2. Christopher Yang's Daily Life (7)
"You two need to explain what exactly is going on here."
Upon returning to the Christopher mansion, sure enough, Ethan was waiting for us. With his arms crossed, he glared coldly at me and Vincent.
The maids attending to me spotted me and came rushing over in a panic. They smoothed out the heavy wrinkles in my clothes and quickly brushed me off everywhere. Seeing a maid peeling off a strand of straw she hadn't managed to remove, I subtly turned my head away. The gazes sweeping over my disheveled state seemed to ask what on earth I had been doing to end up looking like this. I could only let out an awkward laugh.
"I'm sorry."
As soon as I sat on the sofa in the reception room, I quietly apologized first. The person who was supposed to be resting his wrist had suddenly disappeared, so of course he would be worried. Indeed, Ethan had the face of someone who had been betrayed. I pressed my hands firmly on my knees and bowed my head deeply. Meanwhile, the kidnapper sitting next to me received Ethan's glare with a nonchalant expression.
"I could've just gone out for some fresh air."
"Lord Velunita. This is problematic."
Ethan addressed him in a stiff tone, unlike his usual self. But Vincent, without any particular reaction, simply swept his disheveled hair back.
"What's with the sudden surprise? Isn't this something you expected to some degree?"
It sounded very strange to me, but Ethan couldn't refute it and merely groaned. Vincent leaned back comfortably against the sofa's backrest. I looked back and forth between the two, trying to figure out the cause of the suddenly peculiar atmosphere.
"And strictly speaking, you were the one who wronged me first. You didn't even let us meet."
"So you're saying you're proud of that now?"
"I don't particularly feel I did anything wrong."
"My sister seems to think differently. Seeing as she's keeping her mouth tightly shut, unlike usual."
At those words, Vincent looked at me. Ethan also directed his gaze my way. Bearing the stares of both men at once, I couldn't hide my bewilderment. Wait, why is this backfiring on me?
"Paula, what do you think? Do you think Lord Velunita's actions today were gentlemanly?"
"Well... no, but..."
If asked whether Vincent's actions were gentlemanly, the answer was no. He had suddenly jumped out, wrapped his arms around me as I struggled, and dragged me outside. At my honest answer, Vincent's eyes turned menacing. Ethan wore an "I told you so" expression.
"I know what intentions you had, but it was a rash action. How strange do you think others would find it? You shouldn't seduce someone who's working hard like that. Especially someone who isn't yet proper and refined."
Listening to Ethan's words, I started feeling strange. I hesitated for a moment, then opened my mouth.
"I'm not sure if I should say this in this situation, but I think I'm quite proper and refined."
A burst of laughter erupted from beside me. When I shot him a glance, Vincent quickly covered his mouth and averted his eyes. I firmly poked his side with my finger, as if asking why he was laughing.
"Paula, no matter what, that's not it."
Moreover, a rebuttal came from in front of me. The two people who had been sharp with each other just moments ago were now perfectly in sync. I pouted my lips.
"I apologize for not being proper and refined yet."
"Yeah, you'll have to work hard at it."
Even in this situation, Vincent kept running his mouth. I glared at him again. He merely shrugged as if he knew nothing.
"If you're that dissatisfied, then permit my visits from now on. You didn't allow it, so I brought her outside. I'd appreciate it if you didn't block me from visiting Paula in the middle of it this time."
"Pretty brazen attitude for someone asking for permission."
"I understand the desire to cherish your only sister, but I wish you'd do it in moderation. Count."
Vincent delivered a sharp remark in a polite tone. Ethan wore an aggrieved expression.
"What did I even do?"
"Do you know what overprotection means?"
Ethan whipped his head toward me.
"Paula, do you think so too? That I'm overprotective?"
"Uh..."
I was about to say no right away, but hesitated as I recalled Ethan's past actions. Well, he was a bit excessive, wasn't he? He looked at me like I was a child left by the water's edge. The things he had given me as gifts since I came here were piled high in my room. Noticing my hesitation, Ethan made a hurt face. I quickly shook my head.
"No, you're not."
"Too late."
Ethan put a hand on his chest and made a crying face. I heard him mutter something about his pure intentions being misunderstood like this. I bowed my head again and pretended not to hear.
"And if the other person didn't mind, it's practically the same as having permission."
Just as I wondered what that meant, I felt a hand stroking the side of my head. Vincent had somehow sat right next to me and was gently sweeping his hand through my hair. It was a gesture that seemed deliberately showy. Ethan's eyes widened.
I watched Ethan's reaction while pushing his hand away, but he persistently grabbed my hair, lifted it, and pressed his lips to it.
"Because his sister had a very enjoyable time with me."
