The Count's Secret Maid - Chapter 45

Translation: godsn

What kind of dance was so enthralling that you'd get completely absorbed and then excitedly dance your way right into a fountain? And we're talking about full-grown adults here. Just recalling that scene made me burst into laughter. Spinning round and round so giddily that we didn't even realize we were approaching the fountain. Anyone watching would've thought, "What are those idiots doing?"

I threw my head back and laughed. Though my entire body was soaked and uncomfortable, strangely enough, my mind felt refreshingly clear. Maybe it was from falling into the fountain. That thought made me laugh even harder. Whether it was our ridiculous state or the absurdity of the situation, I couldn't tell—all I knew was that this moment was utterly hilarious and joyful.

Neither he nor I could stop laughing for the longest time.

Amidst our merry laughter, the sudden clattering of teeth from the chill brought me back to my senses. The fountain water continued pouring down behind us. If we stayed like this, we might end up bedridden by morning.

First, I helped Vincent up from where he'd collapsed. His entire body was drenched. So was mine—completely soaked through. When I squeezed the hem of my negligee, water trickled out in streams. Gathering my hair to wring it, it felt like an entire basin's worth poured out.

After squeezing out as much water as I could, I brushed aside the bangs stubbornly clinging to my face. At that moment, Vincent turned to look at me. Meeting his gaze, I saw him place one hand over his chest and the other behind his back. Then, with one foot stepped back, he bowed slightly.

Though startled by the sudden gesture, I quickly realized what he was doing. Chuckling, I lifted the edges of my negligee slightly with both hands and curtsied in return.

And so, we exchanged bows—our way of thanking each other for the dance.

"How was it? Not too difficult, was it?"

Vincent lifted his face slightly.

"A little bit."

I mirrored him, raising my head as well.

And we burst into laughter again.

Both completely drenched, we stepped out of the fountain. The chilly wind made our bodies shiver uncontrollably. We couldn't stay outside any longer. Hunching over, we hurried back to the mansion.

The moment we entered his room, I grabbed towels to dry him off before handing him fresh sleepwear. While he changed, I used a towel to wipe away the dripping water from myself.

Once changed, he lay down on the bed. His face looked noticeably more at ease.

"Shall I stay until you fall asleep?"

"I don't need you to, so get out."

"Don't hold back and end up crying for no reason. This is your last chance—I won't come back."

"Shall I throw you out myself?"

Still as temperamental as ever.

"Have pleasant dreams this time."

"You too."

He closed his eyes. I pulled the sheets up to his neck before leaving the room. Then I carefully entered my own, making sure not to wake Violet.

But in the lamplit glow of the room, someone was sitting there. I nearly screamed in shock. Frozen in place, I could only blink rapidly until the figure gradually came into focus, bringing me back to my senses.

"Lady Violet?"

"Where have you been?"

The unlit shadows veiled her face. Closing the door, I approached her and placed the lamp on the bedside table. Yet, perhaps because the lamplight was too dim, her expression seemed strangely somber.

"I went for a walk."

"And then?"

Violet's eyes swept over me from head to toe. Following her gaze, I reassessed my own disheveled state. With an awkward smile, I rubbed my face with the towel. Explaining that I'd slipped and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠fallen into the water, I turned to change my clothes.

"Paula."

"Yes?"

"Were you alone?"

I hesitated briefly. Just as I was about to say no—

"Or were there two of you?"

"......"

"Did you go with Vincent?"

It didn't sound like she was asking out of curiosity. Her voice had grown subdued. When I turned to look, the lamplight revealed Violet's composed face. It wasn't the same face that had been cheerfully laughing with me earlier. It was cold. I'd never seen her make that expression before.

Why would she ask such a thing? Though puzzled, I couldn't bring myself to answer easily. Because her demeanor was so unlike her usual self. For some reason, I grew tense. When I hesitated instead of answering immediately, Violet gave a faint smile. That smile was different too.

"I see."

"......"

"Paula, I—"

Then she stopped speaking and simply looked at me. Our eyes met, and I could see various emotions flickering across her calm pupils. For some reason, the air felt sharp against my skin.

She seemed genuinely angry. Or was I mistaken?

"Lady Violet?"

"...... No, it's nothing. Go change your clothes and get some rest."

Violet lay back down on the bed. The abrupt end to our conversation left me with an inexplicably uneasy feeling. I turned away, watching her curled back for a moment, then changed out of my wet negligee. I set the discarded garment aside and turned off the lamp before lying down beside her.

Violet remained turned away from me, while I stared blankly at the dark ceiling. The room was silent. As if the lively chatter from earlier had been a dream, neither of us spoke.

An uncomfortable silence stretched between us.

"Paula."

She called my name softly.

"Yes?"

I answered promptly.

"You know..."

"Yes?"

"I think... I'm a very ugly person."

Puzzled by her words, I turned to look at her. Violet still had her back to me. It felt like an impenetrable wall.

"Truly ugly."

