# 16
16. The Count Household's Strange Guest (6)
"I told you it's impossible."
"Still, there must be some way."
While wondering what would be good, nothing really came to mind. Show me that you're making an effort. What exactly does making an effort look like? It's too difficult a concept.
Should I show him eating well, sleeping well, fighting well? No, even if I make an effort, if the other side doesn't accept it as effort, then it's not 'making an effort' in the end. So that means I have to show effort that the other person can understand... It felt like wordplay.
"There isn't. If only my eyes could see."
"If your eyes could see... Ah!"
She clapped her hands. Why hadn't she thought of that? There was such an easy method. No, he had already told her.
"That would work then."
"What?"
Vincent sent her a look asking what nonsense she was spouting. I looked back at him and smiled happily.
"I can't do it. I told you it's impossible."
"You can do it. Here, give me your hand."
I reached my hand out as far as possible to reach him even a little more. But he didn't move. I urged him again. Hurry up. Then, as if hesitating, he reached out his hand, but flinched the moment it touched my waiting fingertips.
After that happened a few times, his hand finally came to rest on my palm. I gripped that hand tightly, afraid he might run away again.
"It's okay. I'll hold on tight."
The effort that Ethan mentioned. I didn't know exactly what it was, but I decided to think simply. I got a hint from what Ethan said when he made the bet in the study.
'If you can get Vincent to come out of his room even one step, I'll grant you one wish.'
So that means he wants to see that sight. Then I just need to show him. The sight of him walking out of his room alone, without anyone's support, just like when his eyes could see.
Of course it won't be easy.
That was the reason I was coaxing and persuading Vincent like this.
I took one step back. He didn't move. I took another step back, but he only leaned his upper body forward without taking a step. I stepped back once more. He lowered his eyes and finally got off the bed.
Tap. The sound of his foot pressing against the floor was like an angel's trumpet.
"Slowly, take one step at a time like a baby taking its first steps."
"Don't exaggerate."
Even saying that, he looked determined just to take a single step.
After hesitating for a moment, Vincent stepped forward with a stiff expression. I also took a step back following him, pushing aside anything that might hinder his movement.
"Yes. You're doing well."
"I didn't hurt my legs."
"Still."
Hobbling step by step, at some point he began walking with larger strides. I glanced back while guiding him toward the door. His calm footsteps quickly reached the door.
"See, it's not that hard, right?"
"Don't treat me like a child."
Such stubbornness. When I know full well he's scared.
He was gripping my hand so tightly that it felt numb. But I knew how much courage it took for him to walk out. His room was very large, and there was quite a distance from the bed to the door. A short distance for me, but it must have been a long, long time for him.
"You did well."
"Are you satisfied with just this and going back?"
"I will be."
Of course, I wasn't certain. At my answer, Vincent reluctantly turned around with a very disgruntled expression. But he suddenly stopped and didn't move. When I looked at him wondering why, his face showed he didn't know which way to go.
"You can go this way."
Even as I held his hand and guided him, he didn't move.
"Why?"
"I can't do it."
"You did well earlier."
"That's because you were holding my hand. Look now, I can't even walk without you."
The confidence disappeared from his face. He looked like a lost child. He was clearly bigger and more remarkable than me, but in my eyes he looked as fragile as a child.
That's how unstable his condition was.
"Master. I somewhat agree with Lord Christopher. You can't live like this forever. I was hired knowing your condition from the start, but will the other servants never know forever? What about the other people who know you?"
Words spread before you can even grasp them. If a servant working at the mansion sneaks into the annex and accidentally sees Vincent's appearance, if one of the annex servants leaks the word outside, the rumor will spread in an instant. Then people will try to find out whether that rumor is true or not.
"Someday there will come a moment when everyone knows your condition. Will you still stay only in your room then?"
"...I understand. I understand, so stop nagging."
"If you understand well, that's enough."
"You talk too much for a maid."
He swept his face with one hand and groaned. I took his hand and walked back to the bed. Then I guided him to walk to the door once more.
After doing that two or three more times, Vincent seemed to get the hang of it. He gained a little more confidence in taking steps. So this time I changed the method.
