Tea time with graph (2)
I was shorter than most girls my age and looked petite. My hair, which reached down to my chest, was dull and unattractive, combined with my tanned skin. The color of my hair was dark brown, as were my eyes - large, but slanted and piercing, and my small, freckled nose was turned up. My lips were small and rough, and often bled.
Ugly dwarf.
That's what boys my peers once called me.
Unlike me, Alicia, the third child, was beautiful from a very young age. She was about my height, but her body was moderately voluptuous and her breasts were large. Her waist-length light brown hair was shiny from daily care. Her skin was fair because she did not go out in the sun, her eyes were large, her nose was large, her lips were full, and her smile was captivating.
I thought she was very beautiful. Yes, she was so beautiful that rumors about her spread throughout the village. The son of a village lord fell in love with her and asked for her hand in marriage. No, all the men in the village were in love with her. Even her bad temper was considered charming.
At the same time, I was also the center of attention. Everyone was curious about what I looked like because I was Alicia's older sister. Since the youngest is so beautiful, how much more beautiful is the eldest? People who saw Alicia often came to see me, but their looks of anticipation quickly turned to expressions of disappointment when they saw my face. Some frowned, others cursed. I'm used to hearing questions about whether we really are each other's sisters.
For a moment Vincent was speechless. He seemed to imagine the face of the maid who had been so impudent in her treatment of him.
“If you saw me, you would also begin to despise me, consider me ugly and ugly and would not want to have anything to do with me. Just like others did to me.” Maybe it's good that he's blind now and won't have to see that ugly face.
Even if by some miracle Vincent could see me, I would prefer not to show myself to him.
I don't want to be hurt. From the very beginning, he only knows my voice, and although now I lied about my appearance with that voice, it would be better for me if he believed my lies. I would be so happy if at least one person in my life would remember me as beautiful.
-You must be beautiful. Even though I can't imagine it.
– I hear this often.
He smiled bitterly.
– Before this, you said that you looked “normal.”
– I said this out of politeness.
- Well, if so.
He shook his head and let go of my hair. It seems he has satisfied his curiosity. I was glad that he didn’t see how my fingertips trembled when I picked up the book.
“My master is also handsome.”
- I know.
– But you are unlucky with your character.
The corner of his mouth lifted slightly as I voiced my opinion. There was amusement in his slightly slanted emerald eyes. He even smiles beautifully...
- You will be easy to find.
“I look nothing like what you picture me in your head.”
- I think yes.
- Yes. It is enough to simply say that they bring the smallest person here.
It was unexpected. What does "the smallest man" mean?
- I'm not that small.
- Small.
– It’s just that you’re big!
– So small that it would be suitable as a cane.
– I’m not that small!
I said it loudly and directly, and he laughed again. His face relaxed and his eyes lit up with amusement. I was very pleased to see him smiling, because he was usually tense or scared. It lifted my spirits. Before I knew it, I was laughing with him.
-You are so angry.
- And, in my opinion, you are.
It's like we're having a competition to see who's angrier.
- It's windy here.
- Don't change the subject.
- Oh, okay, think what you want.
I declared my surrender and shook my legs for no reason. A gust of wind came, and with it came laughter.
– The wind is still cold, so tell me if you feel cold.
- I'm fine.
He took a sip of black tea and turned away. I looked back at the book, intending to pick up where I left off.
- I want to take a walk.
Those words came out of his mouth and I looked up at him again. Vincent was still looking away. The wind ruffled his hair. Today he couldn't concentrate on reading, just like me, and it wasn't just the wind.
– Do you want to take a walk?
- What?
I put the book on the table, stood up and grabbed his hand.
- Yes, let's take a walk.
It was quiet in the forest. As expected, there was no one there. It wasn't very dense as it was right behind the extension, but it looked untouched and natural. Luckily there was a path there so the walk was easy. Walking accompanied by the sounds of nature - the chirping of birds and the rustling of leaves, our walk felt like an adventure.
- Today is a beautiful day.
- I know.
He held my hand tightly as he walked a step behind me. It felt strange to be walking hand in hand with a grown man, but it felt like I was walking with my little brother.
– If you find it difficult, let me know. I'll carry you.
“I already said that my legs are fine.”
