Countess Youngae’s Money-Sweeping Makeup Shop - Chapter 12

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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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12

“Haaah. Phaaaa!”

The cold air filled my lungs completely before flowing out refreshingly.

Thump thump.

Ever since leaving the ballroom, my heart had been beating wildly—whether from excitement or fear, I couldn’t tell.

I felt strange.

Refreshed yet somehow prickly at the same time.

But I didn’t regret it.

When I escaped from the ballroom, the people surrounding the Crown Prince and me parted like Moses’ miracle, clearing the path I walked.

At the same time, the gazes watching me carried various meanings.

Terror and fear.

Interest and curiosity.

Some felt satisfaction watching the Crown Prince,

while others looked at me with gleaming eyes.

Whether that gleam was admiration or jealousy, I couldn’t tell.

Maybe my heart was racing so wildly because of the dopamine rush.

A little stroll in the garden would probably calm this pounding somewhat.

I let out a light sigh and was about to take a step when—

“Ria!”

Felix, who had rushed out after me, had a flushed face.

It wasn’t embarrassment, but more like an excited cat with a reddened nose after playing enthusiastically.

His sparkling eyes looked like they might become troublesome…

Felix glanced around nervously, then grabbed my wrist and quickly led me to a corner of the garden.

As I followed, wondering if I should tell him not to grab a lady’s wrist so carelessly, Felix sat me down on a bench.

After checking the surroundings here and there, he came back to sit beside me and cleared his throat.

“Ria, how could you pull such a stunt?”

Words spoken with a serious expression.

Though different from what I expected, those words seemed devoid of emotion.

It felt rather formal, I suppose.

“As soon as you left, the Crown Prince departed and people swarmed over. Ugh.”

“Yet you managed to get out just fine?”

“What do you take me for? That’s not the important thing.”

Felix unbuttoned the top button that had been fastened to his neck and exhaled.

Then the serious atmosphere vanished completely, and he transformed back into his usual puppy-like self.

“So what happened, Ria! That was incredibly satisfying! Ah, if I’d known the plan, I would’ve dressed more impressively! Did you see the Crown Prince’s… His Highness’s expression?”

Fortunately, he seemed aware this was the Imperial Palace, so he whispered just loud enough for me to hear.

That whisper was filled with such excitement that if he lost even a bit of composure, he’d probably shout.

Yes, this is how Felix should be.

But this situation felt familiar somehow.

“Hmm.”

“What? What’s wrong?”

Ah. I get it.

This is Lili.

I stared at Felix and chuckled.

Seeing my laughter, Felix tilted his head with a question-mark-filled expression, wondering if I’d simply gone mad.

“Nothing, it’s nothing. I’m glad you enjoyed it.”

“That’s it? What about explaining the plan and everything else?”

“Felix.”

“…Yeah?”

“I’m drained.”

“Drained?”

“I’m tired from pulling off something big. You can come ask next time, can’t you, you mutt. Let me rest.”

At my words, Felix made a whining sound and became obedient.

Then he glanced around cautiously and stood up.

“Should I let them know when I go back? You’ll return to the ballroom, right?”

“Yeah. I’ll recharge a bit and come back.”

Felix walked back toward the ballroom with a bewildered expression, nodding his head, but kept walking a little then looking back, walking a little then looking back.

Just go already.

I waved my hand a couple times as if to say I was fine, and Felix finally disappeared.

Now I was finally alone. I stretched my arms up and sighed.

When we arrived, the sunset was just beginning, but now only stars and the moon hung alone in the sky.

My heart was still beating rapidly, though softly.

Maybe I felt wistful because I’d been racing toward a goal and reached it so quickly?

I stretched out my right hand, trying to fit my fingers between the stars.

The area in front was bright thanks to the Imperial Palace’s brilliant lights, but the garden where I sat was somewhat removed and dark.

Not so dark I couldn’t see, but darker compared to the nights where I used to live.

Perhaps that’s why the stars and moon were so clearly visible.

People say the night sky is beautiful when you look at it.

Of course it’s beautiful.

Beautiful, but not enough to be awestruck.

Had all my sensitivity died?

At times like this, tears should well up while looking at the sky and thinking ‘I must live on.’

Now I had many things to do.

The first button was fastened well, so I needed to plan the business, expand the cosmetics line…

There were as many tasks as stars filling the sky.

The stars are clustered together too.

