1. The Meaning of the Name (3)
Ethan visited the mansion again to take me away, just as he had said. I had finished preparing and was waiting for him. The only luggage I had was a single bag. I had discarded everything unnecessary, but then again, I had never lived with much to begin with.
I had been staying in the guest room of the mansion in the woods. A few days ago, Joelli finished her recuperation and left. I shared a brief farewell with her.
With Joelli's departure, this mansion naturally lost its purpose. I had sent away all the servants we had hired during that time. Though I kept a few of them, once I leave, they too would return to their hometowns.
This mansion would become as desolate as the annex. I looked up at the mansion, firming my resolve with a bitter feeling. And when I lowered my gaze, Vincent came into view, standing there without looking this way.
After I answered his question about whether I was disappointed with "Not really," he had been sulking like that ever since. Seeing him physically demonstrate "I'm angry" left me at a loss for words.
"Um, then I'll be going."
"……."
Vincent didn't respond. I smiled awkwardly. Was I too honest? I should have eased him down a bit; being flustered and letting my guard down momentarily, I ended up speaking honestly—that was the problem. I wanted to stay by his side and comfort him longer, but this was something that couldn't be delayed.
I wanted to hold his hand, but with his mood looking so sour, I didn't think I could. Instead, I gave a slight bow.
"Please stay healthy and well."
"……."
No response this time either. His gaze fell upon my nape. Precisely, on the spot where he had left a mark.
After parting awkwardly with him, I nearly screamed when I saw my nape in the mirror the next day. The spot he had gnawed at like biting was stained with teeth marks. It was obvious enough that anyone could tell a person had bitten me. The mark still remained vividly on one side of my nape even now, leaving me no choice but to wear clothes that covered my neck.
His gaze was fixed on the mark hidden beneath the thin fabric. Feeling embarrassed, I clutched my collar tightly and turned away hesitantly.
"I'll be going."
I should at least send a letter of apology later. As I walked with that thought, my arm was suddenly grabbed. My body was pulled right into Vincent's embrace. He held me tight. His warm yet familiar body temperature enveloped me entirely.
"I'll miss you."
"……Me too."
After saying it, the parting with him felt real. I really won't be seeing him for a while. This was the last time I would see Vincent as Paula. When we meet again, our relationship will have changed.
With that thought, a sudden feeling of loneliness washed over me. I should have treated him better, I shouldn't have said that back then. Looking back at the past, I felt regret. Already, a sense of longing crept in. As if feeling the same way, he tightened his arms around me and rubbed his cheek against mine.
Then his fingers slightly parted my collar and slipped inside. What pressed firmly against my skin swept across the back of my neck once. His thumb caressed a certain spot. Feeling that ticklish sensation, my face flushed. I found myself gripping his back tightly.
Then, the sound of a car horn came from behind. Ethan, who had been waiting for me, couldn't hold back any longer and sent a signal urging me on. I glanced back and tried to escape his embrace. But Vincent pretended not to notice and refused to let me go, so I had to be urged several more times.
Soon I broke free from Vincent's embrace and headed toward Ethan. This time, Ethan wore a thoroughly displeased expression.
"Anyone would think we're lovers parting for life during a war."
"Haha, you're quite the joker."
As I smiled awkwardly, Ethan opened the car door for me. I was saying thank you and getting into the car when Ethan suddenly started pushing me firmly from behind. His hands, as if stuffing me inside, made me inadvertently sit deep into the car. Then, as Ethan was about to step into the car with one foot, he turned around and looked at Vincent.
"Oh right. I forgot to mention this."
At Ethan's words, Vincent tilted his head.
"You two aren't even married yet, or even engaged. Strictly speaking, you haven't even met yet in that sense. Who knows what will happen in the future, so there's no reason to block anyone's marriage prospects."
"What?"
At the abrupt remark, Vincent questioned. But Ethan paid no mind and continued.
"Unnecessary rumors could spread, so don't contact her until I permit it."
"What the-!"
Before Vincent could even react, Ethan got into the car and shut the door with a bang. Then he instructed the driver to leave quickly. The car we were in passed by Vincent coldly.
I stared out the window until Vincent, standing there dumbfounded, was no longer visible, and only after the car had completely left the mansion did I look at Ethan.
"You did that on purpose, didn't you?"
Instead of answering, Ethan shrugged his shoulders. Meaning he did it on purpose.
After the James incident, the relationship between the two had become completely ruined. They were reluctant to face each other, and even when they happened to be in the same space, they wouldn't even look at each other, let alone exchange a proper word. Naturally, a sharp tension that seemed ready to burst at any moment flowed through the heavy atmosphere that had settled in the room. And neither of them could bring themselves to break it first.
Then it was Vincent who approached first. He grabbed an apple that a servant had brought and threw it at Ethan's head, shattering the long-standing tension.
'How long are you going to not talk to me?'
'That, that's…….'
Holding the apple that had hit his head, Ethan was flustered. Ethan looking cowed was an unfamiliar sight. At that, Vincent picked up another apple, took a bite, and said:
'Don't do that. I don't have anything to be proud of either.'
