Chapter 85
The Count's Secret Maid - Chapter 85
Translation: godsn
Though I hurriedly tried to stop him, Vincent strode right into the kitchen without even pretending to listen. If Audrey had seen me allowing a noble to enter such a place, she would have fainted from shock.
His face remained perfectly composed as he glanced around the shabby kitchen. Anxiously watching his back, I turned away with the thought of quickly finding candles so we could leave. Rummaging through the large cupboard in the corner, my hands found several spare candles tucked deep inside.
Now where was the candlestick? As I turned, I startled violently—Vincent stood right behind me, having approached without a sound. He gazed down at me as if observing something fascinating.
"Why would candles be kept there?"
"Th-there are times when we need them urgently. If you'd just wait outside while I find the candlestick—"
"Where is the candlestick kept?"
"It should be around here... P-please, just wait outside. Okay?"
My heart pounded at the thought of someone walking in on this scene. Begging him to wait outside while I handled it, Vincent reluctantly turned away. Only when I saw him exit the kitchen did I exhale in relief.
Searching beneath and around the cupboard yielded no spare candlesticks. With no choice, I grabbed an old, partially used one. Emerging with it clutched to my chest, I found Vincent still waiting. Why was he still here?
"Why are you still—?"
"You're returning to Robert, aren't you? I'm coming too."
"Oh... understood."
He must be worried about Robert despite not showing it. Nodding, I took the lead. The regained lamplight had banished my earlier fear—or perhaps it was his presence that comforted me.
The hallway still echoed with wind howling like screams, interspersed with the sound of clashing tree branches. Between these noises, our footsteps pattered in unison. Two spheres of light illuminated the path ahead.
Like this, it felt just like five years ago—those days when I'd lead the way holding Vincent's hand.
A sudden pang of nostalgia struck. My nose stung, and I rubbed at it needlessly as we walked. Thanks to accompanying the master, we easily reached the central staircase.
"Did you deliver the letter to Robert?"
"Yes. He was overjoyed. Thank you truly."
"What became of it?"
"Of what, my lord?"
"The ink."
I nearly stumbled mid-step. Catching myself, I swallowed dryly as forgotten tension surged. My pounding heart felt loud enough for him to hear, so I clutched at my chest. Never thought I'd be grateful for the eerie ambient noises.
Was this the right moment? Should I confess I still hadn't found it and apologize? Whether he'd let it go easily was doubtful, but I had no other choice.
Steadying my breath and pounding heart, I resolved to stay composed. As I turned to answer—
"Look!"
Lightning flashed violently, illuminating the hallway so brightly I could see Vincent's startled face clearly before darkness swallowed us again.
BOOM!
CRACK-BOOM!
"Aaah!"
Covering my ears, I screamed uncontrollably as thunderclaps resurrected my terror. It felt like lightning had struck right beside us—the lamp slipped from my grasp.
At the sound of shattering glass, something whooshed past my face and smashed into the wall. Dodging instinctively, I lost balance and landed hard on my rear. Another deafening thunderclap struck instantly.
CRACK-BOOM! Cowering with hands over ears, I curled into myself as gale-force winds howled through the hallway. The last remaining light snuffed out abruptly, plunging us into total darkness.
For a long moment, I remained frozen in that defensive huddle. The mind-numbing thunder gradually faded, leaving only silence.
Gradually, my senses returned. When I opened my eyes again, there was nothing but pitch-black darkness. Even the moonlight was obscured by the inky clouds, leaving not a trace of faint light.
My hair and clothes fluttered wildly in the wind. The sound of shattering glass—it seemed more than just the lamp had broken. The wind was rushing in from somewhere. Right beside me, perhaps. Something had flown past—maybe a tree branch or a rock. This was the kind of wind that could sweep a person away.
Clutching my tangled hair, I groped around. It was so dark I couldn't tell where anything was. Only the howling wind and rumbling thunder announced their presence. Vincent—where was he? Struggling to gather my wits, I fumbled across the floor, searching for him.
"M-Master? Master!"
I called out frantically, but there was no answer.
Desperate, I crawled toward where I thought Vincent might be, but my hands found nothing. I called again, yet silence was the only reply. No matter how much I strained my eyes in the dark or groped around, I couldn't figure out where he was. No—I don't even know where I am anymore. Was this even the hallway I had been walking down? A chill of fear crept over me. It wasn't like I'd been blown somewhere else, yet everything around me felt strangely unfamiliar. It was dark—yes, so dark and cold, just like that day.
Just like that day.
It felt like someone else was in the darkness. The sound of footsteps—thud, thud—echoed faintly. I knew there was nothing but blackness all around, no one else here, and yet it felt like someone was watching me from beyond. A warning prickled across my skin, every hair standing on end, as if at any moment, a sharp blade would lunge out and pierce me, dragging me into death. You shouldn't be here, the warning screamed. You'll die if you stay.
They're coming to kill me. I have to run.
But—why won't my body move? It's like the wind itself is holding me back. You mustn't go. This is where you meet your end.
"...... Ra."
