As Fisher and Trandell were chatting, Martha comfortably sat in a deck chair downstairs, listening to the beautiful singing coming from the radio.
Lady Martha preferred Nali’s classical music, especially when cooking or knitting. Without music, even her movements seemed to slow down, a habit she had developed when she was young.
Martha closed her eyes, enjoying swaying her deck chair to the rhythm of the radio. Just as she started feeling drowsy and wanted to take a nap, a faint knocking sounded at the door.
But the sound was really too soft. It wasn’t until several knocks later that Martha finally realized and sat up, looking in the direction of the door.
Who could it be at this hour?
Another friend of Fisher’s?
Martha picked up the blanket that lay on her and slowly walked to the door. Opening it, she saw a pink-haired girl in a little dress standing pertly outside.
The girl looked quite adorable but seemed very anxious at that moment. She bit her lip, her eyes reddened, her chubby little face soft and pretty, just like cotton candy, as if she was about to burst into tears any second.
When Lady Martha inside pushed open the door, the girl startled her. Clutching her dress carefully, she opened her mouth but didn’t speak, seemingly struggling to find the words.
Martha’s heart melted at the girl’s cute and reserved manner. She loved children dearly, and every time she saw others of this age, she would imagine they were her own deceased sons’ children or Fisher’s...
"Oh, poor dear, what are you doing here? Are you lost or looking for someone?"
"I... My name is Lingna. I’m looking for Fisher... My mother sent me to find him."
Your mother sent you to find him?
Lady Martha opened her mouth, took a careful look at the girl’s hair and appearance, and then became even more shocked.
Something was off, way off. This girl didn’t resemble Renie nor any other lady she had met before. So whose daughter was she with Fisher?
Of course, this was just Lady Martha’s suspicion. She dared not confirm it and decided to take Lingna into the room first.
"Oh, heavens, wait a moment. Come in. I need to ask that young fellow if perhaps many years ago, after a night of heavy drinking, he did something foolish... It’s possible for a young man to act recklessly; a neighbor of mine did just that back in the day..."
Lady Martha led the little Lingna into the room, murmuring some incomprehensible words under her breath.
When they reached the staircase, she called Fisher’s name.
"There’s a little girl here; her mother sent her to find you! Come and see if she looks like you..."
When the gentlemen upstairs opened the door and emerged, slightly tipsy, Fisher and Trandell were quickly drawn to the little girl beside Lady Martha.
Seeing the girl, Fisher exclaimed in surprise; she now looked completely human, without the organs of a crab she had before, likely still under the blessing of Ramasitia.
When Lingna saw Fisher, the tension at her lips slowly turned to grievance, her eyes brimming with increasing tears, about to fall. She hurriedly ran crying from Martha’s side towards Fisher,
"Fisher... sniffle, Daddy.. Daddy.. he.."
Her words were indistinct, and Fisher, slightly taken aback, allowed her to hurl herself into his arms. Lingna clutched his suit and buried her head deep into his chest, then looked up at him pitifully, trying to say something but unable to speak through her tears.
Martha and Trandell watched Fisher in utter astonishment, as he hugged the tiny Lingna to his chest and explained to them,
"This is a friend’s child. There might be some trouble at her home, which is why she came looking for me... I’ll discuss your matter with Elizabeth later; you go back and wait for news."
The latter half of the sentence was addressed to Trandell; their conversation was almost over, and Fisher would talk to Elizabeth about it when she returned.
"...If you don’t explain, we probably won’t dare to ask for your help anymore because Princess Elizabeth will tear you to pieces over this ’illegitimate daughter’ before you even have a chance to speak."
Trandell made a joke, looking at the tiny Lingna leaning on Fisher’s shoulder. She was undeniably adorable but now wouldn’t stop crying, eliciting immense sympathy.
"Don’t worry, but I still need your help following up on some clues in that letter. Let me know about any developments... especially concerning Prince Dexter."
"Alright, I’ll ask the party leader to keep an eye out. To do such a small favor and get your help in return, they’d probably wake up laughing in their sleep... Lady Martha, I must take my leave now."
Trandell prepared to leave and bid farewell to Lady Martha. She, being advanced in age, took a few seconds to realize the child wasn’t Fisher’s and then bid Trandell goodbye.