Countess Youngae’s Money-Sweeping Makeup Shop - Chapter 21

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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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21

So,

this pile of papers is a business plan,

Lady Sillia wants to do some kind of business with me,

and what’s in that glass bottle is cosmetics?

Ricardo, who had been carefully thinking about what had happened, decided to read the business plan first.

“…?”

Sorry to Sillia, but he couldn’t understand what kind of plan this was.

To be precise, it seemed more like a report written by an academy student than a business plan.

If she had called it a report, he would have read it with admiration.

After reading through the entire pile of papers, Ricardo pursed his lips, wondering how to start the conversation.

‘This isn’t a plan. I don’t understand what you’re trying to say.’

Thinking he should say that, he shifted his gaze from the papers to Sillia.

Then he saw that unlike before, she looked extremely nervous.

Seeing her like a cat that would be startled and hide in a wooden box even if praised, he swallowed his words back.

Thinking it would be better to ask questions instead, he threw a question at Sillia.

Then Sillia answered smoothly with a cold, stiff voice as if she had prepared.

People with confidence made good business partners.

Because they could handle any danger that came their way.

Everything was good, it was good.

Ricardo didn’t like makeup itself.

So he was about to decline the business when Sillia suddenly grabbed his hand.

It felt like his heart was being squeezed.

Was it stuffy?

It also felt ticklish.

He couldn’t explain the exact sensation, but what was certain was that Ricardo’s situational awareness had dropped again.

He didn’t know why he was acting like this.

When he struggled to combine words to respond to Sillia’s words, her expression brightened and she took various things out of the basket.

It was strange.

When Sillia spoke, Ricardo had no choice but to move according to her words.

As if under some kind of brainwashing magic, he took off his mask and sat next to Sillia.

Wouldn’t Sillia see him and run away?

The doubt that crossed his mind was erased by her presence.

Her pink eyes sparkled like beautifully cut diamonds.

Those eyes, which held not a trace of fear, created a sense of relief.

“Look this way.”

A soft hand touched Ricardo’s cheek.

His dazed mind snapped to attention.

He turned his head at the gentle patting on his back.

Perhaps the reason his situational awareness had deteriorated was because Ricardo was trying to protect himself.

With his mind clear, the sweet scent of fruit mixed with the fresh scent of forest suddenly struck Ricardo’s sense of smell.

At the same time, he met those eyes that were close to him, looking at him seriously.

‘Does this lady have no awareness that I’m a man?’

Thump thump thump.

The sound of a heartbeat from somewhere filled the quiet reception room.

Ricardo tried hard to think that the sound wasn’t his own and shifted his gaze toward the furniture.

His vision had certainly widened, but his other senses had become even more sensitive.

The sound of slow breathing, the rustling of clothes touching each other, the sound of a brush moving and grazing against skin.

Every sound Sillia made could be heard clearly.

Was that why?

His gaze, which he had directed elsewhere, kept turning back to Sillia.

With her thin, white hands, she was drawing something so diligently that her hands showed no sign of stopping.

She dipped the brush into the cream she had put on her other hand, tickled Ricardo’s cheek, then waved her small hand like a fan, sending a breeze toward his cheek.

That process was repeated many times, but strangely, he didn’t find it tedious.

That was probably because he was looking at Sillia’s face.

Frowning as she concentrated,

narrowing her eyes as she pondered,

or smiling brightly like a child when satisfied.

Various expressions appeared on her face.

Finally, Sillia put down her brush and stared intently at Ricardo.

Since she kept looking at him, he wondered if something was strange and felt anxiety stirring.

That’s when it happened.

Sillia put down her brush and, giggling, firmly grasped Ricardo’s left hand.

“Let’s go look in the mirror.”

***

Ah, having scars gave off a nice wild charm in its own way.

But when I covered the scars, all the selves in my heart stood up and applauded.

This is it. This is what I’m talking about.

Honestly, I was a little scared.

I was worried that if the scars didn’t get covered, Ricardo might kick me out of the manor like kicking a soccer ball.

But, this me!

I did it perfectly!

The project to cover scars with ointment foundation was successful.

The masterstroke of this makeup was the ointment foundation prepared with matching color correcting.

By properly fixing all the blotchy colors, I was able to create truly natural skin without a single scar.

