# 14
14. The Viscount's Strange Guest (4)
"I cannot do that."
Since I was the most powerless person here. If we're talking about class, I'd be at the very bottom.
"Shall I speak to Lady Isabella?"
"She's on Vincent's side. I've already asked her multiple times and been refused every time."
"I will ask the Master again."
"No need."
He waved his hand. Though he sighed, his face had regained somewhat more spirit compared to earlier.
"If I knock on the door about a hundred times, they'll open it once at least."
"You certainly are diligent."
"I have to try. My friend is putting in that much effort too."
Then he suddenly smiled. Oses got goosebumps from that smile, fresher than a spring day. His gaze was sticky. What's with that. Why is he looking like that. I needlessly rubbed my forearm.
"It would be convenient if you fell for me, Miss Maid."
"May I tell you in advance? I refuse."
And even if a hundred knocks became a thousand, the closed door never opened in the end.
"Surely you didn't sleep here."
I was startled to discover a figure crouched in front of Vincent's door. It was the same guest who had barged in yesterday. No, I had shown him to a room to stay in, so why was he out here like this?
"Mm, is it morning already."
"Yes. Why on earth are you out here like this?"
"I thought he'd get angry and open the door if I knocked all night, but I was mistaken."
It was absurd watching Ethan yawn calmly and stretch. Did he just say he stayed up all night trying to open Vincent's door? It would have been faster to snatch my key ring and force it open.
"Shall I open it for you?"
I asked, rummaging through my apron pocket. Ethan's eyes went round.
"You said I couldn't yesterday."
"I'll incur his hatred, but you don't like me anyway. Nothing will change if I'm hated more."
"I can't put you through such a difficult task."
Another refusal. It sounded like he was being considerate of me, but I'm not so sure.
"That said, you can't just keep holding out in front of the door like this. Who knows if it'll take days or months before it opens. As you know, the Master is quite stubborn."
At those words, Ethan seemed to ponder for a moment before shaking his head.
"I'll try a bit more."
"If you say so."
I pulled my hand out of my pocket and turned around. The sound of knocking echoed behind my back. I shook my head slowly. He'll come to his senses once his fist is swollen. That door won't open just because someone throws a tantrum.
But it seemed Ethan realized that fact in a short time too.
When I brought Vincent's lunch up, Ethan said with a troubled face.
"May I ask you after all?"
"Yes."
I passed him and inserted the key into the firmly shut door.
"Will he be very angry?"
"Stand by the doorframe. Don't come inside."
I couldn't say no.
Click, the door opened with a sound. Instantly, a stale smell pressed against my nose. Strange, the stench is particularly foul today? Frowning, I went straight to the window and pulled back the curtains. Bright rays of light illuminated the dark room. When I opened the window, a gentle breeze blew in and quelled the stench.
Ethan stood quietly by the doorframe as I told him. I approached Vincent.
"Master. It is time for lunch."
"…Go."
His voice was hoarse. Too hoarse to just be from sleep?
"Master?"
"……"
He wasn't one to answer readily, but something was off. When I drew closer and pulled back the sheet, I saw a face drenched in sweat. And vomit stains soaked the pillow.
"Master!"
I slapped his cheeks to wake him, but he wouldn't open his eyes. His condition was strange. I looked toward the door in alarm, and Ethan immediately turned around. Urgent footsteps echoed down the corridor.
Soon the personal physician arrived. He wore a shirt with misaligned buttons, wrinkled pants, and hadn't even put his shoes on properly. His crooked glasses indicated how urgently he had come.
"He's got indigestion."
"Pardon?"
"I heard he's been eating a bit more recently, but it seems he ate too much. Suddenly consuming a larger amount of food than usual is even worse for the body. It looks like he suffered all night."
No, how much did I even feed him. It was true he skipped breakfast this morning. He said he didn't want to eat and refused to move from bed, so I had no choice but to skip it, but to think it was because of indigestion. He couldn't even finish half his gruel last evening, so I forced him to eat a bit more, and his body clearly couldn't handle it.
"Really… he's so weak."
"His body has become considerably weakened. You must be careful."
"…Yes."
In the end, I got scolded by the physician. I secretly sighed while bowing to greet him as he left after finishing the examination. Getting scolded even for feeding him well. How about that.
After seeing him off and returning to the room, Ethan was sitting in front of the bed. His gaze was fixed on Vincent and never wavered for a moment. However, Vincent said nothing. Even knowing who was beside him, he didn't spare Ethan a single glance.
"Why have you become so thin."
At the end of the silence, Ethan murmured as if lamenting.
