novelraw Chapter 23: Elizabeth
Chapter 23: Elizabeth
After stepping down from the stage, Fischer quietly sat back down next to Damian, noticing the muscular principal's dark expression. He leaned over and whispered an explanation,
"I've already cut it down significantly. Otherwise, I could have gone on for over ten minutes... It's been six years since I last spoke publicly, so please understand."
Damian stared at Fischer for a long moment before inhaling deeply and saying,
"...I know."
While Damian looked displeased, the research institute members were even more furious yet helpless. Merely exposing the institute's problems in such a public forum was already a slap in the face - Fischer didn't need additional adjectives. For the next year, scholars would likely view the institute as little more than a pig farm.
Damian could only hope this would have some positive effect, though he'd undoubtedly be summoned by his Gryphon Party colleagues for questioning afterward.
The opening ceremony concluded quickly. Fischer didn't stay for lunch with Helson and the others, needing to seek out an "old friend" for clues about the Witch Research Society and the Undying Witch. As he prepared to leave early, he deliberately pulled his top hat low to avoid being spotted by enthusiastic young scholars who might stop him for questions or even autographs - probably to hang above their beds during exams for good luck.
Moving discreetly through the crowd, Fischer headed toward the Royal Academy gates when he suddenly noticed a graceful woman standing quietly beside the entrance. An oversized sun hat shielded her face from Nary's brightest sunlight, while an elegant gown accentuated her beautiful, gentle figure. With hands clasped before her, she seemed to blend seamlessly into her surroundings.
The lady appeared to be waiting for someone, an unusual aura of authority radiating around her that deterred numerous would-be suitors.
Fischer's mouth opened slightly before he instinctively turned to leave through a side exit - only to spot several armed guards stationed there.Feeling utterly exposed, Fischer sighed and adjusted his collar, raising his intentionally lowered hat before approaching the waiting woman.
She didn't turn as he neared, her golden braid resting against her back while she gazed calmly at the Royal Academy's stone steps. Only when sensing a gentleman's approach did she react.
"Your Highness Elizabeth..."
Fischer performed a gentleman's bow, his expression perfectly serious - the very picture of a proper Nary gentleman.
Yet the lady didn't turn, merely curling her lips into a gentle smile,
"Mr. Fischer treats everyone - even the King - with casual familiarity. At least that shows authenticity - your actions match your thoughts... Only with me do you maintain this false courtesy."
When she turned, her pale golden eyes resembled an endless, empty ocean, their overwhelming warmth being their most striking feature.
She epitomized the word "princess" - the most elegant, resilient, and beautiful woman worthy of the title. Throughout the kingdom, only one person was universally acknowledged as such: the "First Princess" - Her Highness Elizabeth Goldline.
Fischer smiled in response,
"I wouldn't dare. I maintain loyalty and respect toward the royal family, especially toward you."
Elizabeth didn't look at him, simply smiling as she produced a small gift box, offering it with one hand,
"I received your reply. Consider this a welcome-back gift - perfume given to me last month by the Queen of Schwalli..."
Accepting the box, Fischer immediately caught the significance of her words. Nary and Schwalli had been in a cold war until rumors of reconciliation emerged this month - yet Elizabeth had obtained this perfume directly from Schwalli's queen last month.
Meaning: she'd secretly visited Schwalli last month and facilitated their nations' reconciliation.
But why give him perfume? Especially Schwalli perfume?
Schwalli men's fragrances were... problematic. Given their culture's appreciation for masculine beauty, many scents were overpowering - not feminine florals but rather bestial musk. Fischer would wager no woman would like this scent - Renée would laugh herself sick if she knew, though he wondered if Raphaëlle's dragonkin tastes might differ...
These thoughts flashed through his mind instantly, but when Fischer looked up to thank her, he found Elizabeth's placid golden eyes already watching him intently, as if she'd been observing him the entire time.
"Thank you, Your Highness."
Elizabeth smiled and turned away, gathering her skirts to descend the steps where a gold carriage guarded by soldiers had waited patiently.
"No thanks needed - just a small gift..."
She didn't request reciprocation, simply boarding the carriage which departed under military escort. Fischer remained motionless until it disappeared from view.
Inside the carriage - unseen by Fischer - Elizabeth removed her sun hat. Without opening the window, she dipped a finger in the carriage's tea and wrote upon the table:
"Already been with other women... and has at least one ambiguous relationship..."
No mind-reading powers were needed - just acute observation.
Elizabeth's stunning profile remained still as she observed the tea stain before waving a hand. Golden flames ignited across the table, erasing all traces.
Yet behind those golden flames, her normally warm golden eyes turned terrifyingly cold.
......
......
Watching the guarded golden carriage disappear into the distance, Fischer exhaled deeply before examining his gift. Only after confirming no strange engravings adorned the perfume bottle did he tuck it away.
