The Count’s Secret Maid - Chapter 38

The Count’s Circumstances (7)

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As Paula coughed, Lucas patted her on the back, asking if she was okay. After barely calming herself down, she looked up at Lucas with a surprised look.

 

‘What did you say now? Who is beautiful? Me? …Do you have bad eyesight?’

 

“Beautiful…?”

 

Vincent questioned. Paula suddenly came to her senses and looked back at him.

 

“Who is beautiful?”

 

“Your handmaid, Brother.”

 

Lucas replied firmly. It was a resolute answer without a hint of hesitation. Paula looked at him again.

 

‘Could he be joking with me?’

 

She silently asked herself.

 

Lucas attacked with determination. It was an answer without the slightest hesitation. Paula saw him again.

 

‘Is he crazy by any chance?’ Paula asked inwardly.

 

“Is she beautiful?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Really. Really?”

 

“Yes, really.”

 

Lucas looked at Paula and replied. When their eyes met, Lucas smiled sweetly. Paula wondered if he was making fun of her. But there was not an inch of deceit on his face.

 

Vincent, who was silent for a moment, muttered quietly.

 

“She’s beautiful…”

 

“She looks so good in pure white.”

 

“She’s beautiful.”

 

“Very much.”

 

Vincent’s words hit Paula like a stone. He showed an unusual moment of perplexity.

 

But it was Paula who was most perplexed.

 

She couldn’t understand what Lucas was saying.

 

‘Did you see my face properly? If you didn’t, I present you my forehead now. What part of this face could be considered pretty? What? Maybe his taste is a bit different,’ Paula wondered, wanting to ask.

 

“Yes. She is very beautiful.”

 

But because of Vincent, who spoke again, Paula couldn’t ask. He looked kind of dazed. But Paula couldn’t afford to check his condition.

 

“Yes. To the point of falling in love at first sight.”

 

Paula’s mouth dropped open at the shocking words. Vincent also raised his eyes, perhaps surprised and curious. Lucas was the only one who still had a refreshingly nice smile on his face.

 

‘What to do? This man is strange!’

 

“Why do you look at me like that?”

 

“I don’t know if I should say this.”

 

Instead of asking, ‘Are you crazy?’ Paula waved his hand at him. Lucas shrugged slightly. As Paula got closer, she covered her mouth with her hand and whispered so that only he could hear.

 

“Do you have any unique tastes?”

 

“I haven’t really thought about it, but it’s pretty ordinary.”

 

“But why?”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

His response was that he really didn’t know. Paula opened her mouth in frustration. Then, she glanced at Vincent. He had been silent ever since. It was a calm face, but she could see the thoughts inside it. She didn’t know anything else but knew that her image had been sorted out in his head.

 

“If you say that, he’ll misunderstand.”

 

“Who?”

 

“My master.”

 

“Is there something to misunderstand?”

 

Paula couldn’t understand why this man was acting this way. She was about to counter him directly but then hesitated.

 

‘Wait, do I really need to correct him? Come to think of it. There is nothing wrong with it for me.’

 

Paula wanted to be remembered as a beautiful face in Vincent’s eyes.

 

‘Yeah, it’s not like you’re doing anything bad.’

 

Paula was surprised, but it was a compliment she would never hear again in her life. To be honest, it felt good. It was the first time she had heard she was pretty enough to fall in love with a man. Even if it were just a polite thing to say, any woman would be pleased to hear it.

 

“What kind of misunderstanding?”

 

“Oh, nothing.”

 

Paula lowered her hand that covered her mouth and straightened her body. Lucas tilted his head. Paula cleared her throat and spoke so Vincent could hear as well.

 

“I’m a very shy person, so even if you mean it in a good way, I’d prefer you only say such things when we’re alone.”

 

“Okay.”

 

“…”

 

The brazen Paula was funny, but Lucas, who answered, was equally brazen. Vincent frowned softly when he heard that.

 

But Paula didn’t lie this time. She decided to be more brazen.

 

“Where are we going for a walk?”

 

“We’re heading to the forest.”

 

After drinking the remaining tea, they headed to the forest behind the outbuilding. It was still quiet here. And it felt good. Admiring the trees and the leaves that stood out on the twisted branches, Lucas suddenly turned in a different direction.

 

“Sir Lucas, that’s not the way.”

 

“I think this side has more to see.”

 

He pointed to the left. What should she do…? Paula looked directly at Vincent, and he nodded, giving her permission.

 

Following Lucas, they entered deeper into the woods. As there was no clear path, it was challenging to walk. Paula cleared away branches blocking the way, and when hazardous obstacles appeared, she warned Vincent in advance. Vincent tightly held her hand and followed cautiously.

 

Eventually, they arrived at a space surrounded by dense trees. Paula was amazed. Wow, who would have thought such a place existed in the woods?

 

“Wow!”

 

“Isn’t it pretty?”

 

Lucas asked in response to Paula’s reaction. Paula shook her head and couldn’t take her eyes off the scene in front of her.

 

A spectacle of flowers unfolded before her eyes.

 

She hadn’t seen anything like a flower garden on her way here. However, a large flower field stood in this space. White and fresh flowers moved gently as if they were welcoming them. Around it, trees were wrapped around as if protecting flowers.

 

It wasn’t fancy. It was elegant rather than flashy. In terms of splendour, the gardens in the mansion were better. It’s understandable, as they strive to create beauty at every moment. But here, the feeling itself was completely different. Untouched by humans, it showed the beauty created by nature. Just looking at it cleared her mind.

