The Count’s Secret Maid - Chapter 16

But she couldn’t say that straight to his face.

 

“How are you?”

 

“That’s unexpected. I thought you’d be frustrated.”

 

“Did someone who knew that continue to threaten others?”

 

“Was it like a threat?”

 

“If the other person forces you to do something you don’t want to do, it’s no different from threatening.”

 

‘I know it’s arrogant, but let’s put it right, it was a threat.’

 

“Yes, it’s a threat.”

 

But Ethan had the nerve to admit it.

 

Bad guy.

 

“You’re a bad guy.”

 

“…”

 

He saw through her heart and narrowed his eyes. Paula pretended not to know and wiped the windows.

 

“I mean it, Ma’am. That’s why I came to this mansion. I couldn’t just watch idly on the side while my friend, Count Bellunita, fell apart. That’d be useless, to be precise.”

 

Paula sighed and looked back at him. Ethan went on.

 

“It may sound cold, but Vincent is in a position where he has no choice but to make that judgment. And this, before Vincent’s safety, is an issue that I cannot accept. I don’t want Vincent to do that. Before we are friends, we are also involved in the interests of our respective families.”

 

Ethan smiled slyly. He didn’t seem to be the same one who looked at Vincent’s condition and was sad until just now. He looked like a really bad guy. Does that mean he did it on purpose?

 

“I hope Ma’am will soothe Vincent well. So that he can get out of the room.”

 

“I have no energy to do so.”

 

“Well, I think you have a lot of power.”

 

“I’m flattered.”

 

Paula nodded and focused on cleaning the window again. There was a laugh coming from behind. She pretended she didn’t hear it and continued doing her job.

 

After cleaning the floor, she organized the cleaning tools. Then, she checked the time and headed to the study. It was to choose a book to read to Vincent today.

 

Ethan followed after her.

 

‘Why do you keep following me?’

 

‘Relax.’ 

 

He didn’t care if she showed any signs of discomfort. Eventually, Ethan, who followed her to the study, looked inside and asked.

 

“What are you doing here?”

 

“I’m going to choose a book.”

 

“Will you be reading it?”

 

“I’m going to read it to my master.”

 

Ethan opened his eyes wide. Paula went to the bookcase where the fairytale books were stored and looked through the titles. Last time, she decided to take everything in one box, but she had already read them all. It didn’t take long to read because the content was short.

 

Fortunately, Vincent left her to read her book. This has also been one of the changes. He didn’t say it was unconditionally boring as he had done at first, and he no longer acted like he didn’t want to hear it. He just listened calmly and pointed out her pronunciation and breathing from time to time.

 

“It’s too fast. I can’t keep up with it.”

 

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

 

“You have to read each letter clearly to understand. You have to imagine the story in your head to understand it. I want you to be able to draw the scene.”

 

“I’ll be careful.”

 

Reading by herself and reading to others was definitely different. Her eyes read letters faster than her mouth, all while drawing pictures in her head, and imagining. But he wasn’t. He had to gather pieces through her voice and imagine them as if he were putting them together as a puzzle.

 

She claimed to be able to read books simply because she could, but this was not an easy task either. It was rather a good choice to take a children’s book to tease him. She had to hear him point out dozens of times to tell her that short story.

 

“You’re going to read it to Vincent?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Does Vincent just listen…?”

 

“At first, he refused to, but these days, he listens quietly. I’ve read him a fairytale book before, but this time I’m thinking of making it a little different.”

 

“…”

 

She was going to switch out the fairytale books. So, as she was looking around at the books on the shelf above, the one where the children’s books were placed, she felt a tingling sensation on her cheek. When she turned around, Ethan was making a strange face. His face gradually became distorted and weepy, and the corners of his mouth twitched. At that moment.

 

“PUAHAHAHAHAHAHA!”

 

A loud laugh broke out.

 

Paula stared at Ethan with her eyes wide open. Ethan grabbed his belly and laughed.

 

“He, with that pride, foo-hoo, reading, a children’s book, haha. Puahahahahaha.”

 

Ethan crouched down and laughed. He didn’t stop laughing at her questionable gaze. Paula didn’t know what made him laugh so much, but she shrugged and looked away. What she had felt while watching Ethan so far was that he was a very strange person. And the inside of that strange person was originally difficult to understand.

 

The book she was going to read to Vincent today was before him. She carefully selected books by opening them one by one and inspecting the thick and dense letters.

 

“I think this would be good.”

 

Ethan, who stopped laughing before she knew it, took out a book and held it out. Looking at the title, she thought it was some kind of adventure story. It was not very thin or thick, so it seemed good to read it to Vincent.

 

“It’s a book that Vincent used to read when he was young.”

 

“Ah.”

 

Until just now, they have only been entangled in family interests. After all, it seems that a friend is still a friend. Seeing that Ethan knew Vincent’s tastes well, Paula bowed her head, thanked him, and politely accepted the book.

