The Flower Dances and the Wind Sings

13.

“Will you tell me if I’m curious?”

“Of course! You’re my son after all.”

Words filled with blind trust.

Vicente couldn’t understand why Ercella believed in him so much. The more they talked, the more unpleasant he felt.

The book was released from his hand long ago.

I have been curious about something for a long time.

“I wonder how my mother has lived.”

Her finger tapping the chair, stopped. Vicente’s question was completely unexpected.

I thought, at most, he would ask about my family, but he was curious about her life as the Marquis’ Young Lady.

Although it was not Vicente’s intention, Ercella was very pleased with the interest he showed. Ercella spoke in a little excited mood.

“I was the youngest. I had an older sister and brother.”

It was a gentle voice. Vicente thought she seemed to be reading a fairy tale.

“My father and mother were good people. They loved me so much. To what extent, you might wonder… There was nothing I couldn’t ask my parents. When I said I wanted to go on a trip, my father took a vacation even if he was busy, and whenever I barged into my parents’ room because of a nightmare, he embraced me without getting annoyed. When I asked him to stay by my side out of fear, he read me a fairy tale until I fell asleep at dawn. My father was sometimes scary, but he was a very kind person. Both my sister and brother respected and loved my parents. I wanted to be a proud child to those parents. Everyone was eager to meet their parents’ expectations. My brother had to try in many ways because he was the one who would walk the path of succession.… not as much as you, though. Me and my sister had it easier than my brother. She studied politics and theology. I chose various languages and diplomacy. Actually, my sister can speak local and official languages. Even my brother speaks Conrad language.”

“Did you get a chance to use any of them?”

“No. No matter how much knowledge a woman learns, she rarely uses it unless she becomes a scholar. They said it didn’t matter. It’s learning and mastering that knowledge. To prove that I deserve to sit here. Raising my value by myself, not by the power of others. That alone is enough of a reason to learn.”

Her story was quite shocking. According to her, the Marquis educated his children beyond just liberal arts regardless of gender, and the main reason was to prove their worth.

Somehow he could see why Ercella was so proud of her family back in the day. Meanwhile, the bright voice continued.

“But I still loved parties more than studying. I liked fancy and crowded places. I didn’t need formalities or grand stories. It was enough to talk about mundane life. It was about my daily life, such as vacation, siblings, why I fought with my friend, which houses had handsome sons, why they fought with their lover, and fantasizing about marriage. Sometimes we talked a lot, but maintaining dignity is not important between friends. Although it’s important to appear proper in front of others, life becomes tiring if you nitpick everything. I preferred to spend time with my friends with whom I could talk without hesitation, rather than participating in a show where I elegantly examine who was educated and how well-educated they were.”

This was also unexpected, so Vicente’s head tilted to all sides. The more she told, the more he learned. Ercella continued to speak. Before she knew it, the corners of Ercella’s mouth were slightly raised. This natural look was much better than the contrived smile she had the other day.

“And my friends loved my house. I liked it too. The chandelier you see while entering the annex is so beautiful. It is in the style of the old Leones Empire, with the shape of candlesticks on a gold plate. It was my mother’s good taste. Um… there’s also a door just below the stairs that goes up to the first floor, and when you open it, you’ll see a wide ballroom. The floor was covered with gold tiles, it looked like a mirror room. When the moonlight entered at night, the tiles shined and sparkled. Standing on top of it, I felt like I was stepping on the starry night sky. It couldn’t be any more fascinating. I danced there every night. But it’s not fun to dance alone, is it? Hence, I would force my busy brother to play as my partner.”

It’s as if the interior of the Marquis’s mansion is being painted in front of me.

In the dark ballroom where the moonlight entered through the window, he envisioned Ercella spinning, holding with one hand the hem of her dress, and with the other reaching into the air.

Her golden hair flowed like drapery. Of course, he had never seen Ercella like that. This was entirely what Vicente imagined.

His mother giggled with a dreamy face. Vicente was in a strange mood because she looked like a teenage girl.

“No matter how awful my brother was, every night when I asked him to dance, he would tell me to leave, but I kept being stubborn. If I dance with someone else, I might step on his foot. I would say that I didn’t learn how to dance properly. Then my brother grumbled that you are a disgrace to his family and held out his hand. He danced with me until I was satisfied. Now that I think about it, my brother also enjoyed it quite a bit. Sometimes, I would appreciate him with tearful eyes.”

Her eyes were half-closed before she knew it.

“Those days… I was really happy.”

Her eyes kept blinking. Vicente kept staring without missing anything.

Strangely, I can’t take my eyes off of her.

“So….”

Her voice slowly receded and she was unable to speak.

Then do you regret giving birth to me?

He swallowed a question that was pushed from deep within.

For some reason, I couldn’t say that at all. I was afraid that the answer would be something I didn’t want to hear.

Am I afraid? Of what exactly?

Vicente was surprised by the thought that appeared unconsciously. During that Ercella’s eyes closed completely, and she slowly leaned towards the desk.

Vicente unknowingly extended his arm. Vicente’s hand came in through the gap to prevent her face from hitting the desk. Ercella’s face from the side settled gently in Vicente’s palm. His face was completely crumpled by the warmth that seeped through.

It’s warm.

Vicente held his breath unknowingly because of the warmth that came through his hands.

I thought her body wouldn’t be warm considering the icy gaze that looked at me.

However, it was a strange sensation to feel. His blue eyes sank coolly.

She was this warm? This person?

Vicente slowly pulled out his hand and looked down at Ercella with confused eyes. Funnily enough, she fell asleep quietly, hardly breathing. It was time for him to laugh without realizing it.

Her golden eyelashes trembled between her closed eyes. She frowned her forehead as if she had a nightmare. Upon seeing that, Vicente stretched out his index finger and gently pressed between Ercella’s brow.

