(Risking My Life) Proposing to Miss Hazel - Chapter 95

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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 95

“Mayor… no, Ruki. Are you really okay?”

He nodded gently with bright eyes. However, perhaps due to his haggard appearance, he didn’t look okay at all.

“Really?”

“Yes. It was necessary work.”

“Pulling carrots?”

When I asked in a puzzled tone, he gave a long, strangely evasive answer.

“They were good carrots. You made juice from them this morning, and it was the most delicious carrot I’ve ever had in my life.”

“Oh… it was delicious?”

Carrots?

“The carrots, celery, and cucumber were all unbelievably delicious.”

“Ah… that’s good to hear.”

Suddenly feeling a distance between us, I shuffled my feet backward.

Well, if the Mayor is happy, that’s good, but I should still tell them to put at least a strip of bacon on tomorrow’s breakfast table.

He’s not a rabbit – having carrots, celery, and cucumber for breakfast is too much, isn’t it?

“Our village has lots of delicious food. Please eat plenty while you’re staying here.”

“Yes. I will.”

He looked up at the blue sky with the satisfied face of a farmer who had finished his work.

His hair, darker than the sky, rippled like waves. His gentle voice spread out harmoniously with nature like bird chirping.

“Luden is a good territory.”

“That’s right.”

“I hope this place prospers peacefully.”

“Thank you.”

My heart warmed at the sincere praise.

It was a bit amusing that he used the expression ‘good territory’ instead of ‘good village,’ probably because he was a former lord.

“But are you going to keep working? You said you took a vacation. Didn’t you come here to rest?”

“I am resting.”

“…If you say so.”

The image of him struggling to pull carrots flashed before my eyes, but I didn’t bother to point it out. There’s no need to embarrass an honored guest.

Come to think of it, despite doing quite a bit of labor, there wasn’t a single drop of sweat on his face. Only dirt was sparsely scattered around his pale cheeks and chin.

But like Baron, no matter how much dirt he got on himself, he was constitutionally destined never to become a dirt potato.

A natural dirt potato suits dirt so well that even when their face is covered in it, you wouldn’t think to wipe it off – it fits them like hair growing from their head.

“Miss Hazel.”

“Y-yes?”

“Ahem, is there something on my face by any chance?”

“…Yes. Dirt.”

“Ah…”

He smiled embarrassedly and wiped his cheek with his dirt-covered hand.

Rather than cleaning off the dirt, he got more on, but I decided to pretend not to notice. You’re supposed to pretend not to know about nobles’ flaws even when you do.

“Is it all wiped off?”

“Yes. It’s clean… well, not really, but it’s okay.”

“That’s a relief.”

He smiled again, cheerfully like an innocent country youth.

‘How strange…’

The Mayor I met after a long time is much more talkative and generous with his smiles than before.

Was he always like this? Or did the vacation make him all loose and relaxed?

Either way, he seemed to like life in Luden, so I finally felt at ease.

“Ruki, I’ll be going now. It’s almost time to open the shop.”

“Wait a moment.”

The Mayor, who I expected would naturally say goodbye, urgently stopped me.

Then he stepped back and walked forward. Like a baby who just learned to walk showing off to their mother.

“…?”

What is he doing?

When I looked at him with a puzzled face, he lifted his right foot and said,

“I don’t limp anymore.”

“…Ah.”

Last time when you came to Luden, you were limping so I changed your insole. You’re trying to thank me for that.

‘Is he disappointed that I didn’t notice first?’

Thinking that, this man who was older than Felix and had an incredibly high status looked just a little cute. I swear it’s not in that kind of way.

“You want to tell me that your foot doesn’t hurt thanks to the insole, right?”

“No.”

“Huh?”

“It’s thanks to Miss Hazel.”

“…”

“All of it.”

***

When I entered the shop, I was greeted by clean floors, clean windows, clean counter, and-

“What the…”

A display case filled with small bottles of purification water welcomed me. The clean glass bottles sparkled as they reflected the sunlight.

