The Count's Strange Guest (8)
***
My arms and legs were chapped from the cold. I rubbed my reddened cheeks with my palms to somehow warm myself up. When I returned home like this, my father met me. This devilish bastard.
I don't know why he hits me. I’m already used to being beaten, it’s not clear why. Curling into a ball is the only resistance I can offer. Sometimes my younger brothers and sisters tried to stop my father and they also got screwed for it.
However, Alicia just looked at me and turned away. She was the only one of my siblings who was never beaten. After all, she was so different from us. He was saving it so that one day he could sell it for the highest price. But Alicia didn’t know this, which is why she acted so arrogantly.
And then, when my brothers and sisters holding my hand disappeared one by one, I was able to bear the pain and sadness calmly. There was no need for tears. The moment I realized this, it was like I woke up from a nightmare and couldn’t go back to sleep.
***
Curled up in the corner and leaning my head against the wall, I hear a familiar groan. Closing my eyes, I listen to the faint sound.
He also fights behind this wall. This sound calmed me. Yes, he gets so angry during the day, but at night I wake up from nightmares as soon as I hear his moans. I rub my red cheeks against the cold wall and blink away tears to drive away the fear. I understand that I am not alone.
“So the Christopher family did this to you?”
- Yes.
– And Christopher knows about this?
“Ethan doesn’t know.” Doesn't know yet.
I was so stunned that I stuttered, but Vincent looked impassive.
“I think he guesses about it, but he’s not sure yet.” So Ethan wanted to ask me if his family really made me this way.
– Did he end up asking you?
- No, he didn’t.
- But why?
- Because I'm not in the best shape right now.
I was speechless.
– You might not be able to tell at first glance, but he is quite kind. So Ethan can't afford to open my wounds when I'm blind and scared.
Suddenly his avoidance of Ethan made sense. But at the same time, I still had questions. How does he know all this?
- Why didn't you tell Christopher?
- Because I had no reason to.
Vincent raised his eyelids. Emerald eyes, still cloudy, but full of determination, looked into emptiness.
– Some secrets should remain secrets.
-...
He fell silent and I didn’t continue asking questions. Something in the back of my mind warned me not to ask any further. Since then, I have never thought about this conversation again, and neither has he.
And yet, it is very scary. Every night I close my eyes and feel with my whole body what a terrible burden lies on my bent shoulders.
Secrets must remain secrets.
“From now on, everything you see and hear must be kept secret.”
Reminding myself once again of the conditions that I must comply with in order to work here as a servant, I continue to take care of my master.
- Mister, wake up.
The round figure on the bed stirred, but did not rise. He must have noticed me entering the room a long time ago, given his sensitivity to sound. I frowned and pulled back the sheet.
– You need to eat.
He made a displeased grimace when the sheet no longer covered his face. Vincent was covered in sweat and looked like he'd had another nightmare that night.
– You sweated a lot during the night, so I suggest you wash yourself.
The musty smell in the room disappeared and there was less stuff on the floor. The light entering the once dark room has become familiar, like a daily routine. Lately he had been eating well and living his own life. But he was still uncooperative when it came to tactile contact.
- Get out.
He grabbed the end of the sheet that was taken from him, but I didn’t give in and tightened my grip.
– I’ve already filled the bath with water.
When I first came here, the idea of giving him a bath was unthinkable. But after the strange power struggle with him and the changes he has undergone, I can now demand that he wash himself.
- Please go away.
Vincent took a deep breath. His irritation was evident in the way he tugged at the sheets. He seemed to be in a bad mood today.
- I will support you.
- How was it last time?
- Well, then... I'll check the water temperature.
I took refuge in the bathroom. I had nothing to say about how last time I almost drowned him in the bathtub.
I put my hand in the water to check the temperature, and after a while I left the bathroom and walked over to Vincent, who was lying motionless on the bed. I touched him gently and he pulled back. Ignoring the usual reaction, I lifted his weak hand and placed it on my shoulder. I pulled, and he carefully crawled off the bed.
Despite the harsh words, he behaved well today. Moving it into the bathroom was easier than I thought.
