After a bout of running and playing, when we returned to the mansion, everyone was in poor condition. Our bodies were dirty with mud, leaves, and petals. While we were having fun, we didn't notice, but when we came to our senses, it was embarrassing enough to make our cheeks turn red. How strange it must have looked to see two men and a woman laughing and running around in the flower garden. Fortunately, there was no one else around.
After washing up, I was shaking out my wet hair when I noticed a thin overcoat lying on the bed. It belonged to Lucas. He had wrapped it around my waist when he saw me running around in my dress.
I recalled how he had bent down and been kind to me, his subordinate. I shook off the overcoat, neatly folded it, and headed to Lucas's room. His room was located one floor below.
I knocked on the door, but there was no answer. Is he not in the room? Maybe he's in Vincent's room. Just as I was about to turn around with that thought, the door suddenly opened.
The first thing I heard was a strange thud. Then, my eyes widened at the figure that abruptly appeared from the side.
Lucas was standing there in nothing but his pants, half-naked.
It seemed he had just finished washing, as water dripped from his drooping brown hair. The water trickled down his neck and slid over his chest. My gaze followed the water trail.
“Pola.”
“Yes?”
“It's a bit embarrassing to be looked at like that……”
Only after he called my name did I realize I had been staring at his naked body.
“Oh my.”
I finally covered my eyes with both hands. However, I left a gap between my fingers to maintain my view. He, too, seemed embarrassed and smiled, covering his chest with one arm.
“What brings you here?”
“I came to return this.”
I lowered one hand and handed him the overcoat. He took it and invited me inside. Then he went in first, leaving me no choice but to follow. I glanced at the water stains on the floor for a moment before entering the room. When I did, he was already wearing a robe. I felt a bit disappointed and kept looking at his back.
He tied the sash of his robe and gestured to the table beside him.
“Come and sit.”
“I just came to return the overcoat.”
“Have a cup of tea at least.”
“I'm fine, thank you.”
I had already had a lot of tea during the day, and if a young woman were seen in a young man's room at midnight, it could lead to misunderstandings. Of course, my condition wouldn't cause such misunderstandings, but I am a woman, after all. Besides, I had often been misunderstood in such situations, so I needed to be careful.
He laughed at my firm refusal. As he approached me, the flat chest beneath his loosely tied robe was slightly visible. My eyes quickly scanned it.
“I had so much fun today. You enjoyed it too, right?”
“Thanks to you, Lord Lucas.”
“No, it was thanks to you, Pola.”
We exchanged warm compliments, and he smiled again. I couldn't help but smile back. It was true that it was thanks to him that I had a good attitude, and I was genuinely grateful.
“It must be inconvenient to be limited in where you can go.”
“A little.”
“……” He rolled his eyes and added softly, “A lot?”
I nodded, and Lucas chuckled.
“I understand why your brother's condition has improved. Having someone as cheerful as you around, he couldn't help but feel better.”
“It's all thanks to your efforts, my lord.”
“You don't have to be so modest. Your efforts in serving him have been significant.”
My brother knows that. He always said such nice things. If he said it, I wouldn't want to contradict him.
“Your hair.”
I pointed to my wet hair, and he touched his own. Seeing his puzzled expression, I gestured for him to bend down. Lucas hesitated but then bent his waist. I dried his wet hair with the towel that had been around his neck.
“If you stay like this, you'll catch a cold.”
“……”
“It's best to dry off right after washing.”
I had been annoyed by the water dripping from his hair. Well, clean it properly next time. If water stains the floor, it makes cleaning harder. To prevent that, I dried his hair myself. He bent his waist a bit more, seemingly accommodating me. Hmm, I only intended to dry it slightly.
After some thought, I dried it enough to stop the water from dripping and stepped back. Lucas straightened his body.
“Dry the rest yourself. I'll be going now.”
With my business done, I bowed and turned to leave. My back felt strangely prickly.
Just as I was about to grab the doorknob,
“Pola. Did you know? There's a forest inside the castle.”
A forest inside the castle? Puzzled by his words, I turned around. Lucas was standing by the window. From where I stood, he continued, sipping from his cup.
“The previous king loved nature, so he had it artificially created. But when you go there, it feels like a real forest. It's deep, grand, and beautiful. There's only one entrance to this forest.”
I had never heard of it. I didn't even know there was a forest inside the castle. I hadn't been there, of course. I replied indifferently, but it was an intriguing topic.
