(Risking My Life) Proposing to Miss Hazel - Chapter 41

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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 41

 

After hearing the news that Felix’s shoes were completed, I headed to the leather workshop after work.

 

“Uncle Paul, are you there?”

 

Bang bang bang, the loud hammering stopped, and Uncle Paul approached me with a bright smile.

 

In his hands was a pair of gleaming brown boots.

 

“How do they look? Pretty sturdy, right?”

 

“Of course. Look who made them.”

 

“They’ll be incredibly comfortable when you wear them. I changed the sole cushioning this time. I dried and processed honeycomb sponges and tested them for a year, and they turned out pretty good.”

 

“Oh my, really? How fascinating.”

 

Uncle Paul explained that honeycomb sponges only grow near our village and are different from regular sponges, detailing the entire product development process from start to finish.

 

I listened with a smiling face, but honestly, I didn’t understand even half of it.

 

How could a regular person follow specialized technical talk?

 

Uncle Paul explained his specialized knowledge for a while like a science teacher obsessed with experiments, then handed me the shoes with a satisfied expression.

 

Then he brought another pair of shoes and held them out to me.

 

Boots that were much smaller and less bulky-looking than Felix’s shoes.

 

I blinked my bewildered eyes.

 

“What are these?”

 

“Your shoes.”

 

“I never ordered shoes for myself.”

 

“You didn’t.”

 

“Then who…?”

 

“Who do you think?”

 

The round back of Felix’s head as he stared down at my worn-out shoes flashed before my eyes.

 

Tears welled up ridiculously.

 

I bit down hard on my teeth to keep from crying and deliberately stretched my mouth sideways.

 

Uncle Paul, seeing my contorted face, let out a deflated chuckle.

 

“You siblings really adore each other terribly.”

 

“Felix really ordered shoes for me?”

 

“He always does this, so why are you crying all of a sudden?”

 

“I’m not crying.”

 

Uncle Paul flicked my deeply furrowed brow with his finger. It hurt and tears trickled out.

 

“He said the girl’s shoes were too bulky and asked me to make them smooth and pretty. And twice as comfortable as his own shoes.”

 

“I absolutely love them. They’re so pretty.”

 

“They’re still bulkier than dress shoes though, is that okay?”

 

“I don’t need dress shoes or anything like that. These shoes are more than enough for me.”

 

I changed into the shoes right there and walked around lightly.

 

“Wow…”

 

Nobody asked me to, but admiration burst out naturally.

 

The shoes were, with some (a lot of) exaggeration, as comfortable as walking on clouds.

 

The leather wrapping my feet was soft, and the soles were cushiony. The honeycomb sponge was amazing stuff.

 

My feet looked neat and pretty in the mirror too. They matched my dress much better than my previous shoes.

 

I was wearing a sky-blue dress today, but they would go well with my pink dress too.

 

I mobilized my meager vocabulary to express my gratitude to Uncle Paul. It was 100% pure sincerity without a drop of pretense.

 

‘I love them so much.’

 

When I spun around in front of the mirror, applause erupted from all directions.

 

I turned my head in bewilderment and swept my gaze around the workshop.

 

Uncle Paul approached me and gave an answer to a question I hadn’t asked.

 

“Baron isn’t here.”

 

“I didn’t say anything.”

 

Yet.

 

This is why having a perceptive workshop owner is troublesome.

 

How did he know I was planning to give Baron the candy I collected today while I was at the workshop?

 

Uncle Paul’s eyebrows wiggled mischievously.

 

“Baron went to the mountain today. I lost at rock-paper-scissors yesterday. Bill threw scissors and I threw paper.”

 

“What?”

 

“Haven’t you heard about the Baron competition? Only whoever wins at rock-paper-scissors can assign work to Baron. The competition has gotten so fierce lately, it’s driving me crazy.”

 

Good heavens.

 

I had no idea such a thing was happening.

 

Uncle Paul vowed resolutely that he would definitely win tomorrow, then looked at me with envious eyes and said,

 

“You’re so lucky, Hazel.”

 

“…?”

 

Lucky how?

 

***

 

With a dinner lunchbox in one hand and Felix’s new shoes in the other, I hummed as I walked into the mountains.

 

Lamplight flowers twinkled along the slightly darkened path. For reference, I had scattered them so Felix wouldn’t get lost.

 

At the end of that path, I could see Felix diligently digging with his shovel.

 

Tap tap tap, I deliberately made my footsteps loud to announce my presence.

