"Emma, just Emma." Emma looked at Benjamin, who was stuffed into his coat and felt uncomfortable all over. She was surprised and asked, "Benjamin?"
Amanda was a little confused, "Do you know Grande's brother?"
The brief silence made the atmosphere a little awkward. Zach smiled and pointed at Benjamin, "It's Benjamin, because you should have heard your friend talk about General Lance's son, James Lance."
Amanda recalled a time when Benjamin said they had served together, "Oh, you were comrades in arms."
"Actually." Zach smiled awkwardly and turned to Emma in particular, "That's a lie." He looked at Benjamin with a teasing smile, "Even though my brother looks very young, Benjamin, he and Detective Lance are The age difference is still very far.”
"Brother?" The surprise on Emma's face disappeared until only confusion remained.
Amanda noticed that Benjamin's skin seemed much smoother and younger. But she didn't care much about this. What she cared about now was the woman holding Zach's arm with a happy smile on her face. Amanda pulled her friend and quickly adjusted her mood and walked into the house, "Come in. Emma, at least wait until you have eaten the cake before going back."
Emma nodded, her eyes trailing over Benjamin, a trace of doubt remaining on her face.
Zach looked at Benjamin, who had no expression but his body was moving wildly due to the discomfort of his clothes, and shook his head helplessly.
Remember the identity Q&A that Mrs. Patton did when she hired Grand Home? Consistency is important, especially when you're dealing with police officers among the people you're dealing with.
It was Benjamin who never paid much attention to these issues, and it was also Grande who never had to think about these issues. They could make up countless identities for what they wanted to do, such as becoming a veteran who did not match their age in order to attract the favor of the policewoman. soldier.
Benjamin made a mistake, before the Grand House had so many connections with the outside world. He told a harmless lie. Sooner or later the hole would bite Grande House.
Have you ever calculated Benjamin's age? According to official records, Benjamin, who was thirty-five years old, was discharged from the army at the end of the Twenty-Fifth War and came to Barton City with his half-brother Zachary. This is an identity that Benjamin should always maintain and that can be easily transferred by someone with authority, such as a police officer.
Emma's doubts relieved Zach. Whatever the reason, Emma did not discover Benjamin's original lie, which gave Zach a chance to prevent the loophole from coming back. Fill it up, 'vampire-style'.
Amanda's home is not big, similar to Hayate's home, and it seems very crowded because of the party. Although Amanda emphasized that it was a temporary decision to celebrate, the indoor beams were covered with ribbons and balloons, and some middle-aged men and women had a great time playing with whistles that could be bent and extended.
From the moment Zach entered, there were many eyes paying attention from all directions. Zach even saw familiar faces, the maids at Mrs. Quinn's house. They smiled kindly at Zach. They knew something that Amanda didn't know, which made them encourage Amanda to invite Zach to come.
A middle-aged woman walked up to Zach. Before he could take off his coat, she smiled and took Zach's arm. She glanced at Amanda who left to get food and whispered in Zach's ear, " Thanks."
Zach was a little confused, but kept his smile. Amanda introduced when she came back. "You have met my mother! She said I must invite you..." Amanda's eyes swept over Louise, and she lowered her head not knowing what she was thinking.
Zach nodded in understanding. He didn't know whether it was helplessness or comfort in his heart. He looked into the woman's eyes and said sincerely, "I am honored to be here. You have a very warm home."
"I make all Mrs. Quinn's tea." The woman said with a smile, "I remember you like it stronger."
"That's perfect." Zach nodded with a smile and watched the woman walk to the kitchen. His eyes began to scan the people in the room, and a young man greeted them, he was Laura's driver.
A small gathering? Zach shook his head mentally.
Benjamin finally took off his coat and stretched his relaxed shoulders. What is helpless is that Emma has always stood aside. He looked like he was hesitating to speak.
Zach patted Benjamin on the shoulder and looked at Emma, "Emma, this is not something worth preaching. If you want to know, how about we give Benjamin some space."
The loophole had to be closed, because of Amanda and Emma's friendship, Emma would soon know Benjamin's 'real' identity, even if Zach didn't say it. Then she would start to be curious about the relationship between Benjamin and James, just like now, and then she should let the policewoman ask James? God knows what James would say if he was backed into a corner.
Emma nodded, pursed her lips and walked to the side with Zach.
"Actually, we didn't know Benjamin before he went to find James." Zach said in an awkward and apologetic tone, "Of course we do, he is General Lance's son, but we have never met him." Zach Looking at Emma's expression, "Benjamin, he participated in the war."
Looking at Emma's surprised look, Zach knew that the other party had bitten the bait, "So there are always some, you know." Zach seemed to be struggling to find the words, "Well, complain."
On one side is the famous general, and on the other side is the 'brother' who was a soldier. Zach tries to embody this struggle, and of course, the vampire's performance is perfect.
Emma's eyes became clear. She glanced at Benjamin who had picked up a whistle not far away and was playing with it. She seemed to have thought of something bad.
"He didn't do anything to Detective Lance..." Emma had already realized why every time she mentioned that Benjamin was Detective Lance's friend, Detective Lance always looked helpless and resigned. Now she began to worry about whether she had caused trouble to Detective Lance!
Zach immediately shook his head, "Of course not!" He forced a smile, "He is my brother, I am not covering up for him. He and James get along very well." Zach's perfect performance With a strong look on his face, he frowned hesitantly, "In fact, we cherish our current, um, rapport with James."
Maybe it's because Zack keeps calling Detective Lance by his first name - 'James', or maybe his performance is too perfect. Emma's eyes softened after being surprised and worried. She glanced at Benjamin again, then returned her gaze to Zach's face and thought for a moment, "So Benjamin just wanted to." Emma seemed to be looking for words, too. "Well, relieved. Really?"
"Relief." Zach's eyes drifted into the distance, with the kind of expression that only people who have experienced war can have. "Yes, it is relief. We like James very much, really."
Emma nodded, feeling the feelings that did not belong to her. Inexplicably, when she looked at Benjamin again, there was something in her eyes. It was a stronger feeling than the feeling brought by the lonely veteran. what else can we do? Benjamin is much smoother than before. If the attraction can be quantified, it is now twice as much.
Zach doesn't mind this side effect, in fact, he's happy about it. Because he created a witness for the relationship between Grande and James, it has to be said that it fits the current progress very well. Trust, but not fully accepting yet. (..)