Miss Christopher's Daily Life (4)
The carriage jolted with a rattle. I stared in disbelief at the kidnapper before me, my arms crossed. After repeatedly glancing out the window, he must have felt it was safe, for he soon straightened up and faced me. Then, catching my disgruntled expression, he furrowed his brow.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"What do you think you're doing?"
"I told you, it's a kidnapping."
"I mean, who kidnaps someone in broad daylight? And why kidnap me at all?"
I glared at the kidnapper before me—Vincent—and spat out the words with a heavy pout.
It had been months since I last saw Vincent. After parting ways at the Belunita mansion, we had only kept in touch through letters. Then, when I joined the Christopher family, Vincent heard the news and came to visit. We managed to meet a few times, but soon, our meetings were blocked. It was because Ethan adamantly turned Vincent away whenever he came to see me.
"How else am I supposed to see you? Ethan, that bastard, won't even let me through the door."
"And yet, you somehow managed to get in?"
"I have my ways."
I had no idea what method he used, but it felt ominous. When I narrowed my eyes and glared at him, Vincent scanned me from top to bottom. Tearing away the emerald gaze that had been fixed on me for a while as if looking at something unfamiliar, he uttered a single remark.
"You've gotten prettier."
"……."
I ducked my head at the sudden remark. It went without saying that my face was burning up.
"Why are you looking at the floor?"
"……It's nothing."
"Raise your head. I want to see your face."
"You're doing this on purpose."
As I slightly raised my head and shot him a glare, Vincent flashed a mischievous smile. How infuriating.
"Didn't you miss me?"
"……What about you?"
"I missed you so much I thought I'd go crazy."
Just exchanging letters wasn't cutting it anymore. His mischievous expression contorted fiercely. Seeing him slump dramatically in his seat, it seemed he had built up a lot of frustration over not being able to see me.
Ethan disapproved of me meeting Vincent. He was worried that rumors might spread about the secretive Miss Christopher, who hadn't even made her high society debut yet, meeting a man outside the family.
Moreover, he wasn't even my fiancé. Everyone knew that Count Christopher and Count Belunita were old friends, so it seemed like such worries were unnecessary, but Ethan cautioned me to watch my behavior even inside the mansion. He believed that even walls had eyes and ears.
'I'm not worried about Vincent, I'm worried about Paula. You know what I mean, right?'
Of course I knew. With bizarre rumors already circulating, it would certainly be bad in many ways if gossip about a romantic entanglement got out first. After all, I wasn't ready to step into high society yet.
"Florence."
Although Ethan tried not to show it, there were relatives who occasionally came to visit Florence. They must have been curious, hearing that the girl they had only heard rumors about had become the head of the family's sister. Besides, no one had ever seen her face.
I received the people who came to visit me, thinking it was the right time, for the first couple of times. Upon seeing me, each and every one of them gave me a look that said they found it absurd that I was Daniel's granddaughter. I merely tried my best not to show my fear.
They tossed questions at me as if testing me, but fortunately, they were all related to the old man, so answering them wasn't difficult. That was because I had spent enough time with him to prepare for such situations.
The old man had once told me all sorts of things: what foods he liked and disliked, what he couldn't eat, what kind of life he had lived, and the memories he shared with his family. I rummaged through those memories to answer their questions, and fortunately, I was able to ease some of their wariness toward me. After that, perhaps deciding there was no longer any need for meetings, Ethan had been making up plausible excuses to turn them away.
"Florence."
Sometimes he seemed a bit overprotective to the point of being excessive, but ultimately, it was because he worried about me. Still, occasionally... I felt like he could just leave me be.
"Paula."
Just then, Vincent's voice broke through my thoughts. I snapped my head up.
Just as I had asked Ethan, I also requested Vincent to call me by my original name when we were alone, if he didn't mind. I told him that since he would be using a nickname instead of my formal name, I wanted him to use it in that affectionate sense. Vincent gladly agreed, and ever since, he had been calling me by that familiar name.
"What are you thinking about so deeply?"
"No, it's nothing."
I shook my head, brushing off my stray thoughts, but Vincent tilted his head.
"What happened to your arm?"
His gaze was fixed on my left arm, wrapped in bandages.
"Ah, I had a little accident."
"Is it bad?"
"No. It's just a slight sprain, so it'll heal quickly."
Not wanting to worry him unnecessarily, I subtly hid my bandaged arm behind my back. Vincent, who had been quietly staring as his eyes trailed my arm, soon raised his head.
"So, did you not want to see me then?"
The question came back around. I let out a small laugh.
"Of course I wanted to see you too."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Then can I hold you?"
This time, I actually burst out laughing.
"Of course."
I spread my arms wide open. Looking at me, Vincent let out a heavy sigh before rising from his stooped posture. The distance between us was short, so he closed the gap in an instant. His arms reached out and wrapped around my back, and his familiar warmth enveloped me tightly.
The carriage rattled back into motion.
The city streets at midday were bustling with people. Standing amid the crowds milling about, I felt an odd sense of tension. It was my first time being out in such a crowded place without Ethan. I knew I was dressed in an elegant dress and shoes, looking every bit the noble young lady at a glance, but I couldn't help but feel nervous regardless.
