41. The Moment a Star Fell into the Earl's Family (2)
"I'm sorry for surprising you. I was so happy seeing how beautiful Paula looked that I didn't notice your feelings."
"No, no, you don't need to apologize."
"Then, Paula, promise me you won't say that again. Okay?"
She giggled again and reached out her hand. I looked at her delicate fingertips. She wiggled her fingers, and I hesitantly extended my hand. She firmly grasped it and stood up. I followed her and got up from my seat. Her beautiful face, beaming with joy, filled my vision.
I bowed my head, suppressing the lump rising in my throat. My eyes stung. It must have been because her hand was so warm.
"Um, how about just styling your back hair? We won't touch your bangs or put on any makeup. I'll just style your back hair. It's a waste to wear such a beautiful dress and not do anything. Okay?"
"Um, just the back hair…"
"Yes, just the back hair! I promise I won't touch the front at all."
After reaffirming her promise several times, Violet cautiously moved behind me and gently touched my back hair. My body instinctively stiffened, worried she might touch my bangs. I was ready to run if anything seemed off.
Fortunately, she kept her promise and only touched my back hair.
"Paula, your hair is so curly. Mine is too."
See? She showed me her hair, which indeed curled at the ends and was generally wavy.
"Sometimes I envy people with straight hair. But then again, people with straight hair often feel their hair looks flat even after styling it, so they envy my hair. It seems that moderation is best. Still, Paula, yours is less curly than mine."
"I'm sorry."
"Oh, don't apologize."
Behind me, I heard a joyful laugh. It tickled my ears. I fidgeted with my fingers.
Violet braided my back hair and twisted it into a bun. She then reached for a white ribbon to secure it, the same one she had given me as a gift and which I had been using ever since.
"I brought a new one."
"This one is fine."
"But I brought many beautiful ones. I'll use them to decorate you."
I shook my head.
"I'd like you to use this ribbon. It doesn't look out of place with my current outfit, and I really like it. It's my most precious possession. I'd be really happy if you decorated me with this precious item."
Hearing this, she smiled even more and took the ribbon to secure my back hair.
After finishing my hair, she stood back to examine me. Her gaze made me tense up. She stood there, scrutinizing me, and then complained that I still looked plain. After a moment of contemplation, she clapped her hands and pulled out several square boxes from her bag.
Opening the lid, a pearl necklace with a round gem in the center was revealed. Not just a necklace, but also a ring. From another box, a bracelet appeared. I couldn't help but stare at them, and then quickly waved my hands when I realized she was about to put them on me.
But Violet insisted that she wouldn't back down on this.
The necklace felt heavy around my neck, and I swallowed hard. What if I lost it? The weight made my neck feel burdened. Bracelets were put on my wrists, and a ring on my finger. I swallowed again. I protested several times that it was too much for me, but Violet, absorbed in decorating me, didn't listen.
Violet examined me again and smiled in satisfaction. Finally, it was over. I let out a sigh of relief. I wanted to take everything off quickly, but she led me to a mirror.
"How do I look?"
"……"
A strange woman stood in the mirror. If not for my bangs, I might not have recognized myself. I opened my mouth in surprise at my reflection.
The woman in the mirror wasn't me.
After braiding and twisting my back hair into a bun, she secured it with the ribbon, tied a bow, and let the remaining ribbon hang naturally.
The pink dress fit my body well. The corset effect made my waist look slim, and the pink ribbon around my waist added to the effect. The voluminous skirt made me look even slimmer.
The gloves on my hands, the slightly visible white stockings, and the pink shoes with small ribbons in the center all matched perfectly. The necklace, bracelet, and ring filled in the potentially plain areas.
I stared at my reflection in a daze and raised my hand. The woman in the mirror raised her hand too. With my other hand, I lifted the hem of the dress and touched the lace on the shoulder. The lace at the cuffs of the sleeves flared out. I touched the necklace and smoothed the twisted bun. The woman in the mirror did the same.
