The Mansion Awaits Spring
Chapter 37
From the moment April stepped out of the carriage, the banquet hall was already buzzing with gossip about her attendance.
Those who loved spreading rumors rushed inside to report the situation outside.
“Do you know who just arrived? You won’t believe who came with Inspector Fezin!”
“I was wondering why it was so noisy out there.”
“I thought I heard screaming….”
At the crowd’s eager reaction, a gossip-monger cleared their throat and announced:
“It’s a Lunos!”
Since everyone nearby was listening intently, the name ‘Lunos’ rippled through the entire banquet hall.
It was no different for the Grand Duke couple, who were starting their evening seated at a table with their closest acquaintances.
Her seven-year house arrest had ended; there was no law restricting April Runos’s actions anymore. Furthermore, since she was accompanied by the police, there was simply no way to find fault with her presence.
They couldn't kick out a guest at the party. She was a lady brought personally by Fezin, who held a legitimate invitation. If anything, she required hospitality beyond that of an average guest.
The Grand Duke couple should have stood up to offer that hospitality, but Miller quickly realized that Heidi was in no state to do so.
Heidi’s face, usually so warm, was clouded with complex emotions that looked as tangled as sticky threads.
Miller wrapped his hand around his wife’s arm—she was torn between her duty to greet guests and her personal feelings toward April. He was signaling for her to just stay in her seat.
April Runos arrived in the banquet hall only after every single attendee of the garden party had become aware of her presence.
It was a winter night in the Grand Duchy, blanketed in snow.
Even the common chirping of insects had vanished, and as if on cue, the musicians' performance came to an end.
Music only resumed after Miller signaled for them to play again. It was a needlessly somber melody.
Fortunately, as the music began, the banquet hall was once again covered by the noisy hum of conversation.
Fezin noticed Heidi Dieus turn her head away the moment their eyes met. He understood then that the couple would not be coming over to greet them, nor would they be escorting them to a table.
That cold shoulder made Fezin instinctively recall his childhood.
He thought it had been inevitable for his brother to fall in love with Heidi.
Back when Fezin used to cry in front of his brother, longing for their parents' embrace as if his brother had stolen them away….
Heidi would bring interesting storybooks to comfort the two of them.
How could anyone not love that girl with the braided hair who shared her affection so brightly?
“Fezin finally fell asleep thanks to you. Thank you.”
Fezin recalled his brother’s voice from his half-sleep.
“You’re working so hard taking care of two boys. One of them is just a kid you can’t even reason with.”
“What are you talking about? Fezin is a gentleman. He’s all grown up.”
At those words, he had mumbled, “Heidi’s right,” in his sleep, making them both laugh. It was a time when he couldn't even remember when his brother had last laughed so comfortably.
Fezin pulled out a chair for April by the window.
“I didn't expect them to skip the greetings entirely, though.”
As he spoke, he signaled a servant to bring over an empty table.
Actually, it wasn't empty; a few guests had been sitting there, but they caught Fezin’s signal to the servant and took the hint to stand up.
April thought to herself that his commands didn't seem to apply only to the servants.
While they waited a moment, a table, aperitifs, and light snacks were placed before them.
It was quite a large table, but no one else wanted to sit there.
Once seated, April spoke to Fezin.
“Go on and dance.”
“Why are you telling someone else to dance while you rest?”
“There are plenty of people wishing for it,” April said, gesturing with her chin.
Indeed, even while April and Heidi were drawing everyone's gaze, there were far too many young ladies whose attention was entirely consumed by who Fezin would ask to dance. They were only holding back out of fear that a curse might fly from April if they approached.
Fezin found it tedious that once he started dancing, he’d likely be stuck doing it all night despite not even liking it much. But as April said, it was strange not to dance once you were at a party.
April continued.
“Besides, I can only dance with someone else if you’re not here.”
“Is there a man here brave enough to ask you to dance?”
“I’m not interested in anyone who isn't at least that brave.”
Fezin let out a small, amused chuckle at her remark. Looking at his profile, April asked,
“What about you? What kind of woman do you want to dance with?”
“A brave woman for me, too.”
“How do you know who’s brave?”
At that, Fezin leaned his head against his hand and replied nonchalantly,
“The person who talks to me first will be the brave one.”
April clicked her tongue at Fezin’s attitude, seeing how certain he was that women would approach him first.
But his words weren't wrong. As soon as Fezin cast a glance around as if looking for a partner, noblewomen approached the table. No sooner had he put down his glass after a sip of champagne than he was pulled away to the dance floor.
April stared for a moment at the glass Fezin had left on the table. There was a handkerchief next to it. It was likely hers.
“Did he leave it in case I started crying?”
April muttered to herself and looked away from the handkerchief.
She aimlessly watched the noble lady dancing with Fezin, only for the woman to startle and squeeze her eyes shut. She saw Fezin whisper something to her.
He was probably telling her not to look at useless things and just focus on his handsome face.
And the woman would probably laugh, she thought. If it were a complete lie, she’d look stern, but since it was vaguely true….
Just as she predicted, the woman dancing with Fezin forgot that April was watching and burst into a lovely laugh.
April sipped her champagne in silence, wetting her throat.
The weight of everyone's gaze was exhausting, but she quite liked the fact that she was ruining Heidi’s party.
Regardless, she needed to find a marriage partner here, but the start was difficult. If she missed this chance, it was highly likely she wouldn't get another.
However, no one asked her to dance; people only hovered nearby, curious about how to verify if she was a witch.
It was then that Paul Soar approached her.
“The Superintendent ordered me to rush over if you were alone. Would you like to dance?”
“You don't need to pity me.”
Unfazed by her predictable response, Paul stroked his chin and spoke.
“I even shaved, just as you ordered.”
At his unexpected comment, April was caught off guard and let out a short laugh.
Seeing that smile, Paul said with a satisfied expression,
“Yes, it works after all. Just as the Superintendent said.”
“Fezin told you to say that?”
“Yes, he told me to make you laugh.”
“I see.”
April nodded in understanding.
As the music changed, Paul headed toward the center of the banquet hall with April.
Even before asking for the dance, Paul Soar had been prepared to be struck by April. This was because his dancing skills were not exactly great.
Even with the same movements, he somehow looked like he was floundering. He’d been confident in his physical abilities his whole life, but dancing had neatly snapped that confidence in two.
And April, who had entered society at a younger age than anyone and had trained in its ways since she was five or six, noticed his clumsiness from the very first step.
Feeling her eyes looking up at him, Paul lifted his chin and avoided her gaze by staring at the ceiling.
He lamented to himself why his body wouldn't cooperate despite knowing the steps well enough to move instinctively, when he heard a laugh from near his chest.
He lowered his head from the ceiling to see April laughing with her eyes squeezed shut.
“……Please, don't laugh.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I’m really trying my best here….”
Despite his earnest plea, the wicked lady of the Runos family laughed with her whole face.
Paul let out a lamenting sigh, then turned his head as he felt a gaze on him. Fezin was there.
When their eyes met, Fezin gave a deliberate smile, then turned and walked away. He was heading toward the Dieus couple. Just then, April tapped Paul’s arm.
“Don't get distracted. You’re bad enough at dancing as it is.”
“Ah, my apologies.”
At April’s sharp voice, Paul immediately looked at her and apologized.
April smiled, seemingly finding it somewhat enjoyable to scold Paul like this while they danced.
Strangely, Paul felt uneasy. He felt as though he had stepped into a place where he didn't belong.
