# 27
27. Tea Time with the Count (9)
"Paula, did you hear? I'm meeting Vincent today!"
"Yes. I heard. Congratulations."
"It's all thanks to you encouraging me, Paula."
Violet smiled as if she were truly happy. Seeing her face, I felt a bit proud inwardly. However, since the process had been arduous, that pride vanished in an instant.
"I'm so happy. If I'd known this would happen, I would have dressed up more prettily."
"You're pretty enough right now."
"Thank you."
Smiling shyly, she twirled her hair around her finger. Her luscious hair rippled at her fingertips.
"I'm so nervous since it's been a long time."
Violet clutched her chest, anticipating her meeting with Vincent. In the end, she even called someone to her mansion to change into new clothes. Having finished dressing up prettily, she seemed to glow. Ah, a halo. I covered my eyes with my hand and guided her to the annex reception room at the promised time.
There sat Vincent, polished and groomed since morning. He had his legs crossed and his back leaning against the sofa backrest in a relaxed posture. His pale emerald eyes were not noticeable unless looked at closely.
"Vincent!"
She ran straight to Vincent. It was faster than light. She pounced like a beast hunting its prey, leaving no time to stop her. Fortunately, Ethan skillfully blocked her path. Then, he somehow managed to seat Violet on the opposite sofa as she kept trying to head toward Vincent.
Even after sitting on the sofa, she kept fidgeting in her seat. I put the prepared tea and snacks on the table, glancing at her.
"It's been a while."
"Yeah. It's been really, really a long time! I missed you."
Her tearful voice was barely swallowed down. Violet's gaze never left Vincent. As practiced, Vincent calmly picked up his teacup, brought it to his lips, and took a sip. Then, with the cup resting on his lap, he raised his head and met her eyes. It was a short practice, but fortunately, his movements were smooth enough not to feel awkward.
I stood behind Violet, and Ethan sat on the sofa between Violet and Vincent. We agreed to watch Vincent and Violet respectively, and signal each other if anything strange happened.
"What happened? How's your body? Are you better? Why have you gotten so thin since I last saw you? Why didn't you reply to my letters? What happened during that time? What went on? Do you know how worried I was?"
"Ask slowly. What's the rush?"
Ethan clicked his tongue at the rapid-fire questions. When Violet briefly glanced at Ethan, he shrugged. Her gaze quickly snapped back to Vincent.
"Alright. I'll answer everything, so ask one at a time."
"What happened during that time?"
"A lot of things happened. Most of it is probably what you already know."
"Is your body still not well?"
"No. It's gotten a lot better. I'm still recovering, but it's not bad."
"Then it's not good."
Violet teared up and dabbed the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief. Beside her, Ethan added that it was quite a sight. At that moment, her stiletto heel dug into Ethan's calf. Ethan groaned and grabbed his calf, and Vincent slightly turned his head toward the sound. But since he couldn't see, he didn't know what was going on, so there was no reaction from him.
Vincent calmly brought up the words he had practiced.
"It's nothing to worry about. And the reason I didn't meet you was that I was a bit out of it. There were some dangerous things too. So I was highly strung, and I didn't meet you because I was afraid I might say bad things if I saw you. I was also worried that since I wasn't in a safe state yet, you might be put in danger. I planned to meet you when I became safer and my body got better."
"It's okay. I understand everything!"
Violet leaned her upper body toward Vincent and shouted.
"I'm just glad you're safe like this. It's a relief that you seem to be doing well. Thank you for showing me you're healthy. I... wondered if you had come to hate me."
"That can't be true."
"Yeah. I know. I know! I just, really missed you."
It was the words I had struggled to finally spit out. Violet brought them out smoothly. See, I told you I would say this. And Vincent would bring up a grateful response, smiling mischievously.
"Yeah. I'll make sure to reply to your letters from now on."
Huh...?
"Really?"
"Yeah."
Vincent nodded. Violet reacted with joy. I looked at Vincent. The answer he just gave was strange. It was clearly a conversation we had practiced... but he gave a different answer. Why? He was clearly smiling, but he didn't have the mischievous attitude like before.
Out of bewilderment, I unwittingly fixed my gaze on him. He drank his tea and raised his head. His gaze was directed straight ahead where Violet was, just as practiced, but it felt like it reached me standing behind her. That couldn't be, but I averted my eyes for nothing.
