Chapter 73
73
73. The Count I Met Again (3)
“Isn’t this too fluttery?”
Joelly, examining the dress, seemed displeased. She took off the dress she was wearing and scanned the others nearby. Several dresses of various designs seemed to be laid out on the bed.
Johnny turned his head away, used to it. Even though he could only see the location of the mirror, half-hidden by a partition, he couldn't bring himself to look. In the meantime, Alicia giggled softly and handed her another dress.
“Since you’re slender, it won’t be that fluttery. Rather than something too tight, having lace at the hem like this gives a richer feel and will make it prettier.”
“Oh, really?”
Joelly took the dress, held it against her body, and examined it from side to side. Alicia added compliments from the side, smiling brightly.
Then, Joelly's gaze flicked sideways. Alicia quickly bent down and picked out shoes of the same color as the dress from the row of shoes in front of the mirror, placing them at Joelly's feet.
Joelly slipped one foot into a shoe, examining her reflection in the mirror. I quietly stepped back and looked at Alicia. Her eyes and mouth were smiling, but I could read her true feelings.
‘That girl is too arrogant! She’s not even the owner here, does she think she can boss around other people’s servants like that?’
‘What can we do? We’re servants, after all.’
Whatever Joelly's true identity, she was still a noble. Giving orders to people like us was a natural thing for her to do.
‘That annoying bitch! If I become the owner of this family, I’ll kick her out first.’
And yet, she serves her so well. Smiling brightly, putting on a full display of pretense. When Joelly waved her hand once, Alicia quickly approached her and held out a new dress. It was the first time I had seen Alicia act so quickly.
The picky Joelly was cautious even when choosing a party dress. More so than usual. She only managed to pick a dress after repeating the process of taking off and putting on several outfits.
“Hmm.”
Of course, even that didn't seem satisfactory. Fortunately, she didn't take it off again, but looked at herself in the mirror from side to side before sitting down on a chair. Alicia lifted a box containing hair ornaments.
“Nanny, can you help with this?”
“Yes, Joelly-nim.”
“……”
Alicia, who wasn't good with her hands, was dismissed, and Nanny approached. Eventually, Alicia came over to our side and waited.
I whispered to Alicia.
“Pretender.”
“Just a little sacrifice.”
“What do you mean?”
“That’s why you don’t know anything.”
“……”
“You need an opportunity to do something. Bending over with just a few words is not difficult when you think about what you’ll gain in the future. You just quietly watch.”
“Why don’t you just stay quiet too? Don’t cause any trouble.”
“Didn’t you say you were going back? If you’re going, go quickly.”
As I moved my lips again at her sarcastic words, Joelly took out the hair ornament stuck in her hair and pointed to another one. Before Nanny could move, Alicia brought a new hair ornament. And she opens the case herself to show Joelly. Whatever it is, she’s made up her mind.
Robert was tired of the long wait and fell asleep. He lay his small body on the sofa, using my lap as a pillow. As always, he held a horse figurine in his hand. I carefully placed the hand holding the figurine precariously on my knee and patted his small body.
“Hmm, I think this is good enough.”
Then there was a knock. Someone opened the door and came in as soon as Joelly gave permission. My gaze naturally reached the door, then quickly went down. Johnny hurriedly bent over.
Vincent, dressed in a Tailcoat, walked into the room.
“Vincent, welcome.”
“Are you ready?”
“Not yet. Wait a little longer. Oh, you can remove the partition.”
At those words, Nanny moved to remove the partition blocking the front of the door. Johnny, who had been looking at the wall all along, approached and helped, sensing the situation. While I was wondering if I should help too, Vincent plopped down in the seat next to me. My body stiffened.
“Just do it roughly. We’re just trying to keep up appearances.”
“Still, I have to look pretty. Who’s going?”
“How great.”
The conversation was friendly. Seeing how friendly they were, it seemed their relationship wasn't stiff. Come to think of it, what kind of relationship do the two of them have?
But my thoughts went that far and then faded. My heart was beating fast with tension. I lowered my head for no reason and hunched my stiff body even more. I tightened my grip on Robert's hand. In case Vincent recognized me.
But when I glanced at him, he didn't even look at me once, contrary to my worries. He only stared at Joelly, who was fully revealed after the partition disappeared.
Soon after, Joelly, who had finished dressing up, stood in front of Vincent. Wearing a blue dress embroidered with jewels, with matching shoes and hair ornaments, Joelly was so beautiful. Light sparkled from her whole body.
Joelly spun around. The hem of her dress fluttered and then contracted. Emerald eyes rolled and fixed on her.
“How is it?”
Her beautiful lips drooped languidly. It was a smile that would captivate anyone.
“It suits you well.”
“Geez, you’re so insincere.”
“Then don’t ask.”
But what I heard was a voice that sounded annoyed. When Vincent's reaction was lukewarm, Joelly tried to look at another dress again. It seemed like another long wait was about to begin.
When Joelly finally picked up a new dress, Nanny and Alicia also looked embarrassed. In the meantime, Vincent rested his arm on the armrest of the sofa, propped his chin, and casually watched Joelly.
