The Count's Secret Maid - Chapter 48

Translation: godsn

'Stop looking.'

'Pardon?'

'My face is burning.'

Between reading the book, I kept checking his condition. No—I was checking his state every single moment. He must have noticed because he furrowed his brows.

'Don't worry. I won't die.'

'......'

'I'm fine.'

I'm really fine. He said firmly in that calm voice of his. While part of me was relieved to hear that, the anxiety rooted in another corner of my heart only grew larger with each passing day.

His profile turned toward the window looked resigned yet somehow at peace. Perhaps he'd known all along that things would come to this.

What worried me was Violet, who had left that way that day. The letters that used to arrive every other day had completely stopped. When I asked Ethan, he said she'd fortunately returned safely. But hearing that she cried in her room every night left me with a complicated heart. How hard must it be for her ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠alone? I considered writing her a letter, but fearing it might cause unnecessary trouble, I couldn't bring myself to do it.

Ethan comforted me by patting my worried shoulders. 'Violet is strong. She's the strongest among us, so don't worry. She'll regain her spirits soon.' 'Yes.' For that moment alone, I desperately wished his words were true. But it wasn't an easy matter. Praying that Violet wouldn't suffer any greater wounds, that nothing would happen to hurt them further—that was all I could do.

I was on my usual route, delivering laundry to Lenika and picking up fresh linens.

"Paula."

At the sudden call, I turned around to see Lucas standing there. He was dressed in outdoor attire.

After that commotion, I'd hardly seen Lucas. Once Vincent shut himself in his room, Lucas rarely came out of his either.

Ethan seemed busy and had left the mansion several days prior. Before departing, he'd met with Vincent. Then he came out of the room and bid me farewell. 'Please take care of Vincent.' His voice lacked energy, and his face was full of remorse. Seeing him so unlike himself, this time it was I who patted his arm. Whether my encouraging comfort reached him or not, Ethan broke into a bright smile.

And so, with even Ethan gone, only Lucas remained in this mansion.

Which made this our first proper conversation in a long while.

"Lord Lucas. Are you going somewhere?"

"I'm planning to return home tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?"

"Yes, that's what I've decided. My brother had to go back earlier because he's busy with work."

Though momentarily surprised, I soon nodded.

"Will you be alright?"

I remembered Lucas trembling in terror at the sight of James. That wasn't just shaking from meeting someone he feared—it was an emotion far older than that. And what he'd said then... Ah!

After such a major incident, I'd temporarily forgotten. It was something I shouldn't have forgotten. Guilt and fluster rose in me, but Lucas didn't seem to notice my state. He continued calmly.

"I'll be fine. Thank you for your concern."

"...... It's a shame you're leaving."

"Really?"

Though Lucas asked with a teasing smile, I nodded immediately. It was true. His presence had filled this silent mansion quite pleasantly.

His smile deepened.

"Then, will you play with me today?"

"Today?"

"Yes."

My eyes went round. Lucas extended his hand to me.

"Give me your time today, Paula."'Since it's the last time.' Hearing that, I couldn't bring myself to refuse. After getting Isabella's permission, I hurriedly finished preparations and followed him—to the village below the mansion. Though I'd often thought about visiting, I'd never dared to go alone, yet here I was, going with him before I knew it.

As we entered, lively sounds burst forth. The village was impossibly vast, with large, splendid buildings. Though the color schemes were similar, each building had a distinct shape. It felt more like a grand city than a village.

The village was teeming with people. There were those bustling about their own business, groups of women gathered here and there chattering away, and children running through the streets, playing excitedly.

As we ventured further in, we came upon the marketplace. Merchants were raising their voices to draw in customers.

It was completely different from the village I'd lived in. Having never seen such a large place before, everything felt wondrous. I kept turning my head left and right, overwhelmed by all there was to see. Lucas suddenly clasped my hand in his. Startled, I looked up at him, and he simply smiled and tightened his grip.

"Wouldn't want you getting lost."

Though the contact felt embarrassingly intimate, I didn't pull away. As he'd said, with so many people around, the chances of losing my way were high—and today was the last day, after all.

"Paula, this way."

He led me toward a street vendor where several young women were already crouched, examining the wares. My eyes were immediately drawn to the vibrant, colorful ornaments displayed on cloth spread across the ground. Each one was beautiful.

As I marveled at them, Lucas picked up one—a hair ornament shaped like a large ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠flower flanked by two smaller blossoms, all encircled by vines. He tucked it into my hair.

"Pretty."

"Ah, thank you."

I reached up to touch the ornament. When the vendor said he'd give us a good price since we'd chosen such a fine piece, Lucas immediately began rummaging inside his jacket. I quickly stopped him.

"I'll give it to you as a present."

"Just looking is enough."

"I want to give it to you."

"Really, it's fine. More importantly, aren't you hungry?"

