<b>32.</b>
Vicente nced sideways and looked at Erce who was beside him. Erce didn’t even smile courteously when othersughed, perhaps because she couldn’t hear the actors’ voices.
Vicente’s forehead furrowed at the soulless figure that looked like she was about to faint. He skipped breakfast and didn’t see her until afternoon but Erce was startled to see him.
Erce even rambled about something he didn’t ask, saying she had a rash because of the drink she had yesterday. <i>But that’s not something that would make her so absentminded.</i> Vicente suspected there might be another reason. “What’s the matter?”
Vicente stopped Erce after the y. Erce looked around abruptly as if she just realized they’de out.
“Take it off if it’s hot.”
Erce had been fiddling with the scarf around her neck for a while, but suddenly her face turned red. She stammered, “N-no. It’s unsightly to look at…”
“I won’t insist then.”
“…….”
“Are you sick?”
Erce first shook her head, but as if conscious of her actions, she nodded then. Her inconsistent actions were upsetting Vicente.
“Was I acting like this the whole time?” Erce asked.
“Yes…”
“… I see.”
Normally, Erce would’ve smiled and apologized, but right now, she couldn’t even look Vicente in the eye. Because she looked dazed, Vicente offered, “You look tired. Let’s go home.”
“… H-home?”
“Do you not want to go home?”
Erce remained silent.
“I don’t know what’s the matter, but once you sleep…”
“……back.”
“What?”
“… I don’t want to go back.” She seemed like she was whining.
Vicente sneered. He found it strange seeing someone who constantly had a cold expression when facing him behave like this. “Then go to the Marquis.”
“… Why there?”
“Would you like to get lodging then?”
“I don’t want that.”
“Would you rather sleep on the street?”
“…That’s mean.”
<i>Then what do you want to do?</i> Normally, he would be annoyed, but Vicente just let out augh. <i>How ridiculous.</i> Erce stared at Vicente’s face.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Youughed.”
“…….”
“Because youughed.”
“… That’s because I was dumbfounded.” Vicente remained still this time, as ifughing in front of her hurt his pride.
“I see.” Erce smiled gently.
Vicente slightly frowned at her appearance. <i>Why is the light shining and illuminating the surroundings even at night?</i> He was somewhat upset as he kept seeing this. “Don’t smile like that.”
“You too, don’tugh like that.”
“I wasn’tughing.”
“Laugh more prettily.”<sup>1</sup>
Vicente raised his eyebrows at Erce’s jest. He looked at Erce’s face. <i>Her cheeks weren’t flushed so it wasn’t the alcohol, and she didn’t smell so it can’t be any strange medicine either. Looks like this person has a hobby of teasing me. </i>“Are you forcing me tough<sup>2</sup> now?”
“… I’m not forcing you. How am I supposed to force you? Tell me.”
<i>What the hell is she muttering about? </i>Vicente thought. And then Erce suddenly burst intoughter. Vicente smiled despondently at her innocentugh.
“You’re weird today.”
“You look handsome today.”
“Don’t y with me.”
“Why? It’s fun.”
“It’s not.” He said through gritted teeth, emphasizing each word, but Erce heard nothing. <i>There seems to be no end to this.</i> It appears that Erce had zero intentions of going home.
Vicente quietly looked at Erce’s feet d in high heels. He grabbed her wrist and sat her in a nearby chair. Erce epted his small consideration for her.
Vicente stood in front of Erce and looked down at her. He didn’t dislike the way she smiled looking at him. “So.”
“Huh?”
“Do you n to stay here all day?”
“How about you stay with me?”
“I don’t want to. It gets quite chilly at night.”
“How mean.”
“Tell me why you don’t want to go home.”
“That’s…” Erce put a stop to her words, sealed her lips, and then pouted. She heard a chuckle from above her head.
Erce lifted her head at hisugh and red at him. Vicente was looking at her as if he were looking at a child. Suddenly, she remembered Harsen who also treated her like a child. “You look just like your father.”
“I know.” He had no idea what aspect she meant but Vicente agreed obediently. <i>I can’t be bothered to start this argument now.</i>
“You talk just like him.”
Heughed dumbfoundedly and sighed resignedly.
Vicente rubbed his temples with an ever-changing facial expression. “Which tune would you like me to dance to?”
“You don’t have to do anything. If I wanted you to do something, I would’ve asked you.” Her voice was weak, but her tone was rude.
Vicente looked around. Everyone had left; only Erce and Vicente were left in front of the empty theater.
It was getting darker and darker. They should leave too, but Erce still wasn’t willing to go back. Vicente grabbed her arm.
Erce resisted a bit, but since she was originally weak, it was a feeble gesture that didn’t feel like resistance. His strength easily lifted her body up from off of the chair.
“It hurts.”
“I didn’t grab you that forcefully.”
“… But I’m sick.”
“In that case, I apologize, but it’s gettingte. Father must have returned by now.”
Suddenly, her body became strangely stiff. Instinctively, Erce pulled the arm he was grabbing with the little strength she had.
Vicente’s expression turned cold. “Does it hurt somewhere else too?”
Erce smiled at him and shook her head slowly. Her dted pupils became normal again and she slightly regained her senses. “No. Let’s go. Let’s go back.”
Erce kept repeating her words as if she was unaware of who she was talking to. Vicente supported Erce into the carriage, thinking that he should call for a doctor immediately when they reached home.
“Long time no see, Duchess, Young Lord!”
