The Mansion Awaits Spring - Chapter 43

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 43
The remaining two balls were handled one apiece by the two of them. It was a shot so brilliant it drew gasps of admiration.
After finishing the game that way, Miller helped April out of the Sports Ground.
The moment they stepped outside, she walked straight to the table where the man had been brandishing the Knife. She picked up the Red Wine Decanter from the table and poured it over her own head.
At her action, the Sports Ground fell silent.
Heidi, who had been mapping out strategy for the next round, turned to look at them.
Drenched in wine, April turned to the Grand Duke’s man who was staring blankly at her and spoke.
“Aren’t you afraid? I’ve heard the rumors about me being a Witch are quite widespread.”
“This—what are you doing!”
“Officer.”
April turned to look at Pejin as she spoke.
“If I truly were a Witch, I’d kill this gentleman first when the next Fog begins.”
“That would be quite helpful for the investigation.”
When Pejin replied with perfect composure, the man’s face drained of color and he called to his younger cousin.
“P-Pejin! Can’t you do something—”
“Sure. If you die next winter, I’ll count it as evidence and launch an investigation right away. I’ll be grateful for your sacrifice.”
“What—what are you talking about! What good does it do after I’m dead!”
“More specifically, if anyone who laughed at that vulgar behavior dies in the Fog, I’ll make sure we investigate.”
At his response, a man named Paul spoke through gritted teeth.
“Isn’t that rather generous of you?”
“When have I ever been generous?”
“You’ve never been generous!”
Paul got one word in.
Pejin clicked his tongue, but he didn’t deny what was said.
Though Pejin had never taken anyone’s side before, even Miller taking April’s side was enough to terrify the man soaked in wine.
For Miller Deus, the Grand Duke, that gesture with the Knife meant it was an insult that shouldn’t have been committed even against an enemy—which made it obvious where society’s blame, swayed more by power than preference, would fall.
The harassment that had been tacitly permitted when April hadn’t appeared at this gathering before was now reclassified as something unacceptable now that she had shown her face in society again.
After he fled in panic, dripping with wine, April wished to continue the game, but the spectators—even the players themselves—kept their eyes away from play.
Everyone was coming and going from the Sports Ground, discussing what had just happened.
April herself seemed to want to continue playing, but the crowd’s focus had long since scattered.
Pejin, observing the atmosphere in the Sports Ground, rose to his feet and spoke to Miller.
“It looks like you and Miss Loonos have already won anyway. Let’s call it here. If we keep playing, the score will just widen.”
“Yes, that sounds right.”
As Miller spoke and looked at the players, they naturally nodded in agreement.
April, too, had set her goal on “winning,” so she agreed to end the game here.
The game ended unexpectedly quickly, and all those who had been complicit in mocking April’s parents fled to the Banquet Hall like refugees, leaving an awkward atmosphere that needed tidying in the Sports Ground.
Looking around at it all, Pejin removed his Evening Dress jacket and spoke.
“Let’s go swimming. That’s what a man from Right Island does.”
Even though the Grand Duke’s Estate was in a relatively warm location, it was still below freezing. At Pejin’s words, the men in the Sports Ground faltered.
The ancestors of Right Island’s people had been largely pirates, and though they feared waves, they did not fear the sea’s cold.
They were not to.
Whether among nobles or commoners, parties ending with ocean swimming was an unremarkable culture on Right Island.
But over the past seven years, as the Empire’s culture had seeped in, plunging into the cold sea on a day like this was regarded as foolish and outdated.
In fact, not just ocean swimming but countless other Right Island customs were being viewed as old-fashioned or unrefined.
Yet still, the Grand Duchy’s nobles—most born and raised on Right Island and having lived here for over two decades—found it difficult not to go along with Pejin’s suggestion to swim.
Their hearts called them. This was the way of Right Island men.
But as the nobles worried whether this act might be considered lowborn, a particularly young visitor—a youth who had only just shed his boyish appearance—removed his jacket and spoke.
