Translator: Nox

Chapter 35

35

35. The Count's Circumstances (5)

"Lucas?"

"Yes. He'll be staying here for a while, so keep that in mind."

He received the clothes he took off and handed him new ones. These days, he wears everyday clothes more often than pajamas. I washed him cleanly, and he ate well, so I asked the first question that came to my mind as I looked at his face, which had a better complexion.

"May I ask you one thing?"

"Go ahead."

"Is Lucas really okay to be in this mansion?"

He looked at me, having buttoned up his cuffs. I lowered my gaze slightly. He seemed well-dressed, but the shirt buttons were misaligned by one space each. I approached him, unbuttoned all the buttons, and re-buttoned them one by one.

"Unfortunately, the buttons are buttoned wrong today."

"……."

Vincent didn't say anything until all the buttons were fastened. I glanced up, wondering if he was angry, but there was no sign of it. Instead, his hand pressed down on my head. I screamed and struggled at the strong force that seemed to sink me into the ground, and he even mercilessly ruffled my hair.

I regained my freedom only after my hair was completely messed up. I was so surprised because it was my first time experiencing this kind of contact. When I put my hand on my disheveled hair and opened my eyes wide, I saw the corners of his lips mischievously raised.

"Don't worry, it's okay."

I'm glad, but…….

No, but why are you messing with my hair?

"Paula. I see you again."

"Yes. We meet again."

As I bowed stiffly, a laugh flowed from above my head.

"Do you remember me?"

"Yes. You're Ethan's younger brother."

"Lucas Christopher."

"Yes."

"I'm Lucas Christopher."

So? When I tilted my head, he laughed again. But the laughter was subtly off. Like he was angry. I rolled my eyes. Could it be that he wants me to call him by his name?

"……Lucas?"

"Yes. Paula."

Then he smiled happily. Is it because he's Ethan's brother? Certainly, Lucas also smiles often. He's beaming just because I called his name once. I called him that in the early morning too, but doesn't he remember that?

"Are you going to clean?"

"Yes."

So, I sent him a look asking him to leave the room for a while. But he didn't move. Ah, I guess I have to say it since he can't see my face.

"I'll sit here, so feel free to do it."

Then Lucas sat down on a chair at the table set up on one side. He had a book in his hand. Judging by his attitude, he doesn't seem to want to leave. Well, if that's the case. Since I got permission, I decided to clean comfortably.

First, I changed the bedspread, pillowcases, and sheets. Then I swept the floor. Only the sound of the broom echoed softly in the silence. I walked around the room cleaning, then swept the corners more intensively.

But…… that's strange. Why does my back keep feeling warm since a while ago?

When I turned around, I saw the back of Lucas's head as he read a book. Or is it not? I tilted my head and focused on cleaning again, but again, my back became warm. It feels like someone is watching me.

When 'warm' turned into 'tingling', I turned around again.

"Do you have anything to say?"

"Me? No."

Lucas retorted with a calm smile. I narrowed my eyes. His answer is quick. As if he had thought about it in advance.

"Then why do you keep looking?"

"That can't be."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. I didn't look."

He was so firm that I couldn't keep asking. Is it really my imagination? I was suspicious, but if I was really mistaken, it would be embarrassing, so I focused on cleaning again. Then, as I was about to pick up a rag and wipe the surrounding furniture, I felt a presence behind me.

"This."

At the sudden unfamiliar touch that touched my hair, I was so surprised that my body froze. The rag I was holding made a thud and fell to the floor. As I turned my head creakily, Lucas had a surprised look on his face.

"I'm sorry. Did I surprise you?"

"A little……. Uh, what's going on?"

He had a Pure White Hair tie in his hand.

"After hesitating, she finally gave you this as a gift."

"Pardon?"

"Violet gave it to you, right?"

I nodded.

"My sister wanted to give Paula a gift and was worried about it for days. Then she decided on a Hair tie, but this time she was worried that there were too many that suited you. She worried for a long time about the design and color, and finally decided on this."

He twirled the edge of the Hair tie. My gaze turned towards it.

"For your information, I also added my opinion that this would be good."

"Ah, yes. I see."

I wonder if he startled me like this just to say that. Did he want to take credit for it?

I took back the Hair tie in his hand. I wound it up until it became shorter so he couldn't snatch it again, and Lucas smiled as he looked at me.

"It suits you well after all."

"Thank you."

"I thought the Pure White color suited Paula."

I laughed and brushed off his words as a joke. Lucas laughed along with me. He's been beaming since a while ago, I don't know what's so good. It was completely different from when he looked like he was about to die in the early morning. Come to think of it, why did that man come to see Vincent in the middle of the night?

"Paula is still very wary. Is it because of what I said last time?"

By last time, he means the shocking remarks he made to me. But this time I was able to act calmly too. I know you didn't do it, right?

"You're mistaken."

"I wasn't joking."

He says scary things while smiling brightly. I don't know what he wants to do by making me misunderstand him like that, but I can't say that I know you lied. Vincent telling me that in itself could be a secret. I also wonder if a mere maid is allowed to know about it.

Keep your mouth shut and pretend you didn't hear it even if you did.

However, when I didn't react, the smile gradually disappeared from Lucas's face. Soon, a serious look was fixed on me.

"Did you hear it from my brother?"

