Chapter 56

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 56

Chapter Title: The Count's Secret Maid (9)

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“You could call it cold-hearted, but that's the truth. Even if it wasn't the intention from the start, Vincent confiding his secrets to you was partly because he figured he could just kill you if you ever spilled them. The others probably thought the same. Innocent Violet might not have given it much thought, but at least I did.”

“...”

“Disappointed?”

“No.”

It was sudden, but not all that surprising. In a way, I'd already known. I'd been sold here for gold from the very beginning. Having lived a life facing death at every turn, I hadn't expected safety just because I'd ended up in a luxurious mansion.

Secrets had to stay buried.

Pretend you didn't see what you saw, didn't hear what you heard, and never breathe a word of anything.

Idle curiosity only brought disaster.

I'd reminded myself of that countless times. Keeping my mouth shut was the only way to buy even one more day of life. I'd seen plenty of people vanish after running their mouths. So I'd sealed my lips, and sometimes I'd had to gamble my life by showing them my true feelings. Every word and action I'd directed at them had been a bet with my life on the line.

And it was the same now.

“Are you going to kill me?”

“What do you think?”

“I think you are.”

I gave a calm, honest answer. Ethan just laughed at that.

Silence hung heavy in the carriage. Our eyes met, but neither of us could find the words to speak easily. Was it the situation, or the blunt honesty he'd revealed? We eyed each other warily, holding our tongues.

Then Ethan looked away first. He tilted his head and let out a thoughtful hum.

“I agonized over whether to tell you, but since this is the end, I figure it's better to let you know. It'd be a shame if word never got through. He's so naive, he doesn't know how to play the game. Honestly, it's frustrating for me.”

“Pardon?”

His abrupt words cut through the tense air. I stared at him in confusion, and he shook his head with an amused smile.

“Lucas has been frail since he was little. He had frequent seizures, so going outside was out of the question. He mostly stayed cooped up in his room, and we felt sorry for him, so we wrote him letters often. He'd shake off his boredom by writing replies to those.”

“...”

“Then one day, he started mixing colors into the ink and sending replies like that. Purple for Violet, red for me, gold for Vincent.”

I couldn't hide my trembling as I listened. A question that had lingered in my heart for so long was finally unveiling its truth. As it poured from Ethan's lips, my gaze began to waver. His smile turned mischievous as he watched my reaction.

“The day he reunited with Vincent after losing contact for so long and returned to the mansion, Lucas asked about you. Remember when you asked me what ink I used? That jogged my memory, so I asked just in case, and he said he'd been sending letters there. When I asked why he hadn't said anything, he told me someone else was replying on their behalf.”

“...”

“I knew right away who it was.”

Letters arrived at the Bellunita mansion often. Among them, the ones with golden script that had caught my eye—the ones I'd penned replies to on Isabella's orders...

“I told Lucas about you from time to time. Trivial stories, but he always listened happily. Now... I think I get it. With Vincent hiding in the mansion, he must have been anxious being left alone. Those replies were probably a huge comfort to him.”

The golden script had intrigued me. But the letters held no real meaning. I'd just written formal responses matching what he'd sent. I'm doing well. The weather's nice. Thank you. Short phrases like that, and he'd read them with joy.

You knew who I was from the start.

“Lucas liked you.”

“I know.”

“...”

“I know that very well.”

I buried my face in my hands. My tightly pressed lips trembled.

Now it all made sense. His friendly attitude from the moment we met, always approaching me warmly. The intent behind following me and striking up conversations, the reason he'd clung to me in his anxiety, the sincerity in his plea to run away together—I finally understood it all.

'Why don't we run away together?'

I only now grasped the courage those words had held.

Tears streamed endlessly. I couldn't contain the sorrow. Not a single memory surfaced. Recalling that day terrified me so much I could only tremble. So I asked Ethan what I'd never dared ask Vincent.

“L-Lucas... what about Lord Lucas...”

“He said you need to prepare your heart.”

My sobs finally broke free.

What if I'd run away with Lucas back then? Would things be different if we'd clasped those trembling hands and fled together? Could I have avoided leaving him bleeding behind? But in the end, I'd never answered any of his words.

