(Risking My Life) Proposing to Miss Hazel - Chapter 1

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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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Chapter 1

This is a story about a brother who wouldn’t hesitate to give his life to protect his little sister—

And a sister who loves her ordinary daily life with such a brother.

***

Beautiful mountains, clear waters, kind hearts—the most peaceful village in the Empire.

At the top of a slope carved from the mountainside stands a cabin covered in ivy.

Though it looks like a house about to collapse, the interior is quite cozy. At least it is for us siblings who live here.

Me, Hazel, the most diligent worker in the village.

My brother Felix, the village’s only good-for-nothing.

Siblings who look exactly like twins with ash-gray hair and yellow eyes.

But our behavior is completely opposite.

Unlike me, who worked hard today, Mr. Felix (27 years old, unemployed) seems to have spent the entire day drinking.

“Hazel, why weren’t you sleeping?”

Staggering, his alcohol-soaked body collapsed onto the wooden floor with a thud.

A terrible smell of alcohol wafted over.

I frowned and stepped back from him.

“Ugh, the smell of alcohol. Just how much did you drink?”

“One glass. I only had exactly one glass.”

“Was that one glass the size of a bucket?”

“If you drink continuously without stopping, it’s one glass.”

“What kind of logic is that?”

“Woof!”

“…”

My eyes squeezed shut.

It’s not the first or second time Felix has turned into a dog, but today I feel particularly dizzy.

I smacked my pathetic brother’s back repeatedly. He’s uselessly big and solid, so hitting him only hurts my hand.

“Ah, so annoying.”

Glaring at him sharply, he grins foolishly without any awareness.

Like a dog that wags its tail at the sight of its owner no matter how much it’s scolded, he’s unwaveringly loyal.

“Hehe. My little sister is so pretty. Round, sparkling eyes, from her hair to her fingertips, there’s not a single part that isn’t beautiful.”

“Sweet talk won’t work. You can forget about allowance this week.”

“How can even your voice be so pretty? What if someone carries you away because you’re so beautiful?”

“No one will carry me away.”

Because of my brother.

Who would marry the sister of the village’s biggest troublemaker?

Hazel, 22 years old, single.

My friends got married long ago and even have children, but I feel like I’ll grow old and die forever alone.

All thanks to my brother.

Whether it’s villagers or outsiders, whenever I so much as talk to another man, my brother comes running with glaring eyes to cause a scene.

‘Hey you bastard, don’t you have eyes? Don’t look at Hazel with those eyes. Before I gouge your eyeballs out.’

‘Get lost from in front of my sister right now. If you don’t disappear by the time I count to three, I’ll bury you up to your neck in the Realm of Monsters.’

“Haah…”

A sigh welled up from deep in my chest.

My brother wasn’t always such a troublemaker.

Surprisingly, Felix in his childhood was unlike now—he was a perfect brother.

My only family, my unchanging ally, my sole pillar of support.

A hero who saved me whenever I was in danger.

From 15 years ago, the day our parents died, I had no one but my brother.

‘Hazel, your brother will definitely protect you. Just trust me.’

The memory of the day we lost our parents is still vivid.

Acrid black magic smoke, people screaming and scattering in all directions.

I escaped from the burning house, tightly gripping my brother’s hand.

Knights in black clothes chased after us. My brother picked me up and ran desperately.

But escaping from them was beyond our capabilities.

‘Hazel, listen carefully to what I say. We need to get to Cromwell Castle first. It’s just a little way, so run without ever looking back.’

‘What about you, Felix?’

‘I have to protect you. I’ll follow right behind you. Hurry and run, Hazel!’

My brother fought against the black knights to protect me.

I ran endlessly in the direction my brother pointed.

My legs trembled and tears blurred my vision.

What if my brother dies too?

What if my brother can’t find me?

Ominous thoughts filled my head completely.

So my brother could find me, I dropped my belongings one by one on the ground.

The ribbon that was in my hair.

The frills and lace from my skirt hem.

Finally, even the ring that adorned my finger.

Like that, I became completely penniless and arrived at Cromwell Castle.

Unfortunately, the people of Cromwell Castle didn’t welcome me. The reason was that I had an ominous appearance.

“Ash-gray hair and demon-like yellow eyes. How utterly ominous.”

“She looks like a young dark mage. It’s dangerous to keep her in the castle.”

“Let’s quickly drive out that devil’s child. Or kill her.”

They went beyond pointing fingers and cursing at me—they threw stones at me whenever I came into sight.

Fortunately, just before I was about to die from the stone-throwing, my brother appeared and saved me.

“I’m sorry, Hazel. You waited a long time. I didn’t know I’d be this late. It’s my fault.”

“Felix… it hurts…”

“Just endure a little longer, Hazel. Let’s go to Ruden Village. Just endure until we reach that place.”

“The people in that village… won’t they hate me?”

“Never. The people of Ruden Village will never hate you.”

My brother carried me, burning like a fireball, over treacherous mountains to reach the village at the westernmost edge of the Empire.

Fortunately, it was just as my brother said.

The people of Ruden Village didn’t hate me.

Even after confirming our ash-gray hair and yellow eyes, they welcomed us warmly.

[Do not turn away from those in distress, and do not abandon the powerless.]

This was both the belief and way of life of the people of Ruden Village.

And so we became members of a poor but warm village.

Felix took on all the odd jobs in the village to feed and support me.

Housework and comforting me when I cried were also Felix’s responsibilities.

Even so, he never complained once.

The smile never left his face when he looked at me.

‘Felix only needs Hazel. It’s not hard at all.’

However, my caring, devoted, and reliable brother became a complete scoundrel the moment he turned twenty.

I’d heard rumors that one in ten men in rural villages becomes a drunkard, but I never thought it would be my own brother.

“Sigh.”

I glared at him with troubled eyes. He grinned foolishly like a shameless idiot and smoothed out my furrowed brow with his fingers.

“Hazel, don’t sigh. Our princess is going to become incredibly rich, and sighing will chase away your fortune.”

“…Ha.”

What is this drunkard even saying?

If only you’d sober up, we’d be one step closer to that future.

I ignored Felix’s nonsense and turned away. He grabbed my old, shabby clothes.

His voice as he held me back was unusually serious for Felix.

“You won’t be wearing clothes like these, but gorgeous, pretty new dresses like a princess.”

“….”

“You won’t be living in a shack like this, but in a house as big as a palace. It really won’t be much longer now.”

I was so dumbfounded that I let out a hollow laugh.

I knew it was just a drunkard’s lies, but today his nonsense was particularly detailed.

“Stop talking nonsense and go to sleep.”

I shook my head and pushed Felix toward the sofa.

Even as he staggered, he didn’t stop talking.

“Hazel, from now on, only a path of flowers will unfold in your life. Your hardships are over and happiness begins now. Just trust your brother!”

Trust what, exactly?

I kicked his back with a mix of love and annoyance. His large body flopped ungracefully onto the sofa.

“Phew….”

Although Mr. Felix is a good-for-nothing pathological liar, I can’t bring myself to hate this pathetic brother of mine.

I only have Felix, and Felix only has me.

I can only wait for the day when Felix returns to his original self.

But regardless of that hope—

“I will never marry a man like Felix.”

Once again today, I made that vow to myself.

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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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