47. The Moment a Star Fell on the Earl's Family (8)
"Let's go, Miss."
"Why suddenly?"
Violet looked back and forth between the nanny who was holding her and the old gentleman. She seemed bewildered by the situation. The old gentleman, watching her, suddenly bellowed.
"Once we return to the mansion, you're forbidden from going out for a while!"
"A, Father."
The old gentleman's eyes suddenly turned sharp, a fierce anger flashing in them. He strode down the stairs. When he reached the bottom, Vincent was standing there, and Ethan, looking anxious, was supporting him.
The old gentleman glared at Vincent for a moment before raising his hand. In an instant, his hand struck Vincent's face. A loud *smack* echoed, and Vincent staggered and fell. Ethan, startled, caught him. We, watching this, gasped in shock.
Violet screamed and quickly ran down the stairs. The nanny, realizing what was happening, hurried after her. I started to follow but was stopped by Lucas. He prevented me from going down. Confused, I turned to look at him, but he shook his head.
In the end, I had to watch the situation with growing anxiety.
Violet rushed to Vincent, asking if he was okay and checking his condition. Then she turned to the old gentleman.
"Father, why are you doing this!"
"How dare you deceive me and meet my daughter!"
"What do you mean? Deceive you?"
"How could you look at our family as a joke and hide the fact that you can't see! How dare you even think of marrying my daughter with a body like that!"
A thunderous shout erupted. Violet gasped, unable to hide her shock. I felt the same way. The old gentleman had been angry since we arrived, and this must have been the reason. Ethan also looked devastated, as if he had expected this to happen.
Meanwhile, Vincent, who had been knocked down, sat up, his upper body swaying. The part where he had been hit by the old gentleman was red and swollen. However, his face remained calm, more so than anyone else present.
"Ah, Father, please don't."
Violet, her hand trembling, grabbed the old gentleman's arm. Her voice, calling him Father, also trembled. But the old gentleman shook off her hand. Losing her balance, Violet fell, and the nanny rushed to support her.
"Take her away immediately! And know that it's a broken engagement when you return!"
"Father!"
The old gentleman shot her a fierce glare when she shouted. She flinched and lowered her gaze. Her delicate body, trembling with fear, shrank back. But she mustered the courage to speak hesitantly.
"I don't want to break the engagement."
"What do you have to gain by sticking up for that scoundrel! What do you think you'll hear from a husband who can't see! Or are you so infatuated with a man that you want to disgrace our family!"
"No! No, Father. I would never disgrace our family. I, I just... love Vincent."
"Pathetic."
"..."
The old gentleman clicked his tongue. Violet flinched again.
"Because of your foolishness, he's become arrogant and refused to break the engagement."
"But, but."
"I don't want to hear it! Shut up!"
A loud shout drowned out her words.
"..."
Violet tightly closed her mouth. Her face, distorted with emotion, looked like it was about to burst into tears. The nanny comforted her, holding her close.
Then, Vincent, still calm, spoke.
"I will do as you say."
"Vincent!"
Even in response to Violet's desperate call, he did not change his mind. Violet, panicking, approached Vincent, shaking him and asking why he was doing this. When he gave no answer, she buried her face in his chest and burst into tears.
"That's enough. Go back now."
"Don't. You said you wouldn't break the engagement."
"Then you must leave the family. Can you do that?"
"I can."
"Violet."
Vincent raised both hands and felt her face, which was soaked with tears. He looked down.
"Without the family's help, without the nanny you love, you'll have to live by my side, unable to see. You'll spend your life taking care of me, with no social life. You'll have to give up the things you love. Everywhere you go, people will stare. You'll get hurt, and I won't be able to notice or protect you. I'll just fumble around with my hands, helpless."
"..."
"Life with me is like that. Can you really live like that?"
Violet opened her mouth but couldn't easily answer. Her violet eyes wavered, and the hesitation in them took away her voice. Tears streamed down her delicate cheeks.
Vincent smiled as if he understood and stroked her hair.
"I don't want you to live like that. So go back."
