# 21
21. Teatime with the Count (3)
I was shorter than girls my age, and my body was small and frail. My shoulder-length hair was dry and brittle, and my sun-tanned skin leaned towards dark. My hair was a dead, pitch-black brown. My eyes, which had the same brown irises as my hair, were large but slanted upward, looking fierce, and my small, freckled nose tilted upward as if pointing to the sky. My lips were small and rough, often bleeding.
An ugly dwarf.
Boys my age used to call me that.
In contrast to me, my third sister Alicia had been a beauty since childhood. She was about my height, but her body was appropriately voluptuous, and her chest was large as well. Thanks to consistent care, her waist-length light brown hair gleamed with luster. She didn't go outside when the sun was bright, so her skin was on the pale side; her eyes were large, her nose was prominent, and her lips were plump, making her so captivating that even a slight smile could mesmerize anyone.
Even to my eyes, she was really pretty. So pretty that rumors of her beauty spread outside the village. The village lord's son fell for Alicia and even proposed. No, all the men unrequitedly loved Alicia. Because of that, even her nasty personality was evaluated as charming.
At the same time, I became a topic of conversation. The older sister of the pretty Alicia was an object of curiosity. If the younger sister is that pretty, how much prettier must the older sister be? So, many people who saw Alicia came looking for me. However, the gazes shining with expectation immediately took on a look of disappointment upon seeing my face. Some openly frowned or even cursed. Hearing whether we were real sisters was something I was thoroughly used to.
He was silent for a moment. He seemed to be imagining the appearance of the maid who had audaciously behaved arrogantly towards him.
Would you also despise me if you saw me? You might be reluctant to keep me by your side because I'm ugly and unseemly. Just like other people did to me. Perhaps it's a blessing for him right now that he cannot see. Because he doesn't have to see this ugly face directly.
Even if, like a miracle, Vincent could see again, I didn't want to show him my appearance.
I don't want to be hurt. From the beginning, it was only a voice, and the lie I just told slipped out on impulse, but it wouldn't be bad for him to keep misunderstanding like this. Because if even just one person in my life remembered me as pretty, I would be truly happy.
"You must be a beauty. Though I can't imagine it."
"I hear that often."
I smiled bitterly as I said that.
"You just said you looked ordinary."
"I said it out of politeness."
"How noble of you."
He shook his head and released the ends of my hair he had been touching. He seemed to have satisfied his curiosity. It was a relief that he couldn't see my fingertips trembling as I held the book.
"You are handsome too, Master."
"I know."
"Ah, that's a bit snobbish of you."
As I spat out my honest thoughts, the corners of his mouth lifted slightly. Joy filled his slightly curved emerald eyes. So... he can laugh like that too.
"You'll be easy to find."
Well, I wonder if that's true. I am different from the woman in your head right now.
"Am I?"
"Yes. I just have to tell them to bring the smallest person here."
It was an unexpected remark. The smallest person...?
"I'm not that small."
"You are small."
"It's just that you are on the larger side, Master."
"You're so small it'd be nice to use you as a replacement for a cane."
"I told you I'm not small."
When I replied sullenly, he laughed again. Joy overflowed on his relaxed face. I had only ever seen him stiff or terrified, but seeing him smile like that, he must really be in a good mood. In turn, my mood improved too. Before I knew it, I was smiling along with him.
"You're really mean."
"Only compared to you?"
It felt like we were about to have a contest over who was meaner.
"More importantly, the wind is blowing quite a bit."
"Don't change the subject."
"Ah, alright. Think whatever you want."
I declared surrender and needlessly kicked my feet in the air. The wind blew with a whoosh. Riding on that wind, I heard a ticklish sound of laughter.
"The wind is still chilly, so please tell me if you're cold."
"This much is fine."
He took a sip of his black tea and turned his head away. I glued my eyes back to the book. I intended to continue reading from where I had stopped.
"I feel like walking."
The words slipped out abruptly. I looked up at him again. Vincent still had his gaze to the side. The wind tousled his hair. Today of all days, he couldn't concentrate on reading. It wasn't just because of the sound of the wind. And the same went for me.
"Then would you like to take a walk?"
"What?"
I put the book down on the table and stood up. Then I grabbed his arm as he floundered in surprise.
"Let's do it. A walk."
The forest was quiet. As expected, there was no one around. It was located behind the annex, so it wasn't too deep, but it was left in its natural, unmanaged state. Fortunately, there was a path, making it good for a light walk. Walking amidst the sounds of nature—birds chirping and leaves rustling—it felt like I was on an adventure.
"The weather is really nice."
"It is."
He held my hand tightly and followed a step behind me. It was a bit embarrassing to walk holding hands with a grown man, but it felt like I was out for a walk with a younger brother.
"Please tell me if it's too hard. I'll carry you on my back."
