# 73
73. The Count Whom I Met Again (3)
"Isn't this too fluttery?"
Joelly, displeased with the dress she was examining, took it off and scanned the other dresses beside it. Various designs of dresses seemed to be laid out on the bed.
Johnny casually turned his head away. Though the partition only half-covered the area and he could only see where the mirror was placed, he didn't even dare to look in that direction. Meanwhile, he could hear Alicia giggling softly as she handed over another dress.
"It's Marceline, so it won't flutter too much. Rather than something too fitted, having lace attached to the hem like this gives a fuller feeling, which will be prettier."
"Oh my. Really?"
Joelly took the dress, held it against her body, and examined it this way and that. Alicia chimed in with compliments beside her, smiling radiantly.
Then Joelly's gaze suddenly darted sideways. Alicia quickly bent down and picked out shoes the same color as the dress from the row of shoes lined up in front of the mirror, placing them at Joelly's feet.
Joelly slipped one foot into the shoe and examined her reflection in the mirror. I subtly stepped back and looked at Alicia. Her eyes and mouth were smiling, but I could read her true thoughts.
'That woman is too arrogant! She's not even the master here, so is it okay to boss around someone else's servant like this?'
'We can't help it. We're servants after all.'
Whatever Joelly's true identity, she was ultimately a noble. Giving orders to people like us was only natural behavior.
'What an obnoxious girl! When I become the master of this household, I'll kick her out first.'
And yet she serves so well. Smiling broadly, she puts on the utmost pretense. With just one wave of Joelly's hand, Alicia quickly approached her, picked up a new dress, and offered it. I'd never seen Alicia with such swift action before.
The fastidious Joelly was also careful in choosing her party dress. Even more so than usual. Only after repeatedly taking off and putting on several dresses could she finally make a selection.
"Hmm."
Of course, even that didn't seem entirely satisfactory. Fortunately, she didn't take it off again and instead examined herself from various angles in the mirror before sitting down on a chair. Alicia lifted a box containing hair accessories.
"Would you like the nanny to help with this?"
"Yes, Joelly."
"……."
Dismissing the clumsy Alicia, the nanny approached. Eventually, Alicia came over to our side and waited.
I whispered to Alicia.
"You pretentious thing."
"It's just a small sacrifice."
"What do you mean?"
"This is why people who don't know anything can't—"
"……."
"You need opportunities to do something. Bending over for a mere few words is nothing difficult when you think about what you'll gain later. Just watch quietly."
"Why don't you just stay quiet too? Don't cause unnecessary trouble."
"Didn't you say you were going back? If you're leaving, then leave quickly."
As I was about to retort to her mocking words, Joelly pulled out the hair accessory she had pinned on and pointed to another one. Before the nanny could even move, Alicia brought over a new hair accessory. And she personally opened the box to show it to Joelly. Whatever she was up to, she was certainly determined.
Robert had fallen asleep, exhausted from the long wait. His small body lay on the sofa using my lap as a pillow. In his hand, as always, was the horse figurine. I gently placed his hand, precariously holding the figurine, on my knee and patted his small body.
"Hmm, I think this much should be fine."
At that moment, a knock was heard. Once Joelly gave permission, someone opened the door and entered. My gaze naturally landed on the door before hurriedly dropping. Johnny quickly bowed his waist.
Vincent, dressed formally in a tailcoat, walked into the room.
"Vincent, come in."
"Are you ready?"
"Not yet. Wait a little longer. Ah, you can remove the partition."
At those words, the nanny moved to take down the partition that had been blocking the doorway. Johnny, who had been staring at the wall the whole time, approached to help. While I was hesitating over whether I should help too, Vincent plopped down in the seat next to me. My body stiffened rigidly.
"Just do it roughly. We're only keeping up appearances."
"Still, I need to look pretty. Who's the one going?"
"How admirable."
The conversation was warm. Seeing them so warm, their relationship didn't seem stiff. Come to think of it, what exactly was the relationship between those two?
However, my thoughts reached that point and faded. My heart raced rapidly from tension. I lowered my head unnecessarily and hunched my stiff body further. The hand holding Robert tightened. Lest Vincent recognize me.
But when I stole a glance at him, my worries proved groundless as he didn't look back at me even once. He only gazed at Joelly, who was fully revealed now that the partition was removed.
Soon after, Joelly, having finished dressing, stood before Vincent. Wearing a dress embroidered with jewels in blue tones, matching shoes and hair accessories, Joelly was incredibly beautiful. Her entire body sparkled with light.
Joelly spun around. The hem of her dress fluttered gracefully before gathering back. Emerald eyes rolled and fixed upon her.
"How is it?"
Her pretty lips drooped languidly. It was a smile that would steal anyone's heart at first glance.
"It suits you."
"Come on, that's too half-hearted."
"Then don't ask."
However, what reached the ears was a voice tinged with annoyance. When Vincent's response remained indifferent, Joelly tried to examine another dress again. It seemed like another long wait was about to begin.
When Joelly finally picked up a new dress, even the nanny and Alicia looked flustered. Meanwhile, Vincent rested his arm on the sofa armrest and calmly observed Joelly with his chin propped on his hand.
Anyway, that mouth of his hasn't changed. Did Robert perhaps learn that from Vincent too?
