Translator: Nox

Chapter 41

41

41. The Moment a Star Fell on the Baron family (2)

“I’m sorry for startling you. I was so happy that Paula was becoming prettier that I didn’t even consider Paula’s feelings.”

“No, it’s alright. You don’t have to apologize.”

“Then Paula won’t say things like that again, okay?”

She laughed again, reaching out her hand. I stared at her beautiful fingertips. She beckoned with her fingers. I hesitated before extending my hand. She grasped my hand tightly and stood up. I followed her, rising from my seat. Her beautifully smiling face filled my vision.

I lowered my head, suppressing the urge to choke up. My eyes stung. It felt like it was because her hand was so warm.

“Um, how about just fixing your back hair? We won’t touch your bangs or do any makeup, just fix your back hair. It’s a waste to be dressed up so prettily like this. Okay?”

“T-Then, just the back hair….”

“Yes, just the back hair! I promise I won’t touch the front.”

Only after Violet made several promises did she cautiously move behind me. Then, she carefully touched my back hair. My body instinctively stiffened. I was on edge, worried she might touch my bangs. I was ready to run away at the slightest hint of anything suspicious.

Fortunately, she only touched my back hair as promised.

“Paula also has curly hair. I do too.”

See, look. She showed me her hair. As she said, the ends were curled. Overall, it was quite wavy.

“It’s so bad that sometimes I envy people with straight hair. But then, people with that kind of hair say they envy hair like mine because it doesn’t have a full look even when they style it. I guess moderation is best. But Paula’s is less than mine.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Oh, come on. I told you, you don’t have to apologize.”

I heard a cheerful laugh from behind. My ears tickled. I fidgeted with my fingers for no reason.

Violet braided my back hair and twisted it up into a bun. Then, she reached for a white Hair tie to secure it. It was the Hair tie I had been using frequently since she gave it to me as a gift.

“I brought new ones.”

“I like this one.”

“I brought so many pretty ones? I’ll decorate it with those.”

I shook my head.

“I’d like you to decorate it with this Hair tie. It doesn’t look too out of place with my outfit, and I really like it. It’s the most precious thing to me. I’d be really happy if you decorated me with this precious thing.”

At my words, she smiled even more brightly, took the Hair tie, and secured my back hair.

After finishing my hair, she stood back and examined me. I tensed up under her gaze. After watching me stand stiffly for a while, she complained that it still looked plain. Then, after seeming to ponder for a moment, she clapped her hands and took out several square boxes from her bag.

Opening the lid revealed a pearl necklace with a round jewel in the center. No, it wasn’t just a necklace. There was also a ring. Another box contained a bracelet. Without realizing it, I fixed my gaze on them, but then I snapped out of it and immediately waved my hands. I realized she was trying to put those accessories on me.

But Violet declared that she absolutely wouldn’t budge on this.

As the necklace was placed around my neck, I swallowed hard. What if I lose this? My neck felt heavy with the burden. A bracelet was put on my arm, and a ring on my finger. I kept swallowing. I protested several times that it was too much for me, but it didn’t reach Violet, who was engrossed in decorating me.

Violet, who was examining me again, smiled with satisfaction. Was it finally over? I secretly sighed. I wanted to take it off quickly, but she led me to the mirror.

“How is it?”

“……”

A strange woman was standing in the mirror. I wouldn’t have recognized myself if it weren’t for the bangs covering my face. I stared at my reflection in the mirror, my mouth agape.

The woman in the mirror wasn’t me.

My back hair, braided and twisted up into a bun, was skillfully secured with the Hair tie, and the remaining string was naturally draped down.

The pink dress also fit my body well. The corset effect made my waist look slender. The pink ribbon around my waist also played a part. The fullness of the skirt below made me look even slimmer.

The gloves on my hands, the slightly visible white stockings, and the pink shoes, identical to the dress with a small ribbon in the center, were all harmonious. And the necklace, bracelet, and ring filled in the parts that could have been plain.

I stared blankly into the mirror before raising my hand. The woman in the mirror also raised her hand. With the other hand, I lifted the hem of my skirt and touched the lace on my shoulder line. The lace at the bottom of the sleeves spread out richly. As I looked at that, I stroked the necklace and touched my twisted-up back hair. The woman in the mirror was doing the same thing.

It really was ‘me.’

“Pretty, right?”

“……Yes. Ah, no. The dress is.”

Violet smiled mischievously at my answer. I said I was serious. She said she understood, but she didn’t stop smiling.

This situation was awkward yet amazing. I was wearing such clothes for the first time. I thought the pink color would make me look young, but it actually gave me a mature feeling. Was this really me? I understood why Violet said she regretted the bangs. They definitely stood out. I fiddled with my bangs for no reason before shaking off the thought.

I was so amazed that I kept getting lost in my reflection. Just then, someone knocked on the door. Violet allowed them to enter, and Lucas came in.

