# 125
125. The Maid Stands Before the Secret (4)
Audrey was standing a short distance away. Looking at her face, which seemed to be asking what I was doing, I just stared blankly back at her. Then, over her shoulder, I noticed people carrying flowers from a carriage.
Ah, the flowers we ordered must have arrived.
"What's with all the flowers?"
Vincent asked, sounding puzzled, apparently having seen the flowers on the carriage. Audrey explained that she had ordered flowers to decorate the dining hall.
The three of us walked side by side toward the carriage. The maids carrying the flowers spotted Vincent and let out squeals. Audrey scowled and nagged them to hurry up and move the flowers, so they reluctantly picked up a vase each and hurried away with quick steps.
The volume of flowers was considerable this time as well. Thinking that the dining hall would become a flower bed again, I refastened my apron, only to see Renika struggling to pull a large vase out of the carriage with her heavy frame. I hurried over to her.
"I'll help you."
"Thank you."
Renika smiled brightly as she brushed back her disheveled hair. I took the vase from her and carefully set it down on the ground.
But then Renika suddenly tapped my shoulder.
"Oh, the Master has come as well."
Renika looked past me with a delighted expression. When I turned around, I saw Vincent conversing with Audrey some distance away. Snippets of their conversation drifted over.
"What's with the bouquet?"
"I received it."
"Here?"
Vincent's reply was inaudible. Seeing the white bouquet in Vincent's hands, I was too busy glancing nervously at Renika, afraid she might get angry. Fortunately, she didn't seem to notice.
"It's been such a long time. He doesn't seem to have changed much."
"Aren't you going to go say hello?"
"Ah, would he even remember someone like me? I'm satisfied just seeing him from afar."
Saying so, Renika pulled the remaining vases from the carriage. I gathered the vases I had placed on the ground to one side so they wouldn't be in the way. As Renika discreetly set down a small vase beside me, she suddenly covered her mouth with one hand and whispered softly.
"Come to think of it, I couldn't mention it earlier because someone else was around, but I think there was such a rumor going around."
A rumor? As I looked at her inquisitively, she continued.
"Around that time, the Master seemed to ask about you."
"Pardon? What did you say?"
"Just, what kind of person you were. At the time, there was a rumor that you were involved in the reason Lady Isabella and the butler resigned, so everyone kept it hush-hush for fear of getting burned. In the end, it just blew over, but seeing you reunite like this, it seems that was just a baseless rumor after all."
She laughed lightly, but I couldn't laugh along.
A short while later, a middle-aged man with a bushy beard came out of the mansion and called for Renika. Even after she excused herself and walked away, I stood there, frozen. What snapped me out of my daze was Joelli's voice calling from a distance.
"Vincent! When did you get back?"
Startled, I looked toward the source of the voice. Joelli was waving at Vincent. Beside her, Alicia and the nanny, who had Robert sleeping on her back, were walking back from their walk.
Vincent raised his hand in greeting toward them. I was staring blankly at the scene when Audrey, who had approached me at some point, pointed at the vases on the ground and spoke.
"Ann, hurry up and move the remaining vases to the dining hall."
"Ah, yes, ma'am."
I answered dumbly and grabbed the large vase nearest to me. It was as heavy as it was large, making it impossible for me to lift alone. But my mind wasn't functioning properly. I fumbled for the bottom of the vase, pretending to exert effort as I wobbled it, my mind sinking into other thoughts.
Why? Why would Vincent ask about me? When I heard that Vincent had been away from the mansion for a long time, I thought it might have been for eye surgery. It made sense if he had undergone eye surgery around that time and returned to the mansion to resume a normal life.
But why me? Why? Because I had suddenly disappeared? Or was he curious about me once he could see?
I couldn't possibly imagine Vincent being curious about me. I felt bad for Renika, but I couldn't bring myself to believe her words. It would have made more sense if she had just made it up.
"What are you doing? Hurry up and move it."
"Uh? Um, it's heavy."
"Because you're dawdling, it's causing trouble for me too."
"Uh, right."
"And what's with your face?"
Alicia scanned me up and down. I looked down at myself as well, before replying a beat too late.
"I was filling a hole in the wall."
"You're unbelievable. Move."
Alicia clicked her tongue in extreme annoyance, shoving me aside and picking up a small vase. She must have been ordered to help move the vases to the dining hall as well. I watched her walk away with the vase before I hurriedly began moving them too.
