Chapter 80
80
80. To You, Whom I Couldn't Erase Even If I Tried (4)
“Are these all candies?”
“No, not exactly. Um… I, I have a favor to ask.”
“A favor?”
The question came from behind the servant. Vincent, who had been leaning against the wall and watching me like a madman, strode closer. I took a step back for every step he took.
Then, a candy fell from my hand and rolled on the floor. I couldn't bring myself to look up and fixed my gaze on the floor.
“What favor do you want to ask?”
“Two of these letters were written by Robert himself. One is for the master, and the other is for the mistress.”
“Robert?”
“Yes. I'm asking you to deliver these letters personally.”
I was so nervous as I spoke that I clenched my hands tightly. I wasn't sure if it was okay for someone as low as me, not even Nanny, to ask him for such a favor. That's why I tried to go through the servant.
But what's done is done. Since I had to say it anyway, I emphasized the word 'personally' in case he sent someone else. It only had meaning if he delivered it himself.
“What about the other two?”
“One is a letter about Robert's daily life, and the other was written by Nanny. I didn't know you would come in person, so I was going to ask you by letter.”
I heard a rustling sound. Vincent's shoe tip, which had moved to the side, was touching the servant. He seemed to have picked up the letters in the servant's hand.
I felt his gaze on the top of my head. His gaze was stinging, as if he was wondering why I was asking for such a thing.
“You want an answer, then.”
“Yes.”
“You could have sent it through Nanny.”
“Nanny said that the mistress has been busy again recently, so she's not sure if she'll be able to get a reply. But I think the master, you can meet the mistress directly and get a reply.”
“Why?”
“I guessed that you must be close, seeing how you let Robert stay in this mansion and worry about whether he's comfortable in his daily life and whether he feels lonely.”
That's why I jokingly asked if he would be his stepfather last time. He seemed so kind. And I thought he would know why I was asking for this favor. As expected, he was silent for a moment.
“Do you know why Robert climbs on the Iron horse statue?”
“Yes.”
“Then you know why he didn't choose the safe way to write a letter.”
“Yes. I heard.”
“Is it because of the last accident?”
So he knew that Robert had an accident trying to climb on the Iron horse statue.
“Yes. I thought that if he got a reply, he wouldn't do anything dangerous like climbing on the Iron table anymore.”
“Do you think this will soothe Robert's loneliness?”
“No.”
“Then why should I waste my time on such a useless favor?”
At that moment, I felt dizzy.
“Tell me. Why did I become someone who would easily grant a request from a subordinate?”
I felt a strange sense of intimidation in his words. The servant, who had been listening to our conversation, kept looking back and forth. I had nothing to say. The tension that permeated the silence struck my whole body. He was openly showing that he was uncomfortable. My clasped hands were getting wet.
I realized that he had turned a blind eye to my attitude when we met in Robert's room by chance. It was a feeling I hadn't felt five years ago.
An attitude of looking down on a subordinate.
No, I didn't feel this much intimidation from him five years ago. Maybe it was because of his appearance, but I felt more pity than intimidation. That's why I confronted him even though I was afraid. Maybe it was because of that memory that I thought he would easily grant my request this time.
I overlooked that the current Vincent was a different person.
He's not the man who used to be stuck in his room anymore. He is now Count Vincent Bellunita. A person no different from any other aristocrat. Someone I can't even talk to casually, someone who takes it for granted to look down on subordinates, and a nobleman with the power to get rid of anyone who offends him even slightly.
Throwing things is a ridiculous level. He could point a gun and shoot.
Now I felt his authority.
He was also an aristocrat.
“That's…”
It was the first time I felt such an overwhelming sense of oppression. But the reason I could stand here without giving in was thanks to my past experiences. I know that there are times when I shouldn't back down even if I'm afraid. Just like five years ago and right now.
I licked my dry lips and straightened my back a little. I also raised my gaze slightly, which had been fixed on the floor. It's good to be short at times like this. I have to look up at the other person whether I want to or not.
“Because you're the only one who can get a reply no matter what.”
“The reason?”
“Because you said you didn't want Robert to feel lonely, at least in this mansion.”
“……”
“So, I thought you would grant it.”
For a brief moment, I calmly met his gaze. Then I lowered my head again. I wondered if he would say something else, but Vincent didn't say anything else.
“What's that box?”
Vincent pointed to the box on the floor.
“Ah, this.”
The box contained the bouquet I made with Robert. Nanny thought it would be better to put it in a box so that the bouquet wouldn't get crushed. I quickly picked up one of the boxes.
“There's a bouquet in the box. Robert made it himself. I'm asking you to deliver this as well.”
The servant held the box in his arms.
“This is for the master.”