Violet shook her head, tears dripping. The old gentleman, watching them, signaled to someone outside. Soon, a man came in and grabbed Violet's arm, pulling her away. She struggled, trying not to let go of Vincent, but her delicate body was dragged away helplessly.
Her hand slipped and fell away from Vincent.
"Vincent!"
"..."
In the end, she was dragged out of the mansion by the servant. The nanny followed them. Her cries, mixed with sobs, gradually faded and then abruptly stopped.
The old gentleman turned his gaze to Vincent. His sharp eyes were still filled with anger, and his tight lips betrayed his discomfort.
"I hope you keep your word."
"..."
"Deceiving me is unforgivable, but I'll let it go this time for the sake of your parents. Don't look at my daughter again."
The old gentleman turned and walked away with firm steps.
After he left, the hall, which had been noisy, fell silent. Heavy footsteps echoed. James, who had been hiding in the commotion, came down the stairs and looked around the silent room. Everyone's gaze, except Vincent's, fell on him.
Vincent's condition was a secret. While no secret is completely hidden, we had been very careful to keep it under wraps for as long as possible. The only people who knew this secret were us here and that man, James Christopher. We instinctively knew who had caused this commotion.
James calmly adjusted his clothes and took a step. His sharp gaze fell on Lucas as he passed by us. Lucas, trembling, tightened his grip on me. Fortunately, James walked away without saying anything.
As he turned to leave, James stopped in front of Vincent. Ethan, startled, stepped forward to block him.
Trying to lighten the heavy atmosphere, Ethan forced a smile.
"Leaving?"
"Yes, there's no need to stay."
While answering Ethan, James kept his gaze on Vincent. Ethan moved slightly to block James's view.
I glanced at them and then led Lucas to Vincent. He had been staring at the door without moving. As I approached, his face, which seemed to have stopped breathing, appeared calm.
I hesitated for a moment before gently grabbing Vincent's arm. He still didn't move. Even when Lucas called him, there was no response.
"Sir, let's go to your room."
"...Okay."
As soon as he answered, I supported him. He leaned on me without resistance.
As we turned, James, who had finished talking to Ethan, approached and stopped in front of Vincent. He then openly scanned us, his eyes filled with mockery.
"Good show."
"..."
I glared at the man in front of me, my eyes wide with anger. His attitude from the last time he was here and his clear intention to cause this incident infuriated me.
Of course, I was also afraid of James. A warning shot through my mind that I should be cautious of someone scary. But at that moment, my anger overrode my caution.
James narrowed his eyes when I met his gaze head-on. He seemed offended that a mere maid was looking at him directly. As his face grew increasingly menacing, Ethan stepped in.
"James."
His dissatisfied gaze moved away from me.
"Where did you park the car?"
"Outside."
"I'll see you off. Let's go."
"Okay."
James glanced at us again. I bowed my head. My scalp tingled, but soon, his footsteps disappeared outside the door. When I looked up, I saw Ethan sighing in relief.
"I feel like I can't live here because of the maid."
"I'm sorry."
"I understand. But don't do it again."
He smiled lightly, but his voice was serious. He glanced at Vincent for a moment, then at Lucas standing behind me. He smiled again, this time at me.
'I entrust these two to you.'
Then Ethan also left.
* * *
A considerable amount of time had passed since the commotion. The mansion, which had been bustling, was now eerily quiet, with no sound of people or conversation. It felt as if time had stopped, just like when I first arrived.
I walked down the quiet corridor. Only my footsteps echoed in the long hallway.
Since that day, Vincent had been confined to his room again. And every night, he had nightmares. Recently, the intervals between his nightmares had been longer, but lately, groans could be heard every night. I listened to those sounds, ready to rush to him if he called. But he never did, and he endured alone.
After James's visit, I worried that he might do something terrible, but the next day and the day after, Vincent lived his life as usual. He ate well, bathed, and listened to the books I read to him. He just didn't leave his room.
I was relieved that he was managing better than expected, but at the same time, it made me more afraid. His calm demeanor made it worse.