'…….'
'Were you planning to blame me for what you did?'
At that, Ethan was startled and cried out:
'No! What you did was self-defense, and he was the culprit of everything to begin with. You, who had nothing to do with it, just got swept up in it. I have no intention…… of blaming you for that. I mean it.'
'Don't say you had nothing to do with it.'
Crunch. The sound of biting into the apple followed lightly.
'We're friends, aren't we?'
'…….'
That was all. No more apologies or blame were needed. At that moment, I realized that the walls layered between the two had finally crumbled down.
After that, the two went about as they always had. Meeting each other, talking, and occasionally picking fights like playful bickering, just like ordinary friends you could find anywhere.
"You won't be seeing each other for a while."
At those words, I turned toward Ethan.
"Ethan-nim, then am I going to the Christopher mansion now?"
"Paula. You should call me oppa now."
"Uh……."
Ever since he said we should become family, Ethan had often joked like this. Every time, I would be flustered and mumble. That title simply wouldn't come out of my mouth. When I couldn't respond right away this time either, Ethan beamed. Come on, say it. Quickly. Right now. I felt a strange pressure from his gaze.
I feigned ignorance and turned my gaze out the window. As if noticing how I felt, laughter came from beside me.
"Have you chosen an identity?"
"Ah, yes."
I pulled out the paper I had chosen in advance from my bag.
What I had chosen was the daughter of a minor noble family in some remote region. It wasn't a family of great standing, but since they were still nobility, it wouldn't seem too strange for her to be adopted into a new family. When I offered this safe choice, Ethan took it and examined it.
"Understood. I'll make the preparations accordingly."
"Thank you."
Ethan carefully folded the paper and put it in his inner jacket pocket.
"I was planning to go straight to the main house, but something came up and I need to make a stop. It'll be a long journey. Get some rest for a bit."
"Yes."
The carriage clattered into motion. As he said, I gently closed my eyes.
The carriage traveled for a long time. When I opened my eyes again, the sun was already sinking low in the sky.
The carriage stopped in front of a small mansion. Though called small, it was still a large mansion in my eyes, but it was on the smaller side compared to even the Bellunita annex. Where was this? When the driver opened the door, I nodded in thanks and stepped out of the carriage.
Ethan headed toward the mansion familiarly. I moved to follow him. At the same time, I surveyed the mansion before my eyes from various angles. Built with brown bricks, the mansion was somewhat old but well-maintained.
Ethan stopped in front of the mansion door. I stood side by side with him.
I was examining the clean door with no particular pattern when I turned my head. I saw Ethan blowing out breaths with a very serious face. As if trying to relieve tension.
After a moment, Ethan tapped the door with the round ring-shaped door knocker. No particular sounds were heard from inside, but soon the door creaked open. At that moment, something suddenly popped out through the gap of the opening door.
Before I could even think "Huh?", Ethan grabbed my shoulder and pulled me back. I inadvertently stepped back, my eyes widening. What had popped out through the gap was a cane. Through the creaking door, an old man with graying hair could be seen standing there holding the cane.
"You slippery snake."
The old man pouring out accusations without any provocation had an extremely angry face. Flustered by the appearance of an unfamiliar opponent, I looked up at Ethan, and he wore a troubled expression and moved his lips.
"It's good to see you again, Uncle."
The old man Ethan called Uncle was lying in bed groaning. A maid, small in stature but well-built, and looking as old as the elderly man himself, was wiping the sweat from his forehead with a worried face.
At Ethan's greeting, the old man flew into a rage and swung his cane. Swinging his cane while shouting "You rascal! You rascal!", Ethan dodged it skillfully this way and that. He showed no sign of surprise. But then the old man clutched his chest and collapsed, bringing the situation to an end.
A short while later, a servant as old as the elderly man came running and supported him. After that, a maid appeared and welcomed Ethan.
'This way, please.'
The place the maid led us to was a room where the old man seemed to stay. Supported by the servant and lying in bed, the old man was breaking out in cold sweats in just a short moment.
The maid soaked a towel in water from a basin placed on the nightstand beside the bed and dabbed it gently on the old man's forehead.
"Is his condition quite bad?"
"Yes, he's gotten worse over the past few days."
"I see."
Ethan examined the old man's complexion. The maid sighed.
Soon the old man opened his eyes.
"Master, are you alright?"
"What happened to me."
"You fainted for a moment. And what are you doing swinging a cane in that condition?"
When the maid scolded him, the old man shot her a fierce glare. But the maid, seemingly used to it, casually continued dabbing the old man's arm with the towel. The old man batted her hand away and pushed himself up. The servant standing beside quickly came over and helped him lean back comfortably against the bed.
"Uncle."
"Who let that bastard in!"
As soon as he saw Ethan standing in the room, the old man bellowed. It was a vigor that made his earlier collapse looking sickly pale seem meaningless. The servant flinched in surprise, and the maid let out another deep sigh. I could hear her mutter something about his temper.