The Count's Secret Maid (7)
Then Lenika held back her tears as best she could, trying to maintain composure despite the shock. After observing her, I came to the conclusion that this was not the first time she had experienced something like this. That day I never found words that could console her.
Lenika looked cheerful when she came out to see me off, which contrasted with her state in the past days. But I knew what sadness was hidden behind that smile.
“I want to warn you that you can’t trust anyone here.”
You can't trust anyone... Not even Vincent? I shook my head, lost in my own thoughts. He made a promise. When Vincent said that he would definitely find me and return me to the estate, I did not notice a hint of a lie.
The carriage started moving. I stared out the window at the receding mansion. When I first arrived here, this luxurious building seemed both stunning and alien to me, and Vincent, the owner of these lands, was in my eyes a crazy sufferer. Every day that I worked here was fraught with risk to my life. Then I met his entourage and talked with some of the nobles...
In general, a lot happened during this time. Now all this has become part of precious memories. At the same time, I couldn’t help but worry about Vincent, because now he was left completely alone.
– Will a new maid come to replace me?
I took my eyes off the window and looked at Isabella, sitting opposite. She poured tea and handed the cup to me. The warmth of the hot tea pleasantly warmed my hands.
“I decided to take on your responsibilities,” said Isabella.
- You?
- Yes. The master gave orders that we should no longer search for a new maid.
“I will bring you back. I promise".
Vincent's words were truly sincere. He's really going to get me back. To be honest, I was overcome by doubts, but now, remembering this promise, I was overwhelmed with emotions. But at the same time, there is a feeling of regret. I'm already starting to miss the mansion.
I leaned against the window. The carriage rattled incessantly, because the forest road was very bumpy. I drank tea periodically to relieve some of the stress.
My eyelids were getting heavier. Isabella was telling me something, but the sounds were already barely reaching me. Gradually my vision became clouded, and I fell asleep.
Then I woke up.
I straightened up, leaning on the window, and looked around. Before I had time to really come to my senses, the carriage stopped.
Have we arrived yet? I think I closed my eyes for just a moment, but I can't say for sure. An empty cup rolled under my feet. I must have fallen asleep with the cup in my hands and it fell to the floor.
The door opened and Isabella appeared in front of me.
- Come out.
I grabbed my bag and went outside. It was already dark outside. The sun was high when we left the estate, but now it was night. Have I been asleep for so long?
When I peered into the surroundings, I realized that we were still in the forest.
-Where are we?
– In the forest near the Bellunita mansion.
- What?
Indeed, as she said, a mansion was visible nearby. This means that while I was sleeping, the carriage made almost no progress.
What's happening? I looked at Isabella with a questioning look, and she calmly answered:
– Paula. Listen carefully. There is a path here, and if you follow it, you will come across a small village. Spend the night at a hotel, and the next day head to a safe place. It would be better if it was some big city.
-What are you saying?
– Soon there will be a person who will “take care” of you.
The icy expression on my companion's face at these words allowed me to correctly interpret the meaning of the word "take care." Isabella tried to remain cool, but it was obvious that she was nervous.
“I want to warn you that you can’t trust anyone here.”
Lenika's words played over and over in my head. I swallowed and spoke as calmly as possible:
- Did my master really order...
Isabella shook her head decisively.
– We unquestioningly follow the orders of our master, but sometimes we act at our own discretion. In particular, the management of servants is solely my competence. Paula. Why do you think they kept you in the annex? Why was there no one around, and only a few servants came to run errands?
-...
– Because sooner or later everything comes to an end.
Isabella spoke these stunning words so naturally, as if they were rehearsed lines that she had been practicing for a long time. As sad as it is, I immediately understood everything. I've already heard some rumors.
“You were going to get rid of me from the very beginning.”
- This is a precautionary measure.
“Did you do this to everyone who served your master?”
– Only if such a need arose. Not everyone suffered a similar fate.
“Then why are you doing this to me?” Why me?! – I didn’t even notice how I started screaming.
It's not fair. I worked harder than anyone else, and quickly adapted to life with the Count. During the time that Vincent spent with me, significant changes occurred in him. Too significant. Obviously, for the most part, these were the results of my efforts. Isabella knew this well.
Moreover, I was not even fired, but was sheltered on the orders of the master. Then why should I go through this?
