Countess Youngae’s Money-Sweeping Makeup Shop - Chapter 38

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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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38

 

Hiccup.

 

A long silence followed after I shouted.

 

And what broke that silence was Felix’s hiccup.

 

Felix was also startled, covering his mouth with both hands as his face turned bright red.

 

Even so, he maintained his smiling expression without changing it at all, so Ricardo glanced down at me for a moment.

 

Soon he picked up the hairpin I had chosen and the one he had chosen, setting them down beside him.

 

“When a noble enters a shop, it’s proper etiquette to buy at least one thing. I don’t mind if you put it in my hair, so I’d appreciate it if you’d accept it for now.”

 

If that’s proper etiquette, then there’s nothing I can do about it.

 

To put a hairpin in that hair, it’s not funny, but I think it would be nice…

 

When I nodded, Ricardo paid for the hairpins with his own money, then gently grabbed my wrist.

 

In a way that I could easily shake off if I wanted to.

 

Since I stayed still, Ricardo nodded to Felix and led me out of the shop.

 

Felix’s expression wasn’t clearly visible.

 

Seeing him just staring blankly at the hairpins, maybe he was regretting his mistake?

 

***

 

Ricardo didn’t say a word until we got back into the carriage.

 

He released my wrist shortly after we left the shop, so I wondered why he had grabbed it in the first place.

 

Clatter.

 

When the carriage started moving, Ricardo handed me a box.

 

Then he removed his mask and bowed his waist.

 

“You may do it.”

 

His bare face drew closer and his eyelids closed gently.

 

His appearance of accepting punishment was a little cute.

 

What I said earlier was just to threaten him not to buy it if he didn’t want his pride hurt.

 

But a promise is a promise.

 

I opened the box and looked at the sparkling hairpins.

 

Then I put a flower hairpin made of red gems in his hair.

 

It didn’t go in as neatly and prettily as when Lili did it for me.

 

Still, the sight of him wearing a hairpin was quite funny and also adorable.

 

“Hehe.”

 

“What’s wrong, Yeongae?”

 

“It’s funny.”

 

“…Is it funny that I’m wearing a hairpin?”

 

“Yes!”

 

When I gave an enthusiastic positive answer and giggled, Ricardo touched his hair.

 

He didn’t show any signs of blushing or anything like that.

 

Like a child calmly accepting punishment, he quietly stared at me with the hairpin in place, then turned his gaze to the box.

 

“Did you put the one Yeongae chose on me?”

 

“Wow, you’re quick to notice things like this.”

 

“…Shouldn’t I have noticed?”

 

“It’s not that.”

 

“Is it okay for me to wear what Yeongae liked?”

 

“If I wear this dress again, it would be a shame, but there wasn’t a hairpin in this color. If I get to wear a dress that goes well with this, I’ll wear it then.”

 

Ricardo blinked a couple of times, then straightened his posture and turned his gaze to the window.

 

Gentle sunlight entered the carriage and his hair swayed slightly in the breeze.

 

The hairpin that I thought would only look funny sparkled in the light, transforming his atmosphere into something enchanting.

 

…Ah.

 

If the makeup shop does well, I should expand it into a store that picks out everything from accessories to clothes!

 

Then I could do even more image transformations, right?

 

Various items were written on the list in my head.

 

At the same time, I seemed to hear the sound of money piling up.

 

Clink clink.

 

Anticipation rose so much it was breathtaking, making my heart race wildly.

 

Good! Fighting, fighting!

 

***

 

When we arrived at the manor, I saw Ricardo off.

 

Perhaps he secretly liked the hairpin, because Ricardo looked in the mirror and adjusted it back on his head over his mask before returning to his own manor.

 

After returning to my room, I decided to test my abilities before washing up.

 

I took out the olive oil and lavender oil that the Middle-aged Woman had given me from the bag.

 

I poured the shimmering oils about half full into clean, sterilized glass bottles.

 

Then I mixed the two oils with a long, thin teaspoon while imagining hard in my mind.

 

Cleansing oil, cleansing oil.

 

A good cleansing oil that removes my makeup well but is gentle so it doesn’t sting even if it gets in my eyes and actually improves my skin.

 

Finally, when the two oils were completely mixed, I quickly took out the ointment foundation and spread it well on the back of my hand.

 

After waiting for it to dry somewhat, I put a little oil on my hand and rubbed it…

 

“Wow!”

 

It’s coming off!

 

It was really coming off cleanly.

 

Just in case, I tried other cosmetics too, but any cosmetic came off properly.

 

Even after washing with water, I could feel that the back of my hand was moistly hydrated.

