(Risking My Life) Proposing to Miss Hazel - Chapter 36

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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 36

 

At Axel’s stupid question, his friends shook their heads in the same direction.

 

‘Why does she hate him? Is he an idiot?’

 

Both had the same thought, but neither voiced their honest opinion.

 

There wasn’t anyone foolish enough to speak frankly to a fool.

 

During the awkward silence that followed, an angry voice echoed through the bedroom.

 

“Pathetic fool.”

 

Soon, a middle-aged man with a cunning appearance entered the bedroom. His reddish-brown hair reaching his shoulders and pointed beard swayed with his steps.

 

Axel and his friends immediately swallowed nervously.

 

Lord Cromwell.

 

Axel’s father and the only man he truly feared.

 

He looked down at his only son with disdain and clicked his tongue.

 

“I hear you fell into a beast trap. With your own feet, no less.”

 

At his father’s interrogation, Axel answered in a shrinking voice.

 

“Yes…”

 

“Did someone push you out of resentment over the tax increase?”

 

Since Axel couldn’t remember anything and had become speechless, his friends cautiously spoke up instead.

 

“My lord… as you know, Axel isn’t someone who can be pushed around easily.”

 

“And when Axel disappeared, most of the villagers were at the village center paying taxes.”

 

“When will you fix this habit of slacking off instead of doing what you’re supposed to do, tsk.”

 

The lord’s brow furrowed deeply. He knew well his son’s foolishness.

 

He stroked his pointed beard and asked Axel’s lackeys.

 

“Is there any opposition regarding the tax increase?”

 

“Thanks to the rumors you spread beforehand, my lord, there was no significant opposition. It seems they can endure it for now.”

 

“I knew it would be like this. Anyway, no matter how much you squeeze Ruden Village, money keeps coming out. It’s amazing.”

 

A treasure trove where the finest rare medicinal herbs were scattered all over the mountains, and craftsmen who would be counted among the best even in the capital were hidden everywhere.

 

Without Ruden Village, Cromwell Castle wouldn’t have been so prosperous.

 

Cromwell Castle’s main income came from the distribution and intermediary profits of crops produced in Ruden Village.

 

The lord knew perfectly well that this seemingly shabby village was the lifeline feeding the great castle.

 

So whenever the village became prosperous, he would deliberately tighten their belts to make their lives difficult.

 

Using the civil war as an excuse, just spreading appropriate rumors was enough to make the naive villagers not even complain about tax increases.

 

They would simply comply quietly.

 

As the lord showed a bitter smile, Axel’s friends clapped their hands and praised the lord’s wisdom.

 

However, the lord cleared his throat as if he wouldn’t fall for such shallow flattery and immediately changed the subject.

 

“Anyway, Axel, it’s good that at least your mouth is still working. Count Heidel says he has something to ask you, so answer respectfully.”

 

When the lord snapped his fingers, the bedroom door opened.

 

Soon, a man who looked like a fairy tale wizard with a gray beard hanging down to his chest appeared.

 

Count Heidel.

 

A guest of Cromwell Castle whom the lord served with utmost respect.

 

He looked like an old man at first glance, but his actual age was much younger than he appeared.

 

Due to his position as tutor of the princes, he had maintained an aged appearance since his twenties.

 

The empire’s intellect with eyes that could see through truth.

 

As if proving that reputation, his pale eyes, whose color was hard to distinguish, gleamed brightly.

 

If Lord Cromwell was someone who overwhelmed others with his strong impression and presence, Heidel was someone who could make even giants several times his size kneel with just his gaze.

 

His appearance changed the atmosphere of the bedroom. Heidel dismissed everyone else from the bedroom, leaving only Axel.

 

A silence so heavy that even breathing was difficult continued.

 

Axel avoided his gaze obliquely, then hung his head.

 

Just making eye contact silently gave him the illusion that his shameful secrets were being exposed one by one.

 

Soon Heidel’s heavy mouth slowly opened.

 

“Young Count, is it true that there are siblings with silver hair and golden eyes in Ruden Village?”

