As I burst into a cough, Lucas patted my back, asking if I was okay. After finally calming down, I looked up at him blankly. What did you just say? Who is pretty? Me? ...Are your eyesight failing you?
"Pretty...?"
Vincent asked in confusion. I snapped back to my senses and turned to him.
"Who is pretty?"
"Brother's maid."
Lucas replied firmly. It was a resolute answer without a hint of hesitation. I looked at him again. Are you crazy? I asked silently.
"...Pretty?"
"Yeah."
"Really? Truly?"
"Yeah, truly."
Lucas answered, looking at me. When our eyes met, he smiled brightly. I wondered if he was teasing me, but there was no trace of falsehood on his face.
After a moment of silence, Vincent muttered softly.
"Pretty..."
"White suits you so well."
"Pretty, you mean."
"Very much so."
It was a perfect match. Vincent rarely showed any signs of being flustered.
But the most flustered one was me.
I couldn't understand what Lucas was saying. Did he even see my face properly? If not, I wanted to pull back my bangs and show him right now. Where exactly do you see the prettiness in this face? Huh? I wanted to ask if his taste was a bit unusual.
"Yeah. That pretty."
But I couldn't ask because of Vincent. He looked dazed for some reason. But I had no time to check on him.
"Yeah. At first sight."
At this shocking statement, my mouth dropped open. Vincent's eyes widened in surprise as well. Only Lucas continued to smile brightly.
What do I do, this guy is weird.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"I'm not sure if I should say this, but..."
Instead of asking if he was crazy, I waved my hand at him. Lucas slightly bowed. With the distance now closer, I covered my mouth and whispered to him.
"Is your taste a bit unique?"
"I haven't really thought about it, but I'm pretty ordinary."
"But why are you saying this?"
"What do you mean?"
He really seemed to not understand. Frustrated, I pursed my lips. I glanced at Vincent. He had been silent the whole time. Though his face was calm, I could see the myriad thoughts behind it. At the very least, I knew my image had been sorted in his mind.
"If you keep saying that, it will cause a misunderstanding."
"Who will misunderstand?"
"Master."
"Is there anything to misunderstand?"
I don't understand why he's doing this. I was about to argue but stopped. No, do I really need to correct him? Thinking about it, ...it wasn't bad for me. I wanted Vincent to remember me as pretty.
Yeah, I'm not doing anything wrong.
I was surprised, but it was a compliment I might never hear again in my life. Honestly, it felt good. It was the first time someone had said I was so pretty that they fell in love at first sight. Even if it was just a polite remark, any woman would be happy to hear it.
"What kind of misunderstanding?"
"No, never mind."
I lowered my hand from my mouth and straightened my back. Lucas tilted his head. I cleared my throat and spoke loud enough for Vincent to hear.
"I'm easily embarrassed. I know you mean well, but I'd appreciate it if you only said such things when we're alone."
"Sure."
"..."
Even I found my boldness amusing, but Lucas's response was equally absurd. Vincent, who heard this, slightly frowned. But this time, I wasn't lying. I decided to be even bolder.
"Where are we going for a walk?"
"To the forest."
We finished the remaining tea and headed to the forest behind the annex. It was still quiet here. And it felt good. As I admired the trees and the leaves sprouting from the bare branches, Lucas turned to the side.
"Lord Lucas, that's not the way."
"This way is more worth seeing."
He pointed to the left. There was no path there. What should I do... Looking up at Vincent, he nodded, giving his permission.
So I followed Lucas into the forest. Without a path, it was a tough journey. I cleared the branches blocking our way and warned him of any dangerous obstacles. Vincent held my hand tightly and followed carefully.
We arrived at a spacious clearing surrounded by dense trees. I opened my mouth in amazement. Wow. I never thought there would be such a place in the forest.
"Wow!"
"Pretty, right?"
Lucas asked, seeing my reaction. I nodded repeatedly, unable to take my eyes off the scene before me.
A magnificent flower garden spread out before me.