“Because the gentleman acts exclusively in your interests,” Isabella stopped all comments, piercing me with her gaze. “My master became obsessed with a simple maid and acted unreasonably.” This doesn't bode well. The butler reasoned that your existence had become a potential threat. It doesn't matter whether it's right or wrong.
- Why... he is also a servant after all...
– The butler is the only one who can act on behalf of the count. In addition, he is a man who has proven his loyalty to the Bellunita family through many years of service. Will this answer suit you?
People who are lower in status than the master, but have similar power to him: The Butler and Isabella. Wasn't that what Lenika meant?
The butler must have planned this all out from the beginning. The reason why a rich-looking elderly gentleman came to a small village and chose a young girl from a troubled family as his new maid was so that he could easily get rid of her at any time. The bag filled with gold coins that was given to my family implied exactly this situation.
-Are you going to kill me?
- I was going to.
- Were you planning to? So you changed your mind?
Isabella sighed. Only then did I notice the body lying behind her. The coachman was lying on the ground and sleeping without his hind legs. Hanging from his hand was a cup similar to mine.
My gaze moved back to Isabella.
– Paula, I'm actually grateful to you. You were able to console the gentleman. Thanks to your efforts, he was able to smile again, leave the room and meet with friends. The once quiet mansion came to life again, filled with sounds. As a maid of this mansion, I want to express my sincere gratitude for all of this.
When Isabella finished her speech, she handed me a small bag. I continued to stand motionless, and then she hung it around my neck, hiding it under a layer of clothing.
- Enough for a while.
– What do you mean by this?
- Run away.
My eyes widened in surprise. What?
“That’s all I can do for you,” Isabella said firmly.
I looked again at the snoring coachman. Apparently she acted on her own initiative. I was confused.
- But why are you taking such risks?
- Yes, if you get caught, it will be bad for me.
- Then why...
Isabella lowered her eyes. There was silence, interrupted only by a light breeze wandering between us.
– Paula. Women, maids like you and me, often face discrimination and humiliation. Instances where we are treated worse than men are not uncommon. But I believe that such an attitude cannot be taken for granted. You've done more than enough. This is my way of rewarding you.
-...
- Run as far as possible. And never come back.
Isabella looked around. She warned that there was little time left. Her sincere gaze forced me to hurry. My eyes stung. I clutched the bag tightly in my hands and bowed deeply. She was the first person I met in the mansion, and now she was the only one who helped me in such a difficult moment.
“Thank you,” I expressed my sincere gratitude.
I turned on the spot and ran away.
Every step I took was accompanied by the rustling of leaves, brushing against my ankles, thighs, waist, arms and cheeks. I ran nonstop, pushing through numerous bushes.
Without hesitation, I followed the path that Isabella showed me. I don’t even know if I was racing along the right road, but I had no intention of stopping. As I ran, I quickly realized that the leaves were rustling not only under my feet.
Someone was following me. It was eerie to hear the chase right behind you. Left? Right? Frightening sounds, like hallucinations, came from everywhere. Scary. The sounds seemed to be getting closer and trapping me.
“Soon there will be a person who will “take care” of you.”
Is this the one Isabella was talking about?
“You were there when Lucas was attacked. I don’t know how things are now, but sooner or later James will get to you. If he finds out everything, he won't let you go. You are the only witness."
Vincent warned about James's possible intentions.
Questions arose, and there were too many of them. Why is everything happening so fast? What should I do now? Just when I decided that I would try to live happily, so many dangers befell me. But all I could do was run away.
Actually, that's what I was doing right now. I also tried to suppress the growing panic.
- Ugh! Ha-ah... Ha-ah...
I'm exhausted. The bag in my hand seemed too heavy to lift. In addition, holding it while running was problematic: it was slippery, perhaps due to my sweaty palms. Fiddling with my bag while running led to the fact that I did not notice the stone under my feet, tripped and fell to the ground. It hurt, but I immediately jumped up because there was no time left to cool down. The knee I hit was throbbing and wet, obviously with blood.
"Save."
"Someone help."
I was unable to cope with the surging anxiety. I was already thinking about hugging the tree and calling for help. Scary. Terror ran through my entire body. As tears welled up in my eyes, I saw that I was approaching the edge of the forest. Hope pushed me forward.
At that moment, when I was almost out of the bushes, I was blinded by a bright light.