The Count’s Secret Maid - Chapter 15

“No.”

 

She was the least powerful person here. In terms of class, she was the lowest, too.

 

“Should I talk to Isabella?”

 

“She’s on Vincent’s side. I’ve already asked her several times, but she has been turning down my requests every time.”

 

“I will ask the master again.”

 

“No, don’t.”

 

Ethan waved his hand.

 

He sighed, but his face looked more energetic than before.

 

“If you knock on the door a hundred times, he will open at least once.”

 

“You are trying.”

 

“I have to try. That’s how my friend is.”

 

Then he suddenly smiled. Paula got goosebumps at his smile, which was fresher than a spring day.

 

His eyes looked somewhat strange, too.

 

What?

 

What’s wrong with him?

 

Paula rubbed her arm for no reason.

 

“I think it would be convenient if you fell in love with him.”

 

“Can I tell you in advance? I refuse.”

 

‘And even if you knocked a hundred times a thousand times, the closed door would never open.’

 

***

 

“Don’t tell me you slept here.”

 

Paula was horrified to find a figure crouching in front of Vincent’s door. The guest who came in yesterday was right.

 

‘No, I showed you the room for you to stay in, but why are you here?’

 

“Um, is it morning already?”

 

“Yes. Why are you doing that?”

 

“I thought that if I knocked all night, he would get angry and open the door, but I was wrong.”

 

Paula was dumbfounded when she saw Ethan stretching and yawning calmly.

 

‘Are you saying that you stayed up all night to open Vincent’s door now? 

 

It would be quicker to take the keychain from me and force it open.’

 

“Can I open it for you?”

 

She rummaged through the pockets of her apron and asked. Ethan widened his eyes.

 

“I said it wouldn’t work.”

 

“He will hate me, but he doesn’t like me anyway. It won’t change anything just because he hates me more.”

 

“I can’t let you go through such a hard time.”

 

Ethan refused again. It seemed like that’s what he said out of consideration for her, but, well,

 

“But you can’t keep standing in front of the door like this, can you? You don’t know how many days or months it will be until the doors open. As you know, the master is stubborn.”

 

At that, Ethan seemed to think for a moment, then shook his head.

 

“I’ll need to try more.”

 

“If you say so.”

 

She took her hand out of her pocket and turned around. Behind her, there was a knock at the door. She shook her head excitedly. The gentleman will come to his senses only when his fists become swollen. That door won’t open just because you are trying.

 

But Ethan must have realized that fact after a short period of time.

 

When Paula went upstairs with Vincent’s lunch, Ethan spoke with a puzzled face,

 

“May I ask?”

 

“Yes?”

 

Paula passed by him and put the key in the lock.

 

“Would he be very angry?”

 

“Stand by the door. Don’t come in.”

 

She can’t say no.

 

With a click, the door opened. In an instant, a stench filled her nostrils.

 

It’s strange, why was the stench terrible today…?

 

Paula frowned and went straight to the window and drew open the curtains. A bright beam of light illuminated the dark room. When she opened the window, a gentle breeze blew in, taking away the stench.

 

As she had instructed, Ethan stood quietly at the door.

 

Paula approached Vincent.

 

“Master, it’s time for lunch.”

 

“…Go.”

 

The voice was hoarse.

 

Maybe he had a lot of rest because he was asleep for a long time.

 

“Master?”

 

“…”

 

He was a person who normally didn’t answer well, but something was strange. As she approached, she pulled the sheet off and saw a sweaty face. The pillow was covered in vomit.

 

“Master!”

 

Paula pat Vincent on the cheek to wake him up, but he didn’t open his eyes. His condition was strange. When she turned around towards the doorway in surprise, Ethan immediately turned around. The sound of his footsteps running down the hallway echoed in haste.

 

Soon after, the attending physician came. He was wearing an unbuttoned shirt and crumpled trousers, and his shoes were not properly worn. The crooked glasses showed how urgently he was called.

 

“He has an upset stomach.”

 

“What?”

 

“You said he has been eating some food lately, so I think he ate too much. Eating more food than usual is bad for your body. It looks like he has been ill all night.”

 

No, how much did he eat?

 

No, how much did I feed you?

 

He didn’t have breakfast this morning. He said he didn’t want to eat it, so he skipped it because he didn’t want to move from the bed, but it was because he had an upset stomach? He couldn’t eat half of the meal last night, so she forced him to eat more, and he must have gotten sick after eating too much.

 

“He’s so… weak.”

 

“He has become very weak. You have to be careful.”

 

“…Yes.”

 

In the end, Paula was scolded by the attending physician. She sighed secretly as she bowed to him as he left after his treatment.

 

Even if you feed someone well, you’ll get scolded.

 

When she returned to the room after seeing him off, Ethan was sitting in front of the bed. His gaze was fixed on Vincent and did not leave even for a moment. But Vincent said nothing. Even though he knew who was next to him, he didn’t give Ethan a glance.

 

“Why are you so skinny?”

