The Count’s Secret Maid - Chapter 28

Tea time with the Count (9)

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“Paula, did you hear? I am to meet with Vincent today!”

“Yes, I’ve heard. Congratulations.”

“It’s all thanks to Paula for encouraging him.”

Violet smiled, happiness radiating from her. When Paula saw that face, she felt proud. Although the process was difficult, her sense of pride quickly appeared after the end results.

“I am so happy. If I had known it would be like this, I would have come dressed prettier.”

“You are still pretty now.”

“Thank you.”

Smiling shyly, Violet twirled her hair with her fingers. Her coveted hair rippled from her fingertips.

“I’m so nervous because it’s been a while since we met.”

Violet clutched her chest, anticipating her meeting with Vincent. She eventually called for a person from her mansion to help her change into her new clothes. Beautifully dressed, she seemed to glow. Ah, it was like she had a halo. The nanny covered her eyes with her hand and, at the appointed time, led Violet to the drawing room in the annexe.

There sat Vincent, who had been dressed and polished since the morning. He was in a comfortable position with his legs crossed and his back leaning against the back of the sofa. His now faded emerald-coloured eyes were not noticeable unless you were peering closely at them.

“Vincent!”

Violet ran straight to Vincent. She went faster than light. There was no time to stop her from rushing in like a beast hunting prey. Fortunately, Ethan skillfully blocked her way. After, he sat Violet, who kept trying to go to Vincent, on the sofa just across from him.

Even after she sat down on the sofa, he had to keep moving her back. Paula glanced at Violet as she set the prepared tea and snacks down on the table.

“Long time no see.”

“Yes. It’s been a very, very long time! I’ve missed you.”

A tearful voice was swallowed up. Violet’s gaze did not leave Vincent. Just as he had practised, Vincent calmly picked up the cup and held it to his lips and drank. Then, with the cup on his lap, he raised his head and met her gaze. He had only a short practice, but luckily the movements were smooth enough to not feel strange.

Paula stood behind Violet, and Ethan sat on the sofa between Violet and Vincent. Paula decided to watch Vincent while Ethan watched Violet, sending signals to each other if they saw something strange.

“What happened? How’s your body? Are you feeling better? Why are you so skinny? Why didn’t you reply to my letters? What happened all this time? What happened, really? Do you know how worried I was?”

“Ask him slowly. What’s the rush?”

Ethan clicked his tongue at the volume of questions that came pouring out of her. Violet glanced at Ethan and shrugged. Her gaze quickly fell back to Vincent.

“Okay. I will answer all of them, so ask me one by one.”

“What happened?”

“A lot happened. Most likely you already know.”

“Are you still not feeling well?”

“No. I’ve gotten a lot better. Still recovering, but it’s not bad.”

“But that’s still bad.”

Violet began crying and covered her eyes with her handkerchief. Ethan, from the side, added that it was a spectacle. At that moment, the heel of her shoe caught Ethan’s calf. Ethan groaned and grabbed his calf, and Vincent followed the sound and turned his head slightly. But since he was blind, he didn’t know what was going on, so there was no response from him.

Vincent calmly brought out the words he had practised.

“It’s nothing to worry about. The reason why I didn’t meet with you earlier was that I was a bit distracted. There were dangerous things still happening. That’s why I was so nervous. I didn’t meet with you because I was afraid that I would say something bad when we meet. I was worried that I was not safe yet and that you would be in danger. I was thinking of meeting you when I felt safer and better.”

“It’s okay. I understand everything!”

Violet shouted, leaning her upper body towards Vincent.

“You turned out to be unharmed, like this. I’m glad you seem to be doing well. Thank you for showing me how healthy you look. I am… I wondered if you hated me.”

“That can’t be.”

“Yes. I know. I know! I just, I really missed you.”

Those were the words Paula had barely uttered hesitatingly earlier. Violet brought them out smoothly. It was like she was saying ‘I’m going to say this’. And to those words, Vincent will bring out an answer of thanks, smiling mischievously while doing so.

“Alright. I’ll be sure to reply to your letter next time.”

‘What…?’ 

“Really?”

“Yes.”

Vincent nodded his head. Violet responded happily. Paula looked at Vincent who was acting like that. The answer he gave earlier to Paula was strange. It was definitely a conversation they practised… but he gave another answer. Why? He was clearly smiling, but it was not as mischievous as it was back then.

