I took a deep breath and gripped the tray tightly. No bending, Theodore. I calmly opened the door and stepped inside. After all, I was going to take care of a child. You've worked with children before, haven't you? How hard could it be?
As I lifted my head upon entering, I saw a round bed covered with black sheets in front of me. But as I stepped in, I noticed a problem. There was no child in the room.
Instead, lying on the bed… was a man.
A tall man with silver hair, pale skin, and green eyes that gazed at me drowsily.
Somewhere in my brain, alarm bells started ringing. Who is this now? I was supposed to take care of a child, not a grown man!
As I looked more closely, my eyes widened. Wait a second, this face… it looks so familiar. But from where? And then, it hit me.
The portrait.
Yes, the child in the painting… wait a second, is that child actually this man?!
I was supposed to take care of a child! Where is the child? Someone tricked me—badly. Are we playing hide and seek? Does he have a sibling? Or… is this man not the child but the child's father? No, no. That possibility is way too terrifying.
Just as my brain was about to overheat, my uncle's voice startled me.
"Theodore, bring the young master's water here."
Young master?
My eyes shifted back to the man on the bed. His long silver hair cascaded down to his waist. He had just woken up, yet he still looked exhausted. His green eyes were striking, but the expression on his face… ugh, a perfect leave me alone vibe.
And then, my gaze accidentally drifted downward.
…
Oh. Alright.. We were dealing with a well-fed young master.
With his pale skin, defined muscles, and a fit physique noticeable even beneath his pajamas, he looked as if he had been sculpted by the gods themselves.
I forced my thoughts to quiet down as my feet moved on their own. I placed the tray on the nightstand. Just as I was about to step back, my uncle stopped me.
"Young master, this is my nephew, Theodore. From now on, he will be your attendant."
I'm not exactly sure what I'll be attending to, but oh well…
"Until when?"
The sudden question made me flinch involuntarily. Until when? Wait, is he asking how long I'll last in this job? Look at this guy—he's already counting down the seconds until I get fired. Okay, sure, maybe I have been fired from every job I've had so far, but it's not like I've made getting fired my personal hobby.
"The young master, the Count wants you to have an attendant of your own. Instead of setting a time limit, he wants you to put effort into choosing your own."
My uncle and I both looked at the young master. He didn't seem inclined to respond. Alright, talking is clearly too much effort for him.
But just then, he gave a slight nod and said, "I see."
...
The way he acted like we were forcing him to speak was seriously irritating. As if it wasn't enough that the child I expected turned out to be a full-grown man—he also had the personality of a trash-tier character.
The young master got out of bed and began walking slowly around the room. We all held our breath, watching to see what he would do. Then, suddenly, he stopped right in front of me.
"In that case, everyone except my new attendant should leave the room."
His green eyes locked onto me.
And for a moment… I got lost in them.
Those green eyes looked at me as if there was a deep forest inside them, ready to swallow me whole. Just as I was about to hit the panic button, the young master leaned forward. His long hair fell over his eyes like a curtain, hiding that sharp gaze, but the tension in the air remained.
I needed to say something, but when I looked around… Everyone was gone?! When did they leave? How did I not notice?
I don't know what kind of plan you've got to make me quit, but whether you're a child or a childish adult, I can handle you. My uncle prepared me for your tests yesterday. Go ahead, give me your first one—let's see how I surprise you.
Then, in a soft but firm voice, he said:
"Take off my shirt."
…