Chapter 22
# 22
22. Tea Time with the Count (4)
I met the man's gaze for a moment. Then, when the man held out the Tablecloth he was holding, I finally came to my senses.
"Ah, thank you."
I hesitated and approached to receive the Tablecloth. As I glanced up at the man, our eyes met again. His brown eyes curved into a gentle arc.
"I'm glad."
"Pardon?"
Even in his soft voice, elegance was evident. His eyes, filled with a gentle light, were fixed on me.
I widened my eyes, wondering what he meant. This time, the man smiled, pulling up the corners of his mouth. Just as I felt his gaze lingering on me for a long time, I realized that I could see the man's face too well. And the state of my bangs, which were sticking up.
I was so surprised that I quickly pulled my bangs down. My face flushed with shame.
"I, I'm sorry."
"Why?"
"Because I look like this."
Because I look so ugly. Someone said it was a sin. It's not like I wanted to be born this way, but people judge me and point fingers at me based solely on my face. That's why I used to cover my face, but it was a mistake not to care because Vincent couldn't see.
"You're pretty."
"……."
The wind swept past behind me. I glanced up at the man, wondering if I had heard correctly. He was still looking at me with a gentle gaze. I was flustered by his unwavering gaze.
It was the first time I had heard such words from anyone. Especially from a man. I hesitated, not knowing what to say, when Vincent's voice came from afar.
I was reminded of the existence I had momentarily forgotten. With a start, I turned around. It seemed that the distance between us had widened as I followed the direction the Tablecloth had flown. Vincent was not visible from here. At this moment, that was rather fortunate. He must be walking, groping through the air with his hands. I mustn't show that sight to anyone.
Now that I looked, there was someone in the forest where I thought no one would be. If I had been with Vincent, it would have been a dangerous moment. I was complacent because I thought no one would be in this forest, and he had told me that Vincent wouldn't be here either.
I looked back at the man. He, too, was looking in the direction of the sound. I bowed.
"Thank you."
Then I turned around.
As I quickly walked and folded the Tablecloth, I felt a rough texture. When I took it out, it was a letter. A letter? When I turned it over, golden letters caught my eye. This is……!
I turned back again. But there was no one there.
As if the previous events were a dream, the man had completely disappeared.
After walking a little further, I saw Vincent looking around.
"Master."
"……."
At my call, he stopped abruptly. His hardened face turned towards me.
"I'm sorry I'm late. But there was someone over there."
As I approached him, intending to tell him about the man I had just met, he suddenly reached out, sensing my presence. Then he grabbed my arm tightly. It was a strong grip. Before I could even be surprised, his hand, firmly gripping my arm, pulled me towards him.
In an instant, the distance between us closed. The hardened face before me was stained with anxiety.
"Don't do this."
"Master?"
"Don't ever do this again."
His voice, as if warning me, was trembling. He reached out his other hand towards my face, then quickly lowered it. Instead, he bent down and rested his forehead on my shoulder.
"Don't leave me alone."
"……."
A sigh of relief spread near my ear. The hand that had been gripping my arm slid down and intertwined with mine. His large body pressed against me as if he were embracing me. Golden hair fell over my trembling eyes. The warmth filling my hand was intense.
Anxiety, fear, and the relief that permeated it were all felt vividly.
Only then did I realize that I had made a big mistake.
"I, I'm sorry."
"Let's go back now. I'm tired."
"Yes. Let's go back."
I held his hand tightly, like a lost child, and left the forest. I looked back from time to time, but thankfully, no one was following us.
As we entered the Separate Residence, I saw Isabella rushing towards us from afar. It was an uncharacteristic, hurried movement for her. Isabella, who had been looking around as if searching for something, stopped when she found Vincent and me returning from our outing. She wore a surprised expression for a moment, but quickly feigned composure.
"Master."
"What's all the commotion?"
"That is……."
That's when it happened.
"Vincent!"
It was an unfamiliar voice that interrupted Isabella's words. Moreover, a woman's voice……. At the same time, someone came running from afar. A young woman came quickly, her long dress fluttering. A woman I had never seen before, so beautiful that it was breathtaking.
Who is she? I widened my eyes and examined the woman. Her gaze was directed at Vincent, who was standing behind me. But the woman had a dazed expression for a moment, as if she had seen something she shouldn't have, and then suddenly began to sob.
"Vincent."
At that moment, strength was added to the hand holding mine.
The fingertips that were tightly gripping me trembled slightly. I turned to look at Vincent. His face was hardened with tension. Not knowing why she was acting like this, I looked forward again, and the unfamiliar woman in front of me opened her mouth, still fixing her gaze on Vincent.
"Vincent, is that you? It is, isn't it?"
"……Violet."
I was startled by the low voice coming from behind me. That woman is Violet? That Violet? I stared at her, forgetting all etiquette.
