7. Smart, it's a gift. - The maid who killed the count

7. Smart, it's a gift

_

윌 브랜튼

Without a key...

윌 브랜튼

How did you get in here?

Clank-

Will, pressing the door lock with one hand, didn't seem to be waiting for Mary's answer. Perhaps he hadn't been the one to give the order to clean this place.

메리 앤

ah...

In any case, Mary felt the situation was going wrong. Crumpling the piece of paper in her hand, she quickly responded, lest something as dangerous as last time happen again.

메리 앤

The butler told me to clean up this room.

메리 앤

I'm sorry I didn't check, but I swear I didn't touch anything, Your Majesty.

The silver lining was that Will seemed a little more tired than usual.

His bloodshot eyes, looking back at her, seemed to testify to his state of being on the verge of collapse rather than any hostility towards Mary.

메리 앤

Please believe me...

윌 브랜튼

...get out.

Mary didn't miss the opportunity and hurried past Will and out of the room.

_

_

Even after overcoming the crisis, my mind was not at ease.

메리 앤

Butler, I doubt you'll...

Mary sits by the window in her room, her head drooping. "There really is no one on my side in this mansion. I can't trust anyone." As she recalls this forgotten truth, she feels even more utterly alone.

메리 앤

I really hate it... I hate everything... Why am I always like this...

dripping-

It was then that a human figure approached the window. Startled, she instantly sat up in bed, but then listened to a familiar voice.

이안 룩펠

Mary. It's me, Mary.

메리 앤

Ian...?

I carefully unlocked the window and opened it, and it was indeed Ian. He didn't even have time to ask how he'd gotten up to the second floor, just slammed himself into the room.

메리 앤

Oh, wait, wait a minute. If you come in so presumptuously...!

이안 룩펠

Excuse me. I'm being chased.

메리 앤

Are you being chased? By whom?

이안 룩펠

well.

Ian, with a tomboyish grin, used the windowsill as a stepping stone and climbed down. He pretended to wipe the spot where his shoe had touched with his sleeve, then fixed his gaze on Mary. He seemed to have discovered something.

이안 룩펠

Did you cry?

Mary hurriedly pulled up her sleeve and wiped around her eyes. She wiped so vigorously that the irritation made them even redder.

Unable to bear it any longer, Ian took her hand. Perhaps because they had been outside in the cold wind, it felt slightly cool rather than warm.

메리 앤

Oh, don't worry about it...

이안 룩펠

Will again? Seriously, even so, it's a shame he keeps harassing ladies like this.

Mary couldn't tell if she was really angry or just pretending to be, but she felt a sense of relief. She was so relaxed that she almost laughed at the whole situation.

메리 앤

Is that what someone who broke into a lady's room said?

Ian looked at her chuckling and waved his hands around in confusion for a moment.

이안 룩펠

Just this once, I promise. I'm really being chased...

메리 앤

It's okay, I guess. It's not even rude to do something like this.

이안 룩펠

Then I will be grateful.

The two chatted for quite some time. They talked about their favorite circus, stories of their childhoods—all sorts of trivial things. Then, Mary suddenly had a question. What on earth does Ian do?

메리 앤

...

What kind of person are you that makes me feel so comfortable and warm?

이안 룩펠

It's nice to see you smiling.

메리 앤

...thank you.

I don't want to believe it. I can't even trust anyone anymore. Mary simply cherished the moments when she could laugh like this, unprepared, with someone.

_

_

윌 브랜튼

I can't believe that woman. How can the woman who killed my father be alive and well in this mansion?

Will's voice grew louder. The more excited he became, the more breathless he became, and it seemed he was struggling to support himself. Still, Gett, standing before him, remained unwavering, as if he couldn't bend.

집사 게트

There's no way Mary alone could have hatched the conspiracy.

Suddenly-

윌 브랜튼

Anyway, that woman killed him...!

집사 게트

I'm not sure.

Gett handed Will a letter from his pocket, its original form so badly damaged it was barely legible. The writing and the sender's initials were scorched from the glue, but one thing was clear.

윌 브랜튼

The coat of arms of the Hague...

집사 게트

I found it in the arms of the previous head of the family. There's no way he'd have something like this without a reason. There must be some kind of motive behind it.

집사 게트

So, it would be wise to keep Mary Anne by your side and keep an eye on her. She's a dangerous person, but she's also the most important clue in the case.

윌 브랜튼

...

Will, with anxious eyes, held the letter he had received from the butler Gett in his hand and was lost in thought for a while.

_

_

The reason the Count's house was bustling with people so early in the morning was to see Asher off. Neither the maids nor the head maid had been specifically informed of this arrangement, but Mary was there on time.

하녀들

How did that girl know to come here... It's scary, it's scary.

There were many eyes looking at her with disapproval, even though she had finished getting all dressed up.

메리 앤

...

If only I had my way, I'd sleep in. Mary pretended not to hear, but her expression was one of inward resentment.

The reason she was able to be here was because Asher had called her out last night and told her separately.

아셀 브랜튼

Have you heard the news?

메리 앤

What news are you talking about...?

아셀 브랜튼

Oh, I guess I'm still an ugly duckling.

메리 앤

...

This person... is it okay for him to scratch me like this? Mary could only stare at the rose, its leaves torn off and discarded at her feet. This situation was uncomfortable. Beyond uncomfortable, it gave her the chills.

아셀 브랜튼

No friends, no family.

