A man stood in front of Violet. Her face lit up with joy as she faced him. Who is he? I tilted my head in confusion and approached, hearing their voices.
"Where have you been? You weren't in your room."
"I was just taking a tour of the mansion."
"You left us all alone."
"There was a lot to see."
The warmth in their conversation was evident. Curious about who he was, I scrutinized the brown-haired man, but he didn't turn his face toward me, so I couldn't tell. When I reached them, the man was facing Vincent.
I placed the teapot and snacks on the table and glanced at the back of the man talking to Vincent.
"Who is this gentleman?"
"He's Ethan's brother."
"Christopher's brother? He has a brother?"
Surprised, I asked, and an arm suddenly popped out from behind me. Turning around, I saw Ethan standing there, a cookie in his mouth.
"I have a very kind younger brother. I'll introduce him to you. My brother is handsome and has a great personality, and he's very popular. But don't fall for him. He's too much to handle."
"I won't fall for him."
"Everyone says that, but they end up falling for him."
"You're so confident."
"I'm proud of my brother."
Ethan chuckled mischievously. I shrugged. I was curious to see how proud he was of his brother. So, I glanced at the man's back again, and just then, he turned toward me.
His face looked familiar up close.
"Introduce yourself to the maid. This is my brother. You should greet him too. This is the maid currently serving Vincent."
"Nice to meet you."
His brown hair fluttered in the wind. His smooth voice was pleasant to hear. He still exuded an air of elegance and sophistication. When our eyes met, he smiled and extended his hand politely.
"I'm Lucas Christopher."
"Christopher…"
I never thought the man I met in the forest would be Ethan's brother. It felt like an incredible coincidence, and I stared at him in a daze. He tilted his head. Realizing I had been rude, I bowed and shook his outstretched hand.
"Nice to meet you."
Just as I was about to let go of his hand, he held it tighter and lifted it. At the same time, his warm body heat pressed against the back of my hand.
"Please call me Lucas."
It was an elegant and polite greeting, and it reminded me of someone. He was indeed Ethan's brother.
"Is it hard with all the brothers? Even your sister. They're all so unique."
"Of course not. The maid likes me."
"Really?"
His question left me speechless, my mind in a daze. I scanned the man in front of me. He let go of my hand and engaged in a playful conversation with Ethan. Violet interjected between them.
"You're all so unfair. You kept it a secret from me."
"I'm sorry. My brother didn't want to."
"I respect the feelings of the parties involved."
"Chii—"
Violet grumbled but didn't say anything more. Ethan and Lucas smiled apologetically. Through their conversation, I realized that Lucas also knew about Vincent's condition.
At the same time, Vincent's words from the past echoed in my mind. I looked at Vincent. He seemed indifferent, neither surprised nor afraid.
The afternoon tea became livelier with the addition of one more person. But I couldn't smile.
It was a loving relationship, but something felt off. I wasn't sure if I should make such a judgment, but something was… strange.
Using the excuse of refilling the empty teapot, I fled the scene again. I went to the kitchen to refill the teapot and took a long detour. Trying to clear my mind, I walked when I saw someone on the opposite side.
It was Lucas.
"Everyone seems to be having a good time."
Hearing his low whisper, I looked up. He had been watching me approach. The wind tousled his hair.
I bowed slightly.
"Why are you out here?"
"Just getting some fresh air. By the way, I didn't catch your name."
"Oh, it's Pola."
"Pola. Pola. Pola…"
The way he rolled my name in his mouth was sweet, as if calling something precious. It made me feel ticklish, and I scratched the back of my neck.
"Pola. My brother has told me a lot about you. He says you're interesting."
"I'm honored."
I doubted Ethan had only said good things about me. Did he badmouth me to his brother? I frowned slightly but quickly relaxed.
"Have we met in the forest before?"
"Yes."
"At the time, I didn't know who you were, but you were serving my brother. Did you deliver the letter?"
Only then did I remember. I quickly continued.
"By any chance, where did you find the letter?"
"I found it on the ground in front of the mansion. I thought I should deliver it, but there was no one around, so I took it with me, thinking it might be important. While touring the mansion, I met you in the forest and thought you might be a servant here, so I gave it to you. Was it important?"
"…Yes. It was important. Thank you for delivering it."
I was grateful for his consideration, thinking I had almost lost the important letter. I bowed again. He chuckled.
"How is Vincent? Is he doing well?"
"Yes, he's doing well."
"He seems to be. I'm surprised he's doing better than I expected. I thought he would just stay in his room, but it's unexpected."
"Huh?" I blinked, confused, and he smiled.
"Didn't my brother tell you?"
"What…?"
"I'm the one who blinded him."
"…!"
What… What…?
What did he just say? What is this man talking about?
"Your face shows that you already knew, Pola. You were always wary of me. I didn't think my brother would tell you, but it seems you rely on him a lot."
"Ah, I, I—"
"Don't be too shocked."
He took a step closer. I quickly stepped back. My heart pounded. Fear followed the shock. Suddenly, the man in front of me seemed terrifying. His smiling face was unsettling.
'It was that family that did this to me.'
His overly calm voice echoed in my mind again. I took a few steps back, clutching my racing heart. Lucas smiled as if understanding my reaction.
"Good to know it's as I imagined."
Before I could ask what he meant, a rustling sound caught our attention. Vincent stood there, looking surprised.
I quickly turned to look at Lucas, then back at Vincent. I didn't know how he got there, but he moved faster than I expected. I grabbed Vincent's arm and pulled him away. Instinctively, I held his arm tightly, leading him in the opposite direction.
"You…"
"Just, just go. Please, just go."
He was about to say something but closed his mouth at my urging. I quickly led him away, glancing back. Through the whistling wind, I saw the man. Lucas was watching us. The one who confessed to blinding Vincent.
My heart pounded again. Sweat formed on my hand holding Vincent's arm. I gripped it tightly, afraid of losing him if I slipped. The gaze following us was terrifying.
Vincent must have felt it too.
"Why are you shaking? What's going on?"
"Let's get out of here first, and then I'll tell you."
Suddenly, he stopped. I quickly pulled him, but he resisted. I pulled again, but he didn't budge. My steps halted. When I turned to look at him, he spoke first.
"Tell me what's going on."
"Sir, I'll tell you once we're out of here."
"Tell me now."
He showed no intention of moving until I spoke. This isn't the time! I glanced behind him. The man was nowhere to be seen, but I was afraid he might come after us. I swallowed hard.
"Is it… Is it really him?"
"What do you mean?"
"Sir… your eyes."
He looked confused. I replied, frustrated.
"Ethan Christopher's brother, Lucas Christopher, said he's the one who did this to you."
"…Lucas said that?"
"Yes."
He was silent for a moment. The silence was more terrifying. It felt like he was confirming it. But his answer was different from what I expected.
"No."
"Sir, please don't hide it. You need to avoid him."
"Really, it's not him."
"Then who did it?"
Without realizing it, I had asked a forbidden question. I ignored the warning. I was too confused. My mind was a mess, and I asked, on the verge of tears. Vincent sighed and answered.
"James Christopher."
"Who is he?"
"Ethan's half-brother."
A strong gust of wind blew, tousling my hair. My mind was about to explode, but he remained calm, making me feel like I was in a dream.
"He's the one who did this to me."
Vincent didn't retract his words. The truth. He was telling me the truth. To a mere maid, he was revealing a secret he had wanted to keep hidden.
And at that moment, I realized I had crossed a line I shouldn't have. The truth behind Lucas's kindness to me.