2. Christopher Yang's Daily Life (8)
I know that too. Ethan acts as if some huge disaster will happen if he leaves Vincent and me alone, but nothing like that has ever actually happened. He may have a rather gruff personality, but he wasn't a rude person who acted coercively.
"No matter how you look at it, this isn't right."
A lady being alone in a room with a man doesn't look good to others, does it? It wasn't the behavior of a 'modest lady' that Ethan had spoken of. It certainly wasn't 'gentlemanly behavior' either. I flailed about, trying to shake off his gripped hand.
"Why. Are you afraid I might do something?"
"Even if you say that, I know you're just joking."
He didn't have to act exactly the same just because Ethan does. They might be serious, but to me, it was an unbearably embarrassing situation. It wasn't like I was a little kid. I don't know how much I wanted to cover my face with both hands and scream at them to stop.
As I was shaking my head, my body was suddenly pulled forward. Vincent hugged me right where he stood. Before I knew it, his arm was wrapped around my waist.
"Or else."
His disheveled golden hair tickled my chin. His face was close. Vincent, looking down at my startled self, brought the hand he was still holding up to his lips. I felt his hot body temperature.
"Do you want me to do something to you?"
"……"
"Ah, you turned red."
This man, really—!
Someone who usually acts gruff sometimes swoops in like this. He was doing this on purpose, knowing I was still embarrassed by these situations. He was probably enjoying my reaction. Because every time he did this, I couldn't even resist properly and ended up swayed by him with a bright red face.
I could feel my face flushing this time as well. Vincent, staring intently at my reddened face, let go of my hand. Instead, he cupped my cheek with that same hand. His face slowly drew closer. The maids were watching; I shouldn't be doing this, but my body was frozen and I couldn't avoid it. Unable to bear looking at the emerald eyes overshadowing my vision any longer, I squeezed my eyes tightly shut.
Just then, the door flew open.
"Step away right now!"
I don't know how he knew, but Ethan, having changed into his outing clothes, strode in and separated Vincent and me. Then, he dragged me out from the sofa gap and put distance between me and Vincent. Ethan grabbed my shoulders and gave me some very serious advice.
"Florence. Listen carefully. That guy is up to something."
"Pardon?"
"He's trying to seduce you while you're staying here. As long as I'm keeping my eyes wide open, that'll never happen."
Wait, hold on. Weren't we already at that point? I thought we were practically lovers, just without an engagement. Originally, the reason I was staying here was to be with Vincent. Yet, Ethan was treating Vincent like some shameless scoundrel trying to seduce his precious little sister. The situation was taking a strangely weird turn, wasn't it?
"Lord Ethan. Please calm down first."
"You're still calling me that?"
I was trying to calm Ethan down from his unwarranted thoughts, when Vincent, who had somehow moved to the sofa near where we were standing, leaned his face against the backrest and asked. Ethan glared at Vincent.
"What are you suddenly talking about?"
"We're family now, shouldn't we change how we address each other? Extreme honorifics between family members will seem strange to others if they hear it."
"You don't do that normally. Right, Florence?"
"Ah, yes. Right... Brother."
It was still an unfamiliar title to say, so my voice came out a bit stiff. Even so, Ethan looked triumphantly at Vincent, pleased. Vincent, however, merely gave a small smile with his chin resting on his hand.
"Stiff as can be."
You should stop it too.
"You, don't try any funny business. Just because my sister is lovable doesn't mean you can do inappropriate things."
But the problem was that Ethan didn't back down either.
"Please stop, just stop! Didn't you say you had business to attend to? You'll be late."
Afraid that Ethan might say something weird again, I quickly pushed his back. It felt like nothing good would come of him staying here any longer. When I pushed him, Ethan reluctantly moved his feet. Instead, he grabbed my hand tightly and led me out of the room.
"I'll be back soon."
"Yes, yes."
"If anything happens, make sure to ask the people around you for help."
"I understand."
"Keep a distance of at least five steps from Vincent."
I thought, *Why go that far?*, but then the situation from a moment ago suddenly crossed my mind. Recalling Vincent approaching as if he would kiss me at any second, I felt my face heat up again. I almost did the exact thing Ethan was worried about.
I barely managed to soothe Ethan and send him off. I waved my hand, seeing him off as he looked back multiple times. After watching the car Ethan got into depart, I turned around. Leaving the servants who were also seeing him off behind, I walked on, and not far away, Vincent was standing.
I stopped exactly five steps ahead of him.
"Why are you standing like that?"
"He told me to keep a distance of more than five steps."
"What nonsense."
Ethan's advice was instantly dismissed as nonsense. But I decided to take his advice seriously. Vincent was secretly quite affectionate, you see. It wasn't hard to imagine me constantly being swayed by him. And that would be a problem.
"If you have nothing to do, shall we take a walk together?"
It felt like just yesterday he absolutely hated even the slightest touch. With such an indifferent-looking face, was his love for sweet things the reason for this?
"I'm sorry, but I'm busy now."
Even though I stayed cooped up in the mansion, I actually had quite busy days.
"Lessons?"
"Yes."
This morning, I had a history lesson. I knew nothing about the royal family's or the world's history. I couldn't learn the details right away, but this was a lesson added at Isabella's suggestion that it would be good to know the basic history.