When I deftly changed the subject, Lucas narrowed his eyes. Though his gaze was clearly displeased, I pretended not to notice and pointed to a nearby dining room. Urging him to hurry since I was hungry, he sighed and withdrew his hand from his jacket.

"That place over there is tastier."

"Then let's go there."

After swiftly removing the hair ornament and setting it down, I pushed him forward by the back.

The dining room Lucas led us to was large and crowded—clearly a popular spot. He skillfully secured us seats and ordered food.

Soon, an overwhelming amount of dishes covered the table. Who could possibly eat all this? And most were things I'd never seen before in my life.

I picked up the fish dish closest to me. The moment it melted on my tongue, my eyes widened. Good heavens. I took another bite, then tore into the meat dish beside it. That too was delicious enough to make my tongue melt.

I wolfed down every dish in such a frenzy that I was full in no time. To exaggerate slightly, I ate until I thought I might burst. Yet so much food remained that it felt wasteful. I wanted to take all the leftovers back to the mansion.

"Did you enjoy it?"

"Yes. Tremendously."

I'd eaten so much that walking was difficult now.

"Is there anywhere else you'd like to go?"

"Hmm. I just want to explore more of the village."

"Alright. Shall we go sightseeing then?"

Lucas took my hand again. This time, I squeezed back tightly. He smiled happily and led me onward.

Hand in hand, we wandered through the village. It was far larger than I'd imagined, with countless fascinating places. At times I'd get so absorbed in looking around that I'd lose him, or we'd stop to sample street food. Once, we accidentally wandered somewhere strange and had to scramble back out. Another time, we got so lost that my legs ached, forcing me to crouch on the roadside to rest.

Yet through it all, we never stopped smiling. Even the hardships were joyful. I resolved to forget all complicated thoughts, if only for this moment. I had to force myself—because otherwise, an inconsolable sorrow would torment us both. And right now, I didn't want that.

It was a fleeting moment.

In the whirlwind of sightseeing, the sun had already begun to set. I grew worried about Vincent, who must still be asleep, and soon it would be time to prepare his dinner. I needed to return to the mansion now.

I tilted my head up to gaze at the sunset-streaked sky, then turned to look at Lucas. He, too, was watching the sunset. The crimson glow painted his face. Sensing my gaze, he turned to me and smiled as he always did. But perhaps it was the sunset—his smile carried a trace of bitterness.

We returned to the mansion before the sun fully disappeared.

"Paula. I had fun today."

"Me too."

I curled the corners of my lips upward. It had truly been enjoyable. Lately, I had been so gloomy, but today had been a great comfort. Still, a part of me felt regretful—once Lucas left too, the mansion would be left in utter silence.

"I need to prepare the master's dinner, so I'll head inside first."

With that, I quickened my steps toward the mansion. Just in case Vincent was already waiting.

"Paula."

Then, Lucas called out to me. I turned around to see him standing rigidly, as if nailed to the spot, watching me. Behind him, the sun had sunk low, casting his face in shadow so I could barely see it.

"Lucas?"

"Paula, you know..."

"Yes?"

He hesitated, as if struggling with his words. What could he be trying to say? I waited quietly until he spoke again.

"I'll never forget this moment. Forever."

Laughter laced his voice. Though his face was obscured, I could imagine him smiling. Had he hesitated just to say that? It wasn't anything grand. If we ever got the chance again, I'd love to go out like this—next time, with Vincent, Ethan, and Violet all together. Imagining that day, I smiled back.

"Me too."

Then I turned and headed back inside.

As soon as I entered, I immediately set about preparing Vincent's dinner. Still in my outdoor clothes, I hurriedly brought it to him, but he refused to eat, claiming he had no appetite.

"Just one bite."

"I really don't feel like eating."

"But still..."

"I want to sleep, so leave."

After sleeping all day? I tried everything to get him to take even a single spoonful, but he was firm. He turned toward the wall, curling up tightly and closing his eyes. I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠regretted not bringing back some of the delicious food from the village.

Understanding his current state, I didn't force him. Instead, I left the meal on the bedside table in case he got hungry later and stepped out of the room.

With a sigh, I went to my room to change out of my outdoor clothes. After tidying my disheveled hair, I stepped back into the hallway to find darkness had already fallen.

Peering out the window, I saw no sign of Lucas. He must have returned to his room, I thought—yet I still scanned the scenery outside. Then, I grew concerned about his dinner. Assuming he was eating alone, I headed down to his room.

I knocked, but there was no response. I knocked again, more firmly. Still, silence. "Lucas? I'm coming in." Even after calling out, nothing changed.

When I opened the door, the room was empty. There was no trace of him having returned. Puzzled, I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠checked the hallway window again—the spot where he had stood moments ago was still deserted. Maybe he had gone to the dining room? But when I went down to check, he wasn't there either.

Had he already left? But his belongings were still here. Just in case, I searched all the places he might have gone. Yet Lucas was nowhere to be found.