A hoarse voice called out to me. Barely audible, as if even breathing was a struggle. Following the sound, I turned my head—and something wet trickled over my fingers. Blood. Even in the darkness, the crimson was vivid.
And so was the man lying there.
"Ah—ahh—"
Don't. Don't do this. A scream lodged in my throat, strangling me. I kicked wildly, scrambling backward on my hands. Again. This nightmare again. The same bone-chilling terror, the same suffocating grip of death closing in.
"Don't do this. Don't do this to me."
Don't drag me back there. I writhed, but the nightmare refused to fade. My vision blurred, yet his face only grew clearer. Why are you like this? Why, how could you—Lucas?
My trembling hand hovered in the air. His pain-filled brown eyes stared at me, desperate. His face, twisted as if weeping, screamed at me. Run. Get away. No—wasn't he really begging? Don't leave me. Don't abandon me. Had I been presuming his feelings all along?
Because I... I wanted to live... So...
"That's right, Sister."
A cold hand gripped my shoulder. The body pressed against my back was so icy it froze me to the core. Even the breath against my ear was frigid. The child's voice that had sobbed into my arms every night now dripped with venom, stabbing into my throat.
"Sister, you're a selfish person who only cares about yourself."
"No. No, I'm not."
"Not satisfied with just your blood relatives, you devoured even the man who was kind to you—just to survive alone."
"Stop it. Stop...!"
"Sister, come with us too. Let's go together."
At that moment, pale feet suddenly jutted into view. One, two, three. Different sizes, swaying in the air as if dancing, creaking unnaturally. A soundless scream tore from my lips. Delicate voices called out to me. Sister, Sister. Eldest Sister. The voices of my long-dead sisters, the wails of infants—they echoed all around me.
My breath came in ragged gasps. I didn't know what to do with the guilt. The sight of myself—having survived by turning away from my sisters' deaths—was so repulsive it made me nauseous.
I wanted to grab the small hands clinging to me and share my warmth. But I couldn't bring myself to do it. Instead, I curled into a ball, covering my ears as I sobbed. The wind that had howled like screams, the thunder that had crashed violently—none of it reached me now. Only the dreamlike voices tightened their grip around me.
"Paula."
Then, someone called my name. Paula. Paula. The voice was so weak, so strained, it seemed it might break at any moment. A cry so faint I wouldn't have heard it if I hadn't strained my ears. I knew that voice well.
Sir Lucas. In the midst of my suffering, I thought of him—fighting his own battle alone. This time, I wanted to be by his side. I didn't want to leave him alone again.
I crawled toward him on trembling limbs. The surroundings flickered in and out. Lucas appeared, then vanished, over and over. I was terrified he might be swallowed by the darkness. My palms stung, but I paid no mind. I just kept crawling toward him, calling his name between sobs. Sir Lucas. Sir Lucas.
The moment I reached where he was, I flailed my arms. As the thunder ceased, the world plunged back into darkness. I groped through the shadows until my fingers brushed against smooth fabric. A chill ran through me as I felt his trembling body beneath my touch. I clutched at it desperately, wrapping my other arm around his large frame in a tight embrace.
"I'm here."
I pulled him closer, drawing him into my arms. The sound of his chattering teeth reached my ears. His large body, curled up like a child's, shook violently. He was so gripped by fear he could barely breathe.
I stroked his back, pressing my cheek against his coarse hair.
"I'll stay with you."
This time, I'll stay by your side.
My thumb traced the trembling back of his hand. I hugged him tighter, patting his back, trying—however feebly—to share my warmth with him. I wanted him to stop being afraid.
Though his skin was cold, his ragged breaths against my shoulder burned hot. Then, a searing pressure pressed against the thin fabric of my dress. A faint tremor ran through him, but it wasn't as violent as before. Gradually, his shaking subsided.
The heat spread across my shoulder before shifting to the side, pressing against my neck. I flinched at the unfamiliar sensation against my skin. As if to soothe me, the warmth retreated back to the fabric. The tickle of his hair against my ear was pleasant. His large hand gripped my back tightly.
"La..."
The sky still rumbled, but the darkness no longer frightened me. The warmth pressed against my body grew hotter, soothing my heart. It brought me comfort.
Between the black clouds, the moon revealed itself. Moonlight streamed through the window, driving away the darkness. The pitch-black surroundings gradually brightened. It felt as though the light had reached even the depths of my mind.
Suddenly, my senses returned. What was I just doing? I blinked, staring at the now-lit hallway. A shift of my gaze caught the glint of shimmering hair—golden strands bathed in light. I blinked once, twice, three times before realizing my position. I was holding someone in my arms.
When I tried to pull away slightly, they clung to me as if refusing to let go. Flustered, I instinctively patted their broad back. I—uh—just now—?
My eyes darted around before I tried to move again. This time, they released me without resistance. I leaned back and looked down at the face of the person who had been nestled against me. The moonlight grew brighter, illuminating the figure before me.
Emerald eyes, vivid and shimmering, blinked up at me. His dazed expression looked even more startled than mine. Vincent, who had been clinging to my chest, alternated between staring at my face and his own state before recoiling in shock.
"Gah—!"
"Kgh—!"
With a forceful shove, he pushed me away.