(Risking My Life) Proposing to Miss Hazel - Chapter 87

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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 87

“F-Felix…?”

I was flustered.

Count Cedric’s face wasn’t visible, hidden behind Felix’s wall-like back.

It wasn’t that I was disappointed about not being able to properly examine the face that was absolutely the closest to a plaster statue aside from Baron, but rather I was bewildered about how I was supposed to handle customer service like this.

I could feel the gazes of the two men clashing beyond Felix’s back.

Thump thump thump. Felix’s heart was beating rapidly as if it were racing. For reference, Felix’s heart doesn’t beat fast no matter how much it might race.

‘This is strange…’

I tried to peek my head to the side to check the situation, but Felix’s thick forearm blocked me.

He really seemed intent on hiding me and not showing me.

But why on earth.

Did he really think I would fall for Count Cedric’s face?

Felix really doesn’t know me. If I were the type of person to fall for just a handsome face, I would have already…

…

Already, what.

Get it together, Hazel.

A silence filled with inexplicable tension continued. It was so quiet that even the sound of swallowing saliva seemed audible.

Fortunately, Felix didn’t recklessly charge at Count Cedric like he did with Axel, just for being a man of marriageable age.

He just didn’t hide the menacing hostility rising within him.

When I pinched Felix’s firm waist to tell him to tone it down, he reached back and grabbed my hand.

It didn’t mean to stop.

It meant please stay still.

‘Why is he acting like this…’

His behavior was puzzling, but today especially, it was difficult to actively stop Felix.

“Count, what brings you here? If you’re looking to make a bulk purchase of purification water, I can offer you a special discount.”

When Felix broke the silence first and opened the conversation, the Count opened his mouth as if he’d been waiting.

“So the rumors were true.”

Though it was an answer that deviated from the context of the question, his voice was much softer than when I’d heard it on the street.

As if he were naturally a warm person.

Felix, who seemed even more on edge because of that voice, replied with a fierce tone.

“What rumors are you referring to?”

“Franz told me that Hazel’s brother Felix had come to his senses.”

“…?”

“I heard he quit drinking and diligently goes to fetch purification water every dawn.”

The confusion lingering at the back of Felix’s head was transmitted to me completely.

The thoughts that came to my mind weren’t much different either.

“So I was thinking of giving him a job.”

The words that followed were also far from what I expected.

Felix’s back, clearly showing signs of confusion, flinched and trembled.

“…Me?”

“I’ll pay you a salary that won’t disappoint.”

“…”

“The work starts today.”

“…”

“…”

It seemed Felix didn’t have the right to refuse.

As expected of a Count, the greatest noble in the Empire.

What good does a nice tone do when his actions are those of a noble among nobles.

***

“Hazel! Hazel!”

Ten minutes before closing time, my beloved uninvited guests burst into the shop. Even though the ‘Closed’ sign was boldly hanging there, they didn’t hesitate for a moment to open the door.

I quickly hid the letter I’d been writing with great care under the counter and greeted my friends with a reluctant face.

“My beloved friends, it’s ten minutes before closing.”

“Is it? Then we can chat with you from now on.”

“I’m tired though…”

I really was tired, and seeing Sara and Maribel’s sparkling eyes made me feel drained.

Those eyes were excited from seeing a handsome man. The married women of the handsome man fan club’s fussing time had begun. They must be excited from seeing Count Cedric after a long time.

Still, my friends didn’t make the shameless remarks about pairing me with Count Cedric. That kind of thinking was something only Felix, who lacked awareness when it came to his sister, could have.

My friends lightly ignored my words about being tired and got straight to the point.

“Did Felix do something wrong?”

“We saw him walking with Count Cedric earlier, he’s not being arrested, is he?”

“Fortunately not. He said he has work for Felix.”

“Count Cedric does?”

“Felix knows the geography of the Monster’s Domain incredibly well. Well enough to wander around even when drunk.”

