32.
Vicente glanced sideways and looked at Ercella who was beside him. Ercella didn’t even smile courteously when others laughed, 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 Ercella was startled to see him.
Ercella even rambled about something he didn’t ask, saying she had a rash because of the drink she had yesterday. But that’s not something that would make her so absentminded. Vicente suspected there might be another reason. “What’s the matter?”
Vicente stopped Ercella after the play. Ercella looked around abruptly as if she just realized they’d come out.
“Take it off if it’s hot.”
Ercella 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?”
Ercella 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?” Ercella asked.
“Yes…”
“… I see.”
Normally, Ercella 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?”
Ercella 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.”
Then what do you want to do? Normally, he would be annoyed, but Vicente just let out a laugh. How ridiculous. Ercella stared at Vicente’s face.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“You laughed.”
“…….”
“Because you laughed.”
“… That’s because I was dumbfounded.” Vicente remained still this time, as if laughing in front of her hurt his pride.
“I see.” Ercella smiled gently.
Vicente slightly frowned at her appearance. Why is the light shining and illuminating the surroundings even at night? He was somewhat upset as he kept seeing this. “Don’t smile like that.”
“You too, don’t laugh like that.”
“I wasn’t laughing.”
“Laugh more prettily.”1
Vicente raised his eyebrows at Ercella’s jest. He looked at Ercella’s face. 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. “Are you forcing me to laugh2 now?”
“… I’m not forcing you. How am I supposed to force you? Tell me.”
What the hell is she muttering about? Vicente thought. And then Ercella suddenly burst into laughter. Vicente smiled despondently at her innocent laugh.
“You’re weird today.”
“You look handsome today.”
“Don’t play with me.”
“Why? It’s fun.”
“It’s not.” He said through gritted teeth, emphasizing each word, but Ercella heard nothing. There seems to be no end to this. It appears that Ercella had zero intentions of going home.
Vicente quietly looked at Ercella’s feet clad in high heels. He grabbed her wrist and sat her in a nearby chair. Ercella accepted his small consideration for her.
Vicente stood in front of Ercella and looked down at her. He didn’t dislike the way she smiled looking at him. “So.”
“Huh?”
“Do you plan 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…” Ercella put a stop to her words, sealed her lips, and then pouted. She heard a chuckle from above her head.
Ercella lifted her head at his laugh and glared 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 can’t be bothered to start this argument now.
“You talk just like him.”
He laughed 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 Ercella and Vicente were left in front of the empty theater.
It was getting darker and darker. They should leave too, but Ercella still wasn’t willing to go back. Vicente grabbed her arm.
Ercella 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 getting late. Father must have returned by now.”
Suddenly, her body became strangely stiff. Instinctively, Ercella pulled the arm he was grabbing with the little strength she had.
Vicente’s expression turned cold. “Does it hurt somewhere else too?”
Ercella smiled at him and shook her head slowly. Her dilated pupils became normal again and she slightly regained her senses. “No. Let’s go. Let’s go back.”
Ercella kept repeating her words as if she was unaware of who she was talking to. Vicente supported Ercella 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.”
Ercella 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 Ercella spoke unenthusiastically, Olivia replied with a gentle smile, “Naturally, I came to watch the play with Mother.”
“Ah, I see.” Ercella closed her eyes briefly and opened them. Taken aback by this unexpected meeting, Ercella was unable to gather her thoughts, “I hope you two—mother and daughter—had a good time.”
The Duchess smiled, responding to Ercella’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 was coming too.” The Duchess tilted her head, opening her silk fan. The Duchess makes it sound as if the Harsen had promised her he would come.
Ercella’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 Ercella’s puzzled look. “Oh, you didn’t know? We were actually going to meet and greet him briefly.”
“Pardon? What do you mean by greet?”
The Duchess’s eyes formed crescents at Ercella’s puzzlement. Ercella 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.”
Ercella’s eyes turned ice cold. Without regard for what Ercella had to say, the Duchess continued in her elegant voice, “Let’s get along in the future.”
Harsen-!!
Ercella swallowed a name she couldn’t call aloud here.
“Hurry up!” Ercella 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 Ercella spoke urgently, Vicente complied and climbed into the carriage. The coachman confirmed that the two were aboard and began driving the carriage at high speed.
Clip clop-
The strong vibration from the horseshoes rattled their bodies. Vicente sighed and opened the window.
“Stop!” Ercella 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.
Ercella glared 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?”
“…….” Ercella 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, Ercella called his name loudly, but Vicente’s eyes were so indifferent that Ercella 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 Ercella’s shoulder that was trembling with anger. Thanks to that, the trembling subsided a little.
Ercella stared blankly at Vicente. His eyes that usually were a cold shade of blue, felt a little warmer. “So please don’t confront Father about this.”
Ercella 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 place.”
She felt stuffy in the rattling carriage. Pretending not to hear Vicente, Ercella opened the window to rush the coachman, but he stopped her.
“Let go.”
“You sprained your ankle.”
Vicente bent his knee and reached for Ercella’s foot. He carefully took off Ercella’s shoe.
“Just a moment.”
His hand touched Ercella’s foot. Ercella 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 Ercella’s lips.
“I’m done.”
“That hurt.”
“I thought you quit whining?” Vicente smirked.
When Ercella saw his smile, she quietly uttered, “Don’t laugh.”
“You told me to laugh before.”
“Are you kidding me?”
“That’s what I should have said earlier.”
Ercella 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 Ercella turned her head and only gazed out of the window, ignoring his gaze.
As time passed, a familiar landscape 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 pain T_T
Support this poor turtle on Kofi
Footnotes
- Korean uses the same word ‘Uso’ for both smile and laugh. So in the original version, they’re using the same word with these meanings. The wordplay is smooth in Korean but it doesn’t translate in English.
- Same thing as before.
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