Chapter 82
After finishing her bath, the children returned with a large pot. What they set down was a fish stew generously filled with white cod meat.
“Our grandmother came and made it!”
Fred announced proudly. April, who had been missing Fred’s grandmother’s cooking, smiled happily.
“I was just wanting Fred’s grandmother’s cooking.”
“Really? Grandmother keeps saying it’s not food suitable for a noble lady.”
“Even though I told her how much I enjoy it?”
“That’s what I’m saying!”
When she gestured for the indignant Fred to sit across from her, he took a seat.
Hannah, who had lost April for the past few days, got permission to sit on the bed and was firmly hugging April’s waist, refusing to let go.
Knowing that Hannah considered living in this Lunos mansion her lifeline, April started eating the stew in an uncomfortable position without saying anything to the child.
The herbs displayed in the kitchen hadn’t been used, perhaps because they didn’t know how to use them, so only the tomato smell came from the stew. Still, some spicy ingredient must have been added as it stung the tongue with heat.
April had never eaten spicy food in her life, so she struggled even with this mild level of heat.
“Wow, it’s really spicy…”
Fred, who was resting his chin on his hands folded like flower petals, said,
“Grandmother and grandfather like spicy things. I’m lucky to work at the Lunos mansion. We can buy lots of spicy ingredients!”
“That’s interesting…”
What April actually found interesting was something else.
It was the fact that Fred, who usually got scared when meeting new people, was more talkative than the typically outgoing Hannah.
April briefly put down her spoon and pulled Hannah, who had buried her face in her back.
“You should eat too.”
“I’ll kill them.”
“What?”
“Tavisi.”
April belatedly realized that the owner of the factory where Hannah worked was also a ‘Tavisi.’
April lowered her head to check Hannah’s face.
Hannah’s eyes were open. Though it was unclear why her open eyes suddenly felt strange, April experienced an unfamiliar feeling.
No, actually she had known all along.
Hannah hadn’t forgotten a single thing that had happened to her.
Having eaten so little throughout her growth, Hannah had been noticeably smaller than middle-class children her age, but since starting to eat and sleep at the Lunos mansion, she was growing rapidly.
April stroked Hannah’s head and said,
“Make sure to get my permission before doing anything dangerous.”
“Will you give permission?”
“Yes.”
“Even to kill someone?”
“If it’s justified.”
“Can killing someone ever be justified?”
“Yes. Like when my parents tried to kill Miller Deus, that was justified.”
April was a bit surprised at her own words.
For a long time, April hadn’t been able to decide exactly how she should feel about her parents’ choice. Because too strong a backlash had swept through the Lunos family.
But now, she spoke without thinking, and after speaking, realized it was her true feeling.
“The only unjust part was that my parents failed to kill someone who loved another woman while being engaged to me, and ultimately tried to break off the engagement.”
At her calm words, Hannah’s lips turned up involuntarily.
“I think so too!”
“So you need to eat. People need strength.”
“I will! Fred, will you cut some bread for me too?”
“Yes! I’ll cut you a big piece!”
Fred, who loved both cooking and bread-cutting and always handled the bread-cutting at the table, excitedly cut Hannah a large piece.
Hannah dipped a large piece of bread deep in the stew before taking a bite. Apparently satisfied after trying it, she stuffed another big bite in her mouth before asking April,
“Can I become a police officer too?”
April asked back, exasperated at Hannah’s words.
“You fell for Fejin’s persuasion?”
“Yes… He said I could do it even with one hand. If I work three times harder…”
April laughed out loud seeing Hannah’s embarrassment and said,
“What more could I wish for? If you become a police officer.”
“Didn’t you want me to become an artist?”
“I think Fred will become the artist.”
At her words, Fred clenched both fists and nodded.
Besides diligently learning from Baumann, Fred was the one Baumann had declared “has talent.” April found it amazing that such talented children had appeared at her house. At the same time, she felt dizzy thinking about what Hannah’s life might have been like after losing her hand at the factory.
Though the stew tasted good on her tongue, April had no appetite, but having said those words to Hannah, she took big spoonfuls of stew and continued speaking.
“The Grand Duchy needs many people. So I’ll let anyone who can learn, learn.”
When she learned that Fejin had paid the fee for her, she had felt miserable.
In her heart, she didn’t want to accept help from anyone, but thinking realistically, she desperately needed Fejin’s money.
She felt base, hateful, and disgusting for accepting it. But she planned to suppress herself and brazenly accept it, pretending not to know. She had no intention of maintaining her pride before him. When she met Fejin, she planned to thank him first.
But even while being grateful, she couldn’t help but ask this question.
Why would he pay such a large sum of money…
With these doubts, she lay down in bed after finishing her meal.
Perhaps tired from the trip to the Empire, she fell into a deep sleep as soon as she lay down, and woke up naturally after getting enough rest without anyone waking her.
She found Sevio sleeping beside her and a note from Baumann that Sevio had brought to the bed.
[Young Master Cayani is waiting in the reception room, Miss.]
She had been planning to go to the Merrow house anyway to ask Jeff something.
Thinking this was well-timed, April left her bedroom.
In the reception room, she found Cayani Merrow waiting while reading a book. Like his father, Cayani seemed to enjoy reading.
Noticing her presence, Cayani looked up and stood when he saw April. April asked,
“Is something wrong?”
“Ah, nothing special, I just came by when I heard you had returned.”
The idea of visiting without any special reason felt very unfamiliar to April, yet welcome.
April looked at Cayani’s attire and asked,
“You’re wearing your school uniform.”
“Yes, sister. I came straight from school.”
“But it’s Saturday… yesterday?”
“Ah, I just came unnecessarily early. Even knowing you’d be tired. Baumann has been very hospitable, so I’ve rested well.”
Cayani said casually.
Cayani examined April’s complexion as he asked,
“How is your health?”
“Just fine. And with such a welcome visitor, not bad at all.”
“That’s good to hear.”
Cayani returned his brightest smile to April, who was trying to appear cheerful.
After asking about April’s well-being, Cayani said,
“You don’t know how much my parents worried. Father has recovered so much since you visited.”
“That’s truly wonderful news.”
“Both my parents wait for you so eagerly, I feel sorry I wasn’t born as their youngest daughter to be filial.”
April burst out laughing at Cayani’s words.
Cayani pretended to be serious and continued,
“It’s not a laughing matter, really.”
“Alright, I understand.”
“Still, it’s such a relief to see you laugh like this. The banker is here too, should I give you space?”
“Banker?”
“Yes, Virta.”
“You mean Miss Mille? But she’s not a banker.”
“Ah, yes. She just became a banker.”
“What? How?”
