The Mansion Awaits Spring - Chapter 93

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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 93
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The visitor Miller Dieusz had expected arrived sooner than anticipated.
As April waned and April herself appeared, every eye aboard the pleasure boat turned toward her.
Ragged in dress and covered in dust, April seemed like some uncanny thing that had lain in a coffin for ages before crawling out.
Heidi glanced back at the boat where the men were. Miller, who had been casting his Fishing Rod and drinking, had already spotted April.
The oarsman rowed the boat to shore and let him out.
Miller Dieusz, dressed in fine evening clothes for the season’s first boating excursion, approached April.
The two of them walked up the stone steps leading from the Lake, far enough that others couldn’t hear their conversation.
They stopped halfway, and Miller asked with a show of concern.
“What in the world happened to you? Where have you been rolling around?”
“Was it intentional?”
“What?”
“You want to kill me.”
As Miller faltered, April continued.
“So you printed that article? Trying to get someone else to do it?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, but I have no intention of killing you.”
“Then you’d be stupid. Why not just be honest about being a villain?”
He couldn’t have failed to understand.
April took a deep breath.
The spring air rose from the Lake. It was a space of rare beauty. The beauty pressed down upon her.
Miller spoke in a measured voice.
“My plan was simple: to hear from you how to obtain the Dye.”
“I don’t know the method. I’m still figuring it out.”
“Don’t say that. People are dying. It’s wrong of you not to share what you know just to keep yourself safe.”
“I’m telling you, I don’t know. The Dye.”
“You saw it yourself. How angry the citizens are.”
Miller pressed on.
“If you want to have a proper funeral, find the method and tell me. I’ll supply that Dye to all the citizens.”
“So you are stupid after all.”
April muttered, then let out a laugh that seemed to come from nowhere.
At the sound of her laughter, the nobles’ bright laughter blooming across the Lake withered and died.
April spoke to Miller.
“If you’re going to do business with someone from a merchant family, you need to think about what price you’re willing to pay. How do you expect to just talk me into it?”
“……Are you saying you want to trade this?”
“Yes. I am. Why wouldn’t I?”
April made no effort to hide her anger. Her gaze was sharp as a winter tiger’s.
Miller had always hated that look.
It was the opposite of the warmth Heidi radiated. When she embraced him, she did so with her entire body, pressing as much of herself against him as possible, and her tenderness left him with no desire to linger in April’s cold. He longed for her warmth instead.
The same thing happened with his brother Pejin. And so Miller believed it unlikely that Pejin had fallen in love with this woman.
Every night the mansion was engulfed in hot fire, yet its master lived in a winter that would never end.
“You’re threatening me with the idea that people will come to hate me……but look at me now. Do you really think things could get worse?”
April seemed to find it amusing, and she laughed softly before continuing.
“Miller, I became a Witch to the people of this island long ago.”
“…….”
“I find it rather strange that you’d think I’d fear their hatred.”
Miller was silent for a moment, and then April continued, unfazed.
“In any case, it’s good that you mean well. I’ll find it and you can buy it from me. But I won’t be supplying my Dye to the people of this island for free.”
As April turned to leave, Miller suddenly grabbed her arm.
“April, wait.”
“Let go.”
“On second thought, I think I made a mistake. I thought you were hiding the method. I didn’t realize you simply don’t know it.”
“What difference does that make? I’m already furious.”
“I’ll find whoever did this to you and punish them.”
“That’s the Police’s job. Don’t take credit.”
“Speaking of the Police……”
Miller slowly released April’s arm as he spoke.
“Don’t trust Pejin.”
“…….”
At his words, April—who had been about to leave—stopped in her tracks.
Miller continued.
“There’s a reason he’s been kind to you. Don’t get hurt again. Think it through carefully.”
“……I’ll handle it myself. Don’t meddle.”
“You can’t handle it on your own. I know it too—that man can charm anyone if he sets his mind to it.”
“…….”
“I heard that you found out about the Dye from the Empire. But getting the method out of you—who do you think he’ll have do that?”
“Be quiet.”
“He’ll definitely try to get it from you. So……don’t tell the Empire first. Tell me instead. I know you hate me, and I know I was wrong this time. But in the end, it’s information we need to know.”
April clenched her teeth and climbed the steps without looking back.
It felt as though her breathing had been clamped shut by something.
When breathing stops, tears should come, but even those remained frozen.
April felt dizzy as she climbed the rest of the steps. Upon reaching level ground, she sank down and clutched her head, which had begun to throb unbearably.
“Why does my head hurt so much……”
As she murmured, she heard the sound of a tongue clicking from above. She looked up to see Pejin in a Police uniform, his expression grim as he looked down at her.
April, looking up at him, asked.
“Weren’t you supposed to be boating?”
“…….”
“Go on. I’ve said everything I have to say.”
There was something unfamiliar in Pejin’s gaze—a flash of anger.
He clenched his teeth hard enough for the sinews to show, swallowed the emotion, then took April’s hand and helped her up.
April opened her mouth.
“Why are you angry?”
“I heard you almost died a moment ago.”
“I handled it fine.”
“Why are you so calm about it?”
“That’s just how people are. They suddenly brush past death. Everyone lives by the Fate that the gods have decreed.”
“Do I……look like I want to hear that kind of talk?”
What did he want to hear instead?
Before April could ask, her body was pulled into Pejin’s embrace.
April murmured in a weary voice.
“I’m filthy.”
“You certainly are. What a mess you’ve made.”
“I want to wash.”
“Yeah, let’s go to my place right away. It’s close.”
“You should go boating.”
“I didn’t want to go anyway. I only came because of all this chaos.”
He said so and brushed her tangled hair back. Then he pulled her close again and murmured.
“If this really is Fate as you say……then I’m grateful. At least you’re alive.”
“Mm, it feels unfair somehow.”
“Why unfair?”
“To survive, I struggled tremendously hard. My effort was no small thing.”
“That’s true. Well done. I’m impressed, really.”
Pejin said this and helped her into the Carriage he had arrived in.
* * *
April received treatment from the Dieusz Family’s Physician and fell asleep at Pejin’s Town House.
Pejin asked the Physician.
“You said her head hurt. What’s the cause? Beyond the contusions—she mentioned a headache.”
“It’s a Concussion from blunt force trauma. The symptoms are mild, but it would be best to avoid strenuous activity for now.”
“I understand.”
“It will take some time to prepare the medicine. Until then, sleep would be best. She’s anxious now and can’t fall asleep.”
“Yes, of course.”
After hearing various precautions from the Physician, Pejin entered the Bedroom.
April was sitting on the bed, unable to sleep despite the doctor’s advice, her anxiety keeping her awake.
Pejin bent down to examine her face. Now the bruises were visible.
Pejin asked.
“Do you remember who hit you?”
April hesitated before shaking her head.
“Actually, I don’t remember anything from that moment.”
“It’s all right. Once we catch them all, we’ll figure it out.”
Pejin said this and, without asking permission, lay down beside April.
Though the bed was large enough for his frame, when he suddenly slipped under the same blanket, April’s eyes widened in surprise.
“What are you doing?”
“Lie down. Let’s sleep together.”
“Are you insane?”
“You’re the one who hurt your head—why would I be insane? Come on, lie down.”
April still looked flustered, but as Pejin persisted, she had no choice but to lie beside him.
Pejin wrapped his arms firmly around her.
April’s trembling—which had begun when she was dragged from the Carriage, through her meeting with Miller, and all the way back here—gradually subsided. It might have been the sense of security from Pejin’s strong arms protecting her body.

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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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