A Wish to See Her

"Is not it quite ironic that I sought wealth and ended up losing everything? Well, at least I get to keep everything until they need it. Though, I doubt they would need my cafe, luckily, there is not much worth for the likes of them."

Arnold was smiling, although his eyes were rather pathetic looking. As if the la Avise family forced even this positive demeanour while he spoke about them. Meanwhile, his apprentice, Eugene, was looking past Arnold and, perhaps, the wall as well. His eyes were directed at the abyss, from which he could only see them, Martin and Victoria.

"No wonder the atmosphere at their home was so tense…" he murmured, to which Arnold replied, "It could be even tenser if I did not inform them of your visit beforehand."

"Wait, so you did call them!"

"Of course! As if they would let any stranger inside, even if they are an acquaintance of their daughter."

Eugene shook his head and slammed his palms onto the table, then he eagerly asked, "Anyway, what the hell did they make you do? Did you give away money to them? Or maybe forced you to commit crimes?"

Arnold first raised his brow, but then sighed. He took the empty cups of coffee to the sink and said, "Of course, not. They are definitely not some kind of criminal syndicate. After they moved here, they mostly assigned me some trivial tasks, like mail delivery; request for negotiations with some people, perhaps, with their partners, and organization of some celebrations. "Fire of Prometheus" is one of them, although I already organized it before. I am basically an errand boy, which is quite annoying, considering how little time I have to take care of "Monso Rooster". Luckily, I have you with Jessie."

After hearing out Arnold's explanation, Eugene sat back on the chair and leaned on it, "Then why was Victoria so dramatic about you offering your whole being? I really do not understand them."

"Me neither," giggled Arnold and sat back, "But its better to take their demands seriously. Who knows what are truly capable of."

"It would help, if we knew about the reasons why they are so influential. But I guess, you did not have a chance to learn?"

Arnold shook his head and said, "Their servants did not talk much, and I was not allowed to speak with them. During that month, the most I spoke to was Sylvia."

"Sylvia…"

Eugene was baffled about their manners during his visit of the la Avise household. After hearing out Arnold's story, he was even more disgusted by their demeanour, as if this family was still living in the monarchistic era. Acting like everyone was beneath them, treating their own servants like those were below humans on the hierarchy. Worst of all, however, it seems like Sylvia truly embraced her parent's habits.

"In the end, the apple does not fall far from the apple tree." said Eugene with his eyes directed at the table, he did not even notice how Arnold shook his head, but was able to hear his words, "Do not be too hard on Sylvia. She is indeed the daughter of the la Avise family, but she is nothing like them. Her tongue can be sharp at times, yet she is kind with those she treasures."

Eugene leaned on his chair even further and snorted in distress, "Who do you think she treasures, then?! As I see it, there is no such person."

"Well, if you want to believe it, then I would not force you to engage with her. However, if I were you, I would try to find out."

Arnold stood up once again and slowly moved towards the exit door. Eugene still sat by the table in his thoughts. He tried to remember Sylvia's actions, face and words, whenever they were together. For every pesky word, he found another to irritate her. Those banters they had were not ever one-sided, more so he was able to get under her skin more frequent than she got under his. Despite that, she never quit visiting him at "Monso Rooster" to judge his coffee. Would a person who despises you come to such length for you? Why would she act as if they have something in common? He always hated her narcissistic side, but also could not help, but be impressed by her mind. For every pitfall in her personality, there was always something that kept him engaging with her. It was not something alluring, as if a trap of a carnivorous plant, but rather something trivial like her liking of coffee, respect for Arnold, curiosity about the coin throw and sweet tooth she was embarrassed about.

"In my place, Arnold would try to find out, huh? Perhaps, it is not the worst idea…"

Finally, Eugene stood up and followed Arnold, who was long gone from the kitchen. He tried to open the door wide open, but failed to do so due to something blocking it halfway. After he hit the object, a faint scream was heard along with a light thud, which overtook the attention of everyone present. The police officers were still in the cafe, Arnold was talking with them in a small group. But there was another group that consisted of familiar faces. Jessie, Lawrence, Maurice and Cossette were in a circle, all looking at the man and the one he hit with the door. After Eugene directed his gaze to the left side, he noticed another woman, whose hair is red, on the floor beside her lay an opened book. It was Sophie, the journalist.

"For goodness's sake, be more careful with these doors, ye fat guts!" she hissed while rubbing her forehead.

"Sorry, Shakespeare, did not expect someone to come in."

"We warned you to be careful with that door, there is a reason there are not any tables close by to this door." scolded her Maurice, then Lawrence said, "But you really should be careful with these doors, Eugene. This is not the first time you hit someone with it."

"I apologized already! Besides, why are you all here?"

"I called them while you were chit-chatting with Arnold." said Jessie and Cossette followed, "Anyway, how did your visit of Sylvia went? Did you made up?"

"You have been there for quite a while." added Maurice.

"Even thought that you were killed!" said Lawrence.

Maurice crossed his hands, "You are the one who thought so, Lawrence."

"Considering your story with the butler, I believed it too, you know." quietly said Cossette.

Eugene sighed along with Maurice and finally closed the kitchen door, "They might be devils, but not murderers… Also, did you follow me!?"

The two men turned away as if they did not hear his question, Cossette, though, giggled, making their affair obvious. Then, Eugene turned to Sophie, who was observing her face in a hand mirror. The forehead was a little red, but not too swollen. The wound was destined to heal in an hour or so. Eugene picked up the book from the floor and extended it to Sophie.

"And what are you doing here?"

"Obviously investigating the robbery here. Also, to interview you about the robbery at your house."

"My house? Who told you about that?"

"The old man over there." she said and pointed at Arnold. He noticed Eugene's gaze and slowly nodded, only to return to his talk with the police afterwards.

"When did it happen, Eugene?" suddenly asked Lawrence. Then, Maurice and girls barged into the conversation as well, "How the hell did you manage to become Phantom Cormorant's victim?"

"Was it because of my painting?" wondered Jessie, to which Maurice said, "This is not really yours, though."

"You know what I meant!"

"I more so wonder about the telephone line, Arnold told us that it was cut?" wondered Cossette.

"And I wonder why the hell you kept silent about it!?" followed with her question Jessie.

"Because of what happened here! I just... ugh, give me a minute."

Eugene was taken aback by sudden attention from everyone. He was not very keen on answering all these questions, thus right after Sophie prepared her notebook and a pen, Eugene had to reveal his own wishes.

"Ok, ok, I will tell you everything, but first, I need your help with one matter."

Eugene took a peak at the police, then called everyone outside. Before they left the café, he waved to Arnold, to which the old man just shrugged and shooed them away with his hand. When they all were gathered at a place with no ears to eavesdrop on them, the man revealed his plan.

"Alright, everyone, I need your help to sneak into the "Red Cap". Sylvia will be there, and we need her help to solve the case with this damn Cormorant."