Tea party with the Count (10)
- Mister.
-...
I looked at Vincent, who was leaning against the door. He felt the continuous knocking on the door, but did not even move.
The moment Violet's excited voice caused his face to turn red, he immediately stood up to leave the living room. But when he stood up, he hit his knee on the sofa again and tried to walk away, pretending to be cool, but then hit his face against the wall. At the same moment, blood began to flow from his nose. However, he didn't care, he turned around and hit his back against the cabinet. Only after the decorations he was wearing fell to the floor and crumbled was he able to safely leave the living room. As promised, I took his hand and led him into the room.
As soon as we entered the room, he locked the door. Violet, who had followed him, knocked, but he still ignored her. I sat in front of him, unable to do anything. His hand, which I was still holding, was very cold.
- Vincent! Vincent!
Violet called him so loudly that it seemed her throat would immediately burst. He had already been in a similar situation, and, as then, he did not open the door.
- Mister. Violet keeps calling for you.
- I know.
- Maybe we should open the door?
Vincent shook his head.
The training didn't help. It makes no sense for a blind person to pretend to be sighted, so everything turned out this way. Everything was predetermined from the very beginning. It's over now, it's over...
- Vincent! Open the door! Please!
The voice, full of despair, continued to hit the door and disappear. I didn’t know what I could say in this situation.
A moment later, footsteps were heard. Looks like it was Ethan. I heard him reassure Violet. Soon after this, the footsteps began to move away and died away.
Silence reigned. Even knowing that they were gone, Vincent still stood with his head down. I tilted my head to one side and the other to look into Vincent's face, and then gently cupped his cheeks. His face, flushed with shame, was pale, his eyes reflected despair, and his nose was smeared with blood. He didn't even have time to wash himself properly.
I pulled my hand away, stood up and headed to the sink. Taking out a clean towel, I moistened it with water and returned back. Then I gently wiped his face with a damp towel.
– It’s not... it’s not over yet. It can't end like this.
“Miss Violet will understand.”
– I think not, but it can’t be any other way.
What does it mean? I scratched my head. He didn't say anything else. Now there was only oppressive silence in the room.
I put a tired Vincent to bed and met Ethan on the way out. The smile on his face looked tired.
- Sorry.
-You don't need to apologize. It's not your fault.
However, everything went wrong after my words. Now it was clear why Isabella advised keeping her mouth shut. Words cannot be taken back, and I regretted what I said.
- Everything will be fine.
Ethan patted me on the shoulder. His relaxed demeanor had a calming effect.
***
The next day the mansion was quiet. Ethan kept his head down, and Violet, who had been knocking on the door all last night, was nowhere to be seen either. I thought Violet might come again, but Ethan seemed to calm her down.
As usual, I cleaned the room and checked on Vincent's condition. Lately he has been eating well, getting out of bed and walking on his own. He had noticeably increased strength and was not tormented by attacks. But only I knew that he was still haunted by nightmares.
I brought some underwear to Lenika, and when I was picking up new ones, someone called out to me.
– Paula.
It was Violet.
When I approached her, I noticed that her eyes were red and swollen. Looks like she cried all night.
How is Vincent? Is he still very angry?
– Please don't misunderstand. The gentleman is not angry.
– I'm glad to hear that.
Violet smiled slightly. I was so sorry to see her so depressed.
“Ethan told me everything.” You knew it too, right?
- Sorry.
- Oh no. You have nothing to apologize for.
Violet waved her hand. She looked pale and it was clear that she was not feeling well. Violet knocked on the door for so long and called him. I was afraid that she would collapse from exhaustion. I took off my apron, laid it in the shade and sat her there, and I sat down next to her.
“I think you should rest a little.”
- Thank you.
Violet smiled weakly. I leaned my head against the wall. A light breeze blew across my face and saved me from the heat.
– Paula, can you listen to me?
- Yes. Certainly.
Violet pursed her lips slowly.
“I was not such a good bride, because since childhood, the manners and etiquette that a lady should comply with were alien to me.” I was that much of a tomboy. I preferred to run, lifting up the hem of my skirt, than to sit still.
Losing herself in old memories, a happy smile began to appear on Violet's face. For a moment the despondency dissipated.
“Because of this, my mother constantly scolded me. She told me that this behavior turned men off and no one would like me. Vincent always consoled me. He told me that he liked me because I didn’t hide my hobbies, because I didn’t hide my natural charm. He said that it is more pleasant to know that a person really suits you than to try to meet someone else's expectations.
Could the gentleman really say something like that? To be honest, I couldn't imagine it, so I subconsciously gave her a suspicious look. Luckily, Violet was too immersed in fond memories to notice.
