The Sleepless Night of the Maid

Chapter 40

Translator: Eonnicorn / Editor: Scarlet

“Even if I die, I’ll never put the blame of my sin on nanny. So either confess the truth or run away with me. Let’s escape and hide quietly.”

“…”

Cecil was silent, too taken aback. Whether she was hindering forming words or having a fierce inner conflict, she was watching Eva with hard eyes.

Eva squeezed Cecil’s hand while persuading Cecil with her eyes. Cecil would never turn Eva into a criminal. If Eva came forward and confessed, Cecil would really bite her tongue to death. No matter what decision they chose, if it led to ruin, it would be better to run away and have no regret.

Cecil’s eyes, which had been trembling violently, stopped for a moment.

“Alright, my lady. To die here or die after fleeing and getting caught, the end is all the same. Let’s run away.”

As if she had steeled resolution, Cecil’s voice came out with determination. She pulled out an old trunk in the corner of Eva’s room and put it on the bed. Then she opened Eva’s closet hastily and brought her clothes in embrace.

“Pack up only the important things, my lady. Like, the clothes you’re going to wear now and other essential things.”

“I know, that’s why you should leave it to me and pack your stuff, nanny. I’ll get Paul after that.”

Eva held Cecil’s wrist with a worried look on her face. Cecil was busy moving her hands with her ghastly face, like a person who had lost her control.

As Eva hampered Cecil, her action stopped. With a sour face, Cecil eyed Eva and then exhaled slowly with words, “You’re right, my lady. I should do that.”

Once Cecil left her room, Eva acted fast. Because Cecil was sick, she had to move faster and make a way to escape.

She didn’t have much luggage to pack. Some old clothes, her parents’ belongings, and diaries she had been writing since she was young. That’s all she had in this house.

Eva, who was about to close the trunk after packing quickly, paused and looked into the open wardrobe. The coat that Edward draped on her was neatly hung. It was something she didn’t need anymore, but leaving it there was also bothering her. Eva eventually folded his coat and placed it on top of her clothes.

After packing, Eva carried the trunk with her hands, passing Todd, and put it next to the door. Seeing Todd that looked like a chunk of darkness under the dim light, she once again had goosebumps. It felt as if he would reach out and grab her ankle at any minute.

Eva shuddered and left the room in a hurry.

* * *

The night was dark because the clouds blocked the moon. Eva left the house with extreme caution and ran as fast as she could. Paul’s quarter was next to a stable, far from the residence.

The gentle breeze danced with her hair. In the distance, the look of dark woods was uncanny, as if it drew her in. She was scared and terrified. Her heart was beating so fast that she felt like she was going to die.

Finally, Eva arrived at where Paul stayed, after running for some time. Eva looked around in front of the unlit cabin and called Paul in a hush and desperate voice.

“Paul. Wake up. Paul!”

Whether Eva’s voice was too small or Paul was fast asleep, there was no sound from the inside. She repeatedly called Paul’s name, and ultimately knocked on the door with her palm.

“Paul, wake up! Please, Paul!”

Then, she heard a movement from the inside, by the time her hands reddened because the cool wind blew and froze her fingers. Eva clung to the edge of the door and hid herself after calling Paul.

Maybe because the candle was lit inside, the light went through the window and pushed the darkness away. There was a click from the latch that got unfasten and at last the door opened. Paul, dressed in shabby pajamas, showed up with messy hair.

“Who is it?” He was rubbing his blurry eyes and searched around indifferently as he couldn’t see Eva.

“Paul.” Eva, who was attached to the wall, stood in front of him to reveal herself.

“Oh? My lad-”

“Shhh. Let’s talk inside.”

Before Paul could finish talking, Eva pushed him into the open door. Eva inspected her surroundings once more, then followed him inside and closed the door in a hurry.

“W-what’s wrong, my lady? What’s the matter?” Paul stepped as he asked, afraid of Eva’s behavior.

“Paul, help me. Take me and Cecil to Father John.”

She clasped her trembling hands as she approached him, while looking up at him. She was desperately in need of Paul’s help right now. Besides, they were in a remote location in Crocs Field. They would catch them if they walked through the night in the cold wind with Cecil who was sick. In summary, it was difficult to get out of this place without a carriage.

“That’s why, what’s going on? I can’t help you if I don’t understand.”

Now with Paul wide-awake, he swallowed his dry saliva and inquired again. He looked solemn, as if he had noticed the seriousness of the situation.

“That, well… I killed Todd, Paul.”

In the end, Eva blurted out the last words and covered her face with her hands.