The Count's Strange Guest (5)
But I couldn't tell him about it directly to his face.
- I think he's okay.
- Marvelous. I thought he would be upset.
– Did you want him to be upset? Is that why they threatened?
– Was it like a threat?
“It’s blackmail if you force a person to do something he doesn’t want.”
Я знаю, что это наглость с моей стороны, но хочу, чтобы он признал это.
- That's right, I blackmailed him.
He admitted it so shamelessly. Bastard.
“Ethan is a bad person after all.”
-...
His eyes narrowed as if he could see right through me. I wiped the window, pretending not to notice anything.
– Maid, I am serious in my actions. I came to this estate precisely for this. I can't bear to see my friend, Count Bellunita, destroying himself, or rather, becoming useless.
I sighed and looked at him again. Ethan continued.
“I know it sounds heartless, but Vincent is now in a position where he has no choice but to accept my terms.” I'm just concerned about Vincent's well-being, that's why I'm doing this. He and I are not just friends, we are family members.
Ethan smiled sarcastically. He didn't look like the man who had been so worried about Vincent's condition a few minutes ago. He looked like a real bastard. Ethan deliberately upset the master.
“I hope you can help Vincent and he will finally leave the room.”
“I don’t have that kind of power.”
“But it seems to me that you have enormous power.”
- You flatter me.
I shook my head and went back to cleaning the windows. Laughter was heard behind me. I pretended not to hear him and continued going about my business.
I finished sweeping the floor and put away the cleaning tools. After checking the time, I headed into the office to choose the next book to read to Vincent.
Ethan followed me around.
“Why does he keep following me? It would be better to get down to business."
He didn't seem bothered by my discomfort. As a result, he followed me into the office, looked around and asked.
– What are you going to do here?
– I'm trying to choose a book.
– Are you going to read?
- No, I read to my master.
Ethan's eyes widened. I walked over to the bookshelf of fairy tales and looked through the titles. Last time I took all the books from the shelf, but I already managed to read them. The stories were short, so it didn't take much time.
Luckily Vincent let me read for him. This was another change. He stopped immediately grumbling that it wasn’t interesting, or pretending that he didn’t want to listen, as in the beginning. Now the gentleman listens calmly, occasionally paying attention to my pronunciation and breathing.
“Too fast, I don’t have time to get into it.”
"Oh, sorry."
“Read with intonation and measuredly. I have to picture the scene in my head to understand.”
"I will try."
Reading to myself was definitely different from reading to someone else. My eyes read the words faster than my mouth, and I could easily imagine the story in my head. But Vincent couldn’t - he had to listen to my voice and put the picture together piece by piece, like a puzzle.
It's a good thing I brought these children's books with me to tease him. He had to correct me dozens of times while I was reading even such short stories.
“Are you going to read the book to Vincent?”
- Yes.
- And he listens to you?
“At first he refused, but now he listens.” I read children's books to him, but this time I'll try something more serious.
-...
I looked at the books above the shelf with fairy tales, and my cheeks turned red. Turning around, I saw that Ethan had a strange expression on his face - he frowned, the corners of his mouth twitched. And suddenly:
- Pha-ha-ha-ha!
There was a loud peal of laughter.
I opened my eyes wide and looked at Ethan, who was laughing hysterically, clutching his stomach.
- He, with his pride... Pf-f, ha-ha... Calmly listens to fairy tales... Ha-hah.
Ethan doubled over, trying to hold back his laughter. He can't stop laughing at my questioning look. I don’t know why he’s so funny, but I shrug and turn away. All I have understood about Ethan at this point is that he is a very strange person. And strange people can be difficult to understand.
In any case, I need to choose a book to read today. I leafed through thick books with thick covers, carefully selecting the ones I needed.
“I think he should read this one.”
Ethan stopped laughing and held out the book. As the title suggests, it was some kind of adventure story. It wasn't too thin and not too thick, so it might actually fit.
– This is a book that Vincent loved to read as a child.
- Oh.
Since childhood, they were connected only by family interests. But in the end, a friend is a friend. Ethan knew Vincent's tastes well. I bowed my head in gratitude and politely accepted the book.
