The Count's Secret Maid (6)
– I heard you are leaving soon. This is true?
- Yes, but not for long.
- Is it really not for long?
Lenika sobbed, and I didn’t take my gaze off her, as if asking: “What do you mean?”
– Paula, we haven’t known each other for very long, but I’m sure you’re a good person. At least you're one of those people who doesn't complain and works hard.
-What are you getting at?
“I want to warn you that you can’t trust anyone here,” Lenika’s words sounded too serious. They seemed to be pressing on my ears, and I couldn’t make sense of them. Fear settled in my heart, goosebumps spread throughout my body. I instinctively wrapped my arms around myself.
– As you probably know, the count’s mansion is a place where the servants are strictly monitored. Close relationships between a man and a woman are prohibited. This is one of the rules that everyone who works here must follow. This is because promiscuity creates problems. This has happened before, and here it is again.
- …
- You understand?
I still couldn't get the point. The question was on the tip of my tongue, but I didn’t dare say it out loud. Lenika seemed to read me like an open book, and her face was distorted as if it was about to burst into tears.
“Our every step is controlled,” she continued.
-...
– If you break the rule, then a probationary period is assigned, but if you do not correct yourself during this time, the end comes. They didn't disappear because they ran away together. During the probation period assigned by the butler, they again violated the ban and met secretly.
Lenika also added that their roommate snitched on them. If the offenders are exposed, the informer is awarded a reward. But then what do they do with the guilty?
“These two suddenly disappeared,” my friend continued to pursue her line.
-...
“And yesterday one of the servants said that, returning after completing an errand for the butler, he noticed suspicious individuals not far from the mansion. He doesn't know who it is: their faces were hidden, but it looked like a group of men. According to him, they were dragging something, something similar... to a person.
Lenika interrupted her story for a moment. It was already clear to me how the whole story ends. The silence that followed was interrupted by her sobs, and this only confirmed my fears.
“I am indebted to the missing maid.” She was so good. She said she was working here to pay off her family's debts. She always wore the bracelet that her mother made for her. Everyone knew about it - such a thing especially stood out. This bracelet was found at the very place where the suspicious gang stood.
I couldn't find the words.
“I don’t think it’s necessary to say who could do something like this.”
She's right. The maid and servant broke the rules and continued to arrange romantic encounters. Denunciations, strange personalities... someone definitely had a hand in this. But not Vincent, I'm sure. He doesn't care at all about the affairs of his subordinates.
– Paula, listen to me. Be careful and try not to stand out. I, like everyone else here, remain vigilant, and you should do the same. This is the only way to ensure your safety in this mansion. We are at the very bottom of the social pyramid, and even if one of us dies or goes missing, no one will care.
Lenika grabbed her apron and wiped her face. But no matter how much she rubbed him, the tears continued to flow.
- Don't forget. If a subordinate falls out of favor, then he will no longer see peace. I don't mean Mister. I think he doesn't care about people like us. But one must be careful with those who have similar power to him.
Lenika warned me with her face completely covered in tears. Seeing her like this was painful, but I didn’t even know what to say.
***
I had to leave the Bellunita mansion earlier than planned. All because a stranger showed up at the mansion. It happened at night when everyone was asleep. Security was tightened, but he was still able to get inside. Even now I don't understand how he managed to do it.
It was late at night, and I still couldn’t sleep, tossing and turning on the bed. Finally, I gave up trying to sleep and got up to drink some water. Suddenly I noticed a black shadow through a translucent curtain.
At first I thought it was my imagination, that my mind was playing tricks on me. After all, before that I left the window open to let in fresh air, but I couldn’t even think that someone would want to get in here through the balcony. When the dark figure became clear enough, I dropped the cup I had just felt on the table.
Bang! There was a crash in the room. As if on cue, I jumped up and rushed to the door. I didn't even have time to take a couple of steps when they grabbed me by the shoulder. I kicked, but it was all in vain.
I was forcefully pressed against the wall. I felt hands on my neck, and then they began to choke me. The next moment something flashed in front of me. It was difficult to see in the dark, but I was able to understand that it was a knife. He was so close that he was about to bleed me. I was so scared that tears flowed naturally.
This is how I will die.
