Chapter 80
The Count's Secret Maid - Chapter 80
Translation: godsn
"Are all these candies?"
"No, that's not it. I... I have a fa-favor to ask."
"A favor?"
The question came from behind the servant. Vincent, who had been leaning against the wall watching me like I was some madwoman, strode forward abruptly. I took a step back, matching the distance he'd advanced.
At that moment, a candy slipped from my hand and rolled across the floor. I couldn't bring myself to look up, fixing my gaze firmly on the ground instead.
"What kind of favor do you want to ask?"
"Two of these letters were written by Young Master Robert himself. One is for you, my lord, and the other is for Madam."
"Robert did?"
"Yes. I beg you to personally deliver these letters."
My hands trembled violently throughout my plea, clenched tightly together. I wasn't sure if someone as lowly as me—not even the nanny—should be making such a request of him. That's why I'd initially planned to go through the servant.
But what's done is done. Since I had to speak up anyway, I emphasized the word "personally," fearing he might just send someone else to deliver them. Only if he delivered them himself would it carry any meaning.
"What about the remaining two?"
"One is a letter detailing Young Master Robert's daily life, and the other was written by the nanny. Not knowing you would come in person, we had planned to make our request through letters."
A rustling sound reached my ears. Vincent's shoe had nudged against the servant beside me. He must have picked up the letters from the servant's hands to examine them.
I could feel his gaze burning into the top of my head. His stare prickled against my skin, as if he was puzzling over why I would make such a request.
"You want to receive replies, is that it?"
"That's correct."
"You could have sent them through the nanny."
"The nanny mentioned that Madam has recently become busy again, so she wasn't sure if we'd receive any replies. But you, my lord—I believe you could meet Madam in person and bring back her response."
"Why do you think so?"
"Seeing how you've allowed Young Master Robert to stay in this mansion, how you show concern over whether he's experiencing any inconveniences in his daily life or feeling lonely—I surmised you must share some close relationship."
That was also why I'd jokingly asked before if he would become Robert's adoptive father. He seemed so affectionate toward him. And I thought he would understand exactly why I was making this request. As expected, he fell silent for a moment.
"Do you know why Robert climbs the iron horse statue?"
"Yes."
"Then you must also know why he didn't choose a safer method to send his letters."
"Yes. I've heard."
"Was it because of the last accident?"
So he too knew that Robert had gotten hurt trying to climb the iron horse statue.
"Yes. I thought that if he received a reply, he might stop engaging in such dangerous behavior as climbing the statue."
"Do you think this will ease Robert's loneliness?"
"No."
"Then why should I waste my time on such a pointless favor?"
In that instant, my mind reeled.
"Tell me. Why do you think I've become the sort of person who would readily grant a lowly servant's request?"
A strange pressure emanated from his words. The servant listening to our exchange beside us kept glancing between us nervously. I had no response. The tension saturating the silence struck my entire body. He was making no effort to hide his displeasure. My clasped hands grew damp with sweat.
I knew he'd turned a blind eye to my attitude when we'd met by chance in Robert's room. This was a feeling I'd never experienced five years ago.
The attitude of someone looking down from an immeasurable height.
No—five years ago, I hadn't sensed this degree of intimidation from him. Perhaps because of his outward appearance back then, I'd felt more pity than intimidation. That's why, even when afraid, I'd confronted him. Because of that memory, I'd thought he would easily grant my request this time as well.
I had overlooked the fact that Vincent was now a different person.
He was no longer the man who remained holed up in his room. The current him was Count Vincent Bellunita. A man no different from any other noble—someone I couldn't address casually, who naturally looked down on those beneath him, and who possessed the power to dispose of anyone who slightly displeased him.
Throwing whatever object was at hand was child's play. He could just as well have pointed a gun and fired.
Only now did I truly feel his authority.
He, too, was a noble.
"That is..."
It was the first time I had ever felt such an oppressive weight bearing down on my entire body. But the only reason I could stand my ground without backing down was thanks to my past experiences. I knew there were times when I couldn't afford to retreat, no matter how afraid I was. Just like five years ago, and just like now.
I moistened my parched lips with my tongue and straightened my back slightly. My gaze, which had been fixed on the floor, also lifted a fraction. In moments like these, being short had its advantages. Even if I didn't intend to, I had to look up at him.
"Because I thought you were the only one who would somehow accept a reply."
"Reason?"
"You once said you hoped Young Master Robert wouldn't feel lonely, at least within this mansion."
"......"
"That's why I thought you would agree."
For a brief moment, I calmly met his gaze. Then I lowered my head again. I half-expected him to say something more, but Vincent offered no further objection.
"What's that box?"
Vincent pointed to the box lying on the floor.
"Ah, this."
Inside the box was the flower bouquet Robert and I had made. The nanny had suggested keeping it in a box to prevent the flowers from getting crushed. I quickly picked up one of the boxes.
"There's a flower bouquet inside. Young Master Robert made it himself. I'd like to ask you to deliver this as well."
