(Risking My Life) Proposing to Miss Hazel - Chapter 94

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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 94

“Just try not eating your lunch box today.”

“I didn’t skip it on purpose. And I was going to eat it for dinner. I would never leave food that Felix made.”

“That’s not the point, how many times do I have to tell you. Even if you’re busy with work, don’t skip meals. Making pocket change isn’t important at all, so take care of your meals first. Don’t just get by with bacon when I’m not around.”

“Okay… I won’t do it again. Don’t be angry…”

“I’m not angry.”

“…You are though.”

I muttered so Felix couldn’t hear and held the lunch box with the most grateful posture possible.

It’s shameless, but I wish he’d stop scolding me now. Felix has been nagging me non-stop since yesterday evening.

When we worked together, he’d skip lunch too when he was busy… Or not? Even if Felix went hungry, I think I ate the food he gave me throughout the day…

Anyway, Felix takes excessive care of my body compared to how he takes care of his own.

Felix is probably the only older brother who would scold his younger sister this much for skipping one meal.

‘What a doting fool.’

But even while being scolded, I don’t feel too bad. There’s nothing more grateful than having someone who takes care of you.

Even if it’s a bit excessive.

“Today, from 12 to 1 o’clock, you must turn the sign to closed. I’ll have Albert watch over you.”

“Got it. I’ll turn it at 11:59.”

“Good thinking.”

Only then did he relax his furrowed features and smile brightly. I awkwardly smiled back while watching his expression.

Felix stretched my cheeks as if forcibly widening my smile.

“I hate that you work even harder when I’m not around. I already feel sorry enough…”

“Wha shou you be sowwy (Why should you be sorry)…”

The person who should be sorry is Count Cedric.

But I can’t hate the Count. When I think about the Imperial Army insole incident, I can only feel grateful.

“How long do you have to work for the Count?”

Felix’s expression became strange. He paused for a moment, then looked toward the Monsters’ Forest and said,

“I don’t know either. But looking at what the Imperial Army is doing, it doesn’t seem like they just came here to get purification water, but like they’re looking for something…”

‘There wouldn’t be a reason for the Count himself to come to Ruden…’

Suddenly, Felix’s words and the Mayor’s voice seemed to overlap.

‘Is there really another reason why Count Cedric came all the way to Ruden?’

I became curious and asked back, but—

“What kind of thing? Do you have any ideas?”

Felix had already changed his expression and shamelessly played dumb.

“No. Nothing.”

“…”

“I misspoke. I’m going first. See you tonight!”

Felix hastily ended the conversation, flung open the door, and rushed outside.

I followed him out and shouted before he got too far away.

“Felix, check the third pocket on the right side of your vest!”

Felix stopped dead in his tracks while going down the hill.

After a moment, he found the pocket with honey mushroom bacon and turned around, smiling like a miner who discovered a gem.

“What’s this!”

“Felix’s snack! Don’t give it to anyone else, eat it yourself!”

His narrow eyes widened into circles, then gently crinkled shut.

“Of course!”

***

Before work, I was taking some time to walk to Uncle Franz’s house to greet the Mayor.

“Oh my, young man. What good is a pretty face? When you can’t even use your strength like this.”

“Men need strength. How can you be so weak after pulling just that many carrots?”

I hurried my steps while hearing voices from afar.

“…”

I must have heard wrong, right?

A chill ran down my spine with an ominous feeling. But as always, that kind of premonition tends to be spot on.

‘Let’s hurry.’

Uncle Franz’s house is in the center of a wide terraced farm built between the blacksmith and the mountain, and the owner of the farm is Uncle Franz’s wife, Alma.

By the way, the blacksmith property also belongs to her. That’s why there are widespread rumors that Uncle Franz can’t do anything against her.

And the booming voice I just heard belonged to Alma, and the ‘young man’ she was referring to might be…

…

‘Right.’

I let out a sigh of despair after confirming the source of the voice halfway up the farm.

Blue hair swayed among the green leaves fluttering in the wind.

“No way…”

Why is the Mayor in the farm?

And he was even—

“When I say one, two, you need to put strength into it.”

“Ugh…!”

“That’s right, well done. This time you pulled it out cleanly.”

He was pulling carrots with the ladies.

A pale face. Sunken eyes. Legs trembling as if he’d collapse any moment.

Though he clearly looked exhausted, he didn’t stop and mechanically pulled carrots.

“…”

How did it come to this?

I approached them with my mouth agape, at a loss for words.

The Mayor, who spotted me half a beat faster than the ladies, gave me a faint smile. His hand clutching a bunch of carrots waved weakly.

‘What?’

Is he asking me to save him?

Still, it’s fortunate that the Mayor just looks troubled, not upset.

I approached with worry about how to handle this situation. But the situation was resolved quite simply.

“No, the young man offered to help first, so I said I’d reduce his rent. We didn’t force him. You know I’m not that kind of person.”

“That, that’s true…”

Surprisingly, all of this was a disaster the Mayor had brought upon himself.

Up close, the Mayor had a strangely bright complexion. Though he looked tired, he seemed excited somehow. He even looked happy.

Since he was raised well, he might have wanted to try a rural experience at least once in his life. I heard people do things they’ve never done during vacation.

If not that… I don’t know. How could I read the thoughts of the smartest man in the entire Empire?

Not knowing what to say, I just stared at where the carrots had been pulled, when Alma put her arm around my shoulder and dragged me to a corner.

I had no choice but to dangle and follow her like a carrot pulled from the soil.

Harmless gossip penetrated deep into my ears.

“Looking at him, that young man isn’t weak, but he has no technique at all. If it were our nephew, he would have finished half by now, oh my.”

The ‘our nephew’ she’s talking about is Baron… right? But why does she add ‘sir’ to nephew?

I knew Baron was Uncle Franz’s relative, but hearing him referred to with family terms felt strange. It’s like Baron naturally occurred without any blood relations.

“Anyway, Hazel.”

“Yes, yes…”

“That young man is from Bashar Merchant Guild, right? But he’s not… that kind of customer, is he? I mean, you sent him to us, right?”

“…?”

When I blinked in confusion, she asked directly.

“Why should our niece worry about such things?”

“…What?”

Only after asking back in a dumbfounded voice did I realize the intent behind her question.

Seeing my reaction, Alma seemed relieved and let out a deep sigh.

“That’s what I thought. Franz has been on guard because that young man is so handsome. But our niece doesn’t need to worry about it. For men, good stamina and hard work are what matter most.”

Overwhelmed by Alma’s leap of logic that was far ahead of my thinking speed, I just gaped like an idiot.

I had no idea what to refute or correct first.

It’s not like I could reveal the Mayor’s true identity either.

How could I explain that this small village only had this one house suitable for accommodating Benu’s Mayor?

Over Alma’s shoulder, my eyes met with the Mayor who had been looking at me.

He smiled shyly, narrowing his eyes like an innocent rural young man who knew nothing.

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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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