“I heard the sound of your cane.”
“You heard that? Before, you didn't even notice me coming in.”
“Was that so? Lately, my hearing has gotten clearer.”
That was only natural.
When someone is shut away in a place where they can see nothing, the rest of their senses gradually grow sharper.
It isn't just hearing; the sense of smell strengthens, and touch becomes far more sensitive too.
“Hmm, don't they say the sound you're eagerly waiting for is the easiest to catch? My Lord, perhaps you were waiting for me, weren't you?”
I cracked my usual joke.
I expected him to flare up and cut me off, snapping, What kind of nonsense is that?
Yet no matter how long I waited, Callius offered no retort.
“My Lord…?”
Why wasn't he answering?
When you leave a joke hanging, it gets terribly awkward, you know.
The silence stretched until I felt sheepish and began scratching the back of my head, only for him to speak abruptly.
“Yes, I was waiting.”
“Huh? What?”
I blinked in astonishment, unable to believe my ears.
Callius followed up with a grumpy mutter.
“…I've been thirsty for a while now, but I couldn't find the water pitcher. In the end, I didn't even get a single sip and just spilled it all somewhere useless. Where have you been all this time? Why were you so late?”
Ah, so that was it.
Only then did I understand why he was so on edge, and I hurried to explain my delay.
“It was lunchtime, so I got held up eating. I'm sorry.”
“What? Here I was nearly dying of thirst, and you were leisurely having your meal?”
“Well, I have to survive too, don't I?!”
How unfair.
At least let a person eat in peace, will you?
I walked over to the side table and picked up the water pitcher, most of which he had spilled.
Then I poured what remained into a glass.
“Here is your water.”
“No need.”
“Why? You said you were thirsty.”
“I said no need. …And as for you.”
His voice stiffened even further.
“From now on, eat your meals here. It's infuriating when you aren't around when I need you.”
“Here? You want me to eat here…?”
“Yes. So long as no one is by my side, just about anyone wanders in and out of my room.”
He paused briefly before continuing.
“No matter how pathetic I may seem, it's unacceptable for anyone to barge in without permission…”
"…"
He must have been shaken by what happened earlier.
It was true; even I hadn't expected Mary and Dorothy to burst in out of nowhere.
Besides, after the previous incident, they should have been strictly forbidden from entering.
On top of that…
Just as Callius said, the reason for their insolence was likely that, deep down, they looked down on their ailing master.
I needed to soothe his wounded pride.
I quickly spoke up to lighten the mood.
“All right, My Lord. I will be sure to report this matter to the head maid.
Is there anything else you require?”
“What I've said already is enough.”
“Yet you said my absence bothered you…”
“Ha.”
A scoff escaped him the moment he heard my words.
“It seems you've grown rather full of yourself. Mind your own conduct first.”
“Excuse me?”
“Just how negligent are you usually that women like them dare look down on you…”
He broke off suddenly.
“No, never mind. In any case, do your duties properly from now on. And don't neglect your attendance like you did today.”
He said it sharply, followed by the rustle of him tossing and turning in bed.
"…"
Neglecting attendance? That was completely unfair!
All I did was step away to eat.
I try to look out for him, and in the end, I'm the one getting scolded?
Unbelievable.
A few days passed after I reported Mary and Dorothy's actions to the head maid.
From what I heard, they had been transferred to work exclusively in the laundry room, spending their whole day washing clothes.
Their hands must be swollen red by now from the grueling labor.
‘Even though spring has come, well water is still freezing cold… I'd better be extra vigilant with my work.’
As I clenched my fist in quiet resolve, a faint yawn came from beside me.
It was Callius, who had been lying in bed all day long.
'…'
I observed him quietly for a moment, and seeing an opportunity, spoke up.
“My Lord, if you're bored, what do you say we take a little stroll?”
Even a healthy person is bound to fall ill if confined to a narrow room without moving.
‘He collapsed last time, but his condition must have improved quite a bit by now.’
If he could learn how to navigate his days in this pitch-black darkness, it would be all the better for him.
Yet Callius let out a quiet, mocking laugh.
“Take a stroll? How? I can't even take a single step outside.”
“Does a walk have to be outdoors? This room is vast. You can walk right here.”
Callius's room was easily the size of four normal bedrooms put together.
On my very first day at the estate, I had struggled immensely just to memorize the layout of this enormous chamber.
It was practically the size of a training ground!
“I can't see a thing, so how am I supposed to walk?”
A faint trace of fear lingered beneath his words.
It was an understandable fear.
His past attempts to move on his own had only led to tripping over furniture or colliding with walls…
In the dark, he had known nothing but pain and bruises.
Reliving those bitter memories only made him shrink back and hesitate more.
Yet if he never even tried, he would remain trapped in this darkness forever.
“This is your room where you've lived for fifteen years, isn't it? Even if you can't see anything, the image of it must still be etched in your mind.”
I had to break through his fear first.
So I began with the bed where he spent most of his day.
“My Lord, what is beside this bed?”
“I don't know.”
“Don't say that; think carefully! I'll keep asking until you give me the right answer!”
“Ugh, honestly…”
“Come on! What is next to the bed?”
“…A side table.”
“And what is on the opposite wall?”
“…A painting hanging on the wall, with a chair beneath it.”
“See? You remember everything! Since you know where everything is, there isn't a single obstacle in this room you need to worry about!”
I couldn't see his expression, but I could tell he was listening to me to some degree.
“You can take it slow. Just place your hand against the wall and make one full circle, picturing the position of each piece of furniture along the way.”
I kept coaxing him persistently, making it clear I wouldn't leave until he got out of bed.
Finally, he gave in and reluctantly rose.
I guided him toward the wall and had him rest his hand gently against it.
“Reach your hand out a little in front and keep it relaxed. If you tense up, you might hurt yourself if you bump into something.”
"…"
He didn't reply.
Tension seemed to have gripped him.
I completely understood his terror.
I had been the exact same way before.
And just as I had gradually adapted to my life with the help of others, I was certain he too could move forward if he tried.
That was why, if possible, I wanted to help him with everything I had.
“Here, hold on.”
I stepped to his left and naturally placed his hand upon my arm.
I expected him to recoil, but instead, he gripped my arm tightly, leaning on me for support.
‘…In the past, he would violently shove me away if my fingertips so much as brushed against him.’
A soft twinge stung the bridge of my nose.
For a brief moment, this difficult master even seemed a little endearing.
Hiding my feelings, I drew his arm forward.
Smoothly.
At that same moment, the sound of his palm gently skimming along the wall drifted through the air.
Leaning his weight into me, he began piecing together his memories of moving through the room, taking it step by step.
And when he completed a full circuit without tripping once…
I let out a cheer of unrestrained joy.
“My Lord, look! It was your very first try, and you didn't stumble even once…”
Thunk.
Suddenly, a weight settled atop my head.
Callius's other hand was resting firmly upon my head.
“…My Lord? I am not a walking stick for you to lean on.”
You can't just rely on me like that, you know?
