novelraw Chapter 171: Background Music
Chapter 171: Background Music
On Tuesday, which was the evening of the day he arranged to meet Anna, Fisher calculated the time. After finishing dinner with Jasmine, he prepared to set off alone towards the Mio Cemetery to meet Anna. Taking a carriage from Fisher's rental house to the remote cemetery would put him there right around eight o'clock.
However, before Fisher could leave the house, the door to his rental house was knocked on by someone else.
Regarding this, Ms. Martha was already accustomed to it. Even if it were royal soldiers outside coming to look for Fisher, she wouldn't be surprised. Who didn't know that Fisher Benavides was a man of the hour in Saint-Nazareth?
Oh, except for those ladies of Saint-Nazareth, otherwise he wouldn't still be unmarried to this day.
"Coming, may I ask who it is?"
Ms. Martha pushed open the door, and as a result, there actually stood a royal soldier wearing a white uniform and a tall hat bearing the pale gold three-ring crest symbol.
Looking at Mrs. Martha who opened the door, the soldier respectfully bowed to her and said.
"Hello, may I ask if Mr. Fisher Benavides is at home? Her Royal Highness the Eldest Princess Elizabeth invites him."
What? Her Royal Highness the Eldest Princess?
Ms. Martha opened her mouth, suddenly seeming to understand something. After a second or two of being stunned, she forcefully pretended to be calm, adjusting her reading glasses, and nodded."Oh, he is here. I will go upstairs to call him right away."
'Good heavens, why wasn't I told that Fisher is in contact with the Eldest Princess?'
After all, this was the first time Elizabeth had sent someone so directly to Fisher's rental house to call for him. Previously, it had either been writing letters or encountering him by chance somewhere; anyway, it had been extremely tactful.
Hearing it was a summons from the Eldest Princess, Ms. Martha quickly and tremblingly ran upstairs to call Fisher out from inside.
Jasmine was still in the room. After Fisher responded, he changed his clothes and instructed Jasmine not to expose herself before coming downstairs.
He didn't know what Elizabeth wanted with him right now, but it so happened that he also needed to tell Elizabeth about Anna. He just didn't know if Elizabeth's invitation would cause him to be late.
The time Anna arranged was eight o'clock, and it was currently just past seven. If they talked fast, he should be able to make it in time.
There was a dedicated carriage behind the soldier, but Elizabeth was not in the carriage. It seemed she was waiting for him somewhere.
After Fisher got into the carriage with his walking stick, the carriage slowly started and headed toward the other direction of the street.
After a ride of about ten minutes, the carriage Fisher was in arrived at the entrance of a cafe with a quiet environment. The name of the shop was "Aroma Cafe."
Fisher had come to support this shop many times before because the owner of this shop, Stuna, was a classmate who attended the Royal Academy together with Fisher back then.
After graduating, the lady who loved coffee saved up some money to start a business. She opened a high-end cafe in the city area, specializing in selling high-end coffee products to young masters and ladies who loved coffee. It was deeply loved by certain coffee enthusiasts and ladies. The environment here was also very nice; compared to the decoration of other shops, it had clearly had a lot of thought put into it.
It had to be said, her business acumen was much better than Tlander's. That idiot's net worth was who knew how many times greater than Stuna's, yet the cafe opened by Stuna was flourishing, while the stable invested by Tlander would probably have been smashed in his hands if Fisher hadn't rented it.
By the time Fisher arrived here, the main door of the cafe was closed, and a "Closed Today" sign hung outside.
However, quite a few royal attendants stood at the door. Seeing Fisher arrive, they gave him a slight bow and gently opened the door to the cafe, spilling out the classical, melodious music and exquisite environment from inside.
Three ladies were sitting by a round table near the window. Among them, the lady sitting with her back to the main entrance, wearing an elegant Naris dress with a casual hair accessory in her long blonde hair, was enjoying the drink at hand. It was none other than Her Royal Highness the Eldest Princess, Elizabeth.
In front of her were two young girls. Their expressions were somewhat worried, occasionally looking toward the door. Upon seeing Fisher walk into the cafe, their expressions changed slightly, revealing a touch of anxiety amidst their joy. They were none other than his two students, Isabel and Milika.
Fisher only took one look and understood what Elizabeth had called him over for today.
