Chapter 3
The terrible high fever that persisted for several days showed no signs of abating, and with no access to a doctor or a first-aid kit, all I could do was attempt to cool her fiery body with a towel soaked in cold water.
Without any medicine to administer, all we could do was make her drink warm water.
"Sasha, get some rest. What if you get sick too?"
"... Go away. It will be a big deal if you and Oppa get infected too."
"Do you think you won't catch it?"
I couldn't bear to leave Estelle's side even for a moment, fearful of what might happen to her if I took my eyes off her.
The three of us stayed by Estelle's side all day, taking turns to sleep. I worried about the possibility of all of us getting infected, but luckily, that didn't happen.
I gathered leftover chicken, salad greens, and biscuit crumbs from Lethias's birthday, put them in a kettle, and attempted to cook a stew.
It was far from what one might call a proper meal, let alone a stew, but we needed to feed her something.
"Estelle, try to swallow some. You need to eat to get better, okay?"
Despite leaving a note in the cart about Estelle's critical condition, there was no news.
I poured a few sips of stew and hot water into her parched mouth from time to time, hung wet clothes nearby to maintain the moisture, and applied cold compresses throughout the day.
"... It's cold. Sasha, I'm cold...."
Even though the entire room was warm from the fever, Estelle felt cold. I retrieved all the winter blankets and duvets piled up in one corner of the kitchen and covered her with everything we had.
After just three days, her once plump cheeks had become gaunt, resembling a skull. Her eyelids were sunken, and her curly, gray hair had lost its luster, turning frizzy like straw.
I sat down by the bed, feeling exhausted and hopeless. Someone held my hand. It was Benya. My other hand was also gripped by Lethias.
We sat there, silently watching Estelle, holding hands. No one uttered a word, and the same terrified expression flickered across the faces of the two boys.
The fear of their sister's potential death, the vivid and terrible fear that any of us could die at any moment, was palpable.
Even if we were to die one by one, no one would know, as we were left unattended.
What on earth is Viscount Hippolyte doing while his niece is suffering so painfully? There was no way Harris hadn't seen the note I left every day.
Did he not deliver it? Was he deliberately ignoring it? Or was it ignored even though it was delivered?
The thought of Estelle dying like this was terrifying. It didn't matter that Estelle's death might trigger something in Lethias and Benya.
Estelle was my milk sister, a dear friend who had been with me through thick and thin since childhood.
Simultaneously, she was the object of all my admiration and envy during our younger days. I couldn't bear to see her die so miserably and helplessly in a place like this.
Three days passed, and another one slipped by.
My patience wore thin waiting for Harris or Jerome, but it was clear they wouldn't show up, no matter what the reason was.
Moonlight spilled in through the ceiling, and the sound of their breathing echoed around, indicating that everyone had finally fallen asleep.
I quietly approached Estelle's bedside one last time, ensuring her breathing was steady, and then slipped out of the room unnoticed.
Navigating the stairs in near darkness, I carefully made my way downstairs, using the wall to support myself and avoid any mishaps.
If Lethias and Benya discovered my plan, they'd undoubtedly be terrified and prevent me from carrying it out, possibly taking my place. But that option was out of the question.
The 3-tier tray cart, a constant presence in our daily lives, was quite large, making it challenging for fully grown boys to hide in. As for me…
I tried my best not to make a sound as I rolled up a cloth and emptied the bottom and middle compartments of the cart to reduce its weight.
Then, I squeezed myself into the empty lower compartment, wrapping my arms around my legs like a ball bug, hoping for success.
I put the cloth back on the cart and crawled inside, waiting anxiously for the meal attendant to come in and take the cart, as was their usual routine.
Despite being awake all day, nervousness kept sleep at bay.
It was undoubtedly a dangerous endeavor, more like a gamble. Even if I managed to get outside, I had no concrete plan of action.
While it was possible that Harris had deliberately ignored my note, I would be more certain after I would be meeting Jerome.
The dilemma, however, was whether Jerome was currently in the duke's mansion and how I would find him if he was.
Being discovered could spell instant death. Even if it were Lethias or Benya attempting this, they would likely face dire consequences.
The situation was riddled with uncertainties, and convincing others to believe my story blindly was a tough task.
Still, if I waited, Estelle's life would be in jeopardy. I didn't know how the original Sasha would handle this, but risking my life seemed the only option.
I lost count of how long I waited, running various scenarios through my mind. It wasn't until my limbs, tightly wrapped to avoid slipping, began to ache from numbness that I heard a sound.
The sound of the mirror door opening. I could barely hear it, but I recognized it immediately, especially with the footsteps close by.
My heart pounded in my chest, the sound so loud I wondered if Harris could hear it through the fabric.
After a while, the cart began moving, and I felt the vibrations of its wheels underneath my body. I held my curled-up form tightly and bit my lip.
The cart carrying me passed through the confinement room and went straight for a while before stopping and turning to the side.
A sigh reached my ears. Harris sighed. Simultaneously, I felt as if I were descending.
It appeared I was on a lift. While I knew of the existence of pulley-type elevators in this world, I was unaware of a lift in this bell tower.
It wasn't until I feared suffocation from my attempts to suppress any of my breathing sounds that the cart started moving again.
A familiar yet nostalgic scent, a mixture of night breeze and soil from the yard, reached me. Were we headed toward the mansion?
