(Risking My Life) Proposing to Miss Hazel - Chapter 39

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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 39

 

Today’s morning task: disinfecting recycled empty bottles.

 

When filling purification water portions, we usually use newly made glass bottles, but sometimes we collect used empty bottles, disinfect them, and reuse them.

 

The reason is simple. Glass is expensive.

 

With taxes rising, glass prices will become even more expensive, so to save even a penny, we have no choice but to reuse discarded glass bottles.

 

Besides, the empty bottles made at Martin’s workshop are too good to throw away after one use. Not only are they more heat-resistant than glass made in the city, they don’t break easily either.

 

There was an incident when drunk Felix knocked down all the purification water bottles from the shelf, but not a single glass bottle broke. Though the wooden floor got scratched up in several places.

 

The glass bottles are definitely sturdier than the waxed wooden floor.

 

Disinfecting recycled empty bottles isn’t difficult.

 

First, wash the glass bottles in lye water, then second, treat them with hot water sterilization.

 

Then wipe away water stains with sun-dried linen, scrubbing thoroughly.

 

I absolutely love this final step.

 

On sunny days, when I’m mindlessly wiping empty bottles, it feels like even the worries stuck in my head like grime get wiped away too.

 

“Felix, there are fingerprints here. Didn’t I tell you to wipe with two linen cloths?”

 

“Cut me some slack on that. Nobody cares.”

 

“This is a battle with myself. Do you know how beautiful it is when you turn an empty bottle under sunlight and light comes through from all sides without any marks? Even diamonds don’t shine that brightly.”

 

“You’ve never seen a diamond.”

 

“That’s… true, but stop complaining and just wipe.”

 

“Yes ma’am.”

 

In the end, Felix wiped the empty bottles to my demanding standards with his lips pouting.

 

I held each empty bottle up to the sunlight and smiled with satisfaction.

 

This is practically a jewel.

 

What’s so special about diamonds anyway.

 

After proudly finishing the morning’s work, the sweet lunch break arrived.

 

I boldly pulled out the lunch box I received from Baron.

 

For reference, I’m going to lie and say I made this lunch.

 

If I tell the truth, Felix will skip lunch and go bury Baron in the ground, so this is a good lie for everyone’s sake.

 

I even got permission from Baron to lie to him.

 

Really. Baron, whose heart is as big as his chest, said he’d be happy as long as Felix and I enjoyed eating it.

 

But the moment I unwrapped the cloth and opened the lunch box—

 

“Hazel?”

 

“Mm-hmm…”

 

“You’re saying you made this?”

 

Suspicious looks immediately followed.

 

The food in the lunch box was too…

 

How should I put this…

 

It was because it was too artistic.

 

‘I heard it was just ham and cheese sandwiches with some fruit.’

 

The sandwiches looked ordinary at first glance, but they were works of art with two types of ham and three types of cheese evenly distributed to both ends, cut into triangular pieces of uniform size with outstanding balance and color arrangement.

 

But the highlight of the lunch box was the fruit carved into animal shapes frolicking in a meadow.

 

“Is that a rabbit?”

 

“Y-yes.”

 

“This is a swan?”

 

“I guess so.”

 

“You carved rabbits and swans out of strawberries?”

 

Apparently.

 

Baron sure is diligent.

 

If it were someone else, I would have thought they had too much time on their hands, but Baron seems to have talent to spare.

 

Felix cruelly ate the rabbit starting from its head and blinked in surprise.

 

“What? Does it taste different?”

 

“The strawberry tastes like strawberry.”

 

“Of course it would. It’s a strawberry.”

 

“So, who gave you this lunch box?”

 

A surprise interrogation came flying in.

 

But I’m Hazel, Felix’s one and only sister.

 

I’m second to none in shamelessness.

 

I licked my lips just slightly and boldly declared:

 

“I made it.”

 

“Who was it that said if you’re going to lie, at least show some sincerity?”

 

That was me.

 

Fortunately, Felix didn’t ask any more questions. He seemed unable to even imagine that such a delicate work of art could have been created by a man’s hands.