 

Felix wiped away his sweat and turned around.

 

“Ahem, ahem.”

 

When I lifted my toes up for him to see, dimples appeared deeply in his cheeks.

 

“I asked him to make your shoes first instead of mine, but I guess he finished them both together.”

 

“Yeah. You should hurry and try on your new shoes too. Don’t stay there barefoot.”

 

“My soles are tougher than shoe bottoms.”

 

“I’m in a good mood right now, so stop talking nonsense.”

 

“Okay, sorry.”

 

Felix obediently put on his new shoes and bounced on the spot. His excitement was obvious from his eyebrows to his toes.

 

“Hurry up and say your sister is the best.”

 

“My sister is the best. How did you know my shoes had holes in them?”

 

“I have eyes, so I noticed.”

 

“No, even with perfect vision, you wouldn’t notice if you didn’t care.”

 

“Of course I have to care. You’re my only family.”

 

Felix lifted one corner of his mouth as if that was what he wanted to hear.

 

“You know this is the first time we both got new shoes at the same time?”

 

“I know. I’m so happy.”

 

To commemorate getting new shoes, we gently stepped on each other’s feet and ate our dinner lunchbox.

 

Even though I packed today’s lunchbox, it tasted quite good. It might have been because of my mood, but anyway, it did.

 

After finishing the lunchbox completely, Felix even crunched through the candy tucked in one corner of the basket.

 

A handful of candy disappeared in an instant, leaving only sugar powder.

 

Stunned, I stared at Felix’s bulging cheeks and casually asked,

 

“Did you like the candy, Felix?”

 

“Who doesn’t like candy?”

 

“Me.”

 

“What?”

 

Felix’s eyebrows contorted strangely.

 

“Don’t you remember when you were little, you’d stop crying as soon as I gave you candy?”

 

“Back then I stopped because I was touched by your sincerity. I never really thought the candy was delicious.”

 

“Huh? That’s shocking…”

 

“I’m shocked too. Why did I think Felix didn’t like candy all this time?”

 

Felix scratched the back of his neck with an awkward expression.

 

“Well… I didn’t eat many snacks because I wanted you to have them.”

 

“Oh my goodness…”

 

After 15 years, we were shocked to finally learn each other’s food preferences.

 

I had been forcing myself to eat food I didn’t really like, thinking I was being considerate of Felix.

 

And Felix had been enduring without his favorite foods, thinking he was being considerate of me.

 

We held each other’s hands tightly and reflected once again on the importance of conversation and communication.

 

Nevertheless—

 

“So why are you tormenting that poor mountain?”

 

“Oh my, shall I go finish the digging?”

 

Felix never answered my question to the end.

 

It seems Felix’s memory is worse than Monica’s chickens’ chicks.

 

Trudge, trudge.

 

On the way home.

 

“Ten days and he’s still not tired. What could be the reason for such enthusiastic digging…”

 

I was muttering to myself, thinking no one was around—

 

“Perhaps he’s making a road?”

 

Someone’s answer came from behind me.

 

“A road? From where to where… Ahhh! Baron?!”

 

Baron appeared like a ghost and walked alongside me.

 

He explained as if clarifying.

 

“I was on my way home from work.”

 

“Ah, Uncle Paul told me you were working on the mountain today.”

 

“Were you looking for me?”

 

I was about to honestly say yes, but realized the reason I had been looking for Baron was gone, so I quickly shut my mouth.

 

Sorry, Baron.

 

All the candy I had for you went into Felix’s stomach.

 

I made up a suitable excuse.

 

“Today was the day to pick up my shoes.”

 

“Ah.”

 

When I stuck my foot out from under my skirt and wiggled my toes, Baron’s eyes curved gently.

 

Since he had worked at the leather workshop for several days, he seemed to already know about my new shoes.

 

“You knew Felix ordered shoes for me, didn’t you?”

 

Baron raised an eyebrow.

 

“They’re pretty. They suit you well.”

 

“Thank you. But… what did you mean earlier?”

 

“About the road?”

 

I nodded.

 

“Yes. I don’t think Felix is simply digging for no reason.”

 

For reference, the villagers firmly believe that because Felix accidentally killed a bear, the bear’s spirit has entered Felix’s body.

 

Except for me, no one thinks there might be another intention hidden behind Felix’s strange behavior.

 

Honestly, I’m half-doubtful myself.

 

Baron’s steps stopped right there.

 

“I think the same.”

 

His lovely smile scattered gently in the moonlight.

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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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