Chapter 6
Where Eric’s finger was pointing, Aria with wide-open eyes was standing. Piercing, intense eyes. What on earth could be the intention? The light illuminating the dining room cast a shadow into Aria’s round, wide-open eyes.
Aria instinctively took a step back.
“Why me of all people…?”
Well, Aria had already lost her voice before Eric even went to war.
It seemed he had always remembered himself as a mute.
No matter the circumstances, I didn’t want to be Eric’s maid.
If it were the youthful boy from the past that he remembered. I couldn’t entertain someone who was hiding their true feelings and only wearing a sly smile.
But it wasn’t something a maid could decide. In my situation, to avoid being treated poorly, I had to willingly accept any task.
At that moment when Aria was weakly bowing her head, a low voice suddenly came to her ears.
“Sorry, but Aria is my personal maid.
“If you want to save the maid, look among the others.
Edward sliced the meat in front of him with a knife and said.
The forced smile held a deeper meaning.
If you touch my things, I won’t let it go.
If you are a member of the Bailey family, you would have noticed just how much anger is brewing in Edward’s expression.
“Then that’s even better.
“Even without saying much, she will match the master’s temperament well.
“Please lend me that maid for a while, brother.”
Eric did not compromise his beliefs.
Once again, a heavy silence fell over the dining room.
Unable to bear it any longer, Edward slammed down his fork and knife. The sound of the silver plate clattering loudly echoed.
“Find someone else…!
“If that’s what you truly want, then so be it.”
Edward’s words were instantly silenced by the overwhelming presence contained in Count Dennis’s firm voice.
“Dad!”
“The wedding is coming up soon.
“We should have wrapped up this conversation at the last meal. For Cecil’s sake, you must change her personal maid. How long are you going to keep acting on your stubbornness?
“An extremely personal matter…”
“How can the eldest son’s duty to carry on the family line be dismissed as a private matter?”
“Stop being stubborn and step aside.
The count’s words were tinged with considerable annoyance. The count’s eyes, which had flared up fiercely, gradually narrowed. Edward’s face turned pale. His tightly clenched hands began to tremble slightly.
But I could no longer continue speaking.
It was because the mother’s irritable gaze, sitting across from her, was directed at poor Aria.
The count, riding this momentum, firmly scolded the countess.
At the sound of her husband’s voice, the wife’s sharp gaze, which had been fixed on Aria, finally softened.
“The matters within the household are indeed your domain, but I could no longer stand by and raised my voice.
“Next, I trust that you will handle it well.
“Yes, don’t worry.”
The wife barely nodded and replied. The count lifted the wine glass in front of him and emptied it in one go to sweep away his frustration.
And then, I stared intently at Eric.
“Although Aria is a mute maid, she is a meticulous child who has never once slacked off in her work.
“For the time being, she will be a great help for you staying here. Also, if you have any discomfort, feel free to talk to your mother anytime.”
“Yes, I will.”
“I have many questions for you, but it would be best to talk again soon.”
The count finished his meal, stood up, and left without a word. When the count left, only an empty silence lingered between the three of them.
The countess was curious about Eric’s intentions, but more than that, her mind was filled with the thought of finally getting rid of the thorn in her side, Aria, and keeping her son by her side.
I couldn’t miss the opportunity to separate Edward and Aria like this.
She decided to accept Eric’s wishes as they were. If that aligns with my intentions.
The woman slightly curled one corner of her mouth towards Eric.
“I’ll make sure you can be comfortable.
“If you need anything, just let me know anytime. Aria, you need to take special care of Eric for the time being.
Where did the earlier nervous gaze go, and the gentle, soothing voice landed in Aria’s ears?
Aria’s focus gradually blurred.
I hated it. I didn’t want to. I knew that someday I would have to leave Edward’s side, but I didn’t want it to be today.
Aria lifted her slightly trembling eyes to look at Edward.
What was he hoping for? Edward only drank wine, avoiding my gaze.
Aria stared blankly at him with a look of utter dismay.
A person who once meant everything to me. Now it’s a relationship where I have to be careful even with these small incidents. Now, it’s a place next to him where I can’t even stay.
Aria lowered her head to hide her sharply trembling pupils. I didn’t even have the strength to answer, nor the courage to face Eric.
He felt pitiful and pathetic about his situation, unable to refute his wife’s words, and could only bite his lip gently.
It might be better to just accept what the lady commands. If we keep staying together, it will become increasingly difficult to give up.
