Grace in Wonderland - Chapter 103

103. What Happened in the Cave

“Grace, what in the world is…”

“Young Master! Young Master! Waaahhh…”

Professor Charles Dodgson and Sebastian stood frozen like statues at the entrance of the cave, utterly at a loss for words.

In prehistoric times, humans were said to have lived in caves. Back then, people didn’t wear clothes. Much like Richard Spencer, who lay sprawled without a single thread covering his upper body.

If someone were to carve petroglyphs onto the cave walls, the scene would perfectly recreate the lives of our ancestors. In fact, if this scene were transported to the international exposition in the capital of Gallia, it might earn thunderous applause from the audience.

“Young Master, your clothes, your clothes…”

Sebastian managed to speak, his voice trembling. His throat was so tense with nerves that a sound resembling a frog’s croak escaped.

Richard Spencer and Grace Gurton had spent a full day in the cave. At first, they had both been nearly unconscious, and after dawn, they competed with each other to see who could sleep more.

Both Richard and Grace woke multiple times without the other noticing. Each time, they shut their eyes again, using sleep as a means to avoid and escape. Neither of them had the courage to be the first to rise and address the situation.

Meanwhile, chaos erupted at the modest, cramped four-story house on the outskirts of Grentabridge, where the Dodgson family worried endlessly about the window tax. Professor Charles Dodgson, unable to wait any longer for Grace to return late at night, began searching the entire town.

He combed through pubs, inns, and alleyways, but Grace Gurton’s whereabouts remained unknown. Professor Dodgson’s anxiety reached its peak. Grentabridge, with its many young male residents, was no stranger to crimes involving the abduction and mistreatment of women.

By the next afternoon, Professor Dodgson made his way to the residence of Richard Spencer, the Young Earl, located on the outskirts of Grentabridge. He was prepared to risk any insult to request assistance. Surely, as a great nobleman, Richard Spencer would be able to resolve the situation effortlessly.

However, when Professor Dodgson knocked on the enormous mansion’s door, the only person inside was a yawning, taciturn maid named Becky.

Becky informed him that the Young Earl, who had gone out the previous day, had yet to return, and Sebastian had also gone to Lydon on business.

The news that Richard Spencer had not come home sent Professor Dodgson’s fears spiraling in an unexpected direction. Could it be that the Young Earl had kidnapped Grace because she rejected his proposal? Was he holding her captive somewhere until she agreed to marry him?

Unlikely as it seemed, if it were true, Professor Dodgson vowed to take the matter to court and seek the help of Lord Anthony Montague to utterly ruin Richard Spencer. If that proved impossible, he would hound him relentlessly for the rest of his days.

As the eccentric mathematician from Christ Church College resolved to leave the mansion in a blaze of determination, several carriages rumbled to a stop outside. From the leading carriage, Sebastian leaped down energetically.

He was indeed a seasoned attendant. Having executed the Young Earl’s “sunshine policy” to perfection, Sebastian had gathered ten bodyguards and returned to Grentabridge like an arrow, his coat flaring open to catch the sunlight.

The efficient operation was completed nearly half a day ahead of schedule. At that point, Sebastian still harbored the fantasy that the Young Earl might reward him handsomely for his swift execution of the task.

However, he had not anticipated the sight of Professor Dodgson standing outside the Spencer mansion, flushed with agitation.

Sebastian approached the professor and asked, “Professor Dodgson? What brings you here at this hour?”

“Does the Young Earl have an engagement today?”

“…Not to my knowledge.”

Although he couldn’t discern the professor’s intentions, Sebastian answered sincerely. After all, Richard Spencer was someone he might need to keep in good graces in the future.

“Grace has gone missing. I searched the town all night but couldn’t find her. I came here to seek the Young Earl’s help.”

“My goodness!”

Sebastian exclaimed in shock. Could it have been Theresius Wilford? Could he have harmed Grace Gurton during the brief time Sebastian had been away?

Wait, knowing this, Richard Spencer wouldn’t remain silent. Why was the mansion so quiet, then, instead of erupting into chaos?

