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With every rattle of the train's wheels, you get closer to home. It's startling, just how quickly that thought has become routine. Not so long ago, the thought of returning home was a bizarre and dreadful thing. Now, it's just another step in your investigation. You'll head back to the estate, plan your next move, and then take off once more. Repeat the process until...
Until what?
Slowly, cautiously, you take Juno's note out of your coat pocket and read the message again even through the words might as well be engraved onto the surface of your brain. Are they a prophecy that Juno left for you, or just a passing observation? Or, perhaps, a cruel game as Elle suggested? Even if the girl herself was here to ask, you're not sure if you could trust her answer. As a Tomoe the same question twice, and you'll get three different answers.
With a sudden pang of absurd guilt, you hide the letter and glance around you. Elle is busy taking notes, copying her hasty scribbles into a neater, more formal report. Ariel just sleeps the journey away, snoring softly despite the loud rattle of the train's wheels.
“I've been thinking,” Elle says quietly, speaking up without taking her eyes from her notebooks, “I think we should make a visit to the capital.”
“I know,” you sigh, “To visit the church, right?”
“Well, that too,” she admits, “But I think we should give King Albrecht an update on our investigation. We can give him our thanks, too, since he gave us some help with Master Hauer. Maintaining good relations is a very important part of being the head of a family. You might not like it, but that's your job now.”
“Not much of a family, is it?” you wonder aloud, “Families are normally more than just one man. They have wives, children...”
You trail off here, your words faltering and failing as Elle looks awkwardly away. You hope she's not getting the wrong idea.
-
As you're walking up to the estate, the front door opens to reveal a woman's face. She bows formally as if welcoming you home, then steps aside to usher you inside. “Good day, Master Pale,” she begins as you enter, “I trust that your journey home was safe? My name is Agnes. Master Seidel asked me to watch over the estate – he had to leave, but didn't wish to leave the estate unattended.”
“Agnes...” you mutter, thinking back to some vague memory of the name, “Alex's housekeeper, correct?”
“That's correct, Master Pale,” the woman confirms, bowing again, “I didn't realise Master Seidel had mentioned me.”
“From what he said, you practically kept him alive after his wife passed,” you recall, “Well, that's all in the past now. Did Alex say why he had to go?”
“I'm afraid not. Merely that he needed to travel to the Silvera lands,” she answers, “I can't say when he's likely to return.”
“Soon, I hope,” you sigh. He'd better return – he knows far too much not to.
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