Later, lunch was prepared and still Hazel wasn't allowed to serve Xavier and his ministers. Maids higher than her who were assigned to cook were able to sneak some food for themselves from what they cooked while those that aren't lucky like hazel were left with cold porridge.
During the time of the evening, Hazel strolled with Jordan around the mansion.
"Do you like being a maid" Jordan asked
"I don't but I'm heading towards that" she replied
"How"
"I'm saving my wages and I'm waiting till its big enough to start a business back at Bougreve"
"You're planning in leaving"
"Yes, its not my land so…"
"What kind of business do you have in mind"
"What I was doing before but in a bigger way, I was selling wools for knitting and also knit clothes"
"That's nice, what if your parents"
"My dads in Poetwyth, he was abducted some years ago and my mum is dead"
"I'm sorry to hear that"
"I hope I'll be able to bring him back, yes the only family I got"
"How much is your wages here"
"Some nickels and shillings"
"That's small, I'm not trying to bring your hopes down but when will you save till that amount gets much"
"I'll wait"
"I have an offer though"
"Which is?"
"You work at my mansion as the housekeeper, something like what Collins dies here, the pay is much better"
"I don't know"
"I just want to help"
"Can I know what my wages will be"
"Three silver coins and twenty bronze coins"
"Isn't that much Sir Jordan"
"I know, so what do you say"
"I'll think about it"
"How long should I give you"
"A week perhaps"
"Okay" he held her hands and Hazel flinched a bit which he noticed and asked
"What's wrong" checking her hands
"Its just blisters"
"Its swollen already" he said gently touching her palms
"It'll lesson later"
"It won't unless you do something about it" he immediately called a maid to bring a bowl of hot water and a towel. He made her sit under a tree as they waited for the maid.
"This isn't necessary Sir Jordan, I could do it myself when I get to my room"
"And who will give you a bowl of hot water, remember I know that servants aren't provided with that"
"I would have asked Collins"
"Do you think he would have given you"
"—"
The maid brought the bowl and towel some minutes later handing it to Jordan and sending Hazel a hard glare which could be interpreted as
'Wow you could wait and jumped to your next man, whore'
Jordan started his treatments, he dipped the towels into the water and squeezed it and then gently but firmly pressed on the blisters to reduce the pain and stop the swell. He continued that way until he felt it was okay.
"I'll tell Collins to provide you with hot water tomorrow" he said
"Thank you for your kindness Sir Jordan"
"I'm not always kind to people only to specific persons"
"I'm privileged then"
"Its my pleasure" he said before raising her hands and placing a kiss on her knuckles "I'll be going, see you soon" and he left Hazel under the tree.
After preparing dinner, Hazel went back to her room reflecting on what Jordan had offered today. It was a good one but she still wanted to know if Xavier was truly letting her go or whatever they had together, go. She drifted to sleep with this in mind.
The next day was as usual for Hazel but it wasn't for Xavier, he was being scolded by relles. Weird right
"You want to kill her" relles shouted
"You'll bring her back, that what you're here for"
"…"
"I want to hate her"
"You know the consequence of what you're doing right?"
"What can it be"
"You hating her will mean pushing her far from you and closer to the witches she'll hate you too and then she hating you will give the witches a chance to talk her into hating you the more. She kills you and then dies also because of the stupid bond you placed with her"
"My bond with her isn't stupid"
"Yeah whatever"
"Does she like me"
"Are you dumb, of course she does that why she's still here"
"I won't kill her but I don't want her around me anymore"
"That's great then" relles said excitedly
"How" Xavier asked skeptically seeing relles excited state
"Councilman Jordan has offered her a job as Hus housekeeper and you know it pays well rather than what she's doing here"
"Housekeeper?"
"Yep"
"She won't agree to such"
"I'll just go tell her you don't want her around and she'll agree to Jordan's offer immediately"
"You won't dare"
"Try stopping me" relles said hopping towards the door
"I'll shred you to pieces"
"You'll shred the rabbit not me and you know Hazel cherish the rabbit" with that he left to search for Hazel.
Soon he found her outside the kitchen getting rid if trash. Hazel spotted him and his by a corner so they can talk
"What are you doing here relles"
"Your prates has been answered Hazel"
"What prayers"
"You wanted to work at Jordan's mansion right?"
"Kinda"
"Well Xavier said himself that he wasn't going to kill you but he doesn't want you close to him any longer so its an opportunity to stay far from him"
"Really" she said in a sad tone
"Yes"
"But you said here was the only safe place"
"I'm very sure Concilman Jordan is also a good person"
"Okay... since he had agreed, I'll send a letter to Sir Jordan and get my resignation letter prepared"
"That will do"
"I'll see you later, I got work to do"
Xavier was at his room thinking on what relles had said. Did she actually like him and if he kept pushing her away, she's definitely get rid of those feelings. She has been the only person that has told him he was a good man and its because he always showed her his good side, he wasn't about changing that. He was going to call her back and apologize.
Hazel was in the kitchen also thinking on what relles had said. She had thought he liked her, seems like all those flirting were nothing to him. What was she expecting anyways, that he would like her. She would inform Jordan of her acceptance this evening and submit her resignation letter the next day to Xavier.