Chapter 25
# 25
25. Tea Time with the Count (7)
“What the hell did you say?”
A voice suppressing anger flowed out murderously. I had nothing to say, even if I had a hundred mouths, so I remained silent. He let out a short, hollow laugh.
“It’s all over now.”
“V-Violet might understand.”
“Understand? Understand what? Would you understand if your fiancé became a blind cripple? How can you understand that? If we get married later, she’ll have to take care of her husband for the rest of her life.”
“……”
He was too right, so I closed my mouth again. I didn't mean to, but I was the one who fueled this situation.
A heavy silence flowed in the room. Vincent ran a hand over his face, and Ethan seemed lost in thought for a moment. In between them, I was just watching their every move.
“I don’t even want to see your face. Get out.”
“Vincent, calm down.”
“You get out too.”
Ethan sighed.
“Why are you being so frustrating? We need to find a way. What will change if you kick us out right now?”
“……”
“Why are you making it so difficult? We can just meet her.”
Vincent looked like he was hearing nonsense. I joined him. Receiving all the attention, Ethan calmly explained.
“Why? It’s not difficult, is it? Just pretend to see like you used to.”
“I couldn’t see anything back then like I can’t now.”
“But you could only see blurry shapes. You said you saw them as blobs of light. But you still had good conversations. You knew what they wanted and what their intentions were. The other person didn’t even know you couldn’t see them. You’re good at that anyway. Pretending to be okay on the outside.”
“So.”
“Let’s act like we used to.”
Ethan clapped his hands together. His smiling face was as light as usual.
“Are you kidding me right now?”
“Honestly, there’s no other way.”
Ethan shrugged. Vincent narrowed his eyes, but this time he didn’t argue and just sighed. I had no idea what Ethan meant by ‘used to,’ so I just looked back and forth between the two of them.
“You did that on purpose just now, didn’t you?”
“Yes.”
An answer came back immediately to my small whisper. Ethan, who said he deliberately reported my mistake, was so shameless. Did he do that to make it flow like this? I wanted to figure out what he was thinking, but he was the most inscrutable person I had ever met, so I gave up. Ethan just kept smiling.
“We’re getting hated together. I guess we’re a good partnership, Maid.”
No. He’s just someone who enjoys tormenting others. No, why is everyone doing this to me? What did I do so wrong? It’s so hard to work as a maid, really.
“I think I’m just going to quit.”
“Oh, don’t say that. I’ve only just become friends with Maid, I’ll be sad.”
“Why are you doing that alone? I’m not.”
I shook my head firmly and took a step to the side. Ethan glanced at me and came as close as I had moved away. When I took another step to the side, he followed me again. Then I moved to the side again, and he followed me again. Suddenly, a pointless squabble ensued.
Eventually, I stopped walking first.
“Thank you anyway. For helping me.”
Honestly, if he hadn’t stepped in just now, I would have been watching everyone else like a criminal. In that sense, I was grateful. Then Ethan shrugged.
“Don’t mention it.”
His light attitude seemed like consideration to ease my burden. Maybe he’s more thoughtful than I thought?
“But, Maid. Can I ask you something too?”
“Yes, go ahead.”
“Is the bangs on purpose?”
He pointed to the hair that covered more than half of my face. I instinctively grabbed my bangs. It was an intention not to show my face.
“It’s a pretty face, but it’s a shame.”
“You’re good at joking.”
“I’m serious.”
“Really? Really? Even if I burn your lips with a branding iron if you’re lying?”
He rolled his eyes from side to side for a moment, then covered his mouth slightly with his hand.
“I was talking about inner beauty.”
“You said face just now.”
“The inner self inside the face.”
“Thank you for your empty words.”
Cancel what I said earlier. He’s someone who can’t be serious at all.
I pressed my bangs tighter to my face and bowed my head. And I approached Vincent, who was ready. Vincent looked quite nervous. Just like when he was told to take even one step out of the room.
