Countess Youngae’s Money-Sweeping Makeup Shop - Chapter 36
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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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36
“Yes.”
“Let’s go now.”
“Understood.”
Ricardo stared at me intently before putting on his mask and rising from his seat.
Since I had never observed Ricardo from a distance before, I was newly struck by how tall he was and how large his build appeared.
As he approached closer and closer, his increasing height made me unconsciously flinch and look up at him.
His head tilted slightly.
“…? Is something wrong?”
“Oh, no. It’s nothing.”
When I turned around, no further questions came.
When I took a step, Ricardo simply took a step as well.
And so we took a carriage and headed to the village.
***
Normally I would have worn a cloak, but today was different.
It was partly because we had traveled continuously by carriage, and also because both of us except Lili were wearing masks.
Besides, I got dressed up today so I should show it off!
Since things turned out this way, it would be good to promote that this kind of unique makeup exists too, right?
And since Ricardo was carrying the gold pouch, I could feel at ease.
Sure enough, people’s gazes landed heavily on my face.
I wasn’t embarrassed, but it was a little burdensome.
Still, seeing that those gazes weren’t disapproving ones, this kind of makeup seemed to be acceptable.
The first place we went to was a restaurant famous for its strawberry pie.
Other foods were decent too, but the desserts were supposedly amazing, or something like that.
With excited hearts, we were guided to our seats.
But then a problem that wasn’t really a problem appeared.
“Lili should sit with us too!”
“No way! How could I sit in the same place as Miss and eat! Just having Miss buy for me is more than enough.”
Lili shook her head vigorously and waved her hands dismissively.
I quickly grabbed those hands with both of mine and looked at her pleadingly, but Lili’s conviction was strong.
If I wanted to eat together, she would stand – what kind of talk is this!
And if Lili wasn’t here, I’d have to sit with that guy!
Ricardo, who met my eyes over Lili, stared at me as if wondering what the problem was, then picked up the menu.
Hey, hey…!
In the end, Lili sat alone at a different table to eat, and I had to dine facing this wolf mask.
Clink, clink.
It was when the fork and knife were making sounds as they touched the plate.
The quiet Ricardo opened his mouth.
“Yeongae.”
“Yes?”
“…Are you Ebennain Yeongae?”
“What kind of novel question is this now?”
“Pardon?”
Ah, I spoke my thoughts out loud.
But really, isn’t it about time to distinguish by hair color or eye color?
How long does this man plan to not recognize me?
While I find his reaction of not recognizing me amusing, how am I supposed to make money when makeup becomes widespread?
Is he planning to turn away regular customers because he can’t recognize them?
I rested my chin on the table with an expression that held nothing but questions.
“If I’m not Ebennain Yeongae, then who am I?”
“Perhaps another child the Ebennain Family has hidden.”
“Huh. Your discernment isn’t very good. If I changed my hair color, you really wouldn’t recognize me.”
“That would be the case.”
“How can you just accept that so readily!”
“Then what should I have said?”
“Well, you should have said you’d try harder, or asked me to tell you a method.”
“I’m not someone who does makeup. More precisely, I’m closer to an investor. I don’t need to recognize people’s faces. They’ll come when I call their names.”
That confident tone made me dumbfounded.
I opened and closed my lips before squeezing my eyes shut.
It wasn’t wrong, but that made it more annoying.
This is why the powerful class is like this.
I straightened my posture and let out a deep sigh.
“Really…”
“Really?”
“I have a lot I want to say, but I’ll hold back. Anyway, do you understand now that I’m Sillia?”
“Yes.”
“Then that’s enough. Let’s just finish eating.”
As soon as I finished speaking, I resumed eating.
After that, there were no more words.
Since we probably had nothing curious about each other anyway, I also silently finished the main course.
Soon, a red and appetizing strawberry pie was placed on the table.
If only I had a camera, I would take a picture of this!
The atmosphere was good, the sunlight was coming in nicely, and the table was clean – it was the perfect situation for taking photos.
But since there was no camera, I moved my head this way and that, capturing the pie’s appearance from various angles in my mind.
After admiring it sufficiently, I put a bite of pie in my mouth.
The sweet yet mild pie lifted the corners of my mouth and made my eyes sparkle.
What should I do, it’s so delicious!
Covering my mouth with one hand while savoring all kinds of emotions, I looked toward Ricardo.
Ricardo was eating pie following my lead, with his mask removed.
