Countess Youngae’s Money-Sweeping Makeup Shop - Chapter 11

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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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11

When we arrived at the mansion entrance, I could see a carriage.

It was definitely more splendid than the one I had ridden with Felix before.

I wondered why even the carriage had to be so fancy, but then thought this might actually be better and nodded to myself.

In front of the carriage stood a familiar man.

The difference was that when I saw him before, he looked disheveled, but now he really seemed dressed up.

His neatly combed curly hair was swept back on the right front, and his white shirt was firmly buttoned all the way to the top.

The sky-blue vest and sky-blue jacket complemented his handsome face and added to his splendor.

Looking down, he wore white trousers without a single wrinkle, and strangely gleaming white shoes.

Though the composition was simpler than expected, the blue flower brooch pinned to the left chest of his jacket made Felix look magnificent.

As I descended the stairs with a satisfied smile, Felix, who had been wearing a sullen expression, saw me and his eyes widened.

“Ria, you are Ria, right?”

“Among the women coming out of this mansion, is there another with this hair color?”

“There isn’t, but this was a bit hard for even me to recognize?”

“Really? Then that’s good.”

“It’s almost like a disguise. I could bet my clothes that most people wouldn’t recognize this?”

“You never know. The young ladies might recognize you. Then you’d have to come back with all your clothes off.”

“…”

“What?”

“Just in case, I won’t bet my clothes.”

“Don’t make reckless bets.”

“Yeah. Let’s get going now. If we arrive any later, all this fancy dressing will be pointless. Once His ‘Highness’ the Crown Prince makes his entrance.”

 Felix emphasized the word ‘Highness’ as he spoke, then extended his hand to me as if telling me to board the carriage.

He wore white silk gloves on his hands, which made the touch feel soft when our hands met.

After I boarded, Felix followed and got into the carriage.

The door closed and the carriage slowly headed toward the Imperial Palace along the road.

***

The Imperial Palace was much more splendid than Sillia’s mansion.

It looked like it would indulge in every luxury imaginable, with an enormous size visible even from afar, and seemed to sparkle as if diamonds were embedded in the building.

When we arrived in front of such a palace, I thought it was amazing that people didn’t get lost here.

Because I really felt like I had become a thumbnail-sized miniature standing in front of a children’s princess castle.

Regardless of revenge, it was a building that made me exclaim like a child.

When the carriage stopped, Felix got out first again and extended his hand to me.

Though it had been so awkward before, having held hands a couple more times made me familiar with it, so I calmly took his hand and stepped down from the carriage.

As my feet touched the ground, my heart began to pound.

Until now, I had been thinking with fighting spirit, ‘I’ll give him a satisfying kick!’ but now that I had arrived in front of the decisive battleground, I felt nervous.

But I couldn’t run away from here.

I now knew that things only change when you do something about them.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

If there’s really a problem, Felix will stop me.

I’m not alone right now!

I firmly grasped Felix’s hand as he was about to let go and smiled, lifting the corners of my mouth.

“Felix.”

“Uh, huh?”

“You trust this noona, right?”

Felix’s face turned red, then anxiety and bewilderment crept up, making it slightly pale.

“What noo,”

“Noona will show you something fun, so stop me if it gets dangerous, okay?”

“I under… what do you mean. Ria, what’s with that expression? I can’t handle cleanup or anything like that.”

“No. You can do it.”

“No. I don’t want to. I won’t do it. Wait, Ria! Don’t go ahead… Ria? Ria! Ah come on, wait for meeee!”

As I started walking ahead, leaving Felix behind, Felix, who had been shaking his head and muttering, was startled and hurriedly ran after me.

***

The ballroom was more splendid than I had expected.

Pure white walls and golden chandeliers, various luxurious furniture. Details decorated with red fabric everywhere.

Anyone could tell this was the Imperial Family’s taste.

On one side there was food, on another side various musicians and instruments were gathered like an orchestra, and a little distance away, people were gathered, laughing heartily.

Though I’m more of an extrovert, I still felt my energy being drained.

How hard must it have been for Sillia.

Being timid, she was probably an introvert… It must have been terrible.

Yet thinking that she would have dressed up earnestly at home and come here because of the Crown Prince alone, I couldn’t help but tear up.

The Crown Prince who rejected such a girl’s confession so cruelly?

Suddenly my nervousness completely disappeared.

Crown Prince or whatever, maybe it was because my desire for revenge was burning, wanting to just grab his head and punch him once.

I secretly clenched my fist tightly, then slowly opened it and naturally put on a business smile.

Come to think of it, I had been feeling gazes on me continuously.

Though I didn’t know the source of the gazes, I could tell that people from here and there were focusing on Felix and me.