He walked over to the table by the window. Isabel and Milika were sitting together, so obviously, he could only sit next to Elizabeth.
Elizabeth looked at the approaching Fisher. A seat had long been reserved for him by her side, so at this moment, she merely reached out her hand and called out.
"Stuna, a cup of honey milk, no need to add extra sugar."
At the bar counter, a lady dressed in a male attendant's uniform smiled and nodded, beginning to prepare the milk on her own.
Waiting for Fisher to sit down, Elizabeth blinked at Fisher and said.
"You shouldn't drink coffee at night, lest you be unable to sleep."
The two young girls saw Fisher sit down next to Elizabeth and greeted him. Then, it seemed they wanted to say something, but they first glanced at Her Highness Elizabeth sitting next to him, waiting for her to speak first.
Elizabeth didn't dawdle and said with a smile.
"Isabel and Milika said that after returning to school from the holiday, their roommate disappeared. The school officially announced that she was a demi-human who sneaked in... That student's name is Jasmine, right? Isabel and the others are very worried about that Jasmine. Hearing that you also resigned, they wanted to ask about the situation that night."
"Right... we live with Jasmine every day. How could she possibly be a demi-human? She is clearly a human, and she is very delicate. She has never left the school before. Now that she's missing, what if she meets a bad person outside?"
"Fisher, Teacher, you were also at the school that night. You know exactly where Jasmine is, right? If there is any news about her, could you tell us? We are very worried about her..."
Milika and Isabel were indeed very good friends with Jasmine. This could be seen from the worry on their faces right now.
After Isabel and Milika began asking questions, Elizabeth kept her mouth shut. Taking a sip of her drink, she quietly listened to their conversation, with no intention of interrupting further.
"Fisher, your milk, please enjoy."
"Thank you."
Fisher took the milk, blew away some of the floating steam from the milk, and recounted the events of that time to Isabel and Milika. However, he didn't mention the monsters from the Healing House; he only roughly described the part about the security guards coming up with him.
Speaking to the end, he shook his head and said.
"Unfortunately, I do not know where Jasmine is right now. That night, the security guards and I saw with our own eyes Jasmine leap out the window and escape, her whereabouts unknown..."
Yes, Fisher did not intend to expose Jasmine's traces. Nobody could.
If the opponent Fisher was currently facing was Black, the elder of the Pioneer Party, and he was dead set on finding Jasmine, then Fisher absolutely had to be flawless and invulnerable.
Fisher did not want to give the Healing House the opportunity to play another card. Even if Milika and Isabel were people of the Church and the royal family respectively, and were Jasmine's closest friends, who could guarantee they wouldn't accidentally leak the information while trying to protect their demi-human friend's reputation in school?
Isabel opened her mouth, pinching her fingers. Looking at Fisher, she said.
"Then why did you resign the next day?"
"Because I have lost confidence in the security of Saint-Nazareth University and Naris officials. Accidents happening one after another made me consider resigning to protect my own personal safety. It's just that."
Milika wanted to say something more, but Elizabeth beside them suddenly stretched out her hand, stopping the two young girls from continuing to speak.
"Alright, since you have gotten the specific process of that night, you should be satisfied now... Fisher and the security guards both saw that student's true demi-human form with their own eyes. Since she had a way to sneak into Saint-Nazareth University, she naturally also has a way to protect her own safety."
"Worrying is necessary, but it shouldn't excessively affect your own lives. This is what we agreed upon before I brought you out. Now is school time, and you should also go back to school to prepare for tomorrow's classes. Fisher will no longer be the professor for the subsequent magic classes, so you need to work even harder... Go on, I will have the guards escort you back to Saint-Nazareth University and simultaneously ask my elder brother to strengthen the security work for the students."
Faced with the Eldest Princess's orders, the two young girls naturally could not resist.
They pursed their lips and stood up. Looking at Fisher beside Elizabeth, Isabel took out a small bag from her bag and handed it to Fisher.
"Fisher, Teacher, these are the spices Jasmine asked us to buy before. She said she was planning to give them to you... but since she is no longer at school now, we'll give them to you on her behalf."
Fisher glanced at the spices contained in that small bag. After taking it, he looked up at Elizabeth, who was glancing over.
