The Count's Secret Maid - Chapter 83

Translation: godsn

Though I told Vincent I'd look into the ink, it was really just an excuse to avoid that moment. Moreover, it was full of holes. Still, the reason Vincent let it slide might have been because he sensed I was trying to hide something—or perhaps he simply didn't have grounds to press me further at the time.

I didn't know what Vincent intended to do if he found out the ink's origin, but I had to give him an answer regardless. Just in case, I asked Johnny where he'd gotten the ink. I was afraid his interest might wane if I revealed the ink's owner.

"Dunno. I got it through some connections."

"You said someone you knew had it?"

"It was someone who knew someone who knew someone. Didn't think I needed to go into all the nitty-gritty details."

"Then do you know who that 'someone who knew someone' is?"

"How the hell should I know? That someone who knew someone who knew someone who—"

"Why are you making the chain longer?"

I wasn't in the mood for word games. When I pressed him again about where he got it, Johnny, who had been acting annoyed the whole time, suddenly stiffened.

"Did someone say something about the ink?"

"No, it's just... someone wants to know where you got it."

"Why would they want to know? It's probably sold all over the place."

"I heard it's not something you can just buy anywhere. Apparently, it's really hard to get."

"W-wait, seriously? It was that important?"

Johnny stammered in shock. I frowned. You didn't know? At my question, he shook his head vigorously. Judging by his expression, he genuinely hadn't known the ink's value. Well, even I hadn't realized it when I used it—how could he have?

"I-I just got it passed along to me... What should I do?"

"Was it someone working for another count's household who got it for you?"

"No idea. I just handed over what someone gave me to you."

"Is there gonna be trouble? Did someone say something? Who was it? Should I look into it?"

Johnny grabbed my arm in a panic, bombarding me with questions. I had a hard time calming him ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠down as he freaked out about what would happen if things went south.

If it was obtained through a chain of acquaintances, it might have some connection to someone working for the Christopher family. Honestly, I was surprised Johnny had managed to get his hands on something like this so casually. The person who lent it to him was even more surprising.

In the end, it seemed Johnny didn't know where it came from either. He offered to look into it if needed, but I didn't expect much. Even if I found out the source, it wouldn't mean much. I'd only asked to shake off Vincent's attention. I did feel a little guilty, since Johnny had helped me out. Still, it was better than being interrogated directly by Vincent.

At this point, there was only one way forward. I'd pretend to investigate while buying time, then eventually tell him I couldn't find anything. It wasn't exactly a lie—figuring out who that distant "someone who knew someone who knew someone..." was did seem pretty difficult.

But what did Vincent even want to do if he found that person? The question crossed my mind, but I decided not to dwell on it. Unnecessary curiosity only brings trouble. He was probably just a little curious, that's all.

Anyway, the probationary period would be over soon. If I could just hold out a little longer, I'd be fine. Once I left this place, he'd forget about me in no time. Honestly, the fact that I'd met him again and had this conversation at all was absurd to begin with. Yeah, who did I think I was?

I'd tell him on a day when he seemed in a good mood. I tried my best, but it was too difficult. I'm sorry. He'd understand, right? I had been looking for an opportunity in my own way.

The mansion was quiet during break time. Robert was napping, so I took a short walk down the hallway to get some air.

"Oh, Ann."

I ran into Joelli midway.

"My stocking ripped. Could you get me a new one? Alicia just went on break, so it'd be awkward to call her back now."

I followed Joelli to her room. After checking the design of the torn stocking, I opened the wardrobe and picked out one with the closest matching pattern and color.

Carrying it over, I knelt before her. I placed her leg on my knee, carefully removed the torn stocking, and then gently slid the new one on. All the while, she stared at me intently.

"How are you finding life here? Have you adjusted a bit?"

"Yes."

"Nothing too difficult?"

"Not at all. Everyone has been kind and helpful."

She might think I was just being polite, but truly, nothing had been unbearably hard. Serving Robert was challenging, sure, but not enough to kill me. Well, except for those rare moments when it nearly did.

"How did you end up here, Ann?"

"I came because I was told there was a good job opportunity."

"My, what if it had turned out to be a terrible place? What would you have done then?"

"You're right. I suppose I got lucky."

After checking for any wrinkles, I lowered her leg. Joelli smiled and thanked me. As I clutched the torn stocking and looked up, I found her gazing down at me from directly above.

I hadn't expected to be this close and flinched momentarily. She narrowed her eyes.

"You don't seem frightened at all."

"Pardon?"

"Are you reckless? Or should I say courageous?"

What did she mean by reckless or courageous? I couldn't follow her train of thought, but I answered anyway.

"Not particularly. I'm actually quite timid."

"How much? Scared enough to keep your eyes shut at night?"

"Well, not that much..."

"I am. When I'm alone, I'm so scared at night that I can't even open my eyes."

Her sudden confession made my eyes widen. She stretched out, resting one leg on the chair and leaning her cheek against her knee before continuing softly.

"I'm terribly afraid."

"How afraid, my lady?"

"Hmm... Enough that I can't sleep alone? I used to be scared of being with someone, but now I'm more afraid of being alone. When you're alone, no one knows, right? Even if you desperately need help, there's no one to turn to. At least with someone by your side, it's better. Ideally, someone who actually wants to be there."

"......"

"Others say the person beside you could be the most dangerous, but I still prefer company. Better two than one, and three than two. The more people, the better. Whether they threaten me or not."