Yes, yes. Look more. Focus here.

I’ll give you an interesting spectacle to watch.

While feeling those gazes and people-watching with Felix from slightly to the side of the center, I suddenly felt silence descend upon the ballroom.

“Haha, why is everyone so quiet? You can chatter like before. I prefer it when it’s bustling, you know.”

When no sound could be heard, a tall black-haired man came down the upstairs staircase, letting out laughter.

Everyone in the ballroom lowered their posture respectfully and, as if they had coordinated, spoke simultaneously.

“We greet the small sun of the Empire.”

Though I was awkwardly following along, I missed the timing of the line and unconsciously flinched in surprise.

Why don’t they even say ‘one, two’ to help people follow along?

Even after people’s greetings, only the sound of footsteps echoed in the ballroom.

The gradually approaching sound made my heart beat rapidly.

Thump thump.

With my head down and eyes closed, just when I was starting to wonder whether that man had come to me or gone to the side.

“I don’t like long greetings. Everyone can raise their heads.”

A voice rang out gently from above my head.

It was a voice so gentle it was almost creepy.

The kind of voice that would make anyone’s heart flutter.

I slowly opened my eyes and gradually raised my gaze upward.

Black shoes, black trousers, red shirt and black vest, jacket. On his chest, a brooch with a dark red gem like blood caught my eye.

Ah, finally.

“Young lady, how about dancing the first dance with me?”

“Ah.”

In the center of the ballroom where brilliant light poured down.

I suddenly received the attention of many people.

Nevertheless, I confidently accepted those gazes and made a surprised expression.

I struggled to swallow the laughter that wanted to burst out at the man’s words.

The man before me, who seemed to truly not know who I was, wore an arrogant expression.

As if he had confidence that I would naturally accept his proposal.

Hair black as the night sky and red eyes like rubies.

Fox-like gracefully curved eyes and red lips too.

Really, he was a beautiful person.

Someone like this must have lived without ever experiencing rejection.

But now the word ‘rejection’ would enter this man’s life.

I quietly stared at the Crown Prince, then gracefully lowered my gaze.

“I apologize, Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

“Yes, with me… what?”

“It seems you’ve mistaken me for someone else.”

“Wh-what do you mean, young lady?”

I could see the Crown Prince’s lips struggling to maintain their composure.

Still holding up well, are we?

I let out a gentle voice and smiled with my eyes.

“It’s me. Don’t you recognize me?”

“Haha, impossible. We’re meeting for the first time. How could I forget such a beautiful young lady…”

“Sillia.”

“Sillia?”

The Crown Prince, who had been smiling, repeated my words and then looked puzzled.

“Why are you talking about Lady Sillia? Ah! You must have heard something strange from her…”

“Why are you courting the same person?”

“The same person? This is the first time I’m seeing you, young lady.”

“Really? I’m the person who was dumped by Your Highness the Crown Prince a week ago.”

“Haha, what a joke…”

“What did you say? ‘This is the first time I’ve seen such an ugly young lady like you,’ was it?”

The Crown Prince’s face gradually hardened like stone.

Soon he looked as if he’d seen a ghost, then slowly stepped backward.

He lost his balance and fell backward, and I gracefully approached right in front of the Crown Prince and extended my hand.

“Oh my, are you alright?”

“No, no. Did that young lady put you up to this? To impersonate her?”

“Impersonate? Haha, why would I have her do such a thing? I don’t have that kind of power. Did my makeup turn out well? Do I look that different?”

“Makeup, you say. Don’t lie. You’re not Sillia, you’re…”

“Not Sillia? What, a witch?”

“Yes, a witch!”

“Oh dear, you’ll anger the mages. There’s the title ‘mage’ available, yet you say ‘witch.'”

“That’s, well…”

The Crown Prince’s pupils wavered at my words.

The Imperial House and the Tower of Mages were in a cooperative relationship, but if he used words the mages disliked, there was no telling how they might react.

But I couldn’t care less whether the Imperial House faced difficulties or not.

The hand I had extended was the minimum courtesy as a noble.

Just before the Crown Prince could grasp my hand, I withdrew it immediately.

“You don’t particularly need to believe me. I had no intention of making Your Highness the Crown Prince understand anyway.”

“Making me understand? What kind of rude words are those?”

“It seems other young ladies are waiting for Your Highness the Crown Prince, so I shall take my leave first. May glory always be with the small sun of the Empire.”

“Wait…!”

Before the Crown Prince could finish his words, I grasped the hem of my light purple-white dress with both hands and bowed my head.

Not the gentle, blushing Sillia of the past, but I, with sharp features and pale skin, smiled coolly.

Then I slowly raised my head and met the Crown Prince’s eyes with my pink diamond-like pupils shining.

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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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