Chapter 6
6
Vincent Mercedes.
Even before recalling the original story, I was familiar with that name.
Because—
‘A bastard of unknown origin.’
Khadien inherited the Mercedes Ducal Family as soon as he completed his coming-of-age ceremony at 19.
And at the same time, he announced Vincent's existence. Vincent was three years old at the time.
It was a situation that was bound to stir up rumors in many ways.
Those rumors even reached my ears while I was attending the Imperial Academy.
I didn't have any friends, so I didn't hear the rumors directly, but even if no one told me, that was all anyone talked about wherever I went.
If it was that bad for me, how much worse must it have been for him?
At the young age of three, Vincent became prey, torn apart to their liking.
‘Fear of people…….’
I once again recalled the reason why Vincent was refusing to attend classes.
Eyes filled with contempt and ridicule, and words that subtly tore him down.
Having gone through such things.
‘It's no wonder he's afraid of people.’
I can understand Vincent's feelings.
I…….
‘He’s an orphan.’
‘And he’s got a disease!’
‘They say you’ll catch germs if you touch him!’
‘Hey, why are you always alone? Try approaching people first! That’s why you don’t have any friends.’
“……Hey, wanna be friends?”
“……What?”
Vincent was startled by my sudden words and turned to look at me.
I shrugged nonchalantly, pretending to be calm, and said again.
“We met like this, it must be fate.”
I never thought the day would come when I'd say such a cliché.
“Wanna be friends?”
From the start, I don't really know how to make friends with someone. This is the best I can do.
Vincent stared blankly at me at my words, then replied with difficulty.
“Don’t you know who I am?”
Vincent is the one on guard, but he's the one who looks scared.
As if he already knows what kind of answer I'll give.
I looked at him quietly. Soon, I chuckled softly and replied.
“I know.”
“…….”
“Vincent Mercedes. The young master of the Mercedes Ducal Family.”
“But…….”
Vincent, who had suddenly stood up from his seat, clenched his fist tightly and looked at me as he continued to speak with difficulty.
“You’re going to be friends with me?”
Unlike Vincent, who was angry, I nodded nonchalantly.
“Yeah.”
“Huh…… Aren’t you a noble?”
Vincent, who had already dropped honorifics, even revealed hostility.
“That’s right. Believe it or not, I’m a Baron.”
“Then you clearly don’t know about me.”
Vincent affirmed and turned his head away.
I stared at Vincent quietly, then casually threw out a question.
“Do you want me to know, or do you want me not to know?”
Twitch.
His delicate shoulders trembled slightly.
I sighed softly.
Vincent, who noticed the sigh, looked at me, not knowing what to do.
Vincent's appearance, revealing his uncomfortable feelings with his whole body yet not leaving my side, was like a wounded stray cat.
“……Vincent, why are you so sure that I don’t know about you?”
At my question, Vincent's head tilted slightly towards me.
His hesitant lips parted slightly.
A precarious voice flowed out as if barely pushed out from between them.
“……If you know about me—”
Tears were already welling up in Vincent's eyes.
I watched Vincent silently.
“There’s no way you’d want to be friends with me.”
A self-deprecating voice, as if he knew his own situation well, twisted my heart.
Because I know that feeling better than anyone.
‘Why are you always alone? If you’re okay with it, wanna play with me?’
‘……Why? Did the teacher tell you to take care of me?’
‘Huh?’
Memories of not trusting people who approached me and pushing them away, isolating myself because I couldn't get along with anyone.
At the time, I thought that was the best way for me to protect myself, but if I had opened my heart a little more back then, would even one person have remained by my side before I died?
I missed that opportunity and can't even turn back, but
‘Vincent, you’re not.’
Vincent Mercedes was just a supporting character in the original story, nothing more than a means to an end for me, but I couldn't turn a blind eye to the wounded child in front of me.
‘The current Vincent is just a ten-year-old child with many wounds.’
Not a bastard of unclear origin, not a notorious young master, not a parricidal figure who will kill his father in the future, nothing.
Just Vincent.
“Vincent, have you ever committed a crime or anything?”
“Wh-what?”
Vincent's eyes widened at my shocking words.
He hurriedly shook his hands, denying it.
“N-no, I haven’t!”
Perhaps thinking he had been falsely accused, Vincent's face turned red.
“Really? Then.”
I stood up from my seat and reached out my hand to Vincent, who was shedding tears.
Vincent looked at my hand with wide eyes, then looked up at me.
“There’s no reason why we can’t be friends, right?”
“…….”
“Ah, or maybe you just don’t like me—”
No, no!
