(Risking My Life) Proposing to Miss Hazel - Chapter 81

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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 81

Clear, bright blue sky check.

Lush green foliage of summer check.

Warm breeze check.

It’s a peaceful morning just like any other day.

I set off for work wearing a sky-blue checkered dress made from cool summer fabric.

This dress is one that Anna specially made for me.

Even while being incredibly busy with a flood of orders for eye patches and wrist guards, she said she wanted to express her gratitude to me, so she cut into her sleeping time to make this dress.

It’s a simple yet lovely design with once-fashionable checkered fabric adorned with lace made by the village grandmothers as a pastime.

It suits me well and also goes perfectly with Ruden Village’s summer, so I’m completely satisfied. I also love the ribbon headband she made as a bonus along with the dress.

Felix also said I looked pretty when he saw my complete outfit.

Felix would say I’m pretty even if I wore rags, but the white space in his widened eyes was different. It meant he was being sincere, not just flattering me.

‘Ah… this is a bit troublesome.’

‘What is?’

‘You’re perfect fly bait. Even if you’re pretty, you should be moderately pretty.’

‘What are you saying. Stop talking nonsense and go to work first.’

Remembering my morning conversation with Felix made me burst into laughter. Still, I’m in quite a good mood today, probably because I’m wearing new clothes.

My head has been quite complicated these past few days. Various worries have been tormenting me in turns.

The first worry is because of Felix.

I have no idea where this rascal has hidden the money.

Not only does he not fall for my leading interrogations, but I’ve also searched suspicious places and even tailed Felix, yet I haven’t seen even a trace of silver coins.

Despite all that, when I ask him for silver coins, he brings them right away. Just the exact amount I need, though.

Still, my allowance is abundant. I haven’t touched the 100 silver coins hidden in my skirt. Indeed, there’s no safer vault in the world than inside my skirt.

The second worry is because of that damned Lord Cromwell’s son.

Just as Axel boasted that he would handle the situation himself, Cromwell Castle has been quiet for now.

I think it’s best if things pass by quietly as if nothing happened, but…

Why do I have this ominous feeling that this peace won’t continue, as if I’ve entered the eye of a typhoon?

‘It’s probably because tax collection day is approaching. Let’s not worry about it.’

Even when I tried to pull my thoughts together, my heart kept feeling restless.

Moreover, I might meet Axel tomorrow when he comes to collect taxes, and I don’t know what kind of face I should make when facing him.

I haven’t told Felix, but I’ve been having dreams featuring Axel yesterday, today, and the day before.

Not dreams about the day Axel saved me… but absurd dreams that seemed like very distant past.

The me and Axel in the dreams looked incredibly happy. That made it even more unpleasant.

‘Hazel, when are you going to marry me? You’re going to marry me anyway, so let’s do it quickly, okay?’

‘That’s funny. Who said I’d marry you?’

‘Who else would you marry if not me? Honestly, I’m the most handsome guy in our castle. It’s not like you’re going to marry some ugly potato-like guys.’

He even insulted my taste for potatoes. Axel is detestable even in dreams.

‘What good is just having a pretty face? Your personality is trash.’

‘I’m nice to you though. You know I can’t even make a peep in front of you and my brother.’

‘That’s true…’

‘So take responsibility. Don’t you know it’s a crime to tame someone and then abandon them as you please?’

‘You even know the word abandon? Wow, you’ve gotten much smarter.’

‘Don’t change the subject. We even kissed a few days ago… mmph.’

‘Qu-quiet. What if someone hears?’

…

…

Why did the me in the dream kiss Axel? I’m really glad I didn’t see that scene.

‘So what if they hear! I’m yours and you’re mine, everyone knows that. Father even asked when we’re setting the wedding date. You know how much Father adores you.’

‘Hmm…’

‘Hazel, please marry me. If you marry me, you can live like a princess in the safe and peaceful Cromwell Castle.’

‘…’

‘You’re the only woman in my entire life. Have you ever seen me look at other women? You were my first to hold hands and my first ki… mmph.’

‘Oh please! If you want to marry me, go get Felix’s permission first. I’m going to marry someone who loves me much more than Felix loves me.’

It was even more chilling because what the me in the dream said sounded exactly like something I would say.

“Aaaah!”

I stopped walking and grabbed my neatly braided hair.

These damn dreams pop up at random times regardless of my will, making me feel troubled.

As I shook my head trying to escape from the dream, a black shadow fell over the top of my head.

A refreshing scent resembling pine fragrance rushed in with the warm breeze.

Baron.

The culprit who brings about my third worry approached right in front of me.

When I raised my head, the red eyes I met curved prettily.

He straightened my disheveled headband and greeted me cheerfully.

“Miss Hazel, it’s been a while.”

***

Today’s lunch was a croissant sandwich filled with apple jam and cheese.

It wasn’t made by Felix, but today it was a sandwich made by Selena, the wife of Martin from the glass workshop.

Yesterday I placed a reorder for 2,000 glass bottles for the sleep series. And I paid in silver coins all at once.

Taciturn Martin took the order with his usual stoic manner, but Selena, who was beside him, jumped around with joy.

‘My goodness, Hazel. We were just talking about how we’re short on money for tomorrow’s taxes. How wonderful.’

‘Ah…’

Martin’s glass workshop usually does good business, and with our steady orders for glass bottles, they shouldn’t have been short on tax money.

When I couldn’t hide my puzzled expression, Selena glared at Martin and spoke up.

‘This man, you see, heard that the workshop employees didn’t have money for taxes and gave them a surprise bonus. Without knowing how much our taxes are.’

‘Selena. Why do you have to mention such things?’

‘You stay quiet.’

‘Ahem, hmm…’

‘Anyway, thank you so much. Today you’re more reliable than my husband. Our village’s lucky charm, you’re so pretty I could die.’

‘Hazel, I heard from Franz. We’ll be making our move soon, so don’t worry about anything. We have the strength to protect you.’

I recalled yesterday evening’s conversation as I climbed the hill path toward home.

The village adults will make their move. What could that mean?

I asked about this, but Martin’s tightly closed lips wouldn’t open. The other adults would probably be the same.

‘They’re cautious people, so they won’t do anything dangerous. It’s not something I need to worry about unnecessarily.’

I thought I could live without any worries once the monthly tax concerns and worries about Felix being drunk every day disappeared.

Life really isn’t easy after all.

“Still, it’s fine. The sky is clear, the wind is nice, and I have time to paint.”

I spread out a mat in the shade of the tree behind Our House and took out a small easel.

Today is a legitimate afternoon work skip day. After attending to my last appointment at 3 o’clock, I became a free person.

More precisely, I came out to do other work. Today, no matter what happens, I’m going to complete the portrait that Black Hand commissioned.

For that—.

“Miss Hazel. Am I too late?”

I need my personal plaster statue that (probably) resembles the boy in the pendant.

I looked up at him from where I sat and swallowed my admiration. Is it even allowed for a human to be handsome from this angle too?

“Baron, stay like that for a moment.”

“…?”

“You’re handsome, so stay still. Let me do some sketching.”

Baron’s eyes, which had been gently closing, stopped right there.

Though I couldn’t see clearly due to the backlighting, it seemed like the area around his eyes had turned red.

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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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