# 37
37. The Count's Circumstances (7)
When I burst into a coughing fit, Lucas patted my back, asking if I was okay. After finally calming down, I looked up at Lucas blankly. What did you just say? Who's pretty? Me? ...Perhaps your eyesight is poor?
"Pretty...?"
Vincent posed a question. I quickly snapped to my senses and turned to look at him.
"Who's pretty?"
"Your maid."
Lucas countered with firmness. It was truly an answer without a single ounce of hesitation. I looked at him again. Are you perhaps crazy? I asked inwardly.
"...Pretty, you say?"
"Yeah."
"Really? Truly?"
"Yeah. Truly."
Lucas answered while looking at me. When our eyes met, he smiled refreshingly. I wondered if he was perhaps teasing me. However, not a single trace of falsehood could be seen on his face.
Vincent, who had been silent for a moment, muttered lowly.
"Pretty, huh..."
"She's someone who suits pure white perfectly."
"She's pretty, you say."
"Very much so."
They were hitting it off perfectly. Vincent rarely showed such fluster.
But the most flustered one was me.
I couldn't understand Lucas's words. Did he even see my face properly? If he hadn't, I wanted to brush back my bangs and show him right now. Where exactly on this face do you think is pretty, huh? I wanted to ask if his tastes were somewhat unusual.
"Yeah. That pretty, you say."
But I couldn't ask because of Vincent. He somehow looked dazed. But I had no leisure to check his condition.
"Yeah. Enough to fall in love at first sight."
At the appalling statement, my mouth finally fell wide open. Vincent must have been surprised too, as his eyes widened. Only Lucas continued to wear a smile as refreshing as it was splendid.
Oh no, this man is weird.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"I'm not sure if I should say this..."
Instead of asking "Are you crazy?" I flapped my hand toward him. Lucas slightly leaned down. At the closer distance, I covered my mouth with my hand and whispered so only he could hear.
"Perhaps your tastes are rather unique?"
"I haven't really thought about it, but I'm on the ordinary side."
"Then why do you say that?"
"About what?"
He genuinely seemed not to understand. I gaped in frustration. While doing so, I glanced at Vincent. He had been maintaining silence since earlier. He had a calm face, but to me, it seemed like the myriad thoughts contained within were peeking through. I didn't know about other things, but I could tell that an image of me was being organized in his head.
"If you do that, misunderstandings will arise."
"Who will misunderstand?"
"The Master."
"Is there something to misunderstand?"
I didn't know why this man was acting like this. I was about to immediately retort but stopped. No, did I really need to correct it? Come to think of it... there was no harm in it for me. Because I wanted to be remembered by Vincent with a pretty face.
Right, it's not like I'm doing anything bad.
I was surprised, but it was a compliment I might never hear again in my life. Honestly, it felt good. It was my first time hearing that I was pretty enough to make a man fall for me. Even if it was said out of politeness, it was words any woman would be happy to hear.
"What kind of misunderstanding?"
"Nothing."
I lowered the hand covering my mouth and straightened my posture. Lucas tilted his head. I cleared my throat and spoke loudly enough for Vincent to hear as well.
"It's because I'm very shy. I know you meant well, but I'd appreciate it if you only said such things when we're alone together from now on."
"I will."
"..."
My brazenness was funny, but Lucas's answer was just as absurd. Vincent, who heard those words, slightly furrowed his brow. Still, I didn't lie this time. I decided to become even more brazen.
"Where are we going for the walk?"
"To the forest."
After finishing the remaining tea, we headed to the forest behind the annex. It was still quiet here. And pleasant. As I was looking at the trees filling the sky and the leaves sprouting from the bare branches, Lucas turned to the side.
"Lord Lucas. That's not the way."
"It'll be more worth seeing this way than over there."
He pointed to the left. There was no path there. What should I do... When I immediately looked up at Vincent, feeling my gaze, he nodded. It was permission.
Following Lucas like that, we entered deeper into the forest. Since there was no path, the going was rough. I pushed aside the branches blocking our way in the middle, and when dangerous obstacles appeared, I informed him in advance. Vincent held my hand tightly and followed carefully.
The place we arrived at after walking like that was an open space surrounded by dense trees. My mouth fell open. Goodness. I had no idea such a place existed in the forest.
"Wow—!"
"Pretty, isn't it?"
Lucas asked at my reaction. I nodded repeatedly, unable to take my eyes off the scene before me.
Before my eyes unfolded a spectacular display of flowers.
I hadn't seen anything like a flower garden while coming here. But in this space, a large flower garden had been created. White, vibrant flowers swayed gently. As if welcoming us. Around them, trees encircled protectively, as if guarding the flowers.
It wasn't gorgeous. Rather than gorgeous, it was simple. In terms of splendor, the gardens cultivated at the mansion were far superior. How much more so since it was a place that put effort into creating beauty every moment. But this place felt distinctly different. It showed beauty created by nature, untouched by human hands. Just looking at it purified my heart.