‘Why are you acting like a coward, unlike you? Don’t tell me you’re not confident? Has the great Count Bellunita, who’s been cooped up in his room, become as small as a bird’s poop?’
‘Shut up.’
‘So let’s do it. Let’s meet Violet, have a few words, reassure her, and send her back. I’ll direct it, and Maid will prepare it. You just have to act. Let’s make a perfect play. How about it?’
He subtly leads the other person in the direction he wants while poking at their pride. In that sense, Ethan was good at coaxing Vincent. And Vincent knew it, but he didn’t argue in the end. Silence contained affirmation.
The result was the current situation.
Now, this is the Reception room near his room, and it can be said to be the stage of the play. Directing by Ethan, preparation by me, acting by Vincent.
The content of the play is as follows. Vincent will call Violet to this Reception room. There, Vincent will sit on the sofa first and wait, then Violet will come in and sit opposite him. Then Vincent will bring up the conversation he has prepared in advance. It is important to keep the conversation short. If it’s long, you’ll get caught. So, after a short conversation with Violet, he has to make an excuse that he’s tired and leave the Reception room first. When he comes out, I’ll quickly take him to his room, and that’s the end. Of course, Ethan will also help him.
“Okay, the important thing is eye contact. You have to plant the idea that ‘I’m looking at you.’”
“I know.”
“Master, don’t worry. If you just make good eye contact, no one will imagine you can’t see. I sometimes forget when you throw things and get angry.”
“……”
“No, how angry did you get that Maid even forgot you couldn’t see? And why are you throwing things? It’s dangerous. You’re really too much. Don’t call yourself a gentleman anywhere.”
Ethan clicked his tongue. I gestured for him not to. Vincent groped around. It seemed like he was about to show what he wasn’t a gentleman, so I gently grabbed his hand.
“First, I’ll tell you where the teacup is. With your back straight, lean your upper body slightly, and the edge of the table will touch your palm. Like this.”
I put his palm on the edge of the table.
“And if you spread your fingers in that state, the teacup will touch you right away.”
As I said, when he spread his fingers, the teacup touched his fingertips. He then reached out a little more and hooked his fingers on the handle. After that, the movement of lifting the teacup and putting it to his mouth continued smoothly.
“You can fumble a little when you touch the table. Just don’t fumble too noticeably.”
“If you fumble with just your fingertips, it won’t be that noticeable.”
“But don’t tap too much with just your fingertips. That’s more noticeable.”
“If you move just a little, it’ll be okay.”
“Which beat am I supposed to match?”
He frowned and put down the cup. The clinking sound of the cup and saucer hitting each other was particularly grating. As the situation was, everything felt sensitive.
I looked at the position of the teacup, flower vase, and cookies. Put the flower vase in the middle, and match the distance when he leans his upper body, so the teacup would be better around here. The cookies should be next to the teacup, not too far or too close.
“Now, let’s make eye contact. Maid. This way.”
Ethan gestured to me. I wondered and approached him. He sat me on the sofa opposite Vincent. It was a position where I could face Vincent directly.
“Vincent, look this way.”
“Where are you talking about?”
“Straight ahead. I put a sofa in front of you. Violet will sit there.”
He turned his head following my voice. For now, the direction was vaguely right, but his eyes were wandering around. He didn’t seem to know where to look. I jumped up and grabbed his face, trying to make eye contact.
“Like this.”
He flinched, startled by the sudden grab of his face. Then he narrowed his brow at my voice. I didn’t care and adjusted the direction of his face.
“If you look straight ahead like this, it’s perfect.”
I let go of his hand slightly. His eyes were still looking elsewhere.
“Please look this way.”
As if answering my words, the emerald eyes that had been blinking gradually moved. The eyes that had been hesitatingly facing forward met my eyes.
He’s looking at me.
My heart sank in that instant.
Since I was making eye contact so closely, it felt like he was really looking at me. The slightly cloudy emerald eyes had Heterochromia, and the illusion that he was looking at my face contained within them. I unknowingly took a step back at that illusion.
