Indebted

BELLE’s P.O.V

“May, I’m tired…” 

May looked at me with disgusto. 

“You’re the reason for that.” 

I couldn’t move my body. Is this some kind of side effect? 

The next morning after we met Hansel, I thanked Hendrick for his help and told him that I needed to go home. He didn’t ask for more instead, he helped me to get a carriage that will bring me home. Thanks to him I didn’t have to walk for about half an hour anymore like last time. I arrived home safely but I couldn’t move my body. 

“It’s coming now…” I mumbled, referring to body pain. 

May just continued brushing my hair while I’m laying down the bed. 

“What happened to you there that caused you so much pain right now?” 

I sigh. 

Thinking about what happened while I’m still at that village reminds me not to do it again. If only I had someone who could help me when something bad happened in the near future, I wouldn’t do it. 

Looking back in the comic, there’s no one who helped Belle when she was sentenced and punished by the male lead, and because of that her death came faster. 

I shook my head. I don’t want that to happen to me. 

I told May the whole story, I expected her to be mad because I almost died but this is what she said. 

“At least you made it back alive.” 

Hay… She’s making my blood boil to be honest. 

If only I didn’t need her, I would throw her away, let her be eaten by some wild animals-

“Stop thinking of torturing me.” She said,

“Okay, okay.” I laughed. I was just kidding. I couldn't afford to lose her.

“Anyways, what happened to that grandma?” I suddenly remembered the reason why she couldn’t accompany me. 

“She’s okay, she’s getting healthier because of the medicine I gave her.”

“That’s good to hear.” 

We stayed like that for a couple of hours. 

When it’s time for snacks, May have to go to the kitchen so I took that time to plan my next move. I got a paper and a pen, sat down on my small table and took a deep breath. I was ready to plan when I realized something. 

“I don’t have money to buy what he needs!” 

I went back to lying down. I’m really hopeless. 

“Argh!” What should I do? 

If only that accident didn’t happen then I would have enough money to support Hansel. 

“Oh my gosh.” Another problem again! Should I just kill myself? 

What if I didn’t die because of the male lead but died because of the problems? Do I have this kind of life back on Earth? I don’t think so. I only experience these things here…

“I really want to just rest…” 

“Do you know that she cheated on the exam to be the top 1?” 

“Oh my, really?” 

“Yes! She even tells stories that Kurt likes her.” 

“What?! How delusional must she be?!” 

“I know right?” 

I was walking in the hallway, everyone seemed to be talking about me. 

I didn’t do such a thing! I wouldn’t do that! 

“Here’s what’s worse, everyone was saying that she used her body to get the cheat sheet that’s why she passed the university exam!” 

Everyone gasped. 

What are they saying? I didn’t do that! 

Where do they even get those stories? Why don’t they ask me directly? 

I looked at them but that was the worst decision I’ve ever made. 

Everyone was looking at me as if I was a criminal, they were laughing while giving me a suspicious look. What did I do to them? 

Suddenly, a black smoke appeared. 

I felt like I was being eaten by it. 

When I opened my eyes, I was in a dark place. Where am I?

“Hello? Where Am I!?” 

There’s no one answering. 

I tried to walk, but I didn’t know if I was really walking. I can’t feel the ground. Looks like I was floating, but where? 

Why am I here? 

“Is anybody there?!” 

Still, no one’s answering. 

Slowly, the place felt cold. I hugged myself. Where Am I… 

“You should just die the moment you were born.” A voice from a man echoed.

I searched where the voice was coming from. Who’s that?! 

“Just give her what she needs to survive, but you can just let her die if you want.” It’s coming from a woman this time. 

“Who are you!?”  

I started running. Their voices came from different directions. Where are they? 

“She’s a disgrace to our family.” 

“Should we just kill her?” 

What?

“Who are you!? Why do you want to kill me?!” 

No one’s answering. I kept on running. This place is so dark that even my own body’s hard to see. 

What’s happening here…

I was running when my head suddenly started spinning. 

“Ouch!” I touched where it’s hurting. 

It started to hurt everywhere!

Stop… please… 

I used my two hands to stop the pain but I couldn’t, as time went on the pain intensified…

I want to cry, but why can’t I cry?! 

“Please… stop…” 

It hurts so bad I want to collapse…

“Let’s just kill her.” 

“She’s of no use to us.” 

“This girl is bad luck, let’s kill her.” 

“Let’s kill her.”

“Please…”

My ears started to ring. 

I couldn’t take this anymore…

I want to die… Please just kill me! 

“MY LADY?” 

Gasped! 

“What’s wrong my lady?” 

I looked around. I’m alive? 

“May?” I called the woman in front of me. 

“Yes my lady, this is me, May. Did something happen?” She asks. 

So it’s just a dream. 

“My lady, you’re sweating.” 

I touched my forehead, what’s with this sweat. 

May gave me a towel and helped me wipe my sweat. 

“Nightmare?” 

I nodded. 

What’s my dream about again? 

I forgot… 

I was still breathing heavily, May stayed beside me and helped me calm down. 

Since I couldn’t move my body freely, I just stayed on my bed until I’m fully okay. 

I tried to remember what my dream was about but I couldn’t get even a small hint other than I knew it was terrifying. 

When I finally calmed down, May told me that she had to go back to the kitchen. As I lay on my bed, I kept thinking about my dream, what was that to cause me this much sweat? 

