Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Professor Layton franchise.
Chapter 25 Rehabilitating
The professor and Emmy returned to the palace not long after, much to the relief of Luke and the princess. Luke had been pacing in the front hallway, scared that Emmy was going to return alone. When they walked in together, he quickly ran up and embraced the professor. The professor was surprised by the sudden act of affection, but felt relieved nonetheless. The boy was done with ignoring him.
''Professor...can we talk?'' Luke asked while hanging back from his hug.
''Yes. Let's.'' the professor answered.
Emmy let the two be and walked further inside to join the princess in the dining area.
''So...I guess Emmy convinced you to stay. That's surprising.'' Luke said with an awkward chuckle.
They had started to wander through the palace together for a walk and talk. It felt nice to finally be able to properly talk to each other again.
''Yes. She mentioned something about a gentleman never abandoning a lady in need. Wonder where she got that from.''
The professor had already forgiven the boy for everything. A fight between them was the last thing he needed.
''I'm sorry professor. For being such a jerk to you.'' Luke sighed.
''Forgive and forget my boy. No need to worry. Although...I would like to explain to you why I reacted the way I did.''
''Alright. I'm all ears.''
''It wasn't fair of me to just make a decision like that one my own.''
''You mean going back to London?''
''Yes exactly. I should have talked to you about it. Emmy...and everything surrounding Emmy has become a bit of a sensitive topic for me.''
''Yeah I can imagine. Being in love with her and all.'' Luke casually shrugged.
The professor stopped in his tracks and felt his cheeks heat up.
''W...what?''
''You know, because being in love with her is kind of impossible if she forgets everything about you.''
Luke turned around and laughed at his mentor's shocked face.
Oh right...I forgot I should have kept my mouth shut about that.
''Don't tell me you still haven't noticed?'' he continued.
''Noticed? What?''
The professor was utterly dumbfounded.
''Professor...you can't be serious right? The way you interact and look at her, I thought it was obvious. You literally became sick because your feelings surrounding her became to much to bear.''
''But, that just means I care for Emmy. You know. You care for her in that way as well, right?''
''Oh no. Of course I care for Emmy, but as a friend and perhaps a sibling, but in no way the same as how you care for her professor.''
Figurative lighting struck the professor's head. He could not comprehend the words that were coming out of Luke's mouth.
In love with her? She is my assistant. No wait, previous assistant. And friend. Yes, a good friend. Emmy is one of my closest friends. I just feel this way because she forgot about everyone. Not just me. Luke as well. And the princess. And...and…
His thoughts were all over the place.
''Let's just forget about it for now.'' Luke laughed awkwardly.
It might have been a mistake to put this on the professor at the moment.
''I'm glad you came back though. Those relics seem pretty interesting. Archeologically speaking.'' Luke continued.
Let's change the topic.
''Er...yes certainly.''
They continued walking through the hallway.
''From what we have concluded so far, we know little to nothing about the artifacts. We need to do more research. I propose an audience with the king. Since he seems to know the most about the necklace. That might be a good start.'' The professor proposed.
''I also thought it might be an idea to look through Emmy's things. She might have some research with her that she found before. You know, what she told us about in the cave.''
''Clever thinking. Although we do need Emmy's permission for that one. Going through a lady's possessions without her permission is no way for a gentleman to act.''
''Sounds like a plan!'' Luke chuckled.
''Emmy!'' the princess exclaimed surprised when she entered the dining hall. ''Are you alone? Where is Layton Ustaaz?''
''He is with Luke. They're talking about stuff.''
''Oh thank Thoth.'' the princess sighed.
''I was able to hire him for my case.'' she smiled half-heartedly.
''That's great! Right?''
''Yeah...it's just…''
''What is wrong?''
The princess sat down on the couch, close to the window and patted the spot next to her. Emmy joined her and started fumbling with her pants.
''What if I am making a mistake? You know...with remembering.''
The princess's eyes softened as she placed her hand on the girl's shoulder.
''Believe me. There is something that will make this all worth it.''
''Oh?''
''I can't tell you. You will have to find out yourself.''
''All...right.''
Emmy was truly unsure what to do, but she decided to trust the princess for now. The professor and Luke returned not much later with their plans. Emmy thankfully agreed to search her things and the princess immediately went to look for her father for the audience. The team was formed and the first steps were taken.
''So, you want to just look through my bags...or?'' Emmy asked.
The professor and Luke walked into Emmy's room to see if she had hidden away any clues. Although the current Emmy wouldn't remember, the old Emmy would have probably been clever enough to hide her stash.
''If you don't mind us looking my dear.'' the professor answered.
''No! No, go ahead. I have nothing to hide. Well...I think.''
Luke broke away from the group and started looking in her closet. The professor still felt reluctant to search through the lady's belongings and opted to take a look at her balcony.
''Hm, Emmy, have you looked through your things yourself?'' Luke asked while wading through her shirts.
''I did last night. I wondered if there was anything that could help me remember. I also just wanted to know what kind of person I used to be.''
''Oh, what did you discover?''
