Chapter 93
93
93. That Still Strange Guest (7)
I turned my head to look at Ethan. He was facing Vincent with a faint smile, but the smile looked bitter.
"Do whatever you want. I won't force you."
"……."
"You don't have to believe it if you don't want to."
As before, Ethan parried Vincent's words as if making a light joke. Vincent closed his mouth. His tightly closed lips seemed to be complaining.
Silence fell for a moment. It was a very short time, but the atmosphere was so heavy that it felt very long.
I looked back and forth between the two. Vincent looked like he had a lot to say but couldn't easily spit it out, and Ethan didn't avoid Vincent's gaze, but somehow looked uncomfortable. What is this, what is it...? I felt a strange tension from the two people who looked no different on the surface.
Soon after, a sigh was heard. Vincent narrowed his brow and pressed it hard with his hand.
"Yeah, you have no reason to lie. I misunderstood."
A voice that sounded somehow tired pierced my ears.
Vincent, as if he was done with his business, was about to turn around right away. I hurriedly grabbed him.
"Ah, excuse me!"
But I was so hasty that I grabbed his wrist. Vincent stopped dead in his tracks. I was startled and took my hand off and stepped back again.
Vincent's gaze reached me again. My back bent deeply on its own.
"What is it?"
"I, well, I was wondering if you were okay last time."
Because he ignored me, I couldn't properly ask about what happened that day. I was curious if he got home okay, and if he was feeling better now since he wasn't in good condition then.
Or if he was hurt anywhere. I cut my hand, and I was worried that he might have been hurt somewhere too. He looked fine on the outside, but I wondered if he might have been cut somewhere that wasn't easily visible.
I mustered up the courage to speak because I thought I wouldn't have another chance to ask. But there was no answer. I wondered if he was thinking about when the 'last time' I mentioned was. So I was about to correct myself again.
"I'm fine."
A light answer followed.
Soon after, the sound of footsteps faded away. I straightened my back and looked at Vincent's receding figure. And when I looked back at Ethan, the smile on his face had disappeared as if he was lost in thought. I kept looking back and forth between the two.
"Vincent."
Suddenly, Ethan called Vincent again. I didn't think he would turn around, but Vincent immediately stopped walking and tilted his upper body slightly.
His face turned this way was stern, but I could read the complex emotions in it.
"It's late, but it was nice to see you after a long time."
"……."
A gentle voice floated in the air. Nevertheless, Vincent showed no particular reaction. After staring blankly for a moment, he turned his body again. The sound of footsteps moving away was as heavy as before. Ethan didn't seem to expect Vincent's answer either, as he immediately looked at me and smiled playfully.
"I'm in your debt again."
"Yes. Thank you for your help."
While I was formally thanking him with my mouth, I was thinking of Ethan and Vincent a little while ago in my head.
If I wasn't mistaken, something seemed to be going on between the two. The tension that I had felt in the past was swirling between them. No, it was thicker than before.
But I didn't bother to pry. Actually, I wanted to ask, but Ethan's playful attitude seemed to be telling me not to ask.
"The atmosphere didn't look good a while ago, but now it doesn't seem so bad? Did something happen between you two?"
"Ah, I met the master in the hallway one night a while ago, and something happened then."
I explained vaguely because I thought it would be troublesome to explain in detail.
"At night... I guess that could happen."
But Ethan, who I thought would press me about what happened, nodded obediently.
"If the colored ink Vincent mentioned is the one Lucas used when writing letters? I've seen it before. The one that adds color to that white liquid, right?"
Was that it? The one I received had color in the ink itself.
"Where did you get it?"
"An acquaintance of mine got it for me. He said he borrowed it through an acquaintance."
"Hmm. I see."
Ethan said casually. I was a little puzzled for a moment, but I thought that he might have already received the colored one. But there was another problem.
"But why did you say that? That I was a servant of Ethan's family."
"If you're going to deceive, it's better to deceive completely."
"Pardon?"
"Life needs hardship and adversity."
What nonsense is this again?
"I thought about what Paula said last time. She said she didn't want Vincent to recognize you, right? I'll follow Paula's wishes. Let's deceive him thoroughly and completely, shall we?"
"What are you thinking?"
"I'm going to help make it happen as Paula wants."
"......Why?"
"Can't I help?"
"I don't think it's a good intention. And you said I shouldn't. What you said earlier and what you're saying now don't match."
"Well, I'm in a cooperative relationship with Paula where we help each other. You remember that offer, right?"
I burst out laughing at that. Of course, I remember. It was an offer I made because I thought I should make him an ally first in the face of the crisis of a strange guest barging in. I didn't expect him to accept it. And he was still the same. I thought he had changed, but he's still a troublesome person. I'd be grateful if he was sincerely helping me, though.
I couldn't help but giggle. Ethan smiled even brighter at my reaction.
"You're curious, aren't you?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Which words are right."
