# 48
48. The Secret Maid of the Count's House (1)
'Stop looking.'
'Pardon?'
'My face stings.'
I observed his condition in between reading the book. No, I observed his condition every moment. He must have noticed that, as he furrowed his brows.
'Don't worry. I won't die.'
'…….'
'It's fine.'
It really is fine. He said firmly in a calm voice. I thought it was a relief if that was the case, but the anxiety taking up a corner of my heart only grew day by day.
His side profile facing the window looked as if he had resigned himself, yet somewhat at peace. Perhaps he had known this situation would arise since a long time ago.
I was worried about Violet, who had left like that that day. The letters that used to come every two days had completely stopped. When I asked Ethan, he said she had returned safely, thankfully. But hearing that she cried in her room every night made my heart heavy. How difficult must it be for her alone. I considered writing a letter, but didn't, fearing it might cause unnecessary trouble.
Ethan patted my shoulder as I worried and comforted me.
'Violet is strong. She's the strongest among us, so don't worry. She'll recover soon.'
'Yes.'
For that moment, I desperately wished his words were true. But it wasn't an easy problem. Praying that Violet wouldn't suffer any greater wounds, and that no more painful things would happen to them, was all I could do.
It was on my way back from delivering the laundry to Renica and receiving the new ones, as always.
"Paula."
I turned around at the sudden call and saw Lucas standing there. He was dressed in outing clothes.
Since that commotion, I had barely seen Lucas. Once Vincent holed up in his room, Lucas rarely came out of his room either.
Ethan had looked busy and left the mansion a few days ago. Before leaving, he met Vincent. Then he came out of the room and greeted me.
'Please take care of Vincent.'
His voice lacked energy, and his face was full of apology. At such an uncharacteristic appearance, this time I patted his arm. Whether my comfort to cheer him up reached him or not, Ethan smiled brightly.
Like that, even Ethan left, and only Lucas remained in this mansion.
So this was a conversation after a long time.
"Lord Lucas. Where are you going?"
"I'm planning to go back tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?"
"Yes, I decided to. My older brother went back first because he was busy with work."
I was a bit surprised for a moment, but soon nodded.
"Will you be alright?"
I thought of Lucas, who trembled with fear when he saw James. That wasn't simply trembling from meeting a feared opponent. It was a much older emotion. And the words he had said too... Ah!
Having gone through such a huge incident, I had momentarily forgotten. It was something I shouldn't have forgotten. Flustered by my feeling of guilt, Lucas didn't seem to notice my state. He calmly continued speaking.
"I'm fine. Thank you for worrying."
"......It's a pity you're leaving."
"Really?"
Lucas asked with a mischievous smile, but I nodded immediately. It was true. His presence had filled this silent mansion considerably.
He laughed even more deeply.
"Then, will you hang out with me today?"
"Today?"
"Yes."
My eyes widened. Lucas held out his hand to me.
"Give me your time today, Paula."
'Because it's the last.'
Saying that, I couldn't bring myself to refuse. After getting permission from Isabella, I hurriedly finished preparing and followed him to the village below the mansion. I had always wanted to go but never dared to, and somehow I ended up coming with him.
As we entered the entrance, lively sounds burst forth. The inside of the village was so wide that its end was unseen, and the buildings were large and splendid. Even with the same color scheme, the shapes of the buildings were all different. It reminded me of a large city rather than a village.
The village was teeming with people. There were people busy doing their own work, and women gathered here and there chatting. Children were running around the streets playing excitedly.
As we went a little further inside, a shopping district appeared. Merchants raised their voices to attract customers.
It was distinctly different from the village I lived in. It was my first time in such a large place, so it was incredibly fascinating. I was so busy looking around, turning my head left and right. Lucas held my hand like that. Surprised, I looked up at him, and he smiled nonchalantly and held it tighter.
"Because you mustn't get lost."
It was a slightly embarrassing contact, but I didn't purposely pull away. As he said, there were many people so the possibility of getting lost was high, and because today was the last.
"Paula, this way."
He led me to a street stall. There, a few young women were already squatting and looking at the items. The colorful and splendid accessories placed on the cloth spread on the ground caught my eye. Each and every one of them was pretty.
While I was looking around in admiration, Lucas picked up one of them. It was a hair accessory shaped like a large flower with two small flowers roundly attached on both sides, surrounded by vines. He pinned it in my hair.
"It's pretty."
"Ah, thank you."
I fumbled with the accessory pinned in my hair. When the vendor said he'd give it for cheap since I picked a good one, Lucas immediately rummaged through his jacket. I quickly stopped him.
"I'll give it to you as a gift."
"Just looking at it is enough."
"I want to give it to you."
"It's really fine. More importantly, aren't you hungry?"
