Chapter 13: Loyalties (Read: Kinks) Come in All Shapes and Sizes

While Mia’s group was busy with their underground adventure, what in the world was Sion’s team up to? Let’s go back in time a little bit and check in...

Sion and Nina scoured the area around the spring in search of Esmeralda. Finding no sign of her, they returned to the cave, only to find it empty as well. Anne, who was supposed to be standing watch, was gone. Mia and Abel hadn’t returned either.

“Scorching sun... Is disappearing on deserted islands some sort of new fad among Tearmoon women?”

Sion’s flippant tone failed to hide his concern. After touching base with Keithwood, who came back shortly thereafter, he decided to go after the person whose whereabouts they were the most sure of—Anne. The pair of them ventured deeper into the cave, only to discover the path blocked by the cave-in. Doubling back, they then proceeded in the direction that Mia’s team had gone. When they came upon a hole in the ground where the surrounding rock had collapsed downward into a black void, Sion was truly left speechless.

Cognizant of his master’s fraying nerves, Keithwood spoke in a calm, businesslike tone.

“If they fell...there’s a chance they could be immobilized by their injuries.”

“Yes, they could be.”

The implications of Keithwood’s statement were clear to Sion. Even if their friends were still alive down there, getting them back up would be close to impossible. It was hopeless.

No, don’t give up. Keep thinking. There has to be a way.

Refusing to bend the knee to despair, Sion thought furiously. To his dismay, inspiration did not come. Instead, it appeared in the form of Nina, who’d been at the beach keeping watch. She jogged over and said, “The Emerald Star is back.”

“Really? In that case, tell the crew we need their help now. If they have rope, we might be able to get down this hole. There’s still hope—”

His racing thoughts were brought to a screeching halt when she informed him that there was no need. He stared, utterly dumbfounded.

“What? They’re...all fine? And on board already?”

He remained bewildered as they headed for the vessel themselves, muttering phrases such as “What in the name of the sun?” and “Damn it, Mia, what magic is this?” the whole way there.

The crewmember manning the row boat they boarded enthusiastically described Mia’s feats. “Let me tell you, it was something! She beat that massive thing into submission! Downright incredible!”

After listening to the story, this sentiment was understandably unchanged.

“What in the name of the sun? Damn it, Mia, are you even human?”

In any case, Sion’s trio rode their boat with brightened spirits as it returned to the yacht. The knowledge that their friends, whose deaths had seemed all but guaranteed, were not only rescued but completely unharmed brought a profound relief that loosened lips and gave way to banter.

“Speaking of which, Miss Nina, you don’t have it easy, do you?” quipped Keithwood.

“I’m not sure I understand what you mean,” Nina replied with a puzzled tilt of her head at the abrupt comment.

“I mean your mistress, Lady Esmeralda. Dealing with her must be grueling.”

She frowned for a second. Then her gaze drifted upward.

“That’s not so. I enjoy the work I do in serving her...” she said with no obvious signs of joy.

“You do? Really? But, I mean, she doesn’t even call you by name—”

“That’s the best part!”

Keithwood recoiled a little at the sudden exclamation and swallowed the rest of his sentence. Nina, having lunged slightly during her reply, righted herself and let out a small sigh. Then she spoke in that tone of voice used by teachers to explain to a particularly rambunctious child why their behavior was inappropriate.

“She’s not clingy. That’s what I like about her. We maintain a professional distance. The dry, businesslike nature of our relationship is what I find most appealing. It’s so good, and I’ll never get enough of it.”

Both Keithwood and Sion listened with the expression of someone trying to decipher a foreign language. Nina, undeterred by their blatant confusion, kept going. The knowledge that Esmeralda was safe along with her present absence had apparently opened some sort of conversational floodgate in Nina. She spoke with increasing enthusiasm.

“And sometimes, she’ll forget and almost say my name before correcting herself. The way she panics and stammers a bit while she puts on the act again is something I make a point of savoring. The fact that she adores Her Highness and wants to spend time with her but can never muster the nerve to just ask is delightful as well. And watching her hatch this elaborate plot in which she’d wear a revealing swimsuit to seduce the visiting princes, only to chicken out at the last moment... The way she gets so timid, it’s so good...”

