# 30
30. Tea Time with the Lord (12)
A man was standing before Violet. Warmth radiated from Violet's face as she faced him. Who is that? As I tilted my head and approached, their voices drifted over.
"Where have you been all this time? You weren't in your room either."
"I looked around the mansion after a long while."
"Coming together and then slipping away alone."
"There was a lot to see."
Warmth could be felt in their conversation. Wondering who it might be, I surveyed the brown head of hair, but since the person didn't turn his face toward me, I couldn't tell. By the time I reached them, the man was facing Vincent.
I set down the teapot and snacks on the table, glancing at the back of the man's head who was conversing with Vincent.
"Who is this gentleman?"
"It's Ethan's younger brother."
"Lord Christopher's younger brother? He had a younger brother?"
When I asked in bewilderment, an arm suddenly popped out from behind me. Looking back, Ethan was standing there with a snack already stuffed in his mouth.
"I have one really kind younger brother. I'll introduce him to you too, Miss Maid. My brother has a decent face and a good personality, and he's very popular. But don't fall for him. He's a difficult child to handle."
"I won't fall for him."
"Everyone says that and then falls for him."
"You're quite confident."
"Because he's a brother I'm proud of."
Ethan smiled mischievously. I shrugged my shoulders. I wanted to see just how proud a brother he was by looking at that face. So I glanced at the back of the man's head again, and just then, he approached me.
But the face I saw up close was familiar.
"Say hello to the maid. This is my younger brother. You say hello too. This is the maid currently attending Vincent."
"Nice to meet you."
Brown hair swayed in the wind. His smooth voice was pleasant to hear. Still an elegant, graceful atmosphere. When our eyes met, he smiled and politely offered his hand.
"I am Lucas Christopher."
"Christopher..."
To think the man I had met in the forest was Ethan's younger brother. Wondering if such a coincidence could truly exist, I stared blankly at the man. He tilted his head. Only then did I realize I had been rude and bowed my head. I clasped his firmly extended hand and returned the greeting.
"N-nice to meet you."
After the brief greeting, I tried to let go of his hand, but he held mine even tighter and lifted it. At the same time, warm body heat pressed firmly against the back of my hand.
"Please call me Lucas."
It was such an elegant and polite greeting. And it reminded me of someone. He truly was Ethan's brother.
"You must have a hard time with your brothers? And you, sister. Everyone is so peculiar."
"No way. The maid likes me."
"Really?"
My mind was so blank from his question that I couldn't even answer. I scanned the man before me. He released my hand and exchanged playful banter with Ethan. Between the two of them, Violet interjected.
"You're all too much. Keeping it a secret only from me."
"Sorry. My brother didn't want it."
"I also tend to respect the feelings of the person involved."
"Hmph—"
Violet grumbled but didn't say anything more. Ethan and Lucas smiled apologetically. Through their conversation, I realized that this man named Lucas also knew about Vincent's condition.
At the same time, words Vincent had once said floated through my mind. I looked at Vincent. Sipping his tea, he appeared nonchalant. He showed no sign of surprise, nor did he tremble with fear.
The tea time became even more boisterous with one more person joining. But amidst it all, I couldn't smile.
A relationship that looked affectionate to anyone. Yet something felt alien to me. I didn't know if I should dare make such a judgment, but something was... strange.
Making the excuse that I needed to refill the now-empty teapot due to the new attendee, I fled from that spot once again. I went to the kitchen to refill the tea, and again took the long way around. As I walked, trying hard to erase pointless thoughts, I saw someone approaching from the opposite direction.
It was Lucas.
"Everyone seems to be enjoying themselves."
At the faintly audible voice, Lucas whispered softly. The eyes that had been gazing at empty space turned toward me. He had known I was coming. The wind tousled his hair.
I bowed my head.
"Why are you out here?"
"To get some fresh air. Come to think of it, I didn't hear your name."
"Ah, I'm Paula."
"Paula. Paula. Paula..."
What was being rolled around in his mouth was clearly my name, but it sounded sweet, as if calling something precious. Feeling inexplicably ticklish, I scratched the back of my neck.
"Paula. I heard a lot about you from my brother. He said you're an interesting person."
"I'm honored."
I didn't think Ethan would have said only good things about me. Did he badmouth me to his brother? I frowned slightly then quickly smoothed my expression.
"We met in the forest, right?"
"Yes."
"I wondered who you were then, but you were the one attending my brother. Did you deliver the letter well?"
