#ronnette

"Of course, of course, go ahead."

"So, I am sure you and, well, everyone here must have known about—" her voice dropped to a low whisper. "—Hughie Bernard's death."

The nurse's furrowed his eyebrows and nodded his head. "From what I know, it's some nasty business."

"I know I know. It's so sad that someone of his reputation and skill like him met a horrible end. I wonder what kind of person he was…After all he was an employee here. Must have been a spectacular person."

"Honestly he wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed," the nurse commented. Then immediately grimaced as he caught his words. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to speak ill of the dead, I mean, he is a respected surgeon—"

"Oh sir do not worry!" Ronnette assured. "This exchange will totally be between us! So you need not feel the need to mince your words!"

"You won't…put my name in your article, would you?"

"Of course not! I promise total anonymity!" As if the article would actually exist.

"Well," the nurse began. "Dr. Bernard wasn't a bad surgeon. He just wasn't nearly as good as people thought. And he could act rather…entitled and arrogant at times…Of all the times I have worked with him, he did not like mistakes. Especially his own."

"So he couldn't take any accountability?" Ronnette observed that he was avoiding mentioning Hughie's scandal with Maeve.

"I suppose you could…say so. Besides we all tried to stay on his good side. He came from a wealthy family after all! And you don't want to be on the bad side of these rich people. I mean just look what happened to…" He paused.

"Maeve Laurent?" Ronnette finished for him. The nurse sighed. "Yes, Dr. Maeve.

"Truthfully, I am shocked that Dr. Maeve was the who finished him off," he shook his head. "She doesn't seem like the killing type at all. She was a sweet and diligent lady. But if anyone in the entirety of Teyvat wanted him dead, it'd probably be her. Dr. Bernard had killed her damn father, after all."

"Well, there is no official confirmation—"

"But it's obvious isn't it? Who else could it be?"

Ronnette hummed absentmindedly. "Who else could it be, indeed..."

"Anyways, if you're looking for more info, then you should ask Emilie from the forensic department," the nurse went on.

"Emilie?" Ronnette asked. She was the renowned perfumer that she had seen occasionally when she had been working under Palais Mermonia.

"Yeah, she was the who was friends with those folks. She'd probably know more."

"Oh, okay. Thank you so much for the information! You've been an enormous help!"

"No problem, young miss!" the nurse pleasantly replied back.

Ronnette hurriedly made her way to the forensic department to look for Emilie. But when she reached she was told that Emilie isn't in today.

"She is working for a case at the moment."

"Ah," Ronnette faltered. "May I ask which one?"

"Dr. Hughie Bernard's murder case."

"There you are," Ronnette smiled at Charlotte as she rapidly approached her.

"I ran here the moment you asked me to meet you at Cafe Lutece for the Bernard's murder case," Charlotte panted, pressing a hand to her chest.

"Safe to say, I definitely have something to share about it," she continued. "Oh wait. Is the secret recorder brooch that I gifted you working fine?"

"Oh this thing?" Ronnette pointed towards the top of her shirt. "Works like a charm. I am certain that I'll be using it a lot on this case! Glad you gave that to me. Now then, tell me everything you know about the case."

"Not so fast Ronnette!" Charlotte comically shook her head. "You told me that you would be going to the Fortress of Meropide right?"

"Once I get a permit, yes."

"Well, there is one thing that I always wanted from there!"

Ronnette raised her eyebrow.

"An interview with the Administrator of the Fortress of Meropide, the Lord Incognito, Duke Wriothesley!" Charlotte exclaimed triumphantly.

"Well I hope you get your interview soon, Lottie," Ronnette said elusively.

"Oh no, no, no. You know exactly why I'm telling you this!"

Ronnette blinked at her.

"Don't be coy! The Duke is infamous for not giving any interviews. And I have been trying so hard to secure one any time I spot him up here. But he refuses every time!" Charlotte sighed. "So you here will help me get one when you go down to the Fortress of Meropide, okay?"

