The Count’s Secret Maid - Chapter 19

Ethan took off his coat and wrapped it around Paula’s shoulder. He was kind at times like this.

 

“Ma’am, Vincent shouldn’t live like that. He looks like that now, but he is the head of the family of Count Bellunita. We can delay it for a while, but eventually, the story about Vincent will spread to the world. If he stays like this, it will only bring him anger in the end. When the truth is known, nobles will be frantic to bring Vincent down from the Count position.”

 

“The master is trying.”

 

“It’s not enough. He has to work harder. At least enough for him to stand alone. He’s the one who has to walk alone someday.”

 

The light of the lamp shone on Ethan’s face. In the subtle light, a serious face took on a sad glow.

 

“Vincent knows. That he can’t go on like this. Even knowing that, he is turning away. It can’t be like this. A life without change is like stagnant water. How can you be the only one standing still when the years pass and the surroundings change? You have to accept that change whether you like it or not. I don’t want Vincent to die.”

 

“You’re cruel.”

 

“If my being cruel leads to Vincent changing, I will be. At least I think he needs someone like me now.”

 

“You’re also kind.”

 

Ethan turned his head. His agony could be seen in his shaky eyes.

 

“It means that you will claim to be a bad guy for Master. That’s how much you care about Master. You’re sweet.”

 

“Vincent is a blackmailer.”

 

“That’s true.”

 

It was a way of saying, “Let’s admit what we need to admit.” Then Ethan smiled lightly.

 

“But you said we were friends.”

 

“I did.”

 

“Then your master will know why Sir Christopher chose to do that. Since we’re friends, I think you know how it feels.”

 

Ethan took care of Vincent’s condition, cared for him, and made himself the bad guy so that he could change. Paula couldn’t call it a great act, but it was true that there was pure concern in it. Looking at him, she seemed to have a vague idea of what a friend was. He was someone who could feel that they were there for each other without them having to express it outwardly, and that was what a friend was. He showed it to her.

 

She thought Vincent might have felt the same way. He must have reacted to Ethan’s threat to the extent of swinging his cane at him because of that feeling. Like the nightmares he suffered from every night, there was hidden consideration that he did not express.

 

“And I agree with that to some extent. He can’t live like this forever. As a servant, I also hope that my master will change.”

 

She stopped talking.  Was she really hoping for it? She was hired to wait on Vincent. But if he overcame the present and changed… Wouldn’t she disappear from this job, too?

 

Then, she laughed. It was such a far-off story that it hadn’t hit her yet.

 

“Do you think Vincent will change?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“You’re confident.”

 

“Because it’s something to be confident about.”

 

He was changing little by little…

 

“And I thought about it again, and I don’t think so.”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“I mean, you are a bad guy. Because a really bad person doesn’t say he’s bad.”

 

The really bad people believe they are right and didn’t know their own faults. The people around her did it all the time. They all knew they were good and great. So they took it for granted to bully and use others.

 

Ethan asked with a blank look on his face.

 

“…Why do you think so?”

 

“Other servants said Sir Christopher was a very good person.”

 

Then he frowned right away.

 

“In fact, I think you being the bad guy is more accurate.”

 

‘Honestly, what you’ve shown them is nothing short of a villain, right?’

 

When she shrugged her shoulders, Ethan narrowed his eyes. There was a laugh of joy. The laughter was unusual.

 

“Have you thought about your wish?”

 

“A wish?”

 

“If you got Vincent to take a step out of the room, I said I would grant you a wish.”

 

‘Oh, that’s what I said.’

 

Paula remembered the bet with him that she had forgotten for a while.

 

“Ask me for anything. I’m quite capable.”

 

Ethan said willingly. So Paula pondered for a while and reached out her hand to him.

 

“Then please become partners with me.”

 

“A partnership?”

 

“I mean, let’s have a relationship where we help each other.”

 

Paula felt like she was going to meet him again for some reason. It was not impossible because he was a friend of Vincent. Weren’t bad relationships stronger? She didn’t think it was bad to have him on her side. He didn’t have a good personality, but he knew a lot about Vincent. Besides, wasn’t he confident in his abilities?

 

Ethan blinked at her fingertips. Paula reached out her hand more towards him.

 

“I want to stay here for a long time. Please help me a lot.”

 

“Why?”

 

“Because I have nowhere to go back to.”

 

“…”

 

Ethan pondered for a moment. Then he nodded and held her hand as if he had made up his mind.

 

“It’s not bad because we’re helping each other.”

 

A wave of approval and Paula tightened her grip on him. He held her hand firmly together, too.

 

“Ma’am has acquired a great ally. There are few people like me who are capable, have a solid family, and have a good personality.”

 

“…That is a great honour.”

