Serena and the Mysterious Labyrinth - Chapter 229

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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229. Medicine (1)

‘Cheer up, Lavenda! This is your chance to show your skills!’

Lavenda washed her hands, which were warmer than average, in the hot spring water and rubbed them together to gather heat.

She was confident that rubbing the stomach with these warm hands and applying acupressure to pressure points would quickly relieve the indigestion.

‘I’ll show the skills I relied on when I came to Huji!’

The massage therapist who had come from the easternmost kingdom of the continent to the westernmost kingdom with grand ambitions placed her warm hands on Countess Nex’s body.

The Countess’s body was as cold as someone pulled from midwinter waters. Lavenda tried to gently rub the stomach where cold energy had gathered to transfer warmth.

“Ugh.”

She froze in shock at Countess Nex’s skeletal torso. It was hard to believe they were the same species – she was nothing but bones.

‘Calm down. She’s just a rather thin customer.’

Lavenda tried to find pressure points good for digestion to apply acupressure, but couldn’t endure it and groaned.

“Kugh.”

“Miss Lavenda? What’s wrong?”

Lavenda hung her head low and made a tearful expression.

‘This won’t do. I can’t let this happen!’

The Princess was asking a question – she couldn’t delay her answer. Lavenda steeled herself and tried to press the pressure points again, but couldn’t bear the overwhelming emotion and pulled her hands away. The massage therapist’s hands trembled as they left Countess Nex’s body.

“Princess. Am I trembling?”

“Yes. You’re trembling. What on earth is going on?”

Lavenda, who had confidently stepped forward showing her professional massage therapist demeanor, began trembling the moment she touched Countess Nex’s body.

‘Is it a curse?’

Could it be a curse rather than poison? As Serena suspected other possibilities, Lavenda confessed with a pale face.

“The Countess has no muscle or flesh on her body at all. How is she even alive? I’m too scared her bones might break to touch her. In my entire life. No. Even if you searched through all the massage therapists in Vieta, this would be a first.”

Lavenda made this declaration including not just her own life but the entire prestigious massage industry of Vieta.

There had never been such a customer before. Was this a person, or just a decoration with skin over bones?

Lavenda rambled on with fear in her lavender-colored eyes.

“The theater troupe members were thin too, but they only looked thin – when you touched them, they had solid muscle. Of course, there were some frail customers who lacked flesh and muscle. But I’ve never seen a customer this severe. I really don’t understand how she moves.”

Fortunately, it wasn’t a curse. Serena felt relieved and explained why Countess Nex’s body lacked muscle and flesh.

“Countess Nex lived a somewhat irregular lifestyle. According to the Countess, she never enjoyed outdoor activities or meals from childhood. She would eat only chocolate or candy to keep her mind working while staying holed up in her research lab for weeks at a time.”

“Ah… so that’s why…”

So this is what happens to a person who doesn’t move and only eats just enough not to starve to death. Lavenda and the others gained great insight.

“To dislike eating. That’s really strange.”

“I thought she got so thin from suffering in the Labyrinth.”

The Number Siblings, who never imagined that the noble Countess Nex was naturally skeletal, were particularly surprised.

“Tsk tsk. I’ve seen plenty of fools who don’t exercise and just sit at desks because they’re mages. But this is the first time I’ve seen such a serious know-it-all. Mages lack physical activity, so they should train their stamina even more.”

Grey clicked his tongue, then felt the gaze of nearby adults and grinned sheepishly.

“That’s what Grandfather would have said.”

Grey didn’t stop at blaming his grandfather and continued displaying his know-it-all attitude.

“Look at Uncle. Grandfather trained his stamina early on, so he’s so healthy.”

Perhaps because exercise came up, Low brightened considerably.

“Hehehe. Young master is right. Muscle is a lifelong asset. More reliable than gold coins buried in front of the furnace.”

“Ahem. Anyway, having severely insufficient muscle doesn’t mean there are no pressure points. Try stimulating them gently.”

“Yes, Princess.”

Lavenda composed her emotions and gently rubbed Countess Nex’s stomach while stimulating pressure points.

