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Chapter 95




# 95
95. The strange guest was still (9)
As I stepped out to the back of the mansion, I saw clothes hanging on the laundry line. The laundress put down her basket next to the clothesline and started gathering the laundry. When I helped her, she hesitated at first, but it wasn’t too difficult, so I pretended not to notice and assisted her. If it weren’t for this man standing next to me, it would have been much easier.
I sighed with each step, feeling the presence that clung to me like a shadow. The laundress, who had initially tried to stop me, had gradually moved away, glancing at Eitan.
“Didn’t you say you didn’t want to leave the room?”
“You told me to do something other than sleep.”
“I didn’t mean for you to follow me around.”
“Watching you is fun too.”
I turned to Eitan, who was standing right next to me, with a cold look.
“Why are you doing this?”
“Because I want to get closer to Pola?”
He took a step back, looking annoyed.
“Those jokes aren’t funny.”
“But it’s not a joke.”
“Don’t you have something better to do?”
“Yes.”
His brazen response left me speechless. I thought he had said he was busy last time. Did I hear wrong? But he really did seem to have nothing to do, just staring at me blankly.
I looked at him as if he were the most pitiful person in the world and shook my head. Eitan continued to observe me, undeterred by my reaction. At one point, he even asked if he could help, which made me panic and sternly tell him not to touch anything.
After helping to gather the laundry and receive new clothes, we returned to the mansion.
“What are you going to do next?”
Eitan asked as he followed me, but I didn’t answer. His question continued as I organized his room, replaced his drinking water, swept and cleaned the hallway outside, and refilled the coal in the fireplace.
Moreover, he didn’t just follow me; sometimes he would suddenly disappear and then reappear from somewhere, making me clutch my chest in surprise. It was driving me crazy to have this shadowy presence clinging to me like a tail.
After a simple meal, I had some time left, so I went to see Robert. Ever since Eitan had chosen me to attend to him, I had been taking care of both Robert and Eitan.
In any case, my role in attending to Robert was more of an assistant to the governess, who had been staying by Robert’s side recently, not leaving to run errands. This reduced the time I needed to focus on Robert, and I stopped writing the letters that reported on him.
Still, I would visit Robert’s room when I had the time. Today, Robert was still napping, so the governess greeted me alone. The governess, who had been friendly, widened her eyes when she saw Eitan standing behind me.
“Looks like you two are getting along well?”
She was clearly surprised by the unusual scene. If this continued, I wouldn’t be able to avoid someone’s nagging.
Finally, I lost my temper.
“Just go for a walk!”
“Can I go with you?”
He suggested as if he had been waiting for it. I was tempted for a moment but shook my head.
“Servants can’t leave this mansion freely.”
“Just to the nearby area, then.”
“I don’t want to cause a commotion.”
“Then keep working. I’ll just watch.”
It seemed he was determined to follow me and watch until I went to bed.
“Now, what are you going to do?”
I was getting tired of hearing that question. After a moment’s thought, I spoke.
“I’m going to prepare a dessert for the person I serve.”
“Robert?”
“...”
Without responding, I headed back to the rear stairs. When Eitan tried to follow me, I sternly warned him not to and quickly went down to the kitchen. I immediately asked the cook to prepare a dessert and made tea to go with it.
Carrying a thick chocolate cake, cookies, a teapot, and teacups on a silver tray, I climbed the stairs. I passed Eitan, who was watching what I was carrying, and went upstairs.
“Robert will like this.”
“It’s for you, Lord Eitan.”
“...”
“Will you stop following me if I give this to you?”
Eitan, who had been silent, replied in a low voice.
“Am I bothering you?”
“Yes.”
“Try to bear with it.”
“...”
No, this guy is really something.
“Why don’t you go back to your room and sleep again? Sleep as much as you want. I won’t disturb you.”
“Hmm. I don’t feel like sleeping right now.”
“How long do you plan to follow me?”
“Until I get bored?”
A deep sigh escaped me. It seemed like we couldn’t have a proper conversation. I hurried to put the tray in the room and escape. I wanted to regain my freedom quickly.
I quickly climbed the stairs and walked down the hallway. The footsteps following me also sped up.
“Can I have some of that?”
“I’m fine.”
“Come on, have some with me.”