Only then did the forgotten memory resurface. I hastily continued.
"D-did you perhaps find the letter somewhere?"
"I picked it up after it had fallen by the door on my way out of the mansion. I thought I should deliver it, but there was no one around, so I wondered if it might be important and kept it with me. While looking around the mansion, I happened to meet you in the forest and thought you might be a servant of this place, so I delivered it. Was it important?"
"...I see. Yes. It was important. Thank you for delivering it."
Thinking about how I had almost lost such a precious letter, I was so grateful for his consideration. I bowed deeply once more. He laughed briefly.
"How is Vincent? Is he doing well?"
"Yes. He is doing well."
"He seems to be. He's doing better than I expected, so I was surprised. Honestly, I thought he'd be holed up in his room, but it's unexpected."
What? As I blinked and asked back, he smiled gently. When he smiled, he did resemble Ethan.
"Didn't my brother tell you?"
"What do you mean..."
"That I blinded him."
"...!"
What... on earth... is this...
What did he just say? What on earth is this man saying?
"Looking at your face, you knew too, Paula. You've been sending me wary glances the entire time we were together. I didn't think my brother would have told you that much, but it seems he relies on you quite a bit."
"Ah, I, I..."
"Don't be too surprised."
He took a step closer. I quickly stepped back. My heart pounded heavily. After the shocking confession, fear washed over me. In that moment, the man before me became terrifying. His smiling face felt sinister.
'The one who made me this way was that family.'
That excessively calm voice stirred through my mind once again. I stumbled backward, clutching my racing heart. As if understanding my reaction, Lucas kept smiling.
"It's a relief it went as you imagined."
I was about to ask what he meant by that when a rustling sound rang out. His and my gazes turned simultaneously toward the source of the sound. Vincent was standing there. He also seemed surprised, as if he had sensed someone's presence.
I quickly turned my head to look at Lucas. Then I checked Vincent again. I didn't know how he had gotten here, but he was faster than I expected. I passed Lucas and grabbed Vincent's arm. I pressed down hard on his arm as he instinctively tried to shake me off, and pulled him in the opposite direction.
"You..."
"F-for now. Just go for now. Let's go. Please just go."
He, who had been about to say something, closed his mouth at my urging. I quickly led him in the opposite direction, glancing back. Through the sound of the wind blowing fiercely, I could see that man. Lucas was looking this way. The man who had confessed to being the one who blinded Vincent.
My heart pounded heavily again. Sweat formed on the hand gripping Vincent's arm. Afraid that my hand might slip from the sweat and let him go, I held onto his arm tightly. The gaze following from behind was too terrifying.
It seemed he felt it too.
"Why are you shaking so much. What's going on."
"Let's just get out of here first, and then I'll tell you."
Suddenly, he stopped walking. I quickly pulled him, but he stood his ground and wouldn't move. I pulled repeatedly, but he still didn't budge. Eventually, my steps also stopped following his. When I turned around, he spoke first.
"Tell me what's going on."
"Master. I'll tell you once we leave."
"Tell me now."
He showed his resolve to not take a single step until I spoke. This isn't the time for this! I checked behind him. The man was nowhere to be seen. But I was afraid he might follow at any moment. I swallowed hard.
"D-did that person, really... did he do it?"
"Do what."
"Master... your eyes."
A questioning look of what I meant came back. I replied as if frustrated.
"Ethan Christopher's younger brother, Lord Lucas Christopher, said he made your eyes like that."
"...Lucas did that?"
"Yes."
He fell silent for a moment. That was even more terrifying. It felt like a confirmation. But the answer that came back was different from what I expected.
"No."
"Master. Please don't hide it. You need to avoid him."
"It's really not him."
"Then who on earth did it?"
I unknowingly asked about the forbidden topic. I ignored the warning that I shouldn't do that. I was that confused. When I asked, on the verge of tears from my complicated thoughts, Vincent sighed and answered.
"James Christopher."
"Who is that?"
"Ethan's half-brother."
A strong wind roared. The wind that brushed past him tangled my hair. My complicated mind was on the verge of bursting, but he was so nonchalant that for a moment I felt as if I were dreaming.
"That person is the one who made me this way."
Vincent didn't take back his words. The truth. He was telling me the truth. To a mere maid like me, he burst open the truth he had tried to keep hidden.
And at that time, I would later realize that I had crossed a line I shouldn't have crossed. And the truth behind the kindness Lucas had shown me.