Tea party with the Count (2)
My arms and legs are swollen in cold weather. I endured the cold, rubbing my reddened cheeks with my hands. When I returned home with my shrunken body, my father greeted me. This son of the devil.
I don't know why he hit me. I got used to being beaten without knowing why. Squatting down was the only way I could protect myself. There were times when my younger ones tried to stop their father, but instead of helping, they too were beaten.
Alicia glanced at Paula and turned away. Alicia was the only one among her juniors who was not beaten. She was a spoiled child raised by their father. However, he did this in order to someday sell it at the highest price. Alicia didn't know about this. That's why she was so arrogant.
Then, the people holding my hand disappeared one by one, I could calmly endure the pain and anguish. I didn't even need tears. The moment I realized this for myself. I woke up from a nightmare. Then I couldn't sleep anymore.
Paula curled up and sat in the corner. Then, as she leaned her head towards the wall, she heard a familiar groan. She opened her eyes and listened to this faint sound.
He also fought behind the wall. This sound calmed her down. He might be angry, but sometimes, when she woke up from nightmares, she heard him groan. She rubbed her reddened cheeks against the cold wall and shed tears that drove away fear. Realizing that she was not alone.
“So, does this mean the Christopher family made you this way?”
- Yes.
- Does Sir Christopher know about this?
- Ethan doesn't know. It must be good that he doesn't know.
Paula asked what he meant. She was so surprised that she began to stutter, but the person answering her questions was so nonchalant.
- I'm just guessing. But I'm not sure. That's the reason why he wanted to question me. He doesn't know if his family really made me this way.
- So you gave him an answer?
- He didn't ask. He can't ask.
- Why?
- Because I'm not in good shape.
Paula was speechless.
- Despite the fact that he looks like that, to me he is a good guy. He could not penetrate my wounds because I had lost my sight and was terrified.
Only then did she understand the reasons why Vincent was avoiding Ethan. But at the same time, she began to have doubts. How did he know all this?
- Why don't you tell Sir Christopher everything?
- Because I have no reason to tell him.
Vincent raised his eyelids. Emerald eyes, still clouded but determined, looked straight into the sky.
- Sometimes you have to keep a secret.
-...
This was the end of the conversation. He was silent and Paula did not ask anything. On the other side of her heart, a warning sounded that she should not ask any more questions. Since then, she has not mentioned this conversation, and he has not added any explanation.
But that doesn't mean it wasn't scary. Paula closed her eyes and every night she felt what a terrible burden lay on her wrinkled shoulders.
(p.p. I sincerely don’t understand why they are wrinkled, but in translation they can still be decrepit/shrunken, see for yourself what to insert here)
Secrets must be kept secret.
Pretend you didn't see what you saw, pretend you didn't hear what you heard, and don't say anything.
Remembering once again the conditions that she must comply with to work as a servant here, she was absorbed in serving her master.
- Master, wake up.
The round figure on the bed moved but did not come out. Even though he was a sensitive person, he would have noticed her entering. Paula frowned and pulled back the sheet.
- You need to eat.
When his face was found, he made a grimace and expressed his displeasure. At the same time, his face was covered with sweat. It seemed like he had a nightmare yesterday, and he must have been overtired overnight.
- You sweated a lot during the night, it would be better to go wash your face first.
Now the musty smell from the room has disappeared, and the number of objects constantly rolling on the floor has decreased slightly. Light streaming into a room filled with darkness has become a familiar sight, like a daily routine. Lately he has been eating well and leading his own life. But he was still uncooperative and wary when it came to people touching him.
- Get out.
He grabbed the edge of the sheet that had been tucked away. However, Paula did not back down and grabbed the sheet with extreme force with her hand.
- I filled the bath with water.
When she first came here, it never occurred to her that she would bathe him. However, due to a strange power struggle with him and the changes that had occurred during this time, she asked him to wash himself.
- Please get out.
Vincent took a deep breath. His hand, pulling the sheet up, began to shake. He seemed to be in a bad mood today.
- I'll help you.
- Like last time, right?
- Well, then... I'll check the water temperature and come back.
Paula disappeared into the bathroom. She had nothing to say about the incident that happened last time: When she dropped him in the bathtub.
She checked the temperature by dipping her hand in the water, and after a while she came out and walked over to Vincent, who was lying on the bed in a daze. When she gently placed her hand on his body, he turned away. Ignoring this, since it was now a habitual reaction, she lifted his limp arm and threw it over her shoulder. As soon as she pulled him along, he stood up and climbed off the bed.
However, unlike his harsh words, Vincent was relaxed. So Paula managed to take him to the bath more easily than expected.
