The Mansion Awaits Spring
Chapter 98
As April turned around, Logan, who had been fidgeting restlessly, followed after her and spoke.
“I understand what you meant. But still… how can you trust a pirate like that with a gemstone?”
“It is more likely that he will run away with the jewel and fail to save Irsa.”
“Then isn’t the loss too great?”
At that, April replied with a smile.
“If he fails, Irsa pays the price for his crimes and I lose a single gem. But if he succeeds, I gain two trustworthy sailors.”
She continued speaking as she stepped out of the tavern.
“Right now, I’m holding a funeral with my own estate as collateral just to win people over. Two sailors for one gemstone is quite economical.”
“…….”
“Do I really have the luxury of saving pocket change right now?”
Logan stared at her blankly for a moment before his eyes crinkled into a grin and he burst into laughter.
“Come to think of it, you were always a natural gambler, Miss April. I haven’t won a single hand of cards against you yet…. Ah, would you care to be my opponent for a game on the way back to the Lunos mansion?”
“What would you gain by beating me?”
“I’ll brag to the Superintendent and Senior Officer Paul. I’ll tell them I beat Miss April, whom neither of them could best.”
“That seems like a pointless endeavor.”
“Yes, well, risking one’s life for pointless things is what being a man is about.”
Logan spoke cheerfully as he climbed into the carriage with April.
As he pulled out the deck of cards he carried for his magic tricks, April spoke up.
“Shall we make a bet?”
“What kind of bet?”
“If you win even a single round against me in this carriage, I’ll grant you whatever you want. Conversely, if you lose every round, you grant me what I want.”
“It’s almost embarrassing since the odds are so much in my favor… but what is it you want?”
“If that sailor runs away, will you arrest him for me?”
Logan burst into a loud laugh at April’s request.
“So you are anxious after all?”
“I am only human, after all.”
“Ah, you looked so cool earlier, though.”
“I’m not sorry for being uncool now. What about you, Logan-ssi?”
“I definitely have something I want, if it’s a wish…. You’re going to buy a ship later, aren’t you?”
“That’s right.”
“Please let me… invest a little.”
“Invest?”
“Yes.”
Logan said while shuffling the cards.
“I want to invest in you, Miss April.”
“Based on what trust?”
“Well, you were cool for at least a moment earlier.”
April burst into laughter at Logan’s cheeky answer. Logan followed with a laugh and continued.
“And I was taught that investments have a high probability of a great return when they are risky. And also.”
“And?”
“Your win rate is high.”
As he said that, there was a strong conviction in Logan’s voice.
“Fine.”
April said, throwing the first round just like that.
“I lost. I’ll accept the investment.”
“Now then. Let’s start again properly.”
Logan said, shuffling the cards once more.
During the ride back to the mansion, the two played several types of card games, and April won every single one.
Since leaving Fezin’s house, he had not come to see April.
Back at the mansion, reflecting on it, she realized she had created a situation that would naturally make him angry. Since he had promised to provide the flowers on the day of the funeral anyway, she figured they would meet even without contacting him.
The day before the funeral, as expected, Fezin appeared at the Grand Banquet Hall with a freight wagon.
Late at night, April went out to meet him. She checked Fezin’s face first before speaking.
“Thank you.”
Despite her greeting, Fezin acted as if he hadn’t seen her and instructed the servants to unload the flowers from the wagon.
Since he didn’t respond to her words, April couldn’t think of what to say next, so she looked at the flowers first.
White hyacinths and baby’s breath were mixed in moderate amounts.
April looked back at Fezin and then at the flowers again.
She had talked with him about the flowers needed for the funeral, but they hadn’t reached a conclusion on exactly which flowers were required. Therefore, these flowers were entirely Fezin’s choice.
White dahlias were usually used for weddings on the Right Island, but hyacinths were also popular. It was unexpected that he brought them to a funeral.
April opened her mouth.
