The Count’s Secret Maid - Chapter 9

“Ow, it hurts.”

 

Vincent was calmly changing his clothes when she stood up. He must have heard the sound of her falling, but looking at his calm face, Paula realized that he had intentionally moved away. She sighed down her rising anger.

 

She brought new bedsheets, but putting them back on was also a crisis. He never raised his b*tt, so bedsheets ended up with a rough patch.

 

She was tired of just this. Vincent, who had changed his clothes, was about to turn the dirty sheet over again, so she quickly took it and handed him a new sheet. Fortunately, he accepted the new ones.

 

All right, done.

 

Paula left the laundry by the door, returned, and organized the empty dishes. She wiped off the dessert he had dropped earlier and any traces of food left on the road. After organizing the items scattered on the floor, Paula finally started cleaning the floor.

 

Only the sound of a broom sounded in silence. Vincent was quiet. He probably knew she wouldn’t touch him anymore. It was a significant change when she remembered that he was screaming at first to get out.

 

“Why are you here?”

 

“What?”

 

He spoke suddenly. Paula was taken aback. She didn’t expect him to try to talk to her, who usually only said harsh things like “get out,” “get lost,” or “don’t touch me.”

 

Was he sick? But he looked pale and didn’t look sick.

 

“Why are you here? I’m asking.”

 

“…I have to make money.”

 

“Then will you go out if I say I’ll pay you?”

 

“Why? Are you going to pay to kick me out?”

 

“If I could.”

 

‘Do you want to brag about being rich? I really appreciate the proposal, but I wouldn’t be here doing this if it had been a problem that could be solved by itself.’

 

“Even if you kick me out, another maid will come and stay with you.”

 

“I’m going to kick her out, too.”

 

“Then another will come again.”

 

“You mean you won’t leave.”

 

“Yes.”

 

Paula moved the broom again. Vincent looked back at her.

 

“Do you like this mansion?”

 

“Well, I haven’t thought about it.”

 

“Then think about it. It’s not the right place to dream in vain.”

 

‘It’s a vain dream…’

 

Paula thought about it for a moment but then shrugged. She didn’t feel like honey either.

 

“Where are you from?”

 

“I’m from Filton.”

 

“If it’s Filton… you’re from quite a distance.”

 

“It’s not that far away. All you have to do is go over the mountain.”

 

There were times when Paula had to go further than that due to her father’s errands.

 

After walking for a few days and walking, her calves were swollen, and it was hard to walk for a while. But even if she wanted to rest because she was sick, her father and Alicia couldn’t have left her alone. Because she was the only one who could do housework.

 

So she felt more comfortable while she was away from home.

 

“It was amazing, and I felt like I was taking an adventure. Like the protagonist who goes on a mysterious and beautiful adventure in that fairy tale book.”

 

“Sounds like a dream.”

 

“That’s right. You can’t take such a beautiful adventure in real life. But it was good. When I was young, there was the oldest bookstore in town, and I worked there for a while. The old man was the owner of the bookstore, and I read a lot of fairy tales because of his consideration.”

 

“He made a child delusional when you were young.”

 

“Maybe.”

 

But Paula still liked books. As she got older, she didn’t enjoy reading fairy tales anymore, but she liked books with stories. Every time, it would be a story of a world she had never dreamed of, a world she didn’t know. It didn’t matter whether it was a lie or a truth.

 

Imagining the world in the book was the only joy of a young girl.

 

“There’s also a phrase I remember. When God creates you and grants you, your existence alone makes you drenched in blessing. All of them make your way forward.”

 

“Sorrow of love.”

 

“Have you read it?”

 

When asked in surprise, he answered lightly.

 

“It’s a famous book that even young children read.”

 

“I didn’t know that.”

 

“You have bad taste.”

 

“Is that so?”

 

“It’s not a good story.”

 

Yes, the ending was tragic.

 

The main character doesn’t die. It was just the end of abandoning everything and choosing to live alone. He let go of the person he loved.

 

“Ah, now it’s over.”

 

After the main character says so, the story ends as he walks alone in the vast sea. Rather than ending in death, the sight of him wiping away everything that had tormented him and leaving was rather attractive.

 

‘I want to say that if the end of my life comes.’

 

‘Oh, it’s over.’

 

“I rather liked it.”

 

“…”

 

Paula suddenly felt awkward after saying that. She wasn’t usually talkative, but she was glad that he talked to her. She continued, looking at his face belatedly.

 

“Master, do you have any books that you enjoyed reading?”

 

“I don’t read that.”

 

‘What do you mean by that…?’ 

 

Wasn’t that one of the aristocracy’s virtues?

 

Alicia also complained that she was tired of the contents of the books that the lord’s son read every time. Even when Paula worked at a bookstore, nobles often stopped by. Newly published books used to sell faster than other books.

 

Looking back at him, Vincent was lying there staring at the ceiling. She wondered if he was going to sleep with his eyes closed, so she stopped talking and concentrated on cleaning.

 

“I don’t read it since I can’t see.”

