Starting with the Bellunita couple, the cozy scene of the three of them is captured in the frame. Young Vincent's figure can also be seen in the middle.
Seeing the cute child smiling brightly, she clicked her tongue.
"How did he end up like this? It's a pity, a real pity."
They say a person can change in an instant. The young Vincent in the frame probably never imagined he would lose his sight and spend his days confined to a room.
After taking a cursory look around the annex, I came out the back door and leisurely strolled through the garden. Although hidden behind the largest and most splendid mansion, this annex also had a garden. When you go out the back door, you can see a small garden, and if you walk around to the front, a larger garden spreads out.
I had never been to the garden before. The well-maintained trees and flowers were refreshing just to look at. Even the weeds underfoot seemed beautifully managed. I could feel the gardeners' meticulous care.
The weather is really nice today.
It was so nice it was almost a waste.
"Since the weather has been so nice lately, why don't we have tea time in the garden?"
After returning from my garden walk, I read the golden-lettered letter that arrived today and smiled broadly. This was it!
"Would you like to have tea time in the garden today?"
However, Vincent immediately frowned.
"What nonsense."
I thought it was a good suggestion, but it seems he didn't like it. But the weather was really nice today. The sun rarely came out from behind the clouds, and the warm air floated around. It would be a shame to stay cooped up on such a day.
"Sometimes it's good to get some fresh air."
"Someone might see."
"It'll be fine if it's just for a moment, right?"
Moreover, no other servants were visible in the annex or the garden. There was no one around here. The annex and the garden seemed deliberately designed to prevent servants from accessing them. So there was no risk of anyone seeing.
He didn't ask any more questions. He just felt the wind. Seeing his slightly relaxed face, it seemed he didn't entirely dislike it. I was relieved he didn't immediately insist on going back to the room.
I smiled contentedly and took out the things I had prepared in advance, placing them on the table one by one. Then I guided his hand to the handle of the cup and poured him some hot black tea. It was the same black tea he had enjoyed last time.
He really seemed to enjoy the black tea from Novelle, as the tea leaves he received as a gift were quickly used up. So I asked the golden-lettered person where to buy more, and they sent three new packets.
"If you need more, please let me know."
Lately, I've felt that the golden-lettered person is really a good person. I must send a reply to thank them.
"It's delicious."
"It's the same one you had last time."
"I know. The aftertaste is different, though."
He looked relaxed as he sipped the tea. He really seemed to enjoy it. Thanks to this, I've been bringing him black tea more often recently. It was especially useful for calming him down when he started to get agitated.
"I'm going to read a book to you today."
"It's probably going to be some boring book."
"No, it's an adventure novel. Chris, no, I heard you like it."
I hastily changed the subject when I almost mentioned Ethan. His name was taboo now. I don't know why, but it felt that way. I took the book I had tucked under my arm and sat in the opposite chair.
I opened the book. Then, clearing my throat, I slowly began to read.
I read slowly, giving him enough time to imagine, and clearly, remembering to breathe in between. I kept in mind the points Vincent had criticized me on before as I read.
My voice reading the book had become smoother than before. I was quite satisfied with it myself. Moreover, this time, Vincent didn't criticize me at all. I was secretly pleased when I noticed this.
"By the way, what do you look like?"
An unexpected question popped out of his mouth. I stopped reading and looked up. He had already put his cup down on the table and was looking at me. When our eyes met, his emerald eyes made my mind go blank for a moment, and I couldn't immediately respond.
I didn't expect him to ask such a question.
"Why are you curious about that?"
"Because I'm curious. I want to know what your shameless face looks like."
"I'll read the next sentence."
Ignoring his words, I lowered my head back to the book. I was trying to change the subject.
Suddenly, his long fingers brushed against my bangs. It was a slight touch, almost imperceptible. But I was so startled that I jumped up from my seat.
The sound of the chair falling behind me echoed. I barely managed to catch the table as it wobbled from the sudden movement. The book rolled off and fell to the floor. Vincent's eyes widened in surprise.
The wind blew softly.
"Ah, well... I was startled when you suddenly tried to touch my face... I'm sorry."
I steadied the table, set the fallen chair upright again, and placed the book back on the table.
By the time I did this, his face had calmed down, and he spoke.
"Why are you so startled? I said I wanted to know what you look like."
"Why did you try to touch my face?"
"Since I can't see, I have to touch to know."
I glanced at him, sitting in the chair. He can't see. He can't see me. So unless someone tells him, he will never know what my face looks like. And from the way he's asking now, it seems no one has told him.
"What do you look like?"
"I look ordinary."
"Ordinary how?"
I couldn't bring myself to say that my face was one people would point at. I bit my lip, wondering how to divert his attention.
"What do you look like?"
"I'll tell you later. Let's finish the book first."
"The more you hide, the more curious I get."
"..."
But it didn't work. He wiggled his fingers as if he was about to reach out again. I looked at his fingertips anxiously.
"I'm... a bit short."
"I know. What else?"
"...My hair... reaches my chest."
"Over?"
"No, not over... I cut it a bit a few days ago."
I hadn't realized how long my hair had grown until I saw it in the mirror. It had become a nuisance, so a few days ago, I cut it to just above my chest with scissors.
Actually, long hair is a burden. The hair I couldn't manage was dry and the back part was useless. Moreover, it got in the way when I worked, so I had to tie it back. Still, I didn't cut it short; it was my last bit of pride. If my hair were short, there would be nothing feminine left about my body.
"Is your hair curly? Some people have straight hair, and some have curly hair."
"I... have a bit of curl."
"Hmm—"
He let out a short sigh, seemed to think about something for a moment, and then reached out again. For a moment, I tensed up, thinking his fingertips might touch my face again.
But this time, they didn't. His hand swept through the air as if searching for something and gently touched my hair.
He grabbed the ends of my curly hair and fiddled with them.
"Really. The ends are curled."
"..."
He poked the ends of my hair with his thumb and smiled softly. I watched his hand, which was playfully touching the ends of my hair.
"And?"
"And... and... what exactly are you curious about?"
"Everything. Describe it in detail."
Give me pieces I can imagine. That's what he was asking of me.
I mumbled, but I couldn't easily say the words. I had never described what I looked like before. I didn't want to, and my appearance wasn't worth describing.
"Are you thin?"
Yes, I was so thin that I looked terrible. Now I've gained a bit of weight, but before I came here, I often heard that I looked like a walking corpse.
"Average."
"Your eyes, are they big?"
"They're on the larger side. When I was young, people often said they could only see my eyes."
"Your nose?"
"Well..."
As I answered his rapid-fire questions, everything I said was a lie. Apart from the length of my hair and the size of my eyes, nothing I told him was true. And these lies combined to form a person. Strangely, it turned out to be Alicia.
My younger sister, who is so beautiful, unlike me.