As I smoothly changed the subject, Lucas narrowed his eyes. It was a dissatisfied gaze, but I tried hard to ignore it and pointed to a nearby restaurant. When I urged him to go eat quickly since I was hungry, he sighed and took his hand out of his jacket.
"The food over there is tastier than that place."
"Then let's go there."
I quickly took off the accessory pinned in my hair and pushed his back.
The restaurant I followed Lucas to had a large building and many people. It must be a famous place. He skillfully found a seat and ordered food.
A moment later, a large amount of food came out, enough to fill the table. No, who's going to eat all this? Moreover, they were all things I was seeing for the first time in my life.
I picked up the fish dish closest to me and ate it. At the taste that melted in my mouth, I opened my eyes wide. Oh my god. I picked up another piece and put it in my mouth, then tore into the meat dish next to it. This was also delicious enough to melt my tongue.
Devouring all the dishes like that, I got full in no time. To exaggerate a little, I ate until my stomach felt like it would burst. Even so, there was so much food left that it was a waste. I wanted to take all the leftovers back to the mansion.
"Was it delicious?"
"Yes. Very much."
Thanks to that, I ate so much that it was even hard to walk.
"Is there anywhere you want to go?"
"Um. I just want to look around here and there in the village."
"Okay. Then shall we look around?"
Lucas held my hand again. This time, I held his hand tightly too. He led me with a joyful smile.
We walked around the village holding hands like that. The village was bigger than I had thought, and there were as many fascinating places. I looked around and lost him sometimes, and bought and ate food sold on the streets. Once, I mistakenly entered a strange place and scrambled to get out. Then my legs hurt from wandering lost, so I squatted on the street to rest.
But even during that time, we kept laughing. Even the hardships were enjoyable. I decided to forget complicated thoughts for just this moment. I had to force myself to do so. Otherwise, an uncontrollable sadness would torment him and me. I didn't want that right now.
It was a fleeting moment.
While I was looking around absentmindedly, the sun had already set. I was worried about Vincent who would be sleeping, and it was almost time to prepare his dinner. I had to return to the mansion now.
I looked up at the sunset sky and then at Lucas. He was also looking at the sunset. The crimson sunset dyed his face. Feeling my gaze, he looked back at me and smiled as always. But perhaps because of the sunset. A bitterness seeped from his smile.
We returned to the mansion before the sun completely fell.
"Paula. I had fun today."
"Me too."
I raised the corners of my mouth long and high. I really had fun. I had been so depressed lately, and today was a great comfort. Once Lucas leaves too, only silence will linger in the mansion, so I felt a bit reluctant to part on one hand.
"I need to prepare the Master's dinner, so I'll go in first."
Saying that, I quickened my steps toward the mansion. It was because I thought Vincent might be waiting.
"Paula."
At that moment, Lucas called me. When I turned around, Lucas was standing as if nailed to the spot, looking at me. Behind him, the sun had set. His shadowed face was hard to see.
"Lord Lucas?"
"Paula, you know..."
"Yes."
He paused for a moment. He seemed to be hesitating. What is he trying to say to act like that? As I calmly waited, he continued speaking.
"I will never forget this moment."
Laughter lingered in his voice. I couldn't see his face well, but I could imagine him smiling. Did he hesitate that long just to say that? It's nothing special. If there's another chance later, I'd like to come out to play like this again. At that time, it would be nice if Vincent, Ethan, and Violet could all join us. Imagining that day, I smiled back.
"Me too."
And I turned my body again and headed to the mansion.
As soon as I went inside, I immediately prepared Vincent's meal. I hurriedly brought it without even changing my clothes, but Vincent refused the meal, saying he had no appetite.
"Just one bite."
"I really have no appetite."
"Still..."
"I want to sleep, so get out."
He slept all day long. I tried to make him eat even a spoonful somehow, but he was firm. He turned his body toward the wall, curled up tightly, and closed his eyes. I regretted not bringing some delicious food when I went to the village.
Understanding his current state, I didn't force him to eat. Instead, telling him to eat later if he gets hungry, I left the meal on the bedside table and came out of the room.
I sighed, went to my room, and changed out of my outing clothes. I also fixed my messy hair, and when I came back out to the hallway, darkness had settled.
I looked out the window and Lucas wasn't there. He must have returned to his room? Thinking so, I pointlessly scanned the scenery outside the window. Then I became worried about his meal too. Thinking he might be eating alone, I went down to his room.
I knocked on the door, but there was no response. I knocked again, knock knock. It was still quiet. 'Lord Lucas? I'll open the door.' Saying that made no difference.
When I opened the door, there was no one in the room. I couldn't find any trace of him having entered either. Wondering, I looked out the hallway window again. There was still no one where he had been standing just a moment ago. Thinking he might have gone to the dining hall, I went down, but he wasn't there either.
Did he leave already? But his luggage in the room was still there. Just in case, I checked the places he might have gone. However, Lucas was nowhere to be seen.