Chapter 17
# 17
17. The Baron family's Strange Guest (7)
After that, it was practice, practice, practice. Vincent, who had been timid at first, began to walk out confidently at some point. As he kept walking, he seemed to know what was around him.
However, walking alone was still not easy. Despite his initial success, he couldn't reach the door on his own after that. He kept falling in the middle.
The problem was that he lost confidence when he fell. Sometimes he cowered in horror, and sometimes he couldn't move for a long time, his hands on the floor.
Where was his fear-stricken gaze fixed? Terrified, he crawled onto the bed and covered himself with the sheet, as if trying to hide.
"......Someone's there."
"There's no one here but me and you, Master."
"Don't lie. There was always someone there. Trying to kill me."
The past had left him deeply scarred. Only then did I understand why he had been cooped up in his room. He wasn't afraid of walking. He was afraid of going outside the room. Afraid that someone would rush at him and try to kill him, that fear consumed him every moment. Covering himself with the sheet and trying to hide was probably his way of protecting himself.
"Master, how about thinking of it this way? Right now, you're on an adventure. Through the pitch-black darkness. You don't know what's ahead, what will appear. So it's really scary, but if you stay still, you'll have to stay in that darkness forever."
"......"
"Originally, adventure requires courage. Now is the time to summon that courage. Don't worry. You have a voice that only you can hear by your side. It can be a companion on your adventure, a friend, a family member, anything. You're not alone, even if you can't see them."
"If they kill me......"
"Trust me. That will never happen. That's what I'm here for."
I took his trembling hand. I embraced his cowering body. I wanted to help him gain courage.
"You don't sound very trustworthy......"
If only he didn't say such hateful things.
Fortunately, Vincent quickly regained his composure. He became quite confident in walking alone. Now he reaches the door without falling in the middle. He still waved his hands in the air and walked awkwardly, but I admired him for not giving up.
"Just watch quietly."
"Try not to fall."
And I patted his back reassuringly.
"All done."
I untied the cloth around his body and gathered the cut hair in one place. Vincent touched his shortened hair. It was just a light trim, but it wasn't as bad as he thought. Neat, wasn't it? Of course, it would have been better if I had called a professional barber to trim it properly, but it was difficult given his condition, so I took the liberty of doing it myself.
"Did you have to go this far?"
"It looks good and neat."
After cutting his hair, it struck me even more. His appearance was definitely striking. He probably would have been popular with women. It was worth the effort of dressing him up.
"Bring me clothes."
"Ah, if it's pajamas, they're here."
"For going out."
It was a sudden request. But he didn't retract his words. I opened another drawer for the first time since coming here. Shirts, vests, coats, pants, ties, shoes...... Where are the shoes?
I rummaged through the room, gathered the clothes, and handed them to him. Vincent took off his pajamas and put on the clothes one by one.
Fully dressed, he was Vincent Bellunita, the Baron family. He really is a nobleman. Just changing his clothes completely changed the atmosphere. He's a bit thin, but he looks quite decent.
"Cane."
While I was staring blankly, he held out his hand. Cane? I snapped out of it and looked around the room again, found the cane, and handed it to him. He stood there quietly, holding it in his hand. He seemed to be trying to walk with the help of the cane. Anyway, he was ready.
I went outside and closed the door. After a while, Ethan approached.
"Where's Vincent?"
"He's waiting inside."
"Did he practice a lot?"
Ethan mischievously narrowed his eyes. He seemed to know what kind of practice Vincent and I had been doing. He's such a sly person.
"The weather is nice. It would be perfect for going out."
"It would."
"The buds have sprouted on the branches."
"Pardon?"
When I asked back in bewilderment, he just smiled. The smile I had seen so many times was strangely unsettling. No, it was as if something important was coming to mind.
Meanwhile, Ethan stood in front of the door. But he couldn't easily reach for the doorknob. I could see the tense look on his face. I could also glimpse the complex emotions within him. I waited for him to open the door.
"I'm worried. That nothing has changed."
"Find out."
"I have to."
Having made up his mind, he threw the door open. The solemn expression on his face gradually turned to surprise. Watching his reaction, I also looked into the room.
As expected, Vincent was standing in the middle of the room. He was using the cane to support himself.
Ethan blinked.
"Vincent?"
At Ethan's call, Vincent raised his head. His face was stiff. He looked fine on the outside, but I could see the tension hidden inside.