Unknowingly, Paula turned her gaze to him. He drank his tea and lifted his head. His gaze was directed to the front, where Violet was, as he had practised, but it felt like it reached her, who was standing behind him. Paula couldn’t feel like that and averted her eyes for no reason.

After that, the conversation asking about how they were doing continued. Violet spoke excitedly, and Vincent answered intermittently. Then, around the time it got awkward, Ethan intervened and the conversation once again flowed smoothly. Violet was so focused on the conversation that she didn’t seem to have yet noticed Vincent’s strangeness.

Paula could see how long-lasting their relationship was in the way they talked.

“Yes, Vincent. Aren’t the flowers pretty?”

“Flowers?”

Vincent asked, puzzled. Paula was aghast.

“Oh, dear. I sent you a bouquet. I asked for it to be put next to the bed, didn’t you see it?”

“…Yes.”

“Are the flowers fresh? Everything was fresh and the colours were pretty. Which flower was the prettiest? Next time, I will try to make a bouquet with only those flowers.”

“…”

Vincent put the teacup he was holding down on his lap and fumbled with his fingertips. On the surface, he seemed lost in thought, but in reality, he was perplexed. It was the same for Paula. She couldn’t tell him about the bouquet Violet made. It had happened before she could even say something about it.

She didn’t know what to do, so she waved her hand and panicked, but Ethan’s eyes met hers. He smiled at her.

“How could you be shy at a time like this?”

Ethan tapped Vincent’s arm. It was a playful gesture. Vincent’s gaze slipped over to Ethan. Ethan smirked and answered on behalf of Vincent.

“I heard you say that the purple flowers were the prettiest?”

“Oh. Were they the prettiest?”

At Violet’s question, Vincent nodded his head a beat late. He said he liked it, and she added that she would try it next time. There was no hint of doubt in her cheerful voice. Looking at Ethan, Vincent smiled and nodded slightly.

The crisis has passed. Paula secretly let out a sigh of relief.

The time had come for Vincent to wake up. The longer the conversation, the worse it got. As time goes on, Violet might notice something strange. She may not know it right away because she was so happy to meet him, but if she kept looking at Vincent, there was a high possibility that she will notice something.

As planned, Vincent cleared himself first.

“Violet. I’m a bit tired today, so can I get up now?”

“Ah, I see.”

It was an answer dripping with regret. Paula couldn’t see Violet’s expression, but she could guess what emotion would have been revealed on her face.

“Can I come see you again?”

“Of course. You are always welcome.”

After speaking, Vincent stood up quickly. Paula quickly stood at the door to help him. Following him, Ethan got up and Violet got up, too.

All you have to do now is exit. The end of the play was near.

It was during the moment Paula and Ethan were exchanging glances with each other to try to wrap up the situation.

“Vincent!”

Violet jumped into his arms as she was about to leave. It was a very sudden situation. Vincent, who accepted her with a cold heart, stiffened as he was. Ethan also raised his eyes in surprise. Paula also became stiff.

In the meantime, Violet, unaware of anything, lifted her head from his arms.

“Vincent. I missed you so much. I missed you so much.”

“Vi… olet. Calm down for now.”

“Really, really.”

Her eyes were wet with tears, about to shed any moment. Paula hoped that Vincent would not make eye contact with Violet. However…

“Uh? Vincent’s eyes…”

As soon as she said that, Vincent pushed her away. It was like his instinctive defence. Violet landed on the table behind her and fell over.

As Ethan approached and helped her, Violet looked at him blankly. Hearing the loud noise, Vincent was also taken aback. And when you panic, you’re bound to make mistakes. Vincent’s hand stirred the air. For a brief moment, he quickly withdrew his hand, but she must have seen it already.

“Vincent?”

“Sorry, sorry.”

Confused, he turned back and was about to get out.

However, the misfortune did not end there.

As he tried to leave quickly, he fell, hitting his knee on the armrest of his sofa. He fell to the floor and landed on his face.

Thud! 

It was followed by painful sounds.

Paula was shocked and ran to him. She grabbed the hand that stirred the air and supported him.

And then, the commotion subsided.

“Vin-Vincent…”

“…”

His face turned red.

Eventually, things exploded. In its worst form.

“Vincent! Vincent! Open the door huh?”

Thud! Thud!

A soft sound came from behind the tightly closed door.

“Vincent, let’s talk. Okay?”

Thud again!

Thud! Thud!

But the closed door never opened.

Even knowing that, Violet kept knocking on the door.

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