“That’s what I liked about Vincent.” I wanted to be with him because he saw the real me, not the one trying to live up to standards. That's why I was so happy when, still so young, I was chosen as his bride. This meant that I could spend the rest of my life with him.
-...
“I didn’t care whether Vincent treated me as a friend or as a member of his family. I will love him, my husband, with all my heart until love burns to the ground. Even if everyone turns against him, I will stand by his side, that’s what I decided.
The determination in her voice confirmed the seriousness of her convictions. There was not even the slightest doubt on her face. She was beautiful when she whispered about her love. The girl who expressed her love in this way was so charming that one could go blind just by looking at her.
– But these were just words that I could accept him in any way... In reality, Paula, when I found out the whole truth about Vincent’s condition, it was only for a moment, but... I hated him.
The radiance emitted earlier faded. Violet smiled as if she was ready to cry immediately, and her shoulders slumped again.
- I'm such a terrible person. If I had been more perceptive, I would have realized that something was wrong with Vincent. I was so happy to see him that I didn't pay attention to his problems. It must have been difficult for him because of my appearance. He was probably scared... I didn't know this and continued to act stupid, asking why he didn't date me. I don't deserve to be his wife.
- This is not true.
“A good wife should have hugged him calmly, without betraying her confusion.” I had to tell him it was okay, that I still loved him.
I immediately shook my head. Her reaction was natural, and even I, without any experience in this kind of thing, understood it. I'm sure Vincent understood too.
“Miss Violet, if I may, I don’t think this is a situation where anyone is right or wrong.” You had no way of knowing that they were hiding something from you. It would be easier if you noticed it earlier, but I don't think you can be to blame for your own ignorance. It seems to me that your reaction was natural.
- Is it true?
- Certainly. Honestly, what's more surprising is how carefully everything was hidden. As a person who observed what was happening from the outside, I can say that if I had not known about the gentleman’s condition, I would not have suspected anything either.
When I added that he even trained, she shook her head animatedly. When Violet asked for more details, I told her about all the preparations - from walking and lifting a cup of tea to the manner of communication - and she smiled sadly, saying that it must have been hard work.
I was able to dispel her sadness.
“What I'm trying to convey to you is that you shouldn't blame yourself, Miss Violet. Honestly, it felt more wrong to hide everything from you since you are Vincent's fiancée. So you can be more selfish. Like I said, sometimes ignoring other people's feelings brings good results.
– Can this really help?
I nodded my head confidently. Of course, before this everything did not work out as we would like, but they need to meet again. If you make an effort for the sake of another person, then I believe that everything will work out.
“Do as you wish, Miss Violet.”
- Do as I want...
Violet whispered this quietly, looking up at the sky. Lights lit up in her violet eyes. After some thought, a determined smile appeared on her face.
- Yes. I want to be selfish. Greed is normal. If this way I can meet Vincent, then I will do it. I want to be close to him.
She turned her radiant face towards me. Her beautiful hair fluttered in the wind.
– I need your support.
Her eyes were full of determination. No, she was just beaming. I couldn’t take my eyes off Violet, who was inflaming her love more and more. Violet was already beautiful, but the way she looked, willing to go all the way to meet her lover, was simply amazing.
Will I be the same if I love someone? I smiled bitterly when I thought about it. I will never have such a person.
The hands of a noblewoman, my age, are always smooth and beautiful, but mine are so rough and worn. But you can’t change your appearance, so there can’t be anything bright in my life.
- Yes.
This time I was ready to lend her a helping hand.
* * *
From that day on, Violet became more persistent. She knocked on the door and called him, but he still did not open. Violet didn't give up and was willing to wait as long as it took.
Ethan told me that today he had to strain to calm Violet, who was about to skip dinner and run to Vincent's room. He also did not give up trying to convince Vincent, but to no avail. This is not a problem that could be solved by force and coercion.
– Maybe you should talk to her, at least once more?
He smiled faintly, and I couldn't help but smile back.
I hesitated, watching Vincent eat, and then slowly spoke again.
“Sir, would you like to meet Miss Violet?”
- Stop it.
He immediately interrupted me. He put the bowl he was holding on the nightstand without eating even half of it.
- I have no appetite, so take it away.
I caught him when he started to lie down on the bed.
“Miss Violet said she would accept you regardless of your condition.”
- Enough.
“She won’t give up and will continue to stand at the door.” She'll faint there.
- Stop! Shut up. This is an order.
Vincent grabbed my wrist. His decisive voice was different from what I had heard before. He strictly warned me not to cross the line.