# 43
43. The Moment a Star Fell on the Count's Estate (4)
Hesitating as I stood in the middle of the hall, my body stiffened with tension. Lucas wrapped his hand around my waist and pulled me toward him. As the distance closed, he smiled at my surprise and lifted my right hand with his other hand. Flustered, my head shook from side to side.
"Look up."
"Pardon? Ah, yes."
As I nodded, Lucas smiled again.
"Relax your body and follow me."
"Yes."
Soon, a new classical melody echoed.
My body grew even stiffer. He whispered for me to relax as he slowly stepped forward. Following his lead, I hesitantly took a step as well. Like that, I slowly began to follow him.
He moved his feet slowly to match my pace, and though I was a beat late, I followed him diligently. After moving along with him a few times, dancing wasn't as difficult as I thought.
Following my movements, the hem of my dress flared out and gathered back in. Going right, then left, then spinning around. When I followed well, Lucas curved his eyes, telling me I did great. I too pulled the corners of my lips into a smile and stepped in time with his movements.
But in an instant, the floor felt slippery.
"Ugh."
"Gasp."
I ended up stepping on the top of his foot.
"I, I'm sorry."
"It's fine."
I quickly moved my shoe away. Lucas, who had frowned, forced a smile and got back into position. The movements that had faltered for a moment regained their stability and naturally began to move again.
But this time, my feet got tangled and I kicked his calf.
"Ugh!"
Lucas couldn't hide his pain and let out a groan.
"......."
I squeezed my eyes shut. I didn't know about anything else, but I knew I had kicked him hard. The sensation of digging into flesh was quite deep.
Lucas twisted his body for a moment before quickly regaining his posture.
"I'm sorry. It's because I'm not used to this..."
"I, It's fine."
But his face didn't look fine. Seeing him subtly rub the kicked calf against his other leg, it seemed it really hurt. Feeling ashamed, I hung my head low. Due to the aftermath of what just happened, my footsteps became cautious.
After that, I stepped on his foot a few more times. Each time, my head dropped even lower. To add insult to injury, the music was quite long. At this very moment, I resented that gentle classical music.
"Paula. You're doing really well."
"...I hope it ends quickly."
Then, he whispered in my ear, "Then shall we end it?" When I quickly nodded, I heard him laugh.
That moment.
"Agh!"
He sharply bent my waist backward. At the same time, one of my legs was lifted. Afraid of falling backward, I grabbed his shoulder, and my field of vision flipped even more. Fortunately, I didn't fall. Lucas supported my body with one arm, and with the other, he grabbed the leg floating in the air.
What kind of situation is this? My body was tilted back as if I were lying down, and my right leg was still raised. For a moment, I didn't realize what posture I had taken. I was just blinking, looking at the beautiful chandelier on the ceiling, and Lucas popped up in between. Unlike my flustered self, he had a calm face and smiled as always.
"This way it ended quite nicely, right?"
"......."
I don't know about that, but I thought my heart was going to drop.
I barely calmed my pounding heart. He must have seen me frowning, thinking he couldn't have told me in advance, through my parted hair. Lucas smiled mischievously. He did this on purpose. It was definitely revenge for stepping on his foot and kicking his calf.
The music ended right on time. Applause echoed through the quiet room. Turning my head toward the sound, Ethan had jumped up and was clapping. It would have been better if he didn't have meat hanging from his mouth.
As I squirmed, Lucas let me go. When both my feet safely landed on the floor, Violet also sent applause.
"You were so pretty, Paula."
"Thank you."
I smiled awkwardly and looked at Vincent. He was looking elsewhere.
A hand suddenly popped out and blocked my view. Turning my head at the gesture waving up and down, I saw Lucas with a somehow stiff face. When our eyes met, his face was dyed with a gentle look, as if it was never stiff. Then, he offered his hand again.
"Shall we dance again?"
"I refuse."
This time, I shook my head firmly and refused. He must want his feet to swell up. I could dance if he wanted, but having been on high alert not to step on his feet, I was already tired.
My eyes looked forward again. Vincent was talking with Violet. They looked like lovers whispering sweet nothings.
I was so captivated by the beautiful sight that Lucas spoke in a small voice only loud enough for me to hear.
"Paula."
"Yes."
"This time, dance with the person you want to dance with."
Looking at Lucas at the unexpected words, he pointed forward with his hand. I turned my head forward again to look at the affectionate two, then looked back at Lucas. He was still smiling, but he somehow looked bitter. Was not dancing again such a hurtful thing?
"Is it okay to do that?"
"Of course. It's just us anyway. We are the only partners, too. It wouldn't be strange no matter who you dance with."
