Bab 104: Honorary... what?
"...it's snowing."
"Huh?"
"Outside... It's snowing."
Inside the cafe, the soft-spoken Freminet spoke as he gazed out of the window of the cafe.
Out there, in the streets, tiny white specks barely noticeable to the human eye were falling to the ground. They were few, but given enough time, they shall soon pile up the streets of Fontaine.
Isaac, who was brewing a cup of coffee for a customer, looked outside and saw what the young diver was seeing. He soon hummed after studying the phenomenon.
"Yeah... Guess winter has officially begun. Which reminds me... Freminet, do you still go diving these days?"
"No, I don't. Fontaine's waters get unbelievably cold once winter comes, as such, many divers stop before or after the first snowflake of the year."
"Well, that makes sense. This is the nation of Hydro, after all. Diving in those conditions... is just blatantly dangerous."
After saying this, Isaac returned to his job. As he gently stirred the cup in his hands, he couldn't help but think to himself.
'Winter, huh? That... has a lot of business opportunities.'
Thinking about those cold, shivering people, the thought of opening his cafe to them to offer warmth and relaxation gave Isaac a fine idea for the coming days. Although some people might still hesitate to enter, he would still reassure them.
After all, even though his cafe is now a high-class establishment, he still always welcomed people from all walks of life. He had seen it grow to what it has become now with the same principles, and he won't be changing those principles anytime soon.
However, it was not only the people Isaac was thinking of. His eyes narrowed as he grinded a new set of coffee beans.
'Winter...'
For some reason, that word lingered in Isaac's mind for a bit. There was just something about it that makes him a bit melancholic, or rather, emotional.
Isaac was an emotional person, he has to admit that, but still, what he was feeling right now as he watched those tiny specks of snow dance outside made him feel as if something heavy was weighing down on him.
But soon, he shook his head.
'No... I should know very well why I'm like this.' He scoffed at himself, his eyes extending over to the rest of the cafe.
'The planned moment is approaching.'
Everything was now set up. He had reeled in both parties that would ensure that his grand plan would succeed without too many problems, and had also finished preparing his part of the plan. Moreover, the best conditions, winter, had finally come— which would greatly aid him in his plan.
All that was needed to do right now was to set everything in motion... and Isaac could finally realize his plan.
A better tomorrow.
That plan would ensure that, even if he strayed far too off from the original course of events, Fontaine would still be able to handle the coming trials.
That was the plan he had created, and would have the greatest impact on all of Fontaine. What he had done until now was nothing compared to it.
'Now that I think about it...'
Realizing the conditions he had set up for the plan, as well as what was about to happen, Isaac let out an amused sigh.
'...am I not reenacting the infamous events that led to the fall of the French monarchy?'
Remembering that grim historical event, he wore a wry smile.
'No, this is different. I'm doing this with purely good intentions. Moreover, the results of this plan have been thoroughly calculated. Even if something goes wrong, it won't be too serious since the Chief Justice is present.'
How could Isaac tolerate anything bad from happening from his plan? He simply could not accept it. That's why he implored the help of two people that would ensure the smoothness of the plan.
Nothing bad would happen.
Surely.
Shaking his head and escaping his stupor, Isaac forcefully stopped himself from thinking over such a grim matter further. He set those thoughts aside for now and decided to think about them later.
Turning over to Freminet, he brought up a new topic.
"By the way, Freminet, do you have any plans for the coming winter?"
The young diver looked up at Isaac and shrugged.
"Plans? Well... Father told us that she'd be increasing the difficulty of our training... especially for me. She didn't specify why, but we think that it's because she's planning something."
Isaac nodded.
"I see. She must be wanting to train you under the harsh conditions that winter brings..."
The two of them talked about Arlecchino freely without any discretion. Though, they did still hold their voice low to keep it from the customers present.
Isaac didn't know what Arlecchino told the House of the Hearth, but it seems like they now view Isaac as an associated informant. As such, he and Freminet could now talk freely without secrets.
Shrugging, Isaac returned to brewing.
"Looks like it's gonna be tough for you in the coming weeks, and from the look of it, your visits to the cafe might lessen."
Freminet lowered his head.
"That's right... I'm sorry, Mr. Isaac."
In response to this, Isaac chuckled lightly.
"Don't worry about it too much. Focus on your training first and be strong, my boy. You can always come by after your training for some rest and relaxation, you know?"
As Isaac spoke, he habitually patted Freminet's head, and, as usual, the latter let him do it.
Freminet then looked up at Isaac, his eyes glistening with resolve.
"Alright, I'll make sure to come by whenever I can. You can count on me, Mr. Isaac!"
"That's the spirit!"
Seeing the young diver gain determination to go through the trials his Father was about to send him to, Isaac curved up a satisfied smile.
He was just about to go back to his brew when Freminet suddenly followed up with a question.
"By the way... What about you, Mr. Isaac? What would you do for winter? Surely you're not planning to stay cooped up in the cafe..."
"Haha, don't worry— as much as I'd like to stay inside the cafe, in the comfort of my own home, I actually have quite a few things to do."
"Like what?"
"Well..."
Isaac lingered for a moment as an elusive smile started to form on his lips. It seems that he was thinking about something good.
Freminet watched as Isaac fell silent with a smile, his face gradually showing a faint red tinge.
That was the first time Freminet saw Isaac make such an expression, as such, he was visibly shaken. After all, in the young man's eyes, Isaac was the pinnacle of controlling emotions— so seeing him form an unbridled blush made Freminet somewhat amazed.
Then, Isaac turned to Freminet and continued speaking, his smile evidently positive.
"I think I'll be busy accompanying Furina."
"Lady Furina? Are you two after another case?"
"No, not really. Instead, we'd be spending time together."
