The Count's Strange Guest (4)
- No.
I am the most powerless person here. There is no one lower in status than me.
– Should I ask Isabella?
“She's on Vincent's side.” I myself have already asked her several times, and each time she refused.
- Let's ask the gentleman again.
- No.
Ethan waved his hand. Although he sighed, he looked more cheerful than a minute ago.
“If I knock on the door a hundred times, maybe he’ll open it at least once.”
- At least you're trying.
- Yes, just like my friend.
And suddenly he smiled. His smile was as fresh as a spring day, and it gave me goosebumps. He narrowed his eyes slyly. What the hell... Why am I reacting like this? I started shaking my hands for no reason.
“I think it would be much easier if you fell in love with me.”
- Let me refuse right away.
***
He probably really knocked a hundred times, or maybe even a thousand, but the door never opened.
- I hope you didn’t spend the night here?
I looked at the man sitting in front of the door to Vincent's room in surprise. It was Ethan. I showed him to the guest room, so why is he here?
- Oh, is it morning already?
- Yes. What are you doing here?
“I thought that if I knocked all night, Vincent would get angry and open the door, but I was wrong.”
I watched, stunned, as Ethan yawned and stretched casually. “You mean you stayed up all night trying to open Vincent’s door? It would be faster to take the key from me and force it open.”
– Do you want me to open it? – I asked, rummaging in my apron pocket. Ethan narrowed his eyes.
“I thought you said no yesterday.”
- Master, of course, will hate me for this, but he doesn’t like me anyway. The fact that he dislikes me even more will not change anything.
“I can't put you through this.”
I received a refusal. Perhaps he says this out of concern for me, but still...
“You can’t stay at the door like that.” You never know how many days or months will pass before the door opens. You know that the gentleman insisted that you not be allowed in.
Ethan seemed to think for a moment and then shook his head.
- I'll try again.
- As you say.
I pulled my hands out of my pockets and turned around as Ethan started knocking on the door again. I shook my head nervously. It will take a good hit to wake Vincent up. And he certainly won’t open the door when someone knocks.
After a while, Ethan realized this too.
When I went upstairs with Vincent's lunch, Ethan said with a puzzled look on his face.
– Can I ask you a favor?
- Certainly.
I walked past him and inserted the key into the tightly closed door.
“He’s definitely going to be really, really angry.”
- Stand at the door. Don't come in.
Я не могу совсем отказать ему.
With a click, the door swung open. An unpleasant smell instantly entered my nostrils. I made a grimace, went to the window and parted the curtains. Bright rays of light burst into the dark room. When I opened the window, a breeze blew softly in, drowning out the stench.
Ethan stood in the doorway as I told him to. I approached Vincent.
- Mister. It's time for lunch.
-...Go.
His voice was hoarse. Maybe because he slept too much.
- Mister?
-...
But he didn't answer. Something was wrong. When I got closer and pulled back the sheet, I saw his sweaty face and the pillow soaked in vomit.
- Master!
I tapped him on the cheek to wake him up, but he didn’t open his eyes. His condition was strange. I look back at the doorway in alarm, and Ethan immediately turns around. The sound of his hurried steps echoed down the corridor.
Soon the attending physician arrived - wearing an unbuttoned shirt, rumpled trousers and no shoes. The glasses on his nose, sitting askew, spoke of the haste in which the doctor was getting ready.
- He overate.
- What?
– You said that lately he has been eating little by little, but I think even this amount is too much for him. Anyone will feel worse if they eat more food than usual. He seemed to be suffering all night.
No, but he hardly ate? The gentleman didn't even have breakfast this morning. He said he wasn't hungry and didn't get out of bed, so he had to skip meals. So he refused because of an upset stomach? Mister didn't eat half his portion last night, so I made him eat more. This must have made him feel worse...
- He... So weak.
– Yes, his body is very weak. You need to be careful.
- … Fine.
Vincent's doctor scolded me. I sighed quietly, bowing to him as he left. Even if I feed the master well, in the end I will still be guilty...
When I returned to the master's room, I saw Ethan sitting in front of his bed. His gaze was fixed on Vincent and did not leave him for a second, but Vincent did not say anything. He didn't even look at Ethan, although he knew who was next to him.
