Chapter 54
54
54. The Baron family's Secret Maid (7)
Lenika, who was trying hard to hold back her tears, was trying not to lose her reason despite the great shock. Seeing her like that, I realized that this wasn't the first time such a shocking thing had happened. In the end, I couldn't even offer her a simple word of comfort that day.
Lenika, whom I met in the morning to say goodbye, looked cheerful, unlike a few days ago. But I know the sadness she's forcibly hiding inside.
'What I want to say is, don't trust anyone here.'
Don't trust anything, so should I not trust Vincent either? Then I shook my head. He promised me. He said he would bring me back to this mansion, that he would definitely find me. There was no lie on his face when he said that.
The carriage began to move. I looked at the mansion getting farther away through the window. When I first came here, the luxurious mansion was fascinating and unfamiliar, and the master was so ill-tempered that I suffered a lot. I was exhausted from serving him every moment, risking my life. Then I met his guests, mingled with the nobles...
A lot has happened. Now all of that remains as precious memories. At the same time, I was worried about Vincent, who was left alone in the mansion.
"Is a new maid coming to replace me?"
I took my eyes off the window and looked at Isabella, who was sitting across from me. She poured the tea she had prepared into a cup and handed it to me. It was warm when I received it.
"I've decided to replace you."
"You, Isabella?"
"Yes. The master has ordered that no more people be sought to serve him."
'I'll bring you back to my side. Definitely.'
What he said was really sincere. He's really trying to bring me back. I was honestly half-doubtful, but my nose tingled for no reason. At the same time, regret washed over me. I already missed the mansion.
I leaned my face against the window. The carriage rattled. The road wasn't good because we were going through a forest path. I sipped my tea and soothed my depressed heart.
Then my eyelids gradually became heavy. Isabella said something in front of me, but her voice sounded muffled. My mind became hazy, and my fluttering eyelids were soon tightly closed.
Then I suddenly woke up.
I straightened my body, which had been leaning against the window, and quickly looked around. The carriage had already stopped.
Have we arrived already? I feel like I only fell asleep for a moment, but I don't remember well. An empty cup was rolling around at my feet. I must have fallen asleep without even realizing I dropped the cup.
Then the door opened. Isabella looked at me.
"Get out."
At those words, I picked up my bag and got out of the carriage. It was already dark all around. It was bright when we left, but it was already night. Was I asleep for that long?
But when I looked around, it was still a forest.
"Where is this?"
"It's a forest not far from the Bellunita mansion."
"Yes?"
As she said, the mansion could be seen not far away. This meant that the carriage had barely moved while darkness fell.
Why? As I looked at her as if asking that, Isabella calmly continued.
"Paula. Listen carefully. There's a path over there. If you walk along that path, you'll find a small village. For today, stay at the inn in the village, and when it gets light, move to a safe place. The more people there are, the bigger the city, the better."
"Wh-What are you talking about?"
"Soon someone will come to get rid of you."
I could tell from Isabella's expression what getting rid of me meant. Although her attitude was blunt, her face was full of tension.
'What I want to say is, don't trust anyone here.'
Those words I heard from Lenika rang clearly in my ears at this moment. I swallowed hard and calmly opened my mouth.
"Surely the master wouldn't..."
Isabella immediately shook her head.
"We absolutely obey and follow the master's orders, but sometimes we handle things on our own for the master's sake. Especially the management of servants is entirely within our authority. Paula. Do you know why you had to stay only in the Separate Residence? Do you know why there was no one around you except for the minimum number of servants?"
"……."
"It's precisely for times like this."
Isabella was saying unbelievable things to me, as if reciting lines she had practiced for a long time. And, sadly, I understood immediately. Didn't I already hear the story?
"You were planning to get rid of me from the beginning."
"It was in preparation for the worst."
"Did you do this to the other servants who served the master until now?"
"If necessary. But that wasn't the case for all the dismissed servants."
"But why are you doing this to me? Why!"
I shouted without realizing it. I felt wronged and couldn't understand. I worked harder than anyone else and adapted well to life in the Baron family. Vincent changed while he was with me. It was a very big change. My efforts were definitely part of it. Isabella knew that fact as well.
Besides, I'm not being dismissed now, but temporarily hiding on the master's orders. So why do I have to face this situation?
"Because the master moved for you."
Isabella cut off my rebuttal with a single stroke. Her sharp eyes glared at me.