I wiped the remaining product on the back of my hand with a handkerchief and stood up, and Ricardo also stood up following me.

I wondered how surprised he would be and imagined his reaction while looking around.

I immediately dragged Ricardo to the full-length mirror that caught my eye.

He’s not going to be so surprised that he falls backward, is he?

He might even get drunk on his own face, saying ‘Is this me?’

That would be kind of funny.

If I had a phone, I would have recorded a video.

When we reached the mirror, I stopped walking and let go of his hand.

Then I stepped back and stared at Ricardo in the mirror.

“…How is it?”

The moment Ricardo stopped in front of the mirror and looked at himself in it, my heart beat rapidly.

Even though I already knew it turned out well, it’s only really good when the customer is satisfied.

“This is….”

His lips, which had been moving, tried to speak but closed again.

His widened eyes, as if surprised, just stared at the mirror without saying anything.

Then he carefully touched his cheek with his fingertips.

When his fingertips touched his cheek, Ricardo turned his head and looked down at his own hand.

“Is this ‘makeup’?”

It seemed he was properly satisfied.

Pride rose up from deep within me.

At his question as he turned around to look at me, I smiled brightly and nodded.

“Yes!”

“Are you certain that not even a bit of magic was used?”

“I can’t use even a bit of magic power in the first place. I would definitely faint before I could cast any magic.”

“Then with only that ointment foundation….”

“Hehe, that’s right.”

Ricardo’s gaze turned toward the table.

Now you’re starting to calculate, aren’t you?

How much money this makeup business will rake in!

If you don’t do it, I’ll go find that woman called ‘Berry’!

It’ll take some time to find her and the cosmetics supply will be quite delayed though.

‘….’

No, please just do business with me!

What are you hesitating about so much?

It has to be you, Ricardo!

In my heart, I was screaming more desperately than an ex calling at dawn, clinging to Ricardo’s leg and crying my eyes out.

But if I showed that, he might propose a deal unfavorable to me.

So I acted leisurely, pretending I didn’t need him, playing the role of a noble and haughty rich daughter I’d seen in dramas.

“As you can see, I’m completely ignorant about makeup.”

After a brief silence, Ricardo looked back at me and spoke.

When I met his serious gaze, I relaxed my expression and looked at Ricardo seriously as well.

“So I’m not sure if I’ll be of help to your business, Young Lady.”

Is this a rejection?

No. You should listen to people until the end.

“It might be difficult for you, Young Lady. You’ll have to teach me everything I need to do step by step. Even so, do you still want to work with me?”

Right. You really should listen to people until the end.

I smiled broadly and extended my right hand to Ricardo.

“Even so, I would be pleased if Master Jesuert would join me.”

A smile appeared on Ricardo’s lips as he stared at that hand.

After meeting my gaze, he grasped my lone hand in the air and shook it.

“This seals our business partnership, doesn’t it?”

“Yes. Our partnership is sealed.”

***

“I guess the early stages are always the busiest.”

“Huh? What is?”

Lili, who had been busily combing my hair while pondering hairstyles, suddenly looked up and met my eyes in the mirror.

“Oh, it’s nothing. Just make sure the side hair doesn’t fall down. You don’t need to worry so much about it….”

“Whaaaat? Have you forgotten who you’re going to see? There’s even a ball right after! Of course I have to worry and prepare thoroughly!”

“R-right. Do as you please, Lili.”

That’s right.

The Crown Princess, who hadn’t contacted me for a while, had sent a letter.

The content was simple.

Something about wanting me to demonstrate my abilities at the next royal ball.

And today was the day of the ball.

I’m sure there was supposed to be a week’s time, but it was already the weekend.

This couldn’t be right, so I asked Lili what day it was five times, but all I got back was that it was Sunday.

I didn’t want to believe it.

Besides, all I did for a week was finalize business plans, create colors that would suit the Crown Princess, and study etiquette.

It seems like I did a lot, but that’s not what’s important.

What’s important is that I couldn’t rest or go anywhere to have fun!

I swallowed the tears that were about to flow.

The makeup will smudge. No, no.

Finally, Lili spent an hour fussing with my hair before she was satisfied and let me go.

After packing cosmetics and various tools into the picnic basket I’d brought before, I left the room.

My first customer here!

Let me do my best to bring out the Crown Princess’s charm to the maximum so she can shine the brightest!

Fighting!

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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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