Translator: Nox

The Mansion Awaits Spring

Chapter 128

Fezin replied far too easily, leaving April looking bewildered this time.

In the meantime, Fezin spoke up.

“It’s a good idea. I don’t know how much resources that factory is extracting and exporting, but taking it will not only be a significant strength for the Grand Duchy, it will also deal a blow to the Empire.”

“Yes, that’s what I think too. That’s why I brought it up, but…”

“But?”

“You’re agreeing to do it just like that, so easily?”

April asked, knowing full well that this was by no means an easy matter to agree to.

Simply telling her about the gas used in the basement was already enough to plunge Fezin into a field of malevolent spirits trying to drag him down to hell.

Helping April seize that factory was an even greater danger than that.

Fezin added sugar to his teacup as he continued.

“You wouldn’t be able to do it without my help anyway. Why do you look so surprised when you were planning to make me help you one way or another?”

“That’s true, but… I thought it would take me a very long time to convince you to help.”

“Now that you mention it, that’s true.”

At April’s words, Fezin crossed his arms and put on a coy face.

“Now that I think about it, did I agree too easily? Paying with my life means I want to live, but this is quite life-threatening.”

“…I shouldn’t have said anything.”

At April’s murmur, Fezin let out a chuckle and said, “I’ll help you. I’m going to help, but I still want to hear how you were planning to persuade me.”

“I was going to make you feel guilty. If you want to hear it, I can tell you.”

“If that’s your persuasion tactic, I’d rather not hear it.”

Declining her offer, Fezin leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table and propping his chin in his hands with a look on his face that made it seem as if they were merely on a date.

“You’re doing great. Keep going.”

“With what?”

“Keep using me like that.”

April found it strange that Fezin actually seemed to be enjoying himself.

He currently had the leisure to enjoy the aroma of the tea and the sweetness of the sugar. She couldn’t believe he was sitting across from her, enjoying this moment, so she asked him, “Are you enjoying this?”

“It’s not bad. Why?”

“Just… thinking about it, I’m glad you don’t find it bad.”

She closed her eyes briefly, looking tired, and murmured, “I have too many things to do with you. And too many things to ask of you. So.”

“If I’m depressed from lovesickness, it’ll only make things harder for you?”

“Yes.”

April opened her eyes again to look at Fezin.

“I don’t want to waste any more emotion on you.”

“…”

“The same goes for hating you. That is simply too exhausting.”

Fezin stared at her lips. She moved those pretty lips so slowly, speaking words that sliced away at his soul.

“Just because my ambition is great doesn’t mean my love was small.”

“…”

“I really did like you.”

Fezin thought he would have preferred it if she cursed at him and slapped his cheek instead.

The emotions back then were much easier to bear.

She was striving to erase him from her world. It was an attempt to return to the state before they had ever met.

It wasn’t surprising. April had even tried to erase the happy memories she shared with her parents.

It was the best method she had already experienced.

April continued.

“So.”

“The plan to seize the factory?”

When Fezin asked, April shook her head.

“That’s too big a task. I wanted to have a little casual chat to ease the tension. About Mrs. Eve, or Shaefer.”

“Neither of those are topics I particularly want to discuss.”

Fezin looked reluctant, but spoke as if he had no choice.

“What do you want to talk about first? Arranging a meeting to find out Mr. Bauman’s feelings, since Mrs. Eve’s feelings seem certain? Or your plan to make Lady Eleanor give up on Shaefer?”

“I told you, I want to watch Shaefer a bit longer. I like his lineage.”

At April’s words, Fezin became uncharacteristically agitated and said, “So don’t just look at his lineage, look at the person. Are you confused about who Shaefer Meyer is right now?”

“I’m not confused at all. He’s that rascal currently on our porch.”

“See, even you call him a rascal.”

“Still, he’s grown up a bit. In his own way.”

“He’s at the age where he should be growing up, so you shouldn’t count that as a merit. Besides, there’s a big age difference between you two.”