- And yet.
He had been sitting in his room for a long time, so I took his hand and we walked slowly. After the incident with Ethan, he began to get out of bed. Of course, he was still in his room, but it was a nice change from when he was lying on his bed.
A gust of wind blew. Vincent tilted his head at the pleasant sensation. The wind blew my hair away from my face and a chill ran through my skin. Vincent's golden hair also fluttered in the wind. The crunch of the forest floor echoed pleasantly.
“I think it would be nice to go out like this sometimes.”
- It’s not worth it.
- Why?
“If we run into anyone, there will be trouble.”
This is true. I don't feel any signs that anyone else is here, but just in case, I nervously look around.
“I don’t see anyone, but if someone appears, I’ll let you know.”
- There won't be anyone.
-Are you sure?
“I used to walk here often when I was a kid, with Ethan and Violet.”
– I... May I be curious? Who is Violet?
I was wondering because Ethan wasn't talking. And from her letters it was difficult to understand anything other than the fact that they were quite close. Vincent seemed to be in a good mood right now, so I took a chance and asked.
- My bride.
- Your bride?!
I was a little surprised, but given his age, it would be even weirder if she wasn't there. I remembered how Alicia snorted when the lord's son promised that he would leave his bride and choose her. Alicia hated the lord's son because he was ugly. But she mistakenly thought that he would really leave his bride.
So Violet and Vincent loved each other, and that's why she wrote to him. Because she was worried. This explained why her letters were so sincere.
“She must love you very much.”
- This is wrong.
I was so excited, but he suppressed these feelings. I looked at him.
– Doesn’t he love you?
- No. So if she comes to the mansion, just send her away.
- Why? I thought you said she was your fiancée.
“She doesn’t know that I’m blind.”
Ah... I knew that he was hiding it, but I didn’t think that he didn’t even tell his fiancee about it.
If she finds out that her fiancé is blind, she will demand a divorce.
- Can't be.
“I don’t know what you came up with, but she and I didn’t get engaged because we love each other.” We became engaged at the behest of our families, so it is only natural that the engagement would be broken if one of us became useless.
-...
– You won’t be able to hide it forever, but it’s better to postpone recognition as much as possible.
As with Ethan, this relationship is dictated by the situation of their families. Perhaps a noble life is not always easy.
- I'll keep that in mind.
I nodded. Still, I was curious. I was wondering what his bride looked like. I imagined a face as beautiful as a flower.
“And you don’t have to do that.”
-What do you mean?
“I just want to say that you don’t have to console me every time.” Even after what I said the other day.
-...I don't...
I didn't have time to answer because he spoke so quickly. I wanted to explain myself, but it didn’t work out.
In fact, after that shocking confession, the atmosphere between him and me became a little tense. I felt like I was being watched, and he became even more silent. We initially did not have a heart-to-heart talk with him, but now the relationship has become more tense.
I wanted to calm him down, and he saw right through it.
-You don't need to lie to me.
- Okay, I won't.
- I'll believe you this time.
I pretended not to hear and concentrated on walking. He didn't say anything else. Birds chirped in the forest silence, and this sound calmed and pacified.
Suddenly a strong wind blew. The tablecloth in my hands was blown away by the wind.
- Wow! Mister, wait.
I put the basket on the ground and let go of his hand. I felt him start waving his arms behind me in a panic. I shouted at him to wait a minute, and then I chased the flying tablecloth. I thought it would be easy to catch her, but she flew further and further, although it seemed that I had almost grabbed her. I followed her deeper into the forest.
The tablecloth only stopped when it hit a tree. I rushed to take it off.
It was necessary to remove it before the wind blew the tablecloth further. But before I could reach her, a large hand appeared out of nowhere and grabbed her.
There was someone in the forest.
I didn’t feel anything when a man suddenly appeared in front of me. I froze in place at the sudden appearance of a stranger. His brown hair fluttered in the wind. He stood with his back to me, so I couldn’t see his face.
Of course, there were a lot of people working here, and I only saw a few of them. But still, the man in front of me did not look like a servant. He was dressed like a nobleman and gave off an aura of wealth.
I looked at him, puzzled, and he looked back and looked back. The man in front of me was young. And, as expected, I had never met him before.