I hadn't seen any flower fields on the way here. But in this space, there was a large flower garden. The white and fresh flowers swayed gently, as if welcoming us. The trees around it seemed to protect the flowers, forming a circular enclosure.
It wasn't flashy. Rather, it was simple. In terms of splendor, the gardens tended in the mansion were more impressive. They were places where beauty was created with effort at every moment. But this place felt distinctly different. It showed the beauty created by nature, untouched by human hands. Just looking at it made my heart feel clean.
"How did you know about such a place?"
"I found it while wandering around out of boredom in the past."
"It's really beautiful. So, so beautiful."
My excited voice made Lucas smile in relief. I looked around the white flower field. It was densely packed with pure white flowers. It was so amazing.
"Master, Master, the flowers are so beautiful."
I shook Vincent's hand, who was standing behind me. He looked around, seemingly searching for the flowers I mentioned.
I smiled and led him into the flower field. The flowers here were tall, reaching my waist and Vincent's thighs, swaying as we moved.
"We're in the flower field now."
"Many?"
"Yes, a lot. They cover the entire area."
I described the surroundings in detail. The trees guarding the area, the flowers filling the entire clearing, the pure white petals that would stick to my fingers if I touched them, the wind brushing past them, and the blue sky above.
All of it was a perfect, completed beauty.
"It's amazing that only this place has such flowers. I saw a few flowers on the way here, but they weren't gathered like this."
"Yeah."
"If you saw it, you would have been amazed too."
"Your reaction is enough."
Unlike my excitement, he was very calm. Still, I smiled happily. After saying it was beautiful dozens of times, he finally nodded.
I placed a flower in his hand. He followed my lead, awkwardly bending his waist. The white flowers brushed against his long fingers, swaying.
"I want to run into it."
"Then run."
"Then the flowers will all be trampled."
"Run carefully."
Is he joking? I wondered, but his eyes were fixed on the flowers. His hand touched the flowers again. Once, twice, and then he gently stroked the petals. He seemed to like it.
I knelt down and buried my face in the flowers. They smelled good.
"I like the smell too."
"The smell is all the same."
"Still."
I kept smelling the flowers, and Vincent kept touching them. Lucas, who approached us, looked at us proudly.
"Do you like it?"
"Very much!"
"How about you, brother?"
"Not bad."
Lucas's smile deepened at the positive response.
I tilted my head back and looked at the vast flower field. The cool scenery made me want to step into it and walk around. So I stood up and shook the hand I was holding. Vincent gave me a puzzled look. I made a gesture to pull him along. Understanding my intention, he straightened his back.
I led him further in. Vincent followed me, and Lucas followed behind him.
"Master, spread your hands."
I waved my other hand wildly. The flowers tapped my fingertips. Lucas, who was following behind Vincent, laughed at my actions and then extended his hand. The flowers barely touched his hand. I laughed happily at the sight.
"Master, quickly, quickly."
"Brother, quickly, quickly."
"..."
At our urging, Vincent hesitantly raised his hand and slowly spread his fingers. White flowers entered and left his hand. Feeling the sensation, Vincent spread his fingers wider. His hand was filled with flowers.
Looking at his dazed face, I turned around and quickened my pace. The sensation of the flowers brushing against my waist was ticklish. The wind blowing through my hair was refreshing. I wanted to run. I wanted to run through the flowers. The footsteps behind me also quickened. No, my footsteps quickened. Before I knew it, I was running through the flower field.
As if I had become a flower.
As if the wind was carrying me away.
When I stopped, I was already at the edge of the flower field. It was much wider than I thought. I panted slightly, and Lucas suddenly appeared beside me. He also bent over and panted.
"Pretty fast."
"Ah, sorry. I didn't mean to run."
Seeing Lucas panting, I realized I had been running. I had gotten too excited halfway. It must have been a sudden ordeal for the two following behind.
I apologized repeatedly, but he waved his hand, saying it was fine. Still, he panted, looking up at the sky.
Then Lucas burst into laughter. It was a happy laugh.
"It's been a while since I ran like this. It feels good, right, brother?"