"I said it last time too, but I didn't hurt my legs."
"Even so."
Having been cooped up in his room for a long time, his stamina had greatly declined. So I walked slowly, holding his hand. The incident with Ethan last time prompted him to start getting out of bed. Of course, he was still stuck in his room, but compared to when he only stayed in bed, it was a good change.
The wind blew with a whoosh. I tilted my head back at the pleasant sensation. The hair that was covering my front flew in the wind, and the chill brushed against my skin. Vincent's golden hair also swayed softly in the wind. The crisp sound of stepping on the forest floor echoed pleasantly.
"I think it'd be good to come out like this sometimes."
"No thanks."
"Why?"
"If we run into someone, it'll be a headache."
True. I didn't sense any human presence, but to be prepared for any eventuality, I kept my guard up and looked around.
"There doesn't seem to be anyone, but I'll let you know right away if someone comes."
"There won't be anyone."
"Is that so?"
"It's a place I used to come to often when I was young. With Ethan, and Violet."
"Um... I've been curious since last time. Who is Violet?"
From Ethan to the letters, it didn't seem like a simple relationship, so I was curious. Since he seemed to be in a good mood right now, I thought this was the opportunity and asked.
"My fiancée."
"Fiancée?!"
I was a bit surprised, but considering his age, it was stranger if he didn't have one. I heard nobles decide on their engagement partners from a young age. I thought of Alicia, who sneered at the lord's son when he declared he would abandon his fiancée and choose her. Alicia disliked the lord's son because he was ugly, but he mistakenly thought she was rejecting him because she already had a fiancé.
Right, they are in a loving relationship. That's why she sent all those letters. Because she was worried about him. If so, the letters that came with such devotion made sense.
"It seems she loves you very much, Master."
"That's not it."
I was somewhat moved, but he firmly severed that sentiment. I glanced at him.
"It's not?"
"No. So if she comes to the mansion, send her back."
"Why? She's your fiancée."
"She doesn't know I've gone blind."
Ah... I heard he was hiding it, but I didn't expect he'd hide it even from his fiancée.
"If she finds out her fiancé has become a blind cripple, she'll probably ask to break off the engagement."
"Surely not."
"I don't know what you're thinking, but she and I didn't get engaged out of love. It was an engagement pursued for the benefit of our families. So if one side becomes useless, it's only natural for the engagement to fall through."
"...."
"We can't hide it forever, but it's best to delay it as long as possible."
From Ethan last time to this situation, they all put purpose in their relationships. I thought the lives of nobles weren't simple either.
"I will keep that in mind."
I answered with a nod. Still, I was curious. The fiancée of this Master. What does she look like? For some reason, I imagined a face as beautiful as a flower.
"And there's no need to do this."
"What do you mean?"
"You're doing this because of what I said last time. I'm saying there's no need to comfort me."
"...No, I'm not."
Because he pointed it out so precisely, my answer was delayed. I tried to change the subject, but it didn't work on him.
Actually, after that shocking confession back then, the atmosphere between him and me had dampened a bit. For some reason, I started watching his moods, and he became even more reticent. We weren't exactly on speaking terms with decent conversations to begin with, but the mood that flowed between us had become quite dampened.
So I wanted to lighten his mood, but he easily saw through my true intentions.
"No need to lie."
"It's really not like that."
"I'll believe that."
Just pretend you don't know.
I feigned ignorance and focused on the walk. He didn't say anything more either. In the quiet forest, the chirping of birds rang out. That sound brought peace to my mind.
Then, suddenly, a strong wind blew. The tablecloth I held in my hand fluttered and flew away in the wind.
"Ah! Master, wait a moment!"
I put down the basket hanging on my wrist and let go of his hand. I could feel his flustered movement behind me. After shouting for him to wait a moment, I chased after the flying tablecloth. I thought I could catch it easily, but whenever I tried to grab it, it slipped just out of reach, and just as I was about to touch it, it frustratingly flew away again. As a result, I ended up going deeper into the thicket.
The fluttering tablecloth only stopped after hitting a tree. Thinking this was my chance, I ran hastily to grab it.
It was that moment. Before my hand could reach it, a large hand abruptly shot out from somewhere and picked up the tablecloth.
Someone was in the forest.
I hadn't sensed any presence at all, yet an unfamiliar man was standing right before my eyes. I flinched at the sudden appearance of a stranger. Brown hair fluttered in the wind. The man had his back to me, so I couldn't examine his face.
Who is he? A servant here? But it's my first time seeing him? Of course, many people were employed here, and the number of servants I had seen could be counted on one hand. Even so, the man before me somehow didn't seem like a servant. Both his attire and the aura he exuded were elegant.
As I looked over his back in wonder, the man soon turned to look at me too. The man's face revealed before me was young. And, as expected, he was someone I was seeing for the first time.