(Risking My Life) Proposing to Miss Hazel - Chapter 73

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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 73

“Wh-what rumor?”

Feeling guilty, I blinked anxiously as I studied Felix’s expression.

His sighing voice settled low on the floor.

“I heard Axel broke off his engagement?”

“Ah…”

So that was it, and here I thought.

“Apparently the Lord hasn’t given permission yet. As if he’d really break off the engagement. His fiancée is a stunning beauty…”

I was answering carelessly when I suddenly shut my mouth. I had let my guard down and misspoke.

When I turned to look at Felix, he was staring at me with a similar expression.

“You’ve seen his fiancée?”

“Well… actually, the day the Bashar Merchant Guild people came, Axel’s fiancée and her friends visited the shop.”

Felix threw down the purification water container he was cleaning and shot to his feet.

“Why are you only telling me this now!”

“…”

Because I didn’t want to worry you.

But if I told him the truth, Felix would blame himself. For not being able to provide enough shelter for his sister to lean on.

I chose a different reason to tell him.

“I was tired from that day and didn’t want to talk about it. I was satisfied that it passed without incident.”

“Ah…”

Felix’s momentum, which seemed ready to rush off and deal with that fiancée and her friends, softened slightly.

He seemed to understand that I didn’t want to bring up bad memories unnecessarily.

He took several rough breaths to calm his emotions, then came over and took my hands. Eyes full of worry and affection pierced deep into mine.

“Hazel, nothing really happened, right? You don’t have to talk if you don’t want to… but if you were threatened… or if something dangerous might happen, you need to tell me.”

I immediately shook my head.

“That won’t happen. I explained clearly that Axel and I are nothing to each other, and his fiancée seemed to believe me (probably).”

I couldn’t read the minds of the fiancée’s friends, but Baron had stuck close and done such things, so there shouldn’t be anyone left to misunderstand.

‘Baron, the customers are watching.’

‘What does it matter.’

That day, Baron’s sweet gaze and voice as he looked at me like a lover suddenly came to mind.

‘I thought it was acting…’

My mouth went dry and my heart pounded. I don’t even know why I’m acting like this.

Baron is certainly very handsome, but he’s 500 million light-years away from my ideal type of potato man, so why do I keep…

Felix watched me fidgeting restlessly, then pulled me into a tight embrace.

As I leaned my face against his warm chest, my turbulent heart calmed down and all my scattered worries flew away in an instant.

“Hazel.”

“Yeah.”

“You’ve been through a lot. There won’t be any more incidents like this.”

“I’m fine. It doesn’t bother me at all.”

He patted the back of my head without answering. His tender touch made my nose tingle for no reason.

‘Lowly thing.’

‘Look how shameless she is.’

I thought it would be fine as long as I cleared up the misunderstanding, even after hearing such words…

Maybe that wasn’t true. The comfort that only Felix and I could share, understanding without words, warmed my heart.

“Damn, that bastard Axel should just get married quietly, why is he causing trouble for everyone.”

“Exactly.”

“Even if Axel breaks off his engagement, Hazel has nothing to worry about. That bastard won’t cause you any more trouble.”

Felix reassured me with the firm tone and gaze of someone who could see the future.

Until recently, I found Felix’s attitude unreliable, but now it was the opposite.

Without realizing it, I had pushed my doubts aside and was believing in Felix. Perhaps because life was finally going smoothly, it felt like everything would work out as he said.

I hoped it would.

‘It’s okay. Everything will be okay.’

***

“Hazel, I’m heading out. I’ll be home late today, so you go home early.”

“Okay, take care of yourself too, Felix.”

Two hours before closing time, Felix loaded four large containers of purification water onto a cart and left for Cromwell Castle.

Sending Felix to Cromwell Castle felt somehow unsettling, but I couldn’t stop him without a good reason.

He could make good money just selling purification water, and he wouldn’t listen even if I tried to stop him.

‘Come on, what could happen.’

I returned to the shop and flipped the ‘Open’ sign to ‘Closed.’

I’d taken all the reservation customers, so now I had to mechanically produce Sleepy Gentle and Sleepy Strong.

Each day was breathlessly busy, but I was still happy. It wasn’t long ago that I sat at the counter with no customers, worrying about taxes and Felix’s debts.

“Phew, let’s work hard until closing time.”

I carefully took out my new label printer and placed it on the counter.

It was an expensive piece worth 200 silver coins. Even with Elvin’s help getting employee discounts and various other benefits from the Bashar Merchant Guild, I still paid over 100 silver coins.

Fortunately, the expensive machine performed as excellently as its high price.

Not only could it print in full color, but it also had a function to apply glue to the back of labels. The first day I received the printer, I had trouble holding back tears.

“Wow… I’m so happy.”

Click, click, click.

The labels came out in perfect rows and columns without a single defect. I admired that beautiful sight while pushing aside the newspapers scattered messily on the table.

[Bandits rampaging throughout the Empire – Are they deserters from the Prince’s army, remnants of rebels, or displaced refugees?]

[New rebels appearing in the east? The truth behind strange rumors of an undying army, possibly a new mutation of dark magic contamination…]

“Sigh…”

Articles with depressing content flashed before my eyes.

The western part of the Empire, including Ruden Village and Benu City, was so peaceful it was hard to believe there was a civil war going on.

For now.

However, as the rebels’ influence grew daily, the situation in the east and center seemed to worsen with time.

‘There must be more children like Felix and me who lost their parents. And parents who lost their children too.’

Just the fact that more people shared similar pain made my heart ache.

‘I have Felix and the village adults, but…’

Children who were truly alone would face a hopeless situation.

I could only hope that none of them had ash-colored hair.

While I desperately wanted to help those poor children who reminded me of my younger self, my meager strength was insufficient even to protect myself.

Facing that sad reality suddenly made me feel dejected.

“Done! Done!! Done!!!”

At 5:10, having finished today’s work, I brushed off my hands and stood up without regret.

I thought I’d work overtime for about 30 minutes, but I finished faster than expected. It seemed like keeping my body busy when my mind was troubled helped.

“Phew, perfect.”

I need to go home quickly, eat dinner, and draw. It feels like I’m going from work to more work, but that must be my imagination. It has to be.

‘Felix told me to heat up and eat the leftover tomato chicken stew. It’s going to be delicious.’

My mouth watered at the thought of reheating the stew left over from breakfast.

Originally, stew that’s been aged for half a day to a full day is better than freshly made stew. Especially with meat stew, aging is essential for the meat to absorb the seasoning properly.

As I walked out of the alley with light steps, I made eye contact with an elderly woman who was pacing around the alley entrance.

‘Who is that? I’ve never seen her before.’

Hunched back, shabby appearance, anxious expression.

She looked like someone who had come to Ruden Village to meet someone but got lost.

“Grandmother, are you perhaps looking for Golden Sundries Shop?”

“Oh, no. I don’t know about such things.”

The grandmother immediately shook her head. I had asked just to confirm, but it seems my guess was right after all.

“Excuse me, but you don’t seem to be from the village. What brings you all the way here? Is there anything I can help you with?”

When I asked kindly, the grandmother’s expression immediately brightened.

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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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