If that's the case. I nodded and walked forward. The hem of my dress rustled, and my heels clicked clearly against the floor, making a noise. The two turned their gazes toward me at the sound. I scanned the two faces in front of me one by one and stood next to the person I was most grateful to.
The other person opened her eyes wide. I put one hand behind my back and extended the other forward, bowing my upper body slightly. I imitated the posture Lucas had when he asked me to dance. It was my first time doing the motion, but it was much more comfortable than lifting my skirt hem to bow.
"Lady Violet."
"Hm?"
"Would you dance with me?"
She blinked. I wiggled my fingers and waited for her answer. After a brief silence, a loud burst of laughter erupted from behind me. Vincent, who had been listening to the conversation right next to me, also covered his mouth and slightly turned his head. However, he couldn't hide the laughter spilling through the gaps of his fingers.
I mean, is there a law that says a man and a woman must dance? There might be, but since I already said it, I decided to be brazen. As Lucas said, it's just us. There was no need to strictly observe etiquette or formalities.
A moment later, amidst the noisy laughter, Violet smiled brightly and clasped my hand. Like that, we stood facing each other in the middle of the hall. Music with a slightly fast tempo filled the hall.
"Hehe, so anyway."
"Yes."
Her cheerful voice, unexhausted even after whispering all night, continued. The light of the lamp, the only thing illuminating the darkness, shone on Violet. I talked endlessly with her as she laughed joyfully. Sometimes about trivial daily life, sometimes reminiscing about past memories, sharing our experiences.
Like that, Violet, who had been talking away, rubbed her eyes. I told her it would be best to sleep and pulled the sheets over to cover her. Violet whined that she didn't want to, but she couldn't fight off the overwhelming drowsiness.
In the quiet silence, only the moon revealed its presence. I turned off the lamp and lay down on the bed. Looking at the sleeping Violet, I closed my eyes.
In the darkness, a ray of light stretched out. The light gradually spread, and a gorgeous hall with a sparkling chandelier hanging unfolded. Inside the hall, fast-tempo classical music and clapping matching the beat echoed, livening up the atmosphere. Joyful laughter, brightly smiling faces, us dancing without caring that skirts were fluttering and dress suits were getting wrinkled. Even Isabella, who had always been rigid, laughed along.
Throwing away all etiquette, formality, manners, and class, pursuing only pure joy, we laughed so happily.
As I opened my eyes, darkness rushed in. The noisy laughter and music all disappeared, and silence filled the surroundings. The events of the afternoon felt as distant as a dream. My heart ached. The excited emotions still bubbled in my chest.
In the end, I couldn't fall asleep.
Just a little more, I want to remember this feeling.
I sat up. I moved carefully so as not to wake the sleeping Violet. Getting out of bed, I walked while killing my footsteps as much as possible. Groping through the dark, I found a shawl and draped it over my shoulders. I was thinking of taking a simple walk, savoring this feeling.
Taking a lamp, I came out of the room. Even closing the door was done carefully. Looking at the brightly rising moon outside the hallway window, I placed the lamp on the windowsill. While I was lighting it, the sound of a door suddenly bursting open was heard. Surprised, I turned around and Vincent was standing there.
"Master?"
His pale complexion caught my eye first. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead. He didn't look well, so I approached him closely, and his hollow eyes locked onto me.
"...Is that you?"
He sometimes asked me like that. And I know what kind of moment he asks like that.
"Yes. It's me."
"Is it really you?"
"Yes. It's me."
His hand reached out and grabbed mine. The fingertips caressing my wrist were trembling. Then he pulled me in and buried his face in my shoulder. I could hear his ragged breathing.
"Did you have a nightmare?"
He nodded. His golden hair rubbed against my cheek, tickling me.
"But why did you come out?"
"Because I heard a sound."
"What would you have done if it wasn't me?"
"I thought it would be you."
I came out because I thought it would be you.
I closed my mouth without asking any more. His rough breathing gradually stabilized. The hand that was caressing my wrist came down and interlaced with my fingers. The trembling transmitted through our clasped hands gradually subsided.
I bent and straightened the fingers interlaced with his.
"Would you like to take a walk?"
He nodded again.
Holding his hand in one, and carrying the lit lamp in the other, I walked down the hallway. Two sets of footsteps echoed through the quiet hallway.
"I want to get some fresh air."
"Then shall we go outside?"
Taking him as he nodded, we came out of the mansion. The night air was quite chilly. Outside was naturally quiet, and no presence could be felt. It was too late to go far, so we walked toward the garden. Everyone would be asleep, so there was no worry of running into anyone.
The pitch-black sky was studded with stars. The sky was clear today, so they were even more visible. How pretty. I held the twinkling stars in my eyes. A star streaked across the sky and fell. Watching that sight as I walked for a long time, a fountain appeared. Even though it was night, water was still spurting from the fountain.