Vicente’s face became more wrinkled compared to her narrowed eyebrows. Just then, as if realizing what he had done, he alternately looked at Ercella’s face and his hands several times.

“…….”

Shortly, Vicente let out a silent sigh and held his chin.

He looked sleepy. He didn’t know she would fall asleep while talking about herself. Her ridiculously long car hair scattered on the desk. When he saw a few golden strands of hair reaching over a book, he frowned. Vicente moved the tip of his index finger and carefully pushed them off the paper.

As time passed, the sun changed positions and warmth filled the room. The sunlight that came through the window settled on Ercella’s forehead.

The blond hair that looked like melted pure gold, shined more brightly in the sunlight. Her hair, brightened by the sunlight, slid as if it were pouring under the desk. Each strand of hair was like a thread made from the sun. Vicente kept looking at Ercella unintentionally.

“Umm-”

As soon as her head moved a little, Vicente looked away like a boy who had been caught doing something he shouldn’t.

“What are you doing?”

Suddenly, he laughed at himself.

This is useless.

Thinking so, he let go of his chin, got up from his seat and went to the other side.

How do I-.

Vicente hesitated for a moment then slowly held Ercella. At the same time, her arm wrapped around Vicente’s neck. He felt some weight at the back of his neck. Vicente paused for a moment and looked down. She was still asleep. It seems she unconsciously put her arm around his neck.

Heavy breaths escaped through Vicente’s lips. He realized for the first time that it was quite difficult to lift an unconscious person. For some reason, he felt annoyed seeing her fall asleep without a care in the world.

He stiffened his expression a little, raised his foot and quietly knocked on the door. Jane was waiting outside when she heard the knock and opened the door.

“What’s the matter- Madam?!”

“She’s asleep. Bring me to her room.”

When she checked Ercella’s face, Jane nodded silently and headed towards Ercella’s room.

* * *

“Madam, madam.”

Her eyelids slowly lifted at the call. After frowning at the bright lighting that blurred the view, she opened her eyes completely.

“Lianne?”

Lianne was looking at her slightly embarrassed.

“Madam, it’s time for dinner. The Lord came home early today, so Madam can eat together with him. Oh my God, how could you sleep for this long?”

When she turned her head at Lianne’s words, she saw a dark blue sky outside the window before the night fell completely. Her eyes blinked.

What happened? I was definitely talking to Vicente in the study…

“W-why am I here?”

“I heard you went to see the Young Master and ended up sleeping in the study.”

Oh my God! I guess I fell asleep while talking.

She couldn’t close her gaping mouth.

This is outrageous even when I think about it myself. Imagine how dumbfounded Vicente would be when she’s like this? I feel sorry for Vicente. I turned out to be a burden after all.

She felt sorry for Lianen again. She must have had a hard time helping her to bed. Ercella thanked Lianne.

“You went through a lot of troubles.”

“Huh? For what?”

Lianne was surprised, pointing at herself with her fingers.

“You brought me all the way over here. Good job.”

She simply praised the effort, but Lianne wondered what she was talking about.

“How can a weak girl like me carry you? The Young Master personally carried madam here.”

What?!

Her eyes grew bigger when an unexpected name came out of Lianne’s mouth.

“Y-young Master? Vicente?”

“Yes.”

That child brought me? Besides-

Ercella shouted in shock.

“H-he carried me!?”

“Yes.”

Lianne nodded firmly. Ercella’s lips opened. She was very embarrassed now.

It’s amazing how Vicente brought me here, but he even carried me here! Oh God, just how much trouble have I caused?

Her pupils shook constantly like a surprised rabbit. She grabbed Lianne’s clothes, pressing her for an answer.

“Don’t tell me, is that really true?”

“Yes, well. I can’t bring my precious madam here….”

Unlike her shaking owner, Lianne answered calmly, but in fact she wasn’t calm either. The scene she saw earlier was quite embarrassing.

I was surprised that he suddenly visited, but what was more unexpected was seeing the Young Master carrying Ercella in front of her. Forget touching each other, these two barely looked at each other every day.

She asked Jane, who was next to him, for an explanation because he was so different, but Jane also just shrugged her shoulders and pouted her mouth.

Do you understand me now?

While Lianne was unable to shut up, Vicente laid Ercella on the bed and turned around without hesitation. He left with a word of caution.

“Be careful not to wake her up.”

Lianne trembled at his low voice.

It was as if he would not forgive me if I woke her up.

Therefore, as per Vicente’s order, she had no choice but to keep Ercella sleeping late into sunset.

Lianne was only able to wake Ercella up after the news of Harsen’s return. Lianne grabbed Ercella’s arm gently, thinking she needed to catch up with the Lord.

“You have to go down now. The master is waiting down there. Before that, I have to untangle madam’s hair. It’s a total mess right now.”

As Lianne led, Ercella got out of bed and naturally sat in front of the dressing table.

“…Huh? Yes, please.”

Ercella put her head in Lianne’s care, trying to calm her trembling body. She felt a little relieved as her hair settled down with gentle combing. Taking advantage of the silence, Ercella asked.

“Was he really upset?”

“Young Master? N-no? It was the same as usual… same expressionless face. But he didn’t look upset.”

Lianne’s words relieved the tension in her shoulders.

Fortunately, nothing I was worried about happened.

“Is Vicente joining us at dinner?”

“Of course. The three of you have dinner together whenever the Lord comes home. Don’t worry about the Young Master. He really wasn’t angry.”

Even though he threatened me.

I decided to skip the last words. It will be worse if madam knows that.

“All done.”

Her hair was simply rolled up. She looked tidier after she finished grooming her. She looked closely in the mirror, rubbed her eyes lightly to remove any leftover sleep and headed towards the first floor.