“That is pretty impressive. It’s been amazing since way back.”

“So he’s going to fetch purification water with the soldiers?”

I nodded.

“He said the situation at the foot of the mountain isn’t normal, so he brought 1,000 magic containers.”

Magic containers are common magical tools that can compress and store liquids to a maximum of 1/1000th their size, distributed nationwide to prepare for droughts. But now they’re only used by the military for transporting purification water.

“The existing spring water they’ve been drawing purification water from isn’t nearly enough to meet the required amount, so they’ll have to go deeper.”

When I explained the situation nonchalantly, my friends immediately gasped in shock.

“Will it be okay?”

“What will?”

I tilted my head, not understanding.

“What do you mean what. It’s common sense that you shouldn’t go deep into the Monster’s Domain.”

“Even if Felix goes in together with the Imperial Army… well, it’ll probably be fine, but it might still be dangerous.”

“Ah.”

So it was that kind of problem.

When I think of monsters, Kkukku with his nice texture and overflowing charm comes to mind, so I’d completely forgotten about the danger.

I was about to answer ‘Monsters are cute and kind. Though maybe not to men,’ but stopped, worried I’d be treated like a crazy person.

Instead, I just giggled carefreely and comforted my friends, saying it was needless worry.

“Anyway, she’s quite the brave one.”

“Not quite, completely. Ever since she was little, when she got angry, she’d grab a tree branch first. If we’d taught her swordsmanship, she would’ve drawn a sword.”

“…”

I didn’t know that. Grabbing tree branches has been a habit since I was little. No wonder I habitually grab them even though I know they’re not much help.

My friends enjoyed the sunset while eating the snacks they brought and drinking the tea I brewed.

From how they kept checking on my mood, it seems they came because they were worried I might be down.

I really have good friends.

Even if they talk too much about useless things.

“By the way, your brother is handsome. Even walking next to Count Cedric, he didn’t pale in comparison.”

“I thought my eyes were wrong at first too, but thinking about it now, that’s not it. Felix might actually be a little more handsome.”

“Right. He’s also a bit bigger than the Count. If he wore a uniform, he’d really look like a noble.”

“…?”

Who?

Felix?

My face unconsciously contorted. Apart from being embarrassed to hear praise of my blood relative to my face, I couldn’t accept it.

Felix is handsome, but he’s not comparable to Count Cedric.

Anyway, my face should be about the same as his – though I admit Felix’s looks are slightly better – but how dare anyone compare him to someone called the Empire’s greatest beauty.

“Listen girls, Felix has bold features, but he lacks refinement. Especially his eyes are too sharply angled…”

My friends’ faces contorted with disbelief as they listened to my cold assessment.

“See, I told you. Hazel is the pickiest when it comes to judging faces.”

“Seems like it. What dirt potato, my ass.”

“…”

I felt wronged but had no words to argue back.

***

Black feathers fluttered gently through the interior of Cromwell Castle, where silver moon dust was scattered about.

Beside them, a black-clad man’s feet passed by more lightly than the feathers.

Black feathers scattered across the stone floor following his footsteps.

The man swallowed by darkness from head to toe easily found the lord’s bedroom in the maze-like ancient castle.

Jewel-like red eyes flashed coldly.

Thud-.

Count Cromwell’s massive body fell to the floor. He crawled away from the bed with his bottom pressed against the ground.

“Huu… urgh.”

The sight of him desperately fleeing while disgustingly drooling was utterly pathetic. Those who knew of his bravado and pretense would surely have laughed.

He always used to shout that when assassins came for him, he would snap their necks with his bare hands and display those heads on the castle walls.

But there was always a gap between delusion and reality.

Swish, the sharp blade that cut through his beard touched his uvula.

One wrong breath and his throat would be pierced through.

A black feather dropped onto the razor-sharp blade.

‘Is it the assassin Nocturne? Why would Nocturne come for me…!’

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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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