# 91
91. That Strange Guest Remains Strange (5)
After that, simple greetings were exchanged centered around Joelli, followed by a lukewarm conversation. Mostly it was Joelli speaking with Vincent and Ethan responding. For me waiting in the back, it was a boring time. Alicia also seemed bored, secretly yawning.
Robert, who was eating dessert, whined to be held by the nursemaid, apparently full. Once held, he fiddled with a horse figurine in the nursemaid's arms and fell asleep. Joelli, who had been looking at Robert affectionately, asked Ethan.
"You're still really busy these days, right? Has it at least settled down somewhat?"
"More or less. Work is still busy though."
"You really have it hard too."
"Violet has it harder than me."
My ears perked up at the familiar name.
"How is she? Does she still look like she's struggling?"
"She's still a bit overwhelmed, but she's working hard. Come to think of it, does Robert still look for Violet a lot these days?"
"It's decreased a bit recently. I heard they're exchanging letters."
"Letters? Didn't you say it's hard to get replies?"
When Ethan looked puzzled, Joelli laughed. The nursemaid next to her laughed along. Vincent quietly sipped his tea. Ethan looked back and forth between the three and asked what was going on.
"Vincent went directly to get the replies for him."
"And he's been continuously helping out since then."
The nursemaid added an explanation. I looked at Vincent in surprise.
I hadn't known that. I thought it ended with delivering one letter reply. Since Robert hadn't written a reply back then, I thought that was the end of it, but it seems the letters had been continuing. I had no idea Vincent had been putting in the effort throughout the process. I was, somewhat, impressed.
But it seemed I wasn't the only one impressed. Though his expression remained stiff, surprise was evident on Ethan's face as he looked at Vincent. Vincent must have felt Ethan's gaze, yet he only sipped his tea.
"You have no idea how much Robert likes it."
Joelli smiled happily. But soon a bitter light appeared in her eyes.
"It would be even better if Violet could make time, but……."
She hid her expression by taking a sip of tea, but couldn't erase the worry from her face. Ethan and Vincent also silently drank their tea. Sensing a subtle tension, I felt puzzled, but soon Joelli began rambling her worries about Violet.
"What did that kind, beautiful, and pretty child do wrong to suffer like that. Uncle went too far. She grew up without getting a single drop of water on her hands."
"It might be good for her to experience getting her hands wet once."
When Ethan argued back, Joelli glared fiercely. Ethan subtly averted his gaze and bit into a cookie.
"Couldn't you have made a choice for her sake?"
This time the blame was directed at Vincent.
"It was Violet's choice."
"That's exactly when you should have stepped up and protected her! Not just watch silently! Aren't you sorry to her at all!"
"Yes. It's all my fault."
"If you admit it that easily, what does that make me!"
Vincent made a face asking what he was supposed to do about it. Beside him, Ethan sighed and shook his head. Judging by their attitudes, it seemed like a topic that came up often.
"Never mind all that. I should have stopped her when she said she'd take that difficult path. I should have somehow talked her out of it. She was so resolute, but it's my mistake for not stopping her until the end."
"As Vincent said, it was Violet's choice. We have no right to stop her. And the consequences of that choice are also Violet's burden to bear."
"I know that. I know, but…… I'm still upset, what can I do."
Seeing Joelli on the verge of tears, her love for Violet seemed considerable. Well, she was someone with a disposition that anyone would love. The Violet in my memory remained as a gentle person who was kind even to me, who was beneath her. Hearing that such a person had a forced marriage and then lost her husband, my heart grew heavy.
"Vincent. You've made yourself disliked by me. You know that?"
"How terrifying."
"That attitude of yours! The reason I'm acting like this here is all because of you—!"
At that moment, a crash rang out.
In the blink of an eye, the teacup Vincent was holding fell to the floor. The tea that spilled as the cup fell thoroughly soaked his hand. Water dripped steadily from his fingertips. At his feet, the teacup was shattered to pieces.
"Sorry. It seems my grip slipped."
Vincent tilted his head sideways. Contrary to his words, not a trace of apology could be found on his face. It was common knowledge to everyone here that he hadn't dropped it but thrown it to the floor.
A heavy silence instantly settled over the drawing room. Joelli stared at the broken teacup with a startled face, and Ethan clicked his tongue, signaling Audrey with his eyes.
Just as Audrey, who had dampened a clean towel with cold water, was about to take a step, someone quickly approached Vincent.
"Are you alright?"
Alicia carefully covered Vincent's hand with the wet towel. She acted faster than anyone else present. Her worry-filled face examined Vincent's hand. Meanwhile, she subtly stroked his hand.
I also examined Vincent's condition in alarm. I was worried he might have been scalded by the hot tea. Fortunately, apart from his wet pant cuff, he didn't seem to have any injuries.
"You didn't burn yourself anywhere, right?"
"I'm fine."
Vincent, who received everyone's attention, replied calmly. Then he turned his head. As his eyes met mine watching him, he quickly looked away.
