The Mansion Awaits Spring - Chapter 89

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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 89
“April.”
At the sound of her name, April’s eyes opened.
Pejin spoke.
“You don’t need to repay the debt. I paid it of my own accord, and I’ll recover it myself.”
“……Yes.”
“So let’s forget about that. But I’d like some thanks for finding this place.”
“I will. Say what you want.”
“Just forgive me once, someday.”
……
At his final words, April looked up at him.
He wore a composed expression.
“No matter how much you hate me, want to kill me, think I’m garbage—just once.”
……
“Forgive me for whatever I’ve done.”
The wind blew, and at some point a mass began; the chanting of monastery monks drifted above the wind and cliff and sea, the music blooming like flowers.
“……I don’t think I can do it right away. Just because I promised to forgive you doesn’t mean all these feelings disappear at once.”
“That’s true.”
“But I’ll try. I’ll forgive you someday.”
Pejin, thinking it a very April-like answer, laughed softly and murmured,
“Sounds like you’ll forgive me right before you die.”
“You don’t even know how much or what you did wrong.”
“Then it’s reasonable.”
Pejin took a deep breath as if that was enough, then tapped his arm for her to take it. April grasped his arm firmly and headed for the carriage.
* * *
The two returned to the Lunos Grand Residence deep in the night.
April hadn’t even needed to light them—the Gas Lamps were all already lit. It was a brilliant night.
They placed the Urn with Ashes and the keepsakes in a safe place, then left the residence again. Pejin had said he wanted to see the Grand Banquet Hall where the funeral would be held.
Late at night, the two walked toward the Grand Banquet Hall. Snow was falling again this evening, but as it had just begun to show signs of rising into the clouds, the accumulating snow felt strangely gentle.
The Grand Banquet Hall they reached through the snow was dark. This place had a Chandelier, and wall lamps were positioned throughout.
In midsummer, Right Island experienced nights nearly like the Midnight Sun that lasted more than a week. Conversely, the Polar Night brought long darkness, which is why the Chandelier served to illuminate that darkness brightly all day.
Pejin lit several of the wall lamps.
Though the wall lamps’ narrow spacing provided sufficient brightness, it fell short of revealing just how beautiful this banquet hall truly was.
Pejin, exasperated, let out a hollow laugh and surveyed the hall.
“The money you had wasn’t enough either.”
“Right, it fell short, so I mortgaged the estate.”
The Grand Banquet Hall bore no comparison to what Pejin remembered.
Bauman had gathered craftsmen of every sort who’d lost their livelihoods after the mass-production factories emerged, and had every piece of expensive furniture here repaired and repainted.
When the Lunos Family fell, the item servants most easily and frequently stole was silverware cutlery, and she’d replaced all of it with new pieces.
Vases, the enormous quantity of curtains encircling the banquet hall, tablecloths, and an staggering amount of candles—each and every one was a premium item.
She spared no expense, right down to the smallest details that wouldn’t even be visible from the Chandelier.
And so the banquet hall felt as though a young man who’d just made his fortune had newly built it. It suited the April Lunos here perfectly.
April, following him as they toured the hall, spoke.
“This is my first merchant vessel.”
……
“Is it too much? Making money off my parents’ funeral?”
At her question, Pejin let out a rueful chuckle.
“Don’t you know the two of them? They’d be so proud they couldn’t bear it.”
“You think so?”
“Of course.”
Pejin was certain.
If the previous head of the Lunos Family had seen this, she surely would have wept tears she tried to hide out of sheer pride in her.
“They loved you that much, that greatly.”
April turned to look at Pejin as he spoke. Then she smiled broadly and nodded.
“Yes, that’s right.”
“But. Let’s dance first.”
“Dance?”
“This is a banquet hall, after all. Really, we should have opened with a party, but that won’t work. So let’s dance, just the two of us. For the hall.”
“Hmm……. It sounds strangely fitting.”
“Hurry.”
Pejin opened both arms in invitation.
April made a show of hesitating, but she’d never had any intention of refusing.
In the banquet hall with no music and no guests, the two began to dance.
With no music, they simply hummed the beat together, haphazardly.
Perhaps no one would come to this funeral at all.
If that were the case, April’s first merchant vessel would sink straight into the sea.
There would be no second chance, and the Lunos Estate that had been collateral would be divided and sold off piece by piece.
April expected no success and feared no failure.
Just one thing.
She had no intention of living as she had been.
She desired tremendous change.
Whether that change brought success or failure mattered little. It only needed to be grand.
That was precisely the April that Pejin remembered.
Proud and Solitary—sometimes so wickedly pure it seemed naive, sometimes appearing as merely someone taking rightful action, the born mistress of this vast Lunos Estate.
The two danced without music and found it more enjoyable than expected, so they danced for quite some time.
* * *
The claim that nothing would change was a lie. Both Pejin and April ran into difficulty during their parting.
According to the courtesy she’d learned from childhood, April tried to come out to see him off, but Pejin, with his characteristic irritated expression, said,
“Why are you coming out? I’ll manage on my own.”
“I should see the guest off.”
“When was I ever a guest? I’ve always forced my way in whenever I felt like it.”
“Well, that’s certainly true.”
When April agreed emphatically, Pejin’s expression showed it displeased him. Seeing that look, April couldn’t help but laugh.
Pejin had brought her to her bedroom, but afterward, neither felt like sending the other off or leaving. Since they dimly understood each other’s hearts, no one pressed.
April, hating those helpless moments, simply and honestly seized his arm.
“Don’t go.”
Though he found that honesty welcome, Pejin offered a flippant response.
“The Emperor said I’m loafing too much and should arrest some pickpockets. I’ve got to raise my numbers.”
“Do it here. Arrest one here.”
He nearly answered that he would, at how firmly she said it.
Persuasion by face is bad enough, but persuasion by gaze is worse.
It was clear. Those incomparably beautiful eyes fixed on him, while she spoke such nonsense as “arrest a thief who broke into another’s house here in my house”—he could feel the persuasiveness in April’s words.
Those deep-night eyes, like flame, had the power to bewitch.
When rejection wouldn’t come and he glanced at the clock with only his eyes several times, April finally let go of his collar and said,
“Fine, go.”
“Why are you letting go so easily?”
“You said you’re going.”
“Am I wanting to leave? You should hold me back more.”
Bewildered at his reproach, April said,
“Good thing we can’t marry. We’d fight every day and break up anyway.”
“Now you’re saying what I was going to.”
“Seems we had the same thing to say.”
After bickering back and forth like that, Pejin, who’d left as if he was really going, soon returned.
In his hands were a Bottle of Alcohol and two glasses. He clearly hadn’t wanted to leave.

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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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