Perhaps because people kept stimulating her body, Countess Nex’s contorted face slowly relaxed.

Her rigidly hardened upper abdomen also softened and warmth returned. When they gave her digestive medicine, this time she didn’t vomit and swallowed it down.

“Now then. Don’t lie down, lean against me. I’ll rub your stomach and back until the medicine settles in your stomach, Countess.”

“…The pain has subsided now. Thank you, Miss Puri. I’m sorry to everyone.”

Countess Nex spoke in a fading voice.

“Cough. Are you alright now?”

Neet asked about the Countess’s condition in a tearful voice. The Countess raised her arm, thin as a withered branch, and patted Neet’s shoulder. Neet sniffled and swallowed her tears.

“If you’ve regained consciousness, breathe slowly, in and out. Neet. No, Hana. Mix hot and cold water to make slightly warm water and add half a spoonful each of salt and honey.”

“I’ll do it.”

Prince Willow knew where the seasonings were. The Prince volunteered without being asked and brought warm salt-honey water.

Countess Nex respectfully received the honey water with both hands and moistened her lips.

“I didn’t know the Countess had such weak digestion. I’ll pay attention to the Countess’s diet from now on.”

“Oh, no, Your Highness! I’m fine as I am. I’m the one who should apologize for causing trouble.”

Since Countess Nex’s condition had improved, Serena summarized the situation.

“I’m glad Countess Nex is safe. Count Randy and Miss Lavenda deserve great credit.”

‘There’s no healer in the lobby.’

Serena clicked her tongue inwardly. She thought they didn’t need a healer since they had Count Randy’s potions, but today showed that wasn’t the case.

They needed someone with extensive knowledge of the human body, whether a doctor or priest.

“Everyone got up early, so return to your respective places. Philia, I’m entrusting you with caring for Countess Nex.”

“Yes, Lady Serena.”

“Cough. I’ll help too.”

“I can continue doing it.”

“Don’t you have many things to do, Miss Lavenda? The Countess can also attend to her bedside. Neet, you only help with light tasks.”

“Lady Serena is right, Miss Lavenda. Rest now.”

When the two most dignified people in the lobby spoke, Lavenda had no choice but to comply. The massage therapist obediently stepped aside.

“I’ll care for the Countess together with my wife while making additional digestive medicine.”

Count Randy looked at Serena, using digestive medicine as an excuse, perhaps wanting to spend more time with his beloved wife.

‘He must be tired after returning from the Labyrinth.’

They were planning to rest for a few more days anyway. When Serena nodded, Count Randy smiled brightly.

Everyone in the lobby except Serena thought the same thing. That the alchemist would half-heartedly make digestive medicine and stick close to his wife’s side.

But what was this? The complete opposite situation unfolded.

The alchemist didn’t leave his workshop, and instead the Countess caring for Countess Nex frequently went to the workshop to run errands for her husband.

Moreover, Count Randy didn’t even glance at his wife who swept up his fallen hair beside him, focusing entirely on the medicine.

While everyone except Serena couldn’t contain their astonishment, Heuji Jeolmi smiled warmly watching her husband absorbed in his work.

“Cute.”

People commonly say a beautiful woman’s tears are more powerful than her smile, but Serena disagreed.

That saying spread only because tears from beautiful women are seen more often than smiles. A sincere smile from a beautiful woman in love is more powerful than any tears.

‘It’s just that very few people get to see it.’

Patients complaining of heart problems appeared throughout the lobby. Since they improved with time, Serena ignored them.

“Wow. You’re having quite the romance there.”

The Guide, who was eating dates, stuck out his tongue watching the Count couple. Then he pushed the dates he was eating onto Low and drank tea instead.

“Watching the Count couple makes my mouth sweet. Gotta neutralize it.”

Behind the Guide drinking tea, the Mysterious Stranger slyly brought a date to his mouth. Low swallowed the date and muttered quietly.

“Sweet.”

Meanwhile, Prince Willow fell into contemplation over the iron pot. It was good that he had Count Randy get a large pot as the lobby population increased, but this pot took up the entire fire, making it difficult to simultaneously prepare meals for those with weak digestive systems.

