(Risking My Life) Proposing to Miss Hazel - Chapter 15

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 15

“Ugh…”

My head felt like it was going to split open.

My stomach was churning, and I had no strength in my body at all. This was the aftermath of visiting Rupert’s house yesterday.

‘This is strange.’

A strong woman of Ruden Village shouldn’t be suffering this much from just that.

To end up in this state from just one cup of that sweet drink – if Sara and Maribel found out about this, they’d tease me for at least a year, calling it a disgrace to the village women.

“Maybe it’s because it’s been too long…”

I clutched my dizzy head and barely managed to sit up. On my bedside table was a cup of what appeared to be honey water and a note from Felix.

[Drink this. Ms. Drunkard Hazel.]

I was furious. So this is what mirror therapy feels like.

[Drink this, Mr. Drunkard Felix.]

To think I’d receive the same note I used to leave for Felix every time he had a terrible hangover. My pride was hurt beyond words.

To think I’d become the same level as Felix. I didn’t want to believe it or accept it.

“If I go to Rupert’s house again, I’m a do… no, I’m Felix.”

I made a firm resolution and slowly let the honey water flow down my throat.

If you drink honey water too quickly when you’re thirsty, you’ll experience the human body’s mystery of food and honey water flowing back up together from your stomach. Felix, with his impatient nature, had demonstrated this firsthand.

But even after drinking all the honey water, my stomach didn’t feel any better. It seemed to feel even more nauseous.

“Damn, this won’t do.”

I crawled out of bed on all fours and staggered outside. I desperately needed Monica’s herbal water.

I didn’t want to show myself like this to the whole neighborhood, but I had to survive first.

The magical medicine that brings peace to your stomach with just one sip. It’s a condition recovery remedy that even the people of Cromwell Castle and soldiers praise without reservation.

Fortunately, healer Monica’s house was very close to ours. It should definitely be within spitting distance, but today it felt incredibly far.

I clutched my churning stomach and barely made it down the slope. White Coco and her chicks came out to the gate to greet me.

“Coco…”

Sister’s dying. Save me.

Coco, understanding my emergency signal, flapped her wings and went into the house.

There’s usually a prejudice that chickens are stupid, but Monica’s Coco is very smart. At least she seems better than Felix.

“Who is it? Hazel?”

After a moment, Monica’s urgent voice could be heard.

“Monica…”

Please save me.

She checked my pale white face and burst into laughter with her loud, booming voice. It’s nothing new, but Monica’s voice is truly unmatched.

“Oh my, our Hazel looks half dead! Did you go to Rupert’s?”

“Yes…”

“I’ll give you medicine. Come in quickly!”

I was led into her house by thick, warm hands.

Bill and other herb gatherers sitting at the dining table saw my face and simultaneously burst into laughter.

“Hiiing…”

This is why I didn’t want to come.

Thinking about how Sara and Maribel would tease me all day tomorrow made me squeeze my eyes shut.

***

“Wow.”

I’m alive. I’m alive.

As the bitter herbal water went down my esophagus, my stomach, which had been churning like a storm, calmed down.

Monica’s herbal water really is the best. It was a wise decision to seek her out despite the embarrassment.

“Hazel, how is it? Are you feeling better? Would you like to try eating this?”

Monica placed a tomato stew with eggs in front of me.

Just 10 minutes ago, all food in the world seemed disgusting, but surprisingly, my mouth started watering.

“Thank you, Monica. I’ll eat well.”

“Oh my, now you’re getting your color back. Thank goodness.”

Bill handed me utensils and clicked his tongue.

“I’ll give that Rupert guy a piece of my mind. He should consider who he’s dealing with. He gave Hazel something too strong.”

“I’m not that weak though…”

“Felix always said the same thing.”

Being treated the same as our family’s troublemaker made my stomach boil again. Honestly, I want to argue back, but now isn’t the right time.

After finishing the stew completely, my condition returned to normal as if nothing had happened.

Now I felt like I could go to the general store. Felix would be watching the shop, but I’d been away for a long time since yesterday, so I was worried.

“Monica, that was delicious. Thank you so much. I’ll go home and bring the medicine fee right away.”

However, Monica firmly cut off my words.

“Forget it. I’m not so desperate that I’d do business with kids I consider like my own children.”

“…”

No. You are desperate.

Not a single person among Ruden Village residents has a comfortable financial situation.

Because Lord Cromwell wouldn’t stand for that.

It’s natural that most of Ruden Village’s land belongs to the lord, and almost all the decent houses in the village center are owned by the lord.

The herb gatherers all live on the outskirts so they don’t pay rent to the lord, but the taxes on herbs are enormous, leaving no money left over.

Knowing these circumstances, we have no choice but to help each other.

“Monica, I have money these days. Felix brought money home, you know. Please accept payment for saving me today.”

Bill sighed deeply and joined the conversation.

“As if you have money. I heard from Rupert. Felix really got played for a fool, didn’t he?”

“Ah…”

“Still, don’t blame Felix. That guy had no choice. When nobles are determined to exploit us, how can country folk like us endure it?”

“…That’s right.”

Though Felix did volunteer to hand it over.

“Still, thanks to Felix, a whole family was saved. That’s fortunate.”

“That’s true. Felix should act human at least sometimes.”

Somewhat bitter smiles were exchanged in the warm atmosphere.

Monica gathered something and wrapped it in a cloth before handing it to me.

“Hazel, could you do me one favor as payment for today’s medicine?”

“Of course. Where should I go?”

“Grandma Lisa’s knees have been hurting lately. Please take this ointment and eggs to her.”

“Yes, I’ll do that.”

***

Past Albert’s Bookshop, at the end of a path slightly off from the village center, I could see a dark purple tent.

The small tent with just a crystal ball sitting alone is Lisa’s Fortune Telling Tent.

‘Since I’m here, I should ask.’

Whether Felix might have gotten his fortune told.

Like most village people, I don’t trust Grandma Lisa’s fortunes, but sometimes her predictions mysteriously come true.

It happened when Sara got married to her husband.

At that time, three men had proposed to her, and Sara liked all three of them.

So she wavered for a long time about who she should marry, but in the end, the man Sara married was a stranger from outside the village.

‘You’re not going to marry any of those three guys anyway. Some other guy will come and snatch you away.’

Grandma Lisa had predicted Sara’s future accurately. However, after that, she couldn’t even guess the gender of Sara’s child correctly. It was a 50 percent chance, and she got it wrong.

“Grandma Lisa, are you there?”

“Oh, it’s Hazel. Come on in.”

When I opened the tent flap and entered, Grandma Lisa greeted me with a bright smile.

A purple gleam flickered between her wrinkled eyes.

“I knew Hazel would come today.”

“Oh my, did you really?”

That’s a lie. That’s just Grandma Lisa’s habit of speech, and everyone in the village knows it has nothing to do with her prophetic abilities.

“I came on an errand for Monica. Please take this ointment and eggs.”

“Oh, thank you.”

“And there’s something I’d like to ask you – did Felix happen to come for a fortune reading about a week ago?”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————