The maid who killed the count

4. The path to sleep

4. The path to sleep

_

Mary, not wanting to make him wait even a little, quickly changed into a neat dress and ran to the backyard of the mansion.

아셀 브랜튼

Oh, Miss Mary.

In the backyard where the gardener's hand touches

Asher was leaning leisurely against the wall, waving at Mary.

아셀 브랜튼

I hope everything went smoothly on your way here.

메리 앤

Luckily, this place and my room aren't too far apart.

Then Asher smiled with a completely incomprehensible smile,

아셀 브랜튼

Well, coincidences happen in a split second.

He politely extended his hand to her. A little taken aback, Mary thought it was perhaps a sign for her to take it, so she gently placed her hand on mine.

아셀 브랜튼

That's better than nothing.

메리 앤

Are you glad?

아셀 브랜튼

I was worried because I thought about what would happen if I ran into my older brother.

Huh-

메리 앤

...

Mary's expression darkened as she listened.

Perhaps it was because their conversation before the trial had been so unpleasant? She was already beginning to fear what Will might do to her.

메리 앤

Where is my... eldest son now...

아셀 브랜튼

Why, because I was thinking of hacking it?

메리 앤

No...! No.

Mary shook her head with a face that looked like she was about to cry.

Asher stared at her as if he was admiring her appearance.

아셀 브랜튼

Just kidding.

메리 앤

...yes.

아셀 브랜튼

No matter how much it is intertwined with my father's work,

아셀 브랜튼

Would our brother ever bully Miss Mary?

메리 앤

...

아셀 브랜튼

Well... this isn't the main point.

Smile-

아셀 브랜튼

First, let's move.

Assel changed the heavy air in one breath,

He led Mary to the entrance of a lush forest bordering the backyard.

_

_

아셀 브랜튼

sorry.

아셀 브랜튼

Mary Yang had a unique charm that made me want to tease her a lot, so I couldn't control myself.

메리 앤

But, Master, this place is...

As we entered the heart of the forest, the sounds of insects chirping and small birds singing beautifully could be heard.

They came together and sounded like harmony.

아셀 브랜튼

It's a beautiful place, isn't it?

메리 앤

Yes... really.

아셀 브랜튼

I come here sometimes to gather my thoughts by myself.

아셀 브랜튼

This is a place that not even the people from the mansion, not even Will, come to visit.

Mary hesitated to respond, and not just because of the oppressive weight of the dense forest.

아셀 브랜튼

furthermore...

아셀 브랜튼

It's a great place to share secrets, isn't it?

Asher's mood changed.

메리 앤

It's a secret...?

He's still smiling mischievously.

But unlike Will, who couldn't hide his emotions, there was nothing in that smile.

아셀 브랜튼

As you know.

A chill suddenly came to the back of Mary's neck.

Thud thud-

메리 앤

master...?

The playful look that had once seemed so playful had long since vanished. Every time Asher took a step closer, Mary instinctively backed away.

아셀 브랜튼

I have a question.

메리 앤

why...

아셀 브랜튼

Now I'm asking,

아셀 브랜튼

Surely you weren't reassured by something as absurd as suicide, were you?

메리 앤

...!!

아셀 브랜튼

Mental illness or something, how could that be possible? That author is such a toxic person.

He put his hands in his pockets and walked towards Mary as if he had nothing left to be afraid of.

아셀 브랜튼

Why are you avoiding me?

메리 앤

Don't come near...

chin-

Just then, a long tree root caught her hind leg, and her body staggered as if she was about to fall over.

Snap-

메리 앤

Ugh...!

Asher, who supported her waist firmly with one arm, whispered in her ear.

아셀 브랜튼

You're the one who killed him, Mary Ann.

_

_

Mary was escorted back to her room, an act she hadn't asked for.

Asher said this to Mary, who was sitting on the bed in a daze, before leaving.

아셀 브랜튼

I hope you don't take today's story too badly.

아셀 브랜튼

Because I don't hate Mary Yang that much.

It didn't matter what it meant.

The important thing was that the ordinary life Mary had hoped for would never come.

메리 앤

Should I... confess?

At this rate, the only options were to either voluntarily hang myself or to rot away here forever.

slap-

메리 앤

Ugh... uhhh...

The sound of her crying, muffled under the blanket, did not even reach the door and was muffled.

The problem was that I trusted a man so easily, not knowing if he was friend or foe. No, more than that, I shouldn't have let my guard down.

A death row inmate who was released under suspicion until the end of the trial could not possibly have the right to return to his daily life in this way.

메리 앤

...it's all over.

Hatred and resentment are lurking everywhere.

Mary herself killed a man and is in a position where she is indefinitely delaying the punishment she should have paid.

메리 앤

really...

메리 앤

It'll only end when I die...

But no matter how much I tried to conform to this world, I couldn't numb myself to this strangling feeling.

메리 앤

...

She fiddled with the pendant around her neck, soaked with salty tears.

It was a farewell gift I received before parting ways with my only sister.

하일리 앤

Sister, do you know that?

하일리 앤

They say that dragonflies are spirit animals.

메리 앤

Spirit animal?