 

“How did you find a place like this?”

 

“I stumbled upon it while wandering around when I was bored.”

 

“It’s really beautiful. So, so beautiful.”

 

Lucas laughed at Paula’s excited voice, saying it was beautiful. She admired the white flowers from different angles. The pure white flowers were densely packed, which was fascinating.

 

“Master, master. The flowers are so pretty.”

 

Paula shook Vincent’s hand as he stood behind her. He seemed to be looking for the flower I was talking about.

 

Paula smiled broadly and led him into the flower garden. The flowers blooming here also have long stalks. The flower reached her little waist, and they swayed around Vincent’s thighs, brushing against them.

 

“We are inside the flowerbed now.”

 

“There are a lot of them?”

 

“Yes, a lot. They cover this entire area.”

 

Paula explained the surrounding scenery step by step. The trees guarding the area, the flowers filling the open space, the snowy white petals that would leave marks if touched, the breeze passing through and the vast blue sky above it all.

 

It was a perfectly exquisite and completed beauty with everything coming together.

 

“It’s surreal to see them all blooming like this. I saw a few flowers here and there while coming, but they weren’t gathered like this.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“If you had seen it with your own eyes, you would have definitely admired it.”

 

“Your reaction is enough for me.”

 

Unlike Paula, who was excited, Vincent reacted so calmly. Still, Paula smiled happily. After repeating how beautiful it was countless times, he finally nodded in agreement.

 

Paula handed him a flower in his hand. Following her lead, he bent his waist awkwardly, and the white flowers gently brushed and swayed on his long, beautiful fingers.

 

“I want to jump in.”

 

“Then jump in.”

 

“Then all the flowers will be crushed to death.”

 

“You just have to jump in carefully.”

 

‘Are you kidding me?’ 

 

Paula wondered, but Vincent’s gaze was fixed on the flower in his hand. His hand touched the flower again. Then, again and again, he cautiously touched the petals, as if he feared it would break. He seemed to like it.

 

She knelt next to him and buried her face in the flowers. The fragrance of the flowers wafted through her nose.

 

“It smells good too.”

 

“They all smell the same.”

 

“Even so.”

 

Paula kept smelling the flowers, and Vincent kept touching more flowers. Lucas, who came next to them, looked at them with a proud face.

 

“Do you like it?”

 

“Absolutely!”

 

“How about you, Brother?”

 

“Not bad.”

 

Lucas’s smile deepened at the positive words.

 

Paula nodded and looked at the vast expanse of flowers. Seeing such a refreshing sight made her want to walk inside. So, she suddenly stood up and shook the hand she held in front of him. Vincent gave her a puzzled look. Paula pretended to pull his hand towards her. Noticing her intention, he straightened his back.

 

Paula led him further inside. Vincent followed after her, and Lucas followed after Vincent.

 

“Master, open your hand.”

 

She wiggled the other hand, and the flowers gently brushed against his fingers. Lucas, who was following Vincent, saw her doing that and laughed. Then he extended his hand, imitating her gesture. Flowers barely touched his hand. Seeing this, she couldn’t help but smile joyfully.

 

“Master, hurry, hurry!”

 

“Brother, hurry, hurry.”

 

“…”

 

At our urging, Vincent hesitated and raised his hand. And he slowly spread his fingers. The white flowers were trapped inside his fingers and slipped out as he opened them.

 

‘Did he feel that sensation?’ 

 

Vincent opened his fingers wider. His hand was now filled with flowers.

 

Looking at his soft, dazed expression, Paula turned around and quickened her pace. The feeling of flowers brushing against her waist was ticklish. The wind ruffling her hair felt refreshing. She wanted to run. She wanted to run forward. The footsteps behind her also gradually accelerated. No, it was her footsteps that quickened. At some point, she found herself running through the flower field.

 

‘As if I became a flower.’

 

‘As if the wind was carrying me away.’

 

Then, when Paula stopped walking, she reached the end of the flowerbed without realising how big it was. So, she was gasping for breath slightly. Suddenly, Lucas popped up from the side. He, too, immediately bent his waist and gasped for breath.

 

“You’re pretty fast.”

 

“Oh, sorry. I didn’t mean to run.”

 

After seeing Lucas panting, Paula realised that she had indeed run. She had gotten excited but stopped getting excited midway. It must have been an unexpected turn of events for the two following behind her.

 

After repeatedly apologising, he waved his hand, saying it was okay. Paula gasped for breath while looking up at the sky.

 

Then, suddenly, Lucas burst into laughter. Somehow, it seemed like a happy laugh.

 

“It’s been a while since we ran like this. You feel good, don’t you, brother?”

 

Lucas looked back. Only then did Paula look at Vincent. Behind them, Vincent was breathing heavily. His breathing was heavy, his golden hair standing out from running. He noticed the flushed cheeks underneath.

 

Their hands, still holding each other, were wet with sweat. Paula panicked and approached him.

 

“I’m sorry, master. Are you okay?”

 

He didn’t answer her question, just gently blinked his eyes. He had the face of a dream.

 

Vincent tenderly looked at their holding hands, gasping for breath.

 

Behind him, Lucas laughed again and sat down. Paula turned to Lucas in surprise. A joyful laugh rang out.

 

“Master?”

 

Paula asked again as she looked back at Vincent.

 

Vincent’s lips, parted from his gasping for breath, pursed.

 

“Yes.”

 

His emerald eyes, which had been focused on their intertwined hands, raised to look at Paula.

 

“It feels good.”

 

His face seemed somehow refreshed.

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