“MY LADY, HERE’S YOUR SNACKS.” 

I opened my eyes because someone’s calling for me. 

Oh, I didn’t realize that I fell asleep again. I tried to move my body, thankfully the pain’s gone a little. 

“What did you make this time?” I sat on the bed. 

May brought food on the bed. 

“You can eat here since you’re not feeling well.” She said as she prepared the small table. 

“Wow, that’s actually touching. Should I cry now?” I ask sarcastically. 

May rolled her eyes, it made me laugh. 

“Thank you for the food.” 

She made pudding for our snacks. 

“This is delicious.” 

“Thanks.” 

Come think of it… May cooks delicious foods, what if we use her talent to make money?

“May?” 

She paid a glance at me. 

“Have you ever thought of selling foods, like the desserts that you made?” 

“What do you mean?” 

I ate the last piece after I answered. 

“I mean, we can sell foods that you’re making to earn money, right?” 

She stopped eating. Looks like she’s thinking. 

“I think it’ll be difficult to earn by that.” 

“Why?” 

“My lady, who will buy the food that I make here? Do you think there’s a sane person who will buy it?” 

What does she mean? 

“Why not?” 

 “Don’t tell me you even forgot what outsiders call this place?” 

I stared at her. This place mean our house? 

When I didn’t answer, May shook her head in disbelief. 

“This place was called “The Cursed Land” by the outsiders.” 

What?!

My eyebrows met. 

“Why would they call this land that? This isn’t a cursed land!” I exclaimed. 

“For you, my lady.” 

May explained the reason for that title. 

“So, you’re saying that people couldn’t come near this house because of some belief that if you come here, you will be cursed with eternal misfortune?” 

She nodded. 

“That’s insane…” I couldn’t believe what I just discovered. 

“Why would people spread such rumors?” 

May just shrugged and started eating again. 

“But why do you need money?” She asked. 

I explained to her what my plan was since I trust her. From how I will support Hansel and its benefit to me. May listened carefully while eating, then told me she couldn’t give me money. I know… 

It’s really hard to be poor. If only my parents would support me! 

After we ate, I told her that I’ll rest at the veranda.

“Hayyy…” 

What should I do? I couldn’t delay Hansel’s painting materials, who knows if someone would support him instead of me. I couldn’t afford to lose him, he’s the one whom I can reach right now. If I lose him, I’ll have a hard time looking for someone else that’s still reachable. 

“Let’s think…What can I do right now?” 

I still couldn’t get the mana stone, I still have to wait for Hansel’s painting to sell for a massive amount of money, then I’ll use that money to prepare for my departure here, that’s the only way for me to reach the North. 

I visualize the things that’s near me. 

There is furniture that I can sell… 

“No. That’s the last thing I will do.” I still believe in the saying that selling your house furniture will bring you bad luck so we should choose another option. 

Let’s think of another possible way.

Selling our home made foods will not be the best option either. I can’t work either because of this weak body. 

I spent my afternoon thinking of a way to earn money. 

I listed some things that I can try such as selling information to invent something that wasn’t here in this world or sell the herbs that May grows herself. 

“Or should I just sell May?” 

“I heard that.” Oops…

“I’m just kidding.” I laughed at her reaction.

I didn’t know she was here. 

May entered while holding a brown pouch. 

“What’s that?” 

She didn’t answer, instead, she put it on the table. 

I heard something clattered from the pouch. 

I looked at May, she’s just staring at me. 

“Dude what’s that?” I asked her. 

Stop staring at me and tell me already! 

May opened the pouch and I was dazzled by what’s inside. 

“Money!?” 

She nodded. 

“Where did you get this?” 

She didn’t answer. 

“May?” I asked again. 

Still, she didn’t answer. 

My eyes widened. 

“Don’t tell me you stole this!” 

She shook her head. 

“Of course not.” Her eyebrows met. 

“Then why don’t you tell me already where’d you get this huge amount of money?”

She puffed her cheeks. 

“Hendrick.”

Hendrick? 

“He gave you money?” 

“Yes.” 

“But why?” 

Why would Hendrick give May this much money? 

Oh! 

“Hendrick has a debt to you and this is his payment, right?” I smiled at her. 

She’s really a genius, who would’ve thought that she would lend someone money and will get it in times like this, when I badly need it. 

“I’m touched, May…” I pretend to cry. 

You’re so kind! 

“Then, will you lend me this money?” 

“No.” 

“Why not?” 

“No, I mean, Hendrick doesn’t have debt with me.” 

My eyebrows met once again. 

Then why does Hendrick give her this much money?

“Could you please explain before I get mad?” 

Jesus, just tell me already, May! My head’s hurting! 

“He lent me that.” 

Oh. Then that’s it. 

“Hendrick lent you this money, am I correct?” 

She nodded. 

“Oh, okay, but how do we pay this?” 

This isn’t just a small amount of money and we don’t have anything right now, even a job, so how are we going to pay this? 

“It’s not us.” 

Huh?

I looked at her. What is she saying all of a sudden? 

“It’s not us.” she repeated. 

“What the heck are you talking about, May?”

“It’s not us who will pay.” 

“What, then who?” We will not pay for this? How is that possible when she’s the one who borrowed this money? 

“It’s you.” 

“...” 

“I lent it, under your name…my lady…”