Translator: Nox

Chapter 36

# 36

36. The Count’s Circumstances (6)

The desserts made in the dining hall recently were plentiful. The Pound Cake shock gave me a great lesson. So I immediately made a special request to the cook to make a lot.

‘It’ll be too much for the master to eat, won’t it?’

‘He keeps asking me to eat with him, as if he’s lonely eating alone. Even if I say it’s okay, he keeps talking about it… How can I refuse the master’s words? If this can comfort his loneliness, I’m willing to risk being rude and eat with him as much as he wants.’

I raised both hands to my chest and spat out a brazen lie. The cook was touched and vowed to make something delicious. That was the result I got. Thanks to that, I’m more eager for his desserts these days. I’ve experienced most acutely here that there are many delicious things in the world.

The cake plate quickly showed its bottom. Delicious things disappear quickly. I looked at the empty plate and smacked my lips in regret.

“Eat this too.”

Lucas offered me the cake he had taken only one bite of and left. He’s an angel! I was moved and asked if it was okay. At the same time, my hand was already taking his plate.

Vincent’s gaze immediately reached this side. His plate was also empty. I brought the plate to my side and was wary of him.

“T-This is what Lucas gave me.”

“Who said anything?”

He said arrogantly and threw down his fork. Instead, he picked up his teacup. Then he frowned and took the cup away from his lips. Then he turned the cup upside down, but there was nothing there. He was so engrossed in the cake that he forgot to pour tea.

His dissatisfied gaze was fixed on me. I flinched. Lucas picked up the teapot instead and poured tea into his cup.

“Here, Brother, drink.”

“I don’t know who’s serving me.”

Vincent put the cup to his lips. I put down my fork.

“I suddenly have no appetite. Would you like more?”

“Don’t lie and finish eating.”

“Didn’t you want to eat more? I thought you were being petty because I ate more.”

“I’m not that narrow-minded.”

“Surely not.”

Vincent liked sweets, and I had only just opened my eyes to sweetness, so I was always disappointed with the amount of dessert. Depending on the type of dessert, the taste and size were different, so that feeling grew even more at times.

Because of that, a strange war of nerves broke out between him and me every time. Of course, Vincent always went first, but sometimes I took more. Just a little, about a finger’s width more, without him knowing.

But having lost his sight and with his other senses sharpened, he didn’t let his guard down. He sent me a look that said he knew I was taking more, and honestly, I get a little scared every time. How much does he like sweets?

The more that happened, the more brazen I had to be. Every time he gave me that look, I offered to give him more. Of course, I knew he would refuse. His pride wouldn’t allow him to ask for something back that he had given to a maid.

So this time too, I held out the plate, saying I would give him as much as he wanted. Vincent waved his hand. He refused to eat what my saliva had touched. No, how much could have touched it? I insisted that only a little had touched it and held it out, when suddenly Lucas burst out laughing. His gaze was fixed on the plate. In fact, the plate was already completely empty.

“The more I see you, the more interesting you are.”

Lucas said something that I couldn’t tell if it was a compliment or not. I pretended not to know and put the plate down. I had forgotten for a moment that there was another companion. Vincent gestured, asking what he meant. I desperately prayed that Lucas would shut his mouth.

Fortunately, Lucas, who was laughing again, brought up something else.

“You two have a good relationship.”

“That’s impossible.”

“You’re mistaken.”

The answers came out at the same time. We looked at each other at the same time. I blinked, and he, though he couldn’t see me, widened his eyes as if he could.

Lucas added that this was what a good relationship was like. In response, Vincent drank his tea without answering, and I cleared the empty plate. In the meantime, only Lucas’s laughter echoed in the garden.

I quietly took out a book. I decided to ignore the strange sounds. Vincent seemed to agree, as the topic naturally shifted.

As I settled down, Lucas gave me a puzzled look.

“What are you going to do?”

“I’m going to read you a book.”

“A book?”

Lucas’s gaze was fixed on the book in my hand. I cleared my throat. Vincent calmly drank his tea. Lucas’s gaze was fixed on Vincent, then turned back to me.

“Are you perhaps going to read it aloud?”

“Yes.”

It was obvious that I was going to read it aloud, what was he asking? I opened the book and skillfully began to read the sentences. It was a sudden start, but Vincent listened to my voice as if he was used to it.

The book I was going to read today was a children’s adventure story of medium length. It’s hard to read difficult books. If the content is long, concentration is scattered. I recently realized that it’s easier to read and better to tell if the content is short and simple.

It was a book that I had chosen with great care. Lucas was shocked by the story that was being heard through my voice. He openly looked at Vincent, but Vincent didn’t pay any attention to Lucas. He was just focused on my voice. So I focused even more on reading the book. I had to concentrate because I would be criticized if I slacked off even a little.

Lucas’s shock gradually subsided as he watched us. Then, at some point, he quietly pulled his chair closer to Vincent and sat down.

“Why are you sticking so close?”

“I want to listen too.”

