# 115. Even Coincidences Are Ultimately Fate (12)
"Why did you leave it untreated."
"......Because it didn't hurt."
"Even if it didn't hurt, you should have treated it."
I calmly reproached him and pressed the cloth firmly so that the medicine would soak well into the scar. He kept flinching and trembling. Wondering if it stung too much, I blew on it.
"Please tell me if you can't bear it."
"......"
After finishing the disinfection, I dipped my fingertip into the medicine in the bottle and carefully rubbed it over the wound. It looked like it would leave a scar for a long time. Feeling upset, I frowned and applied the medicine meticulously, not missing a single wound. When I tried to place a cloth over it and wrap it with a bandage after applying it all, Vincent refused.
"Then you'll have to stay like that until the medicine soaks in."
"I understand."
Finishing the treatment, I pulled my body back slightly. Vincent moved away. I did my best, but since it wasn't professional, it felt inadequate.
"Please get proper treatment if possible."
As I said that and raised my head, Vincent's complexion didn't look good. Why is he making that expression? He was faintly frowning, as if something was uncomfortable. Did it sting a lot?
"You're skilled."
"I have a lot of experience."
I spoke casually and was about to organize the cloth, bandage, and medicine bottle when he abruptly reached out his hand.
"I'll treat yours too, so give it here."
"Huh? I don't have any particularly injured places."
As I waved my hand, Vincent grabbed it and pulled. He unfastened the sleeve buttons and rolled up the cuff. There was a scratch on the inside of my wrist. It was in an ambiguous spot that was hard for me to notice.
"Uh......"
"Aren't you too indifferent to yourself?"
Speaking bluntly, Vincent lowered his head. The distance between us closed again. His golden hair swaying in the breeze tickled the tip of my nose, making me pull my face back slightly.
He examined the scratch on my wrist meticulously. Then, wasn't he pouring a whole load of disinfectant over the wound? I contorted my face at the stinging pain.
"Does it hurt?"
"It's bearable."
"So it hurts."
And with that, he sprayed even more medicine. My face grew increasingly fierce. When I groaned from the intense stinging, a cold voice told me to endure it. It was so cold I almost cried.
After finishing the disinfection, Vincent dipped his fingertip into the medicine and rubbed it on the wound, just as I had done. His touch was careful and surprisingly gentle.
"You're very kind."
To even consider a servant's wound. Was he someone who cared about such things? Was he such a deeply considerate master?
Then, I slightly furrowed my brow and shook my head.
Absolutely not.
"It's my mindset to extend maximum kindness to anyone."
"Wow, that's..."
What an unbelievable mindset. Then what was all that you did to me, you bastard.
"That's a good mindset."
"Sounds like you're being sarcastic."
"......"
"Because I don't know who is who, so that's why."
I asked what he meant, but he focused on the treatment without giving any particular reply. So I also kept my mouth shut and watched him.
But as I quietly watched, I felt a strange sensation. From his treating touch, I could feel a sense of worry, wondering if it might hurt.
His attitude had certainly softened a bit. It was just that the impression at our reunion was bad, but the atmosphere had become calmer, his way of speaking was gentle, and he said he treated servants with maximum kindness. It was the exact opposite of the time in the past when he threw things at me and shouted at me to get out.
Honestly, I was surprised. That awful master harboring such warm feelings! Was this the heart of a mother seeing the troublemaking brat grow up splendidly? I inwardly exclaimed in admiration at his change that I learned about after 5 years. I wanted to clap my hands.
You've become a human being, haven't you?
"It looks like it'll leave a scar."
"That much is fine."
Having applied all the medicine, he placed a cloth on my wrist and wrapped it with a bandage. But the bandage kept getting thicker and thicker.
"Looks like you've been through a lot."
"......What?"
My answer was a bit late because I was hesitating whether to stop him or not.
"There are a lot of wounds on your hands."
He neatly organized the bandage knot, examining it this way and that as he added an explanation. His eyes were intently scanning my hand, not the bandage.
Just as he said, there were many small wounds on my hand. For a woman's hand, it had a lot of calluses, and the knuckles were protruding, making it unsightly. Feeling embarrassed, I tried to pull my hand out, but he gripped it tightly. As if putting strength into it so I couldn't escape.
"It didn't seem like this was your first time doing this kind of work."
Was he saying that since I'd been through a lot, it seemed like I'd done this kind of work many times? If he saw it that way, there didn't seem to be any need to hide it, so I answered honestly.
"Yes. I've done this kind of work before as well."
"You said you worked for the Christopher family."
"......Yes."
Come to think of it, I did say that. Did I answer naturally just now?
"It did look like you were used to serving."
"......"
My mouth immediately clamped shut.
Am I the weird one for thinking this way......? I've felt it since last time, but his words sounded as if he had been watching me. B-but I didn't sense any such atmosphere. Of course, he had been sending gazes that seemed like he was keeping an eye on me lately, but I didn't think he was interested enough to know me well. He's just complimenting me, right?
At that moment, Vincent released my hand.
"It looks like it's done."
"Thank you."
I bowed my head and expressed my gratitude. But I soon lost my words when I saw the bandage wrapped so tightly that it was hard to even move a single finger properly. Vincent's face as he looked at the bandage somehow seemed proud.
"If you're thankful, let me ask you one thing."
On top of that, he makes a shameless demand. Flustered inwardly, I continued speaking.
