A Tale of Servitude and Secrets

I thought he was just bored and stale, so I suggested, "I'll go downstairs to get some more books; you can pick whatever you like."

"No need, I don't want to read right now."

"Alright."

I stood beside him, feeling his gaze scrutinizing me, which made me increasingly nervous.

"What do you... want?" he suddenly asked a strange question.

"What?" I was taken aback.

The baron leaned back against the pillow, eyes closed, and said, "I mean, you've been taking care of me during this time, so you should be rewarded. Do you want money? Or something else? As long as it's reasonable, I will try my best to satisfy you."

His tone was condescending; you could even feel the disdain in his glance as he looked down at me from a high position.

I couldn't even remember if I had ever experienced such an embarrassing situation in my past life.

I tried to speak humbly, saying, "Taking care of you is my duty; you are a distinguished guest at Momen Manor. As for a reward, the viscount has already rewarded me; he said he would promote me to senior servant."

"…Well. If you have other requests, you can tell me." He looked at the two books beside him and said, "Since you can read, then read to me. I don't want to exert myself to read."

"Yes." I took the book he handed me; it was one about the New World, titled "Adventures in the New World."

"In the dense jungle, it occasionally rains, and we all got soaked. We lost our way deep in the jungle, which was dangerous, as there were poisonous snakes and ferocious beasts everywhere. If we didn't find a campsite by nightfall, our lives would be at stake." I read aloud slowly, word by word.

"The dark-skinned humans, like beasts, surrounded us, bouncing around with crude spears and animal bones." This section described how several explorers discovered a small tribe and began to communicate with them; it started normally, but later: "…those half-naked dark-skinned girls pulled me deep into the jungle, tearing off their only modesty cloth..."

"Why did you stop reading?" the baron asked me.

I glanced at him awkwardly and found him looking at me with great interest.

"This… I…" I hesitated for a long time, the words in the book were too bold and lewd; I couldn't bring myself to say a single word.

"How old are you this year?" he suddenly asked.

"Eighteen," I answered.

"Only eighteen? So you are still a child. You appeared so composed the day you came to take care of me; I thought you were more mature than I am." The baron glanced at me slowly and said, "Continue reading; I want to hear you read."

I turned the two pages filled with sensual descriptions and cautiously glanced at the baron before I began reading again. He smirked ironically but did not expose me.

On that warm afternoon, he closed his eyes, quietly leaning against the pillow. I sat by the bed reading for him.

Occasionally, a shadow would flit past the window; it was a sparrow out looking for food in the winter.

Seeing him breathe steadily, I thought he had fallen asleep, so I set the book down. To my surprise, he immediately opened his eyes and looked at me, saying, "Why did you stop reading?"

"I thought you were asleep."

"Your voice is very pleasant."

"…Thank you for the compliment."

"Continue reading…"

Such a leisurely winter day passed quickly amidst the afternoon reading.

In the evening, I carried out the baron's used plate from the room and encountered Miss Catherine on the staircase. She was wearing a light green satin gown, and as usual, adorned with golden wigs, dazzling rubies sparkling in her hair.

I bowed to her, and she gently waved her fan, smiling as she asked, "You are Owen, right? How is the baron today?"

"The baron's health is recovering."

"He must be very bored alone in his room. What has he been doing for entertainment?"

"The baron read a few books."

"What books? Tell me the titles."

"Um..." I hesitated and looked at Miss Catherine.

Catherine seemed to realize that inquiring about a man's privacy was inappropriate; she smiled gently, "It's okay, just tell me. The baron and I often discuss our favorite books."

"Yes, mainly a few travelogues…"

Catherine left, and I stood still, gazing at her retreating figure.

The sunset's glow spilled through the glass windows onto the carpet in the hallway, and the voice of the housekeeper, Miss Selina, ordering the lighting of candles came from downstairs.

