The Count's Strange Guest (6)
" - This is impossible".
“There must be some way.”
Paula thought about the best thing to do. The girl wanted to show him that there was still a chance.
[What should I try to show? A very difficult question.]
[Should I show him how to eat and sleep properly?]
No, even if one party works hard, if the other party does not accept it, it cannot be called 'hard work'. You need to make an effort so that another person can perceive it...
Was this a joke?!
“No, I don’t know, because I don’t see.”
“You can see... Ah!”
Paula clapped her hands.
[Why didn't I think of this? There was a very simple way. No, he himself gave me this idea.]
“That will be enough.”
" - What?"
Vincent looked at Paula as if she was talking nonsense. The girl looked at him and smiled happily.
“I can’t. Impossible.”
“You can. Now hands up.”
Paula reached out her hand to reach him. But the man did not move. She nudged him again.
Let's. Then he hesitantly extended his hand, and as soon as he touched her waiting fingertips, he cringed.
Several times his hand stretched out again, barely reaching her palm. The girl squeezed Vincent's hand in case he decided to take her away again.
"It's okay. I'll hold you."
Ethan tried in his own way. She didn't know exactly what it was, but she decided to just think about his words. The girl understood the man's hint when she made a bet.
[If you get Vincent out of the room just once, I will grant your wish.]
He meant that he wanted to see it. Then she could show him. Vincent's exit from the room alone, as when he could see with his own eyes without anyone's help.
Of course it won't be easy.
There was a reason she was doing this, to persuade Vincent.
Paula took a step back. He didn't move at all. She took another step back, but he only extended his upper body forward without taking another step. She stepped back again. He lowered his eyes and finally got out of bed.
The sound of his footsteps on the floor was like the sound of an angel's trumpet.
“ - Slowly, step by step, like a child taking his first steps.”
“Don't exaggerate.”
(r.p: ugh... Ahem, excuse me, sir.)
Even though he said those words, the man looked determined even when he took just one step.
Vincent, who had been hesitating for a while, soon took a step with a firm expression on his face. Paula was one step ahead of him, pushing aside things that could interfere with his movement.
“Yes, you are doing great.”
“I didn’t lose my legs.”
“Still.”
He hesitantly took one step at a time, but at some point he started walking. Paula looked back and led him to the door. Walking slowly, he quickly reached the exit.
“Look, it wasn’t difficult, wasn’t it?”
“Don't treat me like a child.”
[ Stubborn. I know you're scared.]
Vincent held her hand so tightly that the girl's hand went numb. She knew with what courage he left the room. His room was very large, and it was quite a distance from the bed to the door. For Paula it was a short distance, but for Vincent it must have been a long, long journey.
" - Well done".
“Will you be satisfied with this and allow me to return?”
" - I think yes".
[Of course, I'm not sure.]
Vincent turned to her reluctantly, looking very awkward. He stopped, straightened up to his full height, and did not move at all. As Paula looked at him, wondering why the man was doing this, she realized that he didn't know where to go.
“You can go this way.”
She held his hand and led him, but he did not move.
“What's wrong with you?”
“I can’t do this.”
“You did a good job earlier.”
“- Because you held my hands and led me. Listen, I can’t even walk without you.”
The confidence disappeared from his face. He was like a lost child.
The man was definitely a greater and greater person than she, but now he seemed to her only weak, like a child.
That's how unstable his condition was.
“Master, I agree with Sir Christopher to some extent. You cannot live like this forever. I was hired to tell you about your condition from the very beginning, but can other servants remain ignorant forever? What about other people who know you?”
Rumors spread faster than you can contain and control them. If a servant working in the mansion were to sneak into the annex and accidentally see Vincent, the rumor would spread instantly. People would then try to find out whether the rumor was true or not.
“One day there will come a time when everyone will know about the Master’s condition. Are you going to stay in your room forever looking like this?”
“...Okay. Okay, stop nitpicking.”
“If you understand this, then good.”
“For a servant, you talk too much.”
He groaned, wiping his face with one hand. Paula grabbed his hand and led him back to the bed. Then again, she made me come to the door.