"Please go ahead."
"Have you really never worked here before?"
My mind suddenly snapped back to attention. My eyes widened as they turned to Vincent. He was looking at me with a grave expression.
"Tell me properly. Really, never?"
I blinked once. I didn't know why he was bringing this up again. I hesitated, then slowly nodded. My answer was the same this time as well.
Vincent, who had been staring at me silently for a while without adding any other words, suddenly leaned his head against a tree trunk with a thud. Then, as if thinking about something for a moment, he lowered his eyes and muttered softly.
"Whatever. I didn't expect it."
That sounded like he was reprimanding me.
Could it be...... did he figure out who I am? I stiffened my expression and carefully observed Vincent. But no emotion could be read from his face. That made me even more anxious.
This time, as I was staring at him intently, he felt my gaze and our eyes met again. For a brief moment, our gazes exchanged.
Suddenly, Vincent gave a small smile.
"You're well-behaved."
"Pardon?"
"You didn't lower your head, nor did you avoid my gaze."
Wondering what he was suddenly talking about, I recalled the time he grabbed my face. At first, it was because he appeared suddenly, and now it was because I was observing him that I didn't avoid his gaze. Even though I had no such intention at all, Vincent didn't wipe the smile off his face, as if he was in a good mood. Somehow, my mind went blank.
With the treatment over, our business was also finished. Silence flowed between him and me. But he didn't move, and I didn't get up either.
My fingertips wrapped in bandages and his fingertips were softly touching. The sensation of lightly brushing against each other felt unusually vivid. The emerald eyes that curved roundly felt unfamiliar.
Countless white petals poured down, hitting our heads, striking our cheeks, brushing our shoulders, and falling to embroider the ground. Vincent, standing under the bright sunlight, wasn't trembling in fear, nor did he show any strange behavior, but I couldn't take my eyes off him.
"I bought that from a famous place."
Vincent said suddenly.
"It's very sweet and delicious."
He gestured with his eyes to the cloth pouch placed on my lap. I also slowly looked down at the cloth pouch.
"It'll suit your taste, so try some."
"Now?"
"Now."
At his firm words, I peeked inside the cloth pouch and took out a square one. Examining its small size, which wasn't even as long as a single joint of a finger, I tore the packaging and put it in my mouth. A sweet taste spread through my mouth. I opened my eyes wide.
"It's sweet, right?"
"Yes. It's incredibly sweet."
"It's caramel."
Caramel. I rolled the identity of the square object in my mouth, chewing it softly. It was the sweetest thing that had ever stimulated my tongue. Moreover, as it melted stickily, the sweetness grew even stronger.
"Is it delicious?"
"Yes."
"That's a relief."
Vincent smiled again.
"Eat one whenever you feel like crying."
I stopped chewing the caramel. Did he buy this for me?
"Did you buy this for me?"
"Yeah."
"Why?"
Just why?
"Well......"
"......"
"You cried a lot. And bawled your eyes out, too."
What? I blinked blankly.
"Thanks to you, my shoulder was soaked, so I had to wash my shirt as soon as I got back to my room. Ethan badgered me about why I made you cry. Do you know how much I sweated trying to explain?"
"Ah, no, that's because you said something that would make you misunderstand, Master."
"Then should I have said that you bawled because you were scared of the dark? Should I have told them that you said you wanted to run away? Just how hard is the work here that you bawled like that, pouring out tears and snot?"
I didn't expect it to be interpreted that way. And I didn't bawl pouring out tears and snot. Flustered, the moment I was about to open my mouth to explain, he spoke first.
"Even Robert's wet nurse came and said something. She said she's never seen a person who worked so steadfastly cry like that. Then it must be because of the recent work, and should I have confronted Ethan about how hard it must be to serve that you cried like that?"
"It's a misunderstanding. It's nothing like that at all."
The story was jumping in a different direction. Now, waving both hands, I argued Ethan's innocence. It wasn't that Ethan left me completely at ease, but neither was serving him so agonizing that I wanted to run away crying.
"Then why did you want to run away so badly?"
"Would you like one?"
I took one more caramel out of the cloth pouch, tore the packaging, and held it out to him. It was an action that clearly revealed my intention to change the subject to anyone. Vincent's eyes narrowed, but I feigned ignorance and pushed the caramel toward him.
But instead of his hand, his face approached. Vincent opened his mouth and ate the caramel I offered. I froze stiff with my hand still raised.
He, who had been chewing the caramel, opened his mouth.
"It's sweet."
A bland evaluation came back.
No, I meant for him to take it with his hand and eat it...... My mind couldn't process his unexpected action. Thinking that I had affectionately fed him a caramel, my face flushed bright red.
As expected, he hadn't figured out who I was. If he knew who I was, he would absolutely never act like this. Ah, then why is he acting like this?
"Shall we get going now?!"
However, my mind was already such a mess that I couldn't think. I hurriedly stood up. It was because I felt like I shouldn't be staying like this with Vincent any longer.
As I stood up, the cloth, bandage, medicine bottle, and cloth pouch that I hadn't managed to gather fell onto the floor with a thud and scattered in all directions. A few candies rolled out of the cloth pouch. Flustered, I picked them up one by one.
Vincent picked up a candy that had rolled under his feet and handed it to me. I bowed my head once, received the candy, and put it in the pouch. Once I was roughly organized, I turned my back to him and took a step. Vincent familiarly followed behind me.