Chapter 52

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 52

Chapter Title: The Secret Maid of the Count's Family (5)

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"Ah, I must have misunderstood. I thought I was included among the people you have to take responsibility for."

"You're overly confident."

"Yes, I was too much."

I grumbled, and he laughed again. His smile right now was infuriating.

"I said it just in case. If I were one of the people you need to take responsibility for, you don't have to."

"Why?"

"Because I can handle it on my own."

"That's too much again."

"It's the truth. I managed fine on my own before coming here too. I may not be great at everything, but I am really good at work. So don't worry about me—let it go."

"Aren't you being too arrogant? It's not that simple."

"If it doesn't work out, I can just die."

"You think too lightly of death."

"Because it's not a big deal."

"Why?"

"There was no reason for me to live anyway. No qualification for it either. I just kept breathing and mornings kept coming, so I lived. It wasn't some grand life."

No one would grieve if I died. Before coming here, death felt more familiar than life. Even in this warm, cozy place, I'd been sold for gold coins in the end. My life still held no real value.

"No one needs a qualification to live. You just live."

Vincent frowned and countered.

"Some people shouldn't live."

"I don't think someone who came here for a family they don't even miss, risking their life, grew up with tender care. It must have been a harsh life, one where you'd stake your very existence."

"......"

"Even if that were true, it's not you."

He looked somehow displeased. Irritation seeped into his voice. Yet, strangely, I couldn't tear my eyes away from his face.

"You have the right to live."

"......I've never heard that before."

"I keep thinking it—I'm not the dry one here. You are."

"Yeah."

My voice trembled at the end. I forced a smile to suppress it. I knew he couldn't see me, but I wanted to smile for him anyway. That I was okay, still okay. That I wouldn't break, just like I hadn't before. But he shattered that resolve of mine into pieces.

"Live anyway."

His abrupt words twisted the corners of my mouth that I'd pulled up with effort. Even though he couldn't see me, his straight gaze met mine directly.

"Live a happy life."

His voice was still gruff, but knowing the sincerity behind it made tears well up. I bit my lip hard to hold them back, then finally released it.

"Can I?"

"You can."

"Happily?"

"Yes. Very happily."

He spoke calmly amid my increasingly ragged breaths.

"I will."

Then I lowered my head. My vision kept blurring hazily, which was troubling. I tried not to blink so the tears wouldn't fall, but the brimming droplets spilled over helplessly, one by one.

"I definitely will."

So I couldn't hide the sob in my voice.

What even is comfort, really? Even a simple word—if it comforts you, isn't that enough? No one had ever told me I had the right to live. I'd thought wanting more was greed. I'd survived ignoring my blood kin's sacrifice. Deep down, I wanted just one more day, but I never dared wish for happiness.

But he told me no. Knowing those words were for me, feeling his sincerity reach me, I couldn't stop these emotions.

"Thank you."

"......"

I was truly grateful to Vincent for letting me feel this way.

I covered my face with both hands. Once the dam broke, releasing everything I'd held back, I couldn't stop easily. Instead, I clenched my teeth and sobbed as quietly as possible. But even the faint whimpers couldn't be fully stifled.

With his keen hearing, he noticed and turned his head away. Even though he couldn't see, his pretense of not noticing or hearing made me smile through the tears. I'd wiped my own tears and pulled myself together many times before.

The wind whooshed in, making the flowers dance. Vincent's golden hair, standing amid them, fluttered in the breeze. The sunlight shattering on his radiant locks stole my gaze. Standing tall, he seemed like someone who could emit light on his own.

Could I be like that too? Become someone who shines by themselves? Walk alone through hell like he did?

"Will there come a moment when I think it's fortunate I'm alive?"

"It will."

"Really?"

I forced a smile and asked. He seemed to ponder for a bit, then turned toward me. His resolute expression puzzled me, but suddenly, he spun around. Vincent strode away briskly. I stared in bewilderment. He'd always feared walking without his cane or support because he couldn't see, so this change was astonishing. Flowers swayed on either side with each step he took.

"Master, where are you going?!"

"Stay there."

He barked the order and moved farther away. The distance between us grew quite wide.

He stopped at the edge of the flower field. Still clueless, I just watched. As if answering my confusion, he turned and began walking slowly back.

He was walking toward me.

Truly 'walking toward me.'

Without probing the ground with his cane, without anyone's support—he was coming to me on his own two feet.