At the moment when I was ready to fall into despair and resign myself to such a fate, the door opened. Both I and the criminal turned around at the same time. Vincent entered the room, feeling the space. Then his hands rose higher. He had a gun.
As soon as I noticed this, I didn’t think about how a blind man would even be able to aim or hit the target, all I needed was to break free, taking advantage of the chance. I grabbed the fingers holding my throat and twisted them. The enemy groaned and loosened his grip. I used this hitch and sank to the floor.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Shots rang out. Deafening sounds followed one after another. I trembled, holding my head in my hands.
The sharp sounds of gunfire and fighting mixed with each other. They continued for some time, but in an instant there was silence.
I couldn't muster up the courage to open my eyes. All I could do was shudder in fear, crouching on the floor. Soon I heard footsteps that stopped right in front of me. Someone lightly touched my head. I shuddered.
- Everything is fine.
I breathed a sigh of relief when I heard Vincent's voice and burst into sobs. Fear and relief filled my heart at the same time. I continued to cry, not even thinking about getting up. Vincent gently stroked my head in an attempt to calm me down.
The guards, hearing the shots, burst into the room. They started bombarding us with questions about what happened, so I quickly came to my senses and wiped away my tears. They had no way of guessing Vincent's condition. Fortunately, it was still dark, and Vincent calmly reported the intrusion.
Other inhabitants of the mansion began to run in response to the noise, so it was necessary to act quickly. I pulled myself together, and Vincent and I headed to his room.
As soon as we got inside, I collapsed on the bed. If before this my head was a mess, now it is completely empty. Everything that happened seemed like a dream. But the throbbing pain in my neck indicated that everything was real.
I was sitting there rubbing my neck, lost in thought, when I caught movement next to me. I looked back at Vincent trying to pour water into a cup, but he missed and it flowed past. Noticing the water running down his hands, I came to my senses.
- I'll help.
- Everything is fine.
Having found his bearings, Vincent slowly poured water, handed it to me and sat down next to me. I took a sip from the brimming cup. I think this was able to calm me down.
Drinking the rest of the water, I looked at Vincent, who was now groping around with his hands in search of a gun. I'm already familiar with this weapon. This is the same gun Vincent poked at me with during our fight. Mentally returning to past events, I only now realized how serious that threat was.
If a blind man starts shooting with a pistol, who knows how things could turn out.
What if it accidentally hit me?
It was too risky, even though I screamed to indicate my location.
Yet Vincent did not hesitate. His shots were confident and accurate. He once boasted about his shooting skills, and now I am convinced that these were not just empty words.
I sobbed, looking at him.
– How did you guess about everything so quickly?
– I heard a noise.
“Didn’t you say that the bullets had run out?”
- I never said that.
“Then why didn’t they shoot before?”
“If I shoot every time I’m not in the mood, they’ll think I’m crazy.”
I was struck by Vincent's matter-of-fact tone.
Soon Isabella burst into the room. She looked worried and hurried to find out if Vincent was hurt.
-Are you all right?
- Everything turned out okay. Judging by the draft, the stranger entered through the window. And this is taking into account that we have strengthened security around.
“The guards are now inspecting the room,” Isabella said, “we should question those who were on duty at the time of the attack.”
But it soon turned out that the entire guard had been killed. Those who were assigned to guard the mansion were considered the most experienced of all the available people in the county. If the killer could take down so many strong fighters on his own, I dreaded to imagine how dangerous he was.
The killer Vincent shot was found in the woods near the outbuilding. It turned out that when the attempt failed, he committed suicide by drinking poison. In the end, all the threads that could lead us to the culprit were cut off. But this, in fact, was not required - few people would hire a professional to kill an ordinary maid like me.
As soon as morning arrived, Vincent ordered me to leave the mansion immediately. Before leaving, as usual, I tidied up his room and took care of his daily chores. I also said goodbye to some of my friends from among the servants. The carriage arrived after noon.
(Note Per.: As we remember, in this world there are also cars. But here we are talking specifically about the carriage)
Vincent didn't see me off. He said that he did not want to prolong the goodbye because we would meet again. I agreed with this.
Instead, Isabella accompanied me. I climbed into the carriage first, Isabella followed me and sat opposite. When I looked at her, I immediately remembered Lenika’s warning.