I feel this will be the last chapter of this story. Don't worry xD. I have another Professor Layton story I want to start. And this chapter may or may not be written differently ... I dunno yet. I kinda wanted it write it as a diary entry ... but I dunno. Anyway I hope you end up likening the final cut. Yay! Btw sorry for the one curse word o.0
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Ilizaveta was always naturally curious. It was her nature. She could remember ... but just barely ... A voice in the back of her head, a rather familiar one, repeating the words. "Damn a woman's idle curiosity." That voice always spoke up whenever Ilizaveta was about to try to calm her curiosity by finding out what was making her so curious. But now she couldn't satisfy that dull throbbing bit of her mind that begged and pleaded for her to read the letter. No ... Professor Layton certainly had made sure she couldn't read it. She could see the flames licking at the bits of paper that were left. All she could make out was "Layton, I think you'll be shocked to find out ..." Then it stopped. How mad it made her! She wrinkled her nose and slowly walked away. What a place for the letter to burn off!
To take her mind of the letter in the fire she preoccupied herself with the cleaning. She could heard out in the dinning room the dull clunk as Luke sat down and got his plate. He must have been feeling better but Ilizaveta made a mental note to keep an eye on him.
The kitchen was a mess from dinner the night before as well as breakfast. So she cleaned her pots. And she cleaned her pans. She put silver wear away and she wiped down the counter. She swept the floor and even put some tea on. She could hear footsteps coming into the kitchen right behind her. Turning on her heel she saw the Professor washing his own breakfast plate. "I'll get that." She said hurrying over to him.
"No Miss Ilizaveta." Professor Layton placed a hand over hers to stop her. "I've got it. You do far to much. Just go check on Luke and make sure his health is up to your standards."
Ilizaveta could feel her cheeks flushing a bright red and she prayed Layton wouldn't notice. She nodded and quickly ran from the room. She could see Luke eating his eggs pretty fast and that alone caused the blush to fade and a laugh to be heard.
"Luke calm down." She said laughing joyfully. "You're eggs aren't running from you."
"How do you know?" Luke asked playfully.
Ilizaveta shook her head laughing still. "Because I cooked the eggs myself Luke. And I don't think I cooked runny eggs."
Luke laughed. "I don't know ..." He started eying his eggs closely. "I think they may try to make a break for it any minute now."
Ilizaveta pinched his cheek lightly and then felt his forehead. "You aren't running a fever. How do you feel?"
She could see Luke was taken off guard by her serious question. "I feel fine Veta." He replied using his very own personal pet name for her. "I think I was just really tired this morning. All night there was a banging outside. Did you hear it?"
Ilizaveta looked thoughtful for a moment then nodded. "Yes I think I remember hearing it now. It kept me up for a little while." She looked down at the boy. "Did it keep you up?"
"Yes. For a terribly long time to." Luke looked up at her his normally wide eyes droopy.
"Don't worry. I'll let you nap later. Now eat up. I think you have to go see the barber today."
Luke nodded and finished his meal. Ilizaveta took his plate from him and walked back into the kitchen. It shocked her a little to see Layton still cleaning up a little.
"Professor don't. I can handle it. Its my job." She said tapping her foot.
Layton laughed a bit. "My dear it isn't polite to let a lady do all the work."
Ilizaveta sighed. "Alright Professor you can help ... But just a little!"
"Deal." He replied smiling.
She watched him clean and it was interesting. He always went back over his work as though he wasn't sure he had done it right. Then he would examine whatever he had cleaned before putting it away with the greatest of care. It was as though he was afraid he would get in trouble if a plate fell or if something turned out not to be clean.
As the two of them began work of a rather large pot the door bell rang. It was probably the post man and they could hear Luke jump up and run to the door to answer it.
"I wonder what Mr. Cane has for us today." Layton wondered out loud.
"Probably just a letter." Ilizaveta replied as she reached down deeper into the pot. "Why don't you go see. I can handle this."
He nodded and left. Ilizaveta couldn't help but laugh as he walked out. His hands were dripping wet and they made a kind of trail on the floor to the dinning room.
She flipped her hair back and continued her work slowly her curious mind drawing its way to whatever Layton had gotten in the mail. What could it be? A letter from whoever sent the other? Would Layton throw it into the fire again if it was? Or would it be something about a case? Ilizaveta's mind raced with possibilities. She wanted to know. She had to know. Wiping her hands on her apron she left the kitchen and entered the dinning room. "They must still be in the foyer ..." She said to herself. Making her way down the narrow hall towards the foyer she felt her curiosity eating at her deep down inside. She could see the two standing at the door. Luke was looking up at a letter Layton held in his hands with a look Ilizaveta knew. Curiosity ...
"What is it Professor?" Luke asked standing on tippy toe to try to see the letter.
"You'll find out in time Luke." Layton replied pocketing the letter. "Now go back yourself a bag. We have to leave in a matter of hours my boy."
Ilizaveta felt her heart drop. They were leaving again. Another person required the help of the famous Professor Layton. Ilizaveta's head dropped down and she sighed. "Shall I get the Laytonmobile ready Professor?" She asked. The sadness was in her voice. The sadness no one liked to hear.
"It will be okay Miss Ilizaveta. We will both return soon. Just ... do me one favor okay?' Layton looked at her.
She looked up and nodded. "Yes Professor?"
"Stay safe." He said simply. "That letter earlier has me worried about you. I would take you with us on this journey but I do not know what kind of accommodations we will have or even if we will have any. Just please ... stay safe."
Ilizaveta felt her cheeks flush again. He was worried about her! "Of course Professor. I will stay my safest."
He nodded quietly and she smiled at him. Yes ... He was quite the gentleman after all ...
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Yay for the end of the story! If you haven't guessed they are going to solve the Mystery of the Golden Apple now. And my next story will take place after that so Flora will be involved. Yay! I hope to have chapter one up soon. Anyway Bye!