"Even thinner than when I last saw you… You've gotten so thin. You should take care of your health…."
Ethan, who had buried his face in his raised hand, bowed his head deeply. If you're like this, how am I supposed to look at the late Viscount's face… Murmuring thus, he seemed at a loss from the sorrow.
But Vincent was cold.
"Leave."
Ethan, who seemed to hold his breath for a moment, raised his head again. Vincent's gaze was still fixed on the ceiling.
"Vincent. Stop this and come outside. I'll help you."
"What exactly are you going to help with?"
"Anything. I'll do everything I can."
"Then can you give me back my sight?"
"……"
"You can't? Then stop spouting nonsense and get out."
How cold he could be. It was a conversation with blade-like hostility laid bare. Standing behind them, holding my breath as I listened, I clicked my tongue secretly. In vain contrast to Ethan's worry, Vincent's attitude toward him was extremely sharp. He had bristled all over with thorns, leaving the other person nothing but to be pricked.
But Ethan didn't back down easily either.
"How long are you going to keep holding out like this? Rumors are spreading everywhere. It's not that the Viscount of Belunita was injured at a party and is recuperating, but that something is actually wrong with his body and he's hiding it."
"……"
"You can't live like this forever."
"So what are you suggesting?"
"You need to reveal it now."
"You're telling me to die."
"Vincent."
"If it's said that Viscount Belunita has gone blind and can't see ahead, this time instead of an assassin, the very person who made me this way will come personally with a knife and stab me to death."
Vincent scoffed. Ethan shook his head.
"The person who made you this way probably already knows your condition."
"……"
Vincent's face, which had been wearing a sneer at the sharp point, stiffened. His sharply changed eyes were still directed at the ceiling, but their end was practically piercing into Ethan.
But there was no rebuttal. It meant he agreed with those words to some extent.
Silence flowed again. Misaligned gazes could not easily reach each other. Vincent shut his mouth. It meant he didn't want to talk anymore.
This was a meaningless time.
Ethan must have realized it too, as he let out a deep sigh.
"Vincent. Listen… if you're going to keep staying like this, I'm thinking of announcing your condition to the public."
At the shocking statement, Vincent whipped his head around. His suddenly widened eyes held horror. It was the same for me. I forgot to pretend I hadn't heard and looked at Ethan in surprise.
"Are you crazy?"
"Maybe."
"Ethan!"
Vincent shouted fiercely. Even so, Ethan didn't yield. A chillingly calm voice followed.
"Vincent. You're my precious friend, and I don't want to leave a friend like this any longer. This can't be hidden forever, and we need to prepare for what's ahead. You know that fact too, don't you? Knowing it and still acting like this is nothing more than a tantrum."
"……"
"I'll drag you out of here no matter what, and I don't care if it puts you in danger. Staying like this is poison to you too. Of course, I won't pay any attention to your wishes in the process."
"Stop spouting nonsense."
"Whether my words are nonsense or not, we'll see."
Ethan sprang up from his seat. Vincent didn't move a muscle. He seemed unable to even breathe properly from the great shock. His hand clutching the sheet was trembling. I worried he might have a seizure.
"Choose. Whether you'll convince me or not."
"……"
After the firm words, silence returned. Vincent didn't answer easily. He just glared fiercely at Ethan, and Ethan quietly watched Vincent do so. For a moment, it looked like sparks were crackling between them.
* * *
With the guest's arrival, my workload doubled. After attending to Vincent, I headed to the guest room. I changed the pillowcases, bedsheets, and linens, and cleaned. Basically, all rooms in this mansion were cleaned by maids at regular intervals to maintain cleanliness, but since it hadn't been used for a long time, there was quite a bit of dust in places not immediately visible.
First, I wiped the dusty windows. Ethan watched me do it.
"How is Vincent?"
I rubbed the window with a dry cloth and glanced at him before answering.
"If you're curious, perhaps you should go see for yourself."
"It would be appreciated if you would tell me, Miss Maid."
His smiling face was annoying. I sighed.
Contrary to my advice, the day things blew up, Ethan ended up turning everything upside down before leaving the room. Seeing him depart with a firm attitude that he would absolutely not back down this time, even I was at a loss for words.
'Show me. Show me you're making an effort. Make me believe it's okay to leave you as you are, give me peace of mind.'
'You're terribly stubborn, but I have no patience. I'll give you two days.'
Vincent's fist trembled violently. Unable to see, he couldn't even get out of bed to try stopping his friend. Instead, he had a seizure. I rushed to him and put the respirator to his mouth. His face, inhaling the air that came whistling in, was steeped in misery. His pride must have been deeply wounded.