(Risking My Life) Proposing to Miss Hazel - Chapter 72

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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 72

Uncle Paul spoke to me with a voice tinged with laughter. I composed my surprised expression and turned my head away primly.

“N-no, I’m not.”

Though I reflexively gave a negative answer, it was actually true.

Baron was someone the entire village sought out, a truly necessary person, so it wouldn’t seem strange for me to look for him either. But somehow, I couldn’t readily admit it for fear it might seem like I was looking for him with some other intention.

Uncle Paul’s eyes narrowed mischievously. It was obvious he wanted to tease me to his heart’s content.

The uncle chuckled wickedly as he muttered.

“Until recently, Baron was loitering around the Village Center during commuting hours trying to run into Hazel, but now you two have switched places.”

“What? Th-that can’t be.”

I did think it was surprisingly often that we ran into each other, but there’s no way the busiest person in the village would waste time just to encounter me.

Uncle Paul opened his eyes drowsily while stroking his beard.

“Hmm…, you really didn’t know?”

“…”

“Everyone in the village knew except you and your brother.”

“…?”

?????

??????????

When my face contorted strangely, Uncle Paul clutched his belly and burst into laughter.

I knew it. He must have been teasing me after all. Though he’s being a bit harsh today.

I just stood there blankly, waiting for the uncle to stop laughing. However, even after confirming my puffed-up cheeks, he didn’t easily stop laughing.

“…”

I don’t know, laugh all you want. They say laughing is good for your health.

If it can contribute to the uncle’s health and increased life expectancy, I can put up with this level of teasing anytime.

After laughing for a while, the uncle wiped his teary eyes and asked me.

“Hazel, you don’t even know that either?”

“What now…”

“The reason why all the young men in the village recently caused a commotion trying to get close to you, then suddenly went quiet.”

Could it be the same reason why the potatoes who used to visit the General Store every other day disappeared?

None of them made any particular date requests, so I couldn’t be certain, but it seems my intuition was right. I really am quick to catch on.

I rolled my eyes and answered as if it were obvious.

“Wasn’t it because Felix chased them away?”

“I thought so too.”

“It wasn’t?”

“Well, you see, it turns out Ba…”

“Uncle Paul.”

A low, firm man’s voice cut off the uncle’s words cleanly.

A deep shadow fell over my head. When I turned my head happily, a man standing with the bright sunlight behind him looked at me and smiled gently.

“Miss Hazel. It’s been a while.”

“Baron!”

“What interesting story were you in the middle of?”

Uncle Paul and I turned our heads away sharply as if we had planned it and cleared our throats awkwardly.

I could feel Baron’s gaze moving up and down my cheeks, stinging.

The uncle cowardly started backing away first-.

“Ahem, cough…, we were talking about how Hazel was desperately looking for you, Baron. Well then, you two have a good chat.”

He dropped a huge bomb and disappeared into the distance.

“Uncle!”

It was useless to call out to him belatedly. All I could do was glare at his retreating figure with resentment.

Step. Baron moved his front foot forward, closing the distance between us. I couldn’t lift my head and just stared blankly at his feet approaching.

“Miss Hazel.”

“Y-yes…”

“I heard you were looking for me.”

“…”

As I remained silent, only fidgeting with my fingers, he bent his large body down to meet my eyes.

“Here I am.”

A face that was perfect from any angle filled my vision without warning.

Red eyes like embedded jewels sparkled prettily beneath freshly curved eyelids.

‘Like a beast trying hard to be loved.’

Why did those words come to mind now?

And-.

‘Pretty.’

Why did I objectively think I wanted to pet this excessively pretty beast?

I bit my lower lip and took a step back.

He was too close. At this rate, I felt like I might unconsciously reach out and brush Baron’s hair.

I hid my hands behind my back, clasping them tightly together to suppress the improper impulse.

Even though I was standing in the shade, my face grew hot as if I were under the blazing sun.

I glanced at his ears, which also looked hot, and slowly moved my lips.

“It’s a hot day.”

“Ah.”

His hand brushed his earlobe and swept down his neck. His gaze, which had been shyly averted, quietly found its way back.

The moment our eyes met again, breathless laughter burst out. There was no telling who started first.

“You must have been busy lately.”

“I went hunting with Dieter. I should have told you in advance – it was my oversight.”

“Well… you didn’t need to tell me in advance.”

We’re not that close anyway.

Even as I said that, my lips jutted out. I don’t know. Maybe I was a little disappointed after all.

“That can’t be right. When you were desperately looking for me.”

Even knowing he was teasing, my eyes sharpened. He laughed charmingly as if he knew his guilt.

“Still, it’s nice.”

“What is?”

“That Miss Hazel was looking for me.”

“Aren’t you curious about what I needed?”

“Of course I’m curious about that too…”

“…”

“Very curious.”

I started with the painting story and then subtly brought up the incident from four mornings ago. The key was to ask as casually as possible, as if it were nothing important.

“…By the way, what were you doing four mornings ago?”

“I think I was cleaning guns with Dieter…”

A puzzled expression as if he didn’t understand why I was asking, a calm tone that made it impossible to imagine he was lying.

He was definitely telling the truth.

“Hmm…”

When I trailed off, not knowing how to wrap up the conversation, he even told me what had happened yesterday morning, the day before, and the day before that.

It wasn’t exactly what I wanted to hear, but it was actually interesting once I listened.

He said they caught 30 wild boars over three days that had been habitually devouring the crops that farmers and Herb Gatherers had worked so hard to grow, so the summer crops should be safe.

With his eloquent speaking skills, he captivated me completely and even told me his schedule that I hadn’t asked about.

“And I’ll have to go hunting until tomorrow, so I won’t be able to help with the painting.”

“I see. Have a safe trip.”

I was about to wrap up the conversation appropriately and head to work when he stood there blocking my path.

I looked up at him with a bewildered expression at his uncharacteristic behavior.

The red eyes that met mine curved affectionately.

“When I get back, shall we go on a date?”

***

“Late Hazel has arrived…, no wait, I’m not late.”

As soon as I arrived at the shop, I checked the clock and let out a sigh of relief.

Fortunately, it was one minute before work time.

Felix, who was wiping the largest-sized purification water container, glanced at my face and spoke affectionately.

“It’s okay to be late, so don’t run here.”

“I didn’t run though…”

“Your face is red, what do you mean you didn’t.”

“Ah…”

When I touched my cheeks, I felt warmth at my fingertips. I unconsciously hung my head low.

“It’s hard to run in summer. Just be late instead.”

“Y-yeah… But why are you cleaning the purification water containers? Don’t we not need to get more?”

“We do.”

Felix’s excited voice tickled my ears. My mood improved along with his as I asked again.

“Did we get a bulk order from somewhere?”

“Correct. It’s a bit annoying to deliver directly to Cromwell Castle, but this time I got paid properly, so don’t worry.”

“Oh… Felix is pretty good at this?”

“I’m quite capable. Whose brother am I, after all.”

I cheerfully agreed and checked today’s reservation list. The list of reservations was packed from 9 AM to 4 PM in the evening.

“Wow… It’ll be busy today too. I won’t even have time to make Deep Sleep and Light Sleep.”

Yesterday we received additional orders for Deep Sleep and Light Sleep, as well as first orders for new products from Maria and Anna.

Kaiden’s wife’s review saying that Golden Sundries Shop’s new products were amazing after trying them was a bonus.

As I was organizing the schedule while humming, Felix suddenly asked.

“By the way, there’s a strange rumor going around the village?”

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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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