Chapter 26
# 26
26. Tea Time with the Count (8)
Vincent narrowed his brow as I suddenly let go of his hand.
“What’s wrong?”
“……”
“Hey.”
When I still didn’t answer, Vincent reached out. It was a habit of his when he couldn’t see. Feeling around to survey his surroundings. Even now, his hand, reaching into the air, stirred around, searching for something to touch.
See, he can’t see.
Only then did I finally let out a sigh of relief.
“Ah, no. It’s nothing.”
I shook my head, trying to calm my tense heart. Then, I subtly waved my hand in front of his eyes. His blank pupils didn’t even flicker.
I was overthinking things. The thought that he could see.
“But why did you suddenly go silent?”
“Just… I was checking if your face was facing the right direction. Ah, it’s good now. I think you can look like this.”
I went back to the opposite sofa and sat down. I massaged my chest, which had been so tight. Then, feeling a stinging sensation, I turned my head to see Ethan staring intently at me. When I met his gaze, asking what was wrong, he grinned mischievously.
“Vincent is quite handsome, isn’t he?”
“What are you talking about all of a sudden? More importantly, how are you feeling?”
“Perfect. Ah, just refrain from groping around with your hands like you did just now. It’ll look strange.”
“Hmm.”
He looked down at his hand. That was a habit from when he could see. Then, he lowered his hand to feel around on the table before picking up the teacup. He seemed to be practicing to see if it looked natural in his current state.
“Relax your expression. And your posture is too stiff. Just relax.”
“How?”
“Just sit like you normally do.”
He was silent for a moment, as if contemplating what sitting normally meant. Then, Ethan added his opinion, telling him to cross his legs. Vincent hesitated before crossing his legs. When Ethan commented that he still looked stiff, he leaned back against the sofa. Only then did he seem to have achieved a more relaxed posture.
“Then, Vincent. Shall we have the maid talk to you for a moment?”
“What?”
“Pardon?”
Vincent raised his head. I turned back to Ethan.
“Conversation requires practice too.”
With that, Ethan patted my shoulder and looked at Vincent.
“Now, Vincent. Pretend the maid is Violet, and have a conversation.”
“What kind of conversation?”
“Anything. Even talk about the weather.”
Ethan sat down next to me. Vincent frowned at the sudden request. I looked back and forth between the two of them, flustered.
“Or should the maid start? Alright, maid.”
“Yes? Yes?”
“Relax. Pretend you’re Violet, and talk to Vincent.”
No, what should I say first?
I racked my brain. Next to me, Ethan repeated, ‘Pretend you’re Violet.’ What was Violet like? What kind of person was Violet? Imagining her sugar-white, pretty face, I parted my lips.
“Wh-what happened all this time? Why wouldn’t you see me?”
“Violet wouldn’t say it like that.”
Too stiff. The criticism came immediately. Embarrassed, I cleared my throat.
“Vincent.”
“Awkward.”
“V-Vincent.”
“Don’t stutter.”
“Vinnnncent―”
“What. What is it.”
When I imitated a sweet and cute voice as if coated in honey, Vincent scowled. He looked as if he’d heard something he shouldn’t have.
“Reeeeally. What happened? Huhuhuuh?”
“Disgusting. Stop it.”
He was truly horrified and put the cup down as if he were throwing it. It might break. This time, I frowned and looked down at the cup. It wobbled a bit, but thankfully, it was intact.
I placed it back in its designated spot and sat down again.
“Please think of me as Violet.”
“How can I when it’s so weird?”
“Is it weird?”
“It’s weird.”
How cold.
“Still, please think of me as her. You need to practice now so that you can speak to Violet naturally later. Imagine it like when you read books, imagine.”
“……”
Alright, quickly. I shamelessly urged Vincent. Then, he sighed and parted his lips.
“It’s been a while.”
He started calmly. I answered immediately.
“Vincent. Reeeeally.”
“……Just be stiff instead. I feel like I’m going to throw up.”
“Really, why wouldn’t you see me? Do you know how worried I was? What happened all this time? Huh?”
When I corrected my voice and spoke stiffly, he took a breath again. I could hear him muttering, ‘Violet, Violet,’ as if he were hypnotizing himself. Was it that bad? I blamed myself for my terrible acting skills, but Ethan was clutching his stomach next to me, on the verge of passing out. His laughing face was close to a crying one.
“I’m sorry. As you know, I’ve been a little out of it. There were some dangerous things too. So… I was very on edge. I didn’t want to see you in that state in case I said something bad. I was also worried that you would be in danger because I’m not safe yet. I was planning to see you when my safety was guaranteed and I felt better.”
“Then why didn’t you reply to my letters? If it was because you were worried I’d be in danger, you could have at least replied to my letters.”
“I didn’t think that far. I’m sorry.”
“I was worried about you. But there were no replies, and you wouldn’t even show your face when I came to see you. I was worried that you might have started to dislike me.”
