Chapter 21
21
- Tea Time with the Count (3)
She was shorter and more petite than girls her age. Her chest-length hair was dry and rough, and her sun-tanned skin was dark. Her hair was a dull, dark brown. Her eyes, the same brown as her hair, were large but slanted upwards, giving them a sharp look, and her small, freckled nose was upturned. Her lips were small and chapped, often bleeding.
An ugly dwarf.
That's what the boys my age used to call me.
In contrast to me, the third Alicia was a beauty from a young age. She was about the same height as me, but her body was moderately voluptuous, and her breasts were large. Her light brown hair, which reached her waist, was glossy thanks to constant care. She avoided going outside when the sun was strong, so her skin was fair, and her eyes were large, her nose was high, and her lips were full, making her captivating enough to enchant anyone with just a slight smile.
Even I thought she was beautiful. So beautiful that rumors spread beyond the village. The village lord's son fell in love with Alicia and proposed to her. No, most men had a crush on Alicia. Thanks to that, even her bad temper was considered charming.
At the same time, I was also a topic of conversation. The beautiful Alicia's sister was an object of curiosity. If the younger sister is like that, how much more beautiful must the older sister be? So, many people who saw Alicia came looking for me. However, the gazes that sparkled with anticipation soon turned to disappointment when they saw my face. Some people openly frowned or even cursed. I was used to hearing the question of whether we were really sisters.
He was silent for a moment. He seemed to be imagining the maid who had dared to be insolent to him.
Would you despise me if you saw me? Would you be reluctant to keep me by your side because I'm ugly and unattractive? Just like other people did to me. Maybe it's fortunate for him that he can't see right now. Because he doesn't have to see this ugly face directly.
If, by some miracle, Vincent could see me, I wouldn't want to show him my face.
I don't want to be hurt. It started with just a voice, and this lie came out by accident, but it wouldn't be so bad if he continued to misunderstand. It would be really nice if even just one person in my life remembered me as beautiful.
"You must be a beauty. I can't imagine it, though."
"I hear that often."
I smiled bitterly as I said that.
"You said you were plain-looking just now."
"I was just being polite."
"How conceited."
He shook his head and let go of the hair he had been touching. He seemed to have satisfied his curiosity. I was glad he couldn't see the tips of my fingers trembling as I held the book.
"You're handsome too, Master."
"I know."
"Ah, that's a bit much."
When I blurted out my honest thoughts, he slightly raised the corner of his lips. His slightly curved emerald eyes were filled with amusement. So... he does smile.
"You'll be easy to find."
I wonder, is that really so? I'm different from the woman in your head right now.
"Is that so?"
"Yes. I can just ask them to bring me the smallest person here."
That was unexpected. The smallest person...
"I'm not that small."
"You are."
"You're just tall, Master."
"You're so small, I could use you as a walking stick."
"I'm not that small!"
He laughed again when I said it sulkily. His relaxed face was overflowing with joy. I had only ever seen him with a stiff or terrified expression, so seeing him smile like that made me feel really good. My mood improved along with his. Before I knew it, I was smiling along with him.
"You're really mean."
"Can you blame me?"
It was like we were having a competition to see who was meaner.
"More than that, it's very windy."
"Don't change the subject."
"Ah, I understand. Think whatever you want."
I declared my surrender and aimlessly shuffled my feet. The wind blew with a whoosh. I heard a ticklish laugh carried on the wind.
"It's still chilly, so tell me if you get cold."
"I'm fine with this much."
He took a sip of his tea and turned his head. I buried my gaze back in the book. I was going to continue reading where I had left off.
"I feel like going for a walk."
It was a casual remark. I looked up at him again. Vincent was still looking off to the side. The wind tousled his hair. He wasn't focused on reading today. It wasn't just because of the wind. And that was the same for me.
"Then shall we take a walk?"
"What?"
I put the book down on the table and stood up. Then I grabbed his arm, which was flailing in surprise.
"Let's do it. A walk."
The forest was quiet. As expected, there was no one there. It was located behind the Separate Residence, so it wasn't very deep, but it was a natural, untouched landscape. Fortunately, there was a path, making it easy to take a light stroll. Walking amidst the sounds of birds chirping and leaves rustling felt like an adventure.
"The weather is really nice."
"It is."
He held my hand tightly and followed me, one step behind. It was a little awkward to be walking hand-in-hand with a grown man, but it felt like I was out for a walk with my younger sibling.
"Tell me if you get tired. I'll give you a piggyback ride."
"I told you before, I didn't injure my legs."
"Still."
