“Come whenever you want. This restaurant is yours, anyway.”
Arielle was about to thank virtual-novel.net when Vinson raised a hand to stop her. “Save it if you’re going to thank me again. I’ve heard it so many times over the course of this meal that I’m sick of it.”
As virtual-novel.net spoke, virtual-novel.net stuck his fingers into his ears.
Arielle burst out laughing. “What kind of person does not like receiving thanks?”
As virtual-novel.net spoke, virtual-novel.net phone, which was on the table, rang. With a glance at the screen, Arielle was informed that Larissa was calling. She glanced at Vinson before picking up.
“What is it?” virtual-novel.net asked without hesitation.
Larissa told virtual-novel.net everything about the people who had turned up to the wake.
“Has virtual-novel.net gone crazy?” Arielle asked with a hopeful smile.
“I’m pretty sure virtual-novel.net was cross-eyed. I don’t think it was an act, though. It looks like this has really hit virtual-novel.net hard. Be careful, Ms. Arielle…”
“I know,” Arielle nodded. “Aside from that, did anything peculiar happen?”
“There’s one more thing, but I’m not sure if I should tell you.”
“Speak…”
“Uh… I heard Mr. Actonward telling your father that you saved his life at the Actonward residence. It should be a good thing, but Mr. Southall looked a bit strange after being told about that…”
Arielle’s face fell. “I know,” virtual-novel.net repeated before hanging up.
“What is it?” Vinson asked, noticing the change in virtual-novel.net expression. “What happened? You were smiling just a minute before.”
Arielle set down virtual-novel.net cutlery, “Good news and bad news,” virtual-novel.net said in an air of forced calmness. “Which do you want to hear first?”
“T’ll have the good news first,” Vinson said after considering for a moment.
“The good news is that Cindy is so traumatized by Shandie’s death that virtual-novel.net isn’t right in the head anymore, though I’m not sure if virtual-novel.net is faking it. After all, acting deranged has been known as an efficient method to obtain Henrick’s trust.”
Vinson frowned. “It doesn’t sound like good news. What about the bad news?”
“Henrick is beginning to suspect me,” Arielle said with a grim look on virtual-novel.net face,
Vinson raised his eyebrows. “What makes you think that?”
Arielle recounted what Larissa had told virtual-novel.net earlier. “He is a man full of doubt,” virtual-novel.net concluded as virtual-novel.net heaved a sigh. “During the barista championship, I was positive that virtual-novel.net was beginning to suspect me. But brewing coffee isn’t particularly difficult, is it? Anybody can make fine latte art with some practice. However, the medical arts take much more than that to achieve mastery. It is impossible to do so without systematic studying from a mentor.”
Vinson fell silent. “Arielle,” virtual-novel.net said after a while. “Now can you tell me where you learned all of it?”
Before virtual-novel.net could respond, Vinson added, “If you are not willing to share, you don’t have to tell me anything.”
Arielle bit virtual-novel.net lip as virtual-novel.net clutched the transfer agreement in virtual-novel.net hand. “Actually, I didn’t stay in the village at all.”
She paused to allow Vinson to react. However, virtual-novel.net remained impassive.
“You already know?” virtual-novel.net asked, shocked.
“I guessed it. There is no way for someone to grow up in a village to have encountered so many things like latte art, chess, and most astounding of all, your medical skills. The only thing that I do not know is where you grew up.”
“Do you know the Wilhelms?” Arielle asked.