Anyway, that damn mouth is still the same. Did Robert learn that from Vincent too?
I glanced at Vincent sitting next to me. Putting everything else aside, it was amazing the more I looked at him. Vincent who can see. What was obvious to others was not to him, so I kept glancing at him and examining him.
There was no fear in his languid face. He was calm and composed. There was no trace of the image of him trembling with fear after losing his sight in the past. He was completely different from the way he used to be, never leaving his room for fear that someone would harm him. He was no longer the one who fought alone with pain.
That’s good. That’s really good.
I’m so glad he’s doing well.
I smiled softly as I looked at Vincent. Then I erased my smile as a face came to mind. My gaze was fixed on the floor, circling around. The shaking spread like ripples, and my mood became endlessly depressed.
I pursed my lips and tried to calm my mood. I took a trembling breath and raised my eyes again, and Vincent was staring intently at something with his back straight.
His serious gaze was fixed on the front for a long time. When I turned my head along that gaze, Alicia was standing there, touching Joelly's hair. Alicia had been glancing at Vincent ever since he entered.
Alicia, realizing that he was looking at her, put on an aloof expression as if she didn't know. At the same time, she turned her face diagonally so that he could see her face well. And as Alicia intended, Vincent couldn't take his eyes off her for a long time.
Only Alicia was moving, and Joelly's voice was occasionally heard. Until then, Vincent watched them silently. No, his gaze was almost fixed on one side. His gaze moved according to Alicia's moving line.
Why is he looking like that? While I was wondering, Johnny poked my shoulder. Johnny, who had his face close behind me, asked in a low voice.
“Who is that person?”
For a moment, I wondered what he was talking about and looked at Johnny. Johnny expressed his doubts while keeping his eyes on Vincent. Then he looked at me, so I gestured to him, asking if he really didn't know.
“Who is it?”
“He’s the owner here.”
“Ah, really?”
Johnny looked at Vincent again with wide eyes. I was dumbfounded by his reaction that he really didn't know. Didn't all the servants gather to greet Vincent when he returned?
“All the servants gathered when the owner came.”
“I know. But I secretly dozed off then.”
“……”
“It’s a secret?”
I don’t plan to tell anyone. When I let out a dumbfounded laugh, Johnny added that he was tired because he woke up too early, perhaps feeling embarrassed. Ah, is that so. I replied nonchalantly and shook my head.
Then, I suddenly felt a gaze. I quickly turned my head to look, but there was no one looking at us. That’s strange. I definitely felt like someone was watching…….
“Hey. But why is he looking at Alicia like that?”
“No way. He must be looking at Joelly-nim.”
“No. His gaze is intense. Like he’s fallen in love.”
“Do you think everyone is like you?”
I didn’t even want to hear about falling in love at first sight. When I thought of the past when I was harassed because of that, my expression naturally soured.
I was about to say that it couldn't be, and to stop talking nonsense, but Johnny looked at me strangely instead. What. Why. When I glared back at him fiercely, Johnny's face became serious and it seemed like he was about to say something that would annoy me, so I hardened my face even more and glared at him, telling him not to.
“Hey.”
Then a heavy voice was spat out.
My body stiffened in an instant. Johnny gave him his gaze instead of me. I turned my head creakily a beat late.
But Vincent was still looking at Alicia. His call wasn't directed at me.
“Is she a new servant?”
That was directed at Alicia. Alicia turned around quickly as if she had been waiting.
“Nice to meet you. Owner.”
With a shy smile, she placed both hands on her stomach and bowed deeply. Her long hair tied back flowed down her shoulders.
“What’s your name?”
“My name is Alicia.”
Her eyes, slightly lowered and then raised, sparkled. Her clear voice flowed out clearly. The red corners of her lips turned upwards, creating a beautiful smile. Alicia knew this fact well, and she was showing it off to her heart's content.
“I am serving Joelly-nim.”
“……”
“Owner?”
Vincent stared intently at her brightly smiling face again. Alicia's cheeks gradually turned red as his gaze was quite hot. Joelly, who had her arm on the back of the chair with her body half turned, smiled mischievously.
“Oh my. Vincent. You’re going to make a hole in her face.”
Only then did Vincent sigh briefly and pull his body back.
“Are you in love?”
Alicia's eyes sparkled at the playful words.
But his face, which had turned lukewarm again, gestured for her not to talk nonsense. He didn't even answer. Joelly didn't say anything more, and only Alicia had a disappointed look on her face.
“Ann.”
Then Joelly called me. I reacted a beat late because I was watching them.
“……Yes!”
“Come here. Fix my hair.”
Joelly, who had untied the hair that Nanny had put up, gestured to me. I opened my eyes wide. Me? Me? Nanny approached me as I was flustered.
“I’ll watch over Young Master.”
I looked at her smiling softly and hesitated before getting up.
It felt like everyone’s eyes were on me. Nanny laid Robert on her lap instead of me, and Joelly waited for me. Alicia, standing next to her, frowned at me openly.
I took heavy steps and walked towards Joelly. I felt a stinging sensation on the back of my head, Johnny must be watching me. And I could feel Vincent's gaze too.
