(Risking My Life) Proposing to Miss Hazel - Chapter 45

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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 45

 

High up in a tree in the Ruvark Mountain Range.

 

Baron sat on a tree branch, flipping through a book by the light of a lamp flame.

 

It was a cookbook he had bought from Albert.

 

“The old man gave me this book for a steal.”

 

A satisfied smile spread across Baron’s lips.

 

Thanks to the book, he had come up with ideas for tomorrow’s lunch boxes to offer to Miss Hazel and Felix.

 

Interrupting his quiet reading time, thud, a human shadow landed on the tree across from him.

 

As the figure bowed respectfully, a black feather fell from his chest.

 

Baron spoke without even looking at him.

 

“You’re dropping feathers.”

 

“Yes, my apologies.”

 

Goosebumps rose on Shadow’s arms.

 

How did he know without even looking at the black feather that fell into the night sky?

 

It was fortunate this man was his lord; he would never want him as an enemy.

 

But this inhuman man’s interests were quite unusual.

 

“What are you reading now?”

 

“How to secretly feed carrots and broccoli to picky children.”

 

“…Excuse me?”

 

“I’m going to stay up all night making lunch boxes again today.”

 

“Lu-lunch boxes?”

 

“When my brother is working so hard, how can I sleep peacefully?”

 

“Your Highness, brother?”

 

“Not that biological brother.”

 

“…?”

 

Shadow gave up trying to understand his lord and reported on the situation below the mountain range.

 

Baron let out a snicker as he listened to the report.

 

“What if one person digging is faster than a dozen people digging together?”

 

“My apologies.”

 

Shadow bit his aggrieved lips.

 

He wanted to protest that it wasn’t that he and his colleagues were slow, but that the silver-haired monster was abnormally fast, but his lord was not one to accept excuses.

 

“The materials.”

 

“Here they are. These are materials investigating the entire Ruvark Mountain Range. I’ve compiled records from when it was the Ancient Shire Family’s territory until now.”

 

“Good, now go.”

 

“Yes, Your Highness.”

 

With his answer, Shadow disappeared without a sound. Not even a leaf moved where he had been.

 

Baron closed the cookbook and spread the materials on top of it. The contents were as expected.

 

“As I thought…”

 

He lowered his gaze to look down at the man who had been shoveling for hours without a moment’s rest.

 

Felix’s silver hair fluttered softly in the moonlight. Baron’s lips curved into a slanted smile.

 

“I wonder if my brother knows what comes out when you dig up that mountain range.”

 

***

 

Five incredibly busy days had passed.

 

‘Wow, I’m dying.’

 

This wasn’t an idiom, exaggeration, or whining. It was a statement of pure fact.

 

Living like this, I would meet my end from overwork in the not-so-distant future.

 

Who would have thought I’d come to understand firsthand why the mortality rate among city workers on two-shift schedules was so high.

 

This wasn’t a scale that could be handled by cottage industry. Whatever the product, once the total quantity gets three zeros attached to it, you need to run a factory. Though that would be impossible in this small village.

 

Felix and I endlessly cleaned glass bottles, portioned purification water, attached labels, and served customers in between.

 

At least when midnight came, I would power down like a tool that had run out of mana and collapse onto my bed, but Felix would pick up his shovel and head up the mountain from then. I don’t think he’s slept more than five hours total in five days.

 

His stamina is truly insane. He’s my brother, but he’s nothing short of a monster.

 

Baron was as busy as we were. He spent all day locked in the Herb Gatherers’ Hut processing medicinal herbs.

 

I felt bad that he was doing all that work alone, but it’s not like I’d be much help even if I went. That’s the truly unfortunate part.

 

The medicinal herbs and lunch boxes Baron prepared were delivered to the shop twice a day – once at noon and once at 6 PM, and Monica took charge of this task.

 

She volunteered because she was thrilled that her husband was selling herbs at nearly double the usual price for the first time, and I didn’t have the luxury to refuse.

 

I could only promise to continue purchasing herbs at nearly double the price next time too.

 

Monica was delighted to see us working so busily, as happy as if it were her own children’s success.

