Translator and Editor: Lea

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Chapter 40

‘Mother, Father.’

In this portrait, they looked much younger than Ian.

The father at Ian’s age ended his pain by hanging himself up with a rope, while his lover – Ian’s mother – had to stay by Ian all her life.

Ian was respectful towards both of them.

“What is marriage like?”

Could he and April do as well as, or be better than, his parents? Ian was engrossed in his thoughts when,

“Ian?”

He heard April. He could feel her footsteps approaching him from a distance. Perhaps because the cold was a little worse than it was in the morning, her voice was slightly hoarse.

“April. I was about to go see you.”“What a coincidence. I was going to do that, too.”

April strode up to him and followed his gaze at the portrait. Ian carefully grabbed her hand – that was slightly out of her shawl.

“What were you doing here?”“Just thinking. We’re about to have a big event.”“Ah….. You must be worrying a lot. It’s the same for me.”“Since I’m doing it, I want to be good enough.”“And, I just need to do what I do now.”

She said, reaching out her free arm and caressing his cheek. The warmth – none of them knew whose warmth it was – spread from she touched him before their eyes met.

“When we go back to the capital, I’ll first take a visit to the House of Debussy. I have to get the Duke’s permission.”“Shall I join you, Ian?”“It’s okay. You must rest.”“If Duke Kane gets angry, you can take my name as much as you want.”“Let’s do that.”

Ian chuckled when she said it seriously. She looked up at him with a questioning look, but he only shook his head.

“April.”

As he approached April to kiss her, she stepped back a little, pushing his lips slightly.

“I have a cold. What if you get infected?”“Come on. I’ll get better in a day.”

Ian responded immediately which led April to burst into laughter after a moment of dumbfounded silence.

Ian pulled her towards him, narrowing the gap and meeting her lips with his. He was fast, and she couldn’t bring herself to refuse him anymore.

The last day in the Eastern annex was spent like that, as usual.

***

For days after returning to the Capital, April was forced to take a rest. Until her cold was completely gone, she wasn’t allowed to work.

It was not until the cold disappeared that she could sit in front of her desk. Not for research, but for writing to the court of Carleva in months.

“Sign, check. Write the content properly, check. Write the right amount, check…… and it’s done.”

It was just the beginning to talk back to them who had severely undermined her and sarcastically criticized her for fun and waste of energy.

《 From April Witzer to the court of Carleva 》

The line she didn’t write in a long time. She proceeded to seal the letter, no sign of the Reykis family on the envelope. The letter looked somewhat plain, but it didn’t matter.

“Klaus, please.”“Yes, Lady April.”

Klaus took the letter and read the address on the back. His eyes seemed to widen a little when he saw the name of Carleva, but he soon regained his composure. For Kalus, who was busy meeting a lot more strange needs, this was nothing more than a slight surprise.

“I’ll send it. As you said, the name of the Reykis family shall be completely hidden.”“Thank you.”“Do you want to reconsider it?”“No, it’s fine.”

She nodded with a firm face. Reading her resolution, he carried out his order without saying anything else.

‘Mother, please wait a little bit.’

It was the first bullet she shot after running away from the darkness for a long time. She clasped her hands together. It seemed that this time, it’d feel like an eternity to wait for the court’s reply.

“April. Are you here?”

Ian’s voice outside the door awoke from the trance. She got up from her desk and went to open the door.

“I was just wondering because you weren’t inside the room, but here you are.”“Yes. I was writing.”“Is it the letter to….”“Carleva’s court.”

Ian wasn’t so surprised to hear that.

“Although I’m nervous, Ian, I feel reassured because you’re with me.”“I will be with you. Until the day everything is over.”

The long journey of 10 years spent in waiting and avoiding danger was about to end. It was a new beginning now. Ian took her hand and gave it a squeeze, ensuring he was with her.

“You’re going to the Duchy, right?”“Yes. I’ll be right back.”“Have a safe trip. I’ll be waiting.”

Ian stepped back after giving her a peck on the forehead. Duke Kane felt anxious whenever Ian brought up April in front of him.

Still, the fact that he had Lady Lianna’s consent in this marriage eased his worries.

‘I feel like I’ve got at least one ally.’

Ian entered the mansion of Debussy, pondering about what to say first. Kane – who had been waiting for him in advance – came out and greeted him himself.

“Ian. Why the sudden visit today?”“You act as if you’ve never seen my face here, Duke.”“It was just a joke. How was your trip to the East, was it great?”“Yes. I apologize for the delay in greeting you.”

While Ian and Kane exchanged greetings, Lianna entered the living room. Unlike Kane, she was happy to see Ian after a long time. To her, Ian seemed to be inflated with expectations about the news related to the marriage.

“The reason why you called Lianna, I can make a rough guess.”“April wants to attend the wedding. However, there are some personal…..”“Of course, she’ll be under my care. She may attend as my assistant.”

In such a large gathering, no one would pay much great interest in a stranger who would attend alone. However, the Debussy siblings noticed Ian’s cautious behavior.

“I thought she wouldn’t come, but she made a big decision.”“She felt the need to. There will be many things for her to face in the future.”“Does it happen to be…..”“One can’t hide forever. That’s why they try to face people with courage. I respect April’s choice.”

‘One can’t hide forever.’ Kane quietly repeated Ian’s words.

“Any plans you’re having after the wedding of His Highness and my sister?”“I’m thinking of getting married.”“What? You’re only thinking of getting married, right? You’re not serious, are you?”“What do you think of me?”

Kane almost spat the tea he had. He never expected Ian – who once debated against needing a companion – to marry so quickly.

“Would you believe this, if you were me? You may get married because you two are so enthusiastic, but this fast?”“We’re going to register our marriage, to be exact.”“You didn’t write another contract, did you?”“Duke knows me so well, doesn’t he?”“Oh, come on.”

Kane was shocked. However, he was well aware of Ian’s prudence and meticulousness, so it was impossible to make a judgment.

“We agreed to each other. To solve the problem of Carleva together.”“Carleva….. her mother’s case?”“That’s right. This is the only way I can help her.”“The past can affect one’s future. That’s true, April alone must be……”

Kane nodded with a worried face. Silence filled the room for a while. Kane spoke up after moistening his mouth with a sip of tea.

“Would it be okay?”“No one will be able to harm April as long as I’m around.”“No, I meant for you.”“Pardon?”

Ian was at a loss for words for the first time. He expected Kane to be rather angry with his decision.

“I’m asking you because you’re as important as April is. It isn’t very easy for you to rush too, I suppose.”“I’m fine. You know how I used to be before she came.”

Ian smiled.

Kane could easily see the meaning of the smile. Ian – who used to be very composed and difficult, and one who didn’t want to attend places other than his work – gradually changed after meeting with April.

“Since it’s something you both agreed on, I don’t have a say in this. Instead, you’ll have my presence whenever you need me.”“That’s a relief. I happened to have a favor to ask of you.”“Hm? What is it?”“We need a witness to our marriage.”“I know. It’s not that difficult, so I’ll certify it right away.”“Thank you so much.”

Ian stood up from his seat and bowed to him sincerely.

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