Chapter 54

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 54

Chapter Title: The Secret Maid of the Count's Family (7)

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Lenika, who had been holding back her tears as she spoke, had received a tremendous shock yet still fought to keep her composure. Watching her, I realized this wasn't the first time something so shocking had happened. In the end, that day I couldn't even offer her proper comfort.

The next morning, when I met Lenika to say goodbye, she seemed cheerful, unlike a few days prior. But I knew the sadness she was forcibly hiding beneath that facade.

'What I want to say is, don't trust anyone here.'

Don't trust anyone—what about Vincent? I shook my head. He had made a promise to me. He would bring me back to this mansion, find me no matter what. There was no lie in his face as he said it.

The carriage began to move. I gazed at the mansion receding through the window. When I first arrived, the luxurious estate had felt wondrous yet unfamiliar, and the man called the Master was so ill-tempered that I'd suffered greatly. I'd poured my soul into serving him at every moment, utterly exhausted. Then I met his guests, mingled among the nobles...

So much had happened. Now, all of it remained as precious memories. At the same time, I worried about Vincent, left alone in the mansion.

"Will a new maid come to replace me?"

I tore my gaze from the window and looked at Isabella, seated across from me. She poured tea from the pot she'd prepared and handed me a cup. It felt warm in my hands.

"I've decided to take your place."

"You, Isabella?"

"Yes. The Master ordered us not to hire anyone else to attend him."

'I'll bring you back to my side. I promise.'

His words had been utterly sincere. He really intended to bring me back. I'd half-doubted it, but now my nose tingled unexpectedly. Regret washed over me at the same time. I was already missing the mansion.

I leaned my face against the window. The carriage jolted along roughly. As we entered the forest path, the road grew poor. I sipped my tea to soothe my melancholy.

Then my eyelids grew heavy. Isabella said something from across the way, but her voice echoed muffled and distant. My mind blurred, and my fluttering eyelids soon closed tightly.

Suddenly, my senses snapped awake.

I straightened my body, which had been slumped against the window, and quickly scanned my surroundings. The carriage had come to a stop sometime while I was out.

Had we arrived already? It felt like I'd only dozed off briefly, but my memory was hazy. An empty cup lay rolling at my feet. I'd fallen asleep without even noticing I'd dropped it.

At that moment, the door opened. Isabella looked at me.

"Get out."

Grabbing my bag, I stepped down from the carriage. The surroundings had already grown dim. The sun had been bright when we departed, but now it was night. Had I slept that long?

Yet when I looked around, we were still in the forest.

"Where is this?"

"A forest not far from the Bellunita mansion."

"What?"

True to her words, the mansion's silhouette was visible not far off. It meant the carriage had barely moved while darkness fell.

Why? As I stared at her questioningly, Isabella continued calmly.

"Paula. Listen carefully. There's a path over there. Follow it, and you'll come to a small village. Stay at the inn there tonight, then head to a safe place once dawn breaks. Somewhere with lots of people—a big city would be best."

"W-what are you talking about?"

"Soon, someone will come to dispose of you."

Her expression told me exactly what "dispose" meant. Though her demeanor was curt, tension was plain on her face.

'What I want to say is, don't trust anyone here.'

Lenika's words rang crystal clear in my ears right then. I swallowed dryly and opened my mouth steadily.

"Surely not the Master..."

Isabella shook her head immediately.

"We obey the Master's commands absolutely, but sometimes we handle things on our own for his sake. Servant management, in particular, falls entirely under our authority. Paula, do you know why you had to stay only in the annex? Why no one but the bare minimum of servants was allowed around you?"

"......"

"It's for times like this."

Isabella spoke as if reciting lines she'd rehearsed long ago, delivering words I could scarcely believe. And regrettably, I understood instantly. I'd already heard the story.

"You planned to get rid of me from the start."

"It's preparation for eventualities."

"Did you do this to other servants who attended the Master up until now?"

"If necessary. But not to every dismissed servant."

"Then why me? Why?!"

I shouted before I knew it. It was unfair, incomprehensible. I'd worked harder than anyone, adapted well to life in the Count's household. Vincent had changed while I was with him—a huge change. My efforts had surely played a part, and Isabella knew it too.

Besides, I wasn't being fired now; I was just hiding temporarily on the Master's orders. So why was I facing this?