While my eating probably didn’t look that pretty, the person before my eyes painted a picture.
Many people glanced sideways at our table.
I couldn’t tell if it was because of that beautiful scene or because of the scar.
Nevertheless, the man who seemed unconcerned focused on eating his pie with an expressionless face.
Does he like sweet things too?
When I stared intently at Ricardo, he rolled his eyes.
“Is there some problem?”
“No, it’s not that. I was wondering if you like desserts.”
“…Why are you asking that?”
“Well, nothing much… If you like them, shall we go to other places too?”
Ricardo’s answer didn’t come immediately.
He just looked down at the pie expressionlessly, taking his time.
Still, before long, Ricardo resumed eating his pie.
After quietly swallowing the last bite, Ricardo’s gaze returned to me.
“I like them.”
“Pardon?”
“Desserts, I mean. This place is quite delicious too.”
Oh my, were you a kindred spirit?
This changes everything! My dessert tour – I can go ahead with it?
So Ricardo likes desserts too.
Completely unexpected.
Don’t you happen to know any dessert hotspots?
Like a shop hidden in some alley corner that only I know about?
My heart pounded with anticipation.
“Do you happen to have a favorite dessert shop?”
“…I don’t have a shop, but I do have a type.”
“What kind? Cake? Pie? Cookies? Macarons?”
“I like cookies. Cookies with raisins.”
You must really like raisins. You even carry raisins around with you.”
“I suppose it’s because they were the snack I ate most often since childhood.”
“Raisins are delicious! Then shall we go look for pound cake together? I think cake specialty shops would probably have some.”
“Yes. That sounds good.”
Without any hesitation or doubt, he nodded his head.
Did I unconsciously include talk of a dessert tour in my letter?
So he knew I was going on a dessert tour today and came directly.
This kind of dessert tour feels different from eating alone at home.
He probably didn’t have a mate to eat desserts with.
Don’t worry, Ricardo! I’ll become your dessert mate from now on!
Let’s eat desserts to our heart’s content throughout our business!
When I smiled brightly, Ricardo drank the water poured in his cup.
Can’t you smile back a little at times like this!
***
While riding the carriage and tasting various desserts at different dessert shops, Lili was urgently called from the manor and returned to the manor in tears.
Left alone with Ricardo in the confusion, I suggested taking a brief walk on the street as the atmosphere was about to become awkward again.
Ricardo said if I wanted to take a walk, I should return to the manor, but I wanted to digest right now and go eat the next dessert.
It’s too early to end like this when my mouth isn’t numb from sweetness yet!
I’ll find the most delicious place first, then when I earn lots of money, I’ll hire that shop’s patissier.
Hehe. Just thinking about it naturally lifted my spirits.
While humming softly and walking down the street, I discovered a shop selling various oils.
Oil could be used for something too…
Ah, cleansing oil!
I don’t know the exact ingredients of cleansing oil, but if there’s natural oil among those oils, it’ll work.
According to the spirit, it’s possible.
“Is anyone there?”
“Oh, just a moment! I’ll be right out! Really just a second!”
A middle-aged woman’s voice could be heard from inside the shop.
From her muffled voice, it seemed she was eating lunch.
It’s not like I’m pressed for time anyway. I can wait a moment.
Meanwhile, I bent my waist slightly to look at the oils displayed outside.
“Hey, wait up!”
“Try to catch me~!”
Bump.
Two young boys brushed past me, lightly bumping into me.
Fortunately, I kept my balance and didn’t fall, but the children, knowing they had bumped into me, approached me in surprise.
“Gasp, sorry! Hey, what are you doing! You come apologize quickly too!”
“Uh, uhuh! S-sorry!”
Seeing them quickly bow and greet me, far from feeling displeased, I smiled at their admirable behavior.
“No, it’s fine. But don’t run here since it’s narrow. Got it?”
“Ah, yes!”
“Yes, we understand! Thank you!”
After sending the children away, the middle-aged woman who came out of the shop frowned as she looked at the children in the distance.
“Why are those kids here again?”
“Those children? Why?”
“Whenever those brats show up, they always steal something. But they run away like mice so well that there’s no way to catch them.”
As she spoke with a deep sigh, anxiety slowly crept up on me.
Swish!
I turned my head to look at Ricardo.
“Money!”
He fumbled with his inner pocket, then shook his head back and forth.
My relief was brief, as his hand settled on my hair.
“Your hairpin has disappeared.”
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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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