The Mansion Awaits Spring - Chapter 228

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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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Episode 228
Sevioh followed close behind Hannah as she walked briskly through the streets of the Capital City. The keen hunting dog seemed wary, alert to a cityscape far different from its usual surroundings.
“It’s rather frightening. Feels like ghosts might appear……”
Hannah murmured, drawing her body inward.
Since the people of Right Island were not naturally boisterous by nature, the Capital City had never been particularly loud either. Yet with its inhabitants departed, the empty streets felt desolate and utterly unfamiliar.
Every building had sealed every door tight, as if in the midst of a blizzard, but the sight sat ill with April, a month when snow rarely fell.
A place she knew had become one she didn’t recognize.
Though a coward, Hannah preferred being with Fred. But Fred had to evacuate with Bauman, responsible for his safety, leaving her behind on that flight.
Fred, who was almost like family to her, had wept bitterly at their parting. Still, he had accepted the separation nonetheless.
Both children carried important duties. Just as Fred had received a task from April to persuade Bauman, Hannah had been assigned a mission by Pejin.
Pejin, knowing he would take the battlefield, had handed Hannah a Temporary Police Badge days earlier.
“This is your chance to prove your character as a police officer. I’m entrusting you with the safety of the Lunos Grand Residence. Guard it well. Do your very best.”
Pejin had placed the safety of the Lunos Grand Residence in Hannah’s hands.
Such extraordinary trust was a decision that could only be called bending the arm inward. April had been right that the police looked after their own.
Hannah, turning the Temporary Police Badge over in her pocket, urged herself onward.
“Let’s hurry and gather what we need.”
The School, one of the shelters designated by April Lunos, had gathered quite a crowd.
Since it was believed that Rasa would spare at least the School, Hospital, and Church from attack, the Grand Duke had recommended evacuation to these three places primarily, and the people had followed suit.
Hannah and Sevioh entered the School’s Library and borrowed more than enough books to read during however long the break might stretch.
While the Lunos Grand Residence held many books, most concerned Trade, navigation, geography, and similar subjects. Hannah and Fred might have anything they needed purchased by April, but the children preferred the library.
After filling her bag with books and leaving the library, Hannah discovered a stack of newspapers left freely for anyone to take in front of the Newspaper Office, its lights burning even amid this urgent situation.
Hannah picked up one of the papers.
[Rasa Police have confirmed the execution of two Dieusz Grand Duchy citizens who fled their registered residences. It occurred just two days after the previous family shooting incident.]
At the end of the article was the name of a third-country journalist able to cross between the two islands.
This brief article alone was sufficient to reveal the terrible oppression being waged against Dieusz Grand Duchy citizens in Rasa.
Had April not spent foreign currency to charter two full ships and bring Right Island people across, the death toll in articles like this would have swelled overwhelmingly.
Hannah, along with most of the Right Island people, harbored the same thought.
Hannah clenched her teeth. It frustrated her that there wasn’t much she could do right now.
And yet.
Hannah placed the newspaper in her bag and pulled out the police badge Pejin had given her.
She wanted to become a police officer. To catch all the bad people. Pejin had laughed, calling it a fine ambition, but Paul had told her that protecting citizens’ safety was a more important duty than catching criminals.
She decided she would determine which was more important after becoming a police officer herself.
Having gathered the books and returned from the Capital City with Sevioh, Hannah spotted April standing on Lunos Hill.
Hannah rushed toward April with Sevioh at her side.
“Head of House! Why are you outside?”
“Oh, I was waiting for you. I’m about to lock the door.”
“You could have waited inside……”
“I was growing worried. Let’s go in quickly.”
April greeted Hannah with a face suggesting nothing was amiss. Hannah, watching Sevioh press against April’s side, spoke with a maturity beyond her years.
“Walks will be difficult for a while. Still, please be patient. I know it’s frustrating, but I’ll bear it too.”
