The maid was left alone (5)
-What's the matter?
- I'm shocked! I was walking home when this old man came up to me and began to insist that I become his mistress! He said that he had his eye on me for a long time, that I was beautiful, and patted me on the shoulder. I got goosebumps. I told him no, but he was so insistent that I barely managed to escape from him!
Alicia's face looked tired. That old man must have been really very annoying if she was so tired. Alicia should have returned from the barn a long time ago, and I was worried about the lack of news.
Running her hand through her disheveled hair, Alicia suddenly sighed heavily.
- How did I end up living like this...
It was sad to see her depressed with her shoulders slumped. But I knew Alicia's inner essence, so her appearance did not have much effect on me.
“If I had known that everything would turn out this way, I would have married the lord’s son.”
“Then why didn’t you come out?”
“I didn’t think he’d suddenly marry someone else!”
Alicia often talked about the times when I wasn't around. And often she talked about the lord's son, who followed her everywhere and confessed his love. But one fine day he suddenly married someone else. On his beautiful bride.
This was a blow for Alicia, and from then on everything went wrong.
“He followed me around and said that I was the only one for him, you bastard!”
“That’s because you didn’t give him an answer right away.”
– You can’t rush with such things! It is wrong to immediately respond to an offer!
-You just didn't like him.
- In general, you are right. He was too fat for me, am I right?
Alicia shook her head, but I didn't agree with her. Yes, he was a little chubby, but that only made him look cuter. And his love for Alicia made him even more charming. He was so spoiled that he knew nothing about the world. But if you think about it, this could simply be mistaken for naivety. Plus, considering the wealth he was about to inherit, he was too good for Alicia.
“I would marry him if I could.” I can't believe he left me and married someone else.
- You yourself are to blame for this.
- Hmph!
Alicia snorted, completely refusing to admit her guilt. Her nose lifted even higher. This is what she does when people give her advice. I glanced at her, which said that I was tired of her shamelessness.
– Stop thinking about stupid things and start working hard. It will be better for you.
“You can live in squalor and alone, but I can never live like that!”
I said nothing.
– By the way, has anything strange happened to you lately? – I asked.
- What? What's happened?
“A man just came up to me and offered me a job. Well, you know, it's a little strange, isn't it?
I deliberately said this sentence casually and thought about those two people in black clothes again. Given Alicia's appearance, it's entirely possible that they approached her with a job offer.
But after a moment's thought, she shook her head.
- Yes? I've had a few guys hit on me, but nothing like this. Why did they approach you? What's happened? Will you take on a new job?
- No, I don’t need it.
- Why? What's the matter? Is something wrong?
- Nothing, go to sleep. You have to work tomorrow.
- What? Well, tell me!
Alicia, who couldn't help but ask questions, kept up. I’m used to this attitude, and I turn away, not paying attention to the irritated exclamations behind me. If nothing happened, Alicia doesn't need to know the details.
“Oh, they also asked me about you,” I said.
- Who?
- Well, in the place where I go to remove ashes, there is a guy who works, remember?
- Oh, that ugly little guy?
Alicia immediately remembered Johnny. One day, when I didn’t finish work on time and was late, she went to meet me. That's when Johnny saw her, and since then he begged me to introduce him to her.
I nodded, and Alicia tossed her long hair over her shoulders in irritation. She crossed her legs, threw back her head, and her posture became arrogant.
Still, she seemed pleased that someone asked about her.
– What did he ask?
- He asked how you were doing.
- Hm. And he has a trained eye.
- Then maybe you can meet him?
-Are you crazy? Why do I need this freak?
I expected this. I wasn't surprised because I knew she would answer that way. I muttered that I understood and turned to wash myself, ignoring the grumbling behind me.
I just have to leave it at that and stay calm.
But when has life ever given me a break?
The calm did not last long.
Several days passed. I, as usual, returned home. In the distance, Alicia ran towards me. As I approached, I noticed that she was excited. With a smile on her face that wasn't often seen, Alicia hugged me.
- Little sister!
- Why... Why do you suddenly say that?
Alicia very, very rarely called me sister. While I stood there in disbelief, Alicia said excitedly.
