Countess Youngae’s Money-Sweeping Makeup Shop - Chapter 26

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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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26

 

“If you’re not lovers, it would be better for you two to keep some distance.”

 

“Suddenly?”

 

“No matter how close you are as friends, you’re both adults now. If you’re not lovers, staying close together is poison.”

 

“…Poison?”

 

“Young Lady, have you ever seen Young Master Gardrid at a ballroom?”

 

“No, not really.”

 

Ricardo spun around, switching places with me.

 

Then I could see Felix, who had been behind me.

 

Several young ladies were gathered around Felix, talking to him.

 

Seeing the young ladies looking at Felix with sparkling eyes made me realize my mistake.

 

We weren’t little children anymore—if grown adults went around together, people would naturally misunderstand.

 

But if we said we weren’t lovers while still going around together, other young ladies would see me as a cunning fox.

 

That would definitely become an obstacle blocking the marriage path between Felix and me.

 

I shifted my gaze back to Ricardo.

 

I looked up seriously at his calm, observing eyes and nodded.

 

“I’m not saying to cut off your friendship. I’m saying you should create various relationships beyond just Young Master Gardrid.”

 

“That would certainly help with business too, right?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Thank you for letting me know. Oh, I have something I’m curious about too.”

 

“What is it?”

 

“…Why did you wear the mask? Did young ladies really line up for you?”

 

“Who told you such a story?”

 

I did.

 

It’s really important!

 

Our business marketing depends on it.

 

But Ricardo seemed incredulous, asking more sharply than before and letting out a sigh.

 

“Simply to hide scars. With a scarred face, it’s difficult to form relationships.”

 

“What a was—I mean, wouldn’t that mask be scary too?”

 

“Yes. They’re scared. But it’s still better than people treating me like vermin every time they see me.”

 

“Then if the scars disappeared, your relationships would expand more?”

 

“The scars won’t disappear.”

 

“I could cover them for you. Should I visit your manor to cover them starting from the next ball?”

 

“Would that be alright?”

 

“There’s no reason it wouldn’t be.”

 

“For Young Lady to receive nothing in return…”

 

“Huh? I’m going to charge money though.”

 

“…Ha.”

 

“How about it? Regular visit makeup.”

 

“Must you charge money even from your partner?”

 

“Do you know how many business partners these days fight and go broke after doing business without charging each other? You’re stating the obvious.”

 

“Your future planning is thorough too.”

 

“That’s just how I am.”

 

I smiled confidently as if I’d received a compliment, and Ricardo looked down at me before rolling his eyes to the side.

 

“How much for those regular visits?”

 

“80 gold for 5 sessions. How about it? It’s normally 100 gold, but since you’re my partner, I’m giving you a 20 gold discount. Other places charge more than this.”

 

“There are no other places to begin with.”

 

I smiled brightly in silence.

 

Then Ricardo shook his head and stopped as the music ended.

 

“I’ll send the money separately.”

 

“Thank you, VIP Partner.”

 

I grinned, let go of Ricardo’s hand, and curtsied.

 

I returned to my seat to rest again, but I felt a gaze from behind.

 

It was incredibly chilling—not a gaze of envy or admiration.

 

I felt a gaze filled with negative emotions.

 

As if it contained killing intent.

 

I immediately turned my head to look around.

 

But that gaze disappeared right away.

 

In the end, I couldn’t figure out who had been looking at me with such a gaze that day.

 

***

 

“It finally came!”

 

I received the blue envelope Lili handed me, held it up, and my eyes sparkled.

 

This letter announced that the Color Alchemist candidates had been decided.

 

Ricardo, who had said he would call me when deciding the final successful candidate, had sent this letter.

 

When I looked at the date and time written in the letter and told Lili, she just said things like ‘If anything seems strange, run away immediately!’

 

If Lili had lived in modern times, she probably would have pulled her hair out reading romance novels. Definitely.

 

When that day came, I wore a neat dress in a bluish lavender color and headed to Ricardo’s Manor.

 

There was one thing I learned from meeting Ricardo:

 

He recognizes the same makeup.

 

I don’t know if this should be considered good or bad.

 

Even when I wanted to do a particular makeup look that day, I couldn’t because of Ricardo.

 

Because I would have to go through the trouble of proving I was Sillia again.

 

On the flip side, the advantage was that on days I didn’t want Ricardo to recognize me, I could just do makeup he didn’t know.

 

Fortunately, daily makeup seemed to be useful too.

 

Today I didn’t do heavy makeup.

 

I did simple, light makeup, but there was one different point.