“……These are flowers I wanted to use at a wedding.”
At those words, Fezin whipped his head around and snorted.
“Oh, really? Your wedding?”
“Yeah, I probably would have used them if I’d married your brother.”
“My brother used white dahlias for his wedding.”
“I like hyacinths.”
April remembered a fact she herself had forgotten. And Fezin, who had realized it first, retorted coldly.
“I know. That’s why I brought them.”
“Did Miller tell you?”
“How would hyung know what you like?”
Fezin snapped. Still harboring resentment toward April, he clicked his tongue and continued.
“I suddenly remembered. Back when you used to use me as a toy for playing house.”
“A toy? That’s a bit harsh.”
“Every time we played wedding back then, you said it.”
「There will be hyacinths everywhere here.」
That doll-like girl with eyes like red jewels.
He remembered that girl, more precious than any gem, with hair like gold and eyes like rubies.
April nodded and watched the flowers being unloaded from the wagon before turning back to him. He still acted as if he hadn’t seen her, so April couldn’t easily strike up a conversation.
The Grand Banquet Hall was filled with flowers. Fezin had bought an overflowing amount. Now it was time for the people April had hired from near the estate to decorate with them.
In the kitchen, an immense amount of food for the funeral was being prepared continuously.
Watching the people, who hadn’t had work for a while, flocking together to work, April spoke.
“I’m going to hire the ones among them who work well.”
“Efficient.”
“The situation is just too bad.”
At April’s muttered words, Fezin replied.
“They’ll still come.”
April turned to look at him at his words. Fezin continued.
“A lot of people will come.”
“How do you know?”
When April asked with a tilt of her head at Fezin’s certainty, he answered.
“As a human being, you’re just so-so.”
“Right.”
“But as the Head of the Family of Lunos, you’re doing well.”
April flinched at his words.
“You forgave the Lunos people and the sailors, didn’t you?”
“It wasn’t forgiveness. They were necessary.”
“Yeah, your words are more accurate. They’re necessary. And if they’re necessary, people seek them out.”
“I suppose so.”
“You’re rational. If I were them, I’d trust your rationality.”
April gazed blankly at Fezin, who was speaking with a stiff expression because he was still angry with her.
“It’s the first time in my life I’ve been complimented on my rationality.”
“How is this a compliment? It’s a description.”
“A positive description is a compliment.”
While they were talking, the unloading of the flowers finished, and a servant ran up to Fezin.
“All the flowers have been moved. You said you would return as soon as the flowers were unloaded, right?”
“Yes, let’s go back.”
As Fezin spoke and moved toward the carriage, April reflexively grabbed his arm.
When Fezin turned around, April blinked several times and spoke.
“……Do you want to play house? Today.”
“Are you serious?”
“Yes. I want to do it for the first time in a long while.”
“Did you injure your head severely?”
Fezin checked April’s face with genuine concern.
April narrowed her eyes and glared at him, but she didn’t let go of the arm she was holding.
“Don’t do it if you don’t want to.”
“I’ll do it. I need to check if your cognitive abilities are intact.”
The servant understood immediately and nodded.
“Then I will send the freight wagon back first, Young Master.”
“Yes, thank you.”
After saying that, the two of them left the Grand Banquet Hall.
Passing through the hallway, they arrived at April’s bedroom.
Fezin asked.
“You want to play house?”
“Yes.”
Still suspicious of April’s bruising, Fezin sat down in a chair for the time being.
April poured a cup of tea into a fancy cup on a silver tray and handed it to Fezin. Fezin took the teacup, looking exasperated.
“What are you doing?”
“What role do you want? Between the puppy and the husband.”
Only then did Fezin somewhat understand what she wanted to do. He made a polite gesture of sipping the tea before setting it down on the table.
“I’ve grown too big to be the puppy.”
“Right, then be the husband.”
April said as she sat on Fezin’s lap, facing him.
