Chapter 12
# 12
- The Baron family’s Strange Guest (2)
“Isabella is still as beautiful as ever. Unchanged.”
“Ethan, you’ve become more manly since I last saw you.”
“Ah, you don’t have to flatter me. I’ve aged terribly.”
Ethan stroked his chin and sat on the sofa. Isabella gestured to me. I, who was standing holding a plate, quickly placed the tea in front of him.
“Thank you.”
He smiled kindly at me for such a small thing. It was strange that a man who looked high-ranking and dressed in luxurious clothes would be so kind to me, a mere maid.
“Vincent’s condition has gotten much worse since I last saw him. He wasn’t this bad the last time. How long has he been confined to his room?”
“About half a year.”
“Half a year… I see.”
Ethan smiled bitterly. There was worry in it. It was certain. Ethan knew about Vincent’s condition.
That he was blind.
If he knew something that was being hidden even from the servants here, then their relationship must be quite deep.
“Vincent is my friend. A very close friend.”
Perhaps I was staring at him too intently, because Ethan kindly added an explanation. I immediately lowered my gaze and bowed my head.
“I’m sorry.”
“Haha. You don’t need to apologize. I heard you’re new here?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm, you have a different feel from the maid I saw before…”
He looked at me as if assessing me. I became unnecessarily nervous and my body stiffened.
Fortunately, the topic quickly changed.
“Is Vincent still just staying in his room?”
“Yes.”
“His condition now… the situation just now speaks for itself. I heard the news. That there were a few more bad incidents after I left. I was away for a while due to business matters, and I was too complacent.”
“Ethan, you did your best.”
Ethan fiddled with his teacup and smiled bitterly.
“Isabella. I chose the family over my friend. That’s the truth. The timing wasn’t right either, but that’s just an excuse. I left, presuming that Vincent would be fine on his own. But I never wanted Vincent to end up like this…”
“Ethan.”
“I’ve never seen Vincent like this before. Not even when Baron Bellunita and the Baroness passed away in an accident.”
Ethan’s face darkened. It was filled with worry and sadness for his friend. It looked very strange to me. The way he felt someone else’s sorrow as if it were his own. Is that what friendship is supposed to be like?
What is this? He acted like he was all alone in the world and was scared of everything, but he had such a good friend. It’s a bit surprising that my awful master has a friend like that.
“Isabella, I must see Vincent’s face this time. If I go back like this, I won’t be able to sleep at night.”
“I will prepare a room for you to stay in.”
Isabella gestured to me. I nodded and left the Reception room.
“Does it suit your taste?”
“So-so.”
Vincent scooped up some Rice gruel and put it in his mouth. The noble dignity unique to aristocrats could be felt in his silent, leisurely chewing.
Recently, Vincent had started eating on his own. It was truly an amazing change. The day after that dreamlike night, when I handed him the spoon as a formality as always, he slowly began to eat the Rice gruel. I was shocked to see it.
‘W-What’s going on? You’re eating so obediently.’
‘If you keep shoving it down my throat like that, won’t I get tired? If I keep eating like this, I feel like I’ll choke to death someday.’
‘You’re quite the comedian.’
‘I’m not joking.’
It wasn’t that bad, I grumbled inwardly, but I couldn’t help but be moved by the sight of him eating the Rice gruel on his own. It was a similar feeling to when I tamed the stray cat that came to Mr. Mark’s bakery.
‘Are you perhaps not feeling well?’
‘Shut your mouth before I throw it away.’
His temper was still the same.
But it was still a touching change. However, the amount he ate was disappointing. Looking at the Rice gruel bowl that was barely half empty, I carefully suggested.
“Would you like to eat a little more?”
“I’m full.”
“Just a little more.”
“I said I’m full.”
Vincent frowned. Feeling disappointed, I smacked my lips and took the bowl.
“You need to take your medicine. Here.”
I took his hand and gave him the medicine bowl, which he also obediently drank. Good, good. I watched him with satisfaction. When he emptied the bowl, I took out a round thing that I had prepared in advance from my pocket. After peeling off the skin that covered the candy, I put it in his mouth.
“What is it?”
“It’s candy. You always say it’s bitter, so I thought it would be good to have it after taking your medicine.”
“Do you think I’m a child?”
In my opinion, he’s only grown up on the outside, but inside he’s still a child. Still, he doesn’t spit it out, so it must be bitter.
“What happened to that guy?”
“Who are you talking about?”
“The person who came this morning.”
“Ah, Ethan Christopher said he would stay here for a few days. He said he must see your face.”