 

Unlike when I first met Ricardo, I drew my eyeliner slightly downward.

 

If I drew it upward and he said ‘So you were that stalker!’…

 

Haha.

 

Even if he found out I was that woman, until we reached a relationship where he could just say ‘I see’ and move on, drawing upward eyeliner daily was completely forbidden.

 

Random thoughts made time pass quickly.

 

When I came to my senses, I was already in front of Ricardo’s house, and I opened the carriage door with excitement.

 

Today, Ricardo was there from the front gate.

 

He approached familiarly and extended his hand for me to get out of the carriage, which felt somewhat awkward.

 

It was like a stranger opening the door for me before I’d even reached the door.

 

I was grateful, but I felt self-conscious.

 

Even this moment of hesitation felt awkward, but I couldn’t say ‘it’s okay’ here either, so I didn’t know what to do and just took his hand.

 

Tap.

 

As soon as I got out of the carriage, I let go of his hand, and Ricardo also seemed to think nothing of it as he closed the carriage door.

 

When I waited, he glanced at me once and then led the way toward the manor.

 

Seeing it again, it was an incredible size.

 

Big, spacious, simple yet with gorgeous details.

 

I didn’t turn my head around obviously, but it was so fascinating that my eyes unconsciously rolled around everywhere.

 

Besides, last time I couldn’t see anything because I was chasing after Ricardo’s afterimage!

 

The corridor was quiet.

 

There weren’t even the commonly heard sounds of servants’ conversations.

 

Only the clicking sounds of shoe heels echoed.

 

In this state, I was worried even the sound of swallowing would be too loud, so I carefully let the saliva pooling in my mouth flow down my throat.

 

If I choke on this, it’ll be a disaster.

 

Go down carefully, please.

 

I was so preoccupied with such thoughts that I didn’t notice Ricardo had stopped in front of a door and walked a bit past him.

 

“Yeongae?”

 

That single word brought me back to my senses, and with my face flushing hot, I hurriedly positioned myself behind Ricardo.

 

Though no more words were exchanged, the heat didn’t easily fade as I was embarrassed at being caught lost in thought.

 

Ricardo, seemingly unconcerned about me, opened the door to the room where the three candidates were waiting.

 

Then all three people’s gazes turned toward me.

 

My body stiffened under the suddenly focused attention, but after taking a deep breath, I lifted the corners of my mouth into a bright smile.

 

The three people stood there dazed for a moment, then as if suddenly remembering, they sprang up from their seats and greeted me energetically.

 

“Hello!”

 

Ricardo, who had been watching them, turned his gaze to me and then stood by the door.

 

As if telling me to enter first, I pulled myself together properly this time and walked into the room.

 

After entering and closing the door, Ricardo guided me to my seat.

 

My place was a chair in front of a table facing the three people.

 

Wondering where Ricardo would sit, I turned my head to look at him, and he stared at me as if asking what the problem was.

 

As I hesitated without taking my seat, Ricardo pulled the chair back.

 

“Please sit.”

 

“Um, where will Jesuert Youngsik be sitting…?”

 

“I won’t be sitting.”

 

“But this is Youngsik’s Mansion?”

 

“These people are ones that Yeongae said were needed, not me. The owner of this business is also Yeongae, for now.”

 

“Ah.”

 

That’s right.

 

I had forgotten something important.

 

I nodded and sat down in the plush chair.

 

It felt strange to sit in the evaluator’s seat when I had always been the one being evaluated.

 

It was also somewhat nerve-wracking.

 

The three people in front of me all had different vibes.

 

I checked the documents placed on the table.

 

One person was a 57-year-old man, Gabil.

 

Wearing a white shirt with a worn brown vest and worn brown pants, he had a relaxed smile.

 

I could feel the composure that comes with age.

 

Another was a 16-year-old man who looked quite young, Beliw.

 

Wearing a red shirt and black pants, he had a confident smile that might even seem arrogant.

 

Seeing how bold he was, he seemed like someone who had been called a prodigy.

 

Finally, there was a 24-year-old woman, Michelle.

 

She was wearing a dress with various stains here and there, her body hunched over with a tense expression.

 

Somehow, she reminded me of myself when I used to go to job interviews in the past.

 

But I couldn’t sympathize with such things.

 

I’m not in a situation where I can save anyone right now.

 

I’m in a situation where I need to find the most capable person to make a lot of money.

 

After examining the three people with my eyes, I nodded.

 

Then Ricardo spoke in a firm voice.

 

“Let’s begin the final test.”

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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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