Chapter 16
16
- The Baron family's Strange Guest (6)
"It's impossible."
"Still, there must be a way."
What would be good, I thought, but in truth, no particular idea came to mind. Show them you're trying. What does 'trying' even look like? It's too difficult.
Should I show them I'm eating well, sleeping well, and pooping well? No, even if I try, if they don't see it as effort, then it's not 'trying' after all. So, I have to show effort that the other person can understand... It felt like a word game.
"There isn't one. Not unless I can see."
"See... Ah!"
I clapped my hands. Why didn't I think of that? There was a very easy way. No, he already told me.
"That would work."
"What?"
Vincent looked at me like I was talking nonsense. I met his gaze and smiled happily.
"I can't. It's impossible."
"You can. Here, your hand."
I reached out to touch him even a little more. But he didn't move. I urged him again. Hurry. Then he hesitantly reached out his hand, and the moment it touched my fingertips, he flinched.
After a few tries, his outstretched hand finally came to rest on my palm. I held it tightly, afraid he would run away again.
"It's okay. I'll hold on tight."
Ethan's idea of showing effort. I didn't know exactly what it was, but I decided to think simply. I got a hint from what Ethan said when he made the bet in the study.
'If the maid can get Vincent to come out of his room even one step, I'll grant you a wish.'
So, he wants to see that. Then I'll show him. The sight of him walking out of his room alone, without anyone's support, like when he could see.
Of course, it won't be easy.
That's why I was coaxing and cajoling Vincent like this.
I took a step back. He didn't move. I took another step back, but he only leaned his upper body forward and didn't take a step. I stepped back again. He lowered his eyes and finally got out of bed.
The sound of his foot hitting the floor was like the sound of an angel's trumpet.
"Slowly, take one step at a time, like a baby taking its first steps."
"Don't exaggerate."
Even as he said that, he looked determined just to take one step.
Vincent hesitated for a moment, then took a step with a stiff face. I followed him, taking a step back, and pushed aside anything that might get in the way of his movement.
"Yes. You're doing well."
"I didn't injure my legs."
"Still."
He hesitated and took one step, then another, and at some point, he started walking quickly. I glanced behind me and guided him towards the door. His steady steps soon brought him to the door.
"See, it's not hard, is it?"
"Don't treat me like a child."
Stubborn. I know you're scared.
He was holding my hand so tightly that it was tingling. But I know how much courage it took for him to walk out. His room was very large, and the distance from the bed to the door was quite far. It was a short distance for me, but it must have been a long time for him.
"You did well."
"Are you going to be satisfied with just this and go back?"
"I think so."
Of course, I wasn't sure. Vincent looked very uncomfortable at my answer and reluctantly turned around. But he stopped abruptly and didn't move. I wondered why and looked at him, and he had a look on his face like he didn't know which way to go.
"You can go this way."
Even though I took his hand and led him, he didn't move.
"What's wrong?"
"I can't do it."
"You were doing so well a moment ago."
"That's because you were holding me. Look, I can't even walk without you."
The confidence disappeared from his face. He looked like a lost child. He was clearly bigger and more impressive than me, but in my eyes, he looked weak like a child.
That must mean his condition is that unstable.
"Master. I somewhat agree with Christopher. You can't live like this forever. I was hired knowing your condition from the start, but can the other servants never know? What about the other people who know you?"
Words spread before you can even hold them. If a servant working in the mansion secretly enters the Separate Residence and happens to see Vincent's appearance, if someone among the servants in this Separate Residence leaks the word out, the rumor will spread in an instant. Then people will try to find out if the rumor is true or not.
"Someday, there will come a moment when everyone knows your condition. Will you still stay in your room like this then?"
"...Okay. I get it, so stop nagging."
"If you understand, then that's good."
"You're a maid, but you talk too much unnecessarily."
He ran a hand over his face and groaned. I took his hand and walked him back to the bed. And I led him to walk to the door again.
After doing that two or three more times, Vincent seemed to get the hang of it. He became a little more confident in taking steps. So, I changed the method this time.