 

Axel’s eyes widened as he looked directly at Heidel.

 

It was because Hazel came to mind without him realizing it.

 

“There’s no silver hair and golden eyes, but there are siblings with ash-colored hair and yellow eyes like demons.”

 

“They’re not originally from Ruden Village, are they?”

 

“No, they settled there 15 years ago.”

 

“15 years ago…”

 

Heidel’s eyes flashed quietly. A faint smile spread across his lips hidden by his beard.

 

***

 

These days, Felix’s day starts before dawn breaks.

 

Under the dusky blue sky where visibility was just beginning to clear, receiving greetings from stars that hadn’t finished their work yet as he went to work – it had already been a week.

 

Felix had been incomparably more diligent than before since the day after receiving notice of the tax increase.

 

So much so that I worried he might collapse.

 

As soon as I heard Felix stirring, I rubbed my eyes and got up.

 

“Felix, are you leaving early again today?”

 

“Hazel, sorry for waking you. Sleep more.”

 

“No, I’ll get up early too.”

 

“What would you do getting up at this hour?”

 

“Today I’ll prepare breakfast and pack your lunch too.”

 

Felix snorted. It meant there was no need for that.

 

But I had no intention of backing down.

 

For the past week, Felix’s average sleep time was 3 hours and 17 minutes. Excluding tossing and turning time, it might not even be a full 3 hours.

 

Even so, he never missed preparing my three meals a day. Even when I said I’d take care of it myself, he was stubborn as a mule.

 

When I walked to the kitchen with half-closed eyes, swaying, Felix blocked my path.

 

“It’s fine. I just need to reheat the leftover chicken stew from yesterday and slice and toast some bread.”

 

“I want to do at least that. And I’ll pack your lunch too.”

 

“For lunch, there’s egg potato salad I made. Just need to fry some bacon and put it in bread.”

 

“That’s simple and good. Since it seems like the taste won’t change even if I make it, Felix should lie down and sleep for even 30 more minutes.”

 

“If I do it, it’ll be done in 10 minutes.”

 

“I know. That’s why I’m telling you to sleep 30 more minutes.”

 

“…?”

 

“Go on.”

 

“Ha, this stubborn girl.”

 

A dimple appeared deeply in Felix’s cheek. Though he tried to stop me, he didn’t seem to dislike me taking care of him.

 

“I’ll let you win today.”

 

“Let me win tomorrow too.”

 

“No. I’m busy.”

 

“Can’t we be busy together? The village is all abuzz saying Felix is doing strange things again.”

 

“Ha, this damn popularity. I don’t know why everyone’s so interested in me.”

 

Felix deflected with nonsense and flopped down on the sofa.

 

And exactly 3 seconds later, a sound like a magic drill digging through earth rang out.

 

It’s truly mysterious that such a sound could come from nasal structures.

 

“If you fall asleep the moment your head hits something, why did you hold out?”

 

The sound of Felix’s snoring naturally woke me up completely.

 

Apart from Felix’s recent new eccentric behavior, seeing him exhausted from fatigue was pitiful.

 

I spent 40 minutes making breakfast and lunch, then woke Felix up.

 

It definitely wasn’t because I failed at shaping the sandwich and was 10 minutes late – I prepared slowly to let Felix sleep even one more second.

 

“Felix, eat breakfast.”

 

“Thanks, Hazel.”

 

Felix downed the chicken stew I had only reheated in one go, then tilted his head with a puzzled expression.

 

‘Does it taste different?’

 

Actually, I thought so too.

 

I had only boiled the stew in the pot, so I couldn’t understand why the taste had changed.

 

Anyway, Felix left the house with a face that looked slightly less tired than yesterday.

 

“Hazel, I’m heading out. See you later.”

 

“Yeah. Take care of yourself.”

 

I went out to see him off and waved until his figure disappeared from sight.

 

His feet running energetically kept catching my eye.

 

“…Ah.”

 

There’s a hole in the sole of Felix’s shoe.

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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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