Translator: Nox

Chapter 37

# 37

37. The Count's Circumstances (7)

I coughed, and Lucas patted my back, asking if I was alright. After finally calming down, I stared blankly up at Lucas. What did you just say? Who's pretty? Me? ......Are you sure your eyesight is okay?

"Pretty......?"

Vincent questioned. I snapped to attention and turned to him.

"Who's pretty?"

"Your maid."

Lucas retorted with determination. It was an answer without a hint of hesitation. I looked back at him. Are you crazy? I asked inwardly.

"......Pretty?"

"Yeah."

"Really? Seriously?"

"Yeah. Seriously."

Lucas answered, looking at me. Our eyes met, and he smiled brightly. I wondered if he was teasing me. But there was no hint of falsehood on his face.

Vincent, who had been silent for a moment, muttered quietly.

"Pretty, huh......"

"Pure White suits her so well."

"Pretty, you say."

"Very much so."

They were perfectly in sync. Vincent showed a rare hint of embarrassment.

But I was the most embarrassed.

I couldn't understand Lucas's words. Did he even see my face properly? If he didn't, I wanted to lift my bangs and show him right now. What part of this face is pretty? Huh? I wanted to ask if he had a rather unique taste.

"Okay. So, she's that pretty."

But I couldn't ask because of Vincent. He seemed dazed for some reason. But I didn't have the spare capacity to check on his condition.

"Yeah. Enough to fall in love at first sight."

At the shocking words, my mouth dropped open. Vincent was also surprised and widened his eyes. Only Lucas was still wearing a refreshingly wonderful smile.

Oh no, this man is strange.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"I don't know if I should say this."

Instead of asking, 'Are you crazy?' I waved my hand at him. Lucas leaned in slightly. At the closer distance, I covered my mouth with my hand and whispered so that only he could hear.

"Do you perhaps have a unique taste?"

"I haven't really thought about it, but I'm pretty normal."

"Then why are you doing this?"

"Doing what?"

He really seemed clueless. I gaped in frustration. As I did, I glanced at Vincent. He had been silent since earlier. His face was calm, but I seemed to see all sorts of thoughts contained within. If nothing else, I knew that my image had been sorted out in his head.

"You're going to cause a misunderstanding."

"Who?"

"The master."

"Is there anything to misunderstand?"

I don't know why this man is doing this. I was about to retort immediately, but I stopped. No, do I really have to correct him? Come to think of it...... it wasn't bad for me. I wanted to be remembered by Vincent as having a pretty face.

Yeah, it's not like I'm doing anything bad.

I was surprised, but it was a compliment I would never hear again in my life. Honestly, it felt good. It was the first time I had heard that I was pretty enough for a man to fall in love with. Even if it was just a polite remark, it was something that any woman would be happy to hear.

"What kind of misunderstanding?"

"No."

I lowered the hand covering my mouth and straightened my body. Lucas tilted his head. I cleared my throat and spoke so that Vincent could hear as well.

"I'm very shy. I know you meant well, but I would appreciate it if you only said such things when we are alone."

"I will."

"......"

I was amused by my own audacity, but Lucas's response was equally absurd. Vincent frowned slightly at those words. But this time, I wasn't lying. I decided to be even more brazen.

"Where are we going for a walk?"

"We're going to the forest."

After finishing the remaining tea, we headed to the forest behind the Separate Residence. It was still quiet here. And it felt good. As I looked at the trees filling the sky and the leaves sprouting on the bare branches, Lucas turned to the side.

"Lucas-nim. It's not that way."

"This way will be more worth seeing."

He pointed to the left. It wasn't a place with a path. What should I do......? I immediately looked up at Vincent, and he nodded, sensing my gaze. It was permission.

So, I followed Lucas into the forest. Since it wasn't a place with a path, it was difficult to go. I cleared the branches that blocked the way from time to time, and if a dangerous obstacle appeared, I informed him in advance. Vincent held my hand tightly and followed carefully.

We walked like that and arrived at an open space surrounded by dense trees. My mouth dropped open. Wow. I never thought there would be a place like this in the forest.

"Wow―!"

"Pretty, isn't it?"

Lucas asked at my reaction. I nodded repeatedly, unable to take my eyes off the sight before me.

A spectacle of flowers unfolded before my eyes.

I hadn't seen anything like a flower garden on the way here. But in this space, a large flower garden had been created. White and fresh flowers swayed gently. As if welcoming us. Around it, trees surrounded the flowers as if protecting them.

It wasn't flashy. Rather, it was simple. In terms of flashiness, the gardens cultivated in the mansion were more excellent. It was a place where they worked hard to create beauty every moment. But this place had a distinctly different feel. It showed the beauty created by nature, untouched by human hands. It cleanses the heart just by looking at it.

