# 42
42. The Moment a Star Fell Upon the Count's Estate (3)
"What color?"
"Pardon? Ah, pink. The skirt is so voluminous it keeps catching my attention. My feet get tangled whenever I walk. There's lace on the shoulders, sleeves, and the hem of the dress, so it keeps fluttering about. Ah, there's a sash at the waist. That's pink too."
He pondered my words carefully, then frowned.
"I don't really understand dress designs."
"It's a very pretty dress. The fabric is nice too."
It's so soft that I worry it might tear if I apply even a little force. It's pretty, but honestly I'm not sure if it suits me. Violet said it suited me well, but my reflection in the mirror only looked awkward.
Vincent, who had been silent for a moment, patted the spot beside him.
"Come here."
"Pardon?"
"I said sit closer."
I wondered why he wanted that, but since it was a command, I moved my bottom beside him. Then Vincent reached out his hand. His approaching fingertips brushed the nape of my neck. My body stiffened instantly.
He fingered the hair tie that his fingertips touched.
"What's this."
"A h-hair tie. Lady Violet gave it to me before."
"I see."
Then he fondled the tie as if feeling its texture. After letting go of it, he lightly touched my shoulder next. When his fingertips met the lace, he traced along it. And slowly, his fingertips moved along the shoulder line.
The hand that groped everything it touched was careful. His face inclined toward me. Riding on the breath that swept in, a low whisper reached me, asking me to tell him if he touched somewhere strange. I had no composure to answer anything. His hand traveled down my shoulder line, touched the lace at the hem of the sleeve, then moved further down to reach my wrist. When he drew a circle on the inside of my wrist, I flinched from the tickling.
"Can I touch below too?"
"P-pardon?"
"The skirt hem."
He pointed downward. Ah, I let out a short sigh and lifted the skirt hem, placing it in his hand. Then he stroked it. His face, which had been looking at empty air, tilted slightly downward, and the hand touching the skirt hem became more active.
He was touching to imagine the design of my dress. I knew that too. Still, the places his hand touched burned hot. He was touching the skirt hem, but it felt like he was touching me. Strange. I felt embarrassed enough for heat to rise all over my body.
"I can't tell much just by touching."
"…."
Even after hearing his words, I kept my mouth shut. My body kept flinching and trembling, and I was too busy suppressing it so he wouldn't notice. It felt like my whole body was twisting, and the unfamiliar sensations constantly rising were unpleasant. So just as I could no longer bear it and was about to stop him, the door opened and Violet entered.
Violet stopped dead in her tracks upon seeing us. She blinked her purple eyes, seemingly trying to grasp what this situation was. Flustered, I snatched the skirt hem from Vincent's hand and sprang up.
"Are you finished getting ready?"
"…Yeah. But what were you doing?"
"The Master was curious since I said I wore a dress. I was telling him what kind of dress I put on."
"Ah."
Violet nodded and approached us with a light laugh.
"The party preparations are all done. I think we can go down now."
Violet alternated her words between me and Vincent. I nodded and turned my body to support Vincent. Behind me, Violet stepped close and placed her hands on both my shoulders.
"How is she, Paula? Pretty, right?"
"How would I know. I can't see."
"Still, you heard what she's wearing. It's really pretty! Vincent would have been surprised if he could see it! Lucas fell head over heels for Paula's charm."
I felt flustered by Violet's laughing words.
Who fell for what? I shook my head saying that couldn't be, but he couldn't see it anyway.
"It's a shame Vincent can't see it. It's regrettable enough that his eyes don't work right now."
"Just that much?"
"Yeah. Just that much."
Violet, still holding my shoulders, pushed me toward Vincent. I took a step toward Vincent in a fluster. His gaze, following the sound, pierced me. Then he moved his head up and down as if inspecting my appearance. Even knowing he couldn't see, I lowered my head in embarrassment. Just for this moment, it was a good thing he couldn't see my eyes. Because I wasn't as pretty as Violet had said.
But Vincent, who had been scanning me up and down for a while, burst out laughing. He covered his mouth with his hand, but anyone could see it was a clear sneer.
"I doubt it. Even if I saw it with my own eyes, it probably wouldn't be much."
This time heat rose to my face for a different reason. No matter what, to mock me so openly like that!
"You're really too much."
"Why."
"Of course I can't say it suits me perfectly, but there's no need to mock me so openly. Moreover, you even said it wasn't much. Can't you just say it's pretty at times like this?"
"I can't lie. It's not in my nature."
He hardened his face and shook his head firmly. I let out a hollow laugh. He's always like that. What a cold-hearted person.
I glared at him then turned my head, only to see Violet's frozen face. She had been smiling just a moment ago, but now it had completely vanished.
"Lady Violet? Are you feeling unwell somewhere?"
"Ah… No. I should go get ready too. Lucas will come up. You all go down first. Paula, can you help me for a bit?"