There were no more words after that. The silence hurt. In Ethan's place—who clutched his heart, unable to even shed tears—I poured out the grief.

A moment later, the carriage stopped. Ethan opened the door and patted my shoulder. I wiped my tears, grabbed my bag, and stepped out.

But.

“Where is this?”

It wasn't the mansion. Still in the woods, but a village sprawled below. Not the one beneath the Bellunita mansion where I'd gone with Lucas before. This was unfamiliar.

I turned to Ethan.

“Weren't you going to kill me?”

I snapped, my face flushed from crying. He chuckled softly at that, his round eyes warm.

“Come on. I really was on my way to see Vincent.”

“I'm running away.”

“...”

“If the culprit finds out I was there, it'll be dangerous. So the Master decided to send me to the Noelle villa. Just the other day, I was nearly killed by some stranger. That's why I was rushing to that villa today, but then I heard the butler sent someone to take care of me. He must be worried a mere maid like me would make the Master act. So yeah, I was running away. I want to live.”

I explained my situation calmly. I couldn't understand why Ethan—who'd been threatening me moments ago—was suddenly so kind. Was there some other motive? I watched him warily, but he listened attentively, smile unwavering, warmth on full display.

“Maid, you're just a page in this old tale. There's no reason for you to get tangled up in it. No need to sacrifice yourself. Forget all this and go your own way.”

“...”

“Don't worry about this place. I've sensed it coming for a long time. Vincent and I have prepared plenty. Now we just wrap it up.”

Ethan spoke as if soothing me. Unlike the confused face I'd seen days ago, he looked relieved now. Even though it couldn't be that simple, he took it lightly—that was so like him.

“You sure you'll be okay? I know so much.”

“Hm. Planning to go blab somewhere?”

I shook my head immediately. He laughed as if he'd expected that and approached me, extending his hand.

“Maid, you saved my friend. You comforted my withdrawn little brother and helped us reunite. I'll never forget that kindness. Ever.”

I hesitated, but he took my hand in his.

“I never properly called your name, even though I knew it.”

“...”

“Paula.”

His brown eyes looked straight at me.

“I wish you happiness.”

I glanced at our clasped hands. He shook them vigorously up and down. When I looked up again, he smiled tenderly. I knew how hard the trials ahead would be for him—for all of them. Even I, who couldn't join their story, understood that much.

Yet he comforted me. He didn't skimp on telling me to forget it all and live on.

“Lord Christopher.”

“How about just Ethan from now on?”

His mischievous grin made me swallow my tears and smile brightly in return.

“Ethan.”

“Yeah.”

“I wish it too.”

“...”

“I wish happiness for everyone.”

Ethan beamed at that. Our tightly gripped hands parted, and I turned away. I clutched my bag with both hands, steadied my breath, and ran forward. This time, too, I ran with everything I had.

My world had never been beautiful. Drenched in poverty, selling children for money, stripped of even the barest conscience a person should have. All that bloomed in those cracks was sorrow. Nothing was free of bitterness.

But here, for the first time, I realized.

That life could be beautiful.

That moments with others could be joyful.

That even someone like me could have people wishing me happiness.

That it was okay to live.

I felt the true end approaching. Once I left this place, I'd never belong to that world again. I'd never see them.

I thought of the ending to the book I'd loved.

The protagonist's final farewell, leaving everything behind alone.

“Ahh. It's finally over.”

In that moment, Vincent came to mind. The man who believed I'd left safely, waiting alone for the day we'd meet again.

'I'll bring you back to my side. No matter what.'

My vision blurred. I didn't stop the flowing tears. We'd probably never meet again. Not even by chance on the road. Would he look for me? Come find me? I hadn't even said goodbye. But it was fine. I didn't want a farewell anyway.

I wished happiness for everyone. But above all, I wished it desperately for him. May Vincent's life be filled only with joy. May the one left alone not hide in his room again. May he move forward, stay out of danger, and learn to love the world once more.

And someday, far in the future, may I see him again, even from afar.

I prayed so fervently.

Darkness swallowed my small frame.

Leaving the secret intact.

And so, the count's secretive maid vanished into the darkness forever.