The Mansion Awaits Spring - Chapter 227

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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 227
With the Emperor’s Declaration of War issued, there was no time to waste.
After issuing orders for troop movements and completing all Military Departure preparations, Pejin began his final meal with April at the Lunos Family Estate late that night before they departed northward together.
When the meal ended, the two took a brief walk around the Grand Residence. Their memories were scattered across every corner of the Fiefdom.
Both Pejin and April walked through the Garden as if they were simply spending an ordinary day off, unremarkable and peaceful. April spoke with a childlike laugh.
“I’m telling you, that’s really what happened.”
“When did I ever do that?”
“There are witnesses. Ask Kayani Marrow.”
“No, thanks. Someone from your family will take your side anyway.”
As they exchanged memories and walked on, the carriage that would carry Pejin came into view.
There was no time to stay even one more day—Pejin would have to leave the Lunos Family Estate.
April understood in her mind that Pejin would participate in the War. But she had put off accepting it in her heart, and now neither sorrow nor regret had been granted to either of them.
Without one stepping before the other, their pace slowed, and Pejin spoke.
“That meeting earlier—I really appreciated you speaking up for me. It felt good.”
At his cheerful tone, April murmured back.
“Having internal conflict at a time like this makes me angry.”
“Right?”
“I was taught that if you want something, you have to know how to control your anger.”
As April said this, she suddenly turned to face Pejin.
“But when you’re involved, I can’t do that.”
At her words, Pejin responded with satisfaction.
“It’s fine. Everyone will admit they backed me up this time. And you looked incredibly strong.”
“I looked strong—so why are you looking pleased with yourself?”
“Because husbands and wives are supposed to go together, aren’t they?”
“That’s true, but…”
As they talked, they arrived at the carriage. Finally, April spoke to him.
“Let’s take one more walk around.”
“Sure. The weather’s nice enough anyway—let’s walk a bit more.”
Though Pejin answered so readily, April knew it wasn’t right and stopped in her tracks.
“No. Go.”
“We can walk around once more.”
“I can’t. If we do, I won’t be able to let you go…”
April murmured this and slowly released the hand she had been holding.
But Pejin caught her hand again. His voice grew urgent.
“I want to walk around once more. I think I need that to be able to leave.”
“…”
“Let’s walk a little longer. For me. All right?”
At Pejin’s pleading tone, April smiled and nodded.
After that one more turn around the grounds, they arrived back at the front of the Grand Residence. Shaper Meyer, who had eaten and drunk his fill at the Sailor’s House—courtesy of April and the Naval Forces—and slept soundly, stepped outside to prepare for departure when he spotted Pejin and complained irritably.
“Why is that bastard still here?”
Pejin then asked with obvious displeasure.
“And why are you always showing up here to sleep whenever you feel like it?”
“Because a lot of my men are staying at the Sailor’s House, I sleep here sometimes. Didn’t you hear? Though, honestly, who even recognizes you as a Grand Duke?”
“I live here, so what business is it of yours? How do you expect to survive the War drinking until the night before departure?”
“Ah, please. I’ll come back far more lively than you will.”
The two began their quarrel the moment they saw each other, and April, who had been worried she would cry seeing Pejin off, let out a small laugh. At that laugh, Shaper Meyer twisted his expression and turned to ask.
“You’re laughing because you think we’re both idiots, aren’t you?”
Then Pejin frowned and chided him.
“I was only thinking you’re the stupid one.”
“You have no idea how stupid you look when you’re with April.”
“April loves me, so she doesn’t think I look stupid.”
Pejin said this, then glanced at April and asked.
“…Right?”
April averted her gaze and answered.
“A little… No, sometimes?”
“Sometimes? Not often?”
“No, definitely not often.”
As they talked, Pejin burst out laughing first. Finding the sight of that laugh repulsive, Shaper Meyer turned to April with a disgusted face and said.
“Then I’m going.”
“Yes. Be careful. Please.”
“What’s there to be careful about in War? I’ll just survive however I can with my animal instincts in the moment.”