"Ann. Please clean up the broken pieces."
"Yes, understood."
Gathering my dazed mind, I grabbed a fresh towel and approached him. After kneeling before him, I wiped the tea soaking the floor with the towel. Then I picked up the broken pieces and placed them in my apron. Audrey came over holding a broom to help.
Meanwhile, Ethan sorted out the situation.
"Joelli, I fully understand your feelings, so let's end this conversation here. It doesn't look good to others. I'll make time to meet with Violet separately."
"……Alright."
Joelli picked up her teacup with a dissatisfied face. She gulped down the tea as if her insides were burning. I heard a low voice saying "coward," but Vincent paid no mind and picked up a cookie to eat. Ethan looked back and forth between the two before letting out a small sigh. The razor-sharp atmosphere finally softened considerably.
"More importantly, Vincent. I was thinking of staying here for a few days, also as a vacation."
Once the atmosphere settled, Ethan changed the subject. I subtly raised my head and observed them. Vincent, who had been casting his eyes down, looked up.
"Here? There are other mansions."
"I think this place would be fine. It's quiet, and Robert is here too."
"……."
"Is that alright?"
A hint of playfulness lingered in Ethan's voice. Vincent didn't answer immediately. Silence circled the room again. Just as I felt that silence growing a bit long and heavy, Vincent's answer came.
"Then I'll assign someone to attend to you."
Vincent gave Audrey a look. She nodded as if to say she'd choose a suitable person. But then Ethan said something unexpected.
"I'd like to request that person."
Then he pointed somewhere. Following his fingertip, everyone's gaze gathered.
That is, toward me.
I, who had been holding the apron wrapped with broken pieces and carefully rising, stopped awkwardly. Who, me? Receiving everyone's attention at once, I looked at Ethan in bewilderment. Ethan, who was pointing precisely at me, relaxed his stiff expression and smiled warmly.
"Please take good care of me."
Why had I overlooked this situation.
He was still a strange guest.
"Why on earth did you do that!"
As soon as I was alone with Ethan, I backed him into a corner and placed one hand against the wall beside his face. I couldn't hide my anger.
"Paula. This makes me really nervous."
"Don't joke around!"
Even in this situation, Ethan's playful attitude was absurd.
"Oh my. I made a mistake. I forgot that Paula is quite shy. I should have told you secretly instead of asking openly."
"That's not the reason!"
"Then what's the problem?"
His shameless behavior nearly made me choke.
Going back to the earlier situation, everyone looked at me at Ethan's sudden remark. The questions contained therein pierced through me. Why on earth? Do they know each other?
Audrey was the first to calmly speak up.
'Begging your pardon, but Ann's provisional employment period is almost over.'
'Then we can just extend the provisional employment period. Or formally hire her.'
When Ethan calmly countered, Audrey showed a troubled expression. Ah, so I had to leave this place once my provisional employment period ended. I had worried that the period might be extended, so I fretted for nothing. I shook off those unnecessary thoughts and sent Ethan a look telling him to stop. Ethan paid no mind to my gaze and smiled calmly.
Joelli slightly furrowed her brow as she looked back and forth between Ethan and me. The nursemaid also cast curious glances, and Alicia kept stealing looks at me. As an uncomfortable silence flowed, only Robert's soft breathing could be heard.
Eventually, Vincent, who couldn't stand it anymore, asked.
'Do you two know each other?'
'We know each other quite well. I owe her a great debt from before.'
"Why on earth did you do that! Why did you say that!"
With his shameless lie, Vincent's permission was granted. Something about being acquaintances so I'd serve him well or whatnot. Thanks to that, my provisional employment period was also extended. I belatedly objected saying 'I'm not confident,' but it didn't take effect at all.
"I thought it would be convenient if Paula attended to me."
"Lord Ethan!"
"Well, that's an excuse. I just wanted to spend more time together?"
"What?"
At the creepy remark, I vigorously scratched my arm. I took a step back and went on guard, and Ethan smiled as if embarrassed.
"Don't look at me like that. It's not like that."
"I know that too. It's just the feeling was a bit……. Anyway, what were you thinking?"
"Are you frustrated?"
"……."
"I also wondered if this was fate."
Was he trying to talk about fate just because we met again? Then are all the villagers I happen to bump into on the street also fate?
"Aren't you curious too, Paula?"
"About what."
Judging that I couldn't reverse this situation, I made a sullen face. I remembered Alicia making a terrifying face when my provisional employment period was extended. I wasn't scared, but it was obvious things would become troublesome. Earlier, when I went separately to Audrey and insisted on working only for the original period, she misunderstood that I was doing it for my sibling and told me she'd extend Alicia's period too. It was a bad result in many ways.
All because of this man.
"What exactly are you trying to say!"
"Whether Vincent has forgotten Paula, or if he'll remember."
"……."
"Aren't you curious?"
"……I'm not curious."
My head turned first, and my answer came a beat late. I wasn't curious. I didn't want to be curious.