He had been confined to his room for a long time, so his physical strength was greatly reduced. So, I held his hand and walked slowly. After the incident with Ethan last time, he started to come out of his room. Of course, he was still cooped up inside, but it was a good change compared to when he only stayed in bed.
The wind blew with a whoosh. I tilted my head back, enjoying the pleasant sensation. The hair that had been covering my face was blown away by the wind, and I felt a cool breeze on my skin. Vincent's golden hair also fluttered in the wind. The sound of crunching through the forest was pleasantly resonant.
"It might be nice to come out like this sometimes."
"No."
"Why?"
"It would be troublesome if we ran into someone."
That's true. I couldn't sense anyone, but I kept my senses sharp and looked around just in case.
"There's no one here, but I'll let you know right away if someone comes."
"There won't be anyone."
"Is that so?"
"I used to come here often when I was young. With Ethan and Violet."
"I... I've been wondering since before. Who is Violet?"
Ethan too, and the letters too, it didn't seem like a simple relationship, so I was curious. He seemed to be in a good mood now, so I thought this was a good opportunity to ask.
"My fiancée."
"Your fiancée?!"
I was a little surprised, but considering his age, it would have been stranger if he didn't have one. I had heard that nobles arranged engagements from a young age. I remembered Alicia scoffing at the lord's son who declared that he would abandon his fiancée and choose her. Alicia didn't like the lord's son because he was ugly, but he mistakenly thought that she was rejecting him because he had a fiancée.
So, they must be in love. That's why she sent him those letters. She was worried about him. If that was the case, then the carefully written letters made sense.
"She must love you very much, Master."
"It's not like that."
I was somewhat touched, but he firmly cut off that emotion. I glanced at him.
"It's not?"
"No. So, if she comes to the mansion, send her back."
"Why? She's your fiancée."
"She doesn't know I've gone blind."
Ah... I had heard that he was hiding it, but I didn't expect him to hide it even from his fiancée.
"If my fiancée finds out that I've become a blind cripple, she'll want to break off the engagement."
"Surely not."
"I don't know what you're thinking, but she and I didn't get engaged because we loved each other. It was an engagement arranged for the benefit of our families. So, if one side becomes useless, it's only natural that the engagement is called off."
"......"
"I can't hide it forever, but it's best to delay it as much as possible."
Ethan from before, and this person too, everyone is trying to put a purpose into their relationships. The lives of nobles aren't simple either, I thought.
"I'll keep that in mind."
I nodded and replied. Still, I was curious. His fiancée. What does she look like? Somehow, I imagined a face as beautiful as a flower.
"And you don't have to do this."
"What do you mean?"
"You're doing this because of what I said last time, aren't you? You don't have to comfort me."
"...No, I'm not."
My answer was delayed because he pointed it out so directly. I changed the subject, but it didn't work on him.
In fact, after that shocking confession, the atmosphere between him and me had become a little subdued. I somehow started to be conscious of him, and he became even more silent. We weren't exactly having frivolous conversations to begin with, but the atmosphere was damp and heavy.
So, I wanted to cheer him up, but he easily saw through my intentions.
"You don't have to lie."
"I'm really not."
"I'll believe you if you say so."
Just pretend you don't know.
I pretended not to hear and focused on the walk. He didn't say anything more either. The chirping of birds echoed in the quiet forest. The sound made my heart feel peaceful.
Then, suddenly, a strong wind blew. The Tablecloth I was holding in my hand fluttered away in the wind.
"Ah! Master, just a moment!"
I put down the basket that was hanging on my wrist and let go of his hand. I could feel him moving behind me in confusion. I shouted for him to wait a moment and followed the flying Tablecloth. I thought I would be able to catch it easily, but it narrowly eluded me whenever I tried to grab it, and it flew away just as I was about to reach it. As a result, I ended up going deeper into the bushes.
The Tablecloth that had been fluttering away finally stopped after hitting a tree. I thought this was my chance and hurriedly ran to grab it.
That was the moment. Before my hand could reach it, a large hand suddenly appeared from somewhere and picked up the Tablecloth.
Someone was in the forest.
I hadn't sensed anyone at all, but a strange man was standing in front of me. I paused, startled by the sudden appearance of the stranger. Brown hair fluttered in the wind. The man had his back to me, so I couldn't see his face.
Who is he? Is he a servant here? But I've never seen him before. Of course, there were many people employed here, and I had only seen a handful of them. Even so, the man in front of me didn't seem like a servant. The man's attire and the atmosphere he exuded were elegant.
I looked over his back with a puzzled expression, and soon the man turned around to face me. The man's face that was revealed was young. And as expected, he was someone I had never seen before.