''I apparently like taking pictures. I found this pretty expensive looking camera with a few pictures.''
''Can I see them?''
''The pictures? Sure, I put them on the bedside table.'' Emmy said while pointing over to the items in question.
Luke nodded, walked over and picked up a small bundle of pictures. The pictures showed different sceneries around the world where Emmy had visited. The final few pictures were of Nemhat.
''I forgot how good you are at this.'' Luke mumbled.
''Really? Thanks I guess. I'm not sure if I still am though.''
Luke flipped over the next few pictures that continued to show scenery. He expected the same pattern in the last three pictures, but was surprised to find different settings. The third to last picture showed a sweet shot of their night during the celebration. In the photo, Luke and the king shared a big laugh while the princess pushed another glass of wine into her father's hand with a grin. Luke smiled fondly at the memory. Emmy had sauntered over to see his reactions up close.
''Looks like a fun night.'' she sighed.
''It was. You had a lot of fun as well.''
''I did?''
''Yeah. You danced almost the entire evening. We also danced together for a bit, but you wanted to pull the professor onto the dancefloor more.'' Luke chuckled.
Emmy glanced over to the man on the balcony with a faint blush.
''Luke...were the professor and I...you know.''
''Well...I wouldn't know to be honest.''
He knew he shouldn't stir the pot any further, even if he really wanted to. He flipped over the next picture, which showed Emmy and the princess smiling wide. Emmy had turned the camera to selfie mode and thrown up a peace sign. The princess looked happy in the background.
''We look like good friends.'' Emmy smiled.
''You are. You haven't known each other for long, but I can tell you can really get along. Even with everything that has happened.''
''A lot of things happened huh…''
Luke looked over at Emmy, who had a hint of sadness in her eyes.
''I have a feeling I have caused a lot of pain Luke.''
''I uh...I don't know.'' Luke murmured.
He didn't know if it was up to him to tell her everything. He flipped over to the last picture.
''This was also a reason why I asked you about the professor.'' she whispered.
The last picture showed professor Layton in full shot. From the background, Luke could tell it was taken in the desert at the moment they were investigating the gate for the first time. The professor had his fingers tugged around the brim of his tophat and the other hand on his hip. He had turned slightly to look in the camera with a charming smile.
''It looks...like I have been holding this picture a lot.''
Luke looked at the edges of the picture and saw what she was talking about. Compared to the others, this one was wrinkled and smudged on the sides. The left side corner on the bottom even appeared to have a tear stain on it.
''I...I…'' Luke started.
''I found something!''
Emmy and Luke both turned to the balcony where the professor had been searching this entire time. Luke quickly put the picture in his pocket and placed the others back onto the table. They rushed outside to find whatever the professor was shouting about. The professor was actually halfway through to falling over the railing of the balcony.
''Professor!'' the pair shouted in panic.
They both quickly grabbed his waist and started pulling the good man back onto his feet, when he suddenly shouted to them to stop.
''I almost have it!''
Luke and Emmy looked at each other confused and released his waist.
''Be careful okay!'' Luke yelled.
The professor moved forward just a little more, almost completely falling off to the terror of his companions, but moved back after a triumphant ''Hah!''.
''Jeez professor, don't ever do that again.'' Luke said sternly to the older man.
The professor chuckled and apologized. He waved a few pieces of paper in front of their faces with a thumbs up.
''The research we were looking for.''
''Wait, what was it doing there?'' Luke asked.
''I believe Emmy tried to dispose of them before we departed for the cave. She threw them over the balcony after looking over them one final time, but then didn't bother to check if they had actually flown away. The papers got stuck onto a tree branch. Lucky for us.''
''I suppose that means I'm a rash kind of person?'' Emmy chuckled.
''Yes, you are.'' both Luke and the professor answered.
They all laughed for a moment, before retreating back inside to see what the research actually revealed.
''My word…'' the professor mumbled.
''What? What does it say professor?'' Luke asked impatiently.
''It shows information about the creation of the relics. The second page is specifically about the ring. According to this paragraph, the true location of the ring was lost and only the royal family of Nemhat knew about it. This is why we had to ask the princess to guide us to the cave. Emmy didn't know about its true location.''
''What are those strange phrases?'' Emmy asked while pointing to another part of the paper.
''From what we have heard, they are the key phrases you needed to open the final door to the ring and to unlock it from its encasing.''
''I wish it said where she found these. We could have gone there to see if we could find more information.''
''This is true Luke. If only we could…''
''So, what now?'' Emmy asked.
''We should talk to the king. If anyone knows anything about the necklace, it's him.'' the professor answered.
''How will the necklace help us relief the ring's effect?'' Luke asked.
''The three relics seem to be connected in a few ways. It might be possible that the way to get rid of the ring is the same way to get rid of the necklace's effect.'' the professor explained. ''Although that's just a feeling I have.''
''Your famous intuition again, ey professor.'' Luke nudged his mentor.
''It's famous?'' Emmy asked with a giggle.
''No...it's...never mind.'' the professor sighed, causing the other two to laugh.
That Thoth guy seems to really like jewelry huh.