(Risking My Life) Proposing to Miss Hazel - Chapter 13

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

Chapter 13

As Baron’s face drew closer, I suddenly felt flushed with heat. This is why handsome men are dangerous. They can be threatening just by approaching.

‘What, what is this…’

He sat down beside me without permission. His legs were so long that just leaning slightly while standing allowed his bottom to touch the bar stool.

I subtly leaned back and asked with wariness in my voice.

“Ah, Rupert stepped out for a moment. What brings you here, Baron?”

It might be rude to say this, but Baron looked like the type who would drink whiskey instead of freshly squeezed milk first thing in the morning.

And it would probably be premium whiskey that comes in a purple velvet box.

Beer and wine don’t suit Baron at all. I must be getting a bit lightheaded to be having such random thoughts.

Strange, can you get intoxicated from drinking sweet coffee when stressed?

As if to clarify that he wasn’t here to drink, Baron lightly lifted and shook the magic tool set in his hand.

“I came to work. Thanks to Miss Hazel, I found work quickly.”

“Thanks to me?”

“That’s right. When I mentioned I bought the tool set from Miss Hazel’s general store, everyone readily entrusted me with work.”

“…I see.”

Not knowing what else to say, I tilted my cup. My mouth was still sweet. Sweet enough to make me gulp it down without realizing.

With a face like that, Baron should at least speak poorly to balance things out, but he speaks as prettily as if honey were spread on his tongue. Even the cadence of how he calls my name is gentle.

This is why city people are troublesome.

Unlike countryside villages where marrying your first love is common, I heard city people don’t discriminate between ten women or men before marriage.

For a pure-hearted girl like me who can never forget once I give my heart, the city is a harsh place.

So even without Felix spouting nonsense about assassins and whatnot, I have no choice but to be wary of city men.

‘He must have tons of dating experience, right?’

Women would obviously flock to him even if he just sat still, and he’s sociable too. He’s exactly the type to make his wife suffer.

I subtly moved seats to avoid him and politely added an explanation.

“It would be better if you didn’t sit next to me. The villagers can be quite mischievous.”

He tilted his head as if he didn’t understand. Such a typical city person reaction.

“If they see us sitting side by side here in broad daylight, rumors about us getting married will spread by tomorrow, you know? You’ll end up in an awkward situation for no reason.”

“Ah.”

Despite my serious explanation, he didn’t budge from his seat. He seemed to take my words as a joke.

I’ll say it again – this is why city people are problematic.

“Is Baron here?”

Just then, Rupert, who had returned to the shop, called for Baron. Only then did Baron leave the seat next to me.

‘Uncle, nice timing.’

I sent Rupert a grateful look and took a big bite of my waffle.

***

Whirrrr-.

The magic drill spun around. Blue mana shot out from the drill tip, smoothly tightening the screws of the corroded hinges. The tool was old so it made some noise, but its performance was solid.

“Ooh, magic tools really are delicate indeed. Regular tools would have broken everything, but this fixed it perfectly. Baron’s skills are good too.”

“You’re too kind.”

Baron smiled freshly as if this was nothing and pulled the door to test it. The parts were old so it still made a creaking sound, but the door frame and door panel no longer misaligned like before.

Next was the gap between the wall and ceiling. The problem was old timber shrinking and drafts seeping through those gaps.

Baron took out a magic caulking gun and filled the gaps with smooth hand movements. The finish was clean, comparable to a decent craftsman’s work.

Rupert burst out in admiration.

“Your skills are no joke. Honestly, you look like a rich family’s young master, so I doubted your abilities, but I could recommend you to other shops.”

“I’d be grateful if you did. The more work, the better.”

“Ha, what a remarkably diligent young man.”

He really was.

Baron was a diligent worker who never slacked off once.

Seeing how he collected his payment precisely, he definitely wouldn’t let his wife and children starve. So different from a certain someone in our house.

‘I wonder what Felix is doing.’

By the time my cup was nearly empty, my anger had subsided and guilt was rising.

‘Don’t be too angry, Hazel.’

Especially the Felix from earlier reminded me of Felix before he became a scoundrel, which made me feel more concerned. The kind and tender-hearted unicorn Felix.

And back then, I was the only one in Felix’s world.

When I was happy, Felix was twice as happy, and when I was sad, Felix was four times as sad. On days we fought, he couldn’t eat or sleep.

That’s why our fights never lasted more than a day. Even on days when fights started because of my mistakes, Felix would extend his hand for reconciliation first.

We would fight fiercely over trivial things, then hug and cry while making up, repeating this cycle.

Let’s not leave the thorns we’ve stuck in each other’s hearts to fester.

Let’s pull out the thorns every day and apply medicine with kind words.

This was how we siblings lived, relying on each other.

Regret slowly crept in. Thinking of Felix being dejected made me feel uneasy.

‘I shouldn’t have gotten angry. He would have understood if I spoke nicely.’

No, he doesn’t understand when spoken to nicely. But hurting him doesn’t make him understand either, so in the end, I know that speaking kindly is the answer.

“Sigh.”

I exhaled and made up my mind.

Today Felix was wrong, but I’ll extend the hand of reconciliation first. Because I’m a mature and grown-up little sister.

The moment I stood up with that resolution, the world tilted.

My stomach churned as if turning inside out, and my vision spun around. The floor and ceiling seemed to switch places, rising and falling, and my unbalanced body swayed.

‘What, what…, what is this?’

Was what I drank not coffee after all?

Unlike my relatively functioning mind, my body wouldn’t listen at all.

I barely managed to grab the wall and tried to move forward-.

“Miss Hazel.”

I heard Baron’s voice, and my body collapsed into a solid, massive wall. I squeezed my eyes shut, anticipating the coming pain.

Thud.

Instead of hitting a hard wall as expected, warm body heat enveloped my face. A scent resembling pine needles pierced into my nostrils.

“Are you alright?”

“…What?”

Baron’s voice came from above my head. His firm arms wrapped around my shoulders.

‘I must be crazy.’

I snapped to attention in panic. Hot warmth rushed to my face. I tried to immediately pull away, but my unbalanced body wouldn’t obey.

Rather, the more I moved, the more I seemed to burrow into his embrace.

But at that very moment.

Creak, the old hinges let out a slow scream as the tavern door opened.

Before I could even check who entered, goosebumps rose on the back of my neck. A chill colder than winter wind swept into the tavern.

The door immediately closed and I heard a voice calling my name.

“Hazel.”

It was Felix.

“Do you know how long I’ve been looking for you?”

My heart dropped at Felix’s low, sunken voice. I felt like I should confess even though I hadn’t committed any crime.

Felix glared at Baron with eyes that looked ready to kill someone. His yellow eyes flashed like a demon’s.

I moved my clumsy tongue and barely managed to speak.

“Felix, no. Don’t fight.”

Rupert’s Inn was just repaired, you know.

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