“It’s a three-year difference. By that logic, there’s a seven-year difference between Mrs. Eve and Mr. Bauman.”

“Oh, that bothers me too. No matter how I think about it, nothing beats being the same age. Younger men won’t do either. They’re just brats.”

April, completely unaware that Fezin was speaking with Kayani Morrow in mind, shook her head.

“I don’t like men of the same age.”

“Then I’ll list the advantages of same-age men for you.”

“Fine, then I should try meeting another man of the same age. To experience it for myself.”

“There is no man of your age with a decent lineage in the Grand Duchy.”

“There’s Officer Paul.”

“…Are you crazy? Absolutely not my subordinate. It’ll get complicated.”

When Fezin turned serious, April muttered to herself, ‘Then what do you want me to do?’

As they chatted, April said, “Lady Eleanor wants to host a party here.”

“Other women will be attending besides you, right?”

“She probably won’t invite many women of marriageable age.”

“Terrible.”

“So this is what it’s like to have parents.”

“We wouldn’t know. We only know what it’s like not to have them…”

April looked at him as he muttered casually.

Every noble in the Grand Duchy remembered the funeral of the late Grand Duke couple, and thus felt sympathy for that boy.

Recalling the boy who had wept sorrowfully in his mourning clothes, April asked, “How did you do it? Accepting that your parents were gone.”

“I…”

Fezin set his teacup down, thought for a moment, and answered.

“I had my brother.”

“…”

“My brother comforted me all day long. He told me it was okay because he was there. For a very long time, he comforted me while grieving himself.”

Reminiscing, he shrugged.

“Humans are multifaceted by nature, aren’t they?”

“Yes.”

“I will still love my brother, probably until the moment I die. And I will hate him until that moment too.”

Hating love was a first for Fezin, and it was incredibly difficult.

He figured the emotions April had once felt toward Miller must have been similar. She carried that hatred with her, while she chose to erase her hatred for him instead.

Fezin spoke.

“And come to think of it, you were there too.”

“Me?”

“Yes, you won’t remember, but there was something.”

Fezin said this, then asked in his characteristically sharp voice, “Well, that’s enough casual chat. So, do you have a plan to seize the factory? Even if I’m going to help, we need a main outline. To know how to branch out.”

“Ah, I have two ideas. One is to make them believe there are no more buried resources left.”

“And the other?”

“Increasing the risk.”

“…Risk?”

“The risk that it could explode at any moment.”

April continued.

“So I want to plant the idea that the aftermath of that explosion could reach the Empire. The fear that the Left Island could also be engulfed in that fog. I’m even prepared to partially damage this mansion for that.”

Fezin, who had threatened his brother’s life the moment he learned of his crimes, found April’s quiet anger fascinating.

After a long time, she had learned how to be calmly angry. Watching her anger quietly, Fezin found himself drawn into it.

Once December arrived and he departed, he wouldn’t see her again. If she refused to meet him anymore, this might be his last chance, so Fezin watched her closely at every moment. And slowly loved her.

Fezin said, “We’ll need to know the factory very well.”

“Extremely well. It would be great if there’s someone who knows the interior. Best of all… it would be great if I could go and check it myself. Since I know my estate well.”

“If so, there is a day. Just one day.”

“What day?”

At April’s question, Fezin answered.

“The only day when all Empire citizens rest.”

“Is there such a day?”

“There is. Empire citizens value their rest days more than the people of the Grand Duchy. The most definite holiday among them.”

Since Fezin seemed to be hesitating, April asked, “When is it?”

“When did you say the departure is? It should be around then.”

“September 4th.”

“Ah, then the date is perfect.”

“So, when is it?”

As April pressed him, Fezin replied casually.

“September 7th.”

April paused at the date, then burst into laughter.

September 7th.

The victory anniversary of the Lasa Empire.

The day they triumphed over the royal family of the Right Island.

It was the day that celebrated this warm world enjoyed by the people of the Empire.

Laughing, April said, “That is the perfect date.”