The dining hall, decorated with beautiful flowers, was saturated with a floral scent that tickled the nose. Seeing the fresh and lovely flowers, I could understand why Joelli liked them. On the long dining table, food tailored to the tastes of those returning from their walk was prepared.
As I carried the vases, I kept drifting off into other thoughts. Renika's words kept swirling in my mind. Because of that, my pace slowed down from time to time, and I would stand there blankly without realizing it, only to get scolded by Alicia.
After moving the vases together with Alicia, only one large, heavy vase remained. Alicia couldn't lift it by herself either, so she stood in front of it waiting for me. She tapped her foot on the floor, nagging me to hurry up. I practically ran over and bent down.
However, carrying it with two people was no easy feat either. We couldn't even make it a few steps before we had to stop and set the vase down on the ground.
"Why is this so heavy?"
Alicia grumbled softly as she shook the vase, while I just stood there blankly.
Just then, I saw Renika coming out of the mansion. She naturally looked my way and approached with a bright smile.
But the moment I saw her lips slowly parting, a surge of foreboding washed over me. I frantically reached out toward her.
Wait—!
"Paula! Are you all done?"
A name that should have absolutely never been spoken echoed loudly. The rattling noise of the vase, the sound of conversation coming from behind—everything vanished in an instant.
A deathly silence descended.
My heart plummeted to the floor. I had been careless. Even while sharing the same space with Vincent, I had completely failed to consider the danger that Renika might call me by my real name.
Was it because I had grown too accustomed to Ethan, or was it because I had never even imagined my identity would be exposed like this? I hadn't made such a mistake before, so why did it have to happen now!
Did Vincent hear it? He must have heard it, right? No, isn't there a chance he didn't hear it? Should I say she misspoke? Should I grab Renika and run away right now? What if she calls my name again? What should I do first? What am I supposed to say!
Dozens of thoughts raced through my mind, but with no viable solution in sight, my thoughts only tangled into a tighter knot. I had no idea where to even begin unraveling this mess. The silence, so profound that not even a breath could be heard, hung heavy. Cold sweat seemed to drench my entire body. Even my palms grew damp.
Perhaps sensing the unusual atmosphere, Renika's steps slowed before she came to a complete halt. She looked back and forth between me and whatever was behind me, scanning her surroundings with a face that screamed she had no idea what was going on. She seemed to realize she had caused a scene, but not knowing the details, she couldn't easily step forward.
Standing facing Renika, I could feel a piercing gaze burning into my back. Yet, I couldn't muster the courage to turn around.
But I couldn't just stand there like this forever. I had to say something—make an excuse, offer an explanation, anything. So I wet my dry lips with my tongue and parted my mouth, but the voice that came out belonged to someone else.
"So it has come to this after all."
Startled, I turned my head, only to see Alicia step forward. Seeing Alicia clutching her chest with a face that looked like she would burst into tears at any second, my mind failed to register what was happening. Alicia walked forward slowly, coming to a halt right in front of Vincent.
"I'm sorry I couldn't tell you beforehand. I just couldn't bring myself to say it first."
Alicia forced the words out with a trembling voice. Vincent couldn't take his eyes off Alicia, his face filled with shock.
"Pau... la...?"
He murmured my name. As if in response, Alicia smiled brightly.
"Yes. It's me, Master."
"..."
"I am Paula."
What in the world...?
"I missed you so much, Master!"
As if unable to contain her intense emotions any longer, Alicia threw herself into Vincent's arms. The white bouquet he was holding dropped to the floor.
Clinging to Vincent, Alicia began to sob loudly. She cried so sorrowfully that it sounded like the wail of a lover reuniting after a long separation. Unable to hide his bewilderment, Vincent awkwardly placed a hand on Alicia's back. That only made her cry even harder.
Joelli, who had been holding her breath as she watched the situation, looked back and forth between the two before whispering something to Audrey. Audrey's eyes went wide as she stared at Vincent and Alicia. The nanny also wore a look of utter bewilderment.
But the one most confused by this situation was me.
I couldn't understand at all why Alicia was acting like that. My mind went completely blank. The sight of Alicia crying didn't feel real. My mind scattered in a dizzying haze, just like the white flowers strewn across the floor.
Why are you crying in that man's arms?
Why are you saying you missed him?
Why are you... saying my name?
And why are you looking at me?