The Count’s Secret Maid - Chapter 17

“It’s impossible.”

 

“There must be a way, though.”

 

Paula thought about what would be good, but she couldn’t really think up of anything. She wanted to show him what she was trying to do.

 

‘What should I try to show that? It’s difficult.’

 

‘Do I have to show him how to eat well, sleep well, and pack well?’

 

No, even if this side was working hard, if that side didn’t accept it as an effort, it would not be considered ‘working hard’. Then, you’d have to show effort in a way that the other person can understand…

 

Was this a joke?!

 

“No, I wouldn’t know because I can’t see.”

 

“You can see… Ah!”

 

Paula clapped her hands.

 

‘Why didn’t I think of that? There was a very easy method. No, he already told me.’

 

“That will do.”

 

“What?”

 

Vincent gave Paula a look as if she was speaking nonsense. Paula looked at him and smiled happily.

 

“I can not. Impossible.”

 

“You can. Now, hands up.”

 

Paula stretched out her hand to reach toward him a little more. But he didn’t move. She urged him again.

 

Come on. Then he reached out his hand, hesitating, and as soon as he touched the tips of her hand that was waiting, he shrank.

 

A few times, his hand stretched out again, barely coming up to her palm. She clasped his hand in case he ran away again.

 

“It’s alright. I’ll hold on to it.”

 

Ethan had tried in his own way. She didn’t know exactly what it was, but she decided to think simply. She got a hint from what Ethan said when she made the bet.

 

‘If you get Vincent out of the room at least once, I’ll grant you a wish.’

 

What he meant was he wanted to see it. Then she can show him. Walking out of the room alone like when Vincent could see using his eyes without being helped by someone.

 

Of course, it won’t be easy.

 

That was the reason she was doing this, to coax Vincent.

 

Paula took a step back. He didn’t budge at all. She took another step back, but he only stretched his upper body forward, not taking a step. She stepped back once again. He lowered his eyes and finally got out of bed.

 

The sound of his feet stepping on the floor was similar to the sounds of an angel’s trumpet.

 

“Slowly, walk one step at a time like a baby taking its first steps.”

 

“Don’t exaggerate.”

 

Even though he said those words, he looked determined even when he had only taken one step.

 

Vincent, who had been hesitant for a while, soon took a step with a firm face. Paula was ahead of him a step, pushing things aside that might interfere with his movement.

 

“Yes, you’re doing great.”

 

“I didn’t hurt my leg.”

 

“Still.”

 

He walked one step at a time, hesitatingly, but at one point, he strode out. Paula glanced back and led him to the door. Slowly walking, he quickly reached the door.

 

“Look, that was not hard, was it?”

 

“Don’t treat me like a child.”

 

‘Stubborn. I know you’re scared.’

 

Vincent held her hand so tightly that her hand felt numb. But she knew how much courage he walked out of the room with. His room was very large, and it was quite far from the bed to the door. It was only a short distance for Paula, but it must have been a long, long journey for Vincent.

 

“Well done.”

 

“Would you be satisfied with this and let me go back?”

 

“I think so.”

 

‘Of course, I’m not sure.’

 

Vincent turned reluctantly at her answer, looking very uncomfortable. But he stopped, standing tall, and didn’t move at all. When Paula looked at him, wondering why he was doing this, he looked as if he didn’t know which way to go.

 

“You can go this way.”

 

She held his hand and led them, but he didn’t move.

 

“What’s wrong with you?”

 

“I can’t do this.”

 

“You did a good job earlier.”

 

“Because you held my hands and lead me. Look now, I can’t even walk without you.”

 

Confidence disappeared from his face. He was like a lost child.

 

He was definitely a more significant and greater man than her, but now he only looked weak, like a child, to her.

 

That was how unstable his condition was.

 

“Master, I agree with Sir Christopher to some extent. You can’t live like this forever. I was hired with the purpose of knowing your condition from the beginning, but can the other servants remain unaware forever? What about other people who know you?”

 

Word spreads fast before you’d be able to contain and control it. If a servant working in the mansion sneaked into the annexe and accidentally saw Vincent, the rumour would spread in an instant if one of the servants of the annexe leaked it. Then, people would try to find out whether the rumour was real or not.

 

“One day, there will be a moment when everyone will know Master’s condition. Are you going to stay in your room like this forever?”

 

“…Okay. Alright, stop nagging.”

 

“If you understand it well, that’s fine.”

 

“For a handmaid, you talk a lot unnecessarily.”

 

He groaned, sweeping his face with one hand. Paula grabbed his hand and walked him back to the bed. And led him to walk to the door once again.

