The Count's Strange Guest (3)
- Why?
– Only employees of the extension can be in it. But even so, only in a designated area and at a certain time. If you enter it without permission or at the wrong time, you can lose your head.
I had no idea about this. Of course, I didn’t see almost anyone in the annex, but for some reason I didn’t think that getting here could be so difficult.
Is it because of Vincent's condition? I was not warned that I was not allowed to walk freely around the annex. Maybe it's because I'm his personal servant.
- This is so annoying.
Lenika smacked her lips. She looked disappointed.
– If you suddenly want to send a letter, let me know. Instead of a meeting, I can at least convey a message from you.
- A-ha-ha, thank you.
I said goodbye to Lenika and went down to the dining room to have breakfast.
It was originally intended that the servants wouldn't have to use it, but since no one went to the dining room anyway, I didn't see a problem with it. Vincent was leaving his room, so I brought him food myself. So besides him, there were no more noble gentlemen in the annex who would need the dining room. I didn’t even know if there were any other people in this place – I’d never really seen anyone. At least now I know why.
In any case, there was no one to catch me, so I used the dining room to my heart's content.
But today one person had breakfast there. A guest who arrived early in the morning.
- Oh, sorry.
- Everything is fine. Have a seat.
He looked at the potato in my hand and motioned for me to sit opposite me. But I couldn't afford it. Isabella taught me that you should not eat at the table with guests. Besides, I wanted to relax alone. I was already losing a lot of energy even just being around my terrible master for a little while.
I bowed.
- No, I don’t want to disturb you.
- Don't leave. I felt awkward eating alone, so I would appreciate your company.
Quite a persistent guest.
I shook my head decisively.
– I really can’t. Eat, don't be shy.
– I try to be polite when dealing with women.
Ethan smiled affectionately and again pointed to the empty chair opposite. It was a very elegant gesture. I looked at him in admiration and shook my head.
- No need. It's time for me to go.
“Are you just going to leave me and go away?”
- What?
“I can’t believe they’re leaving me to eat all alone.” Oh, it's really unthinkable. I’m so embarrassed to eat without company that a piece of food won’t fit into my throat. Now this food will go to waste.
He put down his spoon and feigned disappointment.
– I lost my appetite.
Muttering something incomprehensible, I calmly sat down opposite him. Only then did Ethan smile with satisfaction and pick up the spoon again, scooping up the soup. How cunning he is. Vincent and Ethan had such opposite personalities that I wonder how the hell they became friends.
I also took a bite of the potato, after peeling it. The potatoes here were delicious. However, eating with a guest was extremely uncomfortable, so I wondered if I would get indigestion.
– Eating together completely changes the taste of food.
- Clear. – I answered rudely and stared at the door.
I wondered if Isabella or the other servants who worked here but had never crossed paths with me would come in. Maybe at least the cook will stop by as she passes by. Apparently not.
You shouldn't eat when your nerves are on edge. I ended up getting a stomach ache.
How is Vincent doing? Last time he looked very angry.
“He wasn't that angry.”
“But he threw things.”
- He does this often.
- Is that so? This is dangerous.
“Yes, because of him I often get hurt.”
However, when I think back on the atrocities he committed before, I can say that he behaves much better now. The number of angry outbursts has decreased slightly. Perhaps there was a change in his heart. That doesn't mean Vincent doesn't throw things anymore. It’s just that three times were replaced by two, and the hard throws became softer.
I slowly ate the potato in the sudden silence. After this awkward pause, he looked at the door. Ethan hesitated, his lips pursed.
Turning to me, he spoke again.
– You know, madam? I mean Vincent's current state.
-...
I immediately closed my mouth and swallowed hard. From his intense gaze, I understood what "Vincent's current condition" he had just mentioned meant. I was hired from the very beginning to serve a blind master.
Ethan also knew about Vincent's current condition. Perhaps he wants to test me with this question. So I didn't know whether to pretend I didn't understand what he was talking about or answer honestly. In the end, I remained silent.
Ethan smiled bitterly, as if he took my silence as a positive response.
“Lately I often hear that Count Bellunita is secretly looking for servants. There are even strange rumors that people are leaving because the Count is too angry.
Listening to his words, I nodded my head subconsciously. Damn, I shouldn't have done that! I gasped belatedly.
Looking at me, Ethan smiled sarcastically.
“Vincent must be a real bother to his maid.”
- No, sir. He is very kind to me.
“You just said that he often throws things.”
- Is it true? It seems I misspoke, I apologize.
“Oh my God, you’re even defending him.” You really are good.
-...
I decided to just shut up and buried my nose in the potatoes. He rested his chin on his hand and looked at me.