– Vincent likes adventure novels; he has been reading them like crazy since childhood. Especially those that describe distant countries. But there are no romance novels. He doesn't like them. He says they are boring and doesn’t even want to look at them.
- Thank you. I'll keep this in mind when I choose a new book.
– I am much more grateful to you.
Ethan looked up and smiled, one of his rare sweet smiles. It wasn't one of those lazy, flirtatious smiles, but an expression of pure amusement, relief.
“I’m glad that he has a person like you next to him.”
What could this phrase mean?
– And read him some more fairy tales.
Fairy tales, why? I shake my head and he covers his mouth with his hand to stifle the laughter that was about to break out again.
“Do you think Vincent will ever leave his room?”
- Don't know. How can I know what is going on in the master's heart?
- Maybe we can make a bet?
It was an unexpected offer.
- A bet? – I asked again in surprise.
“If you can get Vincent to take just one step out of the room, then I will grant your wish.”
Ethan stepped forward and extended his hand. I stared at her and then shook my head.
“I don’t know why you think I can do this, Sir Christopher?” I already told you that I have no power. I am just a servant, and I don’t understand how I can force the master to leave the room.
The room was his only refuge, and he did not want to go beyond it. No, he didn’t even want to get out of bed. Of course, he won't be able to live like this forever, but Vincent won't do anything now.
“This bet is just between you and me.”
He grabs my hand and lifts it up. His face doesn't change as he squeezes my weak hand. On the contrary, his grip tightens, as if he doesn’t want to let go.
– I want you to understand, maid. It's all for Vincent.
- Why are you doing this to me?
- Because it seems to me that it will be easiest with you?
I tried to pull my hand away in irritation, but he held it tightly and didn’t let go. Ethan squeezed my hand forcefully until my skin tingled. I narrowed one eye and stared at him.
– Let go.
- I am waiting for your consent.
- What if I refuse?
“I hope you won’t refuse, because I want to remain a good person for you.”
Now he is openly threatening. Ethan grinned as if he didn't care that I was dumbfounded.
“Since this is a bet, I suppose I should offer a reward if I win.” Hmm, if I win, then...
His eyes looked away. He seemed to think for a moment and then focused back on me. He leaned down elegantly and placed a kiss on the back of my hand, just like when he first came here.
“You'll have to give me your head.”
He made a throat-cutting gesture. His grin was so evil it gave me goosebumps.
“Why me? Lord, why me? I am just a maid serving my master."
Ethan laughed cheerfully at my sad face. Now his smile was terrifying. Who said he was a nice person? I couldn’t understand why he came all this way, why he threatened Vincent with publicizing his blindness and why he offered me this ridiculous bet.
Is he trying to help Vincent or just himself?
Confused, I reached Vincent's room.
- Mister.
While I was reading the book, Vincent was silent. Today he was unusually quiet, leaning his back against the wall and listening to my voice. His head was bowed and his hair hid his expression. Vincent's shoulders were hunched and that made him look weak.
The book I brought with me was useless. I leaned down to look into his face and called out to him carefully, “My Lord?”, but he was still silent.
- Cheer up. There must be some way out.
-...Don't talk nonsense.
Finally he answered, but his voice sounded so hoarse that it was unusual. I would have preferred him to yell at me or lose his temper as usual. His behavior made me feel weak.
– Why the nonsense right away? You just have to show that you're trying.
– And how will I show this? Do you want me to try to walk and end up falling ignominiously, sprawled on the floor? Is this what you want to see?
- Mister.
“Don’t be an idiot, I’ll just prove that I’m good for nothing.”
He covered his face with both hands. His body clenched in pain as he realized his condition. Grief overwhelmed him again.
– Don’t cry.
– I’m not crying.
- Your heart is crying.
-...
Vincent took a deep breath. I was worried that he would have another attack because he was very vulnerable right now.
- My throat will be cut.
I was worried about this bet with Ethan.
I ground my teeth and tilted my head this way and that, trying to see Vincent's face. I then carefully grabbed his index finger and pulled his hand away from his cheek, revealing a sad expression on his face. He really didn't cry. But his face looked very sad.
- Let's come up with something together.