“What did the Young Master say?” Sebastian asked, glancing toward the interior of the house.

“The maid said that the Young Earl hadn’t been home yesterday or today either,” Charles Dodgson replied, rubbing his face roughly with both palms. Any Ingrintian would immediately grasp the implications of this statement.

Are you saying that wretched Young Earl took my precious Grace Gurton?

And Sebastian, a man who had never once set foot outside of Ingrint, understood the meaning perfectly. His eyes widened in shock.

“What?”

How important Grace Gurton’s safety was to Richard Spencer was crystal clear. The fact that he had ordered ten guards to be brought from Lydon proved it. A man like that wouldn’t dare take a woman and do something improper. Even logically, that didn’t make sense.

Logics aside, my young master would never do such a thing. If your precious one is important, so is mine. How dare you make such an outrageous claim!

Sebastian was about to explode in anger, but the eccentric from Grentabridge brushed past him and began walking briskly. A certain place had flashed through Charles Dodgson’s mind like divine inspiration.

“Professor Dodgson, where are you going?”

“There’s a place I haven’t checked yet.”

“Where is it? Let me come with you. Get in the carriage.”

Sebastian grabbed Charles Dodgson’s arm. He didn’t know where they were headed, but he had to follow. He needed to see for himself that Grace Gurton was safe; only then would he have something to say to Richard Spencer later.

When faced with a pressing problem, you must unite whether you like it or not. This was a lesson Sebastian had learned during his time as a student at Grentabridge College.

The memory of being grouped with four other students alphabetically for assignments still made him boil with anger. He wanted nothing more than to meet those freeloaders who rode on the team’s efforts—and the professor who turned a blind eye to it—just so he could hurl a string of insults at them.

Back then, Sebastian had reluctantly accepted a few pages of plagiarized material from a somewhat conscientious student to complete the assignment. When you have no other choice, even help like that is crucial. Just like now.

And so, Sebastian rode the carriage with Charles Dodgson to Cherry Hinton. The previous day’s heavy rain had significantly raised the water levels. Like glaciers floating in the North Sea, only the tops of the stepping stones were visible above the surface.

“Wow, there’s a cave here?”

“……”

Sebastian asked in amazement, but Charles Dodgson’s expression remained as rigid as stone. He had been this way ever since noticing the flattened bushes in front of the cave, as if something had pressed them down.

Charles Dodgson stepped into a puddle with a loud squelch, while Sebastian carefully avoided the muddy water, making his way to stand beside him at the cave’s entrance.

And then, they were greeted by a prehistoric tableau of a scantily clad man and woman clinging to each other’s bodies. The scene left Charles Dodgson and Sebastian utterly speechless, like primitive humans who had yet to invent language, gasping only in awe.

“Shh.”

Richard Spencer, hearing the noise they made, rose quietly and pressed a finger to his lips.

He was awake all along? He was awake and stayed like that? How despicable can he be?

Sebastian supported the trembling Charles Dodgson and turned away. In the meantime, Richard Spencer picked up his shirt and carefully tucked the partially draped dress snugly over Grace Gurton’s shoulders.

Grace was still fast asleep, breathing softly. Richard gazed intently at her profile before averting his eyes. He then dressed as carefully as possible and stepped out of the cave.

“Young Master!”

Sebastian nearly fainted upon seeing the dress fabric wrapped around Richard’s head. The sight of blood crusted and matted at the back of his head made Sebastian’s legs buckle.

“We’ll talk in detail back home, Sebastian.”

Richard said this as he adjusted his attire and turned to Charles Dodgson.

“Please stay here with Miss Gurton for a while. I’ll have Sebastian bring a carriage and Miss Gurton’s clothes. And I’ll visit your home tomorrow.”

Charles Dodgson stared at Richard’s left temple. Because of the fabric Grace had wrapped around him, his entire face was fully exposed.

“Then, I’ll take my leave.”

Noticing where Charles Dodgson’s gaze was fixed, Richard quickly bowed his head in farewell. Then, accompanied by Sebastian, he swiftly left Cherry Hinton.