 

“It’s delicious. I should try making sandwiches by mixing ham and cheese like this too.”

 

He even didn’t spare his praise. For some reason, my shoulders straightened with pride.

 

***

 

“Hazel, there’s nothing busy today, so you can watch the shop alone, right?”

 

“Of course. Who do you think I am, some little kid?”

 

“Ah, I’m worried. The problem is you’re not a little kid. If any weird bastard shows up, call Albert right away.”

 

“Where are there any weird people in the village? Where are you going, Felix?”

 

“To do some digging.”

 

“Alright, since you left early, come home early.”

 

“We’ll see.”

 

Felix didn’t even give a token promise that he would.

 

He’s uselessly honest at times like this.

 

“Ugh, he’ll be late again today.”

 

That afternoon, Golden Sundries Shop suddenly became bustling.

 

Even though the reservation chart was completely empty when Felix left, today customers kept flooding into the shop endlessly, from those buying purification water portions to those browsing the inventory.

 

“Hello, Miss Hazel.”

 

When one person left, another would enter as if they’d been waiting.

 

“Good afternoon, Miss Hazel.”

 

Another customer filled the empty spot.

 

Strangely, most of the customers were young men. Seeing them loafing around during prime working hours, they probably weren’t diligent workers.

 

Moreover, there were two people I’d never seen before mixed in. There were four people whose names I didn’t know.

 

I’d heard rumors that more outsiders had been coming to the village recently, and those rumors seemed to be true.

 

The customers spent a long time browsing the general store and chatting with me, then as if by appointment, each picked up a bottle of purification water and left the shop.

 

I sold eight bottles of purification water portions that way.

 

I did receive snacks like chocolate, candy, and jelly as extras, but foods that don’t fill you up aren’t Felix’s and my taste. Maybe if it had been bread.

 

At closing time, I piled up the money I’d earned through my hard work all afternoon in my palm.

 

One silver coin, two silver coins.

 

The height was quite adorable and cute.

 

“Hmm…”

 

The income compared to working hours is disappointing.

 

I blinked in surprise at the thought that came to mind unconsciously.

 

If it had been before meeting Kaiden, I never would have had such a spoiled thought.

 

I would have been satisfied with today’s results and gone home after buying potatoes and eggs.

 

But the human heart is fickle, and the taste of capital is sweet.

 

Having already tasted the flavor of silver coin pouches, I felt no satisfaction whatsoever from this level of income.

 

‘Should I try making other new products besides ‘Sleep Tight’ and ‘Sleepy Time’?’

 

There’s still no particular word from the Bashar Merchant Guild.

 

I know I need to wait to confirm their reaction since it’s only been a week since I delivered the prototypes, but I can’t help feeling more anxious as time passes.

 

“Let’s call it a day for today.”

 

After working hard, my bed is waiting for me, isn’t it?

 

I packed the clean lunch box tightly with the snacks piled high on the counter.

 

I wanted to give Baron something, and it would be embarrassing to return the container empty.

 

‘I wonder if Baron will be at the leather workshop?’

 

Carrying the heavy lunch box, I walked out of the alley and turned toward Albert’s Bookstore—.

 

“Miss Hazel?”

 

Baron suddenly appeared from behind Albert.

 

“Baron, what brings you here? I was about to go to the workshop to return your lunch box…”

 

“I was just on my way home from work. What a coincidence.”

 

“Right, that’s it. Well done.”

 

Albert, who suddenly joined the conversation, lightly tapped Baron’s bottom with his cane.

 

The old man chuckled and slipped into the bookshop.

 

“That’s how I won over our grandmother. She’s dead now, though.”

 

The bookshop door closed with a thud.

 

“…”

 

“…”

 

I stared at the bookshop in bewilderment, then added explanatorily.

 

“Albert lost his wife seven years ago. Grandmother was seven years older than him, and she passed away a week before their 70th wedding anniversary party.”

 

“Oh my…”

 

Baron’s eyebrows drooped sadly.

 

“Still, I’m envious. Having that kind of married life is my dream.”

 

“Really?”

 

How unexpected.

 

I didn’t see Baron that way, but I guess he likes pure love.

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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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