"How did you know about a place like this?"

"I found it while wandering around when I was bored."

"It's really pretty. So, so pretty."

Lucas smiled, relieved at my excited voice. I looked around the white flower garden with my eyes. It was really densely packed with pure white flowers. That was so amazing.

"Master, Master. The flowers are so pretty."

I shook the hand of Vincent, who was standing behind me. He looked around. As if looking for the flowers I mentioned.

I smiled brightly and led him into the flower garden. The flowers blooming here also had long stems. The flowers reached my small waist, and they swayed at about thigh height for Vincent.

"We're in the flower garden now."

"A lot?"

"Yes. A lot. They cover this whole area."

I explained the surrounding scenery one by one. The trees guarding the surroundings, the flowers filling the open space, the Pure White petals that seemed to leave white on your hands if you touched them, the wind that touched and passed over them, and the blue sky spread above.

All of that was exquisitely combined to create beauty.

"It's amazing that they only bloom here like this. I saw a few flowers on the way here, but they weren't gathered like this."

"Yeah."

"If you could see it with your eyes, you would definitely be impressed."

"Your reaction is enough."

Unlike me, who was excited, he had a very calm reaction. Still, I smiled happily. Only after I said that it was really pretty dozens of times did he nod.

I put a flower in his hand. He followed as I led him, bending his waist awkwardly. White flowers brushed and swayed at the end of his long fingers.

"I want to jump in."

"Then jump in."

"Then all the flowers will be trampled to death."

"Then jump in carefully."

Is he joking? I wondered, but his gaze was fixed on the flowers. His hand touched the flower again. Like that, again and again, then he carefully caressed the petals. He seemed to like it.

I knelt down next to him and buried my face in the flowers. They smelled like flowers.

"They smell good too."

"All smells are the same."

"Still."

I kept smelling the flowers, and Vincent kept touching them. Lucas, who came next to us, looked at us with a proud face.

"Do you like it?"

"Very much!"What about you, brother?""

"Not bad."

Lucas's smile deepened at the positive words.

I tilted my head back and looked at the wide-open flowers. As I looked at the cool scenery, I wanted to go inside and walk around. So, I jumped up and shook the hands we were holding. Vincent gave me a questioning look. I pretended to pull his hand. He realized my intention and straightened his back.

I led him further inside. Vincent followed behind me, and Lucas followed behind Vincent in turn.

"Master, spread out your hand."

I waved my other hand wildly. The flowers touched my fingertips. Lucas, who was following Vincent, saw me and laughed. Then he reached out his hand, following me. The flowers barely touched his hand as well. I saw that and laughed happily.

"Master. Hurry, hurry."Brother." Hurry, hurry."

"......"

At our urging, Vincent hesitated and raised his hand. And slowly spread his fingers. White flowers were contained and released inside. Did he feel that sensation? Vincent spread his fingers wider. His hands were filled with flowers.

I looked at his dazed face and turned around. And I quickened my pace. The sensation of the flowers brushing against my waist was ticklish. The wind ruffling my hair was cool. I want to run. I want to run away. The footsteps following behind me also gradually quickened. No, my footsteps quickened. At some point, I was running inside the flower garden.

As if I were becoming a flower.

As if the wind was taking me away.

When I stopped, I had already reached the end of the flower garden. I didn't know when I saw it with my eyes, but it was quite wide. So, as I panted with slightly rough breath, Lucas suddenly popped out from the side. He also immediately bent over and panted.

"You're quite fast."

"Ah, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to run."

I realized that I had run only after seeing Lucas panting. I got too excited in the middle. It must have been a sudden misfortune for the two people who were following.

As I repeatedly apologized, he waved his hand, saying it was okay. Still, it seemed difficult, so he looked up at the sky and blew out his breath.

Then Lucas burst into laughter. It was a laugh that seemed to be in a good mood for some reason.

"It's been a long time since I ran like this. It feels good, right?"

Lucas turned around. Only then did I check on Vincent. Vincent was breathing heavily behind us. Rough breathing, and golden hair disheveled from running stuck out here and there. Below that, flushed cheeks came into view.

The hand we were still holding was damp with sweat. I was flustered and approached him. Are, are you okay? Even to my question, he only blinked his eyes without answering. It was a face as if he was dreaming. Then he slowly looked down at his hand.

From behind, Lucas laughed again and plopped down. I was surprised and turned to Lucas. A joyful laughter echoed. Right? He asked again. I also turned back to Vincent again. Vincent's lips, which had been parted to pant, stretched out long.

"Yeah."

Emerald eyes looking at his hand curved upwards.

"Feels good."

His face looked somehow refreshed.