Chapter 38

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 38

Chapter Title: The Count's Circumstances (8)

-----------------------------------------------------------------

After a wild romp through the gardens, we all returned to the mansion in rough shape. Our clothes were caked in dirt, leaves, and flower petals. We hadn't noticed while we were having fun, but coming to our senses now, it was embarrassing enough to make our cheeks burn. How bizarre must we have looked—two men and one woman laughing and chasing each other through the flowerbeds? Thank goodness no one else was around to see it.

After washing up, I shook out my damp hair and spotted the thin overcoat draped over the bed. It belonged to Lucas. He'd wrapped it around my waist when he saw me running around in my dress.

I recalled how he'd bent down and shown such kindness to someone like me, a mere servant. I brushed off the coat and folded it neatly before heading to his room. His quarters were one floor below.

I knocked on the door, but there was no answer. Was he not in? Maybe he was with Vincent. Just as I turned to leave, the door flew open with a bang.

A strange plink-plink sound hit my ears first. Then a figure suddenly popped out from the side, making my eyes go wide.

Lucas stood there in nothing but his pants, his upper body bare.

He must have just come out of the bath—water dripped plink-plink from his limp brown hair. Rivulets trailed from the wet strands down his neck and slid toward his chest. My gaze followed the path of the water.

It wasn't my first time seeing a grown man's naked body. Back home, the male workers often stripped down when it got hot during labor, and nudity was normal when bathing. I'd even seen men and women tangled up together without a stitch on.

Even here, I'd caught glimpses while tending to Vincent. But he was so gaunt and frail back then that it only made me feel pity. He'd put on some weight lately, but now he changed his own clothes, so I didn't get a close look anymore.

But this body right in front of me was large-framed, with just the right amount of muscle...

"Paula."

"Yes?"

"Staring like that is kind of embarrassing..."

Only when he called my name did I realize I'd been gawking at his naked torso.

"Oh!"

I finally covered my eyes with both hands. But I left a gap between my fingers to peek. He chuckled awkwardly and draped one arm over his chest.

"What brings you here?"

"I came to return this."

I lowered one hand and offered the coat from my arms. He took it and gestured for me to come inside. He slipped in first, and I couldn't bring myself to refuse. I glanced at the water droplets on the floor before stepping in. By then, he'd thrown on a robe. For some reason, I felt a twinge of regret as I eyed his back.

As he tied the robe's sash, Lucas nodded toward the table beside him.

"Come sit."

"I was just dropping off the coat."

"Have some tea with me."

"I'm fine."

We'd already had plenty during the day, and it was the middle of the night. If anyone saw a young woman in a young man's room, they might get the wrong idea. My appearance wasn't exactly provocative, but I was still a woman. Besides, I'd been misunderstood like that more often than you'd think. Better to be careful.

He laughed at my firm refusal and stepped closer. Through the loosely tied robe, glimpses of his flat chest flashed. My eyes quickly scanned it.

"Today was so much fun. My brother loved it too."

"Thanks to you, sir."

"No, thanks to you."

We exchanged warm compliments, and he flashed another grin. I smiled back, lifting the corners of my mouth. It really was thanks to him, so I felt good about it. And I was grateful, too.

"Must be tough with your movements so restricted."

"A little."

"How's life here? Hard tending to my brother?"

"A little..."

I rolled my eyes as I trailed off. Then, in a small voice, I added, "A lot?"

Lucas, who was pouring water into a cup, chuckled softly.

"I can see why my brother's improved. With someone as cheerful as you by his side, how could he not?"

"It's all thanks to the Master's hard work."

"No need to be modest. We can't deny your efforts as his attendant."

He probably knew it too. He had a real knack for saying the right things. No point arguing with that.

"Your hair."

I pointed to my damp locks, and he patted his own head. When his puzzled expression didn't change, I motioned for him to lean down. He hesitated, then bent at the waist. I grabbed the towel around his neck and dried his wet hair.

"You'll catch a cold like this."

"..."

"You should dry it right after bathing."

The dripping from his hair had been bothering me. I'm the one who cleans up around here—dry off properly before coming out. Water stains are a pain to scrub later. To prevent that, I dried his hair myself. He stayed still for a moment, then bent lower, probably to make it easier for me. Huh, I was only going to dab off the excess...

I debated for a second, then just patted it until the dripping stopped and stepped back. He straightened up.

"Dry the rest yourself. I'll be going."

Business done, I bowed and turned to leave. My back prickled oddly.

I was just reaching for the doorknob when—

"Paula. Did you know? There's a forest inside the castle."

