I thought he was bored, so I suggested, "I'll go downstairs and get some more books, and you can choose from them."

  "No, I don't want to read now."

  "Yes."

  Standing next to him, I could feel him checking me out, which made me nervous.

  "Do you think... What do you want?" He suddenly asked a strange question.

  'What? I was stunned.

  The Baron lay back on his pillow with his eyes closed. "I mean," he said, "you deserve a reward for taking care of me all this time. Do you want money? Or whatever it is, as long as it is reasonable, I will try to satisfy you."

  His attitude is lofty and you can feel even he stands at a high position when he looks down on you with disdain.

  I can't remember being in such an embarrassing situation in my last life.

  I said, as humbly as I could, "It is my duty to take care of you. You are an honored guest at Mormont House. As for the reward, my Lord Viscount has given it to me. He says he will raise me to the rank of high footman."

  "... All right. If you want anything else, you can tell me." He looked at the two books at hand and said, "Since you can read, read them to me. I don't want to bother reading them."

  "Yes." I took the baron handed over the book, it is a book about the Flying continent, called the Flying Continent Adventure.

  "It rained from time to time in the thick jungle, and our party was drenched. We lost our way in the depths of the jungle, and it was dangerous, for it was full of poisonous snakes and wild animals, and if we had not found our campsite by night, our lives would have been in danger." I read word by word in a slow tone.

  "The dark-skinned humans were like wild animals, jumping around us with their rough spears and animal bones." This section tells the story of several explorers who discover a small tribe and enter into communication, which is normal at first, but later: "... The naked black maidens dragged me deep into the jungle. They tore off their only FIG leaf..."

  "Why don't you read it?" The baron asked me.

  I glanced awkwardly at the Baron and saw that he was looking at me with interest.

  "This... I..." I hesitated for a long time, the text on the book is too bold and debauched, I can hardly read a word.

  "How old are you?" "He asked suddenly.

  "Eighteen." 'I replied.

  "Only eighteen? You were only a child. The day you came to take care of me, you were so calm. I thought you were more mature than me." The Baron glanced at me and said slowly, "Read on. I want to hear you read."

  I turned over the two long pages of salacious description, and with another careful glance at the Baron, began to read. The baron smiled sarcastically and did not reveal me.

  In the warm afternoon, he leaned on his pillow with his eyes closed. I sat by the bed and read to him.

  Once in a while a shadow passed through the window. It was a sparrow coming out for food in winter.

  I saw that he was breathing steadily. I thought he was asleep, so I put down my book. But he immediately opened his eyes, looked at me and said, "Why don't you read?"

  "I thought you were asleep."

  "You have a nice voice."

  "... Thank you for your kind words."

  "Read on..."

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  This kind of leisurely winter, in the afternoon reading sound passed quickly.

  In the evening I went out of the room, carrying the Baron's dinner plate, and passing the stairs I met Miss Catherine, dressed in a pale green satin dress, with her usual blonde wig, and brilliant rubies shining in her hair.

  I bowed to her, and she shook her fan, smiled, and asked, "You're Owen, aren't you? How is the Baron today?"

  "The Baron is recovering physically."

  "He must be very dull in his room alone. What does he do to amuse himself?"

  "The Baron read some books."

  "What book? Tell me the title of the book."

  "Er..." I hesitated, and looked at Miss Catherine.

  Catherine, too, seemed aware of the impropriateness of inquiring into a man's privacy, and smiled softly. 'It's all right, just tell me. The Baron and I often discuss our favourite books.'

  "Yes, mainly a few travelogues..."

  Catherine left, and I stood my ground, staring after her.

  The sun shone through the Windows on the hallway carpet, and from downstairs came the voice of Selena's housekeeper ordering candles to be lit.

  Everything seems to have not changed, changed only my heart. How happy I was, then, when Miss Catherine took the initiative to speak to me. My thoughts were full of joy at such a noble and elegant woman. And all this has led to my tragedy, the self-righteous person will be disappointed, how can such a noble like her to fall in love with me such a humble person.

  And then I think of Oscar, my heart sour up, perhaps aristocrats will fall in love with me such a humble person, but at that time I have fallen into the abyss of dreams, I can't see anything clearly, nothing can't hear. I just felt how disgusting and dirty it was to be liked by a man, how insulted I felt, how deeply I hated and hated Oscar, and how he might marry my beloved Miss Catherine.

  I suddenly regretted being near Oscar again. Was I going to use him again? I approached him with the intention of using him, becauseI wanted revenge on those who had hurt me, that wanted to punish them. And Lord Oscar will be a powerful tool of my revenge, So I deliberately pretended that he was sick in order to take care of him and win his favor. What is the difference between my despicable behavior in this life and the last? Do I need to deceive him and hurt him again?

  The sun had set, and I was alone in the dark corridor, where the frescoes looked like clumps of ink.

  "Oh! A woman exclaimed, "My God, are you Owen? What are you standing here for? It's pitch black in here. There's not even a candle on."

  'Anne? I'm sorry I scared you." I hastened to apologize to her.

  "You've been getting weirder and weirder lately, and Butler Aaron will be angry." Anne lit the candles in the hallway.

  "I'll take care of that, thank you." "I said, smiling.

  Anne looked at me blankly, blushed, and muttered, "No wonder the new girl is so attracted to you. You're such a man..." There was a pause. Anne said instead, "Lord Oscar's servant will be here tomorrow. Will you serve him?"

  "I can't be needed when there's a new footman." I shook my head and said, "I've been promoted to senior footman. Butler Aaron will train me for a while and then arrange for me to serve at the table."

  But that evening Lord Viscount Bruce suddenly called me into his study.

  My Lord Viscount's study was full of bookcases, but most of the books were beautifully laid out. Our Viscount did not like reading. He preferred good food, good wine, and beautiful women.

  I remember in a previous life, he patted me on the shoulder and said, "Oscar likes you. If you pretend to accept him, he'll be very happy. When he trusts you, you'll go into his study... We will remember your kindness, and we will repay your sacrifice. And Catherine, poor girl, who loved you, and was forced to marry that hunchback... '

  But when they had had it all, the ugly faces turned on me, and it was this Viscount Bruce in court who pointed at me and said, "Your Honor, he has stolen my property, and should be hanged!"

  While I was in prison waiting to be hanged, there was war in Yorkshire, and I had a narrow escape, and then I lived in hiding until the day I died of typhoid...

  At this moment, I looked at the good-mannered Viscount with a humble smile: "Master, do you have any orders?"

  "Oh, you are that brave boy. I heard you took care of my nephew Oscar. It seems that you have won his confidence.

  I was stunned that Lord Oscar had appointed me to continue serving him. Is it because I took care of him when he was sick, so everything is different from the last life.

  I began to hesitate, 'use him' the idea of disturbing my thoughts again, God let me rebirth, is it to let me live again despicable? If the Vicomte family killed me in the last life, then Oscar was killed by me, I should have stayed away from him, far away from him...

  "Why don't you say anything, eh? Be careful when you take care of Oscar, and let Aaron teach you." "Give me regular reports of the baron's affairs," said the viscount. "Do you understand?"

  "But I..."

  'But what! The viscount was patient and said in a soft voice, "My child, I know you are a good boy, but I am Oscar's uncle, and I am worried about him. Do you understand?"

  "... Yes, I see, Master."

  I had almost forgotten that, as a footman, I had no choice but to refuse the order unless I wanted to be thrown out.