I was standing there stiff, swallowing nervously, when something was suddenly pulled down over my head. Vincent had plopped a wide-brimmed hat on me, heaven knows where he got it. Thanks to that, my vision was somewhat obscured.
When I turned my head, Vincent was looking down at me.
"I'm right beside you, so don't worry."
When I nodded, Vincent offered his arm. It was an invitation to take it. As I let out a small smile and lightly placed my right hand on his arm, he went beyond just linking arms and actually laced his fingers through mine. The firm grip holding my hand put my mind somewhat at ease.
Just like that, relying on Vincent, I stepped out into the crowd.
We decided to fill our hungry stomachs first. Vincent led me to a restaurant that looked undeniably expensive just from the outside. With elegant classical music playing, the interior—with its well-spaced tables and ornate lamps—exuded a deeply luxurious atmosphere. He must have made a reservation in advance, for the moment we walked in, a staff member immediately approached and guided us to our table.
It was a table situated in the most secluded corner. Sitting down on the chair the staff pulled out for me, I stiffened with nerves. Taking over for me, Vincent smoothly placed the order.
"How is life on your end?"
"It's good. Fun, too."
It was difficult at times, but it remained a life I was immensely grateful for. I was simply thankful for each day where I could sleep comfortably and not have to worry about going hungry.
"Is Ethan treating you well?"
"Yes. He treats me very well."
I let out a chuckle and downed the water in my glass. If asked whether Ethan treated me well, I'd say he treated me almost too well.
I had gone out into the city with Ethan once before. After a delicious meal, we were strolling down the street, taking in the sights, when Ethan suddenly offered to buy me a gift. He walked into a dress boutique and bought clothes in bulk.
Moreover, he had several dresses custom-tailored to my measurements. Then, declaring that he needed to buy matching shoes and accessories, he even dragged me all around the city. I was completely flabbergasted by the sheer extravagance I had witnessed with my own two eyes.
I later heard from the maids that the boutique was so famous that even royals visited, and that you couldn't step foot inside without an appointment. Only then did I realize Ethan had made a reservation in advance, using the gift as an excuse to take me there. I had practically run to Ethan in a panic after hearing the price of the dresses.
Even after that, similar incidents happened quite frequently. It was the same back when I was a tutor—Ethan was intensely interested in me. Even though he had far busier days than I did, he would interrogate me about what I had done all day whenever we met. Once, he claimed my room didn't look befitting of a lady, and suddenly replaced all the curtains and carpets with ones adorned with lace.
That was when I realized it. Ethan was absolutely reveling in this situation. He was curious about what I liked, whether I had any discomforts, and he wanted to do even more for me.
One day, he even said this:
'I've always wanted to do this if I ever had a little sister.'
The servants who saw him smile so carelessly while saying that were absolutely astonished. I was used to it now, but at first, they wore expressions as if their world was collapsing.
"He treats me very, very well."
To the point where he didn't need to treat me any better. Thanks to the various outfits he gifted me, my wardrobe was practically overflowing with clothes. I also remember how his face suddenly fell when I told him he could stop giving me presents.
'My little sister has no greed. How boring.'
It was my first time seeing someone complain about a lack of greed. Actually, wasn't it better to not be greedy?
'I wish you would throw a tantrum and ask me to do this or that for you.'
'It's already more than enough.'
'I want to hear you whine.'
'What would I even whine about... Then buy me some flowers. A really big bouquet.'
I was about to ask what kind of demand was asking me to throw a tantrum, but seeing his expression turn utterly frigid, I eventually gave in and threw the tantrum he wanted. I specified a really big bouquet because I was afraid he'd say, "Is that all?" if I just asked for some flowers. Hearing my demand, Ethan nodded in satisfaction.
The very next day, my room was entirely filled with flowers. Waking up to that sight, I genuinely wondered where I was. There wasn't even room to step, so I ended up sending almost all of them out to the garden, keeping only a few.
"Looking at your face, it seems he is treating you well."
"Does it look like it?"
As I brushed my cheek, Vincent swirled the water in his glass.
"You're smiling."
I hadn't even realized I was smiling. I traced my fingertips over my lips.
"How is Isabella? Is she doing well?"
"Ah, come to think of it, what happened with Lady Isabella—no, what happened between you and her?"
"Didn't you hear the details?"
"I heard the gist of it, but... it's a bit hard to believe."
I had been incredibly curious about that all along.
Just then, the food we ordered was served on the table.
Despite the mouthwatering food before me, I didn't dig in right away and simply watched Vincent. He was cutting his steak into bite-sized pieces. Even such a mundane action looked elegant and dignified when he did it.
I had learned the proper etiquette, but I'd also heard that observing and mimicking the people around you was a good way to learn. Recalling Vincent's actions from just a moment ago, I picked up my knife and began cutting my steak into bite-sized pieces, when Vincent suddenly took my plate. Then, he placed his own steak, which he had already cut up, in front of me.
I could have done it myself... I stared at my steak plate, now sitting in front of him. The pieces he had cut were neat and precise, while the meat I had been cutting looked like a mangled mess, making me feel inexplicably embarrassed. I speared the piece of meat he had cut for me with my fork and put it in my mouth. The steak was so delicious it practically melted the moment it hit my tongue.