"Yes."
Violet smiled and headed for the door first. After telling Vincent—who looked unimpressive even when dressed up—that I'd go ahead, I stamped the floor twice with my shoe heel. Vincent waved his hand as if telling me to hurry up and leave.
I returned to her room with Violet. Several dresses were laid out in a row on the bed. Each one was pretty and seemed like they would all suit her well.
When I turned to Violet to ask which one she'd wear, she stood by the door without moving. As if not sensing my gaze, she only stared blankly into empty space. Her state was strange. Lady Violet? When I called out, only then did focus return to her eyes.
"…It's the first time."
"Pardon?"
"Seeing him act so curt."
"Who, surely not the Master?"
"Yeah. I've never seen him like that."
I couldn't help but be surprised by her words. Wasn't that his original personality? Since he was always curt and short-tempered with me, I thought that was just how he was. Does he not act like that with others?
"So he's only like that to Paula."
"…Pardon?"
I was flustered, but seeing her purple eyes lose focus again, I couldn't say anything more. Was she shocked? Come to think of it, Ethan was also appalled when he saw Vincent throw things. Either that wasn't his original personality, or he had been hiding it.
Then does that mean he's only like that with me?
Son of a bitch.
Violet chose a white dress. The design was fitted tightly from the shoulders to the knees to reveal her body line, and below that the hem spread out voluminously. Her long hair was braided like mine, then twisted up and fixed with a flower decoration.
Violet, dressed to the nines, was too pretty. She told me I was pretty, but the truly shining one was her. Violet's figure as she held the railing and descended the stairs was elegance itself. If I were a man, I surely would have fallen for her.
A slightly upbeat classical piece was playing in the central hall. The music enlivened the quiet indoor atmosphere.
However, there was one more person in the central hall besides Vincent and Lucas. I thought they said other people wouldn't be allowed in once the party started. Who is that?
At that moment, the man waved his hand toward us. It was Ethan.
"Ethan!"
Violet called out delightedly. Ethan smiled brightly and greeted her.
"What are you doing here? You said you were busy."
"And yet you sent me an invitation and pretend not to know."
Ethan waved the letter. Violet made a mischievous face and said the party would be more fun with one more person. Aside from Violet and Lucas, Ethan is the only outsider who knows of Vincent's condition. The hall, which had been embarrassingly empty for a party, became lively with Ethan's appearance.
Violet naturally linked arms with Vincent. Vincent also seemed accustomed to her action. The two were a couple who looked perfectly suited for each other by anyone's standards.
While I was staring blankly at the two, Lucas approached my right side and offered his arm.
"I'll escort Paula."
"I'm fine."
"What about me then?"
Ethan stood on my left. I shook my head more firmly. This side was even more unwelcome.
"It's a party, so we should at least dance."
"I can't do things like that. I'll just eat delicious food over there."
I turned and headed for the table where food was laid out. Ethan and Lucas followed behind me. In the end, the three men and woman without partners decided to enjoy a sad banquet. Isabella, who was assigned to attend the party today, was also waiting on one side.
In the center of the hall, Violet and Vincent stood facing each other.
"I wonder if he can dance."
"His sister will lead, won't she."
"…."
Clink. The gazes of Ethan and Lucas, who clinked glasses, landed on the two. I, who had been forced to clink glasses too, also directed my gaze that way while gulping down wine.
"You drink well."
"It's not that I can't."
Perhaps because it was good wine, it went down smoothly.
After a while, Isabella changed the music. A mellow classical piece filled the hall. Violet and Vincent took their stances, then began to move their bodies gracefully in time with the music.
Under the resplendent chandelier, Violet and Vincent looked absolutely beautiful. I could only describe it as beautiful. Moving to the music, she was elegant, and her white skirt spreading wide like a freshly bloomed flower bud drew the eye. Her bright face held a smile. She sparkled radiantly. Vincent, stepping in time with her, showed no awkwardness either.
"He doesn't even fall."
"Because they've danced often."
"It's beautiful."
Truly beautiful. They suit each other so well. I smiled bitterly and downed my wine. Lucas cautioned me to drink slowly.
The music ended quickly. The two bowed to each other. Their faces as they smiled at each other were so lovely. Voices filled with joy could be heard. I munched on cookies, unable to take my eyes off them.
At that moment, a hand shot out beside me.
"What is it."
"I'm asking you to dance."
"Pardon?"
I had clearly said I couldn't dance earlier, so wondering if he was serious, I looked up blankly, and Lucas extended his hand further. He even waved his hand, urging me to hurry and grab it. When I frantically waved my hands in refusal, Ethan added that since he was asking like this, wouldn't it be fine to dance at least once.
Moreover, when even Lucas drooped his shoulders and asked if I disliked it that much, in the end I had no choice but to take his hand.