She lowered her eyes and toyed with her long hair, twisting a strand around her finger and spinning it absentmindedly. My gaze lingered there briefly before returning to her face. Though her tone was calm, there was an unmistakable melancholy in her words.

"I feel the same way."

"...... You do, Ann?"

Joelli glanced up at me. I nodded. It was a sudden topic, but I understood her to some extent.

My relationship with Alicia wasn't so different. We didn't like each other, but we couldn't abandon each other either. Alicia stayed for survival; I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠stayed to be remembered. In the end, we were just using each other for our own ends. The only reason I kept Alicia close was because she was the only one who might remember me after I died.

Father was dead, and I'd fled that wretched house. But I didn't have any friends—no one close enough to rely on. My life was barren, with no one left by my side. So Alicia was all I had. I hated her, despised her, yet I needed her presence to feel alive.

"There's no such thing as a relationship where everyone is satisfied."

"......"

"Ah, forgive me."

Only after speaking did I notice Joelli's expression had stiffened slightly. I'd meant to offer some comfort, but my words had gone on too long. I hastily bowed.

"Why are you apologizing all of a sudden?"

"You seemed upset."

"Not upset, just... intrigued, I suppose."

Her voice certainly didn't sound angry. That was a relief. As I straightened up, two pale hands suddenly cupped my ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠face and lifted it. Long golden hair cascaded down on either side, and the face hovering right before my nose made me freeze instinctively.

My eyes flew wide open. My mouth fell slack.

And then—

"Ow! That hurts! It hurts!"

"Hurts? Does it hurt a lot?"

"Huh? Wha— Ah! Aaah! It hurts! It really hurts!"

I flailed my hands, trying to push her away, but Joelli only laughed, refusing to let go. She pinched my cheeks, stretching and squishing them like clay before mashing my face together.

Only when I flailed helplessly with my face thoroughly deformed did she finally release me. I scrambled back on all fours, clutching my stinging cheeks. They must have been bright red by now.

"Ahahaha!"

Joelli clutched her stomach and leaned back, laughing so heartily it was as if she had found the most amusing thing in the world. Rubbing my stinging cheeks, I stared at her in utter bewilderment.

"Sorry. You were just so cute, I couldn't help myself."

"......"

"Couldn't help myself"? That hurt way too much for that excuse. I forced a smile and smoothed out my expression.

"Not reckless, not brave—so is it diligence then?"

"Thank you."

"Hm?"

"For thinking of me as diligent. I appreciate the compliment."

I bowed slightly and rose from my seat, rubbing my still-tingling cheeks before glancing toward the door. Can I leave now? I suddenly wanted to take back what I'd said earlier. Right now, I didn't want to be with anyone—I wanted to be alone.

"I heard the news. You did something good for Robert, didn't you?"

Joelli shifted the topic. I answered gloomily.

"It was nothing."

"I heard you personally asked Vincent for help?"

"Yes. It was all thanks to the master's kindness. I merely passed along the request."

When I delivered the news that a reply had arrived, Robert's face went blank, as if he were dreaming. When I placed the letter in his small hands, the boy's lips trembled. He just stared at it, unable to even tear it open, so Nanny had to read it for him. In the end, Robert burst into tears.

The letter from Robert's mother was filled with how much she missed him, how much she longed to see him. Though separated, their hearts were the same. "Thank you, Ann. Because of you, the Young Master's loneliness must have eased a little.""No, it wasn't me at all.""But you were the one who asked the Count directly, weren't you? The servants who went to fetch the letter told ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠me. Even though the Count spoke harshly and you must have been terribly flustered, they said they could see how hard you tried to make the request. Because you mustered the courage first, it wasn't as difficult for me to speak to the Count either. I'm truly grateful.""You're too kind.""No, I really mean it. Honestly, with Madam's reply being delayed for so long, I'd started regretting whether I'd done something pointless. At some point, I think even I had begun to feel like giving up, just like the Young Master.""Nanny..."

Nanny wore the exact same expression as Robert—a face both sorrowful and joyful as she looked at me with gratitude. I didn't quite understand why I was receiving such a gaze and felt slightly awkward. It was just a letter. Anyone could have thought of it. It was simply a matter of timing.

"When people are too busy, they become preoccupied with immediate matters. That's why longing dulls—or else they forget for a while. Neither is a good thing. They say Robert's mother cried buckets when she read his letter this time. No matter who delivered it, you were the one who gave her the chance to read it and write a reply. Thank you."

"No, really."

I shook my head firmly. First Nanny, now Joelli—why was everyone thanking me? I truly hadn't done anything. I'd only suggested it because I was annoyed at the thought of Robert climbing that iron horse statue again, risking danger just to stare out the window. It was pure self-interest, and the good outcome was just a coincidence.

Besides, strictly speaking, it wasn't even a result I'd achieved alone. Nanny had made the request—that's why Vincent had agreed.

"You're really humble, aren't you?"

Joelli grinned. It didn't sound like praise.

"But I think you're a good person."

"You flatter me."

"It's not about having a good personality."

Her smile deepened, warmth seeping through.

"It's about having a good heart."

"......"

"Want me to tell you something funny?"

Her laughter fading, she tilted her head slightly, covering her mouth with one hand like someone about to share a secret. The way she trailed off—This is a really, really big secret—piqued my curiosity, and I instinctively perked up my ears.

"There's actually one more coward here, you know."

"Really?"

"And that coward is Vincent."

My eyes widened at her words.