At the outrageous remark, I stared at Vincent as if he were crazy. Receiving my gaze, Vincent smiled broadly. When I turned my head, I saw that Ethan, just like me, was standing there with his mouth agape in shock, unable to collect himself. Then Ethan's gaze slowly reached me. At the look that seemed to ask what kind of time we had spent, I subtly turned away and avoided it.
Silence fell over the reception room for a moment. However, the incredibly uncomfortable silence was soon broken. Collecting himself, Ethan covered his face with one hand and let out a very deep sigh.
"They say no matter how much you dote on your sister, she'll always be on someone else's side..."
At the somehow embarrassing remark, I hung my head again.
Right on cue, a knock was heard. A servant entered through the door. When he immediately gave Ethan a look, Ethan glanced at me and Vincent, sighed once more, and stood up. I followed Ethan with my eyes as he walked over, exchanged a few words with the servant, and then closed the door behind him as he left.
"Do you think he's very angry?"
"I wonder."
"Why would you say such a thing?"
"Did I say anything wrong?"
I turned to look at Vincent. He had a brazen face that showed not a trace of remorse. He leisurely took a sip of the tea on the table. However, it seemed not to his taste, as he set the cup down after only a few sips.
"You're doing that on purpose, aren't you?"
From secretly taking me out to that remark just now. He was clearly doing it on purpose. It was obvious he was subtly provoking Ethan, as if paying back the annoyance he had received all this time.
I knew that every time Vincent came to see me, Ethan sent him back. He made excuses, saying I was busy. I was busy receiving training all day, but it wasn't to that extent. But when Ethan made ominous comments about how seeing him frequently would only make me sick of him, I couldn't stop him. On the rare occasions I met Vincent, we always had to spend time only in the reception room, with Ethan present.
"We could've made plans to meet outside."
"That guy follows along."
Since I wasn't allowed to see him even when he visited the mansion, there were a few times I was called outside. But Ethan always accompanied me. Despite calling me his precious sister— I heard him muttering to himself that I was still immature— he always chased after me, making the excuse that he couldn't feel at ease letting me go out alone. I recalled how Vincent would make a terrible face whenever he saw Ethan like that. Honestly, it was a bit much. I wonder if other noble ladies with older brothers live like this. I really don't know.
After a while, Ethan returned. He stood stiffly and looked at Vincent.
"Vincent, it's late now, so go back."
"I'm staying the night."
"What?"
Ethan, momentarily dumbfounded, shook his head strictly.
"No. You should have made that arrangement in advance."
"You've also come over and stayed the night without prior arrangements before, so what's with the sudden surprise."
"..."
"I'm telling you now. Today, I'm staying the night."
Ethan was unhappy about it, but Vincent didn't withdraw his words. The way he comfortably leaned back against the chair as if he had said all he needed to say looked truly brazen. Ethan made a deeply annoyed face, but he couldn't firmly refuse. He just turned around and left again.
I stared at the door that closed with a louder bang than before, then turned my head.
"You're enjoying this, aren't you?"
As expected, it was on purpose, completely on purpose. Vincent shrugged at my question. He pretended not to know, but he already had a face that said he was having the time of his life.
Vincent actually ended up staying the night that day. Wearing Ethan's borrowed nightclothes in a guest room hastily prepared under Ethan's instructions. Still, because they were friends, Ethan made sure Vincent wouldn't be uncomfortable. He even brought wine and visited him in the middle of the night for some light conversation. Wedged between them, I also got to hear stories about their past memories, so it was a decent day overall. That is, until the next day, when Vincent, eating bread during breakfast together, made a nonchalant remark.
"Since things have come to this, I'll be imposing on you for a few days."
"What?"
With a face still heavy with sleep, Vincent blathered about staying a few more days. One night was already sudden enough, but talking about staying for several days was just absurd. Moreover, today was the day Ethan was scheduled to be out from the afternoon onward, leaving the mansion empty. Whether he knew it or not, Vincent poured fuel on the fire by saying he had already informed his family, so there was no need to worry.
"No. I won't permit it."
"You've done the same thing before."
"Even so, no."
"If I recall correctly, it happened quite a few times. Even when I said no, you were always relentless."
"..."
In short, he was saying he would be relentless too. Was this why they said people should always be careful about their behavior, no matter when or where? When Ethan received his own past actions right back at him, he couldn't refuse anymore. Did he perhaps come with this planned from the start?
In conclusion, Ethan couldn't kick Vincent out and couldn't cancel his appointment either. He called for the butler, saying he couldn't leave the two of us alone, but perhaps it was an important appointment, as he couldn't postpone it in the end. And just as Ethan had predicted, Vincent, planning to stick by my side, barged into my room right after breakfast ended. Without any manners, he barged into a lady's room and brazenly took a seat on the sofa.
The maids faltered, unable to stop him. I gave them a look saying it was okay, then looked at him askance. Vincent gently grabbed one of my hands.
"Don't worry. I won't do anything."
What is this guy even saying?