하일리 앤

It is said that if you just hold it, it will lead that person back to the light, wherever he or she is.

메리 앤

Oh my, it's so amazing.

Young Hailey readily handed it to Mary and said.

하일리 앤

So, sister, until the flowers all fall next year

하일리 앤

You must come back home!

하일리 앤

I will wait without getting tired at all.

메리 앤

...Hailee.

The gentle breeze that day tickled the tip of my nose, and the cheerful voice of my younger sister, who was quite like a lady.

As if it were a lie, he hovered by her side at that moment.

Kwaak-

메리 앤

Yeah... I have to go back.

Mary's hand, which was holding the pendant, tightened.

메리 앤

I still have someone to protect.

Even if it's just a momentary jolt, it's okay. If it becomes the final spark that rekindles the fading embers.

Swish-

She was able to get back up again and again.

_

_

The maid said that Mary's body would not recover after being locked up for two days.

Although he advised her to wait a little while before starting work, Mary declined and went straight to the annex.

메리 앤

Cleaning the annex is the last thing on the agenda, so I won't be meeting anyone.

In fact, ever since she came to this mansion, she had been feeling it vaguely, no, definitely.

Suddenly-

메리 앤

I need to get some water...

That everyone is avoiding me.

하녀들

Look at him, he's so shameless.

하녀들

How dare you come back here with such a shameless attitude on the topic of murder?

The stinging stares I received as I walked down the hallway and the now derogatory term 'murderer'.

slap-

메리 앤

...

하녀들

Oh my... what are you looking at?

Even if she just glared at them without saying anything, they would run away first and not confront her directly, but Mary, left alone in that place, had to swallow her bitter feelings.

Because these are things that shouldn't matter anymore.

메리 앤

It's not noisy, which is good, right?

_

_

_

A couple of hours later.

Swish swish-

Mary puts the bucket at her feet and puts down the broom she has been sweeping with for a while.

메리 앤

phew.

Considering that I had done it all by myself, this spacious space looked incredibly clean, and I felt a surge of pride in it, putting strength into my shoulders.

메리 앤

Okay, if you've done all the material

메리 앤

Now let's try clearing out the training ground.

Like the annex, the smokehouse located next to the outdoor fountain is closed like a knife unless there is a special schedule.

Right now, Mary was one of the best places to get her hands on it.

Thud thud-

If I had known that there was a guest who had been there before,

I wouldn't have gone for whatever reason.

_

_

Blood came out.

Jureuk-

It was a situation where if I had taken just one more step forward, my neck would have been cut off.

이안 룩펠

Will, stop!

이안 룩펠

You're a human!

The man did not put away his murderous blade, paying no attention to the urgent cries.

윌 브랜튼

I didn't know you would come to me on your own two feet.

메리 앤

...

윌 브랜튼

Why, do you have any business with me?

Will's gaze slid from Mary's frightened face to her hands holding the rag.

윌 브랜튼

Mary Ann.

If it hadn't been for the rag she was holding in her hand, his sword would have cut Mary down without hesitation.

메리 앤

Sorry, I'm sorry...

As he was about to lose strength in his legs from fear, the man who was with him came running.

widely-

I threw away the hand holding the knife with all my might.

이안 룩펠

No matter how difficult the past few days have been, pointing a knife at your employer,

이안 룩펠

Are you out of your mind?

윌 브랜튼

It's none of your business.

이안 룩펠

I can't just sit back and watch.

윌 브랜튼

...Ian.

The man called Ian glared at Will, who was not giving in.

이안 룩펠

Come on, let's go.

I left the training ground with a distraught Mary.

_

_

이안 룩펠

Excuse me, are you okay?

Mary nodded slightly, her mind still unsettled.

There was a long line of blood pooling in the thin neck that had not been able to stop the bleeding.

이안 룩펠

I'll call the congressman, so just a moment-

Huh-

메리 앤

Okay, it's okay!

Her body flinched as if I was surprised by the sudden increase in voice.

메리 앤

That's... that's why I...

메리 앤

It didn't hurt too much...

At least Mary knew how she was perceived by the people here, so she barely had the courage to call the senator for something like this.

The anxiety that I might turn everyone into my enemy was several times stronger than the pain I was feeling right now.

메리 앤

I'm really okay with it, I...

I was worried that my attempt to pass it over would arouse his suspicions, but

Fortunately, Ian didn't hang on any longer.

이안 룩펠

Well then, there's nothing we can do.

이안 룩펠

I will provide first aid as soon as possible.

메리 앤

Yes? No, I can't be bothered anymore...

이안 룩펠

If you leave it alone, it will get worse. It's a simple treatment so you don't have to worry.

메리 앤

...

Swish-

Mary suddenly turned her head and looked at the training ground where Will was.

메리 앤

...Then, I'll ask you to do it.

Trying to ignore the feeling that things were getting more and more complicated.

_

_

Author's Note_

The third male lead has finally arrived. There's still one more. But not all of them are romantic.

This article itself doesn't seem to have a romantic feel to it. It's a bit deep, but I'll try to write it as lightly as possible.

By the way, who is the last male lead?

To the person who guesses correctly, I will give you a little.... of my love....

Bye then!