"From now on, I'll let go of your hand midway."
"What?"
"Don't make it too difficult. Even if I let go of your hand, you just need to keep walking forward."
I turned his stiff body and placed him in a position where he could reach the door if he just walked straight. Then I held his hand again and led him forward. Even heavier footsteps were taken than before.
"I can't do it."
"You can do it. Now, shall I let go?"
"Wait. Don't let go yet."
He shook his head quickly. I walked backward while glancing back. When we were halfway across the room, I asked again.
"Is it okay now?"
"Not yet."
So when we walked a bit more, I asked again.
"How about now?"
"Not yet."
Just how long will he keep saying 'not yet'? We'll reach the doorway soon.
"I'm letting go now."
"Just a moment."
When I relaxed my grip to let go, he grabbed my hand tightly. I glanced back and said.
"I'm letting go."
"Wai—!"
I mercilessly released his hand and quickly stepped back.
His footsteps immediately stopped. His eyes, trembling with anxiety, darted around. Both his hands followed. His face stiffened with tension as he realized I wasn't beside him.
I told him to keep walking as is, but he quickly lost his direction and floundered about. I made a loud noise and took two steps back.
"This way, Master."
"Where, where are you."
"Here. Toward this sound."
He turned his head following my voice. But he didn't easily move.
"Just walk forward, Master."
"I can't go."
"You haven't even taken one step yet."
"I can't do it."
"You can. It's not like you hurt your legs."
I reached out both hands for him as he approached. He still hesitated. Just one step—he couldn't muster the courage for that one step.
The wait was long. Vincent couldn't easily move. He kept hesitating, wetting his dry lips with his tongue.
I quietly waited for him. Hoping he would gather the courage to take one step, and gain confidence from that one step. This was something he had to overcome on his own.
"Don't worry. If you fall, I'll catch you."
To do that, I put all my strength into my legs. So I could dash forward at any moment.
Vincent was silent. The longer his hesitation grew, the more anxious I became. I was worried he might truly give up, saying he couldn't do it.
But at that moment, he took a step.
And one step, another step. He slowly began to approach me. I deliberately stomped on the floor, thump, thump, while stepping back.
"Yes, you're coming well."
I widened my stride as I walked backward and stood outside the door in an instant. He was walking carefully, gauging the direction by my footsteps.
I reached out both hands with all my might. I leaned my upper body forward to reach him quickly at any time. My eyes were solely on him.
He, who was walking carefully, also soon reached the doorway.
Now only one step remained.
"The door is right ahead."
He reached out his hand toward me. His large body pushed forward. I also leaned forward to receive him. But at that moment, he slipped on something he hadn't moved out of the way.
His body tilted. Seeing that, I unconsciously tried to take a step forward, but he suddenly lifted his face. Clear emerald eyes looked straight ahead. As if knowing I was there, reaching toward me.
Don't move.
That's what it seemed to say. I stopped the foot I was about to step forward with.
He quickly stepped with his other foot and regained his balance. Then he staggered forward another step. His large hand reached toward me again. I also reached both hands toward him. His body passed by the doorway and came toward me.
I hugged him tightly.
"Master!"
As soon as he fell into my arms, his knees buckled. Barely catching his collapsing body, I sat down on the floor and bumped my nose against his shoulder. Then with a thud! a stinging pain rose in my bottom.
But that pain was quickly forgotten. The warmth filling my arms came first.
"Haa, haa."
Rough breathing lingered by my ear. His sweat dampened my nape. His hand was gripping my back. The trembling in that hand, the tension in his body transmitted to me. And only then did I realize that he had walked out the door on his own.
An overwhelming emotion surged up. I sniffled with a stinging nose and patted his back.
"You did well. You really did well."
I whispered repeatedly as if to soothe him. Vincent buried his face in my shoulder and quietly steadied his breathing. Golden hair pricked my cheeks. It was a ticklish sensation, but rather I rubbed my cheek against his hair. Knowing the emotions he must be feeling right now, I couldn't move.
We sat on the floor like that for a long time.