Hearing this, Freminet stopped what he was doing and looked at Isaac confused. Raising an eyebrow, the young man asked curiously.
"Spending time together... Why?"
Isaac paused, trying to restrain his widening smile. But it was to no avail. Then, with a flushed yet proud expression, he smiled faintly at Freminet.
"Well, why not? After all... I'm her lover now, after all."
"...pardon?"
Isaac's words fell heavily to Freminet, who, for a moment, didn't quite process what he said. For a few moments, the two of them became silent.
Isaac remained unfazed as he continued crushing coffee beans, while Freminet looked at him with widening eyes of realization.
It was only after a few moments did Freminet break that delicate silence.
"That... You... Mr. Isaac... Are you serious?"
Isaac hummed, amused.
"Why yes, of course. In fact, we'd be going on a secret date tonight."
Freminet almost dropped the spoon he was holding upon hearing Isaac's words. Visibly shaken, he tried his best to remain composed.
"But... But... She's our Archon... How and why..."
Faced with Freminet's befuddled expression, Isaac chuckled. Seeing the young man look so perplexed about what was happening was... making Isaac enjoy the reaction.
Well, he did always liked teasing others.
"If there's a will, there's a way— and if you truly like someone, you'd go to great lengths to be with them."
Isaac tried his best to mimic a wise senior. Surprisingly, it worked. Satisfied with what he had done, Isaac then winked.
"Keep that advice in mind, my dear pupil. Who knows? Someday, that advice might help you out."
With those last words, Isaac patted him in the back before he returned to tending the customers of the cafe, leaving Freminet to look at him with an addled expression.
"But... She's our Archon..."
It seems like the young man was still having trouble digesting the information, though.
---
"...?"
"Hee-hee!"
"..."
"Hee-hee!"
Inside the Chief Justice's office in Palais Mermonia, Neuvillette, who was handling a few documents just a few moments ago, looked at the intruder who was now giggling to herself in his office.
He lingered for a moment, his sharp eyes studying Furina's strange behavior as she giggled to herself while looking far in the distance, as if imagining a scenario.
Then, after some time, the Chief Justice spoke.
"...Lady Furina, could you care to tell me why you are currently here?"
Hearing this, Furina shifted her gaze to him and curled up a smile.
"Oh, it's nothing, my dear Iudex. I am merely here to bask in the stern atmosphere of this office."
"You have never done such a thing before. Why now of all times?"
"Hmph, well, can I just make another excuse and say that I want to spend time with you?"
Neuvillette watched as Furina waltz around his office, looking at archived documents and organizing them.
For a moment, he almost believed her excuse— if not for the fact that she was distracted by a thought and was happily smiling to herself.
After a while, he spoke.
"It can't be that simple, surely. You must be wanting to tell me something, if so, be done with it. As you can see, I have far more important matters to attend to, and..."
"I have a suitor now."
"...pardon?"
Neuvillette, upon hearing this, raised an eyebrow as he stopped what he was doing and looked at the figure of Furina who was looking at him proudly.
He observed her for a bit before speaking.
"Although you had many suitors in the past— and have rejected them all without exception— what makes this one any different?"
After uttering this, however, Neuvillette instantly answered his question. Instantly, a wave of realization fell on him.
Looking at Furina, his sharp eyes narrowed.
"Wait. You... Are you, perchance, talking about..."
Seeing Neuvillette figure it out, Furina curved up a smile. Sitting down on one of the couches, she nodded.
"Indeed, it's Isaac."
"But he's a human, and you are a God. Suppose that you two do get together, but what then? Your life span..."
Hearing this, Furina's expression softened, already expecting Neuvillette to raise such a concern. Then, she uttered an analogy.
"Neuvillette... Do you live to see the end of each day, or do you live to experience the wonders of the day?"
"But..."
"Do you know? Isaac already told me about it. He knew that our differing life spans and status stood between us... Yet he persisted."
After saying this, she closed her eyes and let out a soft sigh. She then opened them again and gazed up.
"That fool... He said he wanted me to experience the happiness that I deserved. Even if I rejected him, he'd still find a way to make sure that I would feel appreciated. He was so adamant about it, be it past or present."
Then, she looked at Neuvillette, he'd expression soft and content.
"So... Why not? I liked him too... So why not experience love for the first time?"
"I deserved that much, don't I?"
Hearing her reason, Neuvillette closed his eyes as he deeply contemplated. For a while, he didn't know what to say. Then, after what seemed like an eternity in his mind, he looked at her.
"If you truly wish to pursue this... Then I can only offer my best wishes to both of you."
He lingered for a bit before quickly adding more.
"But as an ordinary bartender... His status might not match yours and might cause unrest among the people. Even if his cafe is prestigious, that does not change the fact that he's still a normal citizen."
"That doesn't..."
She was just about to retort him, however, Neuvillette wasn't done talking.
"As such... I, with my authority as the Chief Justice of Fontaine, shall grant Mr. Isaac Alder the honorary title of Lochknight."
"A... Lochknight?"
Furina was aware of that term. In the ancient past, Lochknights were a group of knights who were charged with the duty of protecting Oceanids. They were also one of the rebel groups led by the Lochknight Erinnyes to resist Remus' rule over Ancient Remuria.
After Remuria's fall, however, the group disbanded and took their own paths onward.
Remembering this in context, Furina gazed at Neuvillette.
"Lochknight... Did you specifically pick this title because..."
Furina was originally an Oceanid before being granted human form. As such, given the context behind the Lochknight title and who they were supposed to protect...
It was essentially a title that says Isaac was devoted to Furina.
Neuvillette nodded.
"Indeed. With this, the common people should immediately understand what it implies."
"As such, this title shall now be granted to him effectively."
And that is how Isaac, unbeknownst to him, was knighted.
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