He'd met Elizabeth during his academy days when she was the institution's jewel, her accolades too numerous to count. After Fischer won first place in the quadrennial "Gryphon Tournament," she publicly promised to grant him any single request before the entire school.
Everyone knew this story. When all expected Fischer to leverage this into royal connections, he made no request at all.
The offer remained valid - Elizabeth had said "this promise stands until my death." Yet this lady-admiring gentleman had refused what seemed an irresistible opportunity, which suggested deeper reasons.
Fischer always found Elizabeth... unsettling. An instinctive wariness made him avoid deeper involvement.
Thus, the seemingly perfect pair never progressed beyond that moment, leaving only the legend of "Elizabeth's Blank Check" circulating among Royal Academy alumni.
Sighing, Fischer pocketed the perfume and strode briskly from the academy, this time heading in the opposite direction from the tram.
Saint Nary University would begin classes tomorrow. Having reviewed his simple syllabus yesterday, Fischer saw no need for preparation - he'd already planned everything regarding evaluations and could teach immediately.
Before then, he needed information about the Witch Research Society to track their sought-after Undying Witch - he had to find her before the police intervened, as extracting information from custody would prove difficult.
Fortunately, he had some "old friends" in Saint Nary who could help.
Snakehead Street was Saint Nary's infamous slum, formerly adjacent to city factories. When factories were relocated, impoverished residents had nowhere else to go. Even now, gangs and criminals thrived here - Saint Nary police never left empty-handed.
Yet these represented the minority. Most residents were factory workers or domestic servants.
The area featured low costs and questionable living conditions. Proximity to Saint Nary's drainage system - where multiple rivers converged - created a chaotic mix of housing and waterworks, with many dwellings below street level amidst pervasive odors of drugs and tobacco.
Covering his nose with his collar, Fischer descended into the underground warren following the roaring river's sound. Pushing through smoke, he reached a lit tavern.
At midday, the tavern stood nearly empty save for an old man cleaning amidst cigarette butts and alcohol-stained vomit.
"We're closed afternoons," he said while sweeping.
"Old Jack, I'm here to see Karla and the others..."
The old man paused, leaning his broom aside to fold his arms and study Fischer,
"Of course - only Fischer would come looking for them in all Saint Nary... Follow me."
Scars covered the old man's face - clear remnants of his youth in Nary's underworld. But he'd long since retired, his grudges dying with old comrades.
Like any man, he'd built a family with wife and child... and like many, ended up alone.
Old Jack's son - Jack - had been Fischer's Royal Academy classmate specializing in demi-human research. In fact, he'd pioneered the field. Much like his gangster-turned-scholar father, his life saw dramatic turns.
Unfortunately, he'd inherited his mother's frail constitution rather than his father's robustness. After contracting serious illness during a Southern Continent expedition, he died shortly after returning.
Yet he left Old Jack precious legacies...
Following Old Jack through a backdoor and secured basement passage, Fischer eventually reached a surprisingly spacious underground home.
"Grandpa!"
"Grandpa!"
"Grandpa, you're back!"
Three furry little creatures came tumbling into Old Jack's arms the moment he opened the door, climbing over him while chattering excitedly.
Closer inspection revealed three little girls in different-colored princess dresses with perky ears and long, curved tails resembling squirrels'.
Their large, expressive eyes blinked behind long lashes as they nuzzled the sturdy old man, talking nonstop,
"Oh! It's Uncle Fischer!"
"Fischer!"
"Let me see!"
Without dismounting their human perch, the trio peered at the gentleman from various angles, cheeks stuffed full.
"Hello, Karla, Holly, and Dottie."
Old Jack massaged their cheeks with mock exasperation, grumbling,
"Alright, they're here. Ask whatever you need and pay up."
"Yeah! Grandpa will buy us nuts!"
Old Jack scowled,
"I will not buy you nuts!"
The triplets immediately turned pitiful eyes on him, melting his resistance instantly.
"Really no nuts, Grandpa?"
"Really?"
"Really?"
Old Jack opened his mouth, then barked,
"Fine! Now hurry up and ask Fischer what he wants!"
"Yay!"
"Grandpa's the best!"
The girls swarmed him again as he rolled his eyes.
Smiling, Fischer removed his hat and sat in the cozy little room.
These three were unique demi-humans - mousefolk - that Jack had brought from the Southern Continent. Finding them as abandoned pups in the wilderness, concerned they'd be eaten, Jack intended to raise them. His untimely death left Old Jack repeatedly trying yet failing to abandon them - both as his son's last legacy and because they'd grown on him.
Their abilities were extraordinary - they could communicate with all rodents. While most mice were too dim, they kept particularly clever ones who gathered information from their duller cousins before reporting back.
"Here's what I need: the murderer from the Karen Street killing last Friday at midnight - I need to know where they went."
Fischer got straight to the point with the three girls in Old Jack's arms.