“I’ll pass.”
“Pola.”
An unwelcome call reached my ears. No, don’t call my name! I stopped and quickly turned to face Eitan.
At that moment, the door to the left of Eitan burst open, and two maids coming out bumped into him.
With a short scream, the two maids lost their balance and fell to the ground. Both were carrying flower vases; one shattered on the floor, and the other soaked Eitan’s left trouser leg and rolled on the ground. The flowers scattered everywhere.
Fortunately, I was about five steps away and managed to avoid spilling the tray.
“I’m so sorry! I’m truly sorry!”
One of the maids, upon seeing Eitan, panicked and prostrated herself on the floor. She repeatedly bowed her head to the wet floor, saying, “I’m sorry.”
The other maid, who had stiffened at the sight of Eitan, slowly followed the first maid’s lead and prostrated herself. Her body was trembling.
“P-please, s-spare us...”
“P-please, have mercy.”
It was a minor incident, something easily understandable. Yet the maids bowed their heads in fear, as if they had committed a grave offense against Eitan.
Why? I looked at them in confusion and then at Eitan. He was looking down at his wet trouser leg.
“Please, save us!”
The desperate cry echoed. The other maid joined in, “Please, don’t take our lives! Please, please!”
It sounded like a scream. I was startled, but Eitan, who heard it, showed no reaction, his face expressionless.
Seeing his emotionless face, I understood why they were trembling. The man standing there wasn’t the playful, smiling Eitan but Lord Christopher, the earl. His rigid expression, heavy aura, and perfect attire made him a figure of fear, known for his cruel reputation. Even though it was a small mistake, they were terrified because he was a noble who didn’t hesitate to kill his own kin.
Eitan glanced at the prostrate, trembling maids and continued walking. The flowers under his feet were crushed, but he didn’t care and approached me. I stared at him blankly.
“Let’s go.”
Eitan said one word and walked past me. I snapped out of my daze and followed him, keeping a few steps behind. When I glanced back, the maids were looking at us. Their fear-stricken faces were directed at Eitan, which seemed strange.
One of the maids started sobbing, realizing that the incident had ended without any trouble. The other maid held her and patted her back, looking like they had just survived a life-threatening situation.
I turned to look at Eitan. He didn’t react to the crying, nor did he look back. I examined him from head to toe. His appearance was still impeccable. His hair was neatly combed, not a strand out of place. But the back of his head, where his hands couldn’t reach, had a few strands sticking out.
Seeing that, my tension suddenly eased. I thought he looked neat, but what was this? I felt like laughing at this unexpected flaw. Had he been walking around like this all along? Anyone who saw him would have wondered what was going on. He probably didn’t even notice.
If the maids had seen the back of his head just now, would they have been so terrified? If they had regained their composure and looked more closely, would they have noticed his imperfections? Would they have realized he wasn’t as scary as they thought? But the overwhelming fear had clouded their judgment.
I noticed that whenever I encountered other servants, they would be startled and freeze, or bow deeply to avoid eye contact. They all looked terrified.
‘Ah, that’s why.’
I hadn’t realized it before. The sharp atmosphere around him, the way everyone watched and feared him.
He must have noticed it too. Perhaps it had been like this since he first arrived at the mansion. Maybe that’s why he stayed in his room and slept all the time. He had chosen me to attend to him, and the other servants hadn’t welcomed it. As a result, I was the only one who entered his room.
The room was probably the only place where he could relax. The moment he stepped out, he became Lord Christopher, the earl, and had to face people’s gazes. Even though he hadn’t done anything, people were already afraid and lowering their heads.
Perhaps sleeping comfortably was the real ‘vacation’ he had mentioned.
Eitan remained silent as we walked down the hallway. He didn’t show the playful attitude from earlier or initiate conversation. His steps were stiff, and the atmosphere around him was a bit heavy. But I, who had noticed his imperfection, looked around and whispered softly.
“Lord Eitan, your hair is sticking out at the back.”
My voice was low, but he must have heard it. His steps faltered for a moment, and then his hand came up to smooth his hair. I calmly said, “It’s more to the side.”
His steps quickened. I followed him, suppressing the laughter that threatened to escape. It was my way of showing consideration for Eitan, who was likely embarrassed. But my consideration didn’t last long before I burst out laughing.