- Why have you lost so much weight? – Ethan asked after a long silence. “You’re even thinner than the last time we saw each other.” You need to take care of your health.
Ethan raised his hands and covered his face with them. Now Vincent looked almost like a dead man. Ethan was confused and didn't know what to do.
But Vincent was unperturbed.
- Leave.
Ethan paused to catch his breath, then looked up again. Vincent's gaze was still fixed on the ceiling.
- Vincent. Come on, leave the room. I'll help you.
– What and how will you help me?
- Anything. I'll do my best.
“Then maybe you can return my sight?”
-...
“If you can’t, then stop talking nonsense and get out.”
He's so heartless. I secretly clicked my tongue as I stood behind them and listened to their conversation. Despite Ethan's concern, Vincent's attitude towards him was harsh. Vincent seemed to be covered in thorns that were just waiting to prick everyone around him.
But Ethan didn't give up so easily.
– How long are you going to continue like this? There are many rumors that Count Bellunita is not just recovering from injuries received at the party, but is actually hiding some kind of illness.
-...
“You can’t live like this forever.”
– What do you think I should do?
- It's time to confess.
-You're asking me to die.
- Vincent.
“If it becomes known that Count Bellunita is blind, then this time it will not be a hired killer who will come to me, but the one who did this to me and will personally cut my throat!”
Vincent snorted. Ethan shook his head.
“Whoever made you like this already knows about your condition.”
-...
Vincent's face hardened. His eyes were still fixed on the ceiling, but they seemed to pierce Ethan.
There was no answer. Just a nod in agreement.
There was silence again. They had too different views on the situation. Vincent was silent. He didn't want to talk anymore.
This conversation made no sense.
Ethan must have realized this too, because he took a deep breath.
- Vincent. If you continue like this, I intend to tell you about your condition personally.
Vincent's head snapped up at the shocking statement, his eyes widening dramatically. The same thing happened to me. I forgot to pretend I didn't hear and looked at Ethan in surprise.
-Are you crazy?
- May be.
- Ethan! – Vincent shouted furiously, but Ethan did not back down. His voice was eerily calm.
- Vincent. You are my dear friend and I don't want you to stay like this. We cannot hide your blindness forever, so we must prepare for the future. You understand this yourself, don’t you? You're being stupid and I have to stop.
-...
“I'm going to get you out of here, and I don't care if it puts you in danger.” Because being here will be even worse for you.
- Don't talk nonsense.
“We’ll see if this is nonsense or not.”
Ethan jumped to his feet. Vincent didn't move; he looked so shocked that he couldn't even breathe. His hands, gripping the sheets, trembled. I was afraid he would have a seizure.
– What will you choose? – Ethan asked, “Will you try to convince me?”
-...
The expressive words were followed by silence. Vincent didn't answer, he just glared at Ethan and Ethan glared at him. For a moment, it was as if lightning flashed between them.
* * *
A guest arrived, and the work doubled. Once Vincent's business was finished, I headed to the guest room. After changing pillowcases, bedspreads, sheets, I did some light cleaning. In principle, all the rooms in the mansion are cleaned regularly by maids, but there was quite a lot of dust in places where it was not visible because it had not been used for a long time.
I started by cleaning the dusty windows. Ethan glanced at me.
-What about Vincent?
I looked at him, wiping the window with a dry towel, and then answered.
– If you're interested, why not go and see for yourself?
– I would be grateful if you told me.
The grin on his face was disgusting. I sighed.
On the day of the incident, when Ethan turned everything upside down, he simply left the room as if nothing had happened. I watched him leave, speechless, and firmly decided that this time I would not back down.
- Show me. Show that you're trying. Prove that everything will be okay if I don't do anything. Calm my conscience. - Ethan said that day - You are stubborn, and I am impatient. I'll give you two days.
Vincent's fists shook. Blind, he couldn't even get out of bed and try to stop his friend. Instead, he had a seizure. I ran up to him and put the inhaler in his mouth. The pain was visible on his face as he slowly sucked in air. His pride must have been greatly hurt.