The Mansion Awaits Spring
Chapter 93
The guest he expected arrived sooner than Miller Dieus had anticipated.
As April neared the end of the month, she appeared before the Dieus family members aboard their pleasure boat, drawing every eye toward her.
Tattered and covered in thick dust, April looked like a spectral being that had just emerged from a long slumber in a coffin.
Heidi looked back at the boat where the men were gathered. Miller, who had been drinking while holding a fishing rod, had also spotted April.
The oarsman rowed the boat to the shore to let him disembark.
Dressed in a lavish evening suit for the year’s first boating excursion, Miller Dieus approached April.
The two walked up the stairs leading away from the lake so that their conversation would remain private.
They stopped halfway up, and Miller asked with a feigned look of concern, “Look at the state of you. Where did you go rolling around?”
“Was this intentional?”
“What was?”
“You want me dead.”
While Miller faltered, April pressed on.
“Is that why you put out that article? To have me killed by someone else’s hand?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, but I have no intention of killing you.”
“If you didn’t intend it, then you’re just stupid. Why not just be a villain instead?”
There was no way he hadn’t known.
April took a deep breath.
The energy of spring was blooming from the lake. The entire world was beautiful. That beauty felt like it was crushing her.
Miller spoke in a calm voice. “My plan was simple. To find out from you how to obtain the dye.”
“I don’t know the method. I’m still figuring it out.”
“Don’t be like that. People are dying. It’s wrong of you to keep the method to yourself just to stay safe.”
“I told you, I don’t know. Not the dye.”
“You saw it yourself. You saw how angry the citizens are.”
Miller continued, “If you want to hold a peaceful funeral, find out the method and tell me. I’ll be the one to supply that dye to all the citizens.”
“Ah, so you really are just stupid.”
April muttered to herself, then burst into a fit of absurd laughter.
Her laughter shattered the flowery mirth of the nobles on the lake, who had just begun chatting again.
April said to Miller, “If you’re going to strike a deal with someone from a merchant family, you should have thought about what price you’re willing to pay. How can you just ask for it for free?”
“……Are you saying you’re going to turn this into a business?”
“Yes. I am. Why wouldn’t I?”
April didn’t even try to hide her rage. Her fierce gaze was like that of a tiger in winter.
Miller had always hated that look.
It was the polar opposite of the atmosphere Heidi radiated. He missed Heidi’s warmth—the way she would cling to him with her whole body as if she couldn’t get close enough—and he didn’t want to spend a single moment in April’s coldness.
The same thing happened with his younger brother, Fezin. Therefore, Miller believed the possibility of Fezin falling in love with this woman was not very high.
Every night the mansion was engulfed in a burning heat, yet the master of the house lived in an eternal winter.
“You’re threatening me, saying people will hate me…… but look at me now. Do you think it could get any worse than this?”
April let out a hollow laugh as if the thought were truly ridiculous.
“Miller, to the people of this island, I became a witch a long time ago.”
“…….”
“I find it strange that you think I’d be afraid of their hatred.”
Miller was silent for a moment, and April continued nonchalantly.
“Anyway, it’s good to know you have such ‘good intentions.’ I’ll look into it, and you can buy it from me. I will never provide my dye to the people of this island for free.”
As April turned to leave, Miller quickly grabbed her arm.
“April, wait.”
“Let go.”
“Thinking back, I think I made a mistake. I thought you were hiding the method. I didn’t know you actually didn’t know.”
“Does that change anything? I’m already angry.”
“I’ll find the ones who did this to you and punish them.”
“That’s the police’s job. Don’t try to take credit for it.”
“Speaking of the police……”
Miller said, slowly releasing her arm.
“Don’t trust Fezin.”
“…….”
At his words, April, who had been about to walk away, stopped in her tracks.
Miller continued, “There’s a reason he’s being nice to you. Don’t get hurt again, and start wrapping things up with him.”
“……I’ll handle my own business. Don’t interfere.”
“You can’t handle it. I know him—if that guy decides to be nice, anyone would fall for it.”
“…….”
“I’ve heard everything, even that the Empire found out about the dye. But who do you think was ordered to get the method out of you?”
“Shut up.”
“He’s definitely going to try to get it from you. So…… don’t tell the Empire, tell me first. I know you hate me, and I know I did wrong this time. But in the end, it’s information we need to know.”
April grit her teeth and walked up the stairs without looking back.
It felt as if her breath were being choked off by something.
When one is suffocating, tears should fall, but even those were frozen.
April felt a wave of dizziness as she finished climbing the stairs. Reaching level ground, she sank down and clutched her head, which had begun to throb with a splitting pain.
“Why does my head hurt so much……”
As she muttered to herself, she heard a click of a tongue from above. Looking up, she saw Fezin in his police uniform, looking down at her with a grim expression.
April looked up at him and asked, “Weren’t you going boating?”
“…….”
“Go on. I’m done talking here.”
The fury in Fezin’s eyes was unfamiliar.
He swallowed his emotions, clenching his jaw so hard the veins stood out, then took April’s hand and pulled her up.
April opened her mouth. “Why are you angry?”
“I heard you almost died just now.”
“I handled it.”
“How can you be so nonchalant?”
“That’s just how life is. You survive brushes with death. Everyone just lives according to the fate the gods have set.”
“Do I look like…… I want to hear that right now?”
Then what do you want to hear?
Before April could even ask, she was pulled into Fezin’s embrace.
April murmured in a tired voice, “I’m dirty right now.”
“I see that. You’re a total mess.”
“I want to wash up.”
“Yeah, let’s go straight to my place. It’s close.”
“You have to go boating.”
“I never wanted to go in the first place. I only came because everyone was making such a fuss.”
He spoke as he brushed back her tangled hair. Then, pulling her close again, he whispered, “If this is the fate the gods set, like you said…… then I should be grateful. At least you’re alive.”
“Hmm, somehow that feels unfair.”
“Why unfair?”
“Because I struggled so hard to live. My own effort played a big part.”
“Yes, yes, you did well. You were very brave.”
Fezin said as he supported her and helped her into the carriage he had arrived in.
* * *
April was treated by the Dieus family doctor and fell asleep in Fezin’s townhouse.
Fezin asked the doctor, “She says her head hurts. Why is that? Besides the bruising, she says she has a headache.”
“It is a concussion from the impact. The symptoms are mild, but for now, it is best to avoid any strenuous movement.”
“I understand.”
“It will take some time to prepare the medicine. It would be best to let her sleep until then. She’s currently unable to sleep because of her anxiety.”
“Yes, I’ll do that.”
After hearing various precautions from the doctor, Fezin entered the bedroom.
Just as the doctor said, April was sitting up in bed, unable to sleep due to her anxiety.
Fezin leaned down to examine her face. Only now could he clearly see the bruises.
Fezin asked, “Do you remember who hit you?”
April hesitated, then shook her head.
“Actually, I don’t remember that moment.”
“It’s okay. I’ll find them all and beat the truth out of them.”
Fezin said, then climbed onto the bed next to April without permission.
Though it was a large bed suited for Fezin’s frame, April’s eyes widened in surprise at him suddenly getting under the covers with her.
“What are you doing?”
“Lie down. Let’s sleep together.”
“Are you crazy?”
“You’re the one with the head injury, why would I be the one going crazy? Hurry up and lie down.”
April still looked bewildered, but Fezin was persistent, so she had no choice but to lie down beside him.
Fezin wrapped his arms tightly around April.
Her body, which had been trembling ever since she was dragged from the carriage, through her meeting with Miller, and until her return here, finally began to calm. It was perhaps thanks to the sense of security provided by Fezin’s strong arms shielding her.
