Chapter 77
77
77. To You, Whom I Can't Erase Even If I Try to Forget (1)
Still, I think Robert is doing well. Nanny, who thinks of Robert first, is by his side, and Joelly and Vincent are with him too. And I am here as well.
"Just, please come to see Robert often."
"……."
"Robert is really happy every time Master comes."
Robert would spread his arms wide and welcome Vincent whenever he came to see him. He would run to him with a bright smile, and Vincent would also smile happily and hold Robert in his arms.
I had learned through their interactions that Vincent also cherished Robert. Even now, he was worried about Robert. So I told him what he could do. Emphasizing 'often, often.'
"What about you?"
"Yes?"
"Have you ever felt an unforgettable longing?"
I smiled bitterly.
"Everyone has an invisible longing."
Just as I couldn't forget this place, you.
Silence fell again after I finished my answer, which left a dry taste in my mouth. Vincent was silent for a moment. My gaze still wandered around the floor. I felt a little embarrassed after speaking. I wondered if I had rambled on too much because old memories had surfaced after a long time.
I was cautiously watching him when he suddenly burst out laughing. It was such an unexpected laugh that I tilted my head, puzzled. He was looking at Robert's room, and his face, with his hand covering his mouth, was truly smiling.
"I know too."
"……."
"I know it well."
His face, briefly smiling, was particularly striking. What on earth did he recall? What did he recall that made him smile so happily, and yet so sadly?
"I know it too well."
The smile vanished from his face as he muttered quietly. With a somewhat dazed expression, he fixed his gaze on me. I also stared blankly at him until our eyes met, and I was so startled that I turned my face away.
"You ate it all."
He held out the empty plate.
"Ah, did you enjoy it?"
"It wasn't bad."
He said that, but he had cleaned the plate. The plate was clean, as if he had scraped off the mashed chocolate cream while eating the cake with a fork. Looking at it, the teacup filled with honeyed milk was also almost empty.
I found it funny that he diligently took care of his sweet tooth even in the midst of all this.
I tried hard to suppress the laughter that was about to come out as I took the plate. But he grabbed the edge of the plate and didn't let go.
"Um, your hand……."
"Since you ate all of this, I'll ask you a favor."
A favor?
"Can you tell me about Robert's daily life?"
"Master's daily life?"
"Yes. Report to me once a day."
"There aren't really any special events."
"Just tell me about those unspecial events."
I wanted to ask why he was asking me for that. Wasn't he displeased with me because of what happened last time? Surely his assessment of me wouldn't be good. Why on earth?
He seemed to sense my question.
"I asked Nanny too, but she seems to be careful with her words, thinking she's indebted to me. I guess she doesn't want to cause unnecessary worry. Besides, she'll be away from the mansion often. Since there will be many days when you're serving him alone, you'd be more suitable than Nanny to tell me about Robert's condition."
"I don't know if I should be saying such things……."
I didn't know if I should say what Nanny hadn't said. But the man in front of me was the master of this mansion. The person I served was Robert, but strictly speaking, the person who hired me was Vincent.
I hesitated for a moment about which side I should take.
"Is there any need to hesitate?"
"But……."
"You made a very big mistake to me, didn't you?"
Mistake? When I looked puzzled, he patted his thigh. I followed his hand with my gaze and then quickly turned my head away.
"I, it was an attempt."
"You almost caused the family line to be cut off because of you."
Vincent, saying that, seemed more serious than ever. It seemed that the reason he was asking me for such a favor wasn't just because I was serving Robert.
"I don't have any bad intentions. I just hope that Robert doesn't feel lonely, at least in this mansion. Even if I can't forget it, I don't want him to feel it more."
He said it like that, so I couldn't refuse.
"I understand."
He finally let go of the plate. Then he placed the teacup on top of the plate. The cup was also completely empty. He seemed to be in a good mood, as if he had a satisfying tea time.
Was the dessert the real purpose? No wonder he didn't leave. Suspicion arose, and I kept glaring at his profile. Then Vincent turned to look at me, and I had to lower my head immediately. His quick wit was still the same.
"Is there anything else you're curious about?"
He asked suddenly. Do I dare to be curious? A sullen feeling welled up. Just as I was about to answer that there wasn't, the question I had been pondering earlier suddenly popped into my head.
"Then, may I ask you one thing?"
"What is it?"
"Are you perhaps thinking of becoming Robert's…… foster father?"
"What?"
Given Vincent's personality, he wasn't someone who would easily show kindness. I didn't think he had forgotten the memories of when he couldn't see. Suffering is an emotion that can't be easily forgotten. It was strange that Vincent regarded Robert so specially. Besides, the two of them seemed so affectionate.