After that, the conversation continued with asking about how they had been. She brought up the topics enthusiastically, and Vincent answered occasionally. When it got awkward, Ethan interjected and smoothly continued the conversation. Since Violet was so focused on the conversation, she didn't seem to notice Vincent's strangeness yet.
I could catch a glimpse of their long relationship from the way they conversed.
"By the way, Vincent. The flowers are pretty, right?"
"Flowers?"
He asked, looking puzzled. I realized my mistake.
"Come on. I sent you a flower bouquet. I asked them to put it next to your bed, did you see it?"
"...Yeah."
"The flowers are fresh, right? They were all fresh and the colors were pretty. Which flower was the prettiest? I'll make it with only those flowers next time."
"..."
Vincent put down the teacup he was holding on his lap and fumbled with his fingertips. From the outside, he looked lost in thought, but he was actually flustered. It was the same for me. I hadn't told him about the bouquet Violet made. Things blew up before I could even tell him.
Not knowing what to do, I was panicking and waving my hands when my eyes met Ethan's exactly. He smiled softly at me.
"Acting all shy."
Ethan tapped Vincent's arm. It was a playful gesture. Vincent's gaze briefly landed there. Ethan smiled roguishly and answered on Vincent's behalf.
"He said the purple flowers were the prettiest?"
"My. Was that the prettiest?"
At Violet's question, Vincent nodded a beat late. She rejoiced and added that she would make them with those next time. There was no trace of doubt in her cheerful voice. Looking at Ethan, he gave a slight nod with a smile.
The crisis was over. I secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
It was about time for Vincent to get up. Long conversations were not good. If the time dragged on, they might notice the strangeness. Even if she didn't notice right away because she was drunk on the joy of seeing him, the more she kept looking, the higher the chance she would notice.
As planned, Vincent wrapped up first.
"Violet. I'm a bit tired today, so may I get up now?"
"Ah, I see."
It was an answer dripping with disappointment. Although I couldn't see her expression, I could guess that her face would show that emotion too.
"Can I come see you again?"
"Of course. You're welcome anytime."
Vincent, finishing his words, stood up quickly. I also swiftly stood by the door to support him. Ethan stood up following him, and Violet stood up too.
Now all he had to do was leave. The end of the play. It was the moment when Ethan and I exchanged glances, trying to wrap up this situation.
"Vincent!"
Suddenly, Violet jumped into the arms of Vincent who was trying to leave. It was an utterly sudden situation. Vincent, who caught her in a fluster, stiffened completely. Ethan also widened his eyes in surprise. I also froze stiff.
In the meantime, Violet, not knowing anything, poked her head out of his arms.
"Vincent. I missed you so much. I wanted to see you so much."
"Vi...olet. Calm down first."
"Really, really."
Her eyes, moist as if about to drop tears any moment, looked up at him. I hoped Vincent wouldn't meet Violet's eyes. However.
"Huh? Vincent's eyes..."
As soon as those words fell, Vincent pushed her away. It was like an instinctive defense on his part. Violet crashed straight into the table behind her and fell over.
When Ethan approached and supported her, Violet stared at him with a dazed face. Vincent, who heard the loud noise, also panicked. And when you panic, you make mistakes. Vincent's hands flailed in the air. For a brief moment, he quickly pulled his hands back, but she must have already seen that sight.
"Vincent?"
"Sorry, I'm sorry."
Panicking, he turned his back. He was trying to leave.
But the misfortune didn't end there.
Trying to dash out quickly, he hit his knee on the sofa armrest and fell. He fell straight to the floor and even planted his face on it. Thud! A sound that sounded painful just hearing it followed.
I ran to him in horror. I grabbed his hand flailing in the air and supported him.
And only then, the commotion settled down.
"V-Vincent..."
"..."
His face flushed beet red.
In the end, it blew up. In the worst possible form.
"Vincent! Vincent! Please open the door, okay?"
Bang! Bang! A soft voice came from beyond the firmly closed door.
"Vincent, let's talk, okay?"
Bang! Bang! Bang! However, the closed door never opened. Even knowing that, she knocked on the door without stopping.