 

“You don’t have a lot of sincerity in your words.”

 

“I do.”

 

He smiled again when she pretended to be innocent. Paula let go of his hands and looked out the window again. The moon, which was sprinkling light in the dark, was especially pretty tonight.

 

The next day, Ethan, who was leaving the annexe, was sent off by Isabella. Vincent certainly didn’t come out. Ethan, who wore a top hat like the first time Paula saw him, greeted Isabella briefly and approached Paula.

 

“I’m sorry to have made you suffer.”

 

“It’s alright.”

 

She wanted to scold him for doing it knowingly, but she held it in because she had an eye for it. Ethan laughed mischievously, knowing how he felt.

 

“Ma’am had been so nice to me, so I should come often.”

 

Paula waved her hand behind Isabella’s back.

 

‘Go away quickly already.’

 

Ethan laughed briefly at her.

 

After saying goodbye, Paula suddenly remembered what she wanted to ask while watching Ethan trying to get in the car. She took the liberty of approaching him quickly.

 

“Hey, Sir Christopher.”

 

He looked back at her as he was getting into the car.

 

“Did you send letters to your master often?”

 

“Letters?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Well, I’m sure you’ve sent it quite often lately.”

 

“Oh, then…”

 

After a moment’s hesitation, he continued.

 

“Did you write a letter in gold ink?”

 

“…”

 

Ethan blinked. Paula swallowed at his silence.

 

Was he really that guy? Who exchanged letters with her?

 

‘The branches of the tree have sprouted.’

 

Paula remembered what he said the other day. He said it in passing, but it lingered in her mind for a long time because it was the contents of a reply she wrote one day. In fact, it wasn’t a very special word, but since he came, the letters written in gold have stopped coming. So she thought maybe.

 

But he shook his head.

 

“No, I wrote it in black ink.”

 

“Really?”

 

“Yes.”

 

It was a firm answer. Paula showed signs of disappointment.

 

“I see.”

 

“Is there a problem?”

 

“No, it’s nothing.”

 

She shook her head with a grimace. Ethan gave her a quizzical look, but she tried to turn his words around. Then Ethan smiled insignificantly and got into the car.

 

As she turned her head while watching the car leave, she saw Vincent standing in front of the window on the top floor of the mansion. But the curtains were drawn closed straight away. After looking at the window where he was standing for a while, Paula also turned around.

 

But soon after, Ethan came back to the mansion with another guest.

 

* * *

 

The golden letters, which had stopped coming for a while, arrived again. This time it was sent alongside a small barrel. It contained tea leaves.

 

[It smells good]]

 

It definitely smelled good. It had a subtle and sweet scent.

 

‘Would it be better for him?’

 

So, with Isabella’s permission, she brewed some tea leaves and took them to Vincent.

 

“It’s the black tea sold in Nobelle.”

 

“How did you know?”

 

It was written on the tea leaf container as Nobelle, and she was amazed when he recognized it right away. Vincent, drinking the tea, opened his mouth.

 

“It’s something I enjoyed drinking. Where did you get it?”

 

“It was a gift.”

 

“I see.”

 

Seeing him drink the tea again and again, it seemed he really liked it. He was given a nice present. She poured tea into the empty teacup beforehand and thought that she should bring it out every time he were to have a temper in the future. She should reply by saying ‘thank you very much.’

 

“Next time, just a punch. So it can be closed.”

 

He said, looking at the empty window over the door. She didn’t know why he would wake up and break it every time. However, the culprit drank the tea regardless.

 

“Useless worries. If Ethan comes by next time, don’t let him in here and kick him out. You can have someone kick him out.”

 

“What?”

 

It was a sudden order. Vincent’s expression was so calm that Paula thought she was hallucinating.

 

“Why? Master, don’t you want Sir Christopher to come?”

 

“No.”

 

She had asked lightly, but the answer came back immediately. Why on earth? Of course, Ethan threatened him, but until yesterday, it was overshadowed by the way they were bickering and replying to each other’s letters. That was weird. He said they were close friends. But why did Vincent hate him so much? Ethan knew about his condition, so Vincent wouldn’t have to hide himself.

 

As if there was a reason.

 

Vincent seemed to sense that Paula was suspicious.

 

“It’s not that I don’t like Ethan.”

 

“Then what?”

 

“I hate that family.”

 

“You mean the Christopher family? Is there a reason?”

 

He put down the teacup with a rattling sound and handed it to Paula. She took the cup carefully. He tossed the sheets over himself and collapsed onto the bed. A pair of slightly lowered eyes sank deep between the dishevelled golden hair.

 

“Master?”

 

“It’s not a big deal.”

 

“…”

 

“It’s the family that made me like this.”

 

The shocking confession continued so calmly.

***