"Lottie, I don't remember a detective's job coming with a side of getting interviews for journalist friends," Ronnette replied.

"Please, please, please!" Charlotte quipped. "Besides, you're pretty persuasive. I am sure you'll convince him! And if you can't then I'll give you a list of questions and you can ask him them subtly."

"Right, like that wouldn't be unethical," Ronnette retorted. "Okay fine, I'll try my best. But now, back to business."

Charlotte clapped her hands in delight. By that time they had taken their seats inside the cafe. Ronnette fidgeted with her brooch as she started, "Alright. So I was strolling around Poisson - around 3: 30 - to cater to my investigative curiosity and was snapping pictures. I mean – Poisson’s the base for the Spina Di Rosula – you never know what might happen there!

    “Anyways, as I was looking through my pictures, I noticed a shadowy figure in them, lurking around the trees. Look!" - Charlotte showed Ronnette the pictures in her kamera roll, and right there was the unmistakable silhouette of a mysterious person creeping in the foliage.

"You're right. But the outline's a bit blurry. Can't tell if that's a man or a woman. It can actually be Maeve herself," Ronnette commented.

"Mhm. And that's not all - I naturally followed the silhouette, but it disappeared instantly. But Ronnette…I-I swear, before it did, I saw their face. I am not joking, I really did see it. But it was in such a flash that I couldn't register it in my mind! They had blond hair though…”

"Hey Charlotte!" came a cheerful voice from behind. Turning around, both Ronnette and Charlotte saw Navia waving jovially. "Oh, and company! Fancy seeing you all here," she said, noticing Ronnette with Charlotte. Behind her was Bethany. Her eyes lit up upon seeing Ronnette.

"Mademoiselle Ronnette! How is the investigation going? I had been meaning to ask you about it," she asked.

"The investigation is still at it's early stages. But I'm getting a good start," Ronnette replied with a stiff smile. How wise would it be to talk about the Bernard case in front of Navia? The Mafia Princess wasn't someone she was acquainted enough with to be trusted and the murder did take place in Poisson…

"What case?" Navia asked.

"Hughie Bernard's murder case, the one I was about to tell you about," Bethany replied. "My best friend unfortunately is the one being convicted for it, but the good Demoiselle here is willing to run a parallel investigation to help uncover more clues."

"What? Hughie Bernard got murdered?" Navia exclaimed, incredulously. "The Bernard Jewelers' son? And of course, I am really sorry for your friend."

"Yeah, it's all over Fontaine!" Charlotte added.

"This is my first time hearing about this, though…"

"No way! Everyone and their mothers know about this case! It literally took place near your base. How do you not know this?"

"Ahh…well…." Navia sheepishly scratched her head. "I suppose, the paperwork lately has been so much, I have barely stepped out. In fact, this is my first walk in Fontaine city in the past three days."

"Oh I get it, paperwork's a bitch," Ronnette chimed in. She noticed Charlotte looking anxious and hesitant - likely because she must be debating whether to continue talking about the silhouette or not.

Should Ronnette continue her to speak? Bethany was her client so she was entitled to the information but Navia?

"Maybe Navia could tell me something about the unidentified figure?" Ronnette mused. "And besides, there is no time for me to waste, I must get intel as soon as possible."

"So what were you saying Lottie? Do you really not remember anything?”

    Charlotte frowned opening her kamera again, trying to recall. “I swear on the Hydro Archon, it's somewhere hidden in the back of my mind, but it feels so empty when I think about it.”

   "So a tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon?"

"Yep! Precisely!"

"Do you ladies recognize this figure?" Ronnette asked Navia and Bethany, and Charlotte angled the kamera towards them.

"That's just a shapeless blob," Bethany remarked, her expression changing ever-so-slightly.

"Yeah, I really have no idea who that is," Navia added.

"And well…couldn't that just be Maeve? How could this help her?" Bethany asked, perplexed.

