Crazy owner (8)
- Oh, how painful it is!
Vincent calmly got dressed while I rose to my feet. He must have heard me fall, but I could tell from his impassive expression that he had deliberately let go of the sheets. I suppressed my growing anger with a sigh.
I brought clean sheets, but pulling them on turned out to be a painful task, since Vincent was not going to get out of bed and I had to barely tuck them in at the edges.
As if that wasn't enough, Vincent was about to cover himself with the dirty blanket when I snatched it from his hands and handed him a new one. Luckily, he accepted it gracefully.
Okay, done. I left the laundry at the door and returned to put away the empty dishes. I put away the dessert I had dropped earlier and wiped up the sticky puddle before finally starting to sweep the floor.
The sound of the broom echoed loudly in the silence. Vincent was silent. He probably knew I wasn't going to touch him again. It was a big change in behavior from the first time he screamed at me to leave.
– Why do you work here? – he asked unexpectedly.
- What?
I was surprised that he decided to talk to me, because usually he only threw harsh words: “Get out,” “Get lost,” and “Don’t touch me.” Is he sick? No, it doesn't look like that.
“I’m asking why you agreed to work here.”
– ...Because I have to earn money.
“Then if I pay you, will you leave?”
- So, are you really going to pay?
- If I can.
“Does he want to brag about being rich? I really appreciate the offer, but I wouldn't be here if money was the only solution to my problems."
“Even if you send me away, a new maid will come and serve you.”
“I’ll kick her out too.”
“Then another one will come.”
- So, you're not going to leave?
- Yes.
I picked up the broom again. Vincent looked back at the sound.
– Do you like this mansion?
– I don’t know, I didn’t think about it.
- Then think about it. This is not the right place for idle dreams.
Empty dreams... I thought for a moment, but then shrugged my shoulders. I didn't have any expectations from this place.
- Where are you from?
- I'm from Filton.
– Filton... It's quite far.
– Not that far, just over the mountain.
Sometimes, on behalf of my father, I had to go much further.
After several days of walking, my legs became swollen and I found it difficult to walk. But even if I wanted to rest at home due to illness, my father and Alicia would not allow it. Because I was the only one who did the housework.
So I felt much more comfortable being away from home.
– It was amazing. I felt like I was part of an adventure. Like the main character from a fairy tale who goes on a mysterious and wonderful journey.
- Sounds like a dream.
- Yes. Such wonderful adventures don’t happen in real life, but it’s great to read about them. When I was a child, I worked for a while in an old bookstore. An old man owned it and he was very kind to me. Thanks to him, I read a lot of children's fairy tales.
“So it’s his fault that you’re so crazy?”
- Maybe.
But I still loved books. As I got older, I no longer liked fairy tales, but I still loved adventure books. They talked about countries that I did not know, about worlds that I had never dreamed of. I didn't care if it was a lie or the truth.
Imagining the worlds described in books was the only joy of my childhood.
– I remember one passage: “God created you, and you are blessed by the very fact of your existence. Everything in the world makes a way forward for you.”
- The sorrows of love.
-Have you read it? – I asked, surprised, and he answered casually.
– This is a famous book, even children read it.
– I didn’t know that.
-You have bad taste.
- Why?
- This is not a very funny story.
This is true. She has a tragic end. The main character doesn't die, he just leaves everything and decides to live alone. He lets go of everything, even the people he loved.
Alas, this is the end.
The story ends with the main character walking alone across an endless ocean. I found it interesting that the story ends not with death, but with the hero letting go of everything that bothered him.
I would like to do the same when my life comes to an end. It would be great to say, “Well, that’s all over.”
– I rather liked it.
-...
Having said this, I suddenly fell silent. I’m usually not very talkative, but I was pleased that he was talking to me, so I answered. Then I looked up at him and said.
- So, my lord, what books do you like to read?
- I don't read.
-What do you mean by this?..
Don't all aristocrats read?
Alicia always complained that she was tired of the lord's son constantly talking about the books he had read. When I worked in a bookstore, noblemen often came there. Newly published books sold faster than others.
When I turned around, Vincent was lying on his back. His eyes were closed and I assumed he was sleeping, so I stopped talking and concentrated on cleaning.