"What are you talking about?"

I tried to play dumb shamelessly, but I guess I was clumsy. His face became even more serious.

"I didn't think he would even say that……."

No, I didn't say anything?

Is there something on my face? Like my inner thoughts. I touched my face for no reason. All I could feel on my hand was my hair. I can't see my face, so I couldn't figure out what he was looking at to think that way. He already seemed to be guessing that Vincent had told me something.

"I understand. It's good to have someone you can trust by your side."

"What are you talking about since a while ago?"

"To be honest, I'm surprised."

No, he was sure.

I picked up the fallen rag. I'd rather finish cleaning quickly and run away. I decided that and turned around, but Lucas suddenly reached out his hand.

"I'll help you too."

"Pardon?"

I was taken aback and had the rag snatched away. Then he rolled up his sleeves. He meant helping with the cleaning. I was horrified and stopped him.

"Please don't. I'll do it."

"I'll help you too. I don't have anything to do anyway."

"Still, I can't make a guest do this. I'll get scolded."

"Then I'll say I forcibly took it."

Then Lucas started wiping the nearby ornaments with a rag. I quickly looked at the door. Fortunately, the door was closed. And after scanning the surroundings for no reason, I told him not to do that. But he smiled, saying it was okay, and focused on wiping.

I don't know why this person is doing this again.

\ \ *

In the end, Lucas, who took over the wiping until the end, only gave me a heavy burden. And his burdensome behavior continued after that. Every time I went to clean, he offered to help, and if I refused firmly, the back of my head would sting. Then, when I turned around, he would immediately turn his head and pretend not to notice.

He acted like a person who was eager to help me. I'm grateful for his kindness, but it's burdensome because I don't know the reason.

It was the same when I was attending to Vincent.

He was mostly in Vincent's room except for early mornings. I don't know if he came to visit or if he had other business, but he was always there whenever I went to attend to him. I wondered what he was doing by his side, but that wasn't it either. He just watched us.

Sometimes we eat together too. But it's not like the two of them are having a conversation. Just being together was everything. I was the only one caught in between who had to be aware of the situation.

But it was different when it was just the two of them. Lucas always had a smiling face when he was with me, but if I looked into the room through the slightly open door, the two of them had quite serious expressions on their faces. I don't know about Vincent, but Lucas did. Unlike when he treated me, he erased his smile and took on a serious demeanor. The conversation was cautious, and the low voice was heavy.

And when he's not in Vincent's room, he wanders around the mansion. I've seen him walking down the hallway, taking a walk near the mansion, and taking a book out of the study. Then, if he happened to meet me, he would approach me happily like he was meeting someone he hadn't seen in a long time.

I don't know about anything else, but I know one thing. He must be really free.

As I gradually became accustomed to Lucas's presence, who clearly showed the appearance of a man with nothing to do, Vincent suddenly said after finishing his meal.

"Shall we go for a walk?"

What's going on. But it was a proposal I had no reason to refuse.

"Okay!"

"Then get ready."

We decided to combine the long-awaited walk with tea time. So, I packed a teapot, teacups, snacks, and a book to read.

But one more person joined in.

"That sounds fun."

Lucas was standing next to Vincent with a beaming smile. I glanced at Vincent. He didn't say anything special about Lucas's company.

In the end, the three of us went for a walk side by side. All we could go to was the garden or forest behind the Separate Residence. I took Vincent's hand to support him, and Lucas walked next to me. I suddenly had the honor of walking between two adult men.

First, we decided to have tea time. Throughout the walk to the garden, Lucas was busy looking around, and Vincent only looked straight ahead. I supported Vincent and glanced at Lucas. A strange tension flowed. Of course, I'm the only one feeling it.

Then Lucas and I made eye contact.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"No, I wasn't."

I immediately shook my head and stared straight ahead.

When we arrived at the place where the table was set, we sat down on the chairs side by side. I spread the clean Tablecloth I had brought on the table and put down the teapot and teacups. But there was one cup missing. I didn't think Lucas would come along, so I only brought two cups.

I had no choice but to put them in front of Lucas and Vincent respectively.

"I'm okay."

Lucas pushed the cup towards me. Still……. When I hesitated, he refused, saying he didn't want to drink tea. If that's the case.

Today's dessert was a sweet cake covered in sugar that Vincent likes. I cut the cake into bite-sized pieces and put them on each plate. And I put it on Lucas's side first. Eat this at least.

But the reaction came from Vincent. He was already holding a fork and waiting. As soon as I put down the cake plate, Vincent elegantly cut the cake and put it in his mouth. He's now quite good at using the fork, which he used to be clumsy with. As soon as he chewed a few times, he cut the cake again.

Unlike Vincent, who was moving his mouth non-stop, Lucas frowned after taking a bite.

"……It's too sweet."

He looked like he was wondering how anyone could eat something so sweet. I also cut a bite and ate it. It was sweeter than the desserts I usually eat, but it wasn't inedible. I buried my nose in the cake and devoured it. Vincent also pretended to be relaxed and quickly devoured the cake.

Lucas looked back and forth at us.

"Is it delicious for both of you?"

"It's not inedible."

"It's delicious."

The answer came right away. Even while saying that, I didn't stop eating. He and I focused on the cake as if we were having a competition to see who could eat faster.