"From now on, I'm going to let go of your hand in the middle."
"What?"
"Don't make it too difficult. Even if I let go of your hand, just keep walking straight."
I turned his stiff body and took him to a position where he could reach the door if he walked straight. And I took his hand again and led him forward. His steps were heavier than before.
"I can't do it."
"You can do it. Now, shall I let go?"
"Wait. Don't let go yet."
He shook his head quickly. I took a step back and glanced behind me. When I had walked halfway across the room, I asked again.
"Is it okay now?"
"Not yet."
So, when I walked a little further, I asked again.
"How about now?"
"Not yet."
How long are you going to keep saying 'not yet'? We're almost at the door.
"I'm going to let go now."
"Wait—!"
As I relaxed my grip to let go of his hand, he grabbed my hand tightly. I glanced behind me and said.
"I'm going to let go."
"Wai—!"
I ruthlessly let go of his hand and quickly stepped back.
His steps stopped immediately. His eyes, filled with anxiety, darted around. His hands followed. His face stiffened with tension as he realized I wasn't there.
I told him to keep walking, but he quickly lost his way and floundered around. I made a loud noise and stepped back two steps.
"This way, Master."
"Where, where are you?"
"Here. This way where you hear the sound."
He turned his head following my voice. But he didn't move easily.
"Just walk straight, Master."
"I can't go."
"You haven't even moved a step yet."
"I can't do it."
"You can do it. You didn't injure your legs."
I stretched out my hands for him to come. He was still hesitating. Just one step, but he couldn't muster the courage to take it.
The wait was long. Vincent couldn't move easily. He was licking his dry lips with his tongue and continuing to hesitate.
I quietly waited for him like that. For him to muster the courage to take one step, and to gain confidence in that one step. This was something he had to overcome alone.
"Don't worry. If you fall, I'll catch you, Master."
To do that, I put all my strength into my legs. So that I could dash out at any time.
Vincent didn't say anything. The longer his hesitation, the more anxious I became. I was worried that he might really give up and say he couldn't do it.
But at that moment, he took a step.
And one step, then another. He slowly began to approach me. I deliberately stomped my feet on the floor and stepped back.
"Yes, you're coming well."
I widened the stride of my steps as I walked backwards and stood outside the door in an instant. He was carefully walking, gauging the direction with the sound of my footsteps.
I stretched out both hands with all my might. I leaned my upper body forward so that I could reach him quickly at any time. My eyes were only focused on him.
He, who was walking carefully, soon reached the door.
Now, there was only one step left.
"The door is right in front of you."
He reached out his hand towards me. His large upper body leaned forward. I also leaned my upper body forward to greet him. But at that moment, he stepped on an object he hadn't cleared away and slipped.
His body tilted. At that sight, I unconsciously tried to take a step closer, but he suddenly lifted his face. Clear emerald eyes looked straight ahead. As if he knew I was there, he reached for me.
Don't move.
It felt like he was saying that. I stopped the foot I was about to step forward with.
He quickly took another step to regain his balance. And he staggered forward again. His large hand reached out towards me again. I also stretched out both hands towards him. His body brushed past the door and came towards me.
I hugged him tightly.
"Master!"
The moment he was in my arms, his knees buckled. I barely caught his body as he lost strength and collapsed, and my nose bumped into his shoulder. Soon after, there was a thud! and a tingling pain shot through my butt.
But that pain was soon forgotten. The warmth filling my arms came first.
"Haa, haa."
Rough breaths lingered in my ear. His sweat stained my neck. His hand was gripping my back. The trembling in that hand, the tension in his body, was conveyed to me. And only then did I realize that he had walked out of the door alone.
A surge of emotion welled up. I sniffled my stuffy nose for no reason and patted his back.
"You did well. You did really well."
I repeatedly whispered as if soothing him. Vincent buried his face in my shoulder and quietly caught his breath. Golden hair poked my cheek. It was a ticklish sensation, but I rubbed my cheek against his hair instead. Knowing the emotions he must be feeling now, I couldn't move.
We sat on the floor like that for a long time.
