The Mansion Awaits Spring - Chapter 94

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

Episode 94
Though her body had settled, fear and tension kept sleep at bay. She had screamed as if there was nothing in the world to fear when survival was at stake, but being seized and dragged away by a crowd that despised her was a terrible memory.
Pejin held April tighter as her body began to tremble again, and spoke.
“Want to come live with me in the Empire?”
“……What?”
“Let’s go and live there. You hate it here anyway.”
At Pejin’s words, April blinked slowly.
Her long lashes fluttered, then her eyes closed gradually. April answered.
“……I’ve never even thought about it.”
“Think about it now.”
“Maybe…….”
April murmured.
Pejin was trying to lull her to sleep, and fortunately, it was working, if slowly. Above all, what suited April best was his obsessive way of holding her. That desperate effort to keep her pressed against his body soothed her anxious heart.
She wished she could melt into him, that their bodies could fuse completely. If they could stay like this forever, that too would be good in its own way.
April spoke honestly.
“I wish you wouldn’t let me go.”
“Wish I wouldn’t let you go?”
“Yes. I wish you’d want me more. That you’d be greedy for me.”
“…….”
“I wish you would…….”
“There’s a reason I treat you well.”
As April recalled Miller’s voice and gasped, Pejin examined her face and asked.
“Does your head still hurt?”
April didn’t answer, only gripping Pejin’s arm and collar. She held on so tightly her hands turned pale white, leaving deep red marks on his skin.
If there’s a reason.
Then what do I do?
What if this isn’t love?
What if Pejin just wants something from me?
When April began gasping convulsively, unable to breathe, Pejin sat up urgently. He checked her breathing and said.
“I’ll call the doctor again.”
“No……. No.”
“What do you mean no? You can’t breathe.”
“It’s not pain. So it’s fine. Just stay here.”
“If it’s not pain, what is it?”
“I’m scared.”
At April’s trembling voice, Pejin’s frantic movements stopped.
April pulled his neck down and spoke.
“Why have I become so afraid of so many things?”
Pejin wrapped his arm around her waist as she clung to him.
Miller had said that Pejin must have received orders to find out about the dye.
April didn’t trust Miller, but at the same time, she couldn’t completely trust Pejin either. It was a bad feeling.
First, she decided she would find out about the dye without telling him. He had said it was the scholars’ work, so probably he wouldn’t be curious. There was no reason for him to be.
April faced him and asked.
“Is there something you want from me?”
“What?”
“You don’t treat me well just because you want something, do you? That’s what Miller said. That you treat me well because you want something from me. That’s not it, right?”
“Did he say that?”
“Yes…….”
“Is there anything I could want from you? You’re penniless.”
His blunt, practical answer was so ridiculous that April let out a small laugh despite herself.
While laughing at her own laughter, she thought it wasn’t really incomprehensible that when all emotions ran high, laughter could flow easily.
Pejin continued.
“Of course, it’s not that I want nothing.”
“What then?”
“What else?”
“……Oh.”
Though Pejin said nothing and made no gesture, April thought she understood what he meant. His expression was far too clear.
So when April moved to kiss him, Pejin leaned back first, then seeing her widened eyes, gave her a light kiss. Then he pulled away, grew serious, and asked.
“You have a concussion. The doctor said not to move a muscle. Do you want to make me out to be the worst scoundrel?”
“Kissing is allowed, though.”
“Don’t move, I said, you troublemaker. Lie down, now.”
At Pejin’s words, April reluctantly lay back on the bed.
Burying her face in Pejin’s chest, April said.
“Let’s do it after we sleep.”
“Wow, I’m so thrilled.”
“Why are you saying that without any enthusiasm?”
“It won’t be allowed after you sleep either.”
“Then when?”
“When the doctor says you’re better.”
“Do I need to bribe him?”
At April’s remark, Pejin suddenly burst out laughing, but quickly suppressed it and soothed her back to sleep, patting her gently.
* * *
In the end, Pejin didn’t attend the boat outing.
Those who had been waiting for the chance to speak with Pejin, who could scarcely be seen in the Social Season unless April appeared alongside him, showed their disappointment.
In particular, this boat outing was an event Heidi had planned to promote fellowship within the Dieusz Family, and at the same time, an opportunity to demonstrate the Grand Duke’s prestige by enjoying revelry aboard the largest and most magnificent ship.
In Right Island, where the blood of seafarers still ran deep, the “largest ship” also meant the “mightiest military force.”
This principle applied even to boating on lakes like this, and no one dared build a ship larger than the Grand Duke’s.
Heidi had fussed over this particular outing with many diversions and entertainments.
The lake was scattered with flowers of every kind, and the sky was so brilliantly blue it took one’s breath away. But the most radiant flower had failed to arrive, and as the hostess, Heidi couldn’t help but feel the dampened spirits of the guests.
Her husband, Miller, had tried to console her by saying that Pejin only had what he needed from April, but Heidi saw it differently.
She was amazed that the world was only now coming to recognize who April Lunos truly was.
She had been born wicked, raised without regard for others. All this time, what had she been doing that the world was only now taking notice of her?
Heidi hated April, but also admired her. Those feelings were not unlike love.
When April appeared, her clothes filthy from the angry mob, blood tangled in her hair, the emotions in Heidi’s heart bloomed even more brilliantly.
April looked like a wild beast that no mountain could tame, and so Heidi was seized even more fiercely with the desire to capture her.
So she knocked on the door, knowing full well that April was here.
Pascal, the butler, came out to greet her with surprised eyes and showed her to the Reception Room.
“The young master has gone to handle matters that Miss April needs to attend to. The funeral is approaching soon.”
“So this Pejin is utterly bound hand and foot.”
“Yes. It seems…….”
Pascal wore the expression of an adult watching young love unfold, thrilled by what he took to be Pejin’s infatuation with April. Yet at the same time, he harbored concerns about the danger.
Not long after sitting down to wait, Pejin returned.
The moment he saw Heidi’s face, he wore a tired expression and spoke.
“I apologize for not being able to attend. But you needn’t have gone to the trouble of coming here.”
“I have to visit like this, or you’ll skip the next family gathering.”
“I won’t skip it. Not unless something comes up.”
Pejin spoke with certainty, but Heidi seemed in no hurry to leave.
Heidi’s scolding continued, and as Pejin grew exasperated, the conversation dragged on so long that finally April came down to the Reception Room.
“What are you two talking about for so long?”
Standing before the open door, April’s sharp remark made Pejin click his tongue in exasperation and speak.
“Go back and rest. Don’t you listen to the doctor?”
“I’ve been lying down for two days. I’m bored.”
Heidi watched as Pejin rose at April’s complaint.
Every time Pejin returned from the Empire, he purchased Women’s Clothing, Hair Ornaments, Silk Gloves, and the like. Pejin didn’t hand all these gifts directly to April, but it was clear that she would eventually have them.

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