    Thoughtful silence engulfed all the women for a moment and the smell of roasted coffee drifted between them.

Charlotte spoke up. “I’ll send you copies of the pictures, okay? And while I am at it, I'll try to remember…well, you know what, and maybe try drawing a composite sketch if the memory ever comes around!”

    “Alright!” Ronnette announced conclusively. “I can work with that. Mademoiselle Chavonne, I am sure you have seen for yourself what breakthroughs we've made so far."

Bethany demurely nodded. "Indeed. Though I am hoping the mysterious figure proves to be a useful clue and not a misdirection."

Ronnette stood up. "Well, ladies. I'm afraid I have to leave. I have other matters to tend to. Charlotte, Mademoiselle Chavonne, Navia, see you around."

Charlotte waved while Bethany smiled - and Navia, who had spent the entire conversation staring into her cup of tea, lifted her head up to bid goodbye.

"Oh and Ronnette. Please just call me Bethany," Bethany evenly added.

Neuvilette's brows furrowed ever so slightly. Though his posture remained as composed as always, a trace of weariness lingered in his expression.

"You are the first person in Teyvat to distrust their own Archon!" Furina yelled dramatically.

"Please, Lady Furina. I do not distrust you at all. But understand that I must know what you're doing about the—" he lowered his voice "—prophecy."

"I am telling you! I am running my own investigations on it! Why can't you just trust the process?!"

"Because I must know what exactly the investigations are. The Knave will soon be arriving here and she'll surely question the situation."

On hearing the Knave's name, Furina stiffened. For the briefest moment, the color drained from her face.

"W-Well, I am the highest authority in Fontaine, so I am not obligated to answer to anyone!" she stubbornly replied. "And you, Neuvillette, should also adopt this attitude."

Neuvillette looked as though he was about to say something, but Furina raised a hand before he could utter a single word.

"Now, we shall not discuss this matter again!"

With that declaration, she turned sharply and strode from the room with all the dignity she could muster.

The door slammed shut. Neuvillette closed his eyes for the briefest moment.

"…Very well."

Neuvillette resumed his chore of reviewing legal documents and court records of previous trials. The afternoon was occupied by legal petitions, public complaints, and an unfortunate dispute involving property damages caused by an experimental clockwork meka.

He heard the door creaking open.

"Hey…" said Ronnette softly, peeking her head out from the door. Neuvillette broke into a gentle smile. "Hello, dear."

"Everything alright? Lady Furina was looking pretty heated outside," Ronnette spoke, entering the office.

Neuvillette slowly shook his head. "Don't worry about it. Just a small dispute. We'll work through it. So, how can I help you?"

"I've just been assigned a rather significant case to investigate! The Bernard Case - a very big client asked me for it, you know." She handed her contract with Bethany to him. Neuvillette frowned.

"Mademoiselle Bethany of the Chavonne Family?" he said. "Ronnette—"

"I know," Ronnette interjected. " 'It's the Chavonnes!' 'Ronnette, don't obsess over the past', 'Don't interact with the Chavonnes!' But Neuvillette, this case has nothing to do with the Chavonnes but everything to do with the Bernards! And it's Bethany's friend who is being charged for the murder."

"I am aware. I was there when the lady got arrested."

"Oh, so you've met her? What's the verdict? Think she's innocent or…?"

Neuvillette gently shook his head again. "You know very well that I am morally and legally not allowed to have biases. As the Supreme Judge of Fontaine, it's my obligation to maintain a neutral stance until the Oractrice's decision. Thus, I have no opinions."

"Of course. Iudex Neuvillette, the fairest and the most just - albeit the only judge of Fontaine - can never allow to himself be influenced by otherworldly opinions!" Ronnette declared theatrically. Neuvillette sighed.

"Moving back to the topic, do you really think it's okay for you to accept this case? We both know what the Chavonnes mean to you and—"

"But I won't be dealing with the Chavonnes! And I really, truly have nothing against the Chavonne daughter, my conquest is only against Gabriel Chavonne—"

"I don't want you having any conquests against anyone," Neuvillette countered. "I instead want you to focus on your other goals."

