Translator: Nox

The Mansion Awaits Spring

Chapter 13

Chapter 13

「It’s exactly as you know.」

「Searching for the Mist Killer?」

「Yeah.」

「Is that all?」

「As far as I know.」

Fezin answered Lian’s questions with deliberate ambiguity.

He seemed to have no intention of revealing the exact nature of his mission to Lian.

If it was a mission that required secrecy, it was only natural that he couldn’t speak of it. Understanding this as a fellow member of the Police, Lian smiled to indicate he wouldn’t press further, then stood up and unlatched the door.

「Fine then. Since I’m already here, I might as well have a drink with you before I go.」

「I don’t have time to play with you.」

「I tell you every time, I’m the one playing with you.」

As he spoke and opened the door, the Butler, who had been waiting outside with a silver tray laden with liquor, glasses, and simple snacks, bowed.

「Thank you for visiting the Grand Duchy, Master Ragnar.」

「What kind of alcohol is this?」

「It is a distilled spirit.」

「Wow, it’s going to be strong.」

Lian gestured for him to enter as he spoke.

While the two of them shared their drinks, other Police officers—also graduates of the Military Academy—soon arrived at the Townhouse.

Some had been brought by Lian, others had followed Fezin to the Grand Duchy; all were men who had placed a fifty-fifty bet on their futures—wagering that when one of the two retired, they would follow suit, or if one became Commissioner, they would ride those coattails to promotion.

Therefore, from Lian’s perspective, it was only natural to wonder what mission Fezin had received from the Emperor, and what ripples its success or failure might cause.

However, for that one night, they drank and laughed thoughtlessly as if they were back in their cadet days, acting as though the future would never come.

---

Fortunately, the boat sold quickly, and for a better price than April had expected. It was thanks to Millet Virta’s resourcefulness.

In April’s eyes, Millet could have been a quite capable banker, but in the conservative circle of bankers where positions were passed down to children, it seemed difficult for a member of the Virta family—who had once fallen out of favor—to reclaim their place.

Of course, there was a way. The Lunos family, who had no intention of doing banking business with anyone other than a Virta, simply had to regain their former glory.

Though, there was probably more hope in Virta becoming a banker through his own strength alone.

Seeing the white puffs of her breath, it was clear that the next time it rained, it would surely be snow.

April walked calmly toward the chicken coop.

As always, she left the door open and the tethering stakes were gone, but the chickens didn’t wander far; they moved in and out of the vicinity of the house, foraging for bugs and earthworms on their own. They seemed to recognize this hill as their home.

After tending to the chickens and the coop and giving them the feed she had made herself, she headed toward the mansion.

She wished she had someone she could send to the market in her stead.

Upon hearing the news that the boat had sold, she had stopped by the market on her way back from the Provincial Capital, but no one would sell her anything. She had managed to buy up all the grain from an old woman who couldn’t run away because of an injured leg. Perhaps happy to have made a profit, the old woman—who had been so terrified at first—even took April’s hand and thanked her repeatedly.

But she couldn’t keep doing her grocery shopping with such difficulty.

「It would be nice if I could hire someone…」

Muttering to herself as she headed for the front door, April suddenly felt a wave of heat behind her and turned around.

The long-grown grass was on fire.

A scrawny young girl was looking at the burning grass in a panic, trying to stomp it out, but she couldn’t do it properly because she was afraid of the fire.

「I, I have to put it out… What do I do…」

Fortunately, winter on the Right Island tended to be damp, and since it had rained all night the day before, the fire didn’t spread quickly. Even so, the embers were steadily catching and expanding their reach.

April spoke urgently.

「It’s dangerous, come here!」

Snap out of her panic by the low, commanding voice sensing danger, the child ran toward April.

April ran to the shed where she kept blankets piled up so she could extinguish fires at any time. Following April’s lead, the child also pulled out a blanket.

The large blankets were spread over the flames, and the fire gradually died down.

Confirming the fire was completely out by lifting the blanket, the girl let out a sigh.

「That was close…」

「You.」

When April called out, the girl flinched, her body stiffening. From beneath the blanket, the stick the child had used to bring the fire was poking out.

「I-I’m sorry…」

To the girl who was on the verge of tears and trying to run away, April spoke intimidatingly.

「If you run, I’ll put a curse on you. A very scary curse.」

There were times when people’s misunderstandings were surprisingly convenient.

At April’s words, the girl stood frozen, trembling violently.

Thinking the girl was hiding something else in her clothes, April grabbed her hand.

But she felt nothing.

When April pulled the girl’s right arm out from her clothes, she saw that the hand was missing.

As April frowned and examined the arm, the girl collapsed to her knees and cried out.

「I-I’m sorry! Please don’t curse me!」

Seeing her hide her left arm behind her back, it was clear that the curse the girl imagined was losing her left hand as well.

April said,

「Follow me.」

「I’m sorry…」

「Does an apology solve everything?」

At April’s cold voice, the girl flinched and shook her head.

The girl must have lost her right hand recently; she instinctively tried to brace herself against the ground, and when her body tilted forward, she used her left arm to support herself and stand up. Then, she hurried after April.

The girl’s name was Hannah Koski, and her thirteenth birthday was not far off.

Hannah had lost her right hand to a machine in a factory not long ago, but the problem was that she was expected to pay for the repairs to the damaged machine as well as the fees for the unlicensed doctor who had treated her.

Knowing she couldn’t pay the repair costs, the factory manager had made a proposal: to set fire to this witch’s castle.

April pressed her fingers to her temple, then immediately pulled them away. She remembered her mother doing that gesture often.

It seemed hereditary for a headache to start at the temples when things got stressful, and April didn’t want to mimic her mother’s habits. It was because that action brought back memories of a happy childhood.

April narrowed her eyes and asked,

「Isn’t factory labor forbidden for those under fourteen? You said you’re twelve?」

「Ah! That law was abolished five years ago!」

「Abolished? Why?」

April asked back, completely failing to understand.

Seven years ago, the reason April hadn’t been executed despite earning the Grand Duke’s hatred was also thanks to the protection of laws for minors. She couldn’t believe a twelve-year-old child had not only been injured while working but had even ended up in debt.

The Grand Duchy she had looked out upon from the police station was bustling. It had achieved growth incomparable to seven years ago. The speed was excessive. And with anything excessive, there were always problems.

April asked Hannah,

「Where are your parents?」

「My mother passed away a long time ago! My father does nothing but drink!」

「It’s good that you’re spirited.」

When April replied, Hannah gave a small smile.

「It’s good that you’re spirited too, Milady.」

「Is that so?」

April replied and stood up.

However, in April’s view, as soon as the fire actually caught, Hannah had changed her mind and tried to put it out immediately. That was worth some consideration, April thought.

She meant she would forgive the arson; she didn’t have the money to pay the debt on the child’s behalf, nor did she have the inclination to do so.

April said,

「Fine, you can go now. I’ll forgive you for the fire.」

「R-Really?」

「But if you set another fire, I really won’t let it slide.」

「Yes!」

Though it wasn’t clear if she had a plan, the child answered readily.

April gestured for her to leave since the talk was over, but Hannah didn’t go and stood there hesitating.