Translator and Editor: Lea and Aki
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Chapter 30
Kane was sitting comfortably in the parlor with his new coat over his shoulder. Ian sat across from him after a light respectable bow.
“There were some chests stacked up outside. What are those for? Klaus was keeping an intent watch on them.”“Just research materials. Drugs, herbs, things like that.”“Likely to be used by April.”
Ian hesitated for a moment whether to tell him the truth about his relationship with April or not. Kane was disappointed to hear that April was staying at the Marquis’ house after a few days of her arrival.
“I’ve come here to deliver something to you today.”
Ian politely accepted the two envelopes that Kane took out of his pocket. Ian’s eyes opened wide when he saw Grand Duke Augustine’s seal there. It was the words of invitation that he saw as soon as he opened the envelope.
“A wedding invitation? You’ve come here to hand this over personally?”“That’s right. I was specifically asked for this.”“For April.”“I guess Lianna really wants to invite April. It’s her choice if she wants to attend or not.”
Ian glanced at April’s share of the wedding invitation.
Just because she wanted April’s presence didn’t mean she expected her to come, but this was given just in case she changed her mind. After all, it’s an aristocratic wedding event that couldn’t be entered without an invitation.
“I wanted to give it to her in person, but it’s only a thought. Do me a favor.”“I’ll give it to her.”
While Ian was placing the letters on the desk, Kane stood up and looked around the office. Then, he took out the chessboard that was stuck in the corner of the bookcase and unfolded it.
“You didn’t usually care about chess, sir.”“We don’t have to put it into an argument. We just need an opportunity to talk.”
Ian nodded. There might be a reason for Kane’s sudden wish, so Ian waited silently for his words.
“Is it true that you decided to buy the northern land? You said you weren’t interested.”
As expected, Kane brought up a completely different topic. Ian, who said he was not interested in it until just a while ago, was curious when he actively spoke about the northern land.
“You already know. Of what resources can be found out there.”“Hmm, well….. You know how it went up for auction, right?”“It used to belong to the Witzer family. I’ve also talked to April.”
To Kane’s question having April in mind, Ian gave an immediate response. Both of them fell into a brief silence as the name of the Witzers came up. Curious, Kane was the one to break it.
“Was she okay with it?”“Yes. Perhaps I can return it to her later.”“Is there a reason to venture that far?”
Kane’s head tilted in question. Since Ian had apparently dismissed it as just a necessary contract, Kane wondered if he was looking at April from a completely different perspective from the beginning. Ian decided to reveal it.
“I have. I’ve been having her on my mind.”“You!”“No, is that a surprise?”
When Ian asked with an embarrassed face, Kane just nodded. Kane’s surprise was not because he felt attached to April, but to who he was in love with.
At the same time, he was worried. The woman Ian wanted to be with was a befall of a great past and an unknown future.
“You know what she is like, don’t you?”“Yes, I do. She is an intelligent and honest woman.”
As Ian spoke, Kane’s expression unintentionally softened, and he smiled. Ian was sometimes scared of Kane’s intuition, which was too accurate.
“Is something funny about it?”“I’ve never seen you like that before. This would not melt away, I presume?”“No, I would not hurt you a second time.”
At Ian’s crystal clear words, Kane nodded.
“Sounds like you.”“I just hope her answer would be the same as mine.”
Ian was hoping that he could be the only one for April, just as April was his. He now had considered her to be indispensable in his life.
“I wonder how it happened.”“That’s my question as well.”
Nothing was clear, but he could be confident of one fact. April had begun to change his world.
His heart started to crave for someone, and he had to admit that it was because of his illness.
“I have my faith in you. Now that I’m finished with my business, I’ll be on my way.”
Ian stayed silent, but Kane, who had been chewing on the new information, was preparing to go out without asking anything else when he said.
“Just finish what you were doing. You’ve been wandering around the detached building all this time.”“Where did you–!”“You came in through the back door. Where else would it lead if it wasn’t the training field?”
Kane frowned playfully before walking out, leaving a beaten off Ian.
“Master. I’m telling you, it wasn’t me.”
Klaus said, carrying Ian’s coat back to him. Kane may not know, but this word from Klaus was an unexpected attack. Ian just shook his head in a defeated manner.
“Is that so funny?”“It’s not funny, it’s new and amusing.”“Huh….. I’ll go to the detached house.”“I hope you have a good time.”
Ian nodded to Klaus, who bowed to him, and walked out. As he took a turn past April’s cherished garden, he saw her sitting by the lake.
‘Wasn’t she in the lab?’
April sat on a moderately large rock acting as a chair, glancing down at the lake where the light had begun to fade.
Her silver hair was shining under the changing light of the dusk. She seemed to be lost in thought, as if dulling the sound of her surroundings.
“April.”
As Ian called her, she raised her head and turned to him in surprise. Open and out in the blue darkness, Ian saw the shadow over April’s face.
But soon, she smiled, so he decided not to pry.
“I thought you were still in the lab.”“I came out for a while. My eyes were hurting from looking at them all day. Were you going to see me?”“Yes. I have something to tell you and….. I missed you.”
April smiled softly at his last words. He was rigid, but he was trying his best to express his inner feelings. Ian held out one of the invitations from Kane towards her.
“It’s a wedding invitation of Lady Lianna and the Grand Duke.”“She has invited me as well.”“It’s up to you to choose, but the Duke said she really wants your presence.”“I’d like to go. I’d like to congratulate her, but can I go to a place like that?”
As soon as he looked into April’s eyes, Ian could see how pessimistic she was about her situation. She had also been doing some things because of the illness he was born with.
“Why not?”“It doesn’t matter.”“No one here can treat you as a sinner, so don’t feel burdened if you don’t want to go.”“Right. I should go. This isn’t Carleva, and there’s no one to trouble me.”
She smiled bitterly, smearing the fine writing on the paper with her hands. Ian did not ask her because both of them knew very well.
The question of whether those things should hide in her mind, which was always there, had deepened today.
“Ian. Wouldn’t your fever have gotten worse without me?”“I suppose it’d have. If I hadn’t met you, I wouldn’t have had anyone to think about.”“That’s something feeble to think about.”“What did you say? I like thinking about you.”“Are you sure I’m the right person? If you get in trouble –”“I never even thought about it. It’s only you that I want to be with.”
It didn’t matter what the surroundings were, he just wanted to be around her. Even that would of course come from his power, but April was being serious.
At the same time, a resolution was there that could not be made before. For the sake of his future, she did what she had to.
“Ian. Would you allow me to desire something?”“Of course. But what……?”
Ian looked down to meet her eyes. April reached out, holding his abdomen for support, and placed a small peck on his lips.
His eyes opened wide in surprise at her as their lips grew apart. His cheeks were red as if he was a small boy even though he was already familiar with it.
“This is your desire?”“I don’t know.”
April equivocate her answer with giggles. She didn’t want to tell him that everything he was doing was out of his desire for her, who now had no power.
Ian would definitely be heartbroken to hear that, and it might hurt worse than any duel.
“April.”
Ian peered down at her face. He didn’t try to guess what she was thinking by studying her features. He just gently pulled her by the waist and kissed her again.
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