"The master was shaken by a mere maid, and he moved for that maid. That's not a good sign. The butler judged that your existence would have some influence later and moved. It doesn't matter whether that's good or bad."
"Why... he's also just a servant..."
"He's the only person who can handle things on behalf of the master. He's also someone who has dedicated himself to the Bellunita family for a long time. Does that answer your question?"
A person who is below the master, but to us, he is high and can wield power equal to the master. The butler, Isabella. Didn't Lenika already warn me?
I wonder if the butler brought me here preparing for this moment from the beginning. The fact that a wealthy-looking old gentleman came all the way to a small village and took an insignificant woman as a servant may be because she can be easily disposed of at any time. The Gold coin that was thickly packed in the bundle he handed over must have contained such a meaning.
"……Are you going to kill me?"
"That was the plan."
"That was the plan... so you're not going to kill me?"
Isabella took a breath. Only then did I notice the figure collapsed behind her. The coachman was mumbling and drooling in his sleep on the ground. He also had the same cup as me dangling precariously in his hand.
My gaze returned to Isabella.
"Paula. I'm grateful to you. The master was comforted by you. He regained his lost smile, came out of his room, and met his friends. The mansion, which had been quiet, became noisy for the first time in a long time. As a servant there, I express my gratitude to you for bringing about such a change."
After speaking, Isabella took something out of her bosom and handed it to me. It was a small pouch. When I didn't receive it and remained still, she put it around my neck, confused, and hid it inside my clothes.
"This will allow you to make a living for the time being."
"What are you trying to say?"
"Run away."
My eyes widened. What did she just say?
"This is all I can do for you."
Isabella said firmly. I looked at the sleeping coachman again. I realized that all of this was something she had done on her own. I was flustered and continued.
"B-But, you shouldn't be doing this, should you?"
"That's right. If I get caught, I can't guarantee my life."
"But why……."
Isabella lowered her eyes. A brief gust of wind scattered the silence between her and me.
"Paula. We female servants often face discrimination while working, and sometimes we have to endure humiliation. We are often treated worse than men. But I don't think we should accept that treatment as a matter of course. You've done enough. This is the reward I'm giving you."
"……."
"Run away as far as possible. And never come back."
Isabella scanned the surroundings. She said there was no more time. I felt her sincerity in the gaze that urged me. My eyes stung. I tightly gripped the handle of the bag in my hand and bowed deeply. She was the first person to guide me when I came to this mansion. And she is also the only person helping me now.
"Thank you."
That's why I also conveyed my sincerity.
And I turned around as it was.
I heard a rustling sound. Every time I took a step, leaves brushed against my instep, my thighs, my waist, my arms, and tickled my cheeks. Even though I ran and ran without stopping, the thickets continued endlessly.
I ran aimlessly along the path Isabella had told me about. I didn't even know if I was going the right way, but I kept running anyway. As I ran, I felt it more clearly. The annoying noise that kept bothering my ears wasn't just coming from me.
I heard a rustling sound somewhere. It was eerie because it seemed to be coming from right behind me. Or it could be on my left or right. Those ominous sounds were heard like hallucinations from all directions. It was scary. The rustling sound slowly tightened around me.
'Soon someone will come to get rid of you.'
Is that the person Isabella was talking about?
'He must have found out that you were at the scene where Lucas had the accident. It may be okay for now, but eventually James will notice your existence. He won't leave you alone. Because you're the only witness.'
Maybe it's someone sent by James, whom Vincent mentioned.
There were many things to suspect. In fact, everything was suspicious. How did this happen? Why am I doing this? The days I spent trying to live even one more day suddenly put me in danger. Even so, all I could do was run aimlessly.
So I ran. I swallowed the surging emotions.
"Haa! Haa!"
I was out of breath. The weight of the bag in my hand felt burdensome. Besides, perhaps because my palms were sweaty, the bag handle kept slipping. As I kept readjusting the slipping handle, I tripped over a large rock and fell. I felt pain, but without time to feel the pain, I jumped up and ran again. My knee, which had hit the ground, throbbed belatedly. It felt damp, as if blood was flowing.
Save me.
Someone, please help me.
I don't know what to do with the endlessly rising anxiety. I felt like grabbing a tree and shouting for help. I'm scared. The fear only multiplied. Just when tears welled up, I saw the end of the forest. I ran towards it.
It was the moment I was about to get out of the thicket. A strong mass of light snatched away my vision.
