Chapter 41
The Count's Secret Maid - Chapter 41
Translation: godsn
"I'm sorry for startling you. I was so happy seeing Paula become prettier that I didn't properly consider your feelings."
"N-no, it's alright. You don't need to apologize."
"Then Paula must promise never to say such things again. Understood?"
She reached out her hand again with that tinkling laugh. I stared at her delicate fingertips. She wiggled them slightly. Hesitantly, I extended my hand. She grasped mine firmly and stood up. I rose from my seat following her lead. My vision filled with her beautiful face beaming with joy.
I lowered my head. Swallowing back the lump rising in my throat. My eyes stung. It must have been because our clasped hands felt so warm.
"Hmm, how about we just style the back of your hair then? I won't touch the bangs or do any makeup, just work on the back. It'd be a shame not to when you're dressed so nicely, right?"
"Th-then just the back..."
"Yes, just the back! I promise I won't touch the front at all. I swear."
Only after repeating her promise several times did Violet tiptoe behind me. Then she carefully began handling the back of my hair. My body instinctively stiffened. Every nerve was on edge, terrified she might touch my bangs. I was ready to bolt at the slightest hint of anything unusual.
Fortunately, she kept her promise and only touched the back.
"Paula's hair is curly too. Just like mine."
See? She showed me her own hair as she spoke. True to her words, the ends curled. Overall, it had noticeable waves.
"Sometimes I envy people with straight hair because mine's so unruly. But then people with straight hair tell me they envy my volume when styling. I guess the grass is always greener. Though Paula's isn't as extreme as mine."
"I'm sorry."
"Oh dear, I told you not to apologize."
Her cheerful laughter behind me made my ears tingle. I found myself fidgeting with just my fingertips.
Violet braided the back of my hair and coiled it into a rounded updo. When she looked for something to secure it with, I offered the white hair tie. It was the one she'd gifted me that I'd cherished ever since.
"I brought new ones."
"I like this one."
"But I brought so many pretty ones! Let me decorate you with those."
I shook my head.
"I'd like you to use this hair tie. It doesn't clash with my outfit, and... I treasure it more than anything. It would make me truly happy if you used this precious item to adorn me."
At my words, her smile brightened as she took the hair tie and secured my updo.
When she finished, she stepped back to examine me. Her gaze made me tense up unconsciously. After studying my rigid posture for a long moment, she complained that I still looked too plain. After brief consideration, she clapped her hands and pulled several square boxes from her bag.
Opening the lids revealed a pearl necklace with a round gemstone at its center. No, not just a necklace. There were rings too. Another box contained bracelets. My eyes were glued to them before I snapped back to reality and frantically waved both hands—I'd realized she meant to adorn me with them.
But Violet flatly refused to take no for an answer.
When the necklace settled around my neck, I gulped dryly. What if I lose this? The weight of responsibility made my neck feel heavy. Bracelets encircled my wrists, rings slipped onto my fingers. I kept swallowing nervously. Though I protested repeatedly that this was too much for me, Violet remained absorbed in her styling.
When Violet stepped back to survey her work again, she smiled in satisfaction. Was it finally over? I secretly sighed in relief. I wanted to remove everything immediately, but she led me before a mirror instead.
"How do I look?"
"......"
A stranger stood reflected in the mirror. If not for the absence of bangs covering my face, I might not have recognized myself. My lips parted slightly as I stared at the woman in the glass.
The reflection wasn't me.
The back of my hair had been skillfully braided and coiled into an elegant updo, secured with the hair tie, its remaining ends left to cascade naturally downward. The pink dress hugged my figure perfectly, the corset effect cinching my waist into a delicate curve. The pink ribbon tied around my midsection accentuated it further, while the voluminous skirt made me appear even more slender.
The gloves, the glimpses of white stockings peeking through, the pink shoes adorned with tiny ribbons matching the dress—everything harmonized perfectly. Where the ensemble might have risked looking plain, the necklace, bracelet, and ring filled in the gaps.
Dazed, I lifted a hand. The woman in the mirror did the same. With my other hand, I gathered the hem of the skirt before tracing the lace along the shoulder line. The lace trim beneath the sleeves billowed gracefully downward. My fingers brushed the necklace, then smoothed the coiled updo. The reflection mimicked every movement.
It really was me.
"Pretty, isn't it?"
"...... Yes. Ah—no, I mean the dress."
Violet smirked at my response. I insisted I meant it, but her laughter didn't cease.
The situation felt awkward yet fascinating. I'd never worn anything like this before. I'd thought the pink would make me look childish, but instead, it lent an air of maturity. Is this really me? Now I understood why Violet had lamented the bangs—they did stand out oddly. I absentmindedly fiddled with them before shaking off the thought.
I kept getting distracted by my reflection, utterly mesmerized. Then, a knock sounded at the door. Violet granted permission, and soon after, Lucas entered.