At that moment, my whole body felt as cold as if I had been doused in cold water. The corners of my lips that had been raised dropped sharply. My mind, which had been loosened, tightened up. The moment I realized what was contained in his joyfully curved eyes, I realized that I had fallen into my own trap.
It had already begun.
His bet with me.
Damn it!
When I opened the door and went inside, Alicia ran to me. She grabbed my arm and pulled me, then forced me to sit on the bed. I sighed at the expected reaction.
"What's wrong?"
"You, how do you know that man?"
"Who?"
"Count Christopher? That man! I heard he's friends with the master."
She must have heard that much. What should I explain this as? It would be annoying to tell her everything, and if I didn't tell her, she would keep pressing me until I answered.
"Well, I just happened to get to know him."
"How? How do you know him? Maybe that mansion you used to work at is that man's mansion? And he's the master you used to serve? ......No, right? You said you ran away from the place you worked because you were out of favor."
"Why are you bringing that up all of a sudden?"
"Why am I bringing it up! When else would you have a chance to get involved with a noble man other than then?"
That was a pretty sharp point. It's true that the only time I could get involved with a noble was then. Alicia must have felt the warmth in Ethan's attitude towards me.
"Tell me! Is it true or not?!"
Alicia urged me to answer. I hesitated for a moment and parted my lips.
"No."
"No?"
"Yeah. I didn't work there."
I was going to lie and say it was true, but I answered honestly because I thought it would cause trouble for Ethan. Seeing Alicia's fierce momentum, I thought something would happen if I lied. Instead, I didn't give a detailed explanation.
But Alicia's expression seemed to be strangely relieved when she heard my answer. Why is she reacting like that? I frowned in doubt and looked at Alicia. Alicia, not paying attention to my reaction, turned away from me and muttered softly.
"I knew it."
"What did you know?"
"It's nothing. Mind your own business!"
She asked me first and then got annoyed for no reason.
"But I thought you wanted to get out of here quickly, but I guess not? You stayed so quickly when they said they would extend the Probationary period."
"That's not it. I have circumstances."
"Hmph! No, you don't. You sly girl."
Why do I have to be called a sly girl?
"Then how do you know that man?"
"I don't know."
"What? Hey!"
I didn't want to talk to Alicia anymore. I lay down on the bed as it was and covered the sheets over my head. Alicia thrashed around and spat out harsh words, but I closed my ears and closed my eyes. Ignoring her was the best way to deal with this.
\ \ *
Eventually, the existing Probationary period ended, and most of the people who came here with me left the mansion. A few people, including Alicia and I, whose Probationary period had been extended, remained in the mansion.
Just like when many people came in at once, they left in droves. The empty mansion was filled with new people. Seeing the people with striking appearances even from afar reminded me of when I first came here. It wasn't that long ago, but it felt like a long time ago. Come to think of it, why do they hire servants in this way? The reason was still a mystery.
I turned my body away, looking at the excited faces of those who were looking forward to new experiences in the place where they would be living. The more I took steps, the more the sound of my footsteps echoed with dissatisfaction.
I went up the stairs and stopped in front of the first door I saw and sighed.
I prayed and prayed that Ethan wouldn't do anything. Since my Probationary period had been extended against my will, I desperately wanted to live quietly.
But I was overcome with the anxiety that my wish would not be fulfilled because I was caught in the trap that Ethan had thrown. I ended up being in a position to serve him faithfully.
Standing in front of the door that felt somehow heavy, I let out a deep sigh. I knocked on the door, but there was no answer. I knocked again, but it was still silent. So I just opened the door and went inside, and the room was as quiet as a mouse.
I glanced around the inside and placed the meal I had brought on the table. Then I threw open the curtains that had been tightly covering the sunlight. When I turned around, a round shape on the bed wriggled to avoid the pouring sunlight. It had been a long time since morning, but Ethan was still sprawled on the bed. He had skipped breakfast too.
"Wake up. It's already lunchtime."
He said he would stay here for a few days, but he's just a lazy bum.
Since Ethan said he would stay in this mansion, he had been sleeping all day. Like someone who hadn't slept for days, he slept while barely eating, and slept, and slept, and kept sleeping. I thought he came here for a vacation, but looking at him, it seemed like he came here for a late hibernation.
When I pulled the sheet, he grabbed it with his hand to prevent me from taking it.
"Wake up."
"Umm... just a little more..."
"How long?"
"5 minutes, no, 10 minutes?"
"How about washing up, changing your clothes, and eating during that time? I think it would be a useful time."
"I'll spend that useful time 20 minutes later."
The requested time has increased even more.
"Just get up now."
"I'm on vacation, so I'm going to sleep more."
"You should take a walk instead."
"I don't know..."
Unlike him, he's also acting spoiled. He turned his body to the other side and showed his will not to have the sheet taken away. I snorted and pulled the sheet hard. The round shape rolled slightly, and his tousled brown hair was revealed. His face was still buried in the sheet.
