In the evening I took two books from the bookcase and walked back to the Baron's room.
There was a warm fire in the room, and three white candles on the candlestick of the bedside table were radiating a dim, cold light. Baron Oskar rested quietly on a soft dark blue pillow, his eyes squinting as if he were in a deep sleep.
I gently walked over and tried to tuck him in. He suddenly opened his eyes, stared at my hand on his chest, and then gave me a thoughtful look with a sour tone: "What are you doing?"
"I thought you were asleep and would catch cold if you didn't cover up." I said.
"No," said the baron, "I'm not going to sleep yet."
I put some books on the bedside table. "Shall I read to you? It's new."
"I told my uncle that you will take care of me during my time at Momong Manor, "the Baron suddenly said.
"Yes, my Lord Viscount has given me his orders."
The Baron looked at my face for a moment, frowned, and said, "Why, are you unhappy? To be my valet."
"How come? I'm very happy."
"But your face tells me you're not excited. I gave you a chance, and you don't appreciate it." The baron's voice grew cold. "If you have any complaints, speak out."
I'm extremely embarrassed. Does he have to make others appear excited? In my past life, he forced me to be his personal servant. At that time, I always had a bad face and never heard him complain.
"It's an honor to serve your lordship, I just... Me to A servant must always be serious." In my haste, I made an excuse.
The Baron nodded his head with satisfaction: "I am very bored, find something to do."
"Then I'll read to you."
Reading at night can harm your eyes. Your eyes are so beautiful, if... "The Baron was stunned, as if realizing he had said something he shouldn't have said, so he suddenly stopped and pursed his lips.
I looked down at the foot of the bed in a panic, thinking how he suddenly said, "Your eyes are so beautiful" this kind of words, is he interested in me now? I remember the last time he apparently showed interest in me was at a dinner party a long time later, when he got drunk and pinned me down in a dark hallway and went on and on about how he liked me. I was so shocked that I thought he had mistaken me for some woman...
"Our human eyes are precious gifts from God, and everyone's eyes should be taken care of, poor or not." The baron said awkwardly.
"Yes, my Lord, you are right." I nodded obediently.
The room was eerily quiet for a moment, except for the sound of firewood burning in the fireplace.
I broke the awkwardness by proposing,"How about I play chess with you?" i suggested.
Do you play chess?" He said arrogantly, "I didn't expect that you, a small subordinate footman, can not only read, but also play chess. What else can you do?"
"I've only learned to play chess."
Well, there's nothing to do anyway." 'said the Baron.
I got the chessboard, put it on the baron's bed, and sat down in a chair by the bed to play with him. This is a little far from the board, and I have to bow my body every step, which is difficult.
"This is not convenient for playing chess. You can sit on my bed." The baron says.
"It's not nice. It's very disrespectful to break the rules." I vetoed it hastily.
"You also care about being rude." The baron said sarcastically, "Who is it that took care of me on the first day and climbed into my bed?"
My face flushed, and saying something like 'I climbed into his bed' was too much, which is usually used as a metaphor for having an improper relationship, how could he force it on me? That day he said he was cold, I see his poor...
So stop being coy and come and sit down." "Said the baron, gesturing to the bed.
I had to sit across from him, and we played chess and talked. He seemed very interested in me and kept asking me questions.
"So your father left home and never came back?" 'he asked.
"Yes, we have asked someone to look for it, but the king is so big that it is difficult to find someone." And he's probably already... After all these years, we have lost hope."
The Baron made no comment. "Did you go to school?" he asked. Where did you learn to read?"
"I didn't go to school. I asked someone to buy a book and taught myself."
"It seems that you have strong opinions. Do you have any ideas for the future?"
"What thoughts can someone like me have? My mother thinks that I have great potential to become a senior male servant."
The situation on the chessboard had already unfolded, and I gradually focused all my thoughts on it. When I regained my senses, I had already defeated the Baron.
He raised his eyebrows and narrowed his eyes at me. "That's funny. You're a bold little guy. You dare to win at chess with your master."