The servant took the box into his arms.
"This one is for you, my lord."
There was another box containing a flower bouquet. The bouquet originally meant for Young Lady Carrot had become Vincent's instead. The nanny had reasoned that it wouldn't do for him to be the only one not receiving flowers when making a request. With her decades of experience, she had skillfully persuaded Robert to change his mind with her smooth talk.
This time, too, I hesitated as I was about to hand it to the servant, then turned in a different direction. Keeping my gaze fixed on the floor, I took a step closer to Vincent. The tip of his shoe barely grazed my toes.
I could imagine his face watching my every move. Swallowing dryly, I held out the box to him with both hands and bowed even deeper. Respectfully.
"Please take good care of it."
"......"
He fell silent again. I worried he might refuse the flowers or toss them aside after accepting them.
Fortunately, contrary to my fears, Vincent slowly took the box from my hands. I stole a glance as he immediately opened the lid and pulled out the flower bouquet inside.
With time running short, it was the only one of the three bouquets that I had made myself. The tightly packed blossoms brushed against Vincent's face. His indifferent eyes stared quietly down at the flowers. Though he turned them this way and that, he didn't seem particularly moved.
Still, he couldn't tear his gaze away from them for a long while.
"Tell him I received it well."
"Ah, yes. I'll be sure to pass that along."
"Is Robert doing all right?"
"Yes. He's doing well."
As if to lighten the mood, Vincent asked about Robert's daily life. The earlier discomfort had vanished. While answering his questions, I watched the bouquet in his hand. The way he held it felt like his silent agreement to my request.
"I'll take my leave now."
Having achieved my purpose, there was no further need to stay. Afraid he might change his mind, I quickly chose to make my escape.
Vincent, who had been handed the letter by the servant, nodded slightly to indicate his permission. I immediately bowed and turned away. Step by step, I walked away from him, careful not to let my hurried footsteps betray my eagerness to leave.
I entered the mansion with the gentlest steps I could manage. Only when I felt I was finally out of his line of sight did my breath come easier. I let out a sigh and released the tension that had stiffened my body.
I'm exhausted. As I wiped my weary face—
"Ugh!"
My body suddenly spun around. Someone had grabbed my arm and yanked me back. In my franticly shifting vision, Vincent reappeared. His face looked strangely rigid.
"Where did you get this?"
"Pardon?"
He shook the letter in his hand. My gaze darted to the letter, then down to his hand gripping my arm. My firmly held wrist ached slightly. I winced at the gradually tightening grip—as if he were holding on to prevent my escape.
Vincent took another step toward me. My head instinctively tilted back. His body, now towering over me with a robust frame that seemed to have filled out, loomed oppressively. His rigid expression slowly twisted. His furrowed brow suggested anger, yet strangely, his pupils were trembling.
Why? I couldn't understand why he was making that face. His emerald eyes scrutinized me urgently.
"You......"
"Count? Ann?"
At the sudden voice, both our heads turned to the side. Nanny stood there, eyes wide. After glancing between Vincent and me in turn, she approached in flustered confusion.
"Is something the matter between you two?"
Startled by Nanny's sudden appearance, I panicked too.
"Nanny, what brings you here? Didn't you go out this morning?"
"I just returned and saw the Count and Ann, so..."
Trailing off, Nanny glanced pointedly at Vincent's hand gripping my wrist. Realizing the situation, I quickly shook free and stepped back. Vincent stared at me as if trying to bore a hole through me.
I waved my hands at Nanny in denial.
"It's a misunderstanding. Nothing happened."
"Really? The atmosphere seemed rather tense..."
"Not at all. I was just on my way back after asking him to deliver the letter and bouquet when the master apparently had something to ask me. Isn't that right, my lord?"
I forced a composed tone as I turned to Vincent. Feeling Nanny's concerned gaze, I stretched my lips into a smile.
But his face, now tinged with irritation, stood out even more than before. His sharp stare made it hard to hold his gaze for long.
I wiped the smile from my face and lowered my eyes. Avoiding his gaze had become almost habitual.
"Did Ann make some kind of mistake?"
Sensing the unusual tension, Nanny intervened. He glanced at me briefly before sighing—an attitude that suggested I had made a mistake, making Nanny shoot me a questioning look.
"No. Nothing happened."
Fortunately, no strange words followed.
Nanny continued with a serious expression.
"Did the favor I asked upset you? I'm sorry. Since you said you'd send a servant instead of coming yourself, I thought a letter would suffice—that was my mistake. But since it's important, I'll make the request in person. Do you have a moment?"
Vincent gave no particular reply, only glancing at me again. Nanny smiled at me, signaling for me to leave. I alternated glances between her and Vincent before bowing.
This time, I couldn't hide my urge to flee. The moment I turned, I quickened my pace. It felt like eyes were boring into my back—impossible, yet it seemed as if Vincent was watching me. Surely not.
As I walked, I rubbed the wrist he had grabbed. It stung from the red imprint left by his grip.
But the pounding of my heart drowned out even that pain.