Two women cheerfully walked towards them. Vicente bowed his head and greeted them a bit stiffly, “Long time no see, Duchess Garten.”
Erce slowly came to her senses at the sudden appearance of Duchess Garten and Olivia. Olivia curtsied and greeted them. “Greetings to the Duchess and Young Lord. I’m Olivia.”
“… Nice to meet you. What brings the Gartens here?”
Even though Erce spoke unenthusiastically, Olivia replied with a gentle smile, “Naturally, I came to watch the y with Mother.”
“Ah, I see.” Erce closed her eyes briefly and opened them. Taken aback by this unexpected meeting, Erce was unable to gather her thoughts, “I hope you two—mother and daughter—had a good time.”
The Duchess smiled, responding to Erce’s words, “Yes, I hope you had a good time with your son too. I was actually worried that we would miss you, but fortunately, we didn’t. By the way, where is His Excellency?”
“He’s busy. But why do you ask?”
“How strange… I thought he wasing too.” The Duchess tilted her head, opening her silk fan. The Duchess<i> makes it sound as if the Harsen had promised her he woulde.</i>
Erce’s expression stiffened subtly as she questioned the Duchess’s words, “What do you…?”
Duchess Garten covered her expression with the fan, pretending to be surprised at Erce’s puzzled look. “Oh, you didn’t know? We were actually going to meet and greet him briefly.”
“Pardon? What do you mean by <i>greet</i>?”
The Duchess’s eyes formed crescents at Erce’s puzzlement. Erce was speechless when faced with the Duchess’s polished, elegant smile, but she noticed the Duchess’s subtle sneer in her following remarks.
“It seems His Excellency hasn’t informed you yet of Olivia and Bernhardt’s Young Lord’s engagement.”
Erce’s eyes turned ice cold. Without regard for what Erce had to say, the Duchess continued in her elegant voice, “Let’s get along in the future.”
<i>Harsen-!!</i>
Erce swallowed a name she couldn’t call aloud here.
“Hurry up!” Erce rushed onto the carriage, urging the coachman. She cried out in pain as she slightly sprained her foot. Vicente supported her hastily.
“That’s dangerous,” he said.
“I don’t care. You quickly get on, too.” As Erce spoke urgently, Vicenteplied and climbed into the carriage. The coachman confirmed that the two were aboard and began driving the carriage at high speed.
<i>Clip clop-</i>
The strong vibration from the horseshoes rattled their bodies. Vicente sighed and opened the window.
“Stop!” Erce sharply stopped him from ordering the coachman to slow down the carriage.
Gently ignoring her, Vicente ordered the driver to slow down. Eventually, the sound of the horseshoe quieted and the strong vibration subsided.
Erce red at Vicente. Vicente didn’t avoid her and spoke calmly, “It’s because you’re sick.”
“Does that matter now?”
“Please calm down.”
“Vicente-“
“Are you going to see Father in your current state?”
“…….” Erce bit her lips angrily. However, there was still a resolute stubbornness in her eyes. That’s when she heard an emotionless voice.
“I don’t mind.”
“Vicente!” This time, Erce called his name loudly, but Vicente’s eyes were so indifferent that Erce got angry. “It’s your marriage!”
“By nature, marriages between aristocrats involve their parents.”
“You should know that this marriage doesn’t have your will.”
“I know, but Father is Lord of the family. Ultimately, the decision is up to him.”
“You can’t proceed with your marriage like this just because your father imposed it. I want… I want you to be more-”
“I don’t really care.” Vicente grabbed Erce’s shoulder that was trembling with anger. Thanks to that, the trembling subsided a little.
Erce stared nkly at Vicente. His eyes that usually were a cold shade of blue, felt a little warmer. “So please don’t confront Father about this.”
Erce remained silent.
“Mother, you should know how generous he is to you.”
“… I’m his wife.”
“Apart from Mother, only the Royal Family can defy his will in this country.”
“…….”
“You don’t have to be this angry in the first ce.”
She felt stuffy in the rattling carriage. Pretending not to hear Vicente, Erce opened the window to rush the coachman, but he stopped her.
“Let go.”
“You sprained your ankle.”
Vicente bent his knee and reached for Erce’s foot. He carefully took off Erce’s shoe.
“Just a moment.”
His hand touched Erce’s foot. Erce winced as he touched her swollen ankle, finally realizing how bad she sprained it. As he carefully twisted her ankle around, there was a cracking noise of misaligned bones realigning together. A small scream escaped Erce’s lips.
“I’m done.”
“That hurt.”
“I thought you quit whining?” Vicente smirked.
When Erce saw his smile, she quietly uttered, “Don’tugh.”
“You told me tough before.”
“Are you kidding me?”
“That’s what I should have said earlier.”
Erce shot daggers at Vicente. Silence fell in the carriage.
Vicente kept looking at her as if he was ready to stop her from rushing the coachman again, but Erce turned her head and only gazed out of the window, ignoring his gaze.
As time passed, a familiarndscape came into view. Today, the rattling sound of horseshoes felt louder on her way to the mansion she didn’t wish to go back to.
* * *
Vicente being nice to his mom ??
The next chap is <em>pain T_T</em>
Support this poor turtle on Kofi
Footnotes<ol><li> Korean uses the same word ‘Uso’ for both smile andugh. So in the original version, they’re using the same word with these meanings. The wordy is smooth in Korean but it doesn’t trante in English. </li><li>Same thing as before.</li></ol>