– I got a job with the count as a maid!
- What?
My eyes widened and Alicia laughed happily and pulled me into a hug. She rubbed her face against me, jumped up and down, expressing her joy with her whole body, and everything in my head went dark. I couldn't understand a word she was saying.
I quickly pushed her away.
– What, for God’s sake, do you mean when you talk about working for the count?
“Some people were looking for servants to work for a noble family. At first I was a little suspicious of them, but after listening to the story, I realized that they were not planning anything bad, and the conditions were very good, so I agreed.
-...
– You should go too!
Alicia grabbed both of my hands.
- This is a chance! A chance to leave this dirty, poor life and start over with a clean slate. A chance to woo a nobleman and arrange your life!
Looking at her beaming face, I fell into a stupor again. I quickly came to my senses and mentally listed everything Alicia had said so far. But the more I thought, the more ominous my premonition became.
I swallowed hard and grabbed Alicia, who was still jumping with joy.
- Wait, wait. Was it two men in black?
- A? Do you know them? – she asked in surprise.
- No.
- What?
- No. Absolutely not. No way. There's no way we're going there.
I shook my head. I said “no way” several times. Then the smile disappeared from Alicia's face and her eyes became fierce. Despite the change, my position remained firm.
- Why suddenly?!
- Because it's dangerous. In general, what were you thinking when you agreed? Are you crazy?
- Don't worry. They are not dangerous. Remember that girl who used to clean out the manure in the barn? The one who suddenly quit her job? She quit her job to go there! It's definitely safe there.
- You won't work there. Don't even think about it.
I shook my head again. Even if it was as safe as Alicia said, I couldn't help but doubt it. No, is there any point at all in recruiting servants for an aristocrat like this? They understand what kind of trouble this can cause, right? I can't understand them. Even if they reveal their identities, it can still be dangerous. Who knows what might happen if we take this job.
- No. I'll go.
But Alicia didn't back down.
- No way.
“Who are you to tell me what to do?” Don't interfere!
– Did I tell you why I came back?
“You said that you ran away from your noble master because you were almost killed.” И что ты едва спаслась, и за тобой охотились. And that since then you have not stayed anywhere, fearing that you are still being pursued.
- Right. My master was also a count.
Alicia clenched her jaw. She understood what was going on. I sighed and spoke calmly and coldly.
- Refuse them. Don't leave and don't ignore...
– I don’t want to live like this! – Alicia shouted. Her face instantly turned red with anger, “My nails are broken, my hair is a mess, there are cuts all over my body, my legs are so swollen that I can barely walk.” I don't want to live like this anymore! I'd rather be there, even if it means putting myself in danger!
- Alicia!
– Why should I try on your experience?! Just because you went through it doesn't mean I will too. There's no reason why I can't go there!
-...
She was right. So right that I was speechless. Her eyes turned red. She looked at me with anger.
“I don’t want to live like you, and I don’t intend to, even if I have to die.” You are vile, ugly and disgusting.
The words that came out of her mouth pierced me like sharp needles. These words are always said to hurt. I know Alicia is beautiful, so when she says that about me, it hurts.
“I think it will be better for you if you stay here and continue living your shitty life.” And I will go there and start a new, real life!
Again I can’t say anything in response. This time she is not going to back down. I knew better than to try to dissuade her.
I took a deep breath under her piercing gaze.
Alicia and I were not ordinary sisters. She was the most unpleasant of my siblings and was ashamed of me. She didn't even want to pretend that we knew each other because I was ugly. Besides, I was often compared to her. I realized that it was better to pretend that we were not related.
We were together only because we had no one else left. In fact, we could survive alone, we could separate and go our separate ways.
In a way, this moment could be my chance to let go of everything that was hanging on me like a dead weight, like shackles, and find my own life.
- I...
Now I can put it all aside.
- I want to say...
But deep down I knew that I couldn’t let her go alone. She was my sister, my last blood relative, the only one who could prove to me that I was alive. Without her, I wouldn't exist anymore. There would be no one to spit on me after death.
It wasn't even about family ties. It was only about myself. Now I was experiencing indescribable grief.