(Risking My Life) Proposing to Miss Hazel - Chapter 26

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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 26

“Hazel, what’s that?”

When I arrived at the general store rather late, Felix greeted me while lounging around.

However, it seemed Felix hadn’t just been lounging around after all.

The floor was sparkling clean, the windows were transparent. On the shelves, small portions of purification water left as emergency stock were displayed. He had done the opening duties perfectly.

I placed the basket containing lamp flower bouquets on the counter that Felix had cleaned spotlessly.

“Probably new… products?”

When I tilted my head at an angle, Felix’s head tilted at the same angle in response.

“Aren’t these lamp flower bouquets? Who made them?”

“Me?”

“When?”

“Yesterday and today?”

“Weren’t you busy making other new products?”

“That’s right.”

“…?”

“…”

My conversation with Felix was strangely off-beat, just like my conversation with Baron. Felix’s face looked even more bewildered as his questions remained unresolved even after the conversation ended.

Felix, I understand that you’re confused. But it can’t be helped. My situation isn’t any different.

Felix turned the lamp flower bouquets this way and that, then pulled out pink and light green ribbons from under the counter.

“The stems look bare. Let’s add some ribbons.”

“Ivory ribbons would also look pretty as a matching set. Thick satin ribbons, not linen ones.”

“Good idea.”

We habitually cut ribbons, tied them in double bow knots, and attached Golden Sundries Shop labels.

Once completed like this, they did look like products. Though no one in the village would buy them.

Felix must have had the same thought, as he glanced at me and asked cautiously.

“They’re unique and pretty with the clover stuck in them, but will these sell?”

“They’ll sell. In the city.”

“Who told you that?”

“Someone from the city.”

“…?”

“…”

The conversation broke off again. Felix tied one more ribbon, then pressed me about who that person was, but I didn’t answer.

If I honestly said it was Baron, I’d have to confess everything about being with him for several days.

That could cause great harm to the person who had freely given me seven silver coins, new product ideas, materials, and finished products. The bloodhound version of Felix would go looking for him.

‘I can’t repay kindness with harm.’

With both of us tying ribbons together, twenty bouquets were completed in no time.

Looking at the completed bouquets, the ones with pink and light green ribbons were prettier than ivory ribbons.

I thought Felix might have better aesthetic sense than me, but I didn’t want to admit it.

“Are you going to send these along with the Sleep Away and Sleep Well prototypes to Kaiden?”

“That would work. Good idea.”

“But don’t these stop glowing when they wilt? Will they stay intact until they reach Benu?”

“I applied 30% diluted purification water. They’ll last a month.”

Felix made an impressed sound as if he hadn’t thought of that. Understandable. I hadn’t thought of applying it to flowers either.

“There was such a method. Did you think of it?”

“No?”

“Then who?”

“The city person.”

Felix’s eyes narrowed. Having much to hide, I blatantly avoided his gaze.

“Hazel, you know you’re being extremely suspicious today.”

“That’s why I feel wronged. Being suspicious is your specialty.”

Felix pulled on my neatly braided hair. My head turned reflexively.

“Ow!”

“If you’re going to lie, do it confidently without avoiding eye contact.”

“I didn’t lie.”

I just omitted some information.

***

“Felix, I need to design labels for the new products, you know?”

“You do designs quickly anyway. You worked until 3 today too. Just go out. Go out and buy something and have fun.”

After finishing the lamp flower ribbon packaging, I was pushed out by Felix and headed to Anna’s Clothing Store.

Anna had already been tipped off by Felix, as she had prepared several dresses for me.

I became Anna and Maribel’s doll, trying on over ten dresses.

The dresses I eventually chose –though accurately, my opinion was reflected less than 10%– were a pink dress with white lace at the neckline and a light green dress with puff decorations on the sleeves.

Honestly, I wanted to buy a dark navy or deep green dress that would make me look like a mature, sophisticated city woman, but when even Monica and Coco, who were passing by, dissuaded me, it was hard to insist on my preference to the end.

“The pink dress is pretty, but now that I’m wearing it, I don’t know where I should go in this.”

Anna patted my bottom with her hand.

“Just wear it anywhere. Wear it to work, wear it to the mountains, wear it to sleep, just wear it anytime.”

Maribel added as if she’d been waiting.

“Wear it on dates too.”

“That’s right.”

“…”

These women, really.

They giggled and poked each other’s sides, then slyly glanced outside.

“Oh my, isn’t Baron passing by somewhere?”

“Exactly. If he saw Hazel in the pink dress, pink hearts would come out of his eyes.”

“She even has flowers in her hair today and looks so pretty. It’s a shame he can’t see this.”

“…”

Actually, he saw it from this morning.

Though I had things to hide, I had no choice but to keep my mouth shut.

If these women found out that I’d been working alone with Baron at the cottage for the past three days, a ceremony would be scheduled at the village church by tomorrow.

Even if I explained that we were just in a business relationship and nothing personal happened, no one would believe it.

Maribel pushed me in the pink dress toward the front door. It seemed like she was doing this for Baron to see, but the only ones who got caught were the elderly from the shop across the street and little kids running around with candy in their mouths.

“Sister Hazel, you’re so pretty! You look like a princess!”

“Wow, when I grow up, I want to marry Sister Hazel.”

By the way, the child who just proposed to me is Peter’s son, Junior Peter (age 7). Unfortunately, there’s a fifteen-year barrier between us.

When Baron didn’t appear, Maribel brought me back inside the shop with a disappointed face.

Anna handed me a box containing the packaged light green dress and the sky blue dress I had worn.

“Go home wearing the pink dress today. Our Hazel’s beauty has blossomed since there’s no troublemaker in the family to worry about. Felix is still eating poisonous mushrooms, right?”

“Pardon?”

“Just kidding. It’s about time Felix came to his senses too. This time, the villagers are trying to trust him. It’s already been over 3 weeks since he quit drinking, hasn’t it?”

“That’s right. I’m trying to trust him too.”

Though I still can’t let my guard down.

“Anyway, this month we survived thanks to you siblings. We recently brought in new fabric and taxes were tight.”

“Ah…”

Monica, who had been listening, let out a deep sigh.

“Sigh, there are rumors that the Lord is raising taxes again… They’re just thieves.”

Anna and Maribel nodded with troubled faces. It seemed like news only I didn’t know about.

“What? Raising taxes again? They raised them six months ago.”

“So. From what I’ve heard, it seems like Lord Cromwell will have a headache too.”

“Why is that?”

“Lord Cromwell was originally paying taxes directly to the Imperial Family. The princes who controlled the capital took turns collecting the taxes.”

“That’s right.”

“But after the 1st Prince recaptured the capital this time, it seems the 4th Prince separately demanded taxes from the lord.”

“Does that mean the taxes would be doubled?”

When I asked back in shock, the ladies’ faces became grimly distorted.

“We can only hope that’s not the case. It’s still just a rumor, so let’s not think too deeply about it.”

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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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