The Mansion Awaits Spring
Chapter 125
Even to say she had misheard him over the sound of the waves, his voice had been far too clear. Nevertheless, because what she had heard sounded so suspicious, April asked him back.
“To use your fortune?”
For someone who had just made such a proposal, Fezin looked beyond calm—he looked downright bold.
“Yeah, it’s quite a lot. I’ll be seizing Tabish Company’s profits soon, too. With fines added on. After that, there will be even more wealth.”
“It’ll be good if that works out. But…”
“Use the money I claw back. No, that’s just a bonus. Just use all the money I have. I don’t care if I end up on the street, so take every last coin.”
“…”
“I will pay the price of my life for my betrayal that way.”
Even after he had explained that much, April still watched him warily with eyes red from fatigue. Seeing this, Fezin went on to explain the method.
“Mr. Renald, who manages my assets, is an old friend of your uncle. You can use the funds through those two.”
“I haven’t said I’d accept it yet.”
“This isn’t something to agonize over. Taking a traitor’s money is a tradition of the Grand Duchy, isn’t it?”
“Miller didn’t seem to follow that tradition.”
“My brother is a bad guy.”
Fezin muttered as if talking to himself.
“Though I suppose I am, too.”
Birds took flight into the sky, riding the warm July breeze.
April did not readily answer, nor did she lower her guard. Now that she knew he had played a part in making her a witch, Fezin took her reaction for granted.
To persuade her, he spoke once more.
“Gather people with that money. Teach them, and win their hearts.”
At his words, April murmured in wonder.
“I just said the exact same thing to Irsa.”
“What did you say?”
“That gathering people is what’s important.”
Fezin laughed pleasantly at her response.
“Well, there were times I was surprised because you and I thought so much alike. I wonder if I’ve been influenced by you.”
With those words from Fezin, the conversation between the two fell silent for a moment. Then, before the word “leave” could come out of April’s mouth, Fezin lightly tapped the side of the ship and asked.
“By the way, is this a small boat?”
“Because it’s bigger than you thought?”
“It’s much bigger than I thought.”
From the silence that resumed despite his efforts, Fezin knew that April did not want to converse any longer.
In truth, he had known from the very beginning that she did not want to see him. Even knowing that, he did not want to leave.
His highly strung nerves relaxed slightly. Neither the sound of the waves nor the sudden brawl breaking out at the Port Tavern lingered in his ears; they simply drifted away.
Unable to give up this fleeting, unstable happiness, Fezin continued.
“As you know, the fog is getting worse. The death toll will rise even more. But once the new people from the Special Investigation Headquarters arrive, they’ll completely wash their hands of it.”
“…I suppose so.”
“If we’re going to use the dye, a school would be best, wouldn’t it? Since you’re very interested in education.”
As he spoke, Fezin’s gaze drifted toward Hannah, who was running around, looking at everything with curiosity.
“Is she thirteen this year?”
“Yes.”
“She’ll be a police officer in three years, then.”
April nodded. She then closed her eyes for a moment, lost in thought.
Fezin Dieus was by no means a man who followed the laws of the Grand Duchy with mad devotion. Yet, when he made such a vow, his mind was already made up.
April asked him.
“Why are you giving me your fortune?”
“…”
“You consider yourself an imperial, so you have no reason to care for the Grand Duchy. So why?”
Fezin did not answer, and April asked in a calm voice.
“Because you love me?”
Since her question was difficult to ignore, Fezin frowned and asked back.
“Does that matter?”
“No, not at all. I was just curious.”
At April’s reply, Fezin let out a dry laugh and answered.
“Something like that.”
He stared at April, who was nodding, and muttered.
“I’m sorry for deceiving you. But that doesn’t mean my feelings were a lie.”
“…”
“Anyway. It must be tiresome, but we’ll be seeing each other a lot. There’s no need to waste your energy hating and guarding against me. I’ll get out of your way soon enough.”
“I don’t waste my energy on things like that.”
“You look exhausted, though.”
“It must be because I’m already tired just looking at your face.”