“I haven’t read since I went blind.”
Ah, I realized too late that my question was rude. Vincent looked weakened with his eyes closed.
– There are books that blind people can read.
– There are few such books.
– Then hire someone to read them to you.
“Are you saying that I should go around telling everyone about my condition?”
Sarcasm again. But you can't argue with him. Even if they hired someone to read to him, that person would hardly last long. Then I would have to ask someone else who would know the situation...Ah!
– Do you want me to read to you?
I couldn't contain my excitement.
Why didn't I think of this before? I felt a puzzled look on me and thought that I was mistaken. I tried to hold back my trembling and pretended to be indifferent.
- Of course, if the master wants it...
- With your pig voice?
“They never told me that I have a bad voice.”
– But they said that everything else was bad?
-...
You should not immediately respond to such statements with rudeness. But I still think about hitting him with the broom I have in my hand.
But I decide to take a step back. Now is the time not for hostility, but for truce.
-You're tired of sleeping all the time. You don’t walk at all, you don’t get out of bed. That's why you are so lethargic - a person should have a life.
– Don't beat around the bush. Speak.
– Why don’t you read a book?
- I can't read.
“Then I’ll read it to you.”
- No, thank you.
“No,” he answered without hesitation. I sighed heavily.
“I hoped that if you had a hobby, you would learn to control yourself.”
- Hey!
– You don’t even think about the people who are trying to help you... Every time you just scream and throw things. Because of you, the face of a sweet girl suffered. I hold on, and yet... you don't have a drop of sympathy.
- Hey.
- How sad it is. I'm so sad.
Now was the time to complain. His hand groped for the nightstand. I had already put everything away, so there was nothing to throw to him.
I laughed happily when I saw his hands clenched into tight fists.
“Now, my lord, please listen carefully.”
***
Ahem-ahem,” I cleared my throat. There was no answer. It also looked like he was lying on his back. But I happily opened the book.
“It was a day when the warmth of the sun warmed my body, penetrating into my very heart.
- Not interesting.
- What exactly?
- It's just not interesting. Read something else.
I thought he was sleeping, but he listened to me. I only read one sentence. What does uninteresting mean?
– I only read one sentence.
– I don’t like it.
- Maybe you should listen further...
- Something else.
- Okay, I'll read another book.
I calmly put the book down and picked up another one. Everyone has their own tastes, I didn’t know what Vincent preferred, so I took several books.
I cleared my throat again.
– The girl’s day began with a walk in the garden.
- Not interesting.
-...
- Something else.
“I haven’t even read a line yet, you bastard!”
For the first time in a long time, my stomach began to growl. Calm down, I'm reading to the person who pays me. I took a deep, quiet breath to control my anger.
- Why did you stop talking? Read another one.
- Yes, good. One more.
I put this book aside and took a new one.
- Boy.
- Not interesting. Something different.
“Are you really going to continue behaving like this?”
Finally, I dropped the book in my lap and complained. But Vincent was as impudent as always.
– Is it wrong to call something boring when it is boring?
– You call a book boring without even listening to it to the end.
“I don’t need to listen to the end to understand that it’s not interesting.”
– And how do you understand this?
“Are you looking down on me, little servant?”
-...
I was speechless when he said this. What cowardice!
– I don’t have any more books to read, I need to bring more.
“Then go and get it.”
“...If you have a favorite book, let me know and I’ll bring it to you.”
– I don’t reread what I’ve already read.
“Then tell me what you like.” Genre or something like that.
– There is nothing definite.
I took a deep breath. It was clear that he was trying to get revenge for what had just happened. How childish of him to act like this when another person is doing him a favor.
-Are you still here? Go get some books.
I jumped up from my seat.
I grabbed three books that I barely had time to open and ran out of the room, stomping loudly. The office was directly downstairs. I was so angry that I stormed into the main staircase.
Calm down. At such moments you need to be calm. The owner's temper is nothing new, so I need to behave as usual.
I walked into the office and stared at the bookshelves, wondering what story he would like. In fact, I was sure that he would complain no matter what book I brought.
However, I carefully studied the shelves until one of them caught my attention.
- Here they are!
I grabbed all the books from one shelf.