Jenkins's prediction about the weather proved accurate. Around two in the afternoon, snowflakes began to drift down from the Nolan City sky.
By the ti he stepped out of the carriage with his suitcase and cat in tow, the light flurries were threatening to beco a steady snowfall. Despite the weather, the area in front of the Nolan train station was bustling with people, a veritable river of pedestrians. It took him considerable effort to weave through the exiting crowd, suitcase in hand, before he finally spotted his friends.
Thanks to the marvels of the steam industry, even moderately sized towns were now connected by rail. The group's plan was to first take a train to a small town at the foot of the snowy mountains, stay there overnight, and then travel into the mountains by carriage the following morning. If all went according to plan, they would reach the resort villa by the next evening.
There were seven young people in total on this winter trip. Besides Jenkins's familiar companions—Miss Lawrence, Hathaway, and Miss Mikhail—the group included another young woman and two young n.
The other young woman was nad Yula Rick. Her father was an official at Nolan City Hall, responsible for matters of comrce. Jenkins wasn't entirely sure what the position entailed, but he imagined it must be quite important.
Miss Rick had a sweet face and a petite fra. She was clearly closer to Miss Lawrence, while her relationship with Miss Mikhail and Hathaway was more that of a casual acquaintance.
The two young gentlen were Allen Garcia and Franklin Quake. Garcia's father was a prominent rchant in the kingdom, owning three sizable factories in eastern Nolan. Quake's father, like Hathaway's, was an earl. However, unlike Earl Hersha with his military background, Earl Quake didn't seem to have any particular influence in Nolan itself. Jenkins recalled the girls ntioning that Earl Quake had connections to a powerful figure in Bel Diran.
Jenkins had heard Hathaway and Miss Mikhail ntion Yula Rick and Allen Garcia before. The two were apparently lovers, though they kept their relationship a secret. There had been so conflict between their families in the past, which was why they had never gone public.
Although the train journey would only last the afternoon, the group had booked an entire carriage for themselves. As he boarded, Jenkins glanced back over his shoulder, even though he knew no one was there to see him off. He felt a pang of lancholy every ti he left Nolan; after all, it was the only place he truly knew as ho.
"What are you thinking about?"
The servants had already found a luggage cart and were loading everyone's bags into the train car. Miss Mikhail tapped Jenkins on the shoulder, noticing the strange expression on his face.
"I was just wondering what might happen in the city during the week I'm gone," he replied. "And what new stories the things I set in motion before I left might bring."
Miss Mikhail hadn't expected him to be pondering sothing so complex. She gave him a light chuckle.
"The whole point of a holiday is to forget your troubles," she said. "The train is about to depart. Co on, take a seat."
The train, in a rare display of punctuality, departed right on schedule. As it began to move, accompanied by a roar of steam and the clatter of wheels on the tracks, Jenkins's week-long holiday officially began.
"ow~"
The cat and the man leaned against the window together, watching the station platform recede into the distance. Soon, the view gave way to vast, snow-covered fields. They both let out a quiet sigh, relieved that the journey was finally underway.
With an entire afternoon to spend on the train, the group needed sothing to pass the ti. Jenkins had brought a book, intending to read, but he was quickly pulled into a card ga by an enthusiastic Miss Mikhail.
They weren't gambling in any serious sense, but they did put up small stakes to make things interesting. And so, over the next hour, Jenkins proceeded to win nearly a double-digit sum in gold pounds.
"Your skill at cards is truly impressive."
young Quake remarked, carefully counting his remaining change. The stakes were small, so he hadn't lost much, but losing to the sa person thirteen tis in a row would draw such a comnt from anyone.
"No, I never gamble," Jenkins demurred. "This is just a bit of luck."
Jenkins idly stacked his winnings with one hand, his eyes glancing away. His luck was exceptionally good today, which he took as a promising sign for the trip. Perhaps the candy-giver's blessing of good fortune was still at work.
Since they had the entire carriage to themselves, the ladies certainly weren't going to partake in such a "vulgar ga." They watched the n play with so interest at first, but soon grew bored—mostly because Jenkins never stopped winning. Instead, they gathered together, taking out their various colorful pieces of jewelry to admire and discuss.
"I hope the weather is better in the mountains. I'd hate for a blizzard to delay our trip."
A new round of cards was dealt. Garcia, sitting to Jenkins's right, saw his first card and his eyes lit up. Jenkins and Quake exchanged a look; they both knew he'd drawn sothing good.
"We've never had bad weather when we've traveled here this ti of year."
Quake also turned over his own first card. He pursed his lips and stroked his chin before taking a sip of tea from the cup beside him.
"Speaking of which, are there fewer people on the trip this year? I heard Miss Mikhail say that in the past, there were more than ten of you."
Jenkins asked. He set down the stack of coins in his hand with a soft clack, gave his cat a reassuring pat, and then turned over his first card.
"Oh, it seems my luck is holding."
A smile touched his young face.
"Not so fast."
Garcia wagged a finger in warning, then motioned for the old butler, who was acting as dealer, to deal the second card.
"There were quite a few more people last year, it's true. But so... unpleasantness occurred, so this year we only invited friends we trust."
Quake answered Jenkins's question. The second card was dealt face-up. From the look on his face, Quake's luck was as dreadful as ever.
"Unpleasantness?"
Jenkins repeated, stroking Chocolate's head. The cat seed slightly annoyed that he had interrupted its ga with a small ball.
"Yes, very unpleasant."
Quake emphasized. "It's not really my place to tell you the details, since it was a matter between the ladies. Mr. Williatte, I imagine you could ask Miss Mikhail or Miss Hersha—they would know the full story. In the end, it was just a trivial affair. A certain playboy was invited on the last trip, and so trouble broke out over jealousy. But it's all irrelevant now. That entire group was arrested in the autumn, in connection with young Wellington's kidnapping and the illegal sacrifice. They're probably still languishing in a Church prison or the royal capital's religious tribunal."
He shrugged and glanced down at his third card. With a soft sigh, he gave the other two a look that clearly said his hand was a lost cause.
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