I put his hand on the side of the bathtub, and he began to feel it. I was about to quickly unbutton the top button of his shirt so I could wash my clothes at the same time, but he stopped me.
- Go away, I'll figure it out myself.
-Are you sure? – I asked, surprised by his unexpected cooperation, he nodded and slowly began to undress.
I looked at him dumbfounded until I noticed that he had finished taking off his shirt and threw it on the floor. Then I came to my senses.
I quickly bent down and picked up his shirt. He was about to take off his pants when he suddenly stopped.
“If you don’t leave here, I’ll turn this bathtub over.”
- Understood.
I clicked my tongue and straightened up. Vincent's face winced every time he heard the sound. It seemed like he wanted to tell me something, so I left my change of clothes on the floor and quickly ran out of the bathroom.
I pretend to leave, clicking my heels in one place. Slowly I took steps more and more quietly and then stopped. Soon I heard the sound of water: he was in the bathroom.
I thought he would actually turn the bathtub over.
I'm surprised by his submissiveness, but I decided to focus on the main task: I need to clean the room while he's in the bathroom.
As usual, I put everything back in its place and changed the bedspread, sheets and pillowcases. Then she wiped the dust in every corner, swept the floor and wiped the dust off the furniture. When the room was clean enough, I headed to the bathroom, proud of myself.
Vincent had just finished his bath and was getting dressed. I took a towel from a nearby drawer and began to dry his wet hair. I quickly patted his hair with a towel to dry it, this time he complied.
– I changed the bed linen, everything is ready.
Once the hair is dry, I take him by the forearm and support him. As I slowly walk him to the bed, I notice that his shirt is not buttoned correctly.
I think it even suits him that way. I smiled weakly and rebuttoned my shirt.
- Food.
- What? Oh, yes, yes. Breakfast. I'll prepare everything now.
I went to the door and took the silver plate. Holding him in my hands, I hesitated for a moment, then knelt down in front of him. Placing the dish on his lap, I scooped up a spoonful of porridge for him, and Vincent began to obediently eat.
I watched him, pleased with the change: today he also emptied his bowl completely, although he had done this only once before. It seemed that now he could cook more solid food.
After taking the medicine, Vincent lay down on a clean bed. Pulling the sheet up to his neck, he turned to face the wall.
- I am going to sleep.
- Okay, I'll wake you up for lunch.
I grabbed the laundry and empty plates that I had collected earlier and left the room satisfied.
“Our master has been eating well lately.”
- Yes, today he ate everything.
I showed the cook the empty plates. The cook was moved to tears. The cook who was helping him happily joined our conversation.
“I think now we can cook thicker porridge.”
- Okay, we'll cook one tomorrow!
I shook my head and left the kitchen, going to the outbuilding to wait for Lenika.
But today she was not alone - Isabella was with her.
“Mr. seems to be feeling better lately.”
– Yes, he eats well and now takes a bath on his own. He still throws things and throws tantrums, but not as often as before. And the other day he even got out of bed for a while and took a walk.
I added the last phrase in a low voice that only Isabella could hear. Last time I already said that the gentleman left the room, although only one step. I remember Isabella's surprised face when she heard this. And although she didn't react, I realized that the raised eyebrow was her way of expressing surprise.
– This is a big step forward. You've worked hard and I hope you keep it up.
- Yes.
After a short conversation with Isabella, I approached Lenika. She took the basket of dirty laundry from me and handed me another with fresh sheets and clothes. Then we said goodbye and I returned to the annex.
Today I had more time than I expected, thanks to the gentleman's favor. After long days spent arguing with him, I lost all my strength and did not leave the annex at all. But today for the first time I had the opportunity to calmly examine the building from the inside.
I was told that maids from the main house would come to the annex rooms at certain times and clean them. So I didn't have to worry about anything else - I could focus on my master, as Isabella told me right after I arrived.
So the only place I cleaned was the owner's room. I lived next door to the master, and the only places I went were the dining room to eat and the room at the back door to do the laundry.
Now I walked around the mansion with delight, admiring the high ceilings and the spacious corridor, which was so long that you could walk along it all day. I had never been to such places before, so I was full of surprise.
Then I walked up the grand staircase in the center of the house and looked at the framed pictures hanging on the walls.