Chapter 98

The trip from the capital to the Reichnek domain took exactly five days.

Part of that was the Reichnek domain sitting at the eastern edge of the kingdom, but the bigger reason was that Harold, worried about the boys, had broken up the journey by getting off the train in cities along the way.

Even with a first-class sleeper compartment booked, being on a train the whole time was hard on an adult too. Whether from the vibration or just because he was a light sleeper, Edgar had been waking up in the small hours.

This morning too, he'd been up before dawn, tossed and turned for a while, and only fallen asleep again after the sun rose.

Harold had just finished coaxing him through breakfast. Now he sat back and watched Edwin, feet kicking back and forth in his chair, grinning mischievously at his twin.

"Edgar. Coming around yet?"

Edwin asked, cackling. Knowing perfectly well he'd been half-asleep even through breakfast, Edgar flushed and shot his twin a sidelong glare.

But he really didn't have a comeback, so instead of snapping at Edwin, he changed the subject.

"Uncle, how much longer?"

"Hm? Almost there."

"You said that yesterday too!"

Sure enough, Edgar's ploy worked. At Uncle's answer, Edwin climbed up onto his chair to protest.

"Edwin, no climbing on chairs."

"Sorry."

Edwin gave a sheepish smile and sat back down. The waiter, apparently noticing they'd finished eating, came over, cleared the empty plates, and set down dessert.

Cake, topped with ripe strawberries. Edwin's attention went straight to it. Harold laughed softly and pushed his own slice over to the boys as well. Seeing Edwin's eyes light up, Edgar — instead of handing over the strawberry from his own cake — cut off half of Uncle's slice and popped it into his mouth before Edwin could react.

"Hey!"

"You got the strawberry."

Edgar took another bite and pushed the plate toward Edwin. Seeing Edwin's eyes narrow, Harold laughed and said,

"This time it's for real. Once we're back on the train, we'll get there this afternoon."

"Really?"

"We'll eat lunch after we arrive at the Reichnek domain."

"We're finally getting there?"

"Why would Uncle lie about that?"

"You kept saying we were almost there the whole time we were on the train!"

Harold took a slow sip of his tea. Edwin, fork still in his mouth, glared at his uncle.

Clearly stringing Edwin along on purpose, Uncle took a few more sips of tea before finally saying, with a quiet smile,

"But we did arrive, didn't we?"

"Uncle!"

"Before we left, Uncle told you how long it would take. Remember?"

"Ugh..."

"Fork out of your mouth. That's dangerous."

Edgar half-listened to their exchange as he yawned.

Turning his head slightly, he could see the train station. Uncle had told him the name of the city before they'd gotten off the train, but drowsy as he'd been, he couldn't quite remember it. He could ask Uncle again, or it'd be written up at the station anyway.

The Reichnek domain was in the southern end of the east. Back in the capital it was still nowhere near hot, but down here the weather was noticeably warmer. It was fine now in the morning, but by midday it would get plenty warm.

Edgar blinked. He'd just realized what the empty feeling nagging at him was.

"Uncle."

"Hm?"

Uncle, who'd been humoring Edwin's fussing, turned to Edgar at once.

"Where's Nabi?"

There was no firm schedule for how long they'd stay at the Reichnek domain. The Bertholdt estate still stood empty, and the house in the King's Woods... well. Whatever had happened, they wouldn't be going back for a while.

So naturally, the good-natured sheepdog had come along on the trip. Nabi was part of the reason they'd been getting off at each city to eat rather than staying on the train the whole way.

"Didn't Nabi get off with us?"

At Edgar's question, both Harold and Edwin looked amused. Edgar's confusion only deepened.

He couldn't understand why Edwin — who was fussier about Nabi than he was — was taking this so calmly. Edwin asked, a laugh in his voice,

"Edgar. You really don't remember?"

"...Remember what?"

"Is Nabi the only one missing right now?"

"Huh?"

Now that he thought about it—

Edgar blinked a few more times and noticed the empty seat.

"Where's old Linda?"

Linda had of course come along on the trip to the Reichnek domain. Uncle had offered that she could travel with the Duchess Lambert, but Linda had waved it off.

Can you look after two children and a dog by yourself, Sir Bertholdt? However well-behaved the young masters are...

Edgar had been trying to sneak in and eavesdrop, but at the nagging that followed he'd shuddered and fled.

"Aha ha. Edgar, you really don't remember?"

Uncle gave a rueful laugh. Beside him, Edwin was doubled over, clutching his stomach.

"You said goodbye and everything this morning!"

"Goodbye?"

"You even waved and said 'see you later.'"

"...I did?"

"Yeah!"

Since Edwin wasn't about to actually explain and just kept cackling, Uncle finally stepped in.

"Linda went on ahead to the Reichnek domain with Nabi and the luggage. You were asleep, so it makes sense you don't remember properly."

"...She did?"

"Dummy."

"Edwin."

"Sorry, Uncle! Sorry, Edgar!"

Edwin apologized with a face that wasn't the least bit sorry. Edgar snorted.

Harold wiped the corners of the boys' mouths and said,

"There's still a bit of time before the train. Not enough to go far, but enough to look around the station."

Edwin tilted his head.

"The station?"

"This station was built on top of ruins. Or more precisely, the ruins were unearthed while they were building it."

Edwin's eyes went wide.

