Oscar's condition did not get better, he turned worse after dark, he was burning hot all over, and his speech was slurred. I held him, let him lie in my arms, picked up some chilly food, and fed it to his mouth.
"My lord, let's have something to eat."
"I can't eat, I want to vomit," he said.
"Then drink some water."
"I don't want to drink, take it away."
"Drink, just drink a little." I took a soup spoon and fed him hard, then put the food to his mouth: "Also eat something, it's better to spit it out after eating it than not eating it."
"Take it, don't you understand!"
I had to put down the food and water and then helped him to lie down.
For a long time, he looked into my eyes and said, "I will die here."
I said: "You are overthinking, nothing will happen, trust me."
"If I die, this family will inherit all of my property. This is ridiculous. I originally came to discuss inheritance rights with them, but the result was the other way around. They must be very happy." He said sarcastically.
I froze for a moment without answering.
Oscar said again: "Where are my valets? Are they sick or are they not willing to come over?"
"One is sick," I replied.
"Really? Hummm!" He looked like a cynical protester, his face slightly distorted, and then he stared at me and asked, "Even if they refused to come here, why are you here? Are you not afraid of death?"
"We will not die, my lord" I said.
"Where is this confidence come from? It's ridiculous, you a humble servant...cough cough..." This time he coughed for a long time and his face turned red.
"Take a good rest, you will get better soon."
He grabbed the sheets, trembling all over, his face and lips were pale as paper. He said: "I have no strength, I am very cold, the Lord is come to summon me, I am going to see my father soon."
I touched his forehead, still hot, no wonder he feels cold. He looked at me, feeling weak and desperate. I want to laugh a little, it is hard to imagine that this cowardly man will become the calm and determined Baron Bruce in the future. It seems that when facing death, even the most powerful man will feel scared.
I sighed, sat on the edge of the bed, took off my shoes, and got into his bed.
"What are you doing?" He frowned and asked me, as if offended.
I shook my head, motioned him not to speak, and then wrapped my hands around his body.
"Is it still cold? Go to sleep, I'll be here with you."
He seemed to feel my body temperature, he just hesitated a little and lay in my arms quietly.
Soon, he fell asleep.
Looking at his sleeping face, I took a long breath.
I regret everything I have done to him in my previous life, if I can compensate him...
Unlike the last time I was forcibly ordered by the housekeeper to take care of him, this time I was willing to come. Last time I was trembling in the fear of being infected with smallpox. I didn't take good care of him. I just wanted to get out of it as soon as possible. But this time, although we were only in contact for the first time, we spoke a lot of things to each other.
It seemed that it was snowing outside again, and the window rim was banging with the whirring wind.
On this quiet night, I can't sleep at all. Everything that happened in the previous life swept through my mind back and forth, and I could only hug the man in my arms tightly, trying to forget everything.
...
I work hard every day, looking forward to one day I can wake up naturally.
That day, I really woke up naturally when I slept, the morning sun was on my eyelids, and I felt a slight breath sweeping through my earlobes. When I opened my eyes, I saw a pair of dark brown eyes, we kept the posture of last night, my hands still hugged him tightly.
It is very strange for two men to sleep in such a hug. The baron's face suddenly appeared embarrassed. He said, "Can you leave my bed now?"
I was even more embarrassed, and hurriedly got up and got out of bed to tidy up my clothes.
"I feel better, and I feel a little hungry. This should not be smallpox. Smallpox is much more serious than this. Go and inform Lord Viscount that my fever has gone down. Let him call a doctor for me." He coldly treated me.
"Yes, sir, I'll go now." After I bowed, I turned around to go out.
"Wait a minute," he said.
I turned around: "Do you have any more orders?"
"Your wig is crooked."
I hurriedly touched, the wig hung on my ear, you can imagine how stupid I was looed like.
"Then, please wait a moment."
I walked into the hall and came to the butler's room.
The butler looked at me in astonishment, seeming to fear my approach: "You, why did you come out? What happened? Lord Baron is uncomfortable?"
"In fact, Lord Baron, he is much better. It should not be smallpox. He said he needs to see a doctor."
"Are you sure it's not smallpox? How do you know he is much better?"
"He woke up this morning, his temperature has returned to normal, and it looks more like a rash," I said.
"Rash? Nonsense! Lord Baron is 26 years old, how could he have a rash like a child?"
"But his fever indeed is gone."
The butler hesitated and said: "Well, I'll notify the Lord Viscount, and then send someone to call the doctor. You...you are brave, my child, you deserve to be praised, I will tell his lordship what you have done."
The doctor came in, and after his diagnosis, he said: "It is indeed not smallpox. It is a kind of rash. It is contagious, but it is not dangerous. Probably because of the fever, the rash was congested and it looks like smallpox. Don't expose yourself to the wind, you will be healed in a few days."
The valet who refused to take care of the baron soon resigned and left in shame.
The butler asked me to serve the Baron temporarily until the other servants of the Baron arrived.
All the owners of Mormon Manor came to visit the baron, especially the third lady, Catherine, who came every day and didn't care about the possibility of infection.
The baron turned back to his taciturn appearance. He was steady and dignified and told me to do things without hesitance. I could hardly imagine that this was the weak man a few days ago. We didn't have any unnecessary conversations, he just simply told me which book to fetch, what to eat tonight, brighten the light, and burn the fireplace.
...
Annie said to me excitedly: "Congratulations Owen, you have become the valet of Lord Baron."
Simon said coolly: "Come on, that's only temporary. Didn't you hear that Lord Baron's new servant is coming soon?"
"You are just jealous of Owen," Annie said.
"Ha, jealous of him? Stop joking, I just want to warn him not to be dazzled by joy."
"But Owen will be promoted to be a valet?" Annie looked at me expectantly.
I nodded and said, "Although I'm not sure, if butler Aaron praised me, I should be."
"This is really great," Annie said.
In my previous life, I was promoted to a valet after taking care of the baron who mistakenly thought he had smallpox. I think this time I won't change anything.
Then, the bell on the wall rang.
"Oh, the baron is calling you." Annie said: "You stayed with him in the room all day, and only came out for a while, and he called you again."
"The Lord Baron is very afraid of the cold and needs to add firewood to the fireplace constantly," I said, holding a tray and walking to the guest room.
There was a glass bottle in the tray, which was full of rum. I knocked on the door twice and I walked into the room. Put the tray on the coffee table, pour a small glass of wine, and put it in front of the baron: "My lord, the rum you wanted, but the doctor suggests not to drink."
I felt that I had been stared at for a long time. The Baron didn't touch the bottle on the tray. Instead, he said, "You've been downstairs for too long. I have finished reading my book. Go and get me a new one. Why today's newspaper didn't come?"
"Sorry, sir, today's newspaper may be late because of the snow. What book do you want to read? I'll look for it now."
"What books can be found in this old crappy house?" The baron said with a hoarse voice, "Go and find some travel notes."
I hurried to the library in the downstairs hall and picked out two travel notes at random.
The baron flicked a few pages, frowning, he then threw the book aside, seemingly not satisfied with the book I picked.