Whether or not Sevioh understood Hannah’s words was unclear, but as April closed the door, Sevioh gazed outward as long as possible. Then the Grand Residence’s door was shut.
Hannah watched April’s back as she lingered before the closed door, unable to turn away easily.
At least until now, Hannah had never witnessed April breaking down. And she was certain it would remain that way.
Yet somehow, even that felt unjust now.
Ever since Eleonore had sewn her work clothes, April wore nothing but those monochrome garments whenever she moved about.
From Hannah’s vantage point, April lived diligently and would surely continue to do so. In peacetime, as she had done for Hannah and Fred, she would have steadily invested in education, built toward the future, and devoted herself to expanding her own domain in the present.
But given the state of things, she was forced instead to strip away everything she possessed just to restore the negative back to zero.
Hannah, naturally hot-blooded, felt a sudden surge of indignation and clenched her fists.
The anger would not be contained. The fact that she resembled her father in times like these made the fury burn all the hotter. Holding it in and holding it in, tears finally came pouring down.
After gazing at the door for a time, April turned to find Hannah sobbing, her eyes red-rimmed from holding back tears, and her expression became troubled.
She was about to ask why, but then recalled Pejin would chide her to console first and ask questions later, so April simply wrapped her arms around Hannah and patted her back.
Only after soothing Hannah did April ask.
“Are you frightened?”
“No!”
“……Oh, I figured I was wrong.”
April murmured, seeming somewhat deflated.
After crying in April’s arms for some time, Hannah finally stifled her sobs, her lips pouting as she spoke.
“I’m so angry about all this.”
“I know. I feel the same way.”
“But I don’t want to cry…… yet the tears keep coming. You don’t cry, Head of House, and crying makes me feel pathetic……”
At Hannah’s words, April’s brow furrowed slightly.
“Why would you say such a thing? Crying doesn’t make you look pathetic. It’s just a bodily response. What can you do about it?”
“Then, what about anger?”
“That one you should control a little. Too much anger makes your temperament seem poor.”
“I am trying to hold it in, but sometimes it just bursts out. I must take after my father. I really hate it……”
“Taking after your parents is something you simply can’t help. But I think your temperament is fine.”
At her words, Hannah gave a small sniff and blinked, asking.
“Really?”
“Yes. I like how honest you are. And I like that you can flare up so suddenly.”
“……Is that so?”
“Yes, truly.”
Hannah, confident that April’s words could not be wrong, shifted from her tear-stained face into thought, then quickly broke into a bright laugh. And immediately afterward, she spoke with renewed spirits.
“Now that I think about it, that does seem right.”
“Doesn’t it?”
The two of them spoke thus, gathered some light refreshments to discuss the tasks ahead, and both found themselves pausing once on the stairs to gaze toward the firmly closed door.
These locked doors, which had once meant blizzard, now meant war.
After eating their refreshments, before each retired to their room, Hannah withdrew the Temporary Police Badge and offered it to April.
“Head of House, would you…… attach this to my School Uniform?”
“What is that?”
April took the badge to examine it and found herself stopping mid-motion without realizing it. Hannah spoke.
“It’s difficult to fasten with one hand. I could do it, really, but it would mean more if you did it for me.”
“Pejin gave you this?”
“Yes, he said to take good care of the Lunos Grand Residence and the citizens of the Capital City.”
“Those police officers, really……”
At April’s chiding remark, Hannah let out a bright laugh.
April began to pin the badge onto the pocket of Hannah’s school uniform jacket, but her hand trembled and she paused for a moment.
Just as she had taught Fred to shave, Pejin had given Hannah this badge. He always made such preparations before he left, for her sake.
April moved her hand again and spoke.
“Entrusting you with police duties means he’s already designated you as a police officer.”
“Yes, Your Highness said the same.”
“Your dream has come true.”
“Thanks to you, Head of House.”
April gave a small laugh at Hannah’s spirited voice and spoke.
“There. Still…… I’m glad there’s something to smile about.”
April realized that even as Pejin departed, he had given her reason to smile.

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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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