The Count’s Secret Maid - Chapter 27

Vincent narrowed his brows when Paula suddenly moved away.

 

“What’s wrong?”

 

“…”

 

“Hey.”

 

But when Paula didn’t answer, Vincent reached out. It was like his habit after turning blind. Touching as a method of looking around. Even now, the hand facing the air stirred around in search of something to touch.

 

‘Look at that, he can’t see me.’

 

Only then did she breathe out of relief.

 

“Oh, no. Nothing.”

 

She shook her head and shook her nervous mind. Then she gently waved before his eyes. The blank eyes didn’t even move their eyelids.

 

She had a useless thought.

 

She couldn’t believe he was blind for a moment.

 

“But why were you silent all of a sudden?”

 

“I was just… I was looking to see if your face was in the right direction. Oh, it’s good right now. You can look at it like this.”

 

Paula went back to the opposite sofa and sat down. She touched the tightly tightened and stretched heart. Then, when she turned her head to a stinging sensation, Ethan was staring at her. He smiled mischievously when she faced him, saying, “What’s wrong with you?”

 

“You got a bit of Vincent, right?”

 

“What are you talking about all of a sudden? How about this?”

 

“That’s perfect. Oh, please refrain from feeling around with your hands like just now. ‘Cause it’s gonna look weird.”

 

“Okay.”

 

Paula looked at Vincent’s hands. That was a habit when you can’t see. Then Vincent lowered his hand and felt for the table, found a teacup and lifted it. He seemed to be practising to make sure that he was not awkward even in his current posture.

 

“Make a proper face. And the posture is too hard. Take it easy.”

 

“How?”

 

“You can sit down as usual.”

 

Vincent was silent for a moment as if he was contemplating what it was to sit down as usual. Ethan then added an opinion and told him to cross his legs. Vincent faltered and crossed his legs. When Ethan said he was still stiff, Vincent leaned his back on the back of the sofa this time. Only then did the posture appear to look more comfortable.

 

“Vincent, then. Now shall we have a little chat with Madam?”

 

“What?”

 

“What?”

 

Vincent raised his head. Paula looked back at Ethan.

 

“Conversation requires practice, too.”

 

Then Ethan tapped Paula on the shoulder and looked at Vincent.

 

“Now, Vincent. Think of her as Violet, and have a conversation.”

 

“What conversation?”

 

“Anything. Talk about the weather.”

 

Ethan sat next to Paula. Vincent frowned at the unexpected demand. Paula also looked at the two alternately, embarrassed.

 

“Or shall we start with Madam? Now, Madam.”

 

“What? What?”

 

“Relax. Think of yourself as Violet, and talk to Vincent.”

 

‘What do I have to say first?’

 

Paula rolled her mind. Next to him, Ethan repeated, “Think of yourself as Violet.”

 

‘How could I be Violet?’

 

‘What kind of person is Violet?’

 

Paula shut her mouth, imagining a face as white and sweet as sugar.

 

“Well, what has happened all this time? Why didn’t you meet me?”

 

“Violet wouldn’t say that.”

 

It was too hard. It was pointed out right away. Paula cleared her voice with embarrassment.

 

“Vincent.”

 

“It’s awkward.”

 

“Vi- Vincent.”

 

“Don’t stutter.”

 

“Vincent…”

 

“What? What’s wrong?”

 

Vincent frowned when Paula imitated a sweet and cute voice like honey. He looked like he heard something he couldn’t hear.

 

“Oh, my. What happened? Huh?”

 

“No, don’t do it.”

 

He really freaked out and threw down his glass. It was going to break, but this time, he looked down at the glass with a frown. It was a little shaky, but fortunately, the glass was safe.

 

Paula put it in a fixed position and sat down again.

 

“Please think of me as Miss Violet.”

 

“It’s strange, what do you think?”

 

“Is it weird?”

 

“It’s weird.”

 

‘Don’t be so cold.’

 

“Think, though. You have to practice now so that you can be natural when you meet Violet later. Imagine like when you read a book, imagine.”

 

“…”

 

Come on, come on. 

 

Paula shamelessly urged Vincent. Then he sighed and clapped his mouth.

 

“Long time no see.”

 

He asked calmly. Paula answered right away, too.

 

“Vincent, indeed.”

 

“…Rather harden it. It sounded like you were going to throw up.”

 

“Really, why didn’t you meet me? Do you know how worried I was? What happened all this time? Huh?”

 

Paula immediately corrected her voice and spoke firmly, and took a deep breath again. When she heard the words, “You are Violet, you are Violet,” as if muttering, she felt like she was hypnotizing herself.

 

‘Am I that bad?’

 

Paula blamed herself for her poor acting skills, but Ethan grabbed his stomach from the side and was on the verge of losing his breath. His smile was close to tears.

 

“I’m sorry. I was a little distracted, you know. There were dangerous things. So… I was very nervous. I didn’t meet you in that condition because I was afraid I would say something bad. I was worried that you would be in danger because I wasn’t safe yet. I was going to meet you when my safety was guaranteed and my body was better.”

 

“Then why didn’t you reply to the letter? If it was because you were afraid I’d be in danger, you could have replied to me by letter.”

 

“I didn’t think that far. I’m sorry.”