At that, Vincent squeezed his eyes shut. It was the face of someone who had witnessed hell. Moreover, he rarely sighed and even rubbed his face with both hands. Seeing him like that, I was reminded of the guest from earlier. He seemed genuinely worried about him, so I couldn’t understand why he disliked him so much.
“Would you like to meet him?”
“No. Absolutely do not let him into my room.”
Vincent waved his hand and lay down on the bed. Watching him, I brought up something I had been planning to say for a long time.
“Master, you need to wash.”
“……”
However, he turned his body without answering. He didn’t seem to have any intention of washing, curling up as much as possible towards the wall. I stared blankly at his back, then slyly approached and flared my nostrils. Then I frowned.
I grabbed his arm, put it over my shoulder, and helped him get off the bed. Vincent, who had been dragged down in confusion, soon twisted his body. Until a few days ago, he would have shouted and gotten angry, but now he asks in a resigned voice.
“What are you doing?”
“You smell.”
I gripped his arm tightly. I couldn’t let go this time. It was a smell I had noticed since I first entered this room. At first, it was unfamiliar, and then I was too busy trying to please him to ignore it, but it had become familiar before I knew it. I had been bringing a wet towel to wipe his face, neck, and hands, but it wasn’t enough. Today, the stench emanating from him was making my head ache.
“When was the last time you washed? The stench is piercing my nose. If you can’t see, why don’t you get help from a servant to wash?”
“Stop talking nonsense and let go.”
“If you wash.”
As soon as I entered the room, I went to the bathroom in advance and filled the bathtub with water. I was determined to wash him today. Vincent flapped his arm that was over my shoulder, but it wasn’t difficult to subdue him, who had no strength. I gripped the arm around my shoulder tightly, put my other hand around his back, grabbed his waist, and led him to the bathroom. I say led, but he was almost being dragged. Even as he entered the bathroom and headed towards the bathtub, he resisted stubbornly.
When we reached the bathtub, I led his hand and had him grab the bathtub. He groped and grabbed the bathtub tightly. I could see his intention to flip it over his head. Surprised, I grabbed his wrist, but he resisted, refusing to let go.
I tried to pull him away from the bathtub, and he resisted, resulting in a power struggle. The power struggle that had been going on for a while ended when I lost my balance. However, since he still had one arm around my shoulder, he also fell forward.
Splash! With a sound, I sat down on the bathroom floor. Surprised, I turned around and saw Vincent stuck in the bathtub. Soaked, he had a surprised look on his face, then soon trembled. With anger.
“…Are you okay?”
“Y-You…”
I was speechless as I looked at him, who couldn’t even finish his sentence. I cautiously grabbed his arm, but he fiercely pushed it away. Then he tried to lift himself up by grabbing the bathtub directly. But he couldn’t get up because it was slippery due to the water, and he kept falling into the bathtub. Each time, the water splashed and soaked him. It seemed like he didn’t need a bath anymore.
“……”
Suddenly, his movements stopped. I nervously watched him, and then suddenly, the door opened. Soon, footsteps echoed and Isabella entered the bathroom. She stopped in her tracks when she saw me and Vincent in the bathtub.
A surprised look for a moment. But she was calm as always.
“Next time, it would be better to take off your clothes first.”
“……”
“I have something to tell you. I will take care of the rest of the caretaking.”
Then she looked at me. I took this as an opportunity, bowed my head, and quickly turned around. I picked up the pile of laundry and hurried out of the room. I’m alive!
“I heard Ethan came?”
Lenika, who had come to pick up the laundry, asked. Since we met once a day, we had become close enough to exchange simple conversations. I looked around at the things she had brought and answered.
“Do you know him?”
“He’s the master’s friend. And he’s the Second daughter of the Christopher family.”
“He must be famous.”
“He is famous. The family is the family, but he’s also good-looking.”
Lenika put her hand in front of her face and shook it up and down. Is he handsome? Well, he does have a flashy look. And he’s polite to servants like me, so.
“He seemed kind.”
“Yes, he’s kind. Why are people like us often ignored by superiors? But Ethan doesn’t ignore us and treats us kindly. So, he’s known as a very good person among the female servants.”
“I see.”
“I haven’t been able to see him up close yet. How great would it be if I could talk to him even once?”
Lenika covered her cheeks with both hands and giggled. Her face was filled with bliss as she imagined talking to Ethan.
“Ethan Christopher is staying in the guest room in the Separate Residence. If you want to see him, why don’t you come to the Separate Residence later? You might even be able to exchange greetings by chance.”
“Oh, no. We can’t go into the Separate Residence.”
Lenika waved her hand, telling me not to say such scary things. I widened my eyes.