 

Ah, she looked back at him after a belated realization. His side view looked a little weak and shaky with his eyes closed.

 

“There are books that blind people can read.”

 

“Not all books can be read.”

 

“Then hire someone who can read them to you.”

 

“You’re talking about my condition here and there.”

 

Sarcastic again.

 

He was a very twisted person. Even if he had hired a reader, he would have kicked the person out for one reason or another.

 

‘Then you can ask the people around you who know the situation separately-’

 

‘Oh my god!’

 

“Do you want me to read it for you?”

 

Paula couldn’t hide her excitement for a moment.

 

This large mansion cannot be without a study.

 

‘Why didn’t I think of that?’

 

Then, when a suspicious gaze was fired at her, she thought it was a mistake. Paula tried to calm down her nervousness and pretended to be calm.

 

“Of course, if the master wants it.”

 

“With your pig-like voice?”

 

“… I’ve never heard of a bad voice.”

 

“I guess anything else is bad.”

 

“…”

 

He immediately caught the tail.

 

Paula thought of hitting him with the broom in her hand.

 

But she decided to take a step back. Now was not the time to confront, but the time to accept.

 

“You are tired of sleeping all the time. You don’t go for a walk, and you don’t get out of bed. So you get lethargic. People need to do something called life.”

 

“Don’t beat around the bush. What do you want to say?”

 

“Why don’t you read a book?”

 

“I can’t read it.”

 

“So I’ll read it for you.”

 

“I refuse.”

 

It was an answer without a single thought. Paula took a deep breath.

 

“I was wondering if you could get rid of your temper if you had a hobby…”

 

“Hey!”

 

“You don’t even think of it as a troubled user… Every time you shout and throw things, which is dangerous. Thanks to you, you hurt a pretty woman’s face… Still, I held it in and let it go… what’s so good about you?”

 

“Hey.”

 

“It’s sad. I’m sad.”

 

Paula wanted to do this as this was the perfect moment, so she put out all the complaints in front of him. His hand fumbled over the tabletop.

 

‘Yes, you had already thrown everything, and there was nothing more to throw.’

 

Soon after, she smiled happily as she watched him clench his fist.

 

“Now, my lord. Please listen carefully.”

 

Well, um, she cleared her voice. There was no answer returned. Besides, it looked like he was lying down on his back. But she opened the book with joy.

 

“It was a day when the warmth of the sun permeated my body.”

 

“It’s not fun.”

 

“The girl, yes?”

 

“It’s not fun. Something else.”

 

She thought he was sleeping, but his ears must have been open. She only read one line, but it was not fun.

 

“I’ve only read one line so far.”

 

“I don’t like that line.”

 

“Why don’t you listen more…?”

 

“Another one.”

 

“Then I’ll read another one.”

 

Paula calmly put down the book and picked up another one. Everyone has their own taste when it comes to books, and she didn’t know his taste, so she picked several books.

 

Paula cleared her throat again.

 

“The girl’s day starts with a walk in the garden.”

 

“It’s not fun.”

 

“…”

 

“Another one.”

 

‘I didn’t read a line, son of a gun!’

 

It had been a long time since she felt this angry. But let’s calm down for now. The one in front of her was the one who gave her money. She took a deep breath and suppressed her anger.

 

“Why aren’t you answering me? Something else.”

 

“Yes, that’s great. Something else.”

 

Paula put down the book she was holding and picked up another book.

 

“The boy-”

 

“It’s not fun. Something else.”

 

“Are you really going to do this?”

 

Eventually, she put the book down on her lap and burst into discontent. But Vincent was brazen.

 

“Is it wrong to say it’s not fun when it’s not fun?”

 

“You didn’t even listen to it properly and say it’s not fun.”

 

“Idon’t have to listen to it properly. That it’s not fun.”

 

“By what standards are you saying that?”

 

“Are you talking to me now? Dare to be a maid?”

 

“…”

 

She was speechless when he said so.

 

‘You’re so cowardly!’

 

“I don’t have any more books to read. I have to bring some more.”

 

“Then bring it.”

 

“…If you have a favourite book, please tell me. I will bring that book.”

 

“I don’t read again what I have read already.”

 

“Please tell me what you like. Genre or something.”

 

“No such thing.”

 

She let out a deep sigh. It was clear that he was seeking revenge for what had just happened. How can a person behave like this when the other person has done you a favour? Really childish.

 

“What are you doing? You didn’t bring it.”

 

Eventually, she got up from her seat.

 

Paula left the room with three books that she hadn’t even opened properly. The study was just downstairs. he was so angry that she went down the central stairs.

 

Let’s calm down. We need to calm down at times like this. It was the master’s temper, not once or twice, so she needed to be more calm.

 

She entered the library and looked around the bookshelves densely stacked with books, contemplating what kind of story he would like. In fact, it was clear that he would complain that it was no fun taking any book.

 

Still, she looked carefully at the bookshelf. Then her eyes got stuck in one place.

 

“This is it!”

 

She pulled out all the books from the bookshelf.