Leaning against the steps, Asher plucked the rose petals one by one. When he had snatched the last, he snapped the dead rose and tossed it absentmindedly toward Mary.

아셀 브랜튼

I'm worried about how I'll survive in this harsh world.

메리 앤

...what's the news?

아셀 브랜튼

I'm leaving home tomorrow.

메리 앤

yes?

Mary, who had been looking at the ground the whole time, raised her head at those words and asked a question.

아셀 브랜튼

You're finally seeing me. Are you happy that I'm leaving, Miss Mary?

메리 앤

No, that's not it... I...

아셀 브랜튼

Hmm, anyway.

Asher, who was smiling while covering his mouth with his clenched fist, suddenly hands Mary a white piece of paper he was holding.

메리 앤

What is this...?

아셀 브랜튼

I'm going to The Hague tomorrow. It's just a regular meeting in name only, but I guess they're trying to take advantage of the vacancy in the House of Representatives to negotiate some absurd deal over our territory.

메리 앤

Master Will... are you coming with us?

아셀 브랜튼

My brother is sick. He's scared too... Anyway.

Asher tapped his finger on the piece of paper. Looking closely, it seemed like there was an address written somewhere.

아셀 브랜튼

Miss Mary, after I leave tomorrow, come here and get something. I have a box I left for you.

Mary asked, a little nervous but clearly not intending to refuse. "Would you mind leaving it in your master's room?" Asher grinned and shook his head.

아셀 브랜튼

Take it. It's a gift.

메리 앤

yes?

아셀 브랜튼

Instead, you shouldn't follow someone around like that.

This is really my first gift to Mary Yang.

-That's what happened.

Gifts were unnecessary, of course, but she couldn't bring herself to disobey his request, which was practically an order. The Asher she'd seen would surely retaliate in some way.

아셀 브랜튼

Okay, I'll be back. Take care, everyone.

All the servants of the mansion cheerfully rode off to see off the second owner of the house. Sometimes, looking at him, I felt like labels like psychopath and split personality weren't enough. How could someone so different from the others?

As the sound of horse hooves gradually faded, Mary straightened her back and turned to head back to her room. She'd finished most of her chores, so she had to go to an unfamiliar store and pick up a gift.

메리 앤

Ah... what if the eldest son comes looking for me?

Before that, I heard you were sick. Will, who hadn't come out even today, had locked the door tightly, wondering if Asher had just said that.

메리 앤

If the butler wasn't lying... it would be my fault...

Mary was standing in the middle of the hallway, deep in thought, when something flew at her without warning.

puck-

메리 앤

Ugh...!

Cold, damp, and slimy.

하녀 1

That suits you well. How about wearing it instead of a hat?

After cleaning the sewer, a rag that looked like it hadn't even been washed clung to Mary's fluffy hair. She was one of the maids who had been particularly harassing me. This time, she seemed to be particularly resentful, snickering bitterly.

하인들

Is it true that you sneaked into Master Will's room?

하녀 1

That's right. It's really dirty.

하녀 1

How long has it been since that old man died, Count? You're even trying to take over the position of hostess, huh?

Mary took off the rag with a cold, hard face. From what I heard, she must have seen me last time I went to clean Will's office at the butler's order.

메리 앤

It's a misunderstanding.

The maid snorted in disbelief at Mary's unyielding attitude. She then took a few steps closer and slapped her right cheek, making a loud slap.

메리 앤

...

하녀 1

You flirted with the second son, and now you're saying you're going to make this place your home?

메리 앤

Do you know my circumstances? What kind of state of mind do I have each day...!

match-

Unable to withstand the force, Mary collapsed to the ground. The impact was so strong that even her necklace fell off.

메리 앤

The necklace...

하녀 1

Greedy Mary, I know your situation better than you do.

하녀 주드

So, with this crappy necklace,

Ujikkeun-

메리 앤

Oh no!!

하녀 주드

Will you disappear from our Brenton family forever?

Jude's shoe slowly lifted, leaving a broken dragonfly pendant scattered in the space where it had been. She left with a mocking smile, leaving Mary, her face pale and utterly exhausted, behind along with her servants.

메리 앤

No... Hailey...

메리 앤

Black...

rustling-

메리 앤

What kind of necklace is this... What does this mean to me...

Mary, oblivious to her own head, which reeked of sewage, desperately collected the fragments of the broken pendant. Even as the thin, shattered shards dug into her palms, she sobbed frantically and continued to work.

메리 앤

Hailey... Mom. Please, I can't do this anymore...

It was eerily quiet, and in the corner corridor, only silence continued, with not even a small leaf fluttering.

메리 앤

It's all broken... I don't remember what it looked like.

And coincidentally, the largest fragment of the pendant in my hand was also the sharpest.

메리 앤

Stop it, stop it. I'm so tired...

Mary walked into the darkness, muttering like a madman.

Jeobuk-

Jeobuk-

But as she was about to enter the darkness, and even deeper into it, someone walked out holding a lamp. The dim light illuminated Mary's dim eyes.

It was Will, who I thought was in the room.

윌 브랜튼

...Mary Anne?

메리 앤

...

윌 브랜튼

Have you forgotten your subject? Why are you just sitting here, not doing what you're supposed to be doing?

메리 앤

sorry...

Thump-

Thump-

윌 브랜튼

what...

At that moment, Will's eyes widened in the darkness. He was running towards her with such speed that it was hard to believe he was the very person he'd just looked down on.