When I returned to the Royal Capital, I went to the guard’s headquarters and then went home . Sadly, I couldn’t bring Lei back with me even though Luke and the other people in the mansion are looking forward to seeing her . I rode the Rug Dragon that I had gotten from Lazuli, and couldn’t control my gloomy feelings .
But the aura inside of the mansion was more depressing than I’d expected . The barn boy who had taken my dragon and the people who greeted me at the entrance all looked grave .
“Jude, did everyone already receive information about the search for Lei?”
“Yes . The guards reported it . But that information was only relayed to Luke-sama and a portion of the staff . ”
“Then why is the mansion so depressing?”
“That’s-……”
Jude is the head butler . He mainly manages the accounts and my social life . Sebas manages the estate . Where’s Sebas?
“Otou-sama!”
“Luke!”
Luke ran down from the second floor . Poor thing, his face looked terrible as if he had been completely worn out these past few days . His magic flow had also stagnated .
I opened up my arms and hugged Luke as he came running .
“Luke, Luke, it was useless . She was within my reach, but I couldn’t bring her back . ”
“So Lei really is gone! But I couldn’t believe what the guards had reported! I didn’t want to believe it until I heard it from Otou-sama!”
“I’m so sorry, Luke . ”
“Waaah!”
Luke was always calm and quiet, but he was weeping like a typical 11-year-old child . My heart hurt just like when I was forced to let Lei go . My lips began to tremble .
However, my miserable self had already wept too much at that time . I had no more tears to shed even for myself .
I hugged him until he calmed down and continued to rub his back .
“Master,” there was a movement where the servants were, and Jude called me quietly .
“What?”
“A guard is here . Guards were investigating the mansion while you were chasing Leilsama . I have the report . ”
“So you know who the culprit is?”
“That’s-,” Jude hesitated, but then he stated clearly, “The suspicion is on Sebas . ”
“What did you say?”
At the same time, Luke jumped in my arms . It seems like Luke knows about this .
“Where’s Sebas?”
“He’s- . ”
This was the third time . I got irritated .
“Jude!”
“Sebas is currently missing . ”
“What did you say?!”
Didn’t he just get caught by the criminals? Even now, I don’t think that he’s the culprit .
“Furthermore, his things are gone, everything that had monetary value including his savings . ”
“What?!”
“The guards can give you a detailed report, but Sebas was the one who hired Hannah . We have enough workers here . But Sebas concluded that the servants here were too bias against Leilsama . ”
“I know about that . But why is he a suspect?”
“The guards concluded that Sebas had intended to kidnap Leilsama from the start, and that’s why he’d hired new personnel . ”
I see . I get the situation now . Jude didn’t want to believe this either, but he was compelled to .
“When did Sebas disappear?”
“On the day Master went to chase after Leilsama, people saw him going to Hannah’s parents’ house while looking very pale . Then, the next day, he said that he needed to rest because he was in shock . Just like that……”
“He was gone?”
“Yes . ”
Luke grabbed my clothes while still in my arms and looked up at me .
“Sebas didn’t do it! Sebas definitely didn’t do it!”
“But, Luke-sama . The truth is that Hannah did kidnap Leilsama,” Jude reprimanded Luke . The heir of a Marquis must always remain calm . I was also told this while growing up .
“Fine . I’ll speak with the guard . ”
I crouched down and looked into Luke’s eyes .
“Luke, can you stop crying and arguing?”
Luke was startled, he rubbed his eyes with his sleeves even though he probably had a handkerchief in his pocket . For some reason, that gesture reminded me of Lei, and my heart ached .
“Luke will also be present while I talk to the guard . ”
“But, Luke-sama is still- . ”
“Luke has the right to know . ”
“Very well . ”
His eyes and nose were still red, but he had straightened himself out and was completely different from the crying mess from just minutes ago . I didn’t intend to keep him away from the truth just because he was young .
“Luke, take my hand . ”
“Yes, Otou-sama . ”
“Jude, got to my office once you’ve calmed down a little . ”
“Understood . ”
I saw Jude leave from the corner of my eyes after I instructed him to prepare a light meal and snacks; then I held Luke’s hand as we headed to the office . I wanted to change, but I can do that later .
“I heard that Hannah kidnapped Lei,” Luke murmured .
“Lei was certainly with Hannah . ”
“Why? Why did she take Lei?”
“First, calm down and listen to the guard . We’ll think about it after that . ”
I squeezed Luke’s hands which were now too big to be held . I felt like I would be unable to stay in this mansion any longer if I didn’t do this because it was too big with just the both of us .