As she retorted, April’s hair was pinned tightly with a jeweled hairpin, but a strong gust of sea breeze blew a stray petal from somewhere, tangling it in her hair.
Fezin reached out to touch her hair, then paused. At that, April spoke.
“It’s fine.”
“…It’s fine?”
“Yes.”
Fezin stepped forward and reached his hand to her hair.
As Fezin removed the petal, April, with her eyes closed, murmured.
“In fact, I hope you love me even more.”
“Why?”
“So I can use you more.”
“…”
“So you’ll hurt more.”
The petal he removed from her hair lingered in Fezin’s hand for a moment before the wind blew it away into the sea.
Watching the petal drift away, Fezin said.
“I’d be glad if you used me.”
He thought the departing petal resembled April.
He was about to turn away when he spoke as if he had just remembered.
“Ah, and.”
“Do you still have more to say?”
“That gas that lights the lamps. The cause of the fog.”
“Yes.”
“It can produce light.”
“…True.”
“In the Empire, they are researching technology to liquefy and transport it. They say it will take about five years.”
Fezin shrugged after saying that.
“That’s it. I’m really leaving now.”
April could guess just how heavy a secret this information he had dropped was.
She remained where she was, lost in thought for a long while.
Fezin left immediately, and April returned to the mansion.
Late that night, she walked through the estate to the quarters where the sailors stayed. She had something to confirm.
Now she knew exactly where the gas light entering the Lunos mansion came from. So she intended to verify Fezin’s words.
She shook awake Kritz, the investigator from Division 3 who had left the Special Investigation Headquarters on his own accord and was currently asleep.
“Mr. Kritz.”
At her touch, a half-drunk Kritz woke up in a daze.
“Miss April?”
“There’s something I want to confirm. Come with me.”
At April’s words, Kritz forced himself awake and stood up.
* * *
April led the way to the Lunos mansion, and once they arrived, she had Kritz change into one of her garments.
Kritz still followed April, utterly bewildered.
As they descended the stairs, Kritz, wearing the dyed clothes and layers of masks, tightly grabbed April’s arm.
“The basement at night is terrifying… Have you been coming here alone all this time?”
“Because there was no one I could bring. But now that I know how to go down without collapsing, I don’t have to go down alone anymore.”
Saying so, April finished descending the stairs.
When they reached the third basement level, the draft was indeed growing stronger. Standing in that space, April looked at Kritz.
With a still-frightened face, Kritz asked.
“So, why did you bring me here?”
“Simply put, this is where… the gas produced from extracting that fuel exists. And that gas can become another fuel.”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“So this place is actually…”
April closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them as she continued.
“To put it nicely, a place of immense potential.”
“…And to put it badly?”
“It would be very easy to blow up.”
At April’s words, Kritz flinched and said.
“W-Why would you say something so terrifying?!”
“I’m just speaking of the possibility.”
“I mean, why are you even thinking of such a possibility…”
In response to Kritz’s lament, April said.
“I believe these gaseous fuels have been continuously discovered in the Grand Duchy. Since the old days when pirates were rampant.”
“Why do you think so?”
“These clothes we are wearing. This dye. It’s not something my parents newly discovered. It’s a tradition of the Grand Duchy that has been passed down. This dye must have protected the people of the Grand Duchy from the gas that causes the fog. Even a very long time ago.”
“Hmm…”
“So, I’m curious if we can use it as fuel.”
After listening to her, Kritz looked around the third basement level. Then he spoke.
“So, you’re asking… if we can use this gas as fuel?”
“Yes.”
Kritz’s fear was gradually replaced by curiosity. He said.
“In truth, energy ultimately begins with thermal power.”
“So, you’re saying it’s possible?”
“Yes, probably.”
“It must be. This is my estate, and it’s mine, after all. I want to be able to use this as fuel.”
At April’s words, Kritz nodded. Then, looking at April, he said.
“Let’s try it.”
Kritz’s eyes were shining.
April liked that look in his eyes—the look of wanting to try.