 

After doing that two or three more times, Vincent seemed to have a good idea. He gained a little more confidence in taking his steps. So this time, she changed the method.

 

“From now on, I’ll let go once we are halfway there.”

 

“What?”

 

“Don’t be too hard on yourself. Even if I let go of your hand, you just have to keep walking.”

 

Paula turned his firm body around and walked him to a position where he could reach the door. She took his hand again and led him forward. The steps now were heavier than they had been before.

 

“I can’t do it.”

 

“You can do it. Now, shall we let go of our hands?”

 

“Wait. Don’t let go yet.”

 

He shook his head quickly. Paula stepped back and glanced back. She asked again when she walked halfway across the room.

 

“Is it okay now?”

 

“Not yet.”

 

So when she walked a little further, she asked again.

 

“What about now?”

 

“Not yet.”

 

‘How long are you going to say “not yet”? We’ll be at the door soon.’

 

“I’ll let go now.”

 

“Wait a minute.”

 

Paula let go of his hand and he grabbed her hand urgently. She glanced back and said.

 

“I’ll let go.”

 

“No, please!”

 

She pulled away from him heartlessly and quickly stepped back.

 

He stopped walking immediately. His anxious eyes twirled wildly. It was followed by both hands aimlessly wandering in the air, looking for her. His face hardened with tension when he realized Paula wasn’t around.

 

Paula asked him to walk as he had done earlier, but he quickly lost his bearings and struggled around. She took two steps back with loud steps.

 

“This way, my lord.”

 

“Where, where are you?

 

“Here, to the side where I’m making this sound.”

 

Vincent followed her voice and desperately turned his head. But he didn’t move.

 

“You can walk as you are, Master.”

 

“I can’t go.”

 

“You haven’t moved a step yet.”

 

“I can’t do this.”

 

“You can do it. You didn’t hurt your leg.”

 

Paula stretched out her hands for him to come. He still hesitated. It was only one step, but he couldn’t quickly muster up his courage.

 

The wait was long. Vincent couldn’t move easily. He continued to hesitate, moistening his dry lips with his tongue.

 

Paula waited calmly for him like that. May he gather the courage to take a step and be confident in that step. This was something he had to overcome alone.

 

“Don’t worry. If you fall, I’ll catch you, Master.”

 

To do so, Paula put all her strength into her legs. So that she can run at any time.

 

Vincent was silent. The longer he hesitated, the more nervous Paula became. She was worried that he would give up because he really couldn’t do it.

 

But at that moment, he took a step.

 

Another step, and an additional step. He slowly began to approach Paula. She purposely stepped back, banging her feet on the floor.

 

“Yes, you’re walking well.”

 

She stood outside the door in an instant, widening the stride of her steps behind her. He was walking carefully, judging the direction with the sound of her footsteps.

 

Paula stretched her hands out as fast as she could. She stretched out her upper body so that she could reach him quickly at any time. Her eyes were fixed on him.

 

Vincent, who had been walking carefully, soon reached the door.

 

There was only one step left now.

 

“Right in front of you is the door.”

 

He reached for her. His large upper body was pushed forward. She also leaned out her upper body as she greeted him. But at that moment, he stepped on something she hadn’t cleaned up and slipped.

 

His body leaned. As she was trying to take a step closer to the figure, he suddenly raised his face. Clear emerald eyes looked straight ahead. He reached Paula as if he knew she was there.

 

Don’t move.

 

That was what he seemed to be conveying to her. Paula stopped her steps.

 

Vincent quickly took the other step and took centre stage. And he staggered forward again. A big hand reached out to Paula again. She reached for him, too. His body brushed past the door and approached her.

 

Paula hugged him as hard as she could.

 

“Master!”

 

His knees were bent as soon as he was in her arms. She finally sat on the floor and he hit his nose on her shoulder, barely preventing his body from falling down. Soon after, there was a dull pain felt in her back. But the pain was quickly forgotten. His body temperature in her arms was felt first.

 

“Hah, hah…”

 

The sound of heavy breathing lingered in her ears. His sweat smeared on the back of his neck. His hand was clutching at her back. The tremor in the hands and the tension in the body reached Paula. Then she realized that he walked out the door alone.

 

Emotions soared.

 

Paula sniffled and patted him on the back.

 

“You did a great job. You did really well.”

 

She whispered over and over to comfort him. Vincent buried his face in her shoulder and quietly caught his breath. His golden hair prickled her cheek. It was a tickling sensation, but instead, Paula rubbed her cheek against his hair. Knowing what he must be feeling, she couldn’t move.

 

They sat on the floor like that together for a while.

***