Chapter 42
The Count's Secret Maid - Chapter 42
Translation: godsn
"What color?"
"Pardon? Ah, it's pink. The skirt is so voluminous it keeps distracting me. My feet keep getting tangled when I walk. There's lace on the shoulder line, sleeves, and hem that keeps fluttering about. Oh, and there's a ribbon at the waist too. That's also pink."
He frowned as he carefully considered my words.
"I don't really understand dress designs."
"It's a very beautiful dress. The fabric is lovely too."
It's so delicate I'm worried it might tear with just a little pressure. It's pretty, but honestly I'm not sure if it suits me. Violet said it looks good on me, but my reflection in the mirror just looks awkward.
After a brief silence, Vincent tapped the space beside him.
"Come here."
"Pardon?"
"I said come sit closer."
Though puzzled by his request, I obeyed the command and scooted closer to him. Then Vincent reached out. His fingertips brushed against the nape of my neck as his hand suddenly approached, making my body stiffen instantly.
His fingers touched the hair tie and fiddled with it.
"What's this?"
"M-my hair tie. The one Violet gave me before."
"I see."
He continued playing with the tie as if testing its texture. Then he let go of it and lightly placed his hand on my shoulder instead. When his fingers touched the lace, he traced along it. Slowly, his fingertips moved along the shoulder line.
His cautious touch seemed to be exploring everything his fingers encountered. His face tilted toward me. With his warm breath suddenly close, I heard his soft whisper asking me to speak up if he touched anywhere inappropriate. I had no chance to respond as his hand moved down from my shoulder line to trace the lace at the sleeve's hem, then continued downward until reaching my wrist. When he drew a circle on the inside of my wrist, I shuddered from the ticklish sensation.
"Can I touch lower too?"
"P-pardon?"
"The hem of the skirt."
He pointed downward. Aah— I let out a short sigh before lifting the hem and placing it in his hand. He began feeling it between his fingers. His face, which had been gazing into space, tilted slightly downward as his touch grew more deliberate while examining the hem.
I knew he was touching it to imagine the dress' s design. Yet everywhere his hand touched burned. Though he was only touching the skirt's hem, it felt like he was touching me directly. It's strange. I felt so embarrassed that heat rose throughout my entire body.
"I still can't picture it by touch."
"......"
Even after hearing him speak, I kept my lips tightly pressed together. My body kept trembling in little shivers, and I was too preoccupied with suppressing them to avoid his notice. My whole body felt twisted up, and the strange sensations rising within me made me uncomfortable. Just as I couldn't take it anymore and was about to stop him, the door opened and Violet entered.
Violet froze upon seeing us. Her violet eyes blinked rapidly as if trying to comprehend the situation. Flustered, I snatched the skirt hem from Vincent's hand and sprang to my feet.
"Are the preparations finished?"
"...... Yeah. But what were you doing just now?"
"The master was curious since I'm wearing a dress. I was explaining what kind of dress it is."
"Ahh."
Violet nodded, then approached us with a light laugh.
"The party preparations are all done. We can head down now."
Violet addressed both me and Vincent in turn. I nodded and turned to help Vincent up. Behind me, Violet quickly closed the distance and placed her hands on both my shoulders.
"How does Paula look? Pretty, isn't she?"
"How would I know? I can't even see."
"But you heard what she's wearing, didn't you? She looks absolutely lovely! Vincent would've been stunned if he could see her! Lucas was completely smitten by Paula's charm."
At Violet's laughing remark, I flustered.
Who did what? I shook my head in denial—though of course he couldn't see it—thinking there was no way.
"Vincent would've loved to see you too. It's a shame he can't right now."
"That much?"
"Yes, that much."
Violet, still gripping my shoulders, pushed me toward Vincent. Caught off guard, I took a step closer to him. His gaze locked onto me following the sound. Then, as if scrutinizing my appearance, he moved his head up and down. Even knowing he couldn't see, I bowed my head deeply in embarrassment. For once, I was grateful his eyes didn't work. I wasn't as pretty as Violet claimed anyway.
But after studying me for a long moment, Vincent burst into laughter. Though he covered his mouth with his hand, it was unmistakably a mocking laugh.
"Well. Even if I could see, I doubt it'd be anything special."
This time, heat rose to my face for entirely different reasons. No matter what, how could he openly ridicule me like that!
"That's really cruel of you."
"Why?"
"Of course you don't have to say it suits me, but there's no need to laugh at me so blatantly. And even say it's'nothing special'! Couldn't you just say I look pretty in situations like this?"
"I can't lie."
His face hardened as he shook his head firmly. I let out a hollow laugh. He's always like this. What an unpleasant man.
As I glared at him and turned away, I caught sight of Violet's frozen expression. Just moments ago, she had been smiling, but now all traces of it had vanished.
"Lady Violet? Are you feeling unwell?"