Paula put his hand on the bathtub, he groped and touched it. She tried to quickly unbutton the buttons on his pajama shirt so she could wash him comfortably, but his hand stopped him.
- I'll take care of this, so get out.
-Are you sure?
When Paula asked, surprised by his unexpectedly accommodating cooperation, he nodded and slowly began to undress. She watched blankly until she saw him take off his shirt and throw it on the floor before she came to her senses.
" What's happening?"
Paula quickly bent down and picked up the pajama shirt he had taken off. He was about to take off his pants when he suddenly stopped moving.
- If you don't come out, I'm not going to wash myself.
- Fine.
*clack*
As she clicked her tongue and stood up, Vincent's face turned stern upon hearing the sound. She thought he was going to say something, put his clothes on the floor and quickly left the bathroom.
And she pretended to walk in one place, making dull knocking sounds, the sounds of footsteps. As she slowly reduced the sound of her steps and stopped, she soon heard the sound of water. He climbed into the bathroom.
"What's really going on?"
Even though she was surprised by his innocent attitude, she decided to focus on what she needed to do at the moment. While he was washing, the room should be cleaned.
As always, Paula put the dirty clothes in the far corner of the room and changed the covers, sheets and pillowcases to new ones. She then wiped down every nook and cranny, swept the floor, and dusted the furniture. When the room was a little clean, she proudly headed to the bathroom.
After taking a bath, Vincent changed his clothes. She grabbed a towel from a nearby dresser and dried his wet hair. She quickly ruffled his hair with a towel to shake off the water, and this time he accepted it politely.
- The sheets have been changed. Now you can go.
After a while, when his hair was dry, she took him by the forearms and supported herself. He slowly walked towards the bed and sat down. Then she noticed that the button on his shirt was out of place.
She thought he was well dressed today.
Paula laughed slightly and undid the buttons on his shirt from top to bottom again.
- Food.
- Yes? Oh yes, food. I'll get ready.
Paula turned to the door and brought a silver dish. After hesitating for a moment, she knelt down in front of Vincent. She placed the dish on his lap, then took a spoonful of the porridge and put it in his mouth. Then Vincent calmly took the porridge and began to eat.
Last time he had an upset stomach, but now he emptied his plate. Paula liked the change and looked at him happily while he ate. Today he emptied the bowl completely again. Now she thought it would be nice to cook for him in small pieces.
After taking all his medications, Vincent lay down on a clean bed. He pulled the sheet up to his neck and turned to face the wall.
- I am going to sleep.
- Okay, I'll wake you up at lunch.
Paula left the room, satisfied that she had collected her dirty laundry and empty dishes in advance.
- The owner eats well these days.
- Yes, his breakfast was completely eaten today.
Paula showed the empty bowl to the cook. The cook was touched and shed tears. The maid who was helping him in the kitchen joined the conversation.
- I think we can serve rice grains now.
- Tomorrow I will prepare well!
Paula shook her head and walked out of the kitchen. Then she left the annex and waited for Renica.
But today Renika was not alone. She was with Isabella.
- The owner has been in good shape lately.
- Yes, he eats well and has just taken a bath himself. Throwing and hysterics are still the same, but much less frequent than before. Last time, he got out of bed and walked around a bit.
Paula spoke clearly, in a quiet voice that only Isabella could hear. Last time it was a step, but she also informed Isabella that Vincent had left the room. Hearing this, Isabella's surprised face came to mind. She didn't react as strongly as last time, but she knew that the arched eyebrows were an expression of her own surprise.
- This is a big step forward. You work hard. I look forward to your continued support.
- Yes
After a short conversation with Isabella, Paula approached Renicke. She took the laundry basket from her and handed Paula a basket containing new sheets and clothes. After this, Paula said goodbye and returned to the annex.
Today Paula had more free time than she thought because Vincent was kind. It had been a long time since they last fought. After struggling with him all day, she became exhausted while looking at the annex. As a result, today for the first time I was able to inspect the inside of the extension like this.
The interior of the annex was generally neat. She heard that the maid came to the annex to clean at a certain time. So Paula didn't need to worry about anything else, she just needed to focus on her master, that's what Isabella told her shortly after she arrived.
Thanks to her, the only place Paula cleaned was the master room. Besides, the place Paula stayed was the room right next to Vincent's room, and the only places she went were the kitchen, where she went to get food, and the back door to do laundry.
"It looked something like this." Paula looked around the mansion excitedly, taking in the ceiling, which was still far away even if she tilted her head to the maximum, and the interior, which was so wide that she wouldn't be able to fully look around even if she walked on it all day. It was her first time in such a place, so it was full of novelty.
She then walked up the large staircase in the center and examined the frames on the wall one by one.