Rachel's Doll
Gwen and Lily returned proudly with stacks of case files nearly their height.
It seems your investigation was fruitful.
Lily and I worked hard, you know.
Impressive. This much material...
Did you perhaps resort to your feminine charms, Miss Lily?
I did no such thing!
The Professor and Lily were still bickering as they returned to the Baskerville mansion, where an unexpected person was waiting.
You've returned at just the right time. Dinner is being prepared.
Realizing her snooping had been exposed, Gwen awkwardly hid the stack of documents behind her back.
Please don't decline this time like you did this morning.
Ah, sorry. We already ate somewhere else...
It looks as though you barely ate lunch either, after skipping breakfast.
I'd be in quite a predicament if word got out that Baskerville hospitality means starving guests and having them attacked.
Gwen and Lily looked at Henry warily.
Henry waved his hands.
Please don't misunderstand. I wasn't having you watched.
But when you cause that much commotion, reports tend to reach me as well.
We were just asking questions. They're the ones who attacked us...
Boss. That's basically admitting we were snooping around.
Tch.
But Mr. Henry, we couldn't help it. We were worried about Rachel.
She looked like she was in so much pain. How could you expect us not to care?
I have no excuse for that.
Before coming here, we met a girl named Pauline from the Baskerville Orphanage.
She said she grew up with Rachel.
Pauline said you're a kind and wonderful person.
...
If she's right about you, then you wouldn't turn a blind eye to an abused child.
Please answer us. Is Rachel really all right?
Must you know?
Sorry, Mr. Henry, but we've decided that girl comes before your request.
There are signs she was subjected to suspicious experiments and abuse.
And yet no one's willing to help her.
That's even more unacceptable than the mysterious death of a magical family head.
If she's being abused in any way at all, we're saving her first.
I suppose there's no helping it.
This may take some time... Shall we talk over dinner?
In the dining room, the three were served drinks and desserts tailored to their tastes.
Ask whatever you wish.
I'm still organizing my thoughts... so I'll leave this to you two, Miss Gwen, Miss Lily.
We went to the Baskerville Orphanage to ask about Rachel.
They kicked us out, saying the director ordered them not to tell us anything.
That director is Jack Stapleton, isn't it?
There is hardly anywhere in House Baskerville beyond Director Stapleton's reach.
He's the director of the Baskerville Clinic, the managing director of the orphanage, and the director of the Research Institute.
Wow. Then what exactly do you do?
It seems I'm merely the owner of this mansion. Haha.
That's not something to laugh off...
I heard residents even reported to the Town Guard that the Hound of the Baskervilles had returned.
It's the worst chimera ever, created through human experimentation at the Baskerville Research Institute.
Is there really no connection between Rachel, Director Stapleton, and the Hound of the Baskervilles?
...As the family head, I simply wish to believe there's no connection.
Or do you just not want to imagine what might be happening to that child?
I too was raised by my late father as a tool for restoring House Baskerville.
That's why seeing Rachel's suffering pains me so much.
But there is nothing I can do.
I can't even enter the mansion's basement without his permission.
Mr. Henry, this is serious. You need to use your authority as family head and investigate.
I'm sorry. I cannot stop him.
We'll help!
If you're that afraid of the director, we'll help you! Then problem solved, right?!
How?
You three plan to fight your way past the Research Institute's automatons and guards?
Will the three of you take on all of Baskerville?
After saying that, Henry gave them a bitter look and apologized.
...Forgive me. That was unbecoming of me.
Mr. Henry... It's child abuse. Couldn't you ask Public Security for help?
...I'm sorry. As the family head, that's not a choice I can make.
Henry's voice was polite but firm.
Lily could no longer press him.
I seem to have taken too much of your time. Let's leave it at that for now.
As Henry rose, Gwen stopped him.
Wait! Mr. Henry! Just one last thing!
Yes? What is it?
At least let us see Rachel! We have something to give her!
Something for Rachel? What is it?
Gwen told him about Pauline's request.
So we really want to give it to Rachel ourselves.
What a touching story.
I never thought you could be moved, Professor.
You really do think I'm terribly cold-blooded, Miss Lily.
I would like to help, but it won't be possible.
Even I can't freely enter his workshop.
You snuck us in last time. Can't you do it again?
Th-that alone was a tremendous adventure for me.
I kept watch outside in case Director Stapleton came back and found you!
I'll keep him occupied.
Professor?