What on earth is their relationship?
I was so curious that I made my own guesses.
Soon, he gave me the answer. His face, contorted as if he had heard the most absurd nonsense in the world, was the answer itself.
I didn't need to ask to know that this time, he had further lowered his assessment of me in his mind.
\ \ *
As Vincent said, Nanny went out often. She seemed very busy with something outside. I smiled and told her not to worry and to have a good trip, telling her that I was sorry to leave Robert alone. I wanted to take good care of Robert so that she wouldn't worry, busy as she was.
'What misunderstanding did I cause? I'm afraid of unnecessary rumors spreading.'
Vincent coldly rebuked and left immediately. I had only made a guess because the two of them seemed to get along so well, but I felt depressed because I seemed to have only earned his dislike. I belatedly shouted that I was sorry, but he didn't turn back.
I hadn't seen Vincent since that day. He must have been busy, as he didn't even show his face. He had told me to tell him about Robert's daily life once a day, but he didn't meet with me directly. Instead, a servant came to me and asked about Robert's daily life.
In fact, it was closer to rambling on about what I had done during the day rather than giving a report. But it was awkward to hold onto the busy servant and explain in detail. So one day, I asked if it would be okay to write a letter and deliver it.
'Can you write?'
'I can write a little.'
The servant gave me a surprised look.
After that, I wrote letters and handed them over. Every other day, a servant would visit and take the letter.
[Today, Master…….]
The content of the previous letter wasn't much different, but I picked up the pen anyway. Elegant letters filled the paper with a swishing sound.
'Doing this.'
It's just like back then.
I especially miss the golden letters.
"What are you doing?"
Robert peeked his head in. I didn't know when he woke up from his nap.
"Are you awake?"
"Yeah. Nanny is."
"She went out."
Robert, hearing my answer, held out his hands. He wanted me to hold him. As the time we spent alone together increased these days, Robert had come to rely on me quite a bit.
I glanced at the thick bandage wrapped around one arm and then held Robert in my arms.
"Does your arm hurt?"
"No."
A few days ago, something happened. When I went to Robert's room to serve him as usual, Robert wasn't in the room. That was a fairly common occurrence. And I immediately knew where Robert was. Sure enough, Robert was near the Iron horse statue.
But the problem was that Robert was sitting on the floor, crying.
'Waaah!'
'Master!'
I was horrified because he was clutching one arm. The thing I had feared had happened.
I immediately called a doctor to examine him. He said that the bone in his arm had a crack due to a strong impact, but fortunately, it was minor. Robert's arm was fixed with a thick bandage wrapped around it.
Soon after, Joelly came and looked at Robert with a gaze full of worry. Nanny, who joined in, was crying and making a fuss.
'If you wander around alone again, I'm going to spank your bottom.'
That was a very big scolding in her own way.
Vincent, who had heard the news late, came and asked.
'What happened?'
'That's…….'
At his question, Joelly and Nanny's gazes also turned to me. Judging from Vincent's atmosphere, it seemed like he would throw it away immediately if I said it was because of the Iron horse statue. Robert tightly grabbed the hem of my skirt with a gloomy face. I hesitated for a moment and then parted my lips.
'We were taking a walk in the hallway together, and Master must have been in a good mood because he tripped and fell while running quickly.'
I had lied, but I didn't think it would work on him. He probably heard the general situation from the other servants. But fortunately, they didn't mention the Iron horse statue. They only left me with the request to keep an eye on Robert.
'You were trying to climb up there, weren't you?'
When the two's attention turned back to Robert, Nanny quietly approached and asked. I just smiled. A shadow fell on Nanny's face. I realized that she also knew why Robert was climbing the Iron table.
Fortunately, Robert also seemed to have realized something, as he had been quietly staying in his room ever since.
Robert stared blankly at the letter I had been writing until just now.
"I want to do it too."
"You have to be careful with your arm."
Robert nodded. I brought another chair and placed it next to me, and sat Robert on it. I also brought the remaining paper and pen nearby and put them in his hand.
His small, adorable hands tightly gripped the pen and scribbled something on the paper. Hmm. Hmm. He even hummed along, seeming quite happy. I also sat next to him, picked up a pen, and continued writing the letter.
Then I glanced at Robert. I thought he would draw a picture, but he was writing letters.
"You're good at writing."
"Yeah. I'm good at writing."
"Yes. You're good at writing."
Is it the result of education? The shapes were crooked, but I could understand what it said. As I was quietly looking at it, a good idea suddenly flashed through my mind.