The cart finally came to a stop after entering a brightly lit area. Relief washed over me.
"Haa, this is so cumbersome. I don't think I can keep doing this."
"I feel the same way."
Harris's voice alternated with that of an unfamiliar middle-aged woman. Who was she? I held my breath and strained my ears to listen.
"People down there keep asking why workers are coming to this area."
"That's your responsibility; just tell them we were cleaning up here."
"I don't have time for that now. I'm going crazy. Let's hurry."
As their footsteps faded away, I cautiously lifted the cloth and peered outside. I saw Harris and a woman dressed as a maid making their way toward a distant door.
However, she wasn't the head maid, Arin, whom I knew well.
Had they changed not only the head butler but also the head maid? Did Mrs. Arin suffer from the plague like Mr. Charon? Or perhaps both...
Shaking off these disturbing thoughts, I slid out of the cart. My limbs were numb from being cramped for so long, but I couldn't risk someone finding me here.
Taking in my surroundings, I quickly realized I was in the bathroom used by the kitchen assistants. Opening the nearest storage cabinet, I found various cutlery, dishes, and spare clothes.
My current attire, worn and patched with different fabrics, would attract attention immediately if I wandered around like this.
So, I picked the smallest-looking maid outfit from the assortment and changed into it.
After putting on a kerchief, I returned to the cart, grabbed an empty juice bottle, and made my way to the door.
However, instead of using the door Harris and the maid had exited from, I chose the smaller one on the other side.
As I stepped outside, chaos greeted me.
"Abel, check the cake!"
"Nineteen goblets, no, wine glasses!"
"Can someone bring this for me?"
Chefs and maids in aprons bustled around, while servants hurriedly moved in and out, carrying heavy trays and taking orders.
What was all this commotion in the middle of the night? It seemed like a banquet was underway.
Most of the faces were unfamiliar to me, though I spotted a few familiar ones. However, everyone was so occupied that no one paid any attention to me.
I approached a table stacked with juice and alcohol bottles, quickly swapping the empty juice bottle. Then, I followed an attendant carrying a tray of food as I continued my mission.
This was when the real adventure began. I knew every nook and cranny of the mansion, where to hide in case of trouble, and how to minimize the risk of me being discovered.
Still, finding Jerome secretly in this vast place was no easy task. I had a hunch he might be in the banquet hall, but...
I wondered if the kids were sleeping soundly by now. If they had woken up while I was there, I would have faced a lot of scolding.
The Serpente Hall, a place I hadn't seen in a long time, felt familiar and welcoming, but there was no time to get lost in old memories.
Holding the juice bottle in one arm, I ascended the servants' stairs to the second floor. My first priority was to find a spot where I could observe the banquet hall.
As a child, I often hid in a place on the northern stairs of the second floor, passed through a hallway, and found a quiet balcony overlooking the glasshouse and garden, where a statue stood with its back against the railing.
The statue depicted two snakes coiled around each other, and from behind it, I could observe the banquet hall below.
During the banquet, all eyes and attention inside the mansion were fixated on the hall and guests, making it unlikely for a young maid like me to be noticed by the guards.
Most of the time, they would turn a blind eye, but just to be safe, I tried to act as naturally as possible while making my way to the vantage point.
What was the occasion for this banquet? Whose birthday was being celebrated? Or was it simply a meaningless gathering?
Banquets seemed to be frequent during midsummer, probably due to the hot weather.
The scene in the banquet hall resembled what I remembered. The only difference was that the true owners of this place were all gone. The number of guests was equally overwhelming.
Beautiful and aristocratic individuals filled the hall. The women looked as radiant as summer roses, and the men resembled gentlemen from famous paintings.
As I observed the elegant music playing, the splendid feast, the joyful laughter and applause, the toasts and dancing, it felt strangely surreal.
Rather than feeling envious or tempted, I felt like I was watching an unfamiliar movie or play as if I had entered a completely different world. Simultaneously, feelings of anger welled up inside me.
Estelle was trapped at the top of the bell tower, struggling for her life, while Benya and Lethias were suffering from anxiety and fear.
They should be here enjoying all of this. No, all of this should rightfully be theirs.
Viscount Hippolyte was also present, easily identifiable among the excited crowd, raising toasts and enjoying himself. He looked so content.
A strong urge rose within me to pour juice over his head. And then, an inner scream demanded to know where the rightful heirs of this family were.
If I acted on those impulses, I'd surely be labeled a crazy girl, dragged away, and killed without anyone knowing, not even a mouse or a bird... The risk was far too great. Tsk.
However, I couldn't let those emotions consume me. I needed to focus on finding Jerome and informing him about Estelle's dire situation. I decided to approach him as if I came to serve a drink.
Just as I was about to do so, I suddenly heard footsteps in the distance. They were coming closer.
My blood, which had momentarily cooled, began circulating rapidly again, and my heart pounded with the approaching steps.
Who could it be? A guest? A member of the security staff? Regardless, it wouldn't bode well for me.
For a moment, I froze, then quickly hurried toward the balcony. The footsteps were getting nearer and nearer. Panic set in me. What should I do? Should I jump off the railing?
Let's take a moment to calm down and find a way out of this situation. Darn it, I'm just an unknown maid at the moment.
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