At Shaper Meyer’s bluster, April nodded and replied.
“That’s right. Among humans, you’re closest to an animal.”
“Hey!”
“Though, compared to when you were young, you’ve become much more human now.”
When April teased him like this, Shaper Meyer sighed in lament.
“Anyway, you two only do this to me.”
“You call the Head of the Lunos House ‘that one’—can you imagine?”
Pejin, who had let Shaper Meyer’s habit of calling him “that bastard” pass all along, now took issue with his form of address toward April, and Shaper Meyer muttered with an exhausted expression.
“Don’t take sides—it’s annoying. Anyway, I’m really going.”
As Shaper Meyer spoke and began to depart with the Naval Forces toward the Southern Factory Region, Pejin said.
“Shaper.”
“What?”
“Come back alive.”
At Pejin’s words, Shaper Meyer gave a snort of laughter. Then, without another word, he turned and left. April watched him recede into the distance, then turned her gaze back to Pejin.
The two were silent for a while, and then Pejin, wanting to make her laugh, spoke first.
“April.”
“Yes.”
“Let’s come back alive.”
Finding it amusing that he had simply repeated what he’d just said, April let out a small laugh. Then she nodded.
Pejin thought that as long as she didn’t tell him to go first, he would never say he would leave before her. So he stood frozen in front of her until, gently, he clasped her hand. And then he said something else instead.
“Your hand is really so soft.”
“I suppose. It wasn’t like that when I lived alone.”
“That’s right. At first it was rough and hardened, but now it’s soft.”
Since the day April had first been released from confinement and they met, the two had been drawn together. From then on they had fallen in love, and now they stood here. Pejin caressed her hand endlessly, then spoke again.
“I’ve been thinking—I was really lucky. That I got to know you from the day you first stepped outside this residence.”
“In what way were you lucky?”
When April asked this, Pejin answered, his expression slightly overwhelmed.
“Because I saw with my own eyes how remarkable you were. From when you first launched the ship, through every step after that. So when I return, I’ll spread it around everywhere—I doubt the world has ever seen a woman quite like you.”
Pejin continued, speaking with deliberately bright energy to make her laugh even more.
“I’ll come back as soon as the War ends. From now on, you’ll see me so often you’ll grow tired of it. And I’ll be part of your glory.”
“…”
“Let’s become a really wonderful grandmother and grandfather together.”
At Pejin’s words, April laughed this time with a louder voice. At that sound, a few of the officers waiting for Pejin turned to look. Their tense faces eased a little.
April took a deep breath and spoke to Pejin.
“That’s right. It’s all going to happen the way you say.”
“Isn’t it?”
“Pejin.”
“Yes.”
“Right now, I’m truly proud of you.”
April said this with a smile.
At her words, Pejin lost his voice for a moment and stood still.
He had been ashamed of his brother, and therefore ashamed of his House. He had been ashamed of the trace of Dieusz that remained in his name, and ultimately ashamed of himself.
And now Pejin understood that he had become someone who could do nothing without April’s permission. He had returned to this island with joy after she told him to come back, and he could not head to the battlefield before she told him to leave.
Even this shame that seemed it would consume him forever came to an end the moment she said she was proud of him.
It was only after some time that Pejin truly burst out laughing. And he brought her hand to his lips and kissed it.
That this truth—that her approval changed everything about him in every moment—could be so precious was almost unbearable. Each moment was a treasured memory.
April laughed more brightly for him and waved her hand.
“Come back. Come back alive.”
“Even if I return empty-handed.”
“Yes. Even if you return empty-handed, just live.”
Pejin nodded firmly at her words and turned away. Then he spoke to his men.
“Let’s come back alive!”
“Yes, sir!”
“Of course we will.”
His men answered thus and mounted their respective steeds. In an instant, they departed from the Lunos Fiefdom.
On a certain day in April, April stood alone on Lunos Hill, where everyone had departed.
Waiting for spring to arrive, ever so slowly.

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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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