(Risking My Life) Proposing to Miss Hazel - Chapter 89

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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 89

‘What is she saying…’

Felix’s brow furrowed deeply as he stood by the bedside looking down at Hazel. His grip on the glass tightened so much that veins bulged prominently.

From beneath the soft blanket came the gentle breathing sounds of his sleeping sister.

It was fortunate that she had finally fallen asleep, but lately Hazel often—actually frequently—had trouble sleeping.

She had been having more episodes of waking up abruptly at dawn with incomprehensible sleep talk, which had him on edge.

She was clearly having nightmares, yet when morning came, Hazel would just smile brightly as always.

So he thought she didn’t remember the content of her dreams, but apparently she was having far more suspicious dreams than he had imagined.

Just like the dreams Axel had been having.

‘I know this will sound crazy, but I’ve been dreaming of my past life for a long time now. At first I thought they were just dreams, but they were so vivid… I felt something wasn’t ordinary about them.’

‘…’

‘And recently, I started seeing the future in my dreams. Small incidents that appear in newspapers began matching up… I couldn’t ignore it anymore.’

‘…’

‘Soon, remnants of the Black Magic Rebels disguised as bandits will start appearing near Cromwell Castle. I’ll handle them somehow, so you must never leave Ruden Village and stay by Hazel’s side. I know what I’m saying sounds strange…’

‘…I understand. I’ll do that.’

It was something he already knew even without Axel telling him. That’s why he had hidden Hazel’s identity from the beginning and had her grow up in Ruden Village.

Ruden Village was like a natural fortress blessed by nature itself. It could be called the safest place in the entire Empire for Hazel.

He had considered hiding her away completely, but Felix valued Hazel’s happiness as much as her safety.

The Hazel from his previous life, who lived with broken wings solely for survival, had not been happy at all.

So he hoped that Hazel in this life would walk only on flower paths, freely pursuing her dreams without any worries.

He would carry the heavy burdens.

He would clear away the obstacles that blocked her path.

If ‘he’ killed off the vicious enemies, there would be no problem—that’s what he had thought…

‘Axel remembering his past life is a variable.’

Axel’s words about protecting Hazel probably weren’t lies.

That guy wasn’t intelligent enough to lie so elaborately.

The act of putting on a poker face and spouting lies with a trustworthy voice was something only Count Cedric could pull off.

The problem was Axel’s capabilities. If his abilities had matched his enthusiasm, he wouldn’t have been so ruined in the first life either.

Even with this recent incident, hadn’t he said he would handle everything himself, only to let the lord go crazy and search the village?

‘Well, it seems he managed the primary cleanup, so I should be grateful for just that.’

Felix let out a hollow laugh and was about to return to the sofa when Hazel’s voice caught his ankle.

It was the voice from the first life, not this current one.

‘Felix, do you really have to go to war?’

‘Hazel, you know. To avenge our parents and elevate the Shire name, this is the only way.’

‘Forget it. I hate you, I hate Count Cedric, I hate everyone. I know I’m being childish… but you’re all I have.’

‘You have Axel now.’

The conversation from that day, which he had chewed over and regretted his entire life, came flooding back.

If only he could turn back time, he would never let go of Hazel’s hand as she clung to him.

He would answer that he would never leave her—he had regretted it so painfully…

‘I’m absolutely not going. How could I leave you and go anywhere.’

The moment he confirmed Hazel’s smile as she grinned widely upon hearing that answer, finally—

“Ha.”

It felt like the knot from that day was finally being untied.

‘Don’t worry, Hazel. Even if you ask me ten times, a hundred times, the answer won’t change.’

***

“Kurururu, you have to deliver the letter properly. Please.”

I lightly kissed the hawk messenger’s head and stroked its soft feathers.

The reason the hawk messenger got the name Kurururu is simple. The sound it makes when happy is ‘kurururu.’ Just like now.

Kurururu, kurururu—

The hawk messenger, who had become quite close to me, rubbed its face against my cheek like a purring cat, then reluctantly pulled back when I patted its bottom.

“Go on. You said you’re having dinner in Benu. If you go any later, you’ll be hungry.”

The hawk blinked its gentle eyes twice as if understanding, then soared up toward the high sky.

“Phew.”

I had handled most of the appointment customers, and if I pushed just a little more, I could finish today’s work.

Today too, Count Cedric had borrowed Felix, so I was frantically handling most of the work alone.

If the morning appointment hadn’t been cancelled, I wouldn’t have had time to write letters.

As they say, you don’t know what you have until it’s gone. Today especially, the shop felt empty without Felix.

I needed someone beside me to squeakily clean glass bottles while alternating between annoying and sweet comments to make work enjoyable.

Today, without such a person, my mood drooped as much as the gloomy weather.

‘But he said he’d come back before dinner today…’

I waited endlessly for Felix while watching the printer that was producing labels in an orderly click-clack rhythm.

Even without monitoring the printer, there wouldn’t be any defective products, but today I just couldn’t focus on work.

Ding-a-ling, ding-a-ling—

Just before 5 o’clock, I heard the sound of the fish bell spinning.

I deliberately suppressed my voice to not show how much I had been waiting, and greeted Felix somewhat primly.

“Felix, you’re back?”

I had expected the response ‘Hazel, I’m back!’ but instead, a much colder voice cut through the air.

“Miss Hazel.”

It was Count Cedric.

I was so startled that I unconsciously pressed the printer’s stop button.

“C-Count? What brings you here?”

“I’m looking for something.”

“In our shop?”

“Yes.”

His voice sounded strangely warm. His gaze toward me was also—though it might be my imagination—overflowing with kindness.

Just like Count Cedric from the rumors. Exactly like the warm hero who cherished the weak.

But I, Monica, Kokko and its offspring all knew that Count Cedric’s true appearance was quite different from the rumors.

But why…

Does he seem like a completely different person today?

It was as if I was meeting the person called Count Cedric for the first time.

However, I pushed aside the strange impression and continued responding calmly.

“What kind of item are you looking for?”

“I hear Golden Sundries Shop’s new products are being sold all the way to Benu.”

“How did you know that?”

“My direct aide has been using insoles sold only here. He submitted reports twice saying we need to supply them to the entire army.”

“Oh my.”

Good heavens.

If it’s the entire Imperial Army, how many units would that be? If they want to buy them, how much discount should I give?

A calculator spun complexly in my head. After gaping for a while, I set aside my greed and said,

“Those insoles are made by Uncle Paul at the leather workshop. Since there’s a commission fee if you buy them here, you could purchase them much cheaper by dealing directly with the workshop.”

As soon as my kind explanation ended, the Count smiled uncharacteristically and said,

“I know.”

“….”

Did he just smile? The Duke?

“I went to find Fowl, but he said he wouldn’t sell it here and told me to order from Golden Goods instead.”

“Ah….”

“These village people, really.”

He stopped mid-sentence and wrinkled his nose slightly while wearing a faint smile.

I noticed the corners of his mouth subtly lifting beside his white glove that half-covered his lips.

At first I thought it might be a sneer, but it wasn’t that kind of nuance at all.

Rather, toward me….

‘No, no. Get it together. He’s the one and only Duke in the Empire.’

I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to erase the thought that had suddenly occurred to me.

Felix’s comment, which I had thought was ridiculous, echoed in my ears.

‘Even if he’s kind to you, just accept it since that’s how he naturally is.’

….

Wow, what’s with Felix?

Did he really see the future or something?

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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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