Chapter 8
8
- The Baron family's Crazy Master (8)
"Ugh, it hurts."
As I helped him sit up, Vincent was calmly changing his clothes. He must have heard me fall, but seeing his nonchalant face, I realized he had deliberately moved out of the way. I suppressed the rising anger with a sigh.
Bringing a new bedsheet was one thing, but putting it back on was another challenge. He absolutely refused to lift his butt, so I ended up just draping it haphazardly.
I'm already exhausted just from this. Vincent, who had changed his clothes, was about to cover himself with the dirty sheet again, so I quickly snatched it away and handed him the new one. Thankfully, he obediently covered himself with the new one.
Okay, done. I left the laundry by the door and came back to clean up the empty dishes. I wiped up the dessert I had dropped earlier, and the trail of Rice gruel that was left behind. After tidying up the things that had been rolling around on the floor, I finally started cleaning the floor.
Only the sound of the broom sweeping echoed in the silence. Vincent was quiet. He probably knew that I wouldn't bother him anymore. It was a big change from when he was initially yelling at me to leave.
"Why are you here?"
"Excuse me?"
He suddenly spoke to me. I was startled. He, who usually only spat out sharp words like 'leave,' 'get out,' or 'don't touch me,' was trying to have a conversation. Could he be sick? But aside from being pale, he didn't seem to be in any pain.
"I'm asking why you're here."
"...Because I need to earn money."
"So, if I give you money, you'll leave?"
"Why? Are you going to pay me to kick me out?"
"If I could."
Does he want to brag about how much money he has? The offer is really appreciated, but if it were a problem that could be solved with just that, I wouldn't be here doing this.
"Even if you kick me out, another maid will come and stay by your side, Master."
"I'll kick them out."
"Then they'll come again."
"So, you're saying you won't leave."
"Yes."
I started moving the broom again. He turned to look at me.
"Do you like this mansion?"
"I don't know. I haven't thought about it."
"Then think about it. It's not a suitable place to have vain dreams."
Vain dreams... I thought about it for a moment, but then shrugged. I didn't have any intention of having them either.
"Where are you from?"
"I'm from Pilton."
"Pilton... That's quite far."
"It's not that far. You just have to cross one mountain."
I had to travel even further when Father asked me to run errands.
I had to walk for days and days, and my calves would swell up and it would be hard to walk for a while. But even if I wanted to rest because I was in pain, Father and Alicia wouldn't let me. Because I was the only one who could do the housework.
So, I actually felt more comfortable when I was away from home.
"It was amazing, and it felt like an adventure. Like the main character in those fairy tales, going on a mysterious and beautiful adventure."
"Dreamy nonsense."
"That's right. You can't have such a beautiful adventure in reality. But it was still nice. There was an old bookstore in the city when I was young, and I worked there for a while? The owner of the bookstore was an elderly man, and thanks to his consideration, I read a lot of fairy tales."
"They turned a child into a delusional person when they were young."
"Maybe."
But I still like books. I'm older now, so I don't enjoy fairy tales as much, but I like books with stories. Because it's a story of a world I've never dreamed of, a world I don't know. It didn't matter whether it was false or true.
Imagining the world in books was my only joy as a child.
"I even remember a passage. 'When God created you, may you be filled with blessings just by your existence, love without reservation. May all of that pave the way for you.'"
"The Sorrows of Love."
"Have you read it?"
I asked in surprise, and he answered nonchalantly.
"It's a famous book that even children read."
"I didn't know that."
"You have bad taste."
"Is that so?"
"It's not a good story."
That's right. The ending is tragic. The main character doesn't die. She just abandons everything and chooses to live alone. Even the person she loved.
'Ah, it's over now.'
The story ends with the main character saying that and walking alone into the vast sea. It didn't end in death, but rather, the image of her shaking off everything that had tormented her and leaving was rather attractive.
I want to say those words when the end of my life comes.
Ah. It's over now.
"I actually liked that."
"......"
After saying that, I suddenly felt awkward. I wasn't usually a talkative person, but I was so happy that he had spoken to me that I ended up rambling on. I belatedly glanced at him and continued.
"D-Do you have any books that you enjoyed reading, Master?"
"I don't read that kind of thing."
That kind of thing... Isn't it one of the qualities of nobles?
Alicia also complained that the lord's son would always drone on about the contents of the books he read, saying it was his education or something. When I worked at the bookstore, nobles often came by. Newly published books were sold faster than other books.