It really was me.
"Beautiful, right?"
"……Yes. No, the dress."
Violet laughed mischievously at my answer. I said it sincerely, but she didn't stop laughing.
This situation was awkward yet fascinating. I had never worn such clothes before. I thought the pink would make me look young, but it gave a mature look. Is this really me? I understand why Violet said my bangs were a pity. The front part did stand out. I touched my bangs absentmindedly and then shook off the thought.
I kept getting distracted by my reflection in the mirror. Then, someone knocked on the door. Violet allowed them to enter, and the door opened. Lucas came in.
He was carrying a square box and stopped in his tracks as he approached Violet. His eyes widened and fixed on me. His dazed face quickly scanned me from head to toe.
"……Paula?"
"Yes."
Lucas froze.
I looked at Violet, puzzled, and she was staring at Lucas with a strange expression. I approached Lucas and took the box from his hand, passing it to Violet. She suddenly beamed and looked back and forth between him and me.
Then, she turned me back to face Lucas, placing her hands on my shoulders.
"How does she look? Beautiful, right?"
"……"
He didn't answer, but his gaze was fixed on me. Embarrassed, I smoothed the dress. The silence made me even more uncomfortable. Thinking he didn't like it, I turned to change, but at that moment, a soft voice reached my ears.
"Beautiful."
His dazed face gradually lit up. His brown eyes softened with affection, like honey about to drip.
"Very much so."
"……"
I felt even more embarrassed.
I scratched my exposed neck and looked away. Violet was grinning from ear to ear. Her warm gaze made me feel uncomfortable, so I lowered my head.
"Can I take it off now?"
"Already? Wear it a bit longer."
"I need to go clean."
"Oh, what a waste. It would be nice to go to a party."
Honestly, it wasn't that much. I laughed it off, but she seriously suggested attending a party somewhere. I immediately shook my head. It was absurd. Then, she asked if we could have a party here. Shocked, I waved my hands again. Besides the many issues that would arise from suddenly hosting a party, there was no one to invite.
Her shoulders slumped at my repeated refusal. She seemed genuinely disappointed, and I felt a bit guilty. But this was something I couldn't agree to.
I turned to retrieve the dress she had taken from me. She kept muttering how it was a waste. Then, Lucas, who had been silent, suddenly offered a suggestion.
"What if we have a party just among ourselves?"
That's how the impromptu party was decided.
It was a very small gathering, with only me, Violet, Lucas, and Vincent attending. It was hardly a party, but Violet and Lucas were excited and immediately asked Isabella to prepare. She acted quickly, while Vincent, who heard the news late, was bewildered.
"Anyone would think this is your mansion."
"Why— It's fun."
"Good is good."
"……"
No one could stop the two determined individuals.
The central hall of the annex was chosen as the party venue. Isabella brought maids to decorate the hall and instructed the chef to prepare food. She made sure no one would enter the hall during the party. The food would be brought by Isabella or the annex chef, and Isabella would take care of all the service.
My offer to help with the preparations was rejected. Violet said the dress might get damaged and forced me to stay in the room. She told me not to worry and went to the hall to oversee the party, with Lucas joining her. Vincent couldn't come, so they needed someone to replace him.
In the end, only Vincent and I were left in the room. I fidgeted with my fingers. The dress was uncomfortable. I shifted my hips restlessly. It felt like sitting on a bed of thorns, with all the commotion outside and me doing nothing.
Glancing at Vincent, who was sitting at the far end, I saw him leaning on the armrest of the sofa, chin in hand. His polished black shoes tapped the air. Dressed in a tuxedo that Lucas had forced him into, with his golden hair combed back, he looked neater than usual.
I had thought before that Vincent in formal attire looked like a different person. He could pass for a noble's son with his neat appearance, or a spoiled noble forced to attend a party he didn't want to. The contrast made me relax and even laugh a little.