I was a little stunned, embarrassed to say: "I'm sorry."
My chess skills are very high. In my past life, I always won when playing against the Baron. He never expressed any dissatisfaction and instead liked to play with me. The more I win, the happier he looks. But now this situation...
The Baron threw the chess piece and said, "No more, I need to rest."
I quickly put away the chessboard and bowed respectfully, saying,:"Good night,I stepped down."
"Who allows you to stepped down?" The baron was unhappy again.
"Please tell me." 'I said, bending down quickly.
The Baron seemed annoyed. He looked at me without a word.
I don't know what annoys him. Is it just winning at chess?
"What a stupid fellow." After a long time, the Baron lay on his back with his back to me and said, "Read to me, and don't leave until I am asleep."
I'm at a loss for words. Just now I said I wanted to protect my eyes, but now I'm being asked to study. Is this adult's temper so unpredictable?
I sat down helplessly and began to read in the shadow of the lamp.
This time I chose two books of poetry, opened one at random, and read it softly. By this time I was very tired and felt very sleepy, especially in the dim light of the candle, and did not care what I was reading.
"I want you to take my heart and all that I have, only leave me eyes so that I can see you." There is nothing in me that you have not conquered... If you take away its life, you take away its death, and if I have anything to lose, I wish you would take me with you, just leave me eyes so that I can see you." It was a long poem, and halfway through I found out it was a courtship poem, and I tried to finish it with embarrassment, and then I found a homesick poem again: "I love the wind more than anything in the world." The wind howls loudly, the wind groans loudly |, how deep are the cries and groans of the wind, the wind tries its best to defend itself..."
When the clock struck 12, I couldn't hold it anymore.
Sir, are you asleep? "I called out softly, but received no response. The person on the bed was already asleep.
With a yawn, I quietly blew out the candlestick, tucked the baron in, and went out of the baron's room.
The moment the door closed, the man in the bed rolled over, and Baron Oskar touched his hot cheek in the darkness.
...
"The job of a personal servant is completely different from your usual job Steward Aaron turned around me with his hands behind his back and said, "Since you want to serve the Baron, you must change your bad habits when you were a subordinate servant."
His gaze was focused on my sheepskin shoes with the thread open, shaking his head and clicking, "Look at you, the beggars outside are even more respectable than you. Let's fix your shoes today."
"Yes, Sir." I said with embarrassment.
My master wants me to train you, but you are already serving the baron, and say that it is too late, and that you need only remember your duties."
"First of all, you are responsible for the baron's dress, all the items on his body are prepared by you, and it is your first duty to help the Baron go out and meet people with dignity." Second, the so-called valet, that is, when the baron goes out, you have to follow the service, respond to all the needs of the master, carry the master's luggage. Thirdly, you will take care of all the details of the Baron's life, bathing and dressing, sleeping and getting up, reading the newspaper, drinking coffee and refreshments, etc., all by yourself."
The butler finally concluded, "These jobs are very important and should not be done by you, a novice, but this is your opportunity, if you do well, I will remind the master to give you money for processing."
Aaron patted my shoulder and said, "Serve the Baron well. Perhaps he will become the master of the Momong Manor. If you really become his personal servant, you will climb to the top in one fell swoop."
I could not deny, vaguely nodded.
Continue to be the Baron's personal servant? Of course not, I will stay at Momon Manor forever. I still have things to accomplish. Continuing to stay by the Baron's side, I'm afraid it may bring him misfortune...
The baron's health has been completely recovered, after his illness, he did not hurry to leave the manor as before, but settled down safely, often with the guests, and sometimes went out to visit the gentry here.
The Viscount Bruce and his wife were most pleased about this, and the Viscountess whispered to the Viscount, "We took care of him when he was ill, so he is grateful to us." Catherine visited him every day, despite his illness, and he must have been moved by our little girl to stay."
Viscount Bruce was not as sanguine as his wife. He frowned and said, "I hope so, but Catherine says he does not show much interest in her."
"Perhaps it's because he's too serious, your nephew is always so cold. Maybe we should hold a dance party."