I was so shocked my eyes widened. I couldn't believe it even seeing it. There had been moments in life that defied belief despite my eyes, but this was the strongest yet.

"My god."

My mouth gaped in shock. I even forgot to breathe. Vincent approached without a hint of hesitation. The fair distance closed in an instant, and I watched, unblinking, as he reached out his hand.

Soon, he grabbed my hand firmly. I looked up at him blankly from right in front of me. As if sensing my expression, Vincent smiled faintly.

"How's that?"

"You can actually see, right?"

I yelled in excitement. Vincent's lips curved higher.

"I've practiced a lot. You knew that."

"I knew, but I thought you were practicing with the cane. I had no idea you'd practice walking alone too. Weren't you scared of falling?"

"I was terrified. But I knew how to overcome it."

"What's that?"

"I thought, even if I fall, I just get back up."

That was it? It hardly qualified as a method. But I knew accepting that simple truth hadn't been easy for him.

"You said it before. Think of it as adventuring through the darkness. So muster your courage. It was absurd, but not bad. It's just about changing your mindset, right? Even if you fall walking alone, get up and keep going like nothing happened. What matters is walking to the end. Right?"

"Right."

"I'll do as you said, so you do the same."

"......"

"You said you'd stay by my side. No matter how much I chase you away, you'd keep trying to save others until you did, and if not, you'd stay forever."

Suddenly, he erased his smile and furrowed his brow. He must have recalled when I'd said that. This time, I burst out laughing.

"Thinking about it, you're just as cheeky now as you were then."

"Can't help it. That's who I am."

I beamed up at him. At my response, he smoothed his brow and chuckled. The man who'd once cowered in his room, trembling in fear, was truly gone now. He'd grow healthier in body and mind. I admired his transformation.

"See? Even if just for a moment, didn't it feel fortunate to be alive?"

"Huh?"

"You got a good show."

He asked suddenly. Calling himself a 'good show' was so considerate, I didn't know where to put myself. But like he said, for that brief instant watching him walk alone, I really did feel it was fortunate. That he hadn't given up. In that moment, I was genuinely happy.

So I couldn't argue this time. Forcing my drooping lips into a smile, I shouted energetically.

"Yes!"

Though it was short, we'd shared a lot of conversation with Vincent. Starting with trivial matters, we reminisced about the past, vented complaints, and focused entirely on each other. As time passed, my regret at parting only grew.

It was the first time a farewell felt this regrettable.

The unfamiliar sensation embarrassed me, so I poked at the ground with my toes, waiting for Lenika as usual to pick up the laundry.

But I was startled when she arrived moments later. Her eyes were red and puffy, her nose bright red too.

"What happened?"

"Nothing. Really, nothing."

That wasn't the face of someone with nothing wrong. When I pressed her, she just kept shaking her head. Her expression looked ready to burst into tears any second, so I took her hand and led her to a secluded spot between the annex and the bushes. It didn't seem like a conversation for an open area.

We crouched side by side there. Deep worry clouded Lenika's face. Compared to her usual cheerfulness, this must be serious. She'd given me so much advice, knowingly and unknowingly, while I'd lived in this mansion. If I could help, I wanted to; if not, at least listen.

"Can't you tell me what it is? I may not be much help, but I can listen. Talking it out to someone might lighten your heart."

"......"

"It's okay. I'll keep whatever you say secret."

I waited patiently, and after hesitating a while longer, Lenika finally parted her lips slowly.

"......A few days ago, one maid and one manservant disappeared."

"Disappeared?"

"Yes."

She nodded heavily once.

"The two were lovers. They'd been seeing each other secretly, without anyone knowing."

"And?"

"But......they got caught."

"How?"

"They'd sneak out of their rooms at night to meet often, it seems. Last time too, they slipped out at night and Isabella caught them. And of all things, the butler was with her."

My eyes widened. Meeting at night didn't have to mean anything improper, but if it happened frequently, it probably wasn't just innocent. Lenika nodded gloomily, confirming my thought.

"Right. It was a situation they absolutely shouldn't have been caught in."

"......"

"They got punished. And on top of that, one of them had to leave the mansion."

So they ran away together at night? Reading my question, she shook her head firmly.

"No. They disappeared, but not by choice."

"What does that mean?"

I frowned in confusion, and Lenika looked at me. Her eyes were still swollen, her nose tip red. Her cheeks were flushed too. But her expression toward me was hardened.