Rudin already knew that. He knew she’d gone off somewhere on a flying ship. The problem was that he had no way of obtaining any further information.
He wanted to know what had happened after she left.
“Miss Serraphila disappeared a day after meeting you. You might be the last person at the school she had an extended conversation with. Please share anything about her that comes to mind. I especially want to know what you talked about with her, and what happened after your conversation. Give me every detail, no matter how irrelevant it may seem. I’ll take anything. Please, young sir. Please,” Rudin pleaded.
The boy with the eye mask was Rudin’s only hope. If he couldn’t learn anything from him, that would be the end of the line.
He would take anything. Even the smallest of morsels. He was desperate.
“Hmm. Miss Serraphila, huh?” Kunon crossed his arms and thought. “I suppose I was the one who asked a student from the Harmony Faction to take her under her wing. As for her current location, though…”
So it’s all your fault, Rudin thought.
That was definitely the reason Serraphila had gone missing.
Rudin’s last hope had turned out to be the one behind all his troubles.
“Oh, I see.”
Kunon seemed to have a different perception of the situation than Rudin, but because he knew what was going on, the butler decided to tell him everything he knew. Much of it was information he couldn’t share with anyone else, lest he harm Serraphila’s future and the Quartz family’s good name.
Unfortunately, he couldn’t change the truth. There would be no way to hide the fact that Serraphila had gone on a multiweek trip to gather resources. Too many others were involved. The group who took Serraphila reportedly consisted of close to twenty students. Swearing them all to silence would be impossible.
“So she left without saying anything,” said Kunon once Rudin was finished. “I can see why you’d be worried. But you don’t need to be. There are many superb, responsible girls in the Harmony Faction traveling with her.”
Elva and Shilto had both gone. Kunon thought their presence would be enough to prevent any problems.
“Miss Serraphila is attractive enough to capture the attention of every boy she meets,” he continued. “She’s totally a mountain girl. But you have nothing to worry about.”
Rudin had no idea what Kunon meant about the mountain, but he knew Serraphila was attractive. That was part of why he was so concerned. He didn’t understand how Kunon could be so calm.
“So what do you want to do, Mr. Rudin?” Kunon asked. “Do you want to bring her back home right away?”
“I would like to, if possible, but…”
It had been almost two weeks since Serraphila left. So much time had already passed. He wanted to bring her home and back under his protection as quickly as possible. But at this point…
“Admittedly, it seems a bit late for that,” Rudin said.
If Serraphila went on this trip willingly, was it his place, as a servant, to oppose his mistress’s wishes? Of course, if it had been only two or three days since her disappearance, it would have been a different story. But nearly two weeks had passed, and rumor had it those on the expedition would soon return.
For all those reasons, Rudin felt he’d already missed his chance. Any effort to bring her back would be pointless.
“I agree,” said Kunon. “If you simply wait, she’ll be back soon.”
“Most likely…but I felt I had to do something.”
Tracking down Kunon and spilling out all the fears he’d been keeping inside had finally allowed Rudin to give up.
No, he wasn’t “giving up.” He was simply admitting to himself it was too late to interfere.
Rudin had spent the last two weeks running around like a chicken with its head cut off, despite knowing his efforts were unlikely to accomplish anything. He was finally ready to stop.
“I wish I had spoken to you sooner, Mr. Kunon. We might have been able to do something.”
“I’m honored. As a gentleman, though, I would rather hear such words from a lady.”
Honored? By what?
Though he didn’t understand why, Kunon’s calm demeanor had caused Rudin to relax as well. He felt silly for letting himself get so worked up and desperate. He was still worried about Serraphila and wanted to bring her home as soon as possible, but it was clear he’d missed his opportunity.
That had been obvious from the start, of course. He just hadn’t wanted to admit it to himself until then.
“I understand why you’re worried about her,” said Kunon. “She just enrolled, and her mountain charm must give you even more cause for concern. But you should get used to this. Multiday experiments and fieldwork are common for students in the Advanced class.”
“So it seems. I just wish she had told me about the trip beforehand, in person.”
At first, Rudin had suspected abduction. He was worried someone had learned she was a daughter of the Quartz family and had dragged her away as part of some nefarious scheme.
However, all the information he’d gathered had indicated otherwise. Many people had testified that such disappearances were commonplace for Advanced students. Even the school’s staff had agreed.
“You should discuss that with her,” Kunon said, picking up his cup in a graceful manner that conveyed his good upbringing. “I’m sure this will be far from the last time Miss Serraphila spends the night away from home.”
“Please watch your wording!”
Kunon was right, and he clearly hadn’t meant to insult her. Still, Rudin couldn’t let that comment slide. He’d just made Rudin’s mistress sound like a delinquent who enjoyed the nightlife.
Serraphila was a good girl. The Quartz family had raised her with much love and care. She came from a prestigious lineage, and her conduct was beyond reproach. She was sure to grow into a fine lady.
“Hm? Did I say something offensive?”
Kunon, meanwhile, hadn’t meant anything by his words and didn’t know why Rudin was angry.
The pair spoke for a little while longer, then parted.
Two days later, the Harmony Faction returned from its expedition.
Serraphila arrived home without issue.
“Hmph! You were just worried for no reason, Gramps! That’s not my fault!”
“M-Miss…”
Well, “without issue” wasn’t quite right…
“I’m going to bed! Leave me alone!”
It seemed she’d come back with a terrible attitude.