"Ah... No. I should go get ready too. Lucas will be coming up. You two go down first. Paula, could you help me for a moment?"
"Yes."
Violet smiled and headed toward the door first. I told Vincent—who thought I was nothing special—that I'd go ahead, then stomped my heels twice against the floor with a loud clack. Vincent waved his hand dismissively as if telling me to scram.
And so, I returned to her room with Violet. On the bed inside were several dresses lined up. Each was beautiful and would undoubtedly suit her well.
When I turned to ask which one she'd wear, she stood motionless by the door. Perhaps unaware of my gaze, she stared blankly into empty space. Her condition seemed off. " Lady Violet?" Only when I called her did focus return to her eyes.
"......"
"I've never seen that before."
"Pardon?"
"Him acting so bluntly like that."
"Who, surely not the Master?"
"Yes. I've never seen him like that before."
Her words left me stunned. Wasn't that his usual personality? To me, he'd always been curt and temperamental, so I assumed that was just how he was. Does he not act that way with others?
"He's like that with Paula."
"......"
"Excuse me?"
Though bewildered, seeing her violet eyes lose focus again left me at a loss for words. Was she shocked? Now that I think about it, Ethan had also been horrified when he saw him throwing things. Maybe that wasn't his original personality, or perhaps he'd been hiding it.
So does that mean he's only like that with me?
What an asshole.
Violet chose a white dress. The design clung tightly to her body from shoulder to knee, accentuating her figure, while the hem billowed out richly below. Her long hair, like mine, was braided and pinned up with floral decorations.
Violet, fully adorned, was breathtakingly beautiful. She had called me pretty, but the true radiance was hers. The way she descended the stairs, gripping the railing, was elegance personified. Had I been a man, I surely would have fallen for her.
The Central Hall was filled with the lively strains of a brisk classical melody. The music heightened the already buoyant atmosphere of the quiet interior.
But aside from Vincent and Lucas, there was one more person in the Central Hall. I had thought no one else would be allowed in once the party started. Who was it?
Just then, the man waved in our direction. It was Ethan.
"Ethan!"
Violet called out cheerfully. Ethan grinned and greeted her in return.
"What brings you here? I thought you were busy."
"You sent me an invitation and now pretend not to know?"
Ethan waved the letter teasingly. Violet smirked and said the more the merrier. Aside from Violet and Lucas, Ethan was the only outsider who knew about Vincent's condition. The hall, which had felt hollow and barely fit for a party, suddenly grew lively with Ethan's arrival.
Violet naturally linked arms with Vincent. Vincent, too, seemed accustomed to her touch. The two looked every bit the perfect couple.
As I stood there staring blankly at them, Lucas approached my right side and offered his arm.
"I'll escort Paula."
"I'm fine."
"Then how about me?"
Ethan stood to my left. I shook my head even more firmly. This one was even more of a no.
"It's a party—you should at least dance."
"I don't know how. I'll just stay over there and eat something delicious."
I turned toward the table laden with food. Ethan and Lucas followed me anyway. In the end, the three of us—left without partners—resigned ourselves to a rather pitiful feast. Isabella, who was in charge of serving for tonight's party, stood waiting at a distance.
At the center of the hall, Violet and Vincent faced each other.
"Think he can dance?"
"His sister will lead him."
"......"
Clink. Ethan and Lucas tapped their glasses together, their gazes fixed on the pair. Even I, who had been forced to join in the toast, turned my eyes toward them as I gulped down my wine.
"You drink well."
"I'm not bad at it."
Perhaps because it was good wine, it went down smoothly.
A moment later, Isabella changed the music. A soft classical piece filled the hall. Violet and Vincent took their positions, then began moving gracefully to the rhythm.
Beneath the dazzling chandelier, Violet and Vincent were breathtakingly beautiful. There were no other words for it. She moved with elegance, her white skirt flaring like a freshly bloomed flower, drawing every eye. Her radiant face was alight with a smile—she shone. Vincent, matching her steps, moved without a hint of awkwardness.
"He's not stumbling."
"He's danced often enough."
"They're beautiful."
They really are. They suit each other so well. I smiled bitterly and downed more wine. Lucas warned me to take it slow.
The music soon ended. The two bowed to each other. Their smiling faces were so lovely. The sound of their laughter, brimming with joy, reached my ears. I chewed on a pastry, unable to look away.
Then, a hand suddenly thrust itself toward me.
"What's this?"
"A dance request."
"Huh?"
I had clearly said earlier that I couldn't dance—was he serious? I stared blankly up at Lucas, who extended his hand further. He even waved it impatiently, urging me to take it. Flustered, I shook my head, but Ethan chimed in, saying it wouldn't hurt to humor him just this once.
And when Lucas slumped his shoulders and asked if I really disliked it that much, I had no choice but to take his hand.