“Only the royal family can enter. Occasionally, a noble who has been granted permission can enter, but that's very rare. Once inside, you must close the door, and no one can open it while someone is inside. That's the rule. Everyone knows what happens inside, right?”
I shook my head. He put down his cup by the window.
“They share secrets.”
“Secrets?”
“Yes. Absolute secrets that must never be revealed.”
Why go all the way to a forest to share secrets? I tilted my head, and he answered my unspoken question.
“People say walls have ears. You need to be careful with what you say. Especially inside the castle. But how can you live your whole life keeping your mouth shut? If you hold it in for too long, you can't survive. So, they created a place where they can share secrets, and that place is the forest. You can shout your secrets there, and the thick walls and door will prevent them from leaking out. There are no small holes to drill, and guards stand at the door to prevent anyone from sneaking in. People call it the Forest of Secrets.”
“……”
“It's just a rumor, though.”
He shrugged. He hadn't seen it himself. My interest waned at his additional comment. I thought it was real, but now I wasn't sure. Seeing my disappointed face, he laughed.
“To my brother, you are the Forest of Secrets.”
He spun the cup once. My gaze followed it. The cup spun and stopped precariously. Then he spun it again, focusing intently.
“People like us all have secrets. But we can't share them anywhere and have to bury them in our hearts, leading to inner turmoil. Sometimes we want to spill everything and seek comfort, but we can't just grab anyone and do that. So, we have to secretly relieve that pressure. Like shouting in the Forest of Secrets. To my brother, you are that person.”
“……”
“And to me, you are that person.”
He spun the cup again but didn't watch it stop this time. Instead, he looked at me. After a moment, he straightened his body and approached me again.
“Do you still think what I said last time was a lie?”
“……”
“It's the truth. It's my fault that my brother ended up like this.”
Lucas stopped in front of me. His words continued, even though he knew I was confused. He didn't stop talking.
“I was too weak to do anything. I wasn't bold enough to use the power of my family, and I had no strength to protect myself. So, I involved Vincent. I thought I had to do that to survive. This is the result. My brother suffered, and I was saved. So…… this time, it's my turn.”
“I don't understand what you're saying.”
“I plan to give my eyes to him.”
My confusion turned to shock. I doubted my ears at his calm statement. Lucas was so composed that I wished I had misheard him.
I gasped for breath and spoke hastily.
“My lord, you will go blind.”
“You won't lose the function of your eyes. The surface is damaged, but if you have surgery, you can see again. However, it's a very delicate and difficult procedure, and there hasn't been a doctor capable of performing it properly. My brother probably gave up on it. But I recently heard about a doctor in a distant country who successfully performed a similar surgery. I plan to bring him here. Of course, I can't just let any eye be transplanted into a noble, but if it's mine…… it should be fine.”
“I can't give a living person's eyes!”
“I'm going to die soon.”
I couldn't understand his light tone or his smiling face. He seemed so happy talking about his own death. I thought it was impossible, but he looked genuinely convinced.
“Don't say that.”
I shook my head vigorously.
“It's the only thing I can do.”
“Lord Lucas!”
“I'll give him my world. My eyes.”
“……”
I realized what the oppressive feeling from the smiling man was. He was unwavering. He had already made up his mind. His sincere expression was terrifying.
I moved my lips several times, unsure what to say. My mind was in chaos, and my heart was pounding.
He must have seen the confusion in my eyes through the gaps in my hair. Lucas bent down, his face close to mine. He looked into my eyes for a moment, then smiled again.
“Just kidding.”
“……What?”
“I was joking.”
His smile turned mischievous. What? I stared at him, bewildered. He still had a mischievous look as he pulled the doorknob behind me. The door creaked open.
I quickly turned to look at the door, then back at Lucas. He covered his mouth with one hand, his eyes squinted shut, as if trying to hold back laughter.
“Your surprised face is so cute.”
“Excuse me?”
“Good night.”
The door behind me opened wider. He pushed my shoulder, sending me out of the room. Then, he burst into laughter, looking at my stunned face. The sound of his laughter echoed through the closing door and abruptly stopped when it shut.
I stood there for a while, dazed, before his words, “I was joking,” registered in my mind.
Heat rushed to my face. With my cheeks burning, I fumed and grabbed the doorknob. But the door was locked. I shook it several times, but it wouldn't budge. The only sound in the corridor was the clicking of the doorknob.
It didn't take long for my scream to echo through the corridor.