I had promised many times to support his bright future. Sending Edward off like this was easier than I thought. So I thought it was a relief.
The grand day of Edward’s engagement ceremony. The day I vowed to congratulate him more than anyone else.
Aria’s heart grew even more miserable in stark contrast to this brilliant time.
The next dawn.
The Bailey family’s mansion, shrouded in a thick, silent fog that obscures the view.
While everyone was asleep, Aria was heading to the lady’s bedroom on the second floor of the main building at the countess’s summons.
In fact, Aria couldn’t sleep until late in the early morning because she was thinking about Edward.
To be precise, I organized the memories of him scattered throughout the room and took some time to resign myself.
Edward’s indifference. Why did it hurt so much? What was I hoping for?
The feelings once given did not easily subside. Like a fool.
“Madam, Aria has arrived.”
As the bedroom door opened, Aria, who had been bowing her head, snapped out of her thoughts and stepped inside.
Inside, the countess, draped in a thin robe, was sitting on the sofa savoring her tea. When the indifferent-faced lady nodded, Aria politely greeted her and then sat down across from her.
Aria dared not examine the lady’s expression and naturally lowered her gaze.
Clang. The sound of the teacup being placed down on the plate was loud.
“From today, you’ll be serving Eric. You won’t hold a grudge against me for the harsh words I’ve said to you at the dinner table these past few days, right?
“Others might say I am a wicked master, but it wasn’t easy for us to recognize you, who only did menial tasks, as Edward’s close maid. Especially a maid with significant physical disqualifications.
They were owners who didn’t even give me a glance, but at the mention of their utmost consideration, Aria gently nodded.
Although it was old and shabby, Aria, as a close maid, was able to use the attic alone, unlike the other maids. It was a promotion faster than anyone else.
Additionally, the status of being a close maid of the Bailey family also served as a significant advantage when being hired elsewhere.
“We didn’t abandon you or cut your salary just because you’re mute. It means we treated you the same as anyone else and respected you. If it were another employer, it would be utterly unacceptable.
Aria nodded silently again.
“Yeah. I’m glad you know it well. Then you should make the appropriate recompense as well. The reason I called you is to give you secret instructions.
Aria, who had been nodding her head again, suddenly stopped in her tracks. The lady’s secret instructions.
The wife squinted slightly and spoke in a low voice.
“Keep an eye on Eric.
“Monitor his every move meticulously.
Aria looked at the lady’s face with eyes round like a rabbit’s. It was the first time she had stared so intently at her master’s face.
Aria was that surprised and scared. Her fingertips became so cold so quickly.
“Not only every move and gesture, but especially any communication with the royal family, and what you discuss separately with the count, report it all in detail.
“You understand what I mean, right?
It’s something I’ve never done before. To be tasked with watching over the master. Why did such an enormous thing happen to me?
The lady, observing Aria’s pale complexion, opened the drawer next to her. She took out a thick bundle of money from inside and placed it on the table.
According to the head maid, people ultimately pay respect to the power of money. You can’t expect loyalty without any compensation. Take it Your annual salary will be more than enough.”
Aria’s gaze settled on the bundle of money tightly bound with brown twine.
Aria had done everything from kitchen work, laundry, to cleaning the stables at the Bailey household.
It was a difficult and hard task for the young girl, but thanks to her keen insight, she quickly got the hang of it and was eventually able to complete it without any nagging from her superiors.
But this is selling one’s conscience for money. Perhaps it was a heavy guilt that could never be fully resolved.
As Aria hesitated, the woman’s eyes, watching her, gradually grew more menacing.
“Surely….Are you really considering this as a favor you’re asking of me?
A sharp voice came out of her mouth. Aria looked at her mistress with fearful eyes.
The first impression of the lady was much more elegant and dignified than I had imagined. Even in her light attire and unadorned, plain complexion, she exuded an enchanting presence.
But in those emerald-colored pupils, sharp thorns resided. It was as if it would ruthlessly and coldly eliminate anyone who displeased it at any moment.
The wife’s red lips gradually curled up crookedly.
“This is an order, Aria. If you don’t carry out my orders, I won’t be able to let you go easily.
At that moment, Aria realized. The reason the lady tried to send her as Eric’s close maid. The wife’s dark intentions. The wife was trying to trap herself and Eric and send them both to ruin at once.
And Aria was already walking into that deep trap.