Her expression carried a smile, but the temperature had dropped by a degree. She didn't say anything, however, merely taking another sip of her drink.
"I understand. Thank you."
"Um... then we will take our leave. Goodbye, Big Sister, Fisher, Teacher."
Isabel and Milika bowed to the two of them and then walked out of the cafe.
The background music changed at this point to a softer and smoother violin solo. Under this background music, Elizabeth was the first to speak.
"That Jasmine, is she the one I saw in the office before? I heard from Isabel that she was the student teaching assistant you hired?"
Fisher stood up, preparing to sit opposite Elizabeth so it would be easier to talk business.
But the moment he was about to get up, he was stopped by Elizabeth. she gently tugged at Fisher's coat, simply not letting him get up and leave.
When Fisher looked at her, she only blinked at him. In any case, she just wouldn't let go.
Therefore, Fisher could only sit back down in his original spot. Using a spoon to stir the honey evenly, he went on to say.
"Yes, she had the best grades in the class."
"Did you know she was a demi-human?"
"I did not know."
Elizabeth's empty golden pupils sized Fisher up. Then she smiled and looked away, simultaneously changing the subject in passing.
"Too many accidents have happened at Saint-Nazareth University recently, and you have left Saint-Nazareth University as well. What about the magic courses there?"
"I wrote a letter to President Dami'an; he will help out... Resigning was also to better investigate the matters of the Pink Pavilion and the Healing House. It was too passive being in the school."
"Being in the open has its disadvantages, but it also has its advantages. The advantage lies in the fact that your security has a certain guarantee. Now that you've resigned, once you begin an in-depth investigation, they might make a move against you... Do you need me to dispatch troops to help you?"
Fisher shook his head, rejecting Elizabeth's suggestion.
"Dispatching troops on your end would be too obvious; they would pull back. Nothing will happen to me. You can totally trust me."
"True, it's true that you are much stronger than when you were at the university, especially after returning from the Southern Continent. Did something happen to you over there? Or is it from usual exercise?"
As Elizabeth spoke, she looked at Fisher's body. Previously, when celebrating the Gothrin Festival at Saint-Nazareth University, she had touched Fisher's arms, so of course she knew he had become much stronger.
This was all thanks to that Demi-Human Completion Handbook in his embrace.
"I have been exercising recently."
"No matter what, health is a good thing. If you just stayed in your room writing articles all the time, I would actually have been worried about your health."
Fisher hadn't forgotten to tell Elizabeth about Anna. First, he asked.
"Speaking of which, have you been to the Full Moon Church on Nateon Street before?"
Hearing Fisher's words, Elizabeth tapped her chin, seeming to be thinking. After thinking for several seconds, she said.
"Mm, I should have been there. There should have been a period of time before when I was invited by the Church to attend some events. You know, to a large extent, I participate in events as a representative of the royal family. Women have an affinity in this aspect, so I often participate instead of my elder brother. What's wrong? Why ask this suddenly?"
Fisher then explained Anna's situation and demands to Elizabeth, simultaneously revealing everything about the information Anna had disclosed at that time. When it came to the mastermind behind the scenes being Black, Elizabeth suddenly raised her hand. But it wasn't toward Fisher; it was toward Stuna behind the bar counter.
Seeing this, Stuna knowingly bowed to Elizabeth and then walked out of the cafe. After the cafe door closed, only the two of them remained in the entire room.
Elizabeth's expression became rather serious. Turning her head to look at Fisher, she said.
"Actually, back then, the ones who wagered their chips on that Holy Maiden Ship heading out to pioneer outward weren't just the Nazarene Development Company, but also my royal father who had just ascended the throne and was eager to achieve something."
"The results showed they bet correctly. My father washed away the shame that had hung over Naris since Gedrin V, and the Nazarene Development Company grew to an unmanageable scale... And Black is now the largest shareholder of the Nazarene Development Company."
Elizabeth looked at the calm surface of her drink. Pausing for quite a while, she then turned her head to look at Fisher and continued speaking.
"Even though my royal father and Black are nearing the end, as long as they aren't dead for a day, they still possess incomparable influence. For your safety, I am telling you this. If the person behind the Pink Pavilion is truly Black, I hope you abandon confronting him. He doesn't have much time left. Will you listen to me?"
