Translator: Nox

Chapter 42

42

42. The Moment a Star Fell on the Baron family (3)

"What color?"

"Pardon? Oh, pink. The skirt is so full that it keeps bothering me. I keep tripping when I walk. There's lace on the shoulder line, sleeves, and hem of the dress, so it keeps fluttering. Oh, and there's a sash around the waist. That's pink too."

He frowned, pondering my words.

"I don't know much about dress designs."

"It's a very pretty dress. The fabric is nice too."

It's so soft that I'm worried it might get damaged if I put too much force on it. It's pretty, but honestly, I don't know if it suits me. Violet said it looked good on me, but I just looked awkward in the mirror.

Vincent, who had been silent for a moment, patted the spot next to him.

"Come here."

"Yes?"

"Sit closer."

I was puzzled as to why, but since it was an order, I moved my hips next to him. Then Vincent reached out. The tip of his hand, coming in close, brushed against my neck. I stiffened instantly.

He fiddled with the Hair tie touching his fingertips.

"What's this?"

"A, a Hair tie. Violet gave it to me a while ago."

"I see."

Then he toyed with the Hair tie as if feeling its texture. Then he let go of the Hair tie and lightly touched my shoulder this time. When the lace touched his fingertips, he traced it. And slowly, his fingertips moved along the shoulder line.

His touch, feeling the things his fingertips touched, was cautious. His face tilted towards me. On the breath that rushed in, I heard a soft whisper telling me to tell him if he touched anything strange. I didn't have the leeway to answer. His hand went down the shoulder line, touched the lace at the bottom of the sleeve, and then moved further down to my wrist. He drew a circle on the inside of my wrist, and I flinched at the ticklishness.

"Can I touch the bottom too?"

"Yes, yes?"

"The hem of the skirt, I mean."

He pointed downwards. Ah, I sighed briefly and lifted the hem of the skirt, placing it in his hand. Then he fiddled with it. His face, which had been looking at the air, tilted slightly downwards, and the hand touching the hem of the skirt became more active.

He was touching it to imagine the design of my dress. I knew that too. But still, the places his hands touched felt hot. He was touching the hem of the skirt, but it felt like he was touching me. It's strange. I felt somehow embarrassed, to the point where my whole body was heating up.

"I can't really tell even if I touch it."

"......"

Even after hearing his words, I kept my mouth shut. My body kept twitching, and I was busy trying to suppress it so he wouldn't notice. My whole body felt twisted, and the unfamiliar sensation that kept rising made me feel bad. So, unable to bear it any longer, I was about to stop him when the door opened and Violet came in.

Violet stopped abruptly when she saw us. She blinked her violet eyes, as if trying to figure out what was going on. I was flustered and snatched the hem of the skirt from Vincent's hand. Then I jumped up.

"Are you ready?"

"......Yes. But what were you doing?"

"The master was curious because I said I was wearing a dress. I was telling him what kind of dress I was wearing."

"Ah."

Violet nodded and smiled lightly as she approached.

"The party preparations are all done. I think we can go down now."

Violet spoke to me and Vincent in turn. I nodded and turned to support Vincent. Behind my back, Violet came close and touched both my shoulders.

"Paula, how is it? Pretty, right?"

"How would I know? I can't see it."

"But you heard what she's wearing, right? It's very pretty! Vincent would have been surprised if he had seen it! Lucas was completely captivated by Paula's charm."

I was flustered by Violet's smiling words.

Who was what? I shook my head, saying that couldn't be true, but he couldn't see it.

"It would have been nice if Vincent could see it too. It's a shame he can't see right now."

"Is it that good?"

"Yes. It's that good."

Violet, with her hands on my shoulders, pushed me towards Vincent. I took a step towards Vincent in confusion. His gaze followed the sound and landed on me. Then he moved his head up and down as if examining my appearance. Even though I knew he couldn't see, I was embarrassed and lowered my head. I'm glad his eyes can't see at this moment. Because it wasn't as pretty as Violet said.

But Vincent, who had been scanning me up and down for a while, burst out laughing. He covered his mouth with his hand, but it was a clear sneer to anyone who saw it.

"Well. I don't think it would have been much better even if I had seen it with my own eyes."

This time, my face flushed with a different meaning. Even so, to laugh so openly!

"You're really too much."

"Why."

"Of course, I can't say it suits me well, but you don't have to laugh so openly. Besides, you even said it wasn't good. Can't you just say it's pretty in these situations?"

"I can't lie."

He stiffened his face and shook his head firmly. I let out a hollow laugh. He's always like that. What a stingy person.

I glared at him and turned my head, and I saw Violet's stiff face. She had been smiling just a moment ago, but now it was nowhere to be seen.

"Violet? Are you feeling unwell?"

"Ah... It's nothing. I should go get ready too. Lucas will be up soon. Go down first. Paula, can you help me?"

