(Risking My Life) Proposing to Miss Hazel - Chapter 88
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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 88
Assassin Nocturne.
The Empire’s most notorious assassin with a 0% failure rate.
His targets were mainly figures related to black magic, and numerous nobles who openly advocated for black magic had disappeared by his hand.
His recent activities had been quiet, so I thought he had lost his life to the rebel forces…
“Hello?”
He had brazenly appeared before Lord Cromwell.
“Y-you… are you Nocturne?”
When the lord asked in a trembling voice, the man’s eyes curved into a smile.
Those were eyes that no negotiation or plea would work on.
“I have something I’m curious about.”
“…”
“Your mistress, she’s a spy for the black magic rebels.”
“…!”
“Did you know?”
“N-no… I didn’t…”
Lord Cromwell’s chin trembled as he shook his head rapidly.
Tears that had flowed down pathetically hung like droplets on the tips of his shortly trimmed beard.
Only now did he realize why Nocturne had come looking for him.
But he truly hadn’t known his mistress’s identity.
He had only gotten close to her because her uncle said he could introduce him to a ‘real wizard.’
Lord Cromwell had initially thought it was a lie when he first heard those words.
All real wizards were dead, and magic could only be used by the Emperor.
But a full 15 years had passed since the last Emperor’s death, and the magic chargers bestowed by the Emperor had finally run dry. There were limits to begging the princes for magic chargers by paying taxes.
So his ears perked up at rumors that real wizards existed.
When the castle ran out of magic power, life became inconvenient and the lord’s prestige would crack, not to mention the magical weapons defending the castle would become useless.
He had been introduced to a real wizard by his mistress with the desperation of grasping at straws. And the wizard used magic without even stirring a speck of ash.
‘Oh, it was really true.’
‘If Your Lordship would just listen to the wizard’s request, the wizard will devote complete loyalty only to Your Lordship. The day when Cromwell Castle becomes a stronger territory than Benu is not far off.’
‘Kahahaha. Come to think of it, Lucas Aden must also be struggling with magic charger supply. The day I rise higher than that green young fool is not far off.’
The real wizard’s request was simple.
Catch the black magic rebels’ spy in Ruden and find ‘that item.’
If he just fulfilled that request, he promised to supply real magic power in large quantities.
The lord believed that promise and even endured the residents of Ruden Village’s backlash while turning the village upside down, but who would have thought his mistress was a black magic rebel’s lackey.
The lord was equally bewildered and felt like he’d been hit in the back of the head.
He was endlessly greedy, but not corrupt or crazy enough to bring rebels into his castle.
The red-eyed man quietly listened to Lord Cromwell’s stammering excuses.
Rather than showing him mercy, it was more like tracking the clues he wanted from the string of words.
“I really didn’t know… *sob*, unless I was crazy…”
The man cut off the lord’s excuses midway as if he’d heard enough and asked.
“So, what did this so-called real wizard tell you to find in Ruden that made you ransack Ruden?”
“A r-red gem. A red gem that makes heartbeat sounds when you put your ear to it.”
“…”
Lord Cromwell looked up at the man’s red pupils and suddenly thought that gem must have resembled the man’s eyes.
His pupils sparkled like gems indeed.
The red pupils rolled clockwise. The distance from the blade tip that the lord had been keeping slightly open closed tightly again.
A cool voice fell over his reddish-brown crown.
“If you obediently follow my words, I might spare your life.”
“I’ll do anything. I’m also anti-black magic. The fact that Count Heidel is under my protection is proof of that.”
“Will you really do anything?”
The lord nodded hastily. This left a long scratch on his neck, but he didn’t care.
However, the moment he heard the man’s words,
“Wh-what?”
The lord’s face, which had been excited with a thread of hope just moments before, was once again engulfed in despair.
He only moved his bewildered lips for a while, unable to dare answer that he would do it.
Reading that hesitation, the blade tip dug deep through the scratch. His bobbing Adam’s apple hurt as if it would tear.
“Can’t do it?”
“…Urgh.”
“Why no answer.”
“Uhhgh.”
The lord finally surrendered while sprawled on the floor in a humiliating position.
The proof of the promise was his pathetically cut reddish-brown beard.
***
Well past midnight when monsters become ferocious.
Step by step, finally the sound of Felix coming home from work could be heard outside the door.
Before Felix could even open the door, I shouted like a dog that had spotted a thief.
“Felix!”
Felix opened the door silently with round eyes. He looked like he hadn’t imagined I’d be awake.
“Why didn’t you sleep and waited up.”
“Just… I couldn’t sleep.”
“You couldn’t sleep yesterday either, is there something you’re worried about?”
There is. In many ways.
But the reason I couldn’t sleep today was because my dear friends had injected me with unnecessary worries.
“What worries. How was work today? It wasn’t dangerous, was it?”
Felix chuckled as if it was absurd. Well, I’d probably laugh like that too if someone asked if my daily walking path was dangerous.
“There was something interesting though.”
“What?”
“The monsters seemed confused about how to react when the human they see every day was together with humans they see occasionally.”
“…”
“A few of them were being playful, so I played with them appropriately and came back.”
“…?”
Is that something to say with the nuance of having played with neighborhood puppies on the way?
I felt dizzy for a moment but decided to let it pass. Felix wasn’t normal to begin with.
I waited for Felix lying on the sofa to fall asleep quickly. No particular reason, just that I felt like I’d be able to sleep if I heard Felix’s snoring.
I thought I wouldn’t get caught lying still and pretending to sleep, but Felix asked in a quiet voice.
“Why aren’t you sleeping yet.”
“…I am sleeping.”
“Close your eyes quickly. Your eyes are full of sleepiness.”
“Dummy. I have my eyes closed, don’t I? How would you know that.”
“I can see everything. It’s not like I’ve put you to sleep once or twice.”
“…”
“Should I put you to sleep? Sing you a lullaby?”
“No thanks. You go to sleep quickly, Felix.”
Felix chuckled and got up, heading to the kitchen.
The series of movements of warming milk to a not-too-hot temperature and adding plenty of honey was natural even without watching.
I slowly opened my eyes, smelling the savory aroma approaching. Golden jewel-like eyes gently hid between white eye corners.
“Drink this quickly and sleep.”
I leaned against the headboard, lying diagonally, and received the cup. Luden nights are cool even in summer, so warm heat is always welcome.
I sipped the milk while making eye contact with Felix. Felix, who read my hesitation, spoke first.
“If you have something to say, hurry up and say it.”
“Felix…”
“Yeah.”
“Did we ever have a ‘surname’? A family name, I mean.”
Felix’s eyebrows twisted as if finding it absurd.
“Only nobles have those kinds of things.”
“I know…”
I know too. That it’s a ridiculous question.
But in the dream…
‘Felix Shire.’
I didn’t tell Felix, but the dreams with Axel were still continuing.
Sometimes I repeat the same dream, sometimes not. The dream I had two hours ago was a new one.
The problem is that it’s so vivid, it feels more like actual memories than dreams.
“Felix.”
“What now.”
“What if, hypothetically… Count Cedric wanted to take you to the Imperial Army, would you go?”
“Ha, what’s that about… I won’t go.”
“You wouldn’t go even if he offered ten thousand silver coins?”
“I absolutely won’t go even if he offered a hundred million. How could I leave you behind and go anywhere.”
“Then that’s settled.”
Thank goodness. In the dream I just had, he went.
I smiled broadly and slipped into the blankets. I heard Felix’s sigh from outside the covers.
Now I think I’ll be able to sleep well.
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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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