“There’s no way that could happen.”
The conversation flowed more smoothly than expected. I thought about the questions Violet would ask and threw them out, and he answered them right away. I couldn’t tell if he had thought about them beforehand or if they were truly impromptu, but the conversation was seamless.
“I’m sorry for making you worry. It’s really not because I dislike you. Don’t misunderstand.”
“Are you okay now?”
“Yeah, I’m much better. The reason I said I was still recuperating was to clear my head, so don’t worry too much.”
Was this enough? The conversation had gone quite well, and throughout the conversation, he had looked straight ahead and hadn’t moved as I had taught him. Thinking that our eyes were meeting, it certainly didn’t feel strange.
I wondered if I had missed anything, so I mentally reviewed the things Violet would say. Then, I realized that the most important thing was missing.
She would definitely say this. I swallowed the words she would desperately utter and cleared my throat again. Ahem.
“I, I.”
“I?”
“I, I, I……”
I couldn’t easily continue, repeating ‘I, I, I, I……’. Vincent tilted his head. I needlessly licked my dry lips several times. It suddenly felt too embarrassing to say it with my own mouth. It was a foreign word even to hold in my mouth. So, hesitating, I squeezed my eyes shut and blurted out the most important words.
“I missed you!”
“……”
I couldn’t open my eyes for a long time even after finally blurting it out. I couldn’t bring myself to look at Vincent. My face felt hot, so I rubbed my cheeks for no reason. Then, I cautiously opened my eyes to see Vincent with a blank expression. His eyes, which had been blinking in surprise for a moment, soon widened.
“Really?”
A gentle voice flowed out. It wasn’t a cracked, hoarse voice, nor was it a voice sharpened with anger. It was a relaxed, slightly mischievous voice. He lowered his eyes slightly before raising them again. The slightly upturned corners of his lips created a handsome smile.
He was smiling.
His affectionate eyes sparkled with Heterochromia.
“Thank you.”
His sweet voice was filled with consideration. His gently smiling face was unfamiliar, but I couldn’t take my eyes off it. It was the face I had seen when I had tea with him in the garden. No, it was a kinder face, filled with more affection than then…
I’m not the one who should be seeing that face. It’s not directed at me. I lowered my head. I couldn’t meet his eyes.
“I’m really okay. So……”
He said something, but I couldn’t hear it. I clenched my fists tightly and took a breath. Was it because I had seen something unfamiliar? My heart was pounding. Like I had stolen a peek at a secret I shouldn’t have.
Thump, thump, thump.
Strange.
Too strange.
“……maid, ……maid, ……maid!”
“Yes!”
I clutched my chest and abruptly raised my head. Ethan was looking at me with wide eyes.
“Why are you so surprised? I think it’s done now.”
“Ah, ah. Yes. I think it’s done now.”
You did well. I muttered a light compliment and got up from the sofa. It was fortunate to have bangs at times like this. They would hide my flushed face.
“Keep the conversation as short as possible. If you drag it out, she’ll realize something’s wrong. Make up an excuse that you’re tired and end the conversation first. Violet would never end it first.”
“I will.”
“Good. So, the posture is roughly decided, and the conversation seems to be about right. The next part is important too. First, stand up.”
Vincent placed his hand on the armrest of the sofa and slowly stood up.
“And then you leave.”
“How?”
“I’ll tell you the route.”
Ethan rearranged the furniture so that it wouldn’t be difficult for him to pass. He pushed the sofas on either side of the table further back to widen the passage. In particular, he widened the gap between the table and the sofa on Vincent’s right. Then, Ethan, who had looked around the Reception room, beckoned me.
“Then, maid. You need to tell Vincent how to leave.”
“Me?”
“Together.”
Ethan smiled. I struggled to keep my mind from wandering off in another direction and approached Vincent. Vincent was standing there blankly. The face from just now was as if it were an illusion. But that image was still floating around in my head. I shook my head, trying to shake off the memory.
“Master, I will guide you by holding your hand.”
Then, I hesitated in front of his hand. I was reluctant to grab it. Why was I like this? I had been fine until just now. I needlessly folded and unfolded my fingers before lightly grasping the tips of his fingers.
“Now, if you come this way.”
“Why is this happening.”
“Pardon?”
When I asked, he narrowed his brow. Then, he grabbed my hand tightly.
“Don’t hold it so loosely. You need to catch me if I fall.”
“M-me?”
“What?”
“No, it’s nothing. I will. I will.”
Saying, ‘Alright, I’ll hold on tight,’ I tried to wriggle out of his hand. Then, he grabbed it even tighter. He was squeezing so hard, as if he wouldn’t let me escape, and I was flustered by the pressure. He pretended not to notice and urged me to guide him quickly.
In the end, I was forcibly holding his hand and leading him.
“Y-you need to memorize the route well.”
“I will.”
I didn’t know why my chest kept tickling.