He was holding a square box and approaching Violet when he suddenly stopped. His wide eyes were fixed on me. His blank face quickly scanned me up and down.

“……Paula?”

“Yes.”

Lucas froze in place.

Puzzled, I looked at Violet, who was watching Lucas with a strange expression. Instead of her, I approached Lucas and took the box from his hand. When I handed it to Violet, she suddenly smiled brightly, looking back and forth between him and me.

Then, she turned me back towards Lucas, placing her hands on my shoulders.

“How is it? Pretty, right?”

“…….”

There was no answer, but his gaze was solely fixed on me. I fidgeted with the hem of my dress out of embarrassment. The silence grew longer, making me feel even more awkward. Thinking that it wasn’t that great, I was about to turn around to change when I heard a soft voice.

“You’re pretty.”

His blank face gradually filled with a bright light. His brown eyes were filled with tenderness. It was as if honey was dripping from his gaze.

“Very much so.”

“…….”

I felt even more embarrassed for some reason.

I scratched the exposed nape of my neck and turned my gaze to the side. Violet was smiling so wide that her lips were practically touching her ears. Feeling burdened by the warm gaze, I lowered my head to the floor.

“Can I take it off now?”

“Already? Wear it a little longer.”

“I have to go clean.”

“Oh, come on, what a waste. It would be nice if you could go to a party.”

Honestly, it wasn’t that great. I laughed off Violet’s words. But she seriously asked if I could attend a party somewhere. I immediately shook my head. That was ridiculous. Then Violet asked if we could have a party here. I was horrified and shook my head wildly again. Aside from the various problems that would arise from suddenly throwing a party, there was no one to invite.

Her shoulders slumped at my repeated rejections. She seemed genuinely disappointed. I felt somewhat sorry, but this was an issue I couldn’t say anything about.

I turned around to find the dress I had been wearing before she took it away. She kept muttering about how wasteful it was. At that moment, Lucas, who had been silent until then, suddenly offered an opinion.

“How about just us? A party.”

And so, a sudden party was decided.

It was very small-scale, with only me, Violet, Lucas, and Vincent attending. In fact, it was hardly a party. Nevertheless, Violet and Lucas were excited and immediately asked Isabella to prepare for the party. It was quick action. Isabella responded calmly to the sudden request. Only Vincent, who heard the news late, was dumbfounded.

‘Anyone would think this is your mansion.’

‘Why― it’s fun.’

‘Good things are good.’

‘…….’

No one could stop the two men and women who had already made up their minds.

The central hall of the Separate Residence was chosen as the party venue. Isabella brought the maids to decorate the hall and ordered the chef to prepare the food. She had warned in advance that no one was allowed to enter the hall once the party started. Afterwards, the prepared food would be brought by Isabella or the Separate Residence chef, and Isabella would be in charge of all other services.

My suggestion to help with the party preparations was ignored. Violet forcibly kept me in the room, saying that the dress would get ruined. She told me not to worry about it. Instead, she went down to the hall to direct the party, and Lucas joined her there. The reason was that someone was needed to replace Vincent, who couldn’t go.

So, in the end, only me and Vincent were left in the room. I fidgeted with my fingers. The dress I was wearing felt uncomfortable. I kept shifting my hips for no reason. It felt like I was sitting on pins and needles, doing nothing while it was so noisy outside.

I glanced at Vincent, who was sitting at the far end, resting his chin on his hand with his elbow on the armrest of the sofa. The shiny black shoe tips moved back and forth in the air. He had his golden hair swept back, wearing the Tailcoat that Lucas had forced him to change into, making him look neater than usual.

I had thought before, but Vincent dressed like that looked like a different person. His neat appearance made him look like a noble aristocrat, or a spoiled aristocrat who didn’t want to come to the party but was forced to. The incongruous appearance eased my tension for no reason. I even laughed a little.

He certainly had an appearance that would attract attention. If only he wasn’t narrowing his brows like that.

“It’s like this every time I come.”

“……I’m sorry.”

“Why are you apologizing?”

“I feel like I encouraged it.”

“You must have cheered them on again.”

“That’s not it.”

At my words, Vincent sighed and sank deeper into the sofa. He leaned his head back and swept back his styled hair.

“It can’t be helped.”

The words that came out like a sigh contained resignation. But he didn’t seem that upset. I secretly prayed that nothing would happen.

“Why do you keep fidgeting?”

It seemed my constant shifting was bothering him.

“The dress is uncomfortable. I’m sorry.”

“Dress?”

“Violet said I had to have an outfit suitable for the party, so she made me wear this.”

To be exact, this mess started when I put this on.

As I said that, I smoothed out the hem of my skirt as much as possible so it wouldn’t wrinkle. Wearing something expensive made me unnecessarily nervous.

Vincent turned to look at me. He stared at me intently with a crooked expression, making me wonder why, so I looked back at him.