Vincent hurriedly shook his head.
His speed was so fast that the raindrops clinging to his hair splattered everywhere.
Vincent stared at my hand for a while, then asked in a small voice.
“Really, I’m not dirty?”
“Not at all.”
After answering firmly, I took a deep breath.
Then, I spoke in a comfortable tone to Vincent, who was still uneasy.
“I don’t believe the rumors about you. I won’t even listen to them. I only believe in Vincent Mercedes, whom I’ve seen with my own two eyes.”
His red eyes rippled like waves.
“My name is Livia Plington. Vincent, will you be my friend?”
The commotion gradually began to subside, and soon Vincent grasped my hand, which had been floating alone.
“……Yes.”
It was just a short word, but it was enough.
I held Vincent's hand tightly, which was barely touching mine, and said with a bright smile.
“Shall we go back now?”
The sky, which had cleared up, was now setting with the evening sun.
I walked ahead, looking at Vincent, who was following a step behind.
Was it because of the sunset?
Vincent's face looked particularly red.
“Young master!”
As soon as I entered the entrance with Vincent's hand in mine, Winston ran out.
He seemed to have been looking for the missing Vincent, his forehead soaked with sweat.
“Where have you been? I was worried because you disappeared while it was raining. And how…….”
Winston, who was kneeling and checking Vincent's condition, looked up at me with strange eyes.
I let go of Vincent's hand and said with an awkward smile.
“I ran into him by chance while taking a walk.”
“Taking a walk…… By chance……?”
Without an umbrella while it was raining?
Moreover, Vincent and I looked like drowned rats, so even if you looked at it kindly, it was difficult to say that we had simply gone for a walk.
‘It’s understandable since we pushed through the bushes and climbed the hill.’
But I didn't want to tell him about what had happened so far.
Today's events will remain as a memory just for Vincent and me.
I shrugged playfully, but because it was something related to Vincent, Winston wasn't easily going to let it go.
At that moment, Vincent grabbed Winston's sleeve and said.
“Winston, is that important right now?”
“Ah.”
Only then did he realize his discourtesy and immediately ordered a passing maid to heat up bathwater and prepare new clothes for my room.
After giving the order, he bowed to me.
“I apologize for not taking action sooner. Thank you for taking care of the young master, teacher.”
It was Vincent who reacted to those words.
“Teacher?”
Vincent's head turned towards me.
‘He must have thought I was just a guest visiting the Duke’s residence.’
I felt sorry, as if I had stabbed him in the back.
His red eyes shook in confusion. Soon, the question in his eyes turned into betrayal.
“Don’t tell me…….”
Vincent, who was looking at me with a dazed expression, turned his back to me and ran away.
“Y-Young master!”
Winston hurriedly called out to Vincent, but Vincent did not return.
Winston said to me with a troubled face.
“I will apologize on behalf of the young master’s rudeness.”
“No, it’s okay.”
I already expected it.
No matter how much we became friends, a tutor is another matter for Vincent.
Trauma doesn't disappear that easily.
‘I expected it, but I can’t help but feel bitter.’
Still, this is a great achievement for the first day.
‘What’s left is…….’
“Excuse me, butler.”
Winston turned to me at my call.
‘In the original story, Vincent never showed that he was sick.’
Because he was afraid of receiving annoyed glances or being abandoned again in the end if it was known that he was sick.
I know that feeling better than anyone, but.
‘That doesn’t mean hiding it is the right answer.’
So I have no choice but to tell him instead.
“Actually, Bin…… the young master doesn’t seem to be in good condition.”
“Yes?”
Winston's eyes widened at my words.
I put on a serious expression and continued to speak.
“He seems to have a fever and keeps coughing. He also got rained on, so I’m worried that it might turn into an illness.”
“That……!”
Winston's expression immediately turned serious.
He muttered with a troubled face.
“The young master has a habit of hiding when he’s sick.”
“Wouldn’t it be better to call a doctor and have him examined?”
“Of course, we should. Thank you for telling me.”
Winston bowed to me, and I waved my hand, saying it was only natural.
Winston immediately left to call the doctor.
I returned to my room, took another shower, and changed into the new clothes that had been prepared in advance.
After organizing the remaining luggage, it was already close to midnight.
I lay down on the bed and muttered, looking at the ceiling bathed in moonlight.
‘Is this enough?’
Winston also noticed that Vincent was sick, so he will take care of him by his side all night.
Unlike in the original story, Vincent no longer has to suffer alone.
‘But…….’
I tossed and turned to fall asleep, but eventually sighed and opened my eyes.