Soon after, Ethan approached her. He looked somehow embarrassed. Then, he found me and waved happily, before slightly lowering his eyes. It seemed he had seen Vincent standing behind me. I glanced back, feeling the trembling that I had felt since earlier.
"Vincent. Really……."
Violet took another step towards us. Her violet eyes, filled with emotion, welled up with tears. The trembling of the hand holding mine intensified. I moved back. It wasn't me who moved, but him who pulled me back.
"I missed you so much…… really, so much……."
"Violet, calm down for now."
Ethan stopped Violet, who kept trying to approach Vincent. She glanced at Ethan, then immediately fixed her gaze on Vincent. In that brief moment of turning her head, her face was filled with desperation, as if she was worried that Vincent might move away, and she tried to get closer to him. Ethan also glanced this way and stopped her. Isabella, who was standing behind the two, also seemed to be wondering what to do about this situation.
The dilemma spread to this side as well.
"Um. Master."
"……."
I called him in a whisper, shaking the hand holding mine once. He was startled, but he gripped my hand even tighter. Still feeling the trembling, I steeled my resolve.
I rolled my eyes up and down once, then left and right once, and then tightly gripped his hand, which was trembling with anxiety.
"Run, Master!"
And then I turned around immediately. The face I saw fleetingly was dyed with embarrassment, but I didn't stop running.
I ran only towards his room. Holding his hand tightly.
The fingers encased in white gloves were long and beautiful. The end of it was smoothly hooked on the round handle of the glass. That unremarkable action of holding the glass and bringing it to her lips was so elegant and beautiful. Her violet eyes, which were gently lowered, and her transparent, long golden hair that matched them, drew attention.
It's like it's made of sugar. Like if you dipped it and put it in your mouth, you would taste a sweet flavor.
She tucked her hair behind her ear and found me standing at the door of the Reception room, and her eyes widened. Her enlarged violet eyes sparkled.
"……Pretty."
"Oh my, thank you."
She smiled shyly. Only then did I realize that I had spoken my thoughts out loud. Embarrassed, I lowered my head and placed the Refreshments I had brought in front of her. Then, my rough hand came into view. My hand, with its protruding knuckles and filled with small scars, looked so unsightly. I quickly curled my fingers to hide them and stood up.
When I glanced up, her violet eyes narrowed and she offered her thanks again.
Her name was Violet Marguerite. Vincent's fiancée.
And this was a sudden visit.
"I apologize for the inadequacy as I was unable to prepare separately."
"It's alright. I came without permission."
She even speaks so beautifully. Are people with beautiful faces also kind-hearted? Then, a pretty face came to mind, and I erased the thought. The prettiest woman I had known up until now was the third, Alicia. Alicia's beauty was so outstanding that the village lord's son had expressed his feelings for her. However, the problem was that her personality was not good.
However, the woman in front of me exuded elegance even when she was still. Is this what they call aristocratic grace?
"I also came without permission, so you don't have to worry about it."
Ethan added, sipping his tea nonchalantly. I was dumbfounded by his behavior, having come back so soon after having just left. Feeling my gaze, he smiled and waved his hand.
"It seems like you're the new person who came recently."
"That is correct."
Isabella gestured to me. I withdrew my gaze from Ethan and bowed.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Paula. ……Please forgive my rudeness from earlier."
"Oh my. No, it's alright. Raise your head."
Despite her words, I bowed even deeper. I heard a flustered voice above my head. Only after hearing her say that it was okay, really okay, repeatedly, did I raise my head again. Then, Violet smiled kindly and said.
"Paula, nice to meet you. I'm Violet Marguerite. You can call me Violet."
If you're the one who attends to Vincent, then you're a person I'm grateful to as well. With that, she met my eyes and smiled brightly. Her smiling face was also so pretty. There are such pretty and kind people in the world.
"And you really don't have to do this. Rather, I was too hasty. It's not Paula's fault."
"That's right. Don't feel too pressured."
A sly voice chimed in from the side. My sharply changed gaze turned slightly towards him. Ethan was also smiling slyly. Because of what had happened up until now, it only looked ominous.
"I've heard a lot about you."
When I looked at Violet again at those words, she was staring intently at me. At that gaze, I unconsciously touched the bangs that were partially covering my face. I was worried that she might have seen my ugly face.
"You're as kind as I've heard."
I correct my previous statement. She was just too good of a person in general.
"Paula, sit down too."
"It's alright. I'll stand."
"Then will you sit next to me?"
Ethan tapped the seat next to him. I frowned. But Isabella gestured again. Meaning to sit down. In the end, I sat down slightly on the edge of the seat next to Ethan.
Ethan leaned towards me and whispered softly.
"It's nice to see you again."
"I can't say the same."
I also whispered softly and then gently pushed him away.