 

With this ability, I could really make toner and serum too, right?

 

I can protect my skin! Hooray!

 

I’ll make face masks, and this and that…

 

Thinking about things to make, I used the oil to remove my makeup.

 

After finishing washing my face, the slightly sticky feeling that was there before completely disappeared and I felt refreshed.

 

Now I was about to change clothes when Lili came running hurriedly, panting and looking at me with a tearful expression.

 

I patted the head of Lili, who kept apologizing, telling her it was okay.

 

After Lili’s tears subsided somewhat, I changed into a comfortable dress with Lili’s help.

 

As I flopped down on the bed feeling light, drowsiness came over me.

 

Fatigue hit me just from using some mental energy being caught between people.

 

My eyelids were getting heavy, and through my blinking vision I could see Lili fidgeting restlessly.

 

“…Hm? Lili, what’s wrong?”

 

“Um, Miss. Are you very tired?”

 

“Mmm, it would be a lie to say I’m not tired. Why?”

 

“Well. If it’s okay with you, Miss, could you follow me for just a moment?”

 

“Now?”

 

At Lili’s nod, I groggily got up.

 

After yawning, I followed Lili with my dazed mind.

 

***

 

Where Lili stopped was the reception room.

 

This is the place I showed Ricardo to earlier?

 

Why did we come here?

 

When I tilted my head, a smile appeared on Lili’s face.

 

Soon the door to the reception room slowly opened, and inside was a crescent moon-shaped cake.

 

It wasn’t big, but it was prettily decorated with whipped cream, oranges, lemons and such.

 

“What’s with the cake?”

 

“Today is your birthday, Miss! The Young Count prepared it for you… Huh? Where did he go?”

 

“Young Count? Who? Don’t tell me Kiel?”

 

“What? How could that be? …Oh. That’s not it, um. Young Count Gaderid.”

 

“Felix? Felix came?”

 

“Yes, the young count called earlier asking to prepare together, so I had just returned.”

 

Felix said to prepare together?

 

He really is the only one besides Lili who takes care of Sillia.

 

My heart felt touched.

 

He’s such a good kid, really.

 

Thank you for being by Sillia’s side, Felix!

 

But where did he go? Did he go to get something?

 

As I entered the reception room and sat on the sofa, Lili looked around with drooping eyebrows.

 

Then she discovered a piece of paper on the table.

 

“There’s a letter here? Is this yours, Lili?”

 

“Huh? No? It’s a letter that wasn’t there earlier…”

 

“Then did Felix leave it? Did something urgent come up at his house?”

 

“He didn’t particularly say anything urgent came up.”

 

Next to the paper was a navy blue velvet box.

 

I picked up the paper first.

 

Though the handwriting was scattered as if written hastily, it wasn’t difficult to read.

 

To Ria.

 

Hmm. That’s right, this way of addressing me.

 

Upon confirming the way of addressing, my suspicion that Felix had left the paper turned into certainty.

 

I lowered my gaze and read the rest of the writing.

 

Father called so I’m going first. Eat cake with Lili. Happy birthday.

 

Wow, how insincere.

 

I wondered why I bothered moving my eyes downward.

 

The sentences are too short, you bastard!

 

Still, it’s my birthday, so shouldn’t you write at least five lines?

 

You could at least write “congratulations” properly!

 

So where does it hurt?

 

I let out a hollow laugh and picked up the box next to it.

 

Inside was a bookmark with a clear, bright pink round gem firmly fixed to it, and the blue hairpin I had seen at the jewelry shop earlier.

 

Did he come to the jewelry shop to buy my present?

 

But I clearly said I didn’t want to add any more accessories.

 

“Haa.”

 

Good my ass.

 

Cancel everything, cancel.

 

How is he good in any way?

 

Being with Felix made me worry I’d have to grab the back of my neck and collapse from high blood pressure first.

 

I was about to frown when I saw small, timid writing at the end of the paper.

 

P.S. Since I’m giving it as a birthday present, don’t stick the hairpin in my hair.

 

Did he actually worry about this?

 

His determination to avoid punishment at all costs was vicious.

 

If he wore a hairpin like Ricardo, I probably wouldn’t get this heated.

 

I let out deep sighs and patted the seat next to me.

 

“Lili, come sit here. Felix already left. The count must have called him.”

 

Only then did Lili seem relieved as she brushed her chest and approached me.

 

But instead of sitting, she stood beside me, cut cake onto a plate, and placed it in front of me with a fork.

 

She served herself as well and began eating cake with me.

 

Somehow my hand resting on the sofa felt cold, so I fidgeted with it for no reason.

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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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