I turned to look at him, and Vincent was lying on his back, looking at the ceiling. He had his eyes closed, so I stopped talking and focused on cleaning, thinking he was trying to sleep.
"I haven't read since I lost my sight."
Ah, after a belated realization, I looked at him again. His profile with his eyes closed looked a little tired.
"There are books that blind people can read."
"I can't read all books."
"Then hire someone to read to you."
"So, you're saying I should go around telling everyone about my condition."
He's being sarcastic again. He was a very twisted person. Even if he hired someone to read to him, he would kick them out for one reason or another. Then he could ask someone he knew to do it... Ah!
"Shall I read to you?!"
I couldn't hide my excitement for a moment.
There's no way this big mansion doesn't have a library. Why didn't I think of that! Then, when I felt a questioning gaze on me, I realized my mistake. I tried to calm my trembling heart and pretended to be calm.
"Of course, if you want me to, Master."
"With your pig-like voice?"
"...I've never heard anyone say my voice is bad."
"I guess everything else is bad then."
"......"
He immediately picks on my words. I feel like hitting him with the broom in my hand.
But I decided to take a step back. Now is not the time to clash, but to accept.
"You must be tired of sleeping all the time. You don't take walks, and you don't even get out of bed. That's why you're so lethargic. People need to have a life."
"Don't beat around the bush. What do you want to say?"
"How about trying to read a book?"
"I can't read."
"That's why I'll read to you."
"I refuse."
It was an answer without a moment's hesitation. I sighed deeply.
"I was hoping that if you had a hobby, you'd be less grumpy..."
"Hey."
"You don't even think about the hardworking servants... You just yell all the time, and you throw things around dangerously. Thanks to you, a pretty woman's face got injured... But I endured it... What makes you so great..."
"Hey."
"It's upsetting, so upsetting."
I took this opportunity to vent all my complaints. His hand groped on the side table. But he had already thrown everything, so there was nothing left to throw.
Soon after, I saw him clenching his fist tightly, and I smiled happily.
"Okay, Master. Please listen carefully."
Um, um, I cleared my throat. There was no response. Besides, he was turned away, so all I could see was his back. But I picked up a book with a happy heart.
"One day, the warmth of the sunlight permeated the body."
"Boring."
"The girl, yes?"
"I said it's boring. Something else."
I thought he was asleep, but he must have been listening. No, but he said it was boring after only reading one line.
"I've only read one line."
"I don't like that one line."
"How about listening to more..."
"Something else."
"Then I'll read something else."
I calmly put down the book and picked up another one. Books have tastes, and I don't know his taste, so I brought several books for now.
I cleared my throat again.
"The girl's day begins with a walk in the garden."
"Boring."
"......"
"Something else."
He didn't even read one line, you son of a bitch.
My stomach was boiling again after a long time. Calm down. The person in front of me is the master who gives me money. I took a silent deep breath and suppressed my anger.
"Why aren't you answering? Something else."
"Yes. Okay. Something else."
I put down the book I was holding and picked up another one.
"The boy."
"Boring. Something else."
"Are you really going to do this?"
I finally put the book down on my lap and complained. But Vincent was shameless.
"Is it wrong to say something is boring if it's boring?"
"You say it's boring without even listening properly."
"I know without even listening properly. That it's boring."
"What criteria are you using to say that?"
"Are you talking back to me now? How dare a mere maid?"
"......"
I was speechless when he said that. Coward!
"There are no more books to read. I have to bring more."
"Then bring them."
"...If you have a book you like, please tell me. I'll bring that book."
"I never read anything I've already read."
"Please tell me what kind of content you like. Genre or something."
"I don't have anything like that."
I sighed deeply. He was clearly trying to retaliate for what happened earlier. Someone kindly offered a favor, but he's acting like this. He's really childish.
"What are you doing? Why aren't you bringing them?"
I finally jumped up from my seat.
I picked up the three books I hadn't even opened properly and left the room with a thud, thud. The library was right downstairs. I was so angry that I came down the central staircase.
Let's calm down. We need to be calm, especially in times like this. The master's temper isn't just a one-time thing, so I needed to be more calm.
I came into the library and looked around the bookshelves, which were packed with books, and wondered what kind of story he would like. In fact, he would definitely complain that any book I brought was boring.
Still, I carefully looked at the bookshelves. Then I was drawn to one place.
"This is it!"
I took out all the books in one section of the bookshelf.