“I’ll do it too.”
Everyone in the room, and April as well, looked at him.
April let out a small laugh without thinking.
It was her cousin, who didn’t even reach her waist in height.
Her father had three younger sisters and two younger brothers. This cousin was the son of one of those two younger brothers.
Now he bore the name “Marrow,” his imperial mother’s surname.
The child she’d last seen at age ten was now seventeen, having crossed the threshold of manhood in the interim—and had grown remarkably.
April had fourteen cousins, two of whom were older brothers, two her age, and ten younger.
Among them, April had to consider who she would entrust the Clan to should she die without an heir.
And Kayani Marrow had never appeared on the list of possible successors. To April, Kayani was a small child—shy and frail.
But now he had shot up in height and grown sturdy.
It was impossible to know what meaning Kayani saw in siding with Pejin.
Was it the thought that as a Right Island man, he ought naturally to accept ocean swimming, or was he expressing some small show of support for April?
Starting with Kayani, one by one declared their intention to participate in the ocean swim.
The men from the Banquet Hall were swept up in excitement at the thought of plunging into the winter night sea.
Though they were dressed in the Empire’s fashionable Evening Dress at this gathering, in their hearts remained longing for their fathers—men they had watched and grown up with in childhood.
Watching all this unfold, Heidi sighed as she watched Miller, gauging her expression, subtly hand his jacket to a servant.
“Men are all alike, really.”
“Tell me about it.”
Miller laughed in agreement.
Soon after, young men still in Evening Dress shirts and trousers headed toward the sea.
The noble young ladies joined them, laughing as they went.
The path from the Grand Duke’s Estate down to the sea was always a well-maintained grass path.
Miller selected several noble youths and had them carry Heidi’s palanquin.
Heidi, who had grown tense at the reckless act of diving into the sea, relaxed her expression seeing the palanquin carried by noble youths rather than servants.
“Your families will be upset if they hear you’re carrying a palanquin here.”
“This is the palanquin of the Grand Duchess! They’ll surely say we did the right thing!”
At the young man’s spirited words, laughter broke out among the servants and youths accompanying Heidi’s palanquin.
One of the servants spoke to Miller.
“Since you won the game, you must state your wish.”
“I’ll defer my wish to the lady.”
At Miller’s casual remark, the palanquin nearly stopped short.
Miller, relaxed by the easygoing atmosphere, had forgotten that he’d played the game with April.
The eyes of the Grand Ducal couple turned slowly toward April.
The police who had come to the gathering with Pejin were moving alongside her.
April noticed that they were waiting for her answer and looked toward them.
April slowly turned to look at Kayani Marrow. When Kayani, who had likewise been looking at her, met her eyes, he bowed his head slightly in greeting.
April continued speaking.
“Why speak of wishes?”
At her words, Kayani, who had met her gaze, explained.
“Once the Green Ball ends, the losers are supposed to fulfill the winner’s wish as best they can.”
“I don’t know how such an odd custom ever came about.”
April replied and looked alternately at Miller and Heidi.
Her gaze stopped on Heidi.
April gazed at Heidi’s clear, crystalline eyes, which seemed touched with moisture, and spoke.
“Just as it was before—in the old way. Hang the Loonos Clan Banner in the Sports Ground. Until the next victor emerges.”
At her words, one of Heidi’s servants spoke with a startled look.
“The rules have changed in the meantime, Miss Loonos. You wouldn’t have known, having not attended the gatherings for seven years—”
“Then consider it my wish. It’s not particularly fitting, but… fortunately there is someone among the losers who can fulfill my wish.”
April spoke while looking at Heidi and smiled.
Heidi remained motionless for some time after her words ended, then laughed in a way that was rare for her. It was a smile seldom seen from her, who was always gentle.
She tapped the palanquin door lightly with her hand as if to have it move, then spoke to the servants.
“Hang the Loonos Clan Banner in the Sports Ground.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————