"Which is only possible if you hear me out," Ronnette shot back. Neuvillette sighed once again and folded his arms in resignation. "I would like a notice that allows me access to all the facts and data collected by the Palais Mermonia regarding the current case—"

"Granted."

"—and a permit that allows me to visit and/or stay in the Fortress of Meropide till the trial."

The immediate answer died on Neuvillette's lips.

"Ronnette."

"Neuvillette."

He fixed her with a level stare.

"You're asking for too much."

"I am asking reasonably!"

"What on Teyvat do you need to go to the Fortress of Meropide for?"

"To interrogate the suspect, of course," Ronnette answered matter-of-factly as though her request were the most obvious thing in the world.

"We can always bring the suspect overland when necessary," Neuvillette suggested.

"But that would be inconvenient, no? It would be so much better if I stay in the Fortress and interrogate the suspect when needed instead of the whole back-and-forth nonsense."

"Do you think I don't understand what you're trying to do?"

"And what am I trying to do?" Ronnette asked innocently.

Neuvillette pinched the bridge of his nose.

"You are attempting to use the Bernard case as a pretext," he said.

"A pretext for what?"

"You know exactly what."

Ronnette's smile faltered ever so slightly and the Iudex regarded her quietly. "Your parents' case."

Silence settled between them.

"I," Ronnette began evenly. "am only investigating the Bernard case."

"I doubt that."

"Why?"

"Because" Neuvillette said patiently, "your interest towards the Fortress of Meropide is significantly more than an average investigator's."

Ronnette sighed.

"Neuvillette."

"Ronnette."

Ronnette rubbed the back of her neck and exhaled. "Neuvillette, you're reading far too deeply into this," she remarked.

The Chief Justice raised an eyebrow.

"I am serious," she continued. "I won't deny the Fortress thing but the Bernard case is my top priority right now."

She leaned forward slightly.

"And if the suspect is being held in the Fortress of Meropide, then naturally I'd want direct access to her. The sooner I solve this case, the better, right?"

A pause.

"That's all there is to it," she finished.

Neuvillette studied her for a long moment. Ronnette met his gaze without flinching. Finally, he exhaled. "...Alright, then. I shall grant you the permit."

Ronnette's eyes immediately lit up.

"Really?" she said.

"Yes." He reached for a document and signed it with a few practiced strokes of his pen.

"Neuvillette, you're wonderful!"

"Thank you."

The permit had barely done being signed before Ronnette snatched it up.

"No, thank you!" she beamed, her eyes never leaving the permit and turned for the door. "I can already feel myself being one step closer to the truth!"

A smile lingered on Neuvillette's face for only a moment before fading.

His gaze followed her as she made her way toward the door. A familiar unease settled in his chest.

He knew Ronnette had been trying to search answers for her parents' case, to prove them innocent because she knew they weren't guilty. He could hardly fault her for that.

Yet the deeper one went against the legal truth, the uglier it got. And since that was the path Ronnette was choosing…

Neuvillette glanced down at his desk. Some experiences don't let humans unchanged. Perhaps that was the cruelest aspect of humanity. Their lives were fleeting, yet the wounds they carried could follow them for decades.

Reopening a more than twenty year old case in hopes for a different outcome was such an ambitious objective.

That was why he had done his best, over the years, to keep her away from the matter whenever possible. It was not because he doubted her abilities, nor because he wished to deny her answers.

Rather, it was because she had already suffered enough. The burden of that case was not one she deserved to bear alone.

And he never ever would want a situation where he'd have to go against her.

"Ronnette," he said abruptly.

She paused at the doorway and glanced back.

"Please don't do anything reckless."

She responded with nothing more than a quiet chuckle - a chuckle that did nothing to reassure Neuvillette - and a bright smile before disappearing through the doorway.

Previous: Chapter 3!