Felix must have finished all my work despite being busy with his own, then gone to the Duke.

No wonder he left an hour earlier than usual today.

“Felix must be tired too…”

I bit my lower lip as I looked at the glass bottles that were polished cleaner than usual. My eyes and nose tip were already starting to sting, which was trouble.

“Fool. You should have slept an extra hour instead of doing this.”

Thanks to Felix, my opening preparation time was reduced, so I organized the reservation customers and quickly changed the ‘Closed’ sign to ‘Open.’

Today, it should be fine to clear out the entire lunch hour.

Probably. If nothing happens.

“Mmm, delicious. Felix’s stew really is the best.”

After thoroughly cleaning the tomato beef stew Felix packed for lunch down to the bottom, I patted my full stomach.

I didn’t actually lick it with my tongue, but cleaned it thoroughly with soft bread like a baby’s bottom, like washing dishes. This is so Felix can feel proud when he does the dishes.

“Ssukssuk has grown a lot.”

The effect of turning the sign to ‘Closed’ during lunch time was amazing. Who knew it would be this relaxing?

I should do this tomorrow too. Indeed, there’s nothing wrong with listening to adults.

10 minutes before 1 o’clock. After leisurely looking at Ssukssuk’s newly sprouted leaves, I stretched and stood up.

Having rested enough, I planned to turn the sign 10 minutes early. But the moment I opened the door-

“Tsk.”

Albert’s voice came from the alley entrance.

“Close it. It’s not time yet.”

“…”

“Felix was exactly right. He told me to watch because you’d secretly open the shop 10 minutes early.”

“…Wow.”

Is he a ghost or what?

Chills ran down my arms at Felix’s foresight, and I trembled as I closed the door again.

There’s no way Felix could be this smart. Well, my brother does get smarter when it comes to my affairs specifically.

“57… 58… 59… Done.”

After confirming it was exactly 1 o’clock, just before opening the door, someone knocked on the shop door. Feeling unnecessarily sorry, I hurriedly turned the door handle.

“I’m sorry. I was just about to open, but did you happen to make a reservation…?”

I checked the man dressed in black from head to toe standing in front of my shop and swallowed my surprised breath.

The man with a black cloak pulled over his head and his face covered with a mask looked suspicious no matter how you looked at him. Even the large mole above his right eyebrow looked suspicious.

However, the words that came from the frightening man’s mouth were surprisingly polite.

“Are you Miss Hazel of Golden Sundries Shop?”

“Yes… What about it?”

“I’ve come to pick up the completed painting.”

“Ah…!”

A few days ago, I had sent a message to the Bashar Merchant Guild that the painting Black Hand had commissioned was completed.

I had received word that someone sent by Black Hand would come to pick up the painting soon, but I didn’t expect them to come this quickly.

With my tension relieved, I smiled brightly and welcomed the VIP customer.

“Please come in. I’ve framed and wrapped the painting, but would you like me to unwrap it so you can check it?”

“No. I think I can just take it as is.”

“Really? I’m not sure if Black Hand will be satisfied with it.”

“He will definitely be satisfied.”

He spoke calmly as if stating an obvious fact and received the frame that was beautifully wrapped in cloth.

And then thud-.

“One hundred silver coins.”

He placed a money pouch on the counter. It was a luxurious pouch made of red velvet with a black palm embroidered in the center.

“Thank you. This is for the painting, right?”

“It’s not over yet.”

“…What?”

Instead of answering, he pulled out another pouch from inside his cloak.

Thud.

Two hundred silver coins.

Thud.

Three hundred silver coins.

Thud, thud, thud, thud, thud, thud.

Four hundred, five hundred, six hundred, seven hundred, eight hundred, nine hundred silver coins.

Thunk!

One thousand silver coins.

A total of ten pouches of silver coins were placed in front of 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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