The Mansion Awaits Spring
Chapter 108
Watching Kayani come to a halt, Paul spoke to him in a cheerful voice.
“What are you thinking so deeply about?”
“Ah, I was just lost in thought for a moment.”
Paul glanced back toward Pezin and April as if he understood exactly what was on Kayani’s mind.
“There is no need to worry. Those two know better than anyone that marriage is out of the question.”
“……Is that so?”
“Of course.”
“His Grace the Grand Duke would risk his life to oppose it…. Still, I cannot help but worry. Though it is not my place to do so.”
“I understand.”
Kayani nodded, then gestured with his chin toward the bottom of the hill.
“More importantly, isn’t that Mr. Shafer Meyer following us?”
“Ah, yes. Both the Superintendent and Miss April said to just leave him be. They said they need a hunter for safety anyway, since there are so many wolves.”
Pezin’s maternal cousin, Shafer Meyer—who had once broken into April’s house only to be taught a harsh lesson—was following them from a distance, pretending he wasn’t.
It was hard to tell whether it was better to let that rogue loiter around the Lunos mansion or to have him follow April’s group since they were armed, but since April had chosen to let him tag along, Kayani decided to accept it.
After confirming that her luggage was loaded onto the carriage, April returned to Kayani.
She gave him a light, comforting hug and a pat on the back.
“I leave Lunos in your hands.”
“Yes, noona. I will keep it safe….”
As Kayani spoke, he looked behind him to see Fred and Hannah standing behind Bauman, their eyes narrowed in wary suspicion.
From April’s perspective, she was entrusting the mansion to the person she trusted most, but that wasn’t the case for the two children.
Kayani let out a sigh.
“It won’t be easy to stay on the good side of those two little ones.”
“They’ll warm up to you quickly if you teach them their lessons.”
“Are you using me as a tutor?”
“If I can hire a tutor with such high academic credentials, I can afford to be a little shameless.”
Kayani laughed heartily at April’s joke. Then, giving a firm nod, he asked, “What do the children like? What should I teach them?”
“Math. I haven’t been able to teach them that at all. I want them to study a bit before they start school in the autumn.”
“I see. Yes, I will focus on teaching them mathematics.”
At Kayani’s kind words, April said, “Those kids will grow to like you in no time. Actually, don’t let them like you too much. They’ll cry when you leave.”
“Yes, I will try to make them like me just the right amount.”
“Ah. I feel strange.”
It was the house where she had been stuck for seven years.
Because of that, there were times she felt sick of it, but now that she was leaving it to someone else to travel far away, her feet felt heavy with reluctance.
Feeling that it would only get harder to leave if she stayed any longer, April said her goodbyes to the children and Bauman before heading toward the carriage.
She looked back at the Lunos mansion time and time again.
After the spring rain, white wildflowers had bloomed around the estate. Though they were scattered here and there, to the eyes of those on the Right Island, the mansion looked as if it were buried in flowers.
Gazing at it from a distance, April realized just how much she truly loved that house.
Her heart swelled.
She thought that while love exists between people, it seems it can also exist between a person and a space.
After April departed, Kayani returned to the mansion.
As he approached, Hannah and Fred hid further behind Bauman, putting on their most intimidating faces.
Kayani leaned down and said, “I didn’t come to take the house away. I just came to look after it for a while.”
“My Lady said!”
“Hmm?”
Hannah’s face contorted as she continued, “She said if she dies, the young master would protect this house.”
“Do you mean me?”
“Yes.”
“Ah, I see.”
Only then did Kayani realize why the children were so wary of him.
Since April had no heir, if she were to die suddenly, the Lunos family had to be entrusted to someone.
April had decided in her heart that the person would be Kayani Morrow, and she had told the residents of the mansion this several times.
Kayani knew why April hadn’t been able to say those words to him directly. It was for Eleanor’s sake.
Regardless of her affection for her husband and April, Eleanor could not suppress her resentment toward the Lunos family. Thus, it seemed April couldn’t tell Kayani that he was currently the most likely successor.
Kayani smiled gently and said, “That won’t happen. Above all, noona will surely live longer than I will.”
“……Still!”
“It’s true. I am, so to speak… well. What do you two want to be when you grow up?”
Despite their wariness, the two children answered Kayani’s question.
“A police officer.”
“An architect….”
“Then, before you made those plans?”
The two children blinked and thought it over before Hannah spoke first.
“Originally, I was going to learn architecture and become an architect.”
“But you decided to become a police officer?”
“Yes. I like that better. I’ll be better at it.”
Kayani nodded at Hannah’s answer. “Among your dreams, I am like the architect. If a replacement career comes along, I become nothing.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. Of course. More importantly, for the time being, I will be your teacher. I’ll teach you math. It’s very fun.”
“If it’s fun, I’ll learn.”
“That’s good.”
Kayani’s eyes crinkled as he smiled, gesturing for the children to come study.
As Hannah and Fred left for the study room April had prepared, Bauman spoke with relief and a bit of mischief.
“You’re quite good at deceiving them, saying that math is fun.”
“It is fun to me, though.”
“Is it? Well, I suppose everyone has their own tastes.”
Bauman spoke cheerfully as he walked toward the study with Kayani.
“I hope our Young Lady gets to know more good people. Though, of course, kind people like you, Young Master, aren’t common.”
Kayani gave an embarrassed laugh at Bauman’s praise.
Bauman was grateful that more and more trustworthy people were appearing around April. This was especially true because he had been feeling his physical strength failing him lately.
Bauman instinctively knew that he didn’t have much time left.
He hoped his body would hold out just a little longer. At the very least, he wanted to live until the merchant ship April launched crossed the distant seas and returned to Lunos Port. He was curious to see her face then.
It would surely be magnificent, Bauman thought, a smile touching his lips.
April was also bothered by Shafer following them, but the one even more bothered was Sebio, who had come along with her.
Sharing a carriage with Pezin, April had no choice but to keep soothing Sebio.
“It’s okay. He’s a nobody, so just bear with it, Sebio.”
“Should I have told him not to follow?”
When Pezin asked, April shook her head.
“It’s better than having him loitering around the mansion.”
“I suppose Kayani Morrow doesn’t look like he’d be very good in a fight.”
“You never know.”
April countered, looking at Pezin sitting across from her.
“When he grows a bit more, he might even beat you.”
Pezin burst into laughter at her words.
“Who? That honor student? You’ve got big dreams.”
“Are you strong?”
“Can’t you tell by looking?”
“No. I can’t tell just by looking.”
Pezin snorted at April’s provocation. And as if he didn’t like that expression, Sebio bared his teeth and growled.
Pezin pointed at Sebio with a weary look.
“Tell him to stop doing that.”
“That’s too difficult a request for a dog to understand.”
“……And does that boy’s grandmother have eight hands? Every time I go there, the amount of knitting has increased.”
“Her hands are fast. Originally, she paid for Fred’s grandfather’s medicine with that, but now the wages I give Fred are enough, so she only makes things for me.”
“Just how much are you paying those brats?”
“Enough to live on.”
“You’re doing well. And you’re sending them to school too? They’re practically your own children.”
“Was that sarcasm?”
“Yeah. But you won’t listen to my opinion anyway.”
“Right.”
“Then just let me ramble to myself.”
As they talked, Sebio’s wariness intensified, perhaps because Shafer’s presence had drawn closer.
When Pezin gestured for the dog to come to him, Sebio quickly sat down right beside him.
Eventually, the horse carrying Shafer’s party overtook the carriage, causing it to come to a stop.