I stole a glance at Vincent sitting next to me. Putting everything else aside, the more I looked, the more fascinating it became. Vincent, who could see ahead. What was natural for others wasn't for him, so I kept stealing glances at him.
Not a single trace of fear remained on his languid face. It was peaceful and composed. No afterimage remained of his past self, trembling with fear after losing his sight. It was distinctly different from the figure who wouldn't take even a single step out of his room, afraid someone might harm him. The him who once fought pain alone was no more.
Good. Really good.
I'm genuinely glad he's doing well.
I looked at Vincent and smiled softly. Then, at the face that came to mind, my smile faded. My gaze dropped to the floor and wandered. The tremor spread like ripples, and my mood sank into endless melancholy.
I clenched my mouth shut and struggled to compose myself. After letting out a trembling breath and raising my gaze once more, Vincent had straightened his back and was staring intently at something.
His serious gaze remained fixed ahead for a long while. When I turned my head following his line of sight, Alicia stood there, touching Joelly's hair. Since the moment Vincent entered this room, Alicia had been continuously stealing glances at him.
Alicia, realizing he was looking at her, put on an aloof expression as if she didn't notice. At the same time, she tilted her body slightly so her face would be better seen by him. And just as Alicia intended, Vincent couldn't take his eyes off her for a long time.
The only one moving was Alicia, with Joelly's voice occasionally interjecting. Until then, Vincent watched them without a word. No, his gaze was almost entirely fixed on one side. His eyes moved in tandem with Alicia's movements.
Why is he looking like that? As I was watching Vincent with such curiosity, Johnny nudged my shoulder. Johnny, leaning in close behind me, asked quietly.
"Who is that person?"
I looked at Johnny, wondering what he was talking about. Johnny had expressed his question while still gazing at Vincent. Then when he looked at me, I signaled with my eyes, asking if he really didn't know.
"Who is it?"
"He's the master of this place."
"Ah, really?"
Johnny examined Vincent again with wide, rounded eyes. I was dumbfounded by his reaction of genuinely not knowing. Hadn't all the servants gathered to welcome Vincent when he returned?
"When the master came, all the servants gathered."
"I know. But I secretly fell asleep then."
"……."
"Keep it a secret, okay?"
Like I have any intention of telling anyone? I let out a hollow laugh at the absurdity, and Johnny, perhaps embarrassed, added that he had woken up too early and was tired. Ah, is that so. I retorted calmly and shook my head.
Then, I suddenly felt a gaze. I quickly turned my head, but there was no one looking at us. Strange. I was sure someone was watching……
"Hey. But why is he looking at Alicia like that?"
"No way. He must be looking at Lady Joelly."
"No. The gaze is too hot. Like he's fallen for her."
"As if everyone is like you."
I didn't even want to hear words like love at first sight. Recalling the days I was harassed because of such things, my expression naturally soured.
I was about to say that couldn't be true and to stop talking nonsense, but Johnny instead looked at me strangely. What. Why. When I fiercely shot back at that gaze, Johnny's face rapidly turned serious, and I felt like he was about to say something that would only irritate me further. So I hardened my face even more and glared, telling him not to say it.
"Hey."
At that moment, a heavy voice was abruptly thrown.
My body instantly stiffened. In my place, Johnny gave him his attention. I turned my head with a belated creak.
But Vincent was still looking in Alicia's direction. His call wasn't directed at me.
"Are you a new servant?"
It was directed at Alicia. Alicia swiftly turned around as if she had been waiting.
"It's my first time meeting you, Master."
With a shy smile and both hands placed against her stomach, she bowed deeply. Her long hair tied back flowed down over her shoulder.
"Your name?"
"I'm called Alicia."
Her eyes, cast down slightly before lifting, sparkled briefly. Her clear voice rang out distinctly. The corners of her red lips rose, forming a beautiful smile. A face anyone would feel drawn to—Alicia knew this fact well and was displaying it to the fullest.
"I serve Lady Joelly."
"……."
"Master?"
Vincent stared intently at her smiling face once more. Perhaps his gaze was quite heated, as Alicia's cheeks gradually reddened. Joelly, half-turned with her arm resting on the back of the chair, smiled mischievously.
"Oh my. Vincent. You'll bore a hole through her face."
Only then did Vincent let out a short sigh and pull his body back.
"Have you fallen for her?"
At the playful remark, Alicia's eyes sparkled.
But his face, which had turned indifferent again, signaled her not to talk nonsense. He didn't even answer. Joelly didn't continue speaking either, and only Alicia wore a disappointed expression.
"Ann."
At that moment, Joelly called me. Reacting one beat late from watching them, I responded.
"……Yes!"
"Come here. Touch up my hair for me."
Joelly, who had let down the hair the nanny had put up, gestured to me. My eyes went wide. Me? I'm the one? As I stood flustered, the nanny approached me.
"I'll watch over the young master for you."
After looking at her soft smile, I hesitantly rose to my feet.
It felt like everyone's gaze was piercing me. The nanny laid Robert on her lap in my stead, and Joelly waited for me. Alicia, standing beside her, openly scowled at me.
I took heavy steps and walked toward Joelly. The back of my head prickled—Johnny must be watching me. And I could also feel Vincent's gaze.