# 128
128. The Maid Stands Before the Secret (7)
"I did it without thinking... I'm sorry."
"......."
I offered an apology immediately, but no response came back. Was he very surprised, or was he displeased because I had swatted his hand away? It didn't matter either way. I just wanted to escape his gaze quickly.
But for some reason, Vincent spoke to me again.
"Don't you have anything to say to me?"
At his sudden question, I hesitated for a moment before rummaging through my skirt pocket. I had washed the handkerchief I borrowed from him last time until it was clean, ironed out the wrinkles, and kept it in my pocket. But I hadn't been able to return it because of the incident with Alicia.
I took out the neatly folded handkerchief and politely offered it to him.
"I was very rude last time. Thank you for lending it to me."
He glanced at the handkerchief for a moment, but instead of taking it, he brought up something else.
"Where were you heading?"
"I was going to get the water container. I need to fetch fresh water for the young master to drink, but I left the container behind."
"Then you're not busy."
"Excuse me?"
"This works out well. Come here."
Vincent abruptly turned around and walked down the hallway. I stared at his back in bewilderment. Hey, you didn't even ask whether I was busy or not.
Vincent, who had been leading the way as he pleased, stopped when I didn't follow and urged me to hurry up. Only then did I scramble to take steps to chase after him.
The place Vincent headed to was the back of the mansion. Since it was lunchtime, there was no one around.
Vincent, who was walking ahead, suddenly stopped and looked back at me.
"Stand right there."
I stopped walking as he said and stood blankly in place. Vincent stepped back five paces from where he was standing.
I was wondering about his cryptic behavior when a fierce wind blew in with a whoosh. My skirt fluttered and my hair became disheveled. I grabbed my bangs that were whipping against my eyes and hunched over for a moment, only opening my eyes after the wind had somewhat subsided.
A single white petal crossed before my eyes. When I looked up in surprise, white petals from who knows where were falling around me like snow. Then, when a cool breeze blew, the petals that had risen powerfully again embroidered the air as if dancing. At the beautiful sight, my lips parted slightly in wonder.
Wow. I let out a short exclamation of admiration and reached out my hand. Beyond the fluttering petals, I could see Vincent holding up one hand. White petals flowed flutteringly from his hand, and flew toward me on wings called wind.
When our eyes met, his emerald eyes narrowed slightly.
"Do you like it?"
Seeing his somehow tender face, I answered as if bewitched.
"Yes... very much..."
"That's a relief."
Saying so, Vincent let out a soft laugh. When he spread his hand wide open, the petals contained in his palm flew up on the wind. The exquisite beauty of the scene created by the petals and the wind was enough to melt one's heart.
I waved my hands about trying to catch the petals.
"Where did you get all these?"
I asked, unable to hide my excitement.
"From the flower garden in the forest. I plucked them as I saw them."
"There's a place like that in the forest?"
"There is. A place created by roots that settled down as they pleased."
At those words, I paused just as I was about to catch a petal in my hand. I realized what place he was talking about. The petal that had landed in my hand flew away freely again, but I had no mind to pay attention to that. He had already approached me.
I hadn't noticed, but he was holding a small cloth pouch in one hand. Petals that hadn't yet escaped from the pouch dropped down one by one.
"I knew you'd like it."
"Why this..."
"It's a return for the bouquet you gave me last time."
At his unexpected words, I opened my eyes wide. It was just a bouquet I had given without any particular meaning. I never dreamed that he would remember something even I had forgotten and repay me in this way.
As I stared at him blankly, Vincent frowned slightly.
"Don't tell me you were really just lending it? Should I have given it back?"
I quickly waved both hands.
"No, no. You don't have to give it back."
"It already withered a few days ago anyway."
"......."
"That won't wither, I suppose."
Vincent gestured with his eyes toward the handkerchief clutched in my hand. Flustered, I offered the handkerchief to him again.
"I brought this to return it. Besides, I haven't prepared anything to repay you with."
"You gave me a bouquet."
"You just repaid me for that."
"Then grant me one favor."
"Please tell me anything."
"Don't return the handkerchief."
Then there's no point. As I furrowed my brow slightly, Vincent smiled a little.
"Use it when you want to cry."
"Don't cry alone stifling your sobs."
"I didn't cry."
"Your eyes are red."
Flustered, I fumbled around my eyes. I was about to say it was a misunderstanding when Vincent suddenly snatched the handkerchief from my hand, covered my face with it, and rubbed vigorously. It seemed like he was trying to wipe my tears, but to me, it was just a ruthless touch.
"Ah! Ah! It hurts!"
"Where did you forget the sweets I gave you to eat whenever you wanted to cry? Don't tell me you ate them all?"
"What, what! More than that, it hurts!"
A clicking of tongue was heard. At the same time I realized it, he wrapped the handkerchief around my nose and pressed down hard, making me scream. Unable to bear the pain, I backed away to escape his hand. The distance between us widened, and I regained my freedom.
The handkerchief fell from my face, and I rubbed my squished nose. My face burned. I thought all my skin had been peeled off. I almost cried for real just now.