He approached Violet with a square box in hand but abruptly halted mid-step. His widened eyes locked onto me, his stunned expression rapidly scanning me up and down.
"...... Paula?"
"Yes."
Lucas froze completely.
Puzzled, I glanced at Violet, only to find her watching Lucas with an inscrutable expression. I stepped forward in her stead, taking the box from his hands and passing it to Violet. She suddenly beamed, her gaze flickering between him and me.
Then, she spun me back toward Lucas, gripping both my shoulders.
"Well? Isn't she pretty?"
"......"
No answer came, but his gaze remained fixed solely on me. Embarrassed, I fidgeted with the hem of my dress. The prolonged silence grew unbearable. Thinking I must look ridiculous, I turned to change—but then, a quiet voice reached me.
"Beautiful."
His dazed expression gradually brightened, his brown eyes softening with warmth. They held a sweetness so thick, it was as if honey might drip from them.
"Very much so."
"......"
Somehow, that made me even more flustered.
I scratched awkwardly at my exposed nape, averting my gaze. Violet, meanwhile, grinned so widely it looked like her smile might reach her ears. The affectionate stares weighed on me, and I dropped my head, staring at the floor.
"Can I take this off now?"
"So soon? Wear it a little longer."
"I need to go clean."
"Tsk, what a waste. You should go to a party like this."
Honestly, it wasn't that big a deal. I laughed off Violet's remark, but she pressed seriously, asking why I didn't attend some party. I immediately shook my head—that was absurd. Undeterred, she suggested throwing one here instead. At such a preposterous idea, I shook my head even more vigorously. Aside from the sudden complications of hosting, there wasn't even anyone to invite.
Her shoulders slumped at my repeated refusals. She seemed genuinely disappointed. I felt a pang of guilt, but this wasn't something I could compromise on.
I turned away to retrieve the dress she'd taken from me earlier. She kept muttering about what a shame it was. Just then, Lucas, who'd been silent until now, suddenly proposed an idea.
"How about we throw our own party? Just us."
And so, an impromptu party was decided upon.
It was an extremely small gathering—just me, Violet, Lucas, and Vincent. Frankly, it barely qualified as a party. Yet Violet and Lucas got so excited they immediately asked Isabella to make preparations. Their efficiency was impressive. Isabella remained composed despite the sudden request. Only Vincent, who heard the news belatedly, looked utterly baffled. 'Anyone would think this was your mansion.' 'Why not—it's fun.' 'What's good is good.' '......' By that point, no one could stop the two of them once they'd set their minds to it.
The central hall of the annex was designated as the party venue. Isabella brought in housemaids to decorate the space and instructed the chefs to prepare food. She made it clear that no one was to enter the hall once the party began. The food would be delivered by either Isabella or the annex chefs, with Isabella personally handling all other service needs.
My offer to help with preparations was flatly rejected. Violet forcibly kept me in my room, insisting the dress would get ruined. She told me not to worry about anything. Instead, she went down alone to oversee the party arrangements, with Lucas joining her shortly after—apparently, someone needed to stand in for Vincent since he couldn't participate.
So in the end, only Vincent and I remained in the room. I fidgeted with my fingers. The dress clinging to my body felt uncomfortable. I shifted my hips restlessly. With all the commotion outside, sitting here doing nothing made me feel like I was perched on a bed of nails.
When I stole a glance at Vincent sitting at the far end, I saw him leaning with his elbow on the armrest of the sofa, chin propped on his hand. The gleaming tip of his black shoe flicked up and down in midair. Dressed in the tailcoat Lucas had forced him into, with his golden hair swept back, he looked more polished than usual.
I'd thought it before, but Vincent dressed like this seemed like a completely different person. His dignified appearance resembled that of a refined noble's son, while his slouched posture gave off the air of a rebellious young lord dragged unwillingly to a party. The incongruity eased my tension, drawing an involuntary chuckle from me.
He certainly had the looks to turn heads—if only he weren't scowling so deeply.
"You always do this whenever you come."
"...... I'm sorry."
"Why are you apologizing?"
"I feel like I might have encouraged this."
"Did you cheer them on this time too?"
"No, not that."
At my response, Vincent sighed and sank deeper into the sofa. He tilted his head back, running a hand through his neatly styled hair.
"Well, there's no helping it."
His words carried resignation, though he didn't seem particularly displeased. I silently prayed over and over that nothing would go wrong.
"Why do you keep fidgeting?"
My constant shifting must have grated on his nerves.
"The dress is uncomfortable. I'm sorry."
"Dress?"
"Lady Violet insisted I wear something suitable for the party."
Though to be precise, this whole mess started because I put it on.
As I spoke, I smoothed the hem to prevent it from wrinkling too much. Wearing something so expensive only made me more self-conscious.
Vincent turned to look at me. His scrutinizing gaze made me wonder why he was staring, so I met his eyes in return. The way he studied me with that crooked expression was... unsettling.