The Mansion Awaits Spring - Chapter 29

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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 29
After all that play, it was time to leave, but Hannah and Fred made their desire to stay a little longer quite clear.
“I want to play more…….”
“More play…….”
Hannah and Fred took turns saying so, but past midnight, both of them were drowsy beyond measure—their eyes barely open, yawning without cease.
Paul scooped one child under each arm, finding them ready to sleep the moment they had something to lean against.
“Next time, you two save up your money and come play on your own.”
“Mm…….”
“Now…….”
Just as expected, the moment the children found something to lean on, they both fell silent and dropped off to sleep entirely.
Logan laughed beside him, clutching his belly.
“They fall asleep so fast—you must be pretty comfortable, senior. Maybe you need more exercise?”
“Get out of here, you brat.”
Paul made a kicking motion, and Logan mimed stumbling backward into the distance.
All the officers left the Amusement Park in good spirits.
Pagine was a gentleman in any case, so he took responsibility for the party departing from the Runos Estate and saw them all the way to the mansion’s door.
April spoke to Pagine as he prepared to return by carriage.
“Stay the night. We have plenty of rooms.”
“In a house where you haven’t prepared anything for guests?”
“What do you mean, preparations.”
“Have you changed the bed sheets?”
“Should change them.”
“Have you washed them?”
“Should wash them.”
April found herself struck anew by the realization that those thirty staff members who had worked at the Runos Estate had not let a single day pass idly.
Indeed, to restore the mansion to its proper function, thirty employees would have to be rehired.
Pagine sighed and spoke.
“Wash the sheets and invite me.”
“No chance now. Not inviting you.”
“Wow, I’ve never seen someone so unregretful about it.”
After remarking so, Pagine bade farewell and waved his hand.
April hesitated for a moment, then waved her hand a little in return, and for some reason that struck Pagine as funny—he chuckled and vanished into the darkness.
After seeing Pagine off and turning back, Bauman, standing behind the door, spoke to her with a look of quiet contentment.
“It seems you enjoyed yourself. Your expression has brightened.”
“It was fun.”
April recognized a certain hope lurking in Bauman’s pleased expression. So she shook her head. Shook it, and shook it again, then laughed.
Her hatred for Grand Duke Dius and his wife had not diminished one bit—she could not want Pagine Dius.
That was only natural.
It was exactly as it should be.
* * *
Pagine too had enjoyed himself. He truly had, yet somewhere in the middle of drinking with the officers after seeing April home, a melancholy of unknown origin welled up inside him.
He recalled his brother’s words to stay at the Grand Duke’s Residence for a while. Upon arriving there, he went straight to find his brother, and Miller, emerging into the parlor in the early dawn while fastening his nightshirt, grumbled.
“Are you out of your mind? At this hour of the morning…….”
As he muttered, Miller’s eyes widened at the intoxication he could feel radiating from Pagine even from a distance.
“You’re drunk?”
“A bit.”
Pagine flopped down onto the sofa, but the alcohol pulled him sideways and he slumped over.
Miller frowned and asked.
“How much have you had to drink?”
“People are multifaceted.”
“That’s true enough…… but why?”
At Miller’s question, Pagine opened the eyes he had shut. Yet still he saw nothing.
Pagine mumbled.
“Do you remember how I was after our parents died?”
At those words from Pagine, the corner of Miller’s concerned mouth hardened.
He leaned back against the sofa’s armrest and spoke.
“No. And I don’t want to remember.”
“I remember.”
“You do?”
Much younger than Hannah and Fred, Pagine had wept every day, searching for his parents every day.
Miller had no opportunity to grieve their deaths. All day long he soothed Pagine, and soothed him again.
He recalled his parents’ wish for him to marry into the Runos Family, and in those vertiginous circumstances, he began arranging a betrothal.
Pagine now pictured Miller’s young, boyish face as he was then—not yet twenty, still the very picture of youth.
Miller held the child in both arms while listening to Pagine’s pleas—that he needed nothing, only for their parents to be placed before his eyes.
“I’m sorry. I can’t give you that. I’m sorry…….”
The marriage to Heidi Basanta was perhaps the one thing in Miller Dius’s life that could not be compromised.
Pagine knew that in the anguish accumulated up until the moment Miller resolved to erase the Runos Family from the Grand Duchy, his own role had accounted for more than half.
Pagine straightened up. Then, recalling that pain of long ago, he bent toward Miller—who was now wearing a bitter expression—and drew him into an embrace.
Miller laughed in bewilderment.
“What’s wrong with you? You really are quite drunk.”
“I’m on your side. Of course I am.”
“I know. Why are you saying something so obvious?”
Miller laughed and patted Pagine’s back, as he once had—as one would pat a child.
“And I’ve always been on your side too.”
Pagine buried his face in Miller’s shoulder and nodded.
He rose shortly after, and in that firm, upright posture, Miller recognized that Pagine was not as drunk as he appeared.
So Miller understood that his younger brother was now caught in some unsolvable pain. And he knew that pain arose from his care for Miller himself.
Miller said nothing about it.
He swallowed down the words that surged to his throat—words that would say: do as you wish, do as your heart desires—forced them back down.
He sensed instinctively that freeing Pagine with such words would harm himself.
Pagine met Miller’s gaze and slowly read his intent.
Then he nodded and left the parlor.
At the sound of the door closing behind Pagine, Heidi too stirred awake, and she walked into the parlor fastening her robe.
“What is it?”
“Pagine was here.”
“Pagine? At this hour?”
Heidi glanced at the clock and wore an expression of surprise.
Miller knew that Pagine had rented the Amusement Park today for a visit with April Runos.
So it was clear that part of his younger brother’s melancholy had its cause in April.
“Heidi.”
“Hmm?”
Miller spoke while gazing at the door through which Pagine had gone.
“What kind of little girl was April Runos?”
At his question, Heidi settled herself beside Miller and paused to consider.
In that interval, the butler brought a fresh teacup.
The day was so cold that the fireplace had been built up generously, and the cup too had been heated until hot, yet the handle grew cold in an instant. The tea itself was equally lukewarm.
Heidi wet her throat slightly before answering.
“Arrogant, and ill-mannered.”
“She was.”
“But she rarely spoke falsehoods.”
“Didn’t she?”
“No.”
Heidi gave a small laugh.
If everything that came from that beautiful mouth had been lies, I would never have disliked her.
She thought so, but like Miller, she pushed the thought down below her throat.

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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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