"Why would you think that?"

"Just... a feeling."

"That's not true. You're ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠beautiful."

I spoke firmly. I meant it. I'd never seen anyone as beautiful as her. There were plenty of pretty faces, but people with beautiful hearts were rare. She was beautiful both inside and out.

Violet ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠let out a faint laugh at my words. But for some reason, it lacked strength.

"You're such a good person, Paula."

"That's because of you, Lady Violet."

"Me?"

"Yes. You've always been so kind to me. Even though I'm just a lowly servant, you treated me as an equal, looking me in the eye and showing me kindness. Because of you, I got to wear beautiful dresses, attend parties, and even dance. I was truly happy. And... I was so grateful when you said you liked someone as insignificant as me. Truly. Actually, it was the first time anyone's ever said that ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to me. So to me, Lady Violet, you're truly beautiful and wonderful."

"......"

"Ah, I don't just mean your face. Though your face is beautiful too."

Afraid she might misunderstand, I emphasized that I wasn't just talking about her appearance. But no response came from her. Had she really gotten angry? As the silence dragged on, my suspicion turned to certainty. Flustered at not knowing why she was upset, I shifted closer to her.

"Lady Violet?"

"...... Mm."

"Are you... angry?"

"No."

"You're not?"

"Mm. I'm not angry."

Finally, she turned over. Our gazes met, filled with questions and sorrow. Sorrow? Why was she looking at me with such sad eyes?

She gave a slight smile. Yet the sadness still rippled through her.

"I must have done something wrong."

"Oh dear, I told you I'm not angry."

"Then...?"

"I suppose waking up in the middle of the night just put me in a bit of a mood."

She lifted the corner of her mouth. But even her smile seemed weak.

"Paula. May I ask you for a favor?"

"Yes. Anything you wish."

"Don't fall in love with Vincent."

At those unexpected words, my eyes widened in shock. What kind of... Even as I thought it absurd, my breath caught in my throat. I let my confusion show plainly on my face.

Violet, her smile now gone, continued speaking.

"Don't love him. If you think you might... just run away instead. Run far, far away and live your life. I truly want Paula to be happy. I want to wish for your happiness."

"......"

"But not with Vincent."

Her calm voice made the request. Her solemn face issued a threat. It felt like a warning—telling me not to interfere between her and him any further.

"He won't do."

I parted my lips slightly. I needed to say something... I had to... I should explain it's a misunderstanding... But the words wouldn't come. Strangely, my throat felt blocked, as if something were stuck there, and no sound emerged.

Violet looked at me with a sorrowful smile. Then she closed her eyes. I remained silent the entire time. Though my mind screamed that I shouldn't stay quiet, I couldn't bring myself to say anything.

Only after hearing her breathing even out did I finally open my mouth.

"I won't."

"......"

Her steady breaths showed no reaction.

I watched Violet as she slept for a while before closing my own eyes. The memory of us dancing joyfully beneath the glittering chandelier faded into darkness. The golden hair that had shimmered under the falling stars, the affectionate face that had gazed at me—all were swallowed by the shadows. The sound of her cheerful laughter no longer reached my ears.

I forcibly buried the emotions rising in my chest. Curling into myself, I hugged my chilled body tight.

It was a strangely cold night, despite not being alone.

'You just need to stay like that forever.'

Alicia tossed back her wavy hair as she spoke. Tilting her head back, she looked at me with something like pity for a pitiful creature.

'Don't do anything.'

The blatant mockery in her voice made it sting all the more.

'That's all you're good for.'

I didn't even bother responding—because I knew that truth better than anyone. There was nothing I could do. I had no strength, no ability, nothing to my name. Even the few things I'd once held close had slipped through my fingers like sand, leaving me hollow.

There was nothing.

Not that I'd ever been greedy for more. Staying alive was more important than anything else. Just one more day, as long as possible—that was the extent of my wishes.

So obeying Violet's words wasn't hard. In truth, it wasn't even a matter of choice. There was nothing to consider.

"Maid."

I was staring blankly at the sky when Ethan called. As I approached, he asked about Vincent's whereabouts.

"Where's Vincent? He's not in his room."

"He went for a walk with Lady Violet in the back forest."

Violet had come to Vincent's room early this morning, suggesting they take a stroll. Vincent had asked me to join, but I refused. I didn't want to intrude on them, nor did I feel like walking.

"When will he be back?"

"I'm not sure."

"Hmm. It'd be good if he stayed out a while longer."

"Why?"

"Well, you see—"

Just then, a commotion erupted from outside. Ethan and I looked out the window to see five people approaching.

Four men and one woman—among them, the butler. The butler was speaking to the others as they walked, his manner polite, but there was an odd urgency to him, as if he were desperately trying to dissuade them. Yet the others showed no hesitation in their approach. If anything, their steps were brisk.

"Oh dear."

Ethan clicked his tongue. I kept my eyes on them. Something about their demeanor felt... off.