Vincent took the cane in his hand and began to walk towards us.
We had practiced several times. He even turned his body towards the door before leaving the room. So all he had to do was walk. I was worried that he might fall due to nervousness, but fortunately, Vincent walked confidently.
Vincent quickly reached the door. And finally, he left the room. Ethan, who had been watching the scene without blinking, spread his arms in emotion.
"Vincent!"
I heard a tearful shout.
I was thinking that his reaction was unexpectedly intense when Vincent suddenly raised his hand. He was holding the cane in that hand. Taking another step, Vincent swung the cane in his hand at Ethan.
It happened in an instant.
Ethan recoiled in horror, and I widened my eyes in shock. The cane, having lost its target, swung in the air and struck the hallway window.
Crash! The sound of glass breaking echoed. I checked the window in horror. The windowpane where the cane was stuck was shattered. Fragments of glass fell down. An eerie voice flowed over the gruesome scene.
"If you ever threaten me like that again, you're dead."
Vincent's gaze was directed forward, but it was as good as directed at Ethan, who was cowering below. Ethan slightly lowered the arms that had been covering his face and looked up at him.
"......I'm your friend."
"So you threatened me?"
"......"
Ethan, caught off guard, closed his mouth. Vincent took his hand off the cane handle and turned his body. Only then did Ethan get up and look at the broken window. After a moment of blankness, Ethan soon came to his senses and chased after Vincent, but Vincent spun around.
"Get lost."
With those words, the door slammed shut! I was dumbfounded by Vincent's actions, who even closed the door himself and kicked Ethan out.
Ethan stared at the closed door.
"He seems very angry."
"You state the obvious."
I pulled the cane out of the window. No, did he ask for the cane with this in mind? I was wondering what to do with the broken pieces when I heard laughter from somewhere. When I looked at the source of the sound, Ethan was grinning. He must have finally gone crazy.
"Yeah. That's Vincent."
He's definitely crazy.
I shook my head at his grinning face. Ethan knocked on the closed door with a bright face.
"Vincent, can I come in?"
Again, there was no answer, but Ethan threw the door open. Vincent was standing not far from the door with a look that asked why he hadn't left.
"Don't look at me like that. I have something to give you."
Ethan took something out of his coat pocket and handed it to Vincent. It was a letter. And he put it in Vincent's hand.
"It's a letter from Violet."
Violet! As the familiar name was mentioned, my gaze turned to the letter in Vincent's hand. He also looked down at the letter in his hand.
"You don't even reply to Violet's letters. She's very worried. I promised to deliver the letter instead of her stubbornly trying to see you, and I barely managed to appease her."
"How is she doing?"
"She's doing well. Healthy."
"That's a relief."
Vincent didn't open the envelope. He just held it in his hand before turning around. He's already found his way back to the bed after practicing a bit. Ethan followed Vincent.
"I promised to get a reply, so please write one."
"No."
"I can't give up either. Ah, Maid. Please get me some paper and a pen."
Ethan turned to me and said. I glanced at Vincent, who was frowning. I was curious about who the owner of the name Violet was, but I couldn't bring myself to ask, seeing Vincent's dissatisfied face. In the end, I bowed and left the room.
That day, Ethan managed to get a reply to the letter.
Late at night, I couldn't fall asleep. I wanted to get some fresh air, so I left my room. But at the end of the hallway, a light was approaching. It was Ethan with a lamp.
"Why aren't you asleep?"
"Christopher, what brings you here?"
"I couldn't sleep, so I was just wandering around."
"I couldn't sleep either."
I was going to go outside the Separate Residence, but I couldn't be bothered. Instead, I placed the lamp I was holding on the windowsill and opened the window. The light flickered as a cool breeze blew in. While I was staring blankly at it, Ethan came to my side and stood next to me.
"You're angry with me, aren't you?"
"Am I?"
"I gave you advice, but I ignored it."
Did he do that knowing that? Well, even so, it wasn't his place to apologize. It was natural for superiors not to listen to their subordinates.
"You don't have to apologize. It's okay."
At my reply, Ethan scratched the back of his head.
"I'm a bad guy, aren't I?"
"I can't deny that."
Then Ethan laughed. I laughed along.
The brief laughter was quickly cut off. Silence lingered in the hallway. I cowered at the eerie atmosphere.