I walked past Vincent and returned to my room. I picked up a thick book containing explanations of the royal history I had been learning recently and headed to the study.
Inside the study, which put me in a good mood just by looking at it, there was a study room prepared. I usually received lessons from a tutor there. Isabella, who had arrived first and was waiting, greeted me, and Sophie, the home tutor who taught history, also bowed her head familiarly.
Then, Sophie raised her head and widened her eyes.
"Who is the person behind you...?"
When I turned my head at her words, Vincent was standing there out of nowhere. As I looked at him with wide eyes as if asking, 'Why are you here?', Vincent placed a book he must have brought with him on the desk and sat down. Then, he opened the book he brought.
"Don't mind me. I'll just stay quiet."
He was showing with his whole body his will to read quietly. He didn't care at all about my gaze, which was looking at him wondering, *No, what is he doing?* Isabella, recognizing Vincent, offered a greeting. Vincent accepted it half-heartedly and started reading.
Sophie panicked, not knowing what the situation was, but soon took a seat. Then, opening her book, she looked at me. Since no one was explaining the situation, it seemed she was just going to do her job.
"Shall we begin, then?"
"Ah, yes. Please take care of me."
I was in the position of the student. I bowed politely as always and sat in the chair opposite her. At the same time, I stole a glance at Vincent. It seemed like he wouldn't move until my lesson was over.
My intuition was spot on. He only stood up to follow me after the history lesson was over. And he stayed for the next lesson, and the one after that. I could just say he followed me around all day. It was a situation I'd experienced before, but it wasn't welcome at all. When I asked why he was following me, he said he wanted to watch.
"Still, following me around like this is a bit burdensome."
"I want to know just how lovable Miss Florence is."
I couldn't help but react intensely to those words. Please, let the joke end as a joke. No, even if it wasn't a joke, I wished he'd end it as one. If it were up to my true feelings, I would have grabbed him by the collar and begged him to stop. Why was embarrassment always my share? In the end, I couldn't stop Vincent, who seemed determined to follow me around.
The tutors who visited at the appointed time were flustered by the appearance of an unfamiliar man. They all sent looks asking who he was, but I couldn't answer and just laughed it off. And naturally, I couldn't concentrate on my lessons. I was just as uncomfortable having Vincent there.
He said this every lesson time:
"Ah, don't mind me. I'll just sit quietly and watch."
Vincent said that again this time and took a seat on a chair to the side. Then, with his legs crossed, he stared at me boldly. The tutor who came to teach dance was flustered but started the lesson.
Habits are a scary thing. As I became accustomed to living properly all day, sitting still felt incredibly stifling. Since dancing mainly involved moving the legs, I thought it might be okay, so after talking with Ethan, I decided to keep learning it.
Instead, today I decided to learn a dance with small movements that suited a leisurely classical piece. However, I had no choice but to receive the lesson even stiffer than usual.
When I couldn't concentrate, the tutor made a suggestion.
"How about asking that gentleman over there to be your partner?"
The tutor asked, pointing at Vincent, who was staring intently in our direction. I gave Vincent a fleeting glance, then looked back at the tutor and hesitated. It didn't matter, but... While I was dithering, Isabella quickly approached Vincent and spoke to him politely. Vincent obediently stood up and came over.
I blankly stared at him as he offered me a hand.
"May I have this dance?"
"Ah, um, yes."
I gathered my flustered feelings and took Vincent's hand. As he wrapped his other hand around my waist, I took the posture I had learned. When the tutor played the music, a beautiful classical piece soon echoed. Vincent moved skillfully and led me.
With my head held high, I only rolled my eyes downward to look at the floor. I was on edge in case I made a mistake.
In my head, I fumbled through the next movements I had to make. Dancing in such a tense state, rather than enjoying it, I had a greater desire for it to end quickly.
Just then, I heard Vincent's voice.
"Being like this reminds me of the old days."
Only then did I look up at him. Vincent was watching me with narrowed eyes as I was tense. Perhaps he was trying to help me relax. I gave a small nod. I had danced with him once before. Back then, I wasn't dancing with my whole body stiff like this; I think I rather enjoyed it.
"You stepped on my feet a lot back then."
"I do it less now, right?"
"Not bad."
Receiving a compliment always feels good. I smiled softly and moved my feet. However, one shouldn't let their guard down; in the very next movement, I immediately pressed down on the tip of his foot. Vincent narrowed his eyes. I pretended not to notice and continued to the next movement.
"Still terrible."
"Please stick to just one: either praise or criticism."
I grumbled softly, but I lowered my head deeply in apology.
"I still like it."
As I raised my face again at his following words, Vincent met my gaze.
"Being like this with you."
Suddenly, his face drew very close. The hand supporting my waist pulled me in with force. Suddenly finding myself slightly embraced in his arms, I blinked.
"Watching you try so hard today."
His lips brushed against my earlobe. My shoulders flinched and shrank back.
"You were so lovable that I felt like making Ethan's worries come true."
Uwaaah—! My jaw dropped. Vincent pulled his body away and looked at me with a mischievous smile. When our movements paused for a moment, the tutor watching us from the side clapped her hands rhythmically. It was a signal to hurry up and move. At that, Vincent moved his body again. I followed his lead, but my mind couldn't come to its senses.
After that, I messed up the dance completely.