The Mansion Awaits Spring - Chapter 33

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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 33
“Besides, it’s not as if that’s even possible. How would I possibly harm the Grand Duke?”
April reached for the biscuit the maid had set before her and continued.
“Revenge comes later. After I find a husband, after I bear children, after the heir comes of age.”
“Still, you’re saying you will take revenge.”
“There’s no need to worry about something twenty years off.”
With that, April reached for the cups beside her, lifting the lids one by one—each decorated with flowers and butterflies.
The cups holding butter, jam, and cream were each distinctly different in design.
The butter cup resembled a dish more than a cup, the cream came with a handle for easy pouring, and the jam cup included a generous saucer to prevent spillage and spare the guest any awkwardness.
April was fond of raspberry jam and custard cream, so she spread both generously between her biscuits.
It had been so long since she’d tasted jam and cream of this quality that her eyes kept drifting toward them even as she spoke.
She found herself thinking it might be better to taste one bite, remember that she already knew how it tasted, and then return to conversation.
Fortunately, Pejin didn’t press her while she filled the space between her two biscuits, and he even turned his gaze toward the window and spoke of other things.
“The weather’s turning cloudy. Snow’s coming.”
In the meantime, April put a cookie in her mouth and smiled pleasantly. Pejin, meanwhile, found even scooping jam tiresome, so he pulled the square box of Chocolates toward himself.
He withdrew the trapezoid-shaped piece first, stacked it on a plate, and pushed it toward April, then selected one for himself from the rest.
April looked at the plate of chocolates and asked with amusement in her voice.
“You remember that?”
“Yeah, learned it from watching you.”
“I never hit you for it.”
“You hit me with words. ‘The hill is Lunos’s. Don’t you dare touch even one.'”
When Pejin mimicked the tone of young April, she narrowed her eyes and glared at him.
“I never said it that harshly.”
“No, you said it exactly like that. That’s why I still can’t eat the hill ones. Afraid you’ll scold me.”
“I really want to hit you right now.”
“But since you set aside yours, you’ve got no reason to hit me anymore. How clever of you.”
Pejin’s mischievous tone was annoying yet endearing, so April ultimately burst out laughing. She pulled the plate of chocolates closer to herself.
The pastry chef of the Dieeus Family had crafted the chocolates in four shapes symbolizing the family.
A trapezoid symbolizing the hill, a diamond symbolizing the sword, a square with wavy lines representing the waves, and lastly, the rose.
The filling could be identified by small dots marked on top of the chocolate, and the shapes and fillings were mixed without pattern.
When she was young, April had always chosen only the trapezoid chocolates. The Lunos Residence sat atop a hill, after all.
The sweetness awakened her tongue’s memory and drew her toward the chocolate.
April selected a chocolate with orange jam inside but, remembering their interrupted conversation, opened her mouth without eating it.
“Anyway, about the favor—”
“Eat first.”
Pejin gestured with his chin, and April answered.
“Tell me first. You made me wait.”
“We can talk anytime. Can’t you wait the time it takes to eat one chocolate?”
At Pejin’s words, April nodded and put the orange chocolate in her mouth.
Despite coming to ask for a favor, the time felt unexpectedly pleasant.
After finishing the chocolate and drinking a cup of tea, April spoke to Pejin.
“Until I’ve raised the heir to adulthood, I cannot do anything that would harm the Dieeus Family. You know that.”
“Mm.”
“My goal is to rebuild the Lunos Family. Revenge comes after, no matter what.”
“But if you can’t rebuild the Lunos Family, there’s nothing visible left to lose. A person with nothing to lose is frightening.”
Thinking his response might be a refusal, April narrowed her eyes. Then Pejin continued.
“So it seems right to help rebuild the Lunos Family.”
“……Your conclusion is that simple?”
“Why? Do you dislike it?”
“No. I’m just so happy I can’t believe it.”
At April’s hurried response, Pejin laughed softly. Then he called for the butler and whispered something to him.
A moment later, when Pascal brought the Invitation on a tray, April felt a chill creep up her spine from her back.
It was an invitation from Heidi Dieeus.
“In four days. Come with me.”
“You’re taking me to a party hosted by the Grand Duchess right now?”
“If you’re going to grow big, you might as well start big.”
She’d asked only to dip her toes into High Society, but instead she was being taken to the very apex of that triangle for her first step.
A party hosted by Heidi Dieeus.
April, wary of Pejin’s excessive kindness, asked him.
“Why are you helping me?”
“You came here asking for a favor on your own two feet, and now you’re asking why?”
“I might still harm your brother, even twenty years from now.”
“I think you could harm him tomorrow, but it’s my job to stop you.”
“Fair point.”
April accepted this. Then she reached out and opened the invitation.
It was a charity gala for the victims of the Mist.
If the one blamed for causing the Mist were to appear at such a gathering—
April looked down at the invitation and said.
“If I go, I’ll ruin the party.”
“And?”
“That’s why it’s the best choice.”
“Right, I heard that, but I wanted to confirm in case I misunderstood.”
At his response, April laughed despite herself.
But that laughter quickly faded as she examined the invitation again.
A party four days away.
In four days, a room full of enemies.
Having seized the opportunity, April closed her eyes briefly and pictured the dresses at the Lunos Residence.
Since she didn’t know the current state of High Society fashion, deciding what to wear would be her first hurdle.
Fortunately, Pejin spoke.
“I’ll prepare the Dress and carriage and have them sent to the Lunos Residence, so you just prepare the flowers.”
“Flowers?”
“It says so right there.”
April belatedly checked the last line of the invitation and saw a request for everyone to wear Dahlia decorations.
Though the flower was difficult to obtain in the Grand Duchy, it was nothing compared to the task Pejin faced in preparing a dress in four days.
April asked.
“How will you get the dress?”
“I’ll take a ship to the Empire tonight and be back by morning. A ready-made gown from there will be better than something tailored here anyway. Whenever something becomes fashionable there, it takes a year to reach here.”
“That makes sense.”
It was a reasonable plan.
With her worries eased, April asked.
“What business do you have in the Empire?”
“I have a report to make.”
“Have you actually been working while I wasn’t looking?”
“Yeah, done plenty behind your back.”
Though Pejin’s words sounded like mockery, they were tinged with playfulness, and April laughed.
After laughing, she found herself murmuring without thinking.
“……I’ve been laughing a lot today.”
“Yeah, you really have been.”
Pejin agreed, then noticed Logan peering in from outside and spoke to April.
“We should be getting ready to leave.”
“Right. Thank you for helping me with the favor.”
“Can I decide on the repayment myself? It was quite a large favor.”
“What were you thinking?”
“Right now you can’t do much for me, so let’s talk about it once you’ve grown stronger.”
Though Pejin said this, April nodded as if accepting something obvious.
“Right, it was that much of a difficult favor.”
But seeing how he deferred the matter, April sensed she would end up granting him a very difficult request indeed, and with that realization came resolve.

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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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