As I was touching my face where a stinging pain lingered, Vincent put his hand into the cloth pouch, took something out, and held it out to me.
"Hand."
I hesitantly held out both hands. Then, candies and caramels that I had received before fell plink-plink into my hands. I thought there were only petals inside, but he must have put these in too.
"No, why these again..."
"I told you to eat them whenever you want to cry."
That, right. Since it was too much to eat alone, I shared some with the nanny and carefully stored the rest in my room. I did occasionally snack on them when I was bored, but it was inconvenient to carry them around all the time.
"Where did you put the ones I gave you last time?"
"In my room. There's still some left..."
As I was looking blankly at the things piled in my hands, Vincent picked out one caramel and held it out.
"You want me to eat it now?"
"Then when else would you eat it? Are you saving it for tomorrow? Or the day after? Have some respect for my effort, you're not going to say you'll eat it later, are you? Or did it not suit your taste? Then you should have said so, why leave it in your room to rot."
"Ahhh, I'll eat it! I'll eat it right now."
As nagging suddenly poured out, I cut off his words and quickly took the caramel and put it in my mouth. When I chewed it in front of him, only then did Vincent look satisfied.
Feeling the sweetness spreading in my mouth, I murmured softly.
"The bouquet must have been very touching for you. Seeing as you're even repaying me like this."
"Because it put me in a good mood."
"I didn't know you liked flowers that much. Honestly, I thought it was a lie."
"Why is that?"
Because it can't be purely good memories for you. I chewed those words in my mouth along with the caramel.
Just as I did, he must have recalled the flower garden in the forest upon seeing the white flowers. And he must have thought of Lucas, who guided us there.
But now, the times he spent with Lucas might be memories he wants to forget. Since I'm not Vincent, I can't perfectly understand his pain, but I know well that recalling Lucas isn't easy.
"It's just, it wasn't anything that impressive."
"As long as it put me in a good mood, that's enough."
"Then next time I'll pick flowers and make one for you. With various kinds, all colorful."
"You must be good at making those?"
"Yes. I'll make you a very pretty one."
I made a large circle with both hands as if imagining a big bouquet. Despite how I look, I'm quite skilled at making bouquets. When I said to tell me his preferred taste and I'd definitely reflect it, he, who had been quietly listening to me, threw in a word.
"Don't pick them carelessly unless you're going to pay for them."
Why did the topic jump in that direction again? When I looked at him with dissatisfaction, Vincent grinned mischievously. Seeing his expression, he was definitely teasing me.
"It's a good thing the wind was blowing. It would have been embarrassing if I went through the trouble of bringing them and there was no wind."
At those words, I felt flustered.
"Did you perhaps tell me to follow you just to show me this?"
"You said you liked white flowers. You also enjoyed watching the flowers fall from the tree last time, so I thought you'd like it if I gave them to you like this. Was I wrong?"
My mind went blank again. As the wind scattered his hair, Vincent tilted his head back and savored the coolness. Looking closely, his clothes were full of wrinkles. There were also green stains on the knee area of his pants. Just like someone who had just been to a flower garden.
"Next time, I'll take you to that flower garden. It's not bad to go get some fresh air occasionally. The white flowers are worth seeing."
"Why...?"
Why are you being so kind to me?
I became genuinely curious. He suddenly showed me this as a return for the bouquet, and before, he had gifted me caramels, telling me to eat them whenever I wanted to cry.
At some point, Vincent started being kind to me. I didn't know why his attitude had suddenly changed. I didn't try to find out, either. I just gladly accepted it, thinking he was killing his awful temper and offering goodwill. Or perhaps he was being nice to me because of Alicia?
But seeing his attitude, somehow that didn't seem to be the reason. He was consistent toward me whether Alicia was present or not. He occasionally smiled and showed tender signs, whereas when he was with Alicia, he had a sullen face.
"Why are you treating me so kindly? You said you hated me."
He didn't like me when we reunited, and he even said something about me being the type to meddle too much. So why? At my genuinely curious question, Vincent's face turned cold. He looked at me askance with his arms crossed.
"Come to think of it, you only ever ask me questions. You've never once given a proper answer to my questions, either."
I felt a twinge of guilt inside and lowered my head. He poked at my insides as if he knew what he was talking about. I needlessly fumbled with the edge of the handkerchief. As I was avoiding his gaze, a small sigh was heard.
"I'm not going to tell you this time. Think about it once."
"......."
"Why I'm acting like this."
The wind blew with a whoosh, swirling around him and me. The petals scattered on the ground flew in as if swirling and patted my cheeks.
"I don't think I can wait too long, though."
But as it always goes, life flows in unexpected directions.
What finally shattered the taut anxiety was someone's scream that broke the silence of the night a few days later. The people who had been asleep came out of their rooms holding lamps, bewildered by the sudden scream.
Alicia rubbed her sleepy eyes and left the room first, and after lighting the lamp, I also came out belatedly and followed the people down to the first floor where the scream had come from.