There was one more box with a bouquet in it. The bouquet that was supposed to be sent to Miss Carrot became Vincent's share. I thought he might be disappointed if he didn't get a bouquet when I was asking him for a favor. This was also Nanny's idea. She turned Robert's heart with her skillful words based on her long experience.
I was about to hand it to the servant again, but I hesitated and changed direction. Still keeping my gaze on the floor, I took a step closer to Vincent. His shoe tip barely touched my toes.
I imagined his face as he watched my actions. I swallowed hard and held out the box to him, bowing even deeper. Respectfully.
“Please take care of it.”
“……”
He was silent again. I was worried that he wouldn't accept the flowers, or that he would accept them and throw them away.
Fortunately, unlike my worries, Vincent slowly accepted the box in my hand. I glanced at him as he immediately opened the lid and took out the bouquet inside.
It was the only one I made out of the three bouquets because I didn't have time. The densely packed flowers tickled Vincent's face. His indifferent eyes stared at the flowers. He touched them here and there, but he didn't seem to be very impressed.
But he couldn't take his eyes off the flowers for a long time.
“Tell him I received it well.”
“Ah, yes. I will definitely tell him.”
“Is there anything else going on with Robert?”
As if to change the atmosphere, Vincent asked about Robert's daily life. The uncomfortable feeling from before was gone. I answered his question and looked at the bouquet in his hand. It was like his answer that he would grant my request.
“I'll be going now.”
Now that I had achieved my purpose, there was no need to stay here any longer. I chose to escape quickly in case he changed his mind.
Vincent, who had received the letters from the servant, nodded to indicate his permission. I immediately bowed and turned around. I tried not to show any signs of urgency in my steps as I walked away from him, step by step.
I entered the mansion with the most gentle steps possible. As soon as I thought I was out of his sight, I finally breathed a sigh of relief. I sighed and relaxed my body, which had been stiff from tension.
I'm tired. I was wiping my tired face when.
“Ugh.”
Suddenly, my body spun around. Someone grabbed my arm and pulled me. Vincent reappeared in my hastily changed view. He had a stiff face for some reason.
“Where did you get this?”
“Yes?”
He shook the letter in his hand. My gaze was fixed on the letter, then went down to his hand holding my arm. My wrist, which was tightly held, hurt a little. I frowned at the increasingly strong grip. It was as if he was holding me so I couldn't escape.
Vincent took another step closer to me. I involuntarily tilted my head back. His body, which was bigger than me and now looked healthy enough to have gained weight, loomed over me oppressively. His stiff face slowly contorted. He seemed angry, judging by the way he was furrowing his brow, but strangely, his eyes were shaking.
Why? I couldn't understand why he was making that face. His emerald eyes urgently scanned me.
“You…”
“Count? Ann?”
Suddenly, a voice was heard, and his and my heads turned to the side. Nanny was standing there with her eyes wide open. She looked at me and Vincent in turn and approached in a panic.
“Is there something wrong, you two?”
I was also embarrassed to see Nanny suddenly appear.
“Nanny, what are you doing here? Didn't you go out this morning?”
“I was just coming back when I saw the Count and Ann…”
Nanny trailed off and glanced at Vincent's hand holding my wrist. I realized and quickly shook off his hand and took a step back. Vincent stared at me like that.
I waved my hand at Nanny.
“You're misunderstanding. Nothing's wrong.”
“Really? The atmosphere didn't seem good…”
“No. I asked him to deliver the letter and bouquet for me and was on my way back, but it seems the master had something he wanted to ask me. Master, what did you want to ask me?”
I tried to act calm and turned to Vincent. I felt Nanny's worried eyes and smiled, pulling up the corners of my mouth.
But his face, with a hint of annoyance, was more noticeable than before. His gaze was somehow sharp, so I couldn't look at him for long.
I erased my smile and lowered my eyes. Now I avoid his gaze as if it's a habit.
“Did Ann make a mistake?”
Nanny asked instead, sensing that the atmosphere was unusual. He glanced at me and sighed. It was as if I had made a mistake, so this time Nanny glanced at me.
“No. Nothing.”
Fortunately, no strange words came out.
Nanny continued with a serious face.
“Did you feel bad because of what I asked you to do? I'm sorry. I was going to send a servant instead of coming in person, so I replaced it with a letter, but it was my mistake. But it's an important matter, so I'll ask you directly. Do you have some time?”
Vincent glanced at me again without saying anything. Nanny also looked at me and smiled, telling me to go. I looked back and forth between Nanny and Vincent and bowed.
This time, I couldn't hide my desire to escape. As soon as I turned around, I started walking quickly. I felt a gaze following me from behind. It couldn't be, but it was as if Vincent was looking at me. No way.
As I did, I touched my wrist, which he had grabbed. It was so red and numb from how hard he had grabbed it.
My heart was pounding as much as the pain.