"One of the few surviving ruins from the Eshan Empire. Well? Interested?"

"Yes! Of course!"

Edwin, always keen on history, jumped down from his chair as he answered. With practiced ease, Harold caught him before he could bolt off with no idea where he was going, and reached his other hand out to Edgar.

Edgar took his uncle's hand. He wasn't as interested as Edwin, but seeing a city he'd never been to before was nice.

Back then, the only time he'd ever ridden a train with Uncle had been going down to the domain. And that hadn't been a leisurely trip like this one. It hadn't been a journey so much as a headlong rush, as if something were chasing them. All Edgar remembered from that time was how uncomfortable the train had been.

"..."

For no particular reason, Edgar tugged at his uncle's hand.

"Edgar?"

With nothing particular to say, Edgar fell back on using Edwin as an excuse.

"Are we really getting to the Reichnek domain today?"

"See, Uncle! Edgar doesn't believe you either!"

"Uncle didn't lie, I said."

"When do we get on the train?"

"In an hour."

Edgar kept hold of Uncle's hand and walked with his eyes on the ground.

Four hours from now, they'd be at the Reichnek domain. Then he'd see Adelheid.

He hadn't been able to write Adelheid's name on the paper Edwin had given him. Writing down the name of a child he wanted to save but had no way of saving felt like something he couldn't bring himself to do.

"How much longer to the Reichnek domain?"

"About four more hours."

"Four whole hours?"

Apparently getting tired of the train, Edwin grumbled.

"I'm not even sleepy — what am I supposed to do for four hours? Old Linda's got all the books too!"

For his complaints and worries to add up to nothing more than having to ride the train four more hours—

Edgar looked at Edwin.

For the first time, he envied his twin — was jealous of him.

---

Arnmolt, the seat of the Reichnek domain, was one of the most bustling cities in the east. A coastal city, it was known both for its lively trade and its beautiful beaches, which made it a famous vacation spot as well.

The Reichnek family estate lay another two hours by carriage from Arnmolt station. Edgar and Edwin were so caught up in the lively city rolling past their carriage window that they never got around to demanding of Harold why he hadn't mentioned another carriage ride.

It was Edgar's first time in Arnmolt. He'd heard it was a busy place, but seeing it with his own eyes was another thing entirely. The finest city in the kingdom was the capital, of course, but Arnmolt had a different sort of bustle and energy.

Only once they'd cleared the city center did the carriage pick up speed. As the bustling, packed city fell behind, green pastureland opened up — surprisingly close by.

"I hear there's a beach nearby too."

"A beach?"

"One the Reichnek estate manages directly."

Uncle said.

"I've seen plenty of ocean. It's in the capital too."

"True. But no sand beach in the capital."

"Sand beach?"

It was a good thing Edwin was full of questions. Edgar's mouth had gone bone-dry, and he wasn't in any shape to hold a conversation with Uncle. Hoping Uncle would just leave him be, Edgar clung to the window. He prayed it would be enough to pass for a child taken with the unfamiliar view.

Stepping off the train had made it real.

When he'd first come back to the past, he'd been out of his head. Not sure whether it was a dream or reality, he'd called out for Edwin. In fact, running half a fever, he probably hadn't been in his right mind.

There'd been no need to think it through — the goal was clear. Just meeting Uncle openly instead of hiding when he came had been enough to let go of the ache Edgar had carried in his chest all his life.

"..."

It would have been better to have met Adelheid knowing nothing at all.

Then he could have just let things flow the way they would.

"Oh no."

The driver let out a groan. The look in Uncle's eyes, until then indulgent as Edwin fooled around, changed.

"Edgar."

Harold pulled Edgar back from the window and sat him down. Not knowing what was happening, Edgar did as Uncle told him.

"Sir Bertholdt. Excuse me."

"What is it?"

"Well, our young lady seems to have gotten worked up on hearing that guests were arriving..."

"Young lady?"

Harold frowned, opened the window, and leaned out.

"Ah."

Uncle made a small sound as well.

"I think we'll need to stop the carriage..."

"That's fine. Can't be helped. But she's on her own — is that, uh, all right?"

"It's not, but what can we do. The marquis has begged her over and over not to sneak out, and she's never once listened."

"Oh, dear..."

"The others will probably catch up in a moment. Miss Linda's already back at the estate, isn't she?"

Linda?

"Uncle, what's going on?"

Edgar tugged at Harold's clothes as he asked. The carriage slowed, then came to a complete stop.

Harold shook his head and laughed.

"Someone's come out to meet you."

"Us?"

"Let's step out for a moment and say hello."

Edgar looked at Edwin. Edwin looked at Edgar. Neither of them had any idea who it could be.

But Uncle showed no sign of real worry as he opened the carriage door and gestured for Edgar and Edwin to follow. When Edgar hesitated, Edwin got out first. Edgar followed in the end.

And then he saw.

"Miss! You've come out alone again!!"

The driver stamped his feet, beside himself. Following his gaze, they saw a black horse racing across the green field.

And bright red hair streaming against a bright blue sky.

"Miss Adelheid!!"

Adelheid Lambert appeared as Edgar had never seen her before. Cheeks flushed with color. Both arms tugging on the reins. Feet locked firmly in the stirrups.

"Hi!"

The only things she shared with the frail body from Edgar's memory were the fiery red hair and glittering eyes.