 

“I was worried about you. But you didn’t reply, and you didn’t show me your face even when I came to see you. I was worried that you didn’t like me anymore.”

 

“That’s impossible.”

 

The conversation went on unexpectedly. Paula asked the questions Violet was going to ask, and he answered them right away. She couldn’t tell if she had thought about it normally or if it was really spontaneous, but the conversation was smooth.

 

“I’m sorry to have worried you. It’s not that I don’t like you. Don’t get me wrong.”

 

“You’re all right now, right?”

 

“Yes, I feel much better. As I said, I am still recovering because I wanted to get better soon, so don’t worry too much.”

 

‘Is this enough?’

 

The conversation took place quite well, and throughout the conversation he did not move, looking straight ahead as Paula taught him. It certainly didn’t feel strange to think that their eyes met.

 

Paula was wondering if there was anything missing, so she organized what Violet would say again in her head. Then she realized that the most important story was missing.

 

‘I’m sure she will say this.’

 

Paula cleared her throat again, putting in her mouth what she was going to say eagerly.

 

Well, well.

 

“I… I-”

 

“You?”

 

“I, I, I…”

 

Paula couldn’t speak easily.

 

Vincent tilted his head. Paula brushed her dry lips with her tongue several times. She was so embarrassed to say it herself. It was an unfamiliar word to say. So she hesitated and closed her eyes tightly and said the most important thing.

 

“I missed you!”

 

“…”

 

Paula barely got the words out and couldn’t open her eyes for a long time. She couldn’t bear to see Vincent. She rubbed her cheeks for no reason because her face seemed to get hot. Then she opened her eyes, and Vincent had a blank face. The eyes, which had been blinking for a while as if surprised, soon stretched out.

 

“Really?”

 

There was a gentle voice. It wasn’t a cracked, hoarse voice or a voice sharpened with anger.

 

A relaxed, slightly mischievous voice. He lowered his eyes slightly and lifted them up again. The slightly raised corners of the mouth created a nice smile.

 

He was smiling…

 

His affectionate eyes sparkled.

 

“Thank you.”

 

There was a consideration in his sweet voice. The friendly smile was unfamiliar, but Paula couldn’t take her eyes off that smile. It was the face she saw when she had tea time with him in the garden. No, more affectionate than then… a gentle face.

 

‘I’m not the one who needs to see that face. It’s not directed at me.’

 

Paula bowed her head.

 

She couldn’t make eye contact with him.

 

“It’s really fine. I mean…”

 

He said something, but Paula couldn’t hear it. He clenched his fists and held his breath. Maybe because she saw something unfamiliar, her heart thumped. As if she had peeped at a secret that she shouldn’t have seen.

 

Boom, boom, boom.

 

That was strange.

 

It was so weird.

 

“…Madam!”

 

“Yes!”

 

Paula grabbed her chest and raised her head. Ethan was looking at her with his eyes wide open.

 

“Why are you so surprised? I think that’s enough.”

 

“Ah, alas. Yes. I think it’s done now.”

 

‘It’s good now.’

 

Paula stood up from the sofa with a light movement. She was glad she had bangs at times like this.

 

They wouldn’t be able to see her red face.

 

“Keep the conversation as short as possible. You’ll notice it’s weird if you drag it on for a long time. End the conversation first, complaining that you’re tired. Because Violet will never finish first.”

 

“I will.”

 

“Okay. Then the posture is roughly decided, and I think that’s enough for the conversation. The next part is also important. Get up for now.”

 

Vincent got up slowly on the sofa handle.

 

“And you can go out.”

 

“How?”

 

“I’ll tell you the route.”

 

Ethan rearranged the furniture without difficulty for Vncent to pass by. The sofas on both sides of the table were pushed back a little more to widen the passage. In particular, the sofa on Vincent’s right side was spaced apart from the wider table. After that, Ethan, who had been looking around the drawing room, gestured to Paula.

 

“Then, Madam. You have to tell Vincent how to get out.”

 

“Me?”

 

“Together.”

 

Ethan smiled. Paula kept trying to get out of her way and approached Vincent. Vincent stood far away. The face just now looked like it was a fantasy. But it still floated in her head. She wriggled away the memory.

 

“Master, I’ll take your hand and guide you.”

 

Then Vincent hesitated before her hand.

 

He was reluctant to hold her hand.

 

‘What’s wrong? You were okay just now.’

 

Paula folded and unfolded her finger for no reason and grabbed his fingertips slightly.

 

“Now, if you come out this way.”

 

“What’s wrong with you?”

 

“What?”

 

When asked, he narrowed his brows. Then grabbed her hand.

 

“Don’t hold me vaguely. If I fall, you will have to pick me up.”

 

“Me, me?”

 

“What?”

 

“No, no. It should be okay.”

 

Now, hold on tight, she said, still trying to get out of his hand.

 

Then he held on tighter. Paula panicked at the tightening grip, as if he was trying to keep her from getting out. He urged her to quickly guide him pretending not to know.

 

Eventually, Paula forcibly grabbed his hand and led him away.

 

“Here, you will have to memorize the road well.”

 

“I will.”

 

‘I don’t know why my chest keeps tickling.’

***