A castle? A forest? Puzzled, I turned back. Lucas stood by the window. Facing me, he took a swig from his cup and continued.

"The previous king loved nature, so he had it built artificially. They say it's no different from a natural forest if you see it up close—deep, majestic, beautiful. There's only one entrance."

I'd never heard that. I didn't even know there was a forest in the castle. Well, I'd never been there. I murmured an indifferent "Oh," but it was an intriguing topic.

"Only royalty can enter. Occasionally, permitted nobles go in and out, but that's rare. You must always close the door after entering, and absolutely no opening it while someone's inside. That's the rule. Know what people do in there?"

I shook my head. He set his cup on the windowsill.

"I'll tell you a secret."

"A secret?"

"Yeah. A secret you absolutely can't tell anyone."

Why go that far just to share a secret? I tilted my head, and he answered my unspoken question.

"They say even the walls have eyes and ears. You have to watch your mouth, especially in the castle. But how can you live holding everything in? Bottled-up worries will eat you alive. So they made the one place where you can spill your secrets—the forest. Even if you shout them out, the thick walls and door keep it from leaking. No holes or cracks. Guards watch the door, so no sneaking in. People call it the Secret Forest."

"..."

"Well, just a rumor."

He shrugged. He'd never seen it himself, he added. My interest deflated. Figures. I thought it was real. He laughed at my disappointed face.

"To my brother, you're that Secret Forest."

He spun the cup once. My eyes followed it. It twirled, then wobbled to a stop. He spun it again. Pointless motion, but he seemed focused.

"People like us all have our secrets. But we can't tell anyone, so we suffer in silence. Sometimes you just want to pour it all out, get some comfort—but you can't grab just anyone. So you find sneaky ways to vent, like shouting in the Secret Forest. To my brother, you're that outlet."

"..."

"And to me, he was."

He spun the cup again, then looked at me without waiting for it to stop.

We locked eyes for a moment. Then he pushed off the windowsill and approached me again.

"You still think what I said last time was a lie?"

"..."

"It's true. What happened to my brother is my fault."

Lucas stopped in front of me. But his words kept coming, even knowing I was confused.

"I was too weak to do anything. Not bold enough to use the family's power, not strong enough to protect myself. So I dragged Vincent into it. I thought it would save me. And this is the result. He suffered, I got saved. So... now it's my turn."

"W-what are you talking about?"

"I'm giving my eyes to my brother."

Confusion turned to horror. I couldn't believe my ears at his casual declaration. He was so matter-of-fact, I wanted to think I'd misheard.

I gasped for breath and rushed to respond.

"Th-the Master went blind."

"It's not total loss of function. Just the surface damage. Surgery can fix it. But it's so tricky no one's succeeded until now. He probably gave up knowing that. Recently, I heard about a doctor in a far-off country who pulled it off. I'm bringing him here. Of course, even then, a noble like him can't just take any eyes. But from me... that should be fine."

"You can't give eyes from a living person!"

"I'm going to die soon anyway."

I couldn't comprehend his light tone, his smiling face. Talking about his own death, yet he looked so cheerful. I didn't want to believe it, but he really seemed that way.

"Don't say that."

I shook my head wildly.

"It's the only thing I can do."

"Lucas, sir!"

"I'll give them to my brother. My world."

"..."

I finally understood the intimidating aura from that beaming man. He wasn't wavering. He'd already made up his mind. His whole being screamed sincerity, and it terrified me.

I opened and closed my mouth several times. No words came. My mind was a mess, my heart pounding.

Through the gaps in my disheveled hair, my frantic eyes must have been visible to him. He leaned down until our faces were inches apart. He peered into my eyes for a moment, then curved his into a smile.

"Just kidding."

"...Pardon?"

"It's a joke."

His laugh turned mischievous. What? I stared at him blankly. He pulled the doorknob behind me with the same impish grin. The door creaked open.

I glanced at the suddenly open door, then back at him. He covered his mouth with one hand. His squinted eyes were tightly shut, like he was holding back laughter.

"Your shocked face is cute, too."

"Huh?"

"Good night."

The door behind me swung wider. He pushed my shoulder, nudging me out. Then, as if he couldn't hold it anymore, he burst into laughter at my stunned expression. The sound echoed through the closing gap until the door shut with a click.

I stood there dazed for a long while before his "Just kidding" sank in.

Heat rushed to my face. Fuming, I grabbed the doorknob and yanked. It was locked. I rattled it several more times, but it wouldn't budge. The click-click-click echoed down the hall.

It didn't take long for my scream to join the clamor.