(Risking My Life) Proposing to Miss Hazel - Chapter 100

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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 100

“Look at this, Hazel. Felix perfectly cooked the bacon and eggs again today, didn’t he?”

A morning like any other.

Bacon that was crispy on the outside but moist inside, and fried eggs with perfectly cooked whites but yolks only one-quarter done were placed on the plate.

It was exactly as I had ordered.

“Wow, it’s perfect.”

I clapped my hands after confirming the flawless result. Felix smiled proudly and launched into a long speech.

“You see, for a man, this kind of thing is basic. You shouldn’t marry a man who can’t even do something like this.”

“Mm-hmm… I won’t.”

“You must remember that, okay?”

“I’ll remember. Felix, you should eat too. Oh, here’s some bacon.”

I stuffed bacon into Felix’s mouth first, then immediately shoved bacon into my own mouth.

If I hadn’t taken such drastic measures, I would have been caught up in another parade of nonsense.

Yesterday he suddenly washed gray socks until they turned white…

‘Hazel, look at this. Aren’t these socks whiter than freshly squeezed milk? A man should know how to wash his wife and children’s socks clean.’

‘Mm-hmm… I see. Though I think we could each wash our own socks…’

‘Absolutely not. Felix can’t allow a man who can’t even wash your socks, not even if dirt gets in my eyes.’

Then he found an apron with a tiny snag and brought out a sewing kit…

‘Hazel, do you see this? Each stitch is perfect, just like Anna’s hand-sewing, right?’

‘…I can see it very well. Felix, your sewing has really improved.’

‘Of course, for a man. Hazel, women shouldn’t handle dangerous things like needles. Unless it’s a man who can perfectly do running stitches, blind stitches, and even buttonhole stitches, Felix won’t allow marriage.’

Before bed, he even cut vegetables and thrust them at me threateningly.

‘Hazel, what is this?’

‘Eek! It’s cucumber. You’re not going to make me eat it, are you? No matter how thinly you sliced it, I won’t eat cucumber!’

‘Why would I make you eat cucumber? Such juicy and fresh cucumber should be saved for your skin.’

‘Huh? My skin?’

‘Close your eyes and lie down. I’ll put cucumber slices on your face. Monica told me that cucumber face masks are really good in summer.’

‘Uh, okay.’

‘Hazel, you shouldn’t marry a man who won’t even give you cucumber face masks.’

Marriage. Marriage. Marriage.

I had no thoughts of marriage and no man to marry, yet I felt like I was getting marriage neurosis.

But ever since I received that bouquet from the Duke, Felix had been going on about marriage as if some button had been pressed, and I couldn’t stop him.

What’s the point of saying over a hundred times that nothing happened with the Duke, that we’re nothing to each other, that I have no intention of becoming anything to him in the future?

It’s like reading scripture to Kokko’s ears.

Maybe Kokko would understand the meaning faster.

I devoured five strips of bacon in a row and let out a deflated laugh.

Felix crunched on his slightly burnt bacon and laughed along lightly.

“Why are you laughing?”

“Just…”

Because the bacon was cooked to the exact same degree, which was eerily perfect.

When I trailed off with a meaningful smile, Felix’s expression immediately became serious.

“Was one piece of bacon cooked a little more? I was slightly disappointed about that…”

“No. Everything was perfect.”

“I knew it, right? Felix is the best, isn’t he?”

“Yes. Felix is the best.”

***

“Hazel, good afternoon!”

“Good afternoon, Maria! Did you bake croissants today?”

“No, there are no croissants today, but I have brioche. I have ones with blueberry jam and ones with chocolate jam – which would you like?”

“I’ll take both. And two bottles of milk too.”

Maria gave me two large brioches and threw in two potato cheese breads as a bonus.

Even after Golden Goods became a huge success, she consistently gives me free samples, calling them tasting bread. I’m always grateful.

She stretched her generous smile wide and asked playfully.

“Did Felix skip making lunch boxes for once?”

“It looks like I’ll have to work late today, so I’m planning to eat the lunch box for dinner. There’s a lot of backed-up work while Felix was away.”

“Oh my, it’s good that Felix finally came to his senses. I heard he worked under the Duke this time?”

My shoulders reflexively tensed when the Duke was suddenly mentioned.

I replied appropriately with an awkward smile.

“Yes. The Duke even praised Felix for doing good work.”

“Really? He’s stingy with praise, so Felix must be amazing. Anyway, I’m so disappointed that the Duke left. Thanks to the Imperial Army, my bread sales doubled.”

“I know. Your bread is famous among the Imperial Army.”

It might be disappointing for her, but it was fortunate for me.

Not only did I not have to see the uncomfortable Duke, but Felix had returned to the general store.

You might not notice when someone’s there, but you definitely notice when they’re gone.

From the third day after Felix left, the loneliness was greater than being busy and tired.

This was true even though I was mentally overwhelmed thanks to those high-ranking people.

“Have a great sales day today too!”

“You too, Hazel! Good luck with your afternoon business!”

Carrying the bread, I left the shop and avoided the Village Center where the blazing noon sun was beating down, taking the shaded Alley instead.

Then—

“Huh?”

I suddenly stopped at the entrance of the Alley that split in two directions.

I thought I saw a man with black hair in the right Alley.

“Baron…”

Not Mr.

I was waving my hand happily, but the moment I confirmed the man’s face, I awkwardly lowered my hand.

Unfortunately, the person I saw was Zeke (38 years old), Albert’s eighth cousin.

Except for having black hair, he had nothing in common with Baron, so how did I mistake him?

…

I think Maria’s Bakery had chocolate-flavored ice cream earlier.

It’s definitely not because I promised to eat it with Baron that I noticed it – it’s just that I kept thinking about ice cream today, so I checked.

“Sigh…”

Thud, thud.

I walked with dragging steps, kicking the ground.

My yellow checkered dress fluttered over my feet like rolling waves.

Even though I had taken out a new dress to wear, I didn’t feel excited at all.

I should have saved it for later.

When summer gets deeper, when I go out to the lush green Meadow.

When eating chocolate-flavored ice cream.

“…Ah.”

When my thoughts unconsciously reached that point, I finally had to admit it.

I might not have even realized I was feeling Baron’s absence.

“When will Baron come back, I wonder.”

The moment a sigh-like murmur settled over the shortened shadows.

“Miss Hazel.”

A low, languid man’s voice brushed against my nape like a sultry summer breeze.

I stopped in place, savoring the voice, then slowly turned around.

“Baron?”

The red eyes that met mine on the path curved beautifully as if they had been waiting.

He approached closer, gently enveloping my fingertips and lifting them up as if escorting me.

Then—smooch.

Before I could stop him, his lips descended upon the back of my hand.

The lips that had approached quickly withdrew slowly. Perhaps only I felt it that way.

‘Just a greeting… right?’

A Capital-style greeting, the kind you’d give to a noble lady.

As dry saliva went down my throat with a gulp, our eyes became entangled in the air.

As the heat rising from the back of my hand spread helplessly to my cheeks, he spoke in a voice as sweet and thick as honey.

“I missed you.”

“…”

“Did Miss Hazel wait for me too?”

His tone was polite, but his gaze was not.

Eyes that seemed to see right through a person glowed mysteriously as if they knew everything without being told.

I felt inexplicably wronged and shook my head petulantly.

But without changing his expression one bit, he moved his lips again.

“The new dress suits you well.”

My feet, hidden beneath the dress hem, curled up restlessly.

Baron really is a troublesome person.

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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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