"Yes."

Violet smiled and headed for the door first. I told Vincent that the person who wasn't pretty even when dressed up would go first, and then stomped the floor twice with my heels. Vincent waved his hand as if telling me to get lost quickly.

And so, I returned to her room with Violet. On the bed in the room, several dresses were lined up. Each one was so pretty that they all seemed to suit her well.

I turned to Violet to ask her which one to wear, but she was standing in front of the door, not moving. As if she didn't feel my gaze, she was just staring blankly at the air. Her condition was strange. Violet? When I called her, her eyes finally regained focus.

"......I saw it for the first time."

"Yes?"

"The way he's being so blunt."

"Who, surely not the master?"

"Yeah. I've never seen him like that before."

I couldn't help but be surprised by her words. Isn't that his original personality? He was always blunt and bad-tempered with me, so I thought that was how he always was. Is he not like that with other people?

"He's like that with Paula."

"......Yes?"

I was flustered, but seeing her violet eyes that had lost focus again, I couldn't say anything more. Was she shocked? Come to think of it, Ethan was also horrified when he saw him throwing things. Maybe that wasn't his original personality, or maybe he was hiding it.

So, he's only like that with me?

Son of a bitch.

Violet chose a white dress. It was a design that clung tightly to the body from the shoulders to the knees to show off the body line, and the hem of the dress spread out fully below that. Her long hair was braided like mine and twisted upwards, then fixed with flower decorations.

Violet, all dressed up, was so pretty. She told me I was pretty, but she was the one who was truly shining. Violet's appearance as she went down the stairs, holding onto the railing, was the epitome of elegance. If I were a man, I would surely have fallen for her.

In the central hall, a slightly fast-paced classical piece was playing. The music made the quiet atmosphere of the room feel lively.

But there was one more person in the central hall besides Vincent and Lucas. I told them not to let anyone else in once the party started. Who is it?

Then the man waved his hand towards us. It was Ethan.

"Ethan!"

Violet shouted happily. Ethan smiled brightly and greeted her.

"What are you doing here? I heard you were busy."

"You sent me an invitation and you're pretending you don't know me."

Ethan shook the letter. Violet said with a mischievous expression that the party would be more fun if there was one more person. Ethan is the only outsider besides Violet and Lucas who knows about Vincent's condition. The hall, which had been embarrassingly empty enough to be called a party, became bustling with Ethan's appearance.

Violet naturally linked arms with Vincent. Vincent seemed used to her actions as well. The two of them were a couple that looked too good together to anyone who saw them.

I was staring blankly at the two of them when Lucas came to my right and offered his arm.

"I'll escort Paula."

"I'm fine."

"Then how about me?"

Ethan stood on my left. I shook my head more firmly. I declined this one even more.

"It's a party, so we should at least dance."

"I can't do that. I'll just be over there eating something delicious."

I turned and headed for the table where the food was set up. Ethan and Lucas followed behind me. In the end, the three single men and women decided to enjoy a sad banquet. Isabella, who was supposed to be in charge of serving at the party today, was also waiting on one side.

Violet and Vincent stood facing each other in the middle of the hall.

"I wonder if he can dance."

"His sister will pull him along."

"......"

Clink. Ethan and Lucas, who clinked their glasses together, turned their gaze to the two of them. I, who had been forced to clink glasses with them, also turned my gaze to them and gulped down the wine.

"You're drinking well."

"I'm not bad at drinking."

Maybe it's because it's good alcohol, but it went down smoothly.

A little later, Isabella changed the music. A soft classical piece filled the hall. Violet and Vincent took their positions and began to move their bodies gracefully to the music.

Under the dazzling Chandelier, Violet and Vincent's appearance was so beautiful. I could only say that it was simply beautiful. She was elegant as she moved to the music, and the white hem of her skirt spread out like a newly blooming flower bud, attracting attention. Her bright face held a smile. She was sparkling. Vincent, who was taking steps to match her, was not awkward either.

"He's not even falling."

"He's danced often."

"It's beautiful."

It's really beautiful. They look so good together. I smiled bitterly and drank the wine. Lucas told me to drink slowly.

The music soon ended. The two bowed to each other. Their faces, smiling at each other, were so lovely. I could hear the sound of their voices filled with joy. I chewed on a snack and couldn't take my eyes off them.

Then a hand reached out next to me.

"What is it."

"I'm asking you to dance."

"Pardon?"

I clearly said I couldn't dance earlier, so I looked up at him blankly, wondering if he was serious. Lucas reached out his hand further. He even shook his hand, urging me to take it quickly. As I shook my head in embarrassment, Ethan added that it would be okay to dance with him at least once since he was asking so nicely.

Besides, when even Lucas drooped his shoulders and asked if I hated it that much, I had no choice but to take his hand.