 

“Oh my, I’m so happy to see you doing well. Make sure you eat your meals properly.”

 

“Yes, ma’am. Thank you.”

 

Thanks to her deliveries, Felix thinks the lunch boxes are Monica’s handiwork.

 

I felt bad about continuing to deceive Felix, but I didn’t have the mental capacity to worry about that right now.

 

I’m busy. When humans are busy, they get hungry. And Baron’s food is delicious.

 

There was no room for stray thoughts in this simple and perfect flow of reasoning.

 

Fortunately, Felix seemed to welcome the lunch boxes delivered twice a day.

 

He properly followed my advice to eat the lunch boxes to build up his stamina, since I would eat whatever breakfast he prepared.

 

Felix is human too, so his stamina must be running low.

 

I saw his hands trembling while attaching labels earlier. Actually, mine were doing the same.

 

I barely finished my morning tasks and opened my lunch box first. Today’s menu was meatball sandwiches.

 

“Felix, eat lunch first. The meatball sandwich looks really delicious.”

 

“Just a moment, let me finish this.”

 

“You said that yesterday too and ended up eating lunch at 2 PM. Come on, eat.”

 

When I thrust the sandwich toward Felix’s mouth, his mouth opened wide like a crocodile’s. It looked like the sandwich would fit in one bite.

 

“How is it? Delicious, right?”

 

“…It is. But do you know what’s in this meatball?”

 

“Meat.”

 

“Besides meat.”

 

“Eggs?”

 

“Right, eat plenty.”

 

Felix left behind a meaningful smile and devoured the meatball sandwich in just two bites.

 

The meatballs were moist and savory with a rich meaty flavor. Yesterday’s meat pie was the same.

 

With no trace of vegetables whatsoever, Baron’s cooking was very much to my taste.

 

But that afternoon.

 

The first to wave the white flag in the death march of overtime was surprisingly—

 

“Hazel, we’re out of glass bottles.”

 

Martin’s Glass Workshop.

 

“Then, let’s just make it up to here.”

 

The answer came out without passing through thought. It was a kind of survival instinct.

 

Money is nice, but I need to survive first.

 

As soon as I attached the label to the last glass bottle, I collapsed with my nose pressed against the counter.

 

I don’t care, I’m going to sleep.

 

Future Hazel can handle the remaining quantity.

 

***

 

I learned for the first time in my life that when a person is too tired, they can nap for more than half a day.

 

The time now is 8 o’clock. When I checked the clock, I thought it was 8 PM, but seeing how bright it is outside, it must be 8 AM.

 

“Wow, I really slept well.”

 

I had fallen asleep with my head down at the shop, but when I opened my eyes, I was on our bed at home. Felix must have carried me here.

 

It would be nice if Felix could rest a bit too, but he wasn’t home – only the food he had made was warming the dining table.

 

The menu was piping hot cream stew. And next to it was a note from Felix. He knew I would rush straight to the stew as soon as I woke up.

 

[Hazel, don’t even think about leaving the house today and just rest. Please don’t do anything.]

 

It was music to my ears.

 

Perhaps it was because I had been suffering from continuous overtime.

 

My diligent worker persona was rapidly wavering.

 

Today I really didn’t want to do anything. My only wish was to lie in bed and roll around lazily.

 

The people from Bashar Merchant Guild would arrive tomorrow anyway, so it was fine to rest today.

 

But-.

 

“Felix must be tired too.”

 

I was worried about Felix, who was working even harder than me.

 

However, I’m a little sister who listens well to her brother (selectively).

 

I’ll rest today, and next time I’ll tell Mr. Felix to rest.

 

“Let’s eat first.”

 

Felix’s cream stew was delicious as expected. I completely emptied two bowls of stew and even cleaned up with white bread. Maybe because I had skipped dinner, breakfast tasted heavenly.

 

I patted my full stomach and opened the door to air out the food smell-.

 

“Huh?”

 

Along with the beautiful holiday scenery, I saw a procession of medicine bottles, candy, flowers, and letters stretching from right at my feet all the way to the entrance of the hill.

 

“What is all this…?”

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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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