 

At the end of the silence, Ethan uttered a sigh.

 

“More than the last time I saw you… You look so dry. Take care of your health…”

 

Ethan buried his face in his hands and bowed his head.

 

It felt like he was looking at the deceased Count.

 

As he murmured, he seemed sad and didn’t know what to do.

 

But Vincent was calm.

 

“Go back.”

 

Ethan, who seemed to be catching his breath for a moment, raised his face again. Vincent’s eyes were still focused on the ceiling.

 

“Vincent. Don’t do this, come out. I will help you.”

 

“How are you going to help?”

 

“I will do everything I can. Anything.”

 

“Then can you give me back my eyes?”

 

“…”

 

“Can’t you? Then stop talking nonsense and leave.”

 

He was so cold.

 

It was a conversation that blatantly revealed hostility like a knife. Standing behind them, holding her breath while listening to their conversation, Paula secretly clicked her tongue. Despite Ethan’s concerns, Vincent’s attitude towards him was very sharp. With thorns sticking out all over his body, the only thing left to do was stab the opponent.

 

However, Ethan did not back down easily.

 

“How long are you going to hold out like this? There is a lot of talk in the world right now. It’s not that Count Bellunita was injured at a party and is recovering, but that he’s actually hiding something from something wrong using his body.”

 

“…”

 

“You can’t live like this forever.”

 

“What are you going to do?”

 

“Now you have to reveal yourself.”

 

“You’re telling me to die.”

 

“Vincent.”

 

“If Count Bellunita says he can’t see because he’s blind, this time, not the assassin, but the person who made me like this will bring a knife and stab me to death.”

 

Vincent snorted. Ethan shook his head.

 

“The person who made you like this must already know your condition.”

 

“…”

 

Vincent’s face, which was ridiculed at the sharp point, hardened. The sharpened eyes were still pointing towards the ceiling.

 

But there was no rebuttal. It sounded like he agreed with that statement to some extent.

 

There was silence again. Their misaligned gazes did not easily reach each other. Vincent shut his mouth. It meant he didn’t want to talk anymore.

 

It was meaningless time wasted.

 

Ethan sighed deeply, perhaps realizing that.

 

“Vincent. I mean… If you continue to do this, I intend to publicize your condition.”

 

At the shocking remark, Vincent turned his head away. His eyes widened rapidly, filled with shock. It was the same for Paula too. She forgot that she was pretending not to hear and looked at Ethan in surprise.

 

“Are you crazy?”

 

“Maybe.”

 

“Ethan!”

 

Vincent shouted ferociously. Even so, Ethan did not lose. A horrifyingly calm voice continued.

 

“Vincent. You are my dearest friend, and I don’t want to keep such a friend like this. This is not something that can be hidden forever, and we must prepare for what lies ahead. Don’t you know that too? Knowing that you are doing this is nothing but foolishness.”

 

“…”

 

“I’ll get you out of here no matter what, even if it puts you in danger. Living like this is like poison to you. Of course, your doctor will not care at all about the process.”

 

“Don’t talk nonsense.”

 

“We’ll see if I’m talking nonsense or not.”

 

Ethan jumped up from his seat. Vincent didn’t move at all. He seemed so shocked that he couldn’t even breathe properly. His hand holding the sheet trembled. Paula was worried he might have a seizure.

 

“Choose. Convince me or not.”

 

“…”

 

Silence followed the firm words. Vincent didn’t answer easily. He just glared at Ethan fiercely, and Ethan also looked at Vincent like that. For a moment, it seemed as if a light flickered between the two.

 

* * *

 

A guest came, and the work doubled. After serving Vincent, Paula headed to the guest room. She changed the pillowcases, bedspreads, and sheets and cleaned the room. Basically, all the rooms in the mansion were cleaned by maids for a certain amount of time to keep them clean, but since they haven’t been used for a long time, there’s quite a bit of dust in places you couldn’t see.

 

She wiped the dusty windows first. Ethan stared at her while she was doing so.

 

“How is Vincent?”

 

Paula rubbed the window with a dry towel, glanced at him, and replied.

 

“If you’re curious, why don’t you go and see him yourself?”

 

“I’d appreciate it if you could tell me.”

 

His smiling face was disgusting.

 

Paula sighed.

 

On the day when the advice was useless, Ethan finally left the room after turning it upside down. This time, seeing him leave with a determined attitude that he would never back down, Paula was at a loss for words.

 

“Show me. The way you want to try. It’s okay to leave it as it is, please make me feel safe.”

 

“You are stubborn, but I am impatient. I’ll give you two days.”[1]

 

Vincent’s fist was trembling. Blind, he couldn’t even get out of bed to try to stop his friend. Instead, he had a seizure. Paula ran to him and put a respirator in his mouth. His face, breathing in the squeaky air, was stained with misery.

 

It probably hurt his pride badly.

 

[1]: These two sentences are italicized to show that it was in the past! This was a conversation between Vincent and Ethan

 

***