 

“Vincent likes adventure novels and that sort of stuff. He read adventure stories like crazy ever since he was a kid. Especially, he read stories about adventures in faraway countries. He doesn’t like love stories. He doesn’t even look at it as he finds it boring.”

 

“Thank you. I’ll refer to this when I choose a book.”

 

“I’m more grateful.”

 

‘What?’ 

 

When she looked up, Ethan was smiling affectionately, which was rare. It was not a glum look that was sent to seduce the other person, but a look of relief that contained pure joy.

 

“I’m glad that there’s a maid like you around him.”

 

‘What does that mean?’

 

“Reading Vincent a fairytale book.”

 

A fairytale book.

 

‘Why?’ 

 

He tilted his head, covering the laughter that was about to erupt again with his hand.

 

“What do you think, Ma’am? Can Vincent leave the room?”

 

“Well, how dare I understand the deep feelings of the master.”

 

“Shall we make a bet?”

 

It was a sudden suggestion.

 

‘Bet?’ 

 

When asked, surprised, Ethan continued.

 

“If you get Vincent to come out of the room, I’ll grant you a wish.”

 

Ethan took a step closer and held out his hand. Paula shook her head while staring at the hand.

 

“Sir Christopher. I don’t know why you’re telling me this, but as I just said, I have no power. I’m just a maid, how can I get my master out of the room like that?”

 

The room was his only resting place now. He was reluctant to step out of the room. No, he didn’t even get out of bed. Of course, he wouldn’t be able to live like that forever, but it was not easy to have such expectations.

 

“So this is a bet between the maid and me.”

 

He snatched her hand up. He didn’t change his countenance even when he held her humble hand. No, rather, it tightened as if he won’t let go.

 

“I want you to listen. For Vincent.”

 

“Why are you doing this to me?”

 

“I think you’re the easiest person here.”

 

‘What are you saying?’

 

She was annoyed and tried to shake off her caught hand, but he tightened his strength and refused to let go. The strong grip weighed on her skin and made her hands numb. She frowned at him.

 

“Let me go.”

 

“I want to count on you, Ma’am.”

 

“What if I refuse?”

 

“I hope you don’t. I want to remain a good person to the maid.”

 

Now he was giving a blatant threat. Even though she was embarrassed, he smiled as though nothing was wrong.

 

“Since it is a bet, there must be an assumption that I will win. Well, if I win, then…”

 

His eyes rolled sideways. He seemed to have been thinking for a moment, before looking at her again. With his rounded eyes, he left a kiss on the back of her hand as he did when he first came here.

 

“You’ll have to offer your head.”

 

‘D*MN.’

 

His hand pretended to slit her throat. The mischievous smile was the face of a gruesome villain.

 

‘Why me? Why me? I’m just a maid who came to serve her master.’

 

Ethan only smiled joyfully at her shocked face. Now his smiling face came to her horribly.

 

Who said he was a sweet man?!

 

He pretended to be friendly, but the reality was that he was an unknown person. She couldn’t understand why he had come all the way here and threatened Vincent to announce that he had lost his name, and why he offered her such a ridiculous bet.

 

Are you trying to help Vincent, or are you asking him to help you?

 

And the confusion led to Vincent.

 

***

 

“Master.”

 

Vincent remained silent throughout the book reading. Listening to her voice with his back against the wall, he was especially quiet today. She couldn’t see what kind of expression he was making because his face was covered by his hair. His drooping shoulders looked weak.

 

The book she brought with her was useless. Seeing him look weak also made her lose her strength.

 

“Master?”

 

She called out, but he still didn’t say anything.

 

“Cheer up. There must be a way.”

 

“…Don’t talk nonsense.”

 

Finally, a reaction.

 

But the voice she heard was so depressing. The look was unfamiliar. It was better for him to shout or get angry as usual. If he kept doing this, her heart would get weak.

 

“What doesn’t make sense about it? You can show us how hard you’re trying.”

 

“How can I show you that? Do you want me to show you how I fall on and feel the floor? Then I’ll show you as much as you’d want.”

 

“Master.”

 

“Forcing it. You’re just saying I am going to tell them about my condition.”

 

He covered his face with his hands. The shrunken body was aware of its condition and suffered.

 

Sadness engulfed him again.

 

“Don’t cry.”

 

“I’m not crying.”

 

“…”

 

Vincent let out a forceful breath. Paula was afraid that he would have a seizure again. He was vulnerable to shock, so it was true that she was worried whenever this happened.

 

‘You’ll have to offer your head.’

 

Moreover, it bothered her that the bet was made through Ethan’s pressure.

 

Eventually, after grunting, Paula turned her face to look at him. She quietly lowered to look at his face. A shadowy face was revealed. He wasn’t crying as he said. But his face looked pitiful.

 

“Let’s think of a way together.”

***