Everything seemed unchanged; only my heart had changed. Back then, when Miss Catherine initiated a conversation with me, I was so happy. Such a noble and elegant woman made me ecstatic, lost in thought. Yet all of this led to my tragedy; those who are self-righteous will ultimately be disappointed. How could a noblewoman like her ever fall in love with someone as humble as me?

Suddenly, Oscar came to mind, and my heart felt sour. Perhaps nobles could fall in love with someone as humble as me, but unfortunately, at that time, I had already fallen into the depths of a beautiful dream. I couldn't see or hear anything clearly, only feeling how disgusting and filthy it was to be liked by a man. I felt my dignity was insulted, and my hatred and disgust for Oscar took root in my heart, especially since he might marry the woman I loved, Miss Catherine.

My thoughts were tangled and chaotic. I suddenly regretted getting close to Oscar again. Was I planning to use him again? Approaching him with the intention of using him because deep down, I wanted to take revenge on those who had hurt me, to punish them. And Lord Oscar would be a powerful tool for my revenge, so I deliberately took care of him while he was ill to win his favor. Wasn't I just as despicable as in my past life? Would I deceive him and hurt him again?

The sun had already set, and I stood alone in the dark hallway, where the murals on the corridor walls looked like a mass of ink, transforming into various strange shapes.

"Oh!" a woman exclaimed, "Oh my God, you are Owen? What are you doing standing here? It's pitch dark; the candles aren't even lit."

"Annie? Sorry, I scared you," I hurriedly apologized.

"You've been acting stranger and stranger lately. If you keep this up, butler Aaron will be angry," Annie lit the candles along the corridor one by one.

"I'll pay attention to that, thank you," I smiled.

Annie stared at me in a daze, suddenly blushing and muttering, "No wonder the new girl is enchanted by you; you are quite the man..." After a pause, Annie changed the subject, saying, "Lord Oscar's new servant is coming tomorrow; will you continue to serve him?"

"With a new servant coming, how could they still need me?" I shook my head and said, "I have been promoted to senior servant. Butler Aaron will train me for a while and then arrange for me to serve during meals."

That night, however, the viscount unexpectedly called me to his study.

The viscount's study was filled with bookshelves, but most of the books were just for show; our viscount didn't like reading. He preferred fine food, good wine, and beautiful women.

I still remembered in my past life, he patted my shoulder and said, "Oscar likes you. As long as you pretend to accept him, he will be very happy. Once he trusts you, you can enter his study… The Bruce family will remember your kindness and will surely repay your sacrifice. And Catherine, the poor girl, she likes you but is forced to marry that hunchback…"

Yet when they got everything, their ugly faces turned coldly towards me, and in court, it was this Viscount Bruce who pointed at me and said, "Your Honor, he stole my property; he should be sentenced to hang!"

While I was locked in prison waiting for execution, war broke out in Yorkshire. I escaped by chance and then lived a life of hiding and evasion until the day I died of typhus...

Now, looking at the viscount with a gentle demeanor, I showed a humble smile: "Master, do you have any orders?"

"Oh, you are that brave young man. I heard you took care of my nephew Oscar. It seems your actions have won his trust; today he told me he hopes for you to continue serving him as his personal servant."

I was taken aback; Lord Oscar actually designated me to continue serving him. Was it because of my attentive care when he was sick that everything was different from my past life?

I began to hesitate. The thought of 'using him' disturbed my mind again. Did God allow me to be reborn just to live another despicable life? If in my previous life, the ones who harmed me were the viscount's family, then the one who harmed Oscar was me. I should keep my distance from him, far away from him...

"Why aren't you speaking, hmm? When taking care of Oscar, be attentive, and let Aaron teach you more." The viscount said, "Report regularly on matters around the baron. Do you understand?"

"But I..."

"But what!" The viscount softened his tone, saying gently, "My child, I know you are a good boy, but I am Oscar's uncle. I am very worried about him; do you understand?"

"…Yes, I understand, Master."

I almost forgot, as a servant, once my master gives an order, unless I want to be kicked out,