It's up to adults to protect children's friendships.
Do you have a plan?
I know a few papers that should interest any magical scholar.
That alone won't be enough to sway him.
Just arrange for me to speak with him alone.
I'll find some way to keep him occupied.
Now that you put it that way, I'm even more curious.
Just what do you intend to do?
When someone refuses to agree, but you have to convince them no matter what...
Civilized people resort to bribery and buying people off.
...How do you bribe a man who already owns everything in Baskerville?
Surely there must be something you possess that he wants, Mr. Henry.
I don't know. How do you know what Director Stapleton wants?
Fufu. If the head of Baskerville doesn't know, how could I?
Since bribery is out, we'll have to try something a little more barbaric.
Barbaric? What exactly are you planning?
...Fufu. You shouldn't pry into a lady's secret. Just wait and see.
Now I'm too worried about what you might do to sit back and leave this to you.
I still have a few powers left as the family head.
If I offer to relinquish one of them, Director Stapleton may take an interest.
Huh? Didn't you say the mansion was basically all you had left? Are you sure?
If it can help poor Rachel, then I'll gladly give it up.
Lily whispered to the Professor.
You knew Mr. Henry would react like this from the beginning, didn't you?
Of course. How else would I possibly keep Jack occupied?
And what if Mr. Henry hadn't been a gentleman?
I had one last trick up my sleeve for just such an occasion.
That method worries me. Please, don't use it... ever.
...Fufu.
A short while later, Jack arrived with Rachel after being summoned by Henry.
What is it? You said you had something to discuss about our agreement.
Rest assured, that remains a secret between the two of us.
Then make it quick. It's hardly something outsiders should hear, is it?
Of course. Everyone, please excuse us for a moment.
Wait here, Rachel.
Okay.
Once Henry and Jack left, Gwen approached Rachel.
Hi.
Hello.
Remember my promise? That meeting us would be a good thing?
I'm still not sure about that.
Hehe. Let's see if you can still say that after you see this.
Gwen held out the doll to Rachel.
Rachel's eyelashes trembled.
For a moment, a flicker of emotion stirred in her once-empty eyes.
Ah...!
Her small, trembling hands took the cloth doll.
Thank you so much. My friends and I... We made this doll together.
That's wonderful.
...It's even more special when you hear why we made it.
Okay. Can I ask why?
Pauline used to have a beautiful doll.
It wasn't just pretty. It was the last doll her mother ever made for her.
So when she lost it, Pauline was sad every single day.
She said that because she was a bad girl who even lost the doll her mother gave her, God took her father away too.
Gwen and Lily could only let out a quiet sigh.
That day, Tim spent the whole day gathering pieces in the prettiest colors from fallen curtains.
Anne searched through the sewing kit and gathered scraps of stuffing...
Marco gave us one of his favorite beads... and I did the sewing.
So that's how you made it. You're right. The story does make it even more special.
Yes. But once we finished it, we all got worried.
Rachel held up the cloth doll.
Honestly, it's pretty ugly.
Gwen and Lily, who'd just praised the doll, were left speechless.
But Pauline loved it anyway.
She said bad children wouldn't have any friends...
But she had so many friends willing to go this far to help her, so she must be a good girl, and her mother would be happy.
So she said she'd give the doll to the next person who needed it.
Rachel wiped away the tears beginning to well in her eyes.
You were right, Miss Gwen. Not everything that happened to me was bad.
I guess you really do need time before you realize something was good.
Thank you, Miss Gwen.
At Rachel's smile, Gwen sniffled loudly.
*Sniffle!* Ah, my allergies are acting up... *Sniff!*
Boss, are you crying?
It's just my allergies, okay?
As Gwen desperately tried to hold back her tears, Jack walked out.
The agreement hasn't changed. Don't waste my time with such nonsense.
My apologies.
Come, Rachel.
Yes, sir.
Jack strode off, and Rachel hurried after him. Her legs suddenly gave out, and she fell with a loud crash.
Rachel!
Rachel quickly got back to her feet and smiled.
I-I'm okay. Thank you for the doll!
Despite her bright expression, she seemed to struggle as she staggered away.
Once Rachel was gone, Gwen's expression turned serious.
The doll... She held onto it tight even when she fell.
She looks even worse than before. What happened to her?
That's something we'll have to solve by doing our real job.
The Professor eyed the mountain of documents Gwen and Lily had piled up and spoke.
Now then. Time to work, everyone.