– How did you get hired? Did you come here yourself?
- The butler brought me.
Technically, I was sold, but I don't have to talk about it. Ethan nodded as if he knew the butler.
– Vincent is stubborn, right? If he has already decided something, then no one can convince him.
-...
You can't allow yourself to be deceived. It's a trap.
“Besides, if you don’t agree with his opinion, he’ll definitely show how much it pisses him off.” He will wrinkle his forehead and frown. Even if Vincent seems to be calm, from time to time he seems to break loose.
-...
“Don't be fooled. Just don't listen to him"
- How do they say this in common people? Donkey? Stubborn? How was it...
- Stubborn as a donkey.
- Yes, yes, exactly. Perfect for him, isn't it?
I cannot refute this, so I silently confirmed it. Ethan chuckled.
- Yes, it was much better before...
The smile gradually disappeared from his face, leaving only bitterness. He looked out the window.
White clouds floated across the blue sky.
“It will be hard for you to believe this, but at first everything was wrong.” He couldn't leave the mansion, but he did his job. Sometimes he even walked in the garden and often laughed.
I've heard about this. Although I can’t imagine Vincent walking in the garden or doing business. I especially couldn’t believe that the gentleman was capable of laughing. The Vincent Bellunita I saw was a man locked in his room, curled up in a sheet on his bed, shaking with fear. He was afraid to eat, step on the floor, or even breathe. This is what I knew about him.
“Suddenly, a few months ago, my letters stopped receiving replies. I contacted him, but he didn't answer. Even the people I sent came back with nothing. I came here because I was worried about his condition. And now I see that I was not worried in vain.
Smiling bitterly, he fell silent. It was not easy for me to find words of comfort for him. It was not an easy situation. I just didn't know what to say. And I don’t think that a simple maid like me can help in any way.
So I just decided to be sincere.
– Don't worry too much. The gentleman never stops trying.
He looked at me suspiciously.
I continued, peeling the skins off the remaining potatoes:
– Imagine that you suddenly see only darkness. How scary must that be? I would feel as if I was alone in the whole world. If I were the master, I would want to die. In addition, it is now difficult for him to determine who can be trusted and who should be feared.
Not to mention that even if someone wanted to hit him, he wouldn't even be able to dodge due to his blindness. Things that seem insignificant to others scare him. Anyone could stick a knife into him and he wouldn't be able to resist it.
Vincent does not know when his death will come, although it is just around the corner.
This is truly terrible.
I suddenly remembered Vincent, who was shaking last night after waking up from a nightmare. He struggled with fear, saying that his life was a failure. I thought about what would happen if I found myself in the same situation. But my answer was different - I would not shake alone, waiting for death.
- But the master did not die. If someone tries to touch him, he gets scared out of his mind, but still tries to live. The gentleman is struggling.
Of course, it wasn't that he didn't want to die. He hated being touched, didn’t eat, didn’t go out anywhere. Vincent just lay curled up in his bed and waited to die. At least in my eyes he was like that.
Vincent continued to go about his daily life when he recently lost his sight. He tried to survive. Even now, he could just bite his tongue until it bleeds and die that way. But Vincent doesn't do this. In fact, he makes great efforts, which means he wants to live.
“Instead of consoling him this way, please just support Vincent with all your heart.” Sometimes silence can be better than comfort. Don't try to imagine how he feels. You will not be able to understand his pain, no matter how hard you try. In order to experience this with him, you also need to go blind.
"After all, I am not him."
Vincent also said something similar last time. And I agree with this. It is hypocritical to imagine that you understand someone else’s pain. I couldn't be Vincent. Until I become blind in an accident, any comfort from me will only plunge him further into depression. The same goes for the man sitting in front of me.
- Please wait for him. Sir can overcome this.
There was silence for a moment. There was no answer. Ethan didn't say anything until I put away the potato peelings and washed my hands. When I finally looked up, puzzled, I saw Ethan looking at me with a strange expression on his face.
“Why is he looking at me like that? Did I make a mistake?
– Is something wrong?
-You really...
“Really what?”
- Too honest.
- What?
– Should I say that you are too straightforward? You have determination. You can't say it on the outside, but you're kinder than I thought.
Is this a compliment or a complaint?
I frowned because I didn't understand what he meant by that. Ethan seemed to think for a moment and then spoke again.
- I can't wait any longer. I have to tell him something.
“If it’s something important, maybe I could give it to the master instead of you?”
“That's very kind of you, but I think I should talk to him personally.”
He smiled and gently refused.
“That’s why I want to get into his room.”
“You can only enter if the master allows you.”
- What if you help me?