They’re all scattered apart, making my work seem too numerous.

I made a groaning sound, squeezed my eyes shut, then leaned my head back against the bench.

“There, there, I have lots to do ahead, so it’s okay to rest a bit now. Let’s rest, rest. Recharge!”

“What tasks do you have that are so numerous?”

A low voice came from somewhere.

This familiar yet somewhat irritating voice…

I jerked my head up and opened my eyes wide.

Then that self-absorbed bastard came into view.

Still wearing the black wolf mask that covered his entire face, his golden eyes gleaming as he looked down at me.

I, who had been resting in the posture of an old man relaxing on a park bench in summer, quickly corrected my posture to sit politely and looked up at Jesuert Youngsik.

Thinking that I must have looked quite ridiculous made me a bit indignant.

I was going to plant another strange image in his mind.

However, Jesuert Youngsik rummaged through his inner pocket and handed me a small pouch.

I looked at the ivory-colored pouch, then at Jesuert Youngsik.

“You may eat them. I’m not someone who poisons nobles.”

Since I wasn’t opening it, he added another comment.

After hesitating briefly, I pulled the drawstring to open the pouch.

Inside were several things that looked like raisins.

“Why are you giving me this?”

When I asked the question, Jesuert Youngsik pointed at my hand with one index finger.

“Because you were trembling.”

“Pardon?”

“Your hand.”

At those words, I looked at my hand, but my hand was perfectly fine.

There was no trembling or anything like that.

Jesuert Youngsik, who had been silent, let out a sigh.

What, did that mean he found me pathetic?

You who misjudged me seem pretty similar though.

Thinking that, I picked up a raisin and ate it.

This is delicious. Sweet and not bitter.

“You did so when you left earlier.”

“…When I left?”

“Yes. When you knocked down the Empire’s little sun and left.”

I tilted my head at the words I heard while savoring the taste of the raisin.

Did I do that?

Jesuert Youngsik glanced once at the seat next to me, then stared at me again.

“If not, you can take it as a gift. It’s also true that I gave it hoping to become close in the future.”

“Suddenly? With me specifically?”

“Would that not be acceptable?”

“Do you know who I am?”

“The second daughter of Count Ebennine, Yeongae Sillia.”

“Not that. We’ve met before, haven’t we?”

“At the ballroom? This is our first conversation.”

“What? Of all things… Ah.”

I was about to say ‘even your memory,’ but then I thought of my current appearance.

If even the Crown Prince couldn’t recognize me, then this narcissistic guy wouldn’t be able to either.

I smiled prettily, saying it was my mistake.

“I must have remembered wrong. I’ll gratefully accept the gift.”

“Yes.”

Jesuert Youngsik nodded with a calm voice and fell silent again.

Aren’t you leaving? I really want to rest now…

“Her Majesty the Crown Princess is looking for you.”

“Oh my, thank you for letting me know!”

Rest, what rest? When Her Majesty the Crown Princess is looking for me, I must run to her immediately.

When I jumped up, Jesuert Youngsik flinched slightly as if surprised, but quickly made room for me to stand.

Wondering if my clothes had gotten dirty, I lightly brushed the soft fabric with my hands.

Once the wrinkles were somewhat smoothed out, I took a deep breath and exhaled strongly.

Then I started to walk toward the ballroom but stopped after two steps.

Whoosh!

I turned around in place and looked at Jesuert Youngsik.

“By any chance, what is your name?”

“…You don’t know my name?”

“Prob-ably not?”

I heard what sounded like a hollow laugh, as if he was dumbfounded.

People can forget names sometimes. When someone makes a mistake, you should be understanding about it, right? That’s basic common sense…

“Ricardo Jesuert. I’m the eldest son of House of Jesuert. Since I want to build a relationship, I hope you’ll remember next time.”

“What?”

Just hearing that one name, the threads in my head began tangling in all directions.

Did I make too flustered an expression?

Even with that worry crossing my mind, I couldn’t manage my expression.

Is my first impression okay like this?

Can I even build a relationship with this person?

Do I have to go around with this disguise all the time?

Will Sillia’s skin be okay in the future?

Oh please.

Someone knock me out!

Ricardo Jesuert.

I definitely remember this name.

Because he had quite a bit of screen time in the latter half!

And most importantly,

He’s the person I absolutely wanted to recruit first when I start my makeup business!

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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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