“Hmm. What to do about this. If only there was one more burner. It would be really nice to have an oven.”

Prince Willow spoke openly, hoping someone would definitely listen. The Prince probably meant it for the Minotaur God to hear, but listening Serena felt frustrated too.

‘I want to buy it for you too! But I need to save coins!’

The current goal was lobby expansion and an exercise equipment set. Since they needed to expand at least twice to bring in exercise equipment, kitchen purchases had to be postponed.

“Ah, how frustrating! This is why high-ranking people!”

Olive, who had been sipping tea, suddenly approached the Prince.

“In our house, at times like this, we made layers inside big pots or cauldrons! That’s how we cooked multiple things!”

Prince Willow complained about burners because he’s a prince. Originally, ordinary commoner kitchens in this world only have one burner.

She had been curious how multiple dishes were cooked in such cases, and Olive knew the answer.

“Like this! This is useful! Put something like this wooden bottom inside! Pour water! Put small pots and frying pans in here!”

“Ooh! I think I understand the structure! Miss Olive! I express my gratitude for your wisdom and kindness.”

“Wisdom my ass. This is basic common sense! Yo!”

It was basic common sense, but no one had told Prince Willow during all his oven complaints.

The nobles including Serena couldn’t tell him because they didn’t know, and the Number Siblings didn’t know because they were wanderers.

Lavenda was a cold city woman, and Ralph had only done odd jobs, never seriously helped with cooking, so he didn’t know.

The ones who might have known were Ying, Olive, and Low, but Ying was Ying and Low was shy around strangers.

If Olive hadn’t told him today, probably no one would have ever shared this common sense with the Prince.

And Olive speaking up today was probably the aftermath of yesterday’s conversation.

Even when Olive grumbled “This is why royalty is hopeless,” Prince Willow smiled brightly and applied his newly learned common sense.

“Yo! Prince, do you have a death wish or what? Yo? If you just take it out like that, you’ll burn your hands and face! Like this! You make something like a skewer and hook it on the handle to take it out! Yo!”

“Aha! I see! When Mark finishes his research, I should ask him to change the shape of the cooking utensils!”

Just then, as if his research had reached a conclusion, the alchemist who had been holed up in the workshop stood up from his chair.

Philia placed a teacup in Count Randy’s hand as he gestured in the air and poured tea.

“My goodness! To be able to drink tea brewed by my wife! I’m the happiest person in the world! It’s even cooled to the perfect drinking temperature!”

“I’m happy to be able to brew tea for you too!”

Count Randy gulped down the cooled tea. The alchemist wiped his mouth with a handkerchief and approached Serena.

“Lady Serena. While making the digestive medicine, I completed the analysis of the nutritional supplement from yesterday’s vending machine and the drugs obtained from the 9th Layer.”

“I see. What are the results?”

“The nutritional supplement is literally a nutritional supplement. The words used to label the ingredients are strange, but there are no dangerous components, so it’s safe to take daily. And the medicine we got from the Labyrinth…”

As if the content was difficult to announce to everyone, Count Randy requested to approach. Once the Princess gave permission, the alchemist came close to Serena sitting in her chair, bent his upper body, and whispered in her ear.

“It’s alcohol.”

‘Alcohol?’

She thought it was some mysterious drug from the Labyrinth, but it was just alcohol? The quantity was even small.

Serena tensed her facial muscles to avoid showing disappointment, but the Guide stuck her head out like a meerkat on watch.

“Alcohol? Didn’t someone just say alcohol? Yo? Someone definitely made an alcohol sound?”

Count Randy thought he had spoken quietly, but apparently underestimated the Guide’s hearing.

Moreover, while Olive lacked higher education, her mind worked quickly.

Olive’s round eyes fixed on the direction the sound came from – the Princess and the alchemist. What else could be the reason for hearing “alcohol” when the alchemist who had just been analyzing drugs was reporting to the Princess?

Olive quickly assessed the situation and her eyes sparkled.

“You know that alcohol is mine, right? Yo?”

Since Olive found it, it was Olive’s!

Olive held out her hand as if demanding the alcohol be handed over quickly.

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