Two men sat side by side and listened to my voice. I didn’t know because it was usually just Vincent, but I felt a little nervous thinking about reading a book to someone else. That affected my voice, and I paused a few times. I saw Vincent frown, but I quickly read the next part and pretended not to notice.

Lucas’s eyes sparkled like a child’s. I don’t know if he was amazed by the situation or by the fact that I could read, but he sent me a burdensome gaze that made the skin under my hair tingle. It felt like I was reading a fairy tale to my younger siblings.

Moreover, he was actively involved.

“So what happens?”

“Yes? Ah, so what happens is.”

He didn’t just listen quietly to what I was reading. He occasionally asked questions or asked for my opinion. He also chattered about things he had picked up somewhere. It was a trivial conversation, but he acted as if he was enjoying it. Vincent only frowned and didn’t particularly stop him. Thanks to that, I, who had become his conversation partner, was just bewildered.

“Comradeship and love gained through adventure. It’s a story that gives a good lesson.”

After reading the book, he didn’t forget to add his impressions.

“Yes. Did you enjoy it?”

“I enjoyed it very much. It was easy to listen to, so it went straight into my ears. It felt like you were considerate of the person listening. Your voice was also very good… No, I think everything was just too good.”

“I’m just reading it. Please tell me if you have any good works.”

“Really? I’ll pick one next time.”

I laughed ha ha. Lucas subtly got the chance to attend next time.

“It’s fun, Brother. Isn’t it?”

“I don’t know.”

However, the problem was that another attendee was too cold. But Lucas, who was used to his attitude, didn’t care.

“I didn’t know you liked sweets this much, Brother. How did you hide it all this time?”

“I didn’t hide it.”

“You didn’t eat like this before.”

“I didn’t eat like this, but it’s not like I didn’t eat them.”

Lucas nodded. That’s right.

“Still, if I had known you liked them, I would have bought a few plates of cake. I know a lot of famous places.”

“There’s no need.”

Vincent coldly refused. Then he added, saying he didn’t trust him enough to accept it. It was a statement with plenty of room for misunderstanding, but Lucas just laughed. He also subtly retorted that he knew he would eat it deliciously if he brought it.

For a moment, a peaceful atmosphere flowed between the two.

“Oh, I ordered the tea leaves you like, Brother. They’ll be coming here tomorrow. You still enjoy drinking them, right? Nouvelle’s black tea.”

“Yeah.”

“You’ll accept that, right?”

“I’ll accept it because your sincerity is commendable.”

He was already running out of the one that Gold Letter had sent him and couldn’t bring it out. He was wondering if he should ask Isabella to get it for him, but this worked out well. He clearly remembered how disappointed he was when he said that Nouvelle’s black tea had run out. And he also knew the joy hidden in that blunt attitude.

Was he doing that on purpose because he was his younger brother?

Lucas, who didn’t know anything, was just happy.

“Brother. I’m honestly relieved.”

“What are you talking about.”

“You look comfortable. I was a little worried when I only heard about it. I was even more doubtful when I saw it with my own eyes. But after staying here, I realized it. You were really doing well. I’m glad.”

“……”

“I didn’t even know you liked sweets, Brother. I didn’t know you took walks like this, listened to books, and lived peacefully.”

Lucas laughed briefly. He seemed happy, but I could feel the bitterness embedded in it. His eyes, looking at Vincent, were earnest. They were glistening as if he would shed tears if he blinked even slightly.

“I’m really relieved.”

His voice was filled with relief.

Come to think of it, Lucas said that he had blinded Vincent. If so, it meant that Lucas already knew about Vincent’s condition. Perhaps he already knew about the ‘something’ that Vincent was hiding.

The image of the two people talking in the room came to mind. What was contained in it would be heavier than I imagined. That’s why I felt like I knew a little about what Lucas’s feelings were towards Vincent now. His concern was also genuine.

Suddenly, that man named Lucas looked different. His gaze on the floor, his sunken appearance, was a little, touching?

But the emotion was quickly shattered. Unfortunately, that sadness didn’t reach the other person. Vincent clicked his tongue.

“How disgusting.”

“Is that so?”

The sadness was quickly erased. It was a rapid change. It was so fast that I wondered if I had seen a hallucination. No, wasn’t the sadness too short?

I was embarrassed to see Lucas smiling brightly so quickly.

“It must be all because of her.”

This time, Lucas’s attention was fixed on me. I blinked at the sudden compliment. Me?

“Thank you for being by Brother’s side.”

“Ah, it’s nothing.”

“There’s no need to thank me for something that’s obvious.”

His rebuttal was quick. What? I looked at Vincent in bewilderment. He didn’t correct his words. Yeah, honestly, that’s right. It’s obvious, but… Still, couldn’t he be a little grateful?

Hmph! I openly snorted. Still, Vincent didn’t even pretend to hear me. Bastard. I was angry and drank the tea roughly. I was thirsty.

“Well, if such a pretty person is by his side, he’ll be energized.”

I spat out the tea as it was.