"How did you know about a place like this?"
"I discovered it while wandering around out of boredom before."
"It's really pretty. So, so pretty."
At my excited, raised voice, Lucas smiled, saying it was a relief. I looked around at the white flower garden with my eyes. It was truly packed with pure white flowers. That was so amazing.
"Master, Master. The flowers are so pretty."
I shook the hand of Vincent, who was standing behind me. He looked around. He seemed to be looking for the flowers I spoke of.
I smiled broadly and led him into the flower garden. The flowers blooming here also had long stems. The flowers reached my small waist, and for Vincent, they reached about thigh height and swayed.
"I'm inside the flower garden right now."
"Are there many?"
"Yes. Very many. They've covered all around here."
I carefully described the surrounding scenery to him. The trees guarding the surroundings, the flowers filling the open space completely, the pure white petals that seemed like they would leave white powder if touched, the wind brushing past and touching them, and the blue sky spread above them.
All of that was exquisitely brought together to create beauty.
"It's amazing that only here they bloom like this. I did see a few flowers while coming here, but they weren't gathered like this."
"I see."
"If you could see it with your own eyes, you would definitely be amazed."
"Your reaction is enough."
Unlike me who was excited, his reaction was too calm. Still, he smiled happily. Only after I uttered the word "pretty" dozens of times did he finally nod.
I placed a flower against his hand. He followed as I led and awkwardly bent his waist. White flowers brushed against his long fingertips and swayed.
"I want to jump in."
"Then just jump in."
"Then all the flowers will get crushed to death."
"Jump in carefully, then."
Is he joking? I wondered, but his gaze was fixed on the flowers. His hand flicked the flower again. Like that once more, and once more, then he carefully stroked the petal. He seemed to like it.
I knelt beside him and buried my face in the flowers. They smelled like flowers.
"The scent is nice too."
"All scents are the same."
"Even so."
I continued smelling the flowers, and Vincent kept touching the flowers. Lucas, who came up beside us, watched us with a proud face.
"Do you like it?"
"Very much!"
"How about you, brother?"
"Not bad."
At the positive words, Lucas's smile deepened.
I tilted my head back and looked at the vastly spread flowers. Looking at the refreshing scene, I wanted to go in and walk around wildly. So I jumped up and shook our joined hands. Vincent gave me a questioning glance. I gestured as if pulling his hand. Recognizing my intention, he straightened his posture.
I led him further inside. Vincent followed behind me, and Lucas followed behind Vincent in turn.
"Master, spread your hand."
I wildly waved my other hand. Flowers tapped against my fingertips. Lucas, following behind Vincent, laughed seeing me like that. Then he reached out his hand following me. Flowers also barely touched his hand. I also laughed happily seeing that.
"Master. Quickly, quickly."
"Brother. Quickly, quickly."
"..."
At our urging, Vincent hesitated and raised his hand. And slowly spread his fingers. White flowers slipped into and out of his hand. Did he feel that sensation? Vincent spread his fingers wider. His hand became filled with flowers.
I looked at his dazed face for a moment then turned around. And quickened my pace. The sensation of flowers brushing against my waist was ticklish. The wind messing up my hair was cool. I want to run. I want to run away. The footsteps following behind me also gradually grew faster. No, my footsteps grew faster. At some point, I was running through the flower garden.
As if I were becoming a flower.
As if the wind were carrying me away.
When I stopped walking, I had unknowingly reached the end of the flower garden. I didn't realize it when I looked at it, but it was quite wide. So I was panting slightly rough breaths when Lucas suddenly popped out from beside me. He also immediately bent his waist and panted.
"You're quite fast."
"Ah, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to run."
Only after seeing Lucas panting did I realize I had been running. I got too excited in the middle. It must have been a sudden ordeal for the two following behind.
When I repeatedly apologized, he waved his hand saying it was fine. Still, it must have been tough as he looked up at the sky and puffed out breaths.
Then Lucas burst into laughter. It was a laugh that somehow looked pleasant.
"It's been a while since I ran like this. It feels good, doesn't it, brother?"
Lucas looked back. Only then did I also check on Vincent. Vincent was panting heavily behind us. Rough breathing, his disheveled gold hair from running was sticking out in all directions. Underneath, his flushed cheeks caught my eye.
Our still joined hands were damp with sweat. I panicked and approached him. A-are you okay? Even at my question, he only blinked without answering. He had a face like he was definitely dreaming. Then he slowly looked down at his hand.
From behind, Lucas laughed again and flopped down. I looked back at Lucas in surprise. A joyful laugh echoed. Doesn't it? He asked again. I looked back at Vincent again. Vincent's lips, which had been parted from panting, stretched out long.
"Yeah."
The emerald eyes that had been looking into his hand curved upward.
"It feels good."
His face somehow looked refreshed.