The Mansion Awaits Spring — Chapter 31

WHAT IF...

WHAT IF I TOLD APRIL LUNOS...

...EVERYTHING HONESTLY AND ASKED FOR HER HELP?

COULD WE REDUCE THE NUMBER OF VICTIMS?

...HE HAS NEVER ACTED LIKE THAT BEFORE.

THIS IS UNLIKE THE SUPERINTENDENT.

HOW SHOULD I RESPOND...?

YOU MEAN TO REVEAL THE EMPEROR'S COMMAND TO LADY LUNOS?

I THINK THAT IS A GOOD IDEA.

REALLY?

HOWEVER,

LADY LUNOS WOULD FEEL PROFOUNDLY BETRAYED.

AS YOU KNOW,

LADY LUNOS IS FOND OF YOU, SUPERINTENDENT.

THERE IS NO TELLING WHAT SHE MIGHT DO IF SHE FEELS BETRAYED.

FURTHERMORE, SHE IS NOT SOMEONE WHO CAN TOLERATE INJUSTICE.

IF SHE DISCOVERS THE TRUTH,

SHE WILL UNDOUBTEDLY RUSH STRAIGHT TO THE FACTORY.

SHOULD THAT HAPPEN...

YOU WOULD HAVE TO KILL HER, WOULDN'T YOU?

I SHALL TAKE THAT MATTER

INTO CONSIDERATION.

YOU MUST AT LEAST WRITE A BRIEF LETTER TO BE DELIVERED

TO THE BEREAVED FAMILIES OF THE FOG VICTIMS.

WE WILL TAKE OUR LEAVE NOW.

And please review the paperwork as well.

IF WE SHUT DOWN THE FACTORIES PRODUCING FUEL FOR THE EMPIRE,

THE FOG WILL NATURALLY DISSIPATE AS WELL.

HOWEVER...

THE EMPIRE HAS NO REASON TO HALT FACTORY OPERATIONS.

DESPITE KNOWING THE CAUSE OF THE FOG, I AM STILL COOPERATING WITH THE EMPIRE.

HOW MANY MORE DEATHS MUST I BURY IN MY HEART BEFORE THIS TERRIFYING POWERLESSNESS

BECOMES A FORCE CAPABLE OF KEEPING THE EMPIRE IN CHECK?

TO THINK I MUST WRITE A MESSAGE OF CONDOLENCE FOR DEATHS I HELPED BRING ABOUT.

IS THERE ANY DECEPTION GREATER THAN THIS?

A FEW DAYS LATER, DECEMBER 31ST

DELIVER THE SUPPORT FUNDS TO THE BEREAVED FAMILIES AND OFFER THEM SOME WORDS OF COMFORT.

DO NOT JUST HAND OVER THE MONEY.

THE REPORTERS WILL BE TAKING PICTURES, SO MAKE SURE TO KEEP YOUR EXPRESSIONS IN CHECK.

......

COME TO THINK OF IT...

DIDN'T I HEAR THAT YOU CAUGHT A COLD?

JUST HOW FAR HAVE THESE RUMORS SPREAD?

TO BOLDLY CALL FOR A SWIM AND THEN CATCH A COLD, GOOD GRIEF...

HIGH SOCIETY ALREADY KNOWS YOU STAYED AT THE LUNOS ESTATE.

THE THIRD SON OF HOUSE GRAND WENT TO PROPOSE TO HOUSE LUNOS,

AND HE CLAIMS YOU INTERFERED.

CAN YOU BELIEVE SUPERINTENDENT DIEUS THREATENED ME?!

JUST LOOK AT MY HANDS! THEY ARE STILL RED!

THE OFFICER WHO WAS PRESENT EXPLAINED THAT YOU STAYED BECAUSE OF A COLD.

THE SUPERINTENDENT WAS PRONE TO CATCHING COLDS BECAUSE HE HAD LIVED IN THE EMPIRE FOR A LONG TIME.

SO HE HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO STAY AT THE LUNOS ESTATE...

IN CASE ANYONE MISUNDERSTOOD THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN YOU AND LUNOS...

MISUNDERSTOOD?

YOU KNOW I NEVER DO ANYTHING I HATE, EVEN IF IT KILLS ME.

IF I DIDN'T WANT TO STAY AT HER HOUSE, I WOULD HAVE BOLTED EVEN IF IT MEANT FREEZING TO DEATH.

...SHE REALLY IS A WITCH.

TO DRIVE YOU TO THIS EXTENT.

ENJOY YOURSELF AS MUCH AS YOU WANT WHILE YOU HAVE THE CHANCE.

I WILL NOT STOP YOU FROM DOING EVEN THAT.

BUT YOU KNOW AS WELL, DO YOU NOT?

THAT YOU CANNOT GO BEYOND THAT POINT ANYWAY.

I FAILED TO FULFILL MY RESPONSIBILITY.

I AM SORRY.

WE DO NOT NEED THINGS LIKE THIS!

IT IS BECAUSE OF PEOPLE LIKE YOU THAT MOM COULD NOT COME BACK!

THAT IS NOT TRUE. THE OFFICER DID HIS ABSOLUTE BEST.

LIES!

DO NOT LIE TO ME!!

PEOPLE ARE DYING, HOW IS THIS YOUR BEST?!

BRING MY MOM BACK!!

GIVE HER BACK TO ME!!

IF I WERE A POLICE OFFICER,

MY MOM WOULD HAVE COME BACK HOME!!

TH-THAT...!

SOB... SNIFF...

THAT IS WHY I BECAME A POLICE OFFICER, TOO.

I BELIEVED THAT IF I WERE A POLICE OFFICER,

MY PARENTS WOULD HAVE RETURNED HOME.

BUT IT WOULD BE BETTER TO HAVE AN OFFICER LIKE YOU RATHER THAN ME.

BECAUSE UNLIKE ME, YOU ARE BRAVE.

ARE YOU... NOT BRAVE, SIR?

NO, NOT AT ALL.

I DID NOT TURN OUT THE WAY I WANTED TO.

THEREFORE,

YOU SHOULD BECOME THE PERSON YOU WANT TO BE.

I WILL SUPPORT YOU.

DOES BROTHER ALSO DEAL WITH PEOPLE WHILE CARRYING THIS STIFLING WEIGHT?

DOES HE KNOW THE TRUTHS

I HAVE FAILED TO UNCOVER?

WHAT IF HE IS A LIAR AS WELL?

WHAT IF RIGHT ISLAND HAS BEEN SUSTAINED BY LIES AND ABSURDITY ALL ALONG?

WHAT SHOULD I DO?

APRIL.