novelraw Chapter 12: The Letter
Chapter 12: The Letter
Fischer's rented apartment was located in one of the better areas of Saint Nary. The neighborhood below his housed many factory workers, with five or six people crammed into a single room and entire floors sharing a communal washroom.
His rented space occupied the second floor of a three-story standalone building owned by an elderly woman named Martha.
Fischer unlocked the door with a key from his wallet, revealing a well-lit interior. As he removed his hat at the entrance, a white-haired woman wearing an apron and reading glasses approached.
Her hunched figure studied the gentleman at the door before exclaiming with delight, "Good heavens! Fischer, you've returned from the Southern Continent!"
She embraced Fischer, who gently returned the hug around her frail frame. "Mother Goddess bless, I couldn't even imagine going to such a place. Mrs. Chris next door says the Southern Continent is full of wild beasts and monsters - far too dangerous for a delicate scholar like you."
Fischer smiled helplessly as Renée peeked out from behind him to greet the woman.
"You've brought Renée back too! How wonderful... I've made mushroom soup, so we'll have a proper meal tonight."
"Thank you. I'll go upstairs to settle in first. After being away so long, everything must be covered in dust."
"Don't worry, I've been tending to your room. Many of your belongings were missing - did you take them all to the Southern Continent?"
"...Yes."Not only taken there, but never to return - they could only serve as gifts for Raphaëlle now.
Technically, as the landlady, Martha shouldn't enter tenant Fischer's room without permission. But they shared a good relationship, and Fischer had always appreciated her care.
In her youth, Martha had worked as a weaver in a textile workshop while her husband did painting and renovations. They'd raised two sons together.
Her husband died young from illness, leaving Martha to raise the boys alone. During Nary's third war against Schwalli, both sons enlisted - the elder died first, while the younger had his legs blown off. When Martha received the news, her surviving son was being transported home in critical condition.
Strangely, the son missing his lower half remained relatively stable until seeing his mother one last time at home, after which he passed away. Thus all her children left her, leaving Martha alone in this house.
Fischer had rented here since graduating from the Royal Academy - an orphaned tenant and childless landlady made a fitting pair. Fortunately Martha remained cheerful, maintaining good health these years while playing cards with neighbors.
"Hey, Renée, come here."
As Fischer headed upstairs, the white-haired woman secretly beckoned to Renée following behind. From the kitchen she produced a bowl of blueberry cake, handing it to Renée with a wink.
"Winnings from cards... those old folks with barely any teeth left still crave cake. Got lucky winning this back - though I don't have many teeth left either! Perfect for you to enjoy, and share some with Fischer if you like. I'll fetch your bedding."
"Haha, that guy wouldn't appreciate this. Thank you, Ms. Martha."
"Oh, these are letters Fischer received while away. Give them to him too."
Renée smiled as she accepted the stack. While Martha went upstairs for bedding, she secretly spread out the letters like an elder sister checking for her sibling's secret admirers, grinning mischievously.
Royal Academy Research Institute, Nary Tax Bureau, Nary Magic Association, New Academic Society, Saint Nary University, Saint Nary Police Department...
Renée pursed her lips - all work correspondence. Hoping for letters from Nary's society ladies seemed too much to ask.
After flipping through several official letters, her attention caught on the final gilded envelope.
This letter stood out - the entire envelope dyed golden with gilded edges and an elaborate wax seal, clearly an aristocratic personal correspondence. Without opening it, Renée checked the sender's name on the back.
"Happy Birthday, Mr. Fischer Benavides."
"Elizabeth Goldline"
Renée's starry eyes flickered as she frowned thoughtfully.
......
Fischer's spacious second-floor room included a private washroom spanning about fifty square meters. Bookcases lined the walls opposite a work desk by the window. True to Martha's word, the place remained spotless as if he'd never left.
Mentally thanking the kind landlady, Fischer turned as the door opened to reveal a sullen Renée holding blueberry cake.
She flopped onto the sofa, silently attacking the cake with a spoon while glaring daggers at Fischer hanging his coat, as if her resentful gaze could physically pierce the annoying man.
"What's wrong?"
"...Your letters."
Fischer accepted the stack - mostly responses to his previous papers and invitations to academic events he'd missed while abroad. Hmm, Saint Nary University?
Why would the new institution contact him? He knew little about the recently established school beyond its brief two-year history. He'd examine that later.
The final letter...
Fischer held the gilded envelope, pausing at the sender's name. Behind him, Renée watched his expression like a hawk while sucking her spoon, but the man's flawless poker face revealed nothing.
Without opening it, Fischer tossed the letter with the others onto his desk.
"Happy birthday, Fischer. I'd forgotten today was your birthday."
"Likewise."
Fischer replied dismissively, fetching an iron to press his suit - his last decent set. Being broke meant any damage would leave him a naked, curly-haired baboon.
Technically today wasn't his true birthday, just the date he'd been found at the orphanage which became his registered birthdate. With no knowledge of his actual birthdate, this served as a commemorative substitute.
"I don't know any Elizabeth. Is she your friend?"
Ah, the truth emerges - the birthday wishes were just pretext.
Fischer chuckled, setting down the iron. Mimicking Renée's tone with a faint smile, he asked pointedly, "Is she really my friend?"
Renée's mouth opened and closed, her black curls practically bristling with irritation.
"Fischer! Die die die die die!"
Abandoning her cake, she flew at Fischer to pummel his head with witch's fists, only to be effortlessly blocked by one outstretched hand.
Apparently even Renée couldn't stand her own usual annoying behavior - and Fischer had only borrowed a fraction of her signature style.
To prevent further outbursts, Fischer finally explained while looking at the gilded letter, "Just a rarely contacted acquaintance."
......
At that same moment in Saint Nary's central Golden Palace, the wind carried fallen leaves bearing summer's last whispers to a lady's window.
Pale fingers caught a descending leaf as if capturing summer itself. Her gaze took in the entire Golden Palace, yet none could clearly see her face.
Only her murmurs, unclear whom they addressed, could be heard:
"Fischer has returned..."
"Your Highness Elizabeth, the General requests what time this afternoon the drills should commence?"
Behind her, a blond officer in uniform bowed respectfully.
"They begin whenever I arrive. Tell him to be patient."
"Understood."
Her pale lips curved slightly as she released the leaf to drift slowly downward. By the time it touched ground, the lady at the windowsill had vanished without trace.