The Mansion Awaits Spring - Chapter 82

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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 82
By the time April finished bathing, the children had returned bearing a large pot. Set down as it was, it contained fish stew brimming with the flesh of white cod.
“Our grandmother came and made it!”
Fred spoke with confidence. April, who had been missing the food Fred’s grandmother prepared, brightened visibly.
“I was just wishing I could eat something your grandmother made.”
“Really? Grandmother keeps saying it’s not the sort of dish a noble lady should eat, but I keep…”
“Even after I told her how delicious I find it?”
“That’s what I said!”
April gestured for the aggrieved Fred to sit before her, and he settled into a chair.
Hanna, who had been separated from April these past few days, had asked for her permission and now sat perched on the bed, clinging tightly to April’s waist without moving an inch.
Knowing that Hanna regarded living in the Lunos Residence as her lifeline, April said nothing to the child and began eating the stew in an uncomfortable position.
The herbs displayed in the kitchen had apparently gone unused, for the stew smelled only of tomato. Yet someone had added one spicy ingredient—her tongue burned with even the gentlest heat.
April had never eaten spicy food in her life, so even this mild spiciness proved difficult.
“My, this really is hot……”
At that, Fred, who had been propping his chin up with both hands cupped beneath it, spoke.
“Grandmother and Grandfather love spicy food. I’m glad I can work at the Lunos Residence. It means I can buy plenty of spicy ingredients!”
“How fascinating……”
But that wasn’t actually what fascinated April.
It was the fact that Fred, who ordinarily shrank back in fear at the sight of a stranger, was chattier than the usually outgoing Hanna.
April set down her spoon for a moment and pulled Hanna away from where she’d buried her face against her back.
“You should eat too.”
“I’ll kill him.”
“Pardon?”
“Tabish.”
Only then did April realize that the factory owner at the factory where Hanna had worked was also called Tabish.
April lowered her head to get a better look at Hanna’s face.
Hanna’s eyes were open. April couldn’t quite say why suddenly open eyes felt strange, but a peculiar feeling washed over her.
No—she had known this all along.
Hanna had forgotten nothing of what had happened to her.
Hanna had gone hungry for so long while growing up that she was noticeably smaller than children of the middle class and above her age, but since she’d begun eating and sleeping at the Lunos Residence, she’d undergone rapid growth.
April stroked Hanna’s hair gently and spoke.
“Never do anything dangerous without my permission first.”
“Will you give it?”
“Yes.”
“Even if it means killing someone?”
“If it’s justified.”
“Is killing someone ever justified?”
“Yes. It was justified when my parents tried to kill Miller Dieu.”
April was somewhat startled by her own words even as she spoke them.
Regarding her parents’ choice, April had long been uncertain what she truly felt. The backlash had been so severe that it had swept through the entire Lunos Family.
But now, speaking without thinking, she had uttered the truth. And once the words left her lips, she realized this was indeed what she believed.
“The only thing that wasn’t justified was that my parents failed to kill the man who loved another woman while betrothed to me, and eventually couldn’t bear it any longer and tried to break the engagement.”
At her calm words, Hanna’s lips curved upward of their own accord.
“That’s what I think too!”
“So you must eat. A person needs strength.”
“I will! Fred, will you cut some bread for me too?”
“Sure! I’ll cut a lot!”
Fred, who enjoyed both cooking and cutting bread and always handled the bread-cutting at table, happily cut large pieces for Hanna.
Hanna dipped a generous piece of bread deeply into the stew, then put it whole into her mouth. Apparently satisfied after one bite, she took another large mouthful and asked April a question.
“Can I become a Police Officer too?”
At Hanna’s words, April was so taken aback that she echoed the question.
“Have you been swayed by Pejin’s persuasion?”
“Yes……. He said I can do it even without one hand. If I work three times as hard……”
April laughed aloud at the sight of the embarrassed Hanna.
“What more could I ask for, if you were to become a Police Officer?”
“Didn’t you wish for me to become an artist?”
“I think Fred will be the artist instead.”
At her words, Fred clenched his fists tight and nodded firmly.
He’d been studying diligently under Bauman, and it was Fred whom Bauman had declared to have talent. April found it remarkable that such talented children had appeared in her home. At the same time, she grew dizzy thinking of what might have become of Hanna’s life, had she lost her hand in the factory.
Though the stew tasted pleasant on her tongue, April had no appetite at all. But because she had made a promise to Hanna, she scooped up a large portion and ate it heartily as she continued speaking.
“The Grand Duchy will need many people. So anyone capable of learning will learn.”
When she’d learned that Pejin had paid the bill in her place, she’d felt utterly wretched.
In her heart, she wanted help from no one, but practically speaking, his money was desperately necessary.
She hated herself for accepting it—found herself base, despicable, loathsome. Yet she’d resolved to suppress these feelings, to pretend not to notice, and to accept it shamelessly. She had no intention of maintaining her pride before him. When she saw Pejin, she planned to offer her thanks first.
But gratitude alone could not keep her from asking this question.
Why on earth would he spend such a vast sum……?
Carrying this doubt with her, after the meal she lay down on the bed.
The journey to the Empire had been exhausting, and she fell into deep sleep the moment she lay down. After sufficient rest such that no one needed to wake her, she opened her eyes.
She discovered Sebio sleeping beside her, and a note from Bauman that Sebio had brought and set on the bed.
[Miss Kayani has come to the parlor, Madam.]
She had been meaning to visit the Merrow House anyway and ask Jeff about something.
Thinking the timing couldn’t be better, April rose from her bedchamber.
In the parlor, Kayani sat reading a book as she waited. Taking after her father, Kayani too seemed to enjoy reading.
At the sound of April’s approach, Kayani turned her head and, spotting her, rose to her feet. April asked.
“Is something wrong?”
“Oh, nothing in particular. I simply heard you’d returned and came to see you.”
That Kayani would visit despite having nothing special to discuss felt strange to April, yet it warmed her heart.
April, observing Kayani’s attire, asked.
“You came in your school uniform.”
“Yes. I came straight from school.”
“But today’s Saturday…… yesterday then?”
“Ah, I simply came a bit early for no good reason. I knew you’d be tired. Bauman was kind enough to entertain me, and I rested quite well.”
Kayani spoke casually.
Kayani observed April’s complexion first, then asked.
“Are you in good health?”
“I’m fine indeed. And with such a welcome visitor stopping by, things aren’t so bad.”
“Then I’m relieved.”
Kayani smiled brightly, matching April’s attempt to seem composed.
After inquiring after April’s well-being in this manner, Kayani spoke.
“You cannot imagine how much my parents have worried. Father has recovered so much since you returned.”
“That’s truly wonderful news.”
“Both my parents wait for you so eagerly that I became mortified thinking I should have been born as the youngest daughter—that would have been proper filial piety.”
At Kayani’s words, April burst out laughing.
Then Kayani made a show of growing serious and continued.
“This is no laughing matter, truly.”
“All right, I understand.”
“Still, seeing you laugh like this is such a relief. The banker is also here—shall I step away?”
“The banker?”
“Yes, Birta.”
“You mean Mille? She’s not a banker.”
“Oh, yes. She’s become one recently.”
“What? How?”

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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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