"Because the Master moved for your sake."

Isabella cut off my rebuttal sharply. Her piercing eyes bored into me.

"The Master was swayed by a mere maid and acted for her. That's not a good sign. The Butler judged your presence would have consequences later and acted accordingly. Whether it's good or bad doesn't matter."

"Why... He's just a servant too..."

"He's the only one who can handle things in the Master's stead. He's also devoted himself to the Bellunita family for a long time. Does that answer your question?"

Lower than the Master, yet higher than us, wielding power equal to the Master's. The butler, Isabella. Hadn't Lenika already warned me?

Perhaps the butler had brought me here from the start with this moment in mind. A wealthy-looking old gentleman coming to a small village to hire an unremarkable girl as a servant—it might have been so he could dispose of me easily anytime. The pouch of gold coins he'd given me must have carried that meaning.

"...Are you going to kill me?"

"That was the plan."

"Was the plan...? So you're not going to now?"

Isabella took a breath. Only then did I notice the figure slumped behind her. The coachman lay asleep on the ground, smacking his lips. A cup like mine dangled precariously from his hand.

My gaze snapped back to Isabella.

"Paula. I'm grateful to you. The Master found comfort in you. He regained his lost smile, stepped out of his room, met with friends. The once-silent mansion grew lively after so long. As a servant here, I thank you for bringing about that change."

With that, she pulled something from her bosom and held it out—a small pouch. When I didn't take it, she draped it around my confused neck and tucked it inside my clothes.

"This should keep you fed for a while."

"What are you trying to say?"

"Run away."

My eyes widened. What did she just say?

"This is all I can do."

Isabella stated firmly. I glanced at the sleeping coachman again. I realized this was all her doing alone. Flustered, I pressed on.

"Wh-why? Isn't this not allowed?"

"You're right. If we're caught, our lives aren't guaranteed."

"Then why..."

Isabella lowered her eyes. A brief wind blew, scattering the silence between us.

"Paula. We female servants face discrimination on the job, sometimes even humiliation. We're often treated worse than the men. But I don't think we should accept it as natural. You've done more than enough. This is my way of repaying you."

"......"

"Run as far as you can. And never come back."

Isabella scanned the surroundings. No more time, she said. I felt her sincerity in her urging gaze. My eyes stung. Clutching the bag handle tightly, I bowed deeply. She was the first person to lead me when I arrived at this mansion. And now, the only one helping me.

"Thank you."

So I offered my heartfelt gratitude in return.

And with that, I turned and ran.

Rustling sounds filled the air. With every step, leaves brushed my ankles, thighs, waist, arms, and cheeks. Even as I ran relentlessly without pause, the underbrush stretched endlessly.

I bolted blindly along the path Isabella had indicated. I couldn't even tell if I was going the right way, but I kept running. As I did, it became clearer. The irritating noises grating in my ears weren't just from me.

Rustling came from somewhere. It felt like right behind me, sending chills down my spine. Or maybe to my left or right. Those ominous sounds echoed from all directions like hallucinations. It was terrifying. The rustling slowly closed in.

'Soon, someone will come to dispose of you.'

Was it the person Isabella mentioned?

'They'll know you were at the scene of Lucas's accident. It might be fine for now, but eventually James will notice you exist. He won't let you be. You're the sole witness.'

Maybe someone sent by the James that Vincent mentioned.

Suspicions swirled. In truth, everything felt suspicious. How had it come to this? Why was I in this situation? The days I'd struggled just to survive one more day had plunged me into danger in an instant. Yet all I could do was run blindly.

So I ran. I swallowed down the surging emotions.

"Haa! Haa!"

My breath rose to my throat. The bag in my hand felt unbearably heavy. And with sweat slicking my palms, the handle kept slipping. As I readjusted my grip again and again, my foot caught on a large rock, and I tumbled down. Pain shot through me, but without time to cry out, I scrambled up and ran again. My knee, scraped on the ground, throbbed belatedly. A wet sensation suggested blood was flowing.

Save me.

Someone, please help me.

I didn't know how to quell the endless rising anxiety. Part of me wanted to cling to a tree and scream for help. Fear gnawed at me. Terror only multiplied. Just as tears finally welled up, I spotted the end of the forest. I raced toward it.

It was the moment I burst from the underbrush. A blinding light stole my vision.