After repeating these circles two or three more times, Vincent seemed to have a good idea. He gained a little more confidence in his steps. So this time, the girl decided to change tactics.
“As soon as we go halfway, I will let go of your hand.”
" - What?"
"Don't be too hard on yourself. Even if I let you go, you just have to keep going."
Paula turned his body around and led him to a place where the man could reach the door. The girl took his hand again and led him forward. The steps were now heavier than before.
“I can’t do this.”
“You can do it. Now, maybe we can separate our hands?”
“-Wait. Don’t let go yet.”
He quickly shook his head. Paula stepped back and looked back. She asked again when they had walked some distance to the door.
“Is everything okay now?”
" - Not yet".
Walking a little further again, she asked.
“What about now?”
" - Not yet".
[ How long are you going to say “not yet”? We'll be at the door soon.]
“I’ll let you go now.”
“-Wait a minute.”
Paula let go of his hand, but he grabbed it again. She looked back and said.
“I’ll let you go.”
“ - No, please!”
The girl heartlessly pulled away from him and quickly stepped back.
He stopped immediately. His anxious eyes rolled wildly. This was followed by both hands wandering aimlessly in the air, searching for her. His face tensed when the man realized that Paula was not there.
Paula asked him to walk, as he had done before, but the man quickly lost his bearings and had difficulty moving. She took two steps back, stepping loudly.
“-This way, my lord.”
“Where, where are you?
“-Here, on the side where the sound comes from.”
Vincent followed her voice and turned his head desperately. But he didn't move.
“You can go as you are, master.”
“I can’t.”
“You haven’t moved a step yet.”
“I can’t do this.”
“ - You can do it. Your legs are not injured.”
Paula held out her hands for him to go. He still hesitated. It was just one step, but the man could not quickly gather his courage.
The wait was long. Vincent had a hard time moving. He continued to hesitate, moistening his dry lips with his tongue.
Paula calmly waited for him like this. Let him have the courage to take a step, and be confident in this step. This is an obstacle he had to overcome alone.
“ - Don't worry. If you fall, I will catch you, master.”
Paula put all her strength into her legs so she would be ready to run at any moment.
Vincent was silent. The longer he hesitated, the more nervous Paula became. She was afraid that he would give up because he really couldn't do it.
The next moment, the man took a step.
One more step, and another. He slowly began to approach Paula. She deliberately stepped back, pounding her feet on the floor.
“Yes, you are doing a good job.”
She instantly found herself outside the door, quickening her pace. He walked carefully, determining the direction by the sound of her steps.
Paula held out her hands as quickly as she could. She stretched out her upper body so that she could quickly reach him at any time. Her eyes were glued to him.
Vincent, who walked carefully, soon reached the door.
Now there was only one step left.
“The door is right in front of you.”
He reached out to her. His upper body moved forward. The girl also leaned forward with her upper body, greeting him. But at that moment he stepped on something that Paula had not removed and slipped.
His body tilted. As she tried to take a step closer to the figure, he suddenly raised his face. Clear emerald eyes looked straight ahead. He approached Paula as if he knew she was there.
Don't move.
This was what he seemed to want to convey to her. Paula stopped.
Vincent quickly took another step and took over the central area. The man staggered forward again. The big hand reached out to Paula again. She also reached out to him. His body rushed past the door and approached it.
Paula hugged him as tightly as she could.
" - Master!"
His knees buckled as soon as he was in her arms. The girl finally sat down on the floor and he hit his nose on her shoulder, barely keeping his body from falling. Soon after, she felt a dull pain in her back. But the pain was quickly forgotten. First, she felt his body temperature in her hands.
“Ha, ha...”
The sound of heavy breathing lingered in her ears. His sweat smeared down the back of his neck. His hand squeezed her back. The trembling in her hands and the tension in her body reached Paula. Then she realized he walked out the door alone.
Emotions were running high.
Paula sniffled and patted him on the back.
“You did a great job. You did really well.”
She whispered again and again to calm him down. Vincent buried his face in her shoulder and quietly took a breath. His golden hair pricked her cheek. It was a tickling sensation, but instead Paula rubbed her cheek against his hair. Knowing how he must feel, she couldn't move.
They sat on the floor together for some time.