In her golden eyes, there was only the reflection of Fisher, only him alone.
This was the first time Fisher had learned that the largest shareholder of the Nazarene Development Company was Black. Judging from the current situation, not only did Black have the help of an overpowered item like the Completion Handbook, but he also had the colossal Nazarene Development Company acting as his support.
And Elizabeth's meaning was very clear. To a large extent, her royal father, Godolin IX, was still a member of the Pioneer Party.
Before his passing, regardless of whether it was Dexter or Elizabeth, it was impossible to defy his wishes. Unless there was public, fatal evidence, Elizabeth could not overtly help Fisher attack Black.
Looking at Elizabeth, Fisher fell into deep thought for a while, then shook his head and responded.
"No, I will still make a move against him. Even with the Nazarene Development Company behind Black, it's still impossible for me to let him do as he pleases."
The most crucial point was that if Black had a Completion Handbook in his hands, judging by Pherone's case, who knew what even more outrageous things he might do. Those Human-Insects were the evidence.
Elizabeth looked at Fisher for a long time, then knowingly nodded.
"I understand... Since you choose this, I will also stand firmly and unshakeably behind you. But we still need precise evidence proving that he threatens national security, proving that he uses human bodies to conduct experiments. Since that Anna has the intention to cooperate, we might as well help her destroy that relic. Having her guidance as a witness is the safest."
"If you encounter any danger in the process, you must stop immediately. That way, even if Black discovers your identity, I will do my utmost to protect your safety."
Speaking to this point, Elizabeth gently reached out and held the back of Fisher's hand. But that tentative movement dared not linger for too long. A few seconds later, she withdrew her soft and fragrant hand, leaving a tiny bit of lingering fragrance on Fisher's skin.
"...Thank you."
Actually, given Elizabeth's situation, it was completely unnecessary for her to help him. After all, Black and her father both belonged to the Pioneer Party, and she wouldn't be the next monarch. Offending a behemoth like the Nazarene Development Company was completely not worth it.
But Elizabeth ultimately still chose to do so.
Hearing Fisher's words, Elizabeth smiled, shook her head, and said.
"The Development Company indeed brought glory to Naris. But over decades, it has also gradually developed in the direction of a malignant tumor; this is something both you and I know. Bringing down Black to inflict a wound on the Development Company holds benefits for both Naris and the royal family..."
She did not mention a single word about the true reason, but both people present probably understood what the true reason was, right?
After finishing their talk about serious matters, the two of them suddenly seemed to have nothing more to say. It was as if small talk would be superfluous. In the continuous, melodious violin music of the cafe, the two of them sat side by side, occasionally taking a sip of the drinks in their cups, feeling each other's presence.
Fisher was usually not slow in throwing back drinks, whether it was alcohol or coffee. For a beverage with a small portion like this, he could polish it off in two gulps.
It was just unknown why today, he actually took over ten minutes to drink this single cup of honey milk.
It wasn't until the very last bit of milk was swallowed by him that he let out a long breath. Amidst the music, he paused for a long time before saying.
"I'm going to leave."
"...Mhm."
Elizabeth gave a sound of acknowledgement; the drink in her cup had long been emptied.
Fisher put on the gentleman's hat he had taken off. Turning his head to look, Elizabeth was sitting quietly by his side, watching his action of putting on the hat.
She wore no makeup, her red lips slightly pursed, her golden pupils quietly gazing at the person in front of her.
His action of sizing her up lasted slightly longer. They looked at each other like this. A second later, who knew whose distance moved forward a few fractions, and that direction was exactly the position of the other's lips.
The background music came to an end, and the cafe suddenly fell quiet, interrupting the hazy intoxication they were sinking into.
Fisher's eyes flickered slightly as he stood up; Elizabeth's slightly forward-leaning body also awkwardly retreated a bit, smoothing out the hem of her skirt.
Within the ambiguous atmosphere where subtle awkwardness was revealed through their adulthood, Fisher repeated the dialogue upon his departure. It went like this.
"I'm going to leave."
But Elizabeth's response changed a bit.
"...Remember to be careful."
"Okay."
The background music in the cafe sounded once again, but the gentleman pushed the door open and left, leaving only a beautiful lady standing in place, looking at the scenery outside the window.