To Keithwood, Nina sounded like some sort of wannabe-artist insisting that there was artistic merit in a random roadside pebble she just picked up.

This...is definitely beyond me. She’s living in another world.

As if she’d read his mind, Nina patted Keithwood on the shoulder and said, “To think that you can’t appreciate milady’s appeal... I pity your taste in women, Keithwood. Besides, doesn’t the pleasure of serving lie in the constant scramble to keep up with your master’s whims?”

“Ah. Well, I must respectfully disagree with your former point, but I do concede some resonance with the latter.”

The two shared a knowing, conspiratorial chuckle. Though they both served difficult masters, it seemed that they felt a certain fulfillment in doing so. The trouble was worth it, because it was part of the fun...

Sion, meanwhile, looked from one attendant to the other, the source of their mirth a complete mystery to him.

After being pulled onto the deck of the Emerald Star, Mia celebrated their safe rescue with her fellow adventurers: Abel, Esmeralda, and Anne. The yacht had apparently sailed away to take shelter, only to be damaged during the storm anyway and drifting away. The repairs had taken some time, which the captain apologized profusely for, but as they had been necessary, no castigation ensued. Not long after, Sion, Keithwood, and Nina returned with the search party that had been sent to the island.

As soon as he climbed onto the boat and confirmed everyone was in good health, Sion turned to Mia and said, “You have got to stop trying to give me a heart attack, Mia. It’s good that Esmeralda was located in one piece, but...honestly, what happened?”

“It’s a long story, but you won’t believe what we found underground. I sure don’t.”

“Try us.” Sion managed a wry smile. “The fact that we got everyone back on the boat in one piece is crazy enough. How much crazier can this day get? Oh, I heard you punched away some monstrous fish? Is it even crazier than that?”

Nina afforded the talkative pair a single, sidelong glance before walking over to Esmeralda. After making sure that her mistress was indeed in good condition, she let out a sigh of relief.

“Milady, I’m glad you’re of sound health,” she said in her usual monotone.

“Hm? Ah, yes... Though I did twist my ankle a little...”

“I see. I regret allowing you to incur injury on my watch. Please accept my deepest apology for your inconvenience.”

“No, it’s not your fault... It was me... I went off on my own...” Esmeralda said in a hesitant, mumbling manner.

She looked around with a pleading gaze, which settled beside Mia on the figure of her maid, Anne, who smiled back and gave her a subtle thumbs up. Invigorated by her fellow spelunking comrade, Esmeralda nodded and drew on her borrowed courage.

“I...know you must have been worried, um...N-N-Ni...Nina...”

“...What?”

Her momentous effort to say the name of her maid was rewarded with a strange expression.

“Uh... What’s gotten into you, milady? Why are you using my name all of a sudden?” asked Nina, much more flustered now than she’d been when she heard of the ankle injury.

Esmeralda replied with genuine repentance.

“I’ve reflected on my own behavior. I’ve been terribly rude to you all this time. You probably never realized, but I do actually know your name. I’ve always known it, and still...I’m sorry for how I’ve treated you.”

After this heartfelt apology, Nina...

“Um, seriously?”

...Was less than impressed. In fact, she seemed profoundly disappointed.

“Uh, milady... You really don’t have to do that. Just...be yourself. Like you’ve always done, okay? Feel free to call me ‘you’ or ‘that maid over there’ or...whatever you want.”

“My, whatever do you mean? Is there a problem with my calling you by your name, Nina?”

“It’s a matter of...image. Appearances should be kept up. Uh... Oh, think about the House of Greenmoon’s proud traditions. Or the norms of nobility. Calling maids by name is unacceptable by any of those measures...” she answered in flat rejection of Esmeralda’s budding metamorphosis. “In any case, just don’t do...whatever it is you’re trying to do. Really. It’s fine.”

Faced with this unexpected development, Esmeralda’s gaze shifted toward Anne again. This time, the other young woman failed to meet it, choosing to glance out to sea instead.

That day, Anne learned something new. Loyalties come in all shapes and sizes, and everyone has their own tastes and preferences.

“